Restaurant Review: Mixi Noodles
November 9th, 2023 gave South Dayton area a new Asian noodle place to enjoy. Mixi Noodles opened at 231 Springboro Pike and brought a fun new method to enjoy tastes of China, Japan, and a hit of Korea to the area. The owner Ting Ni told Dayton Daily News "I hope everyone loves this kind of cuisine," owner Ting Ni said. "It's super unique. They have never tried this type of noodle nearby." and the restaurant was a fun trip for my friend Liz of Liz Cultivates and myself.
Owner Ting Ni comes from a restaurant background as her family owns China 1 and Fusabowl in the Dayton and Cincinnati areas. Originally from China, Ting Ni has included a childhood special rice noodle with other noodles types to the menu. Choice is a building block of their restaurant which allows visitors to create their own ramen/noodle bowl from the broth to the meat, vegetables, and noodle type.
Liz and I were drawn partly because of our love of Asian noodle dishes but also from the restaurant’s made in house broth that takes 10 to 12 hours to make. The places nearby have not had a similar claim and this was enough to peak our interests beyond “Yay noodles!”
The location is easy to find, with plenty of parking. The restaurant itself hosts a small dining area that has a beautiful mural adorning the wall. The place is sit down style, however you get to walk to the front to order your bowl and appetizers first before choosing your own seat. You have a selection of premade bowls or can make your own. Liz chose the Shoyu Tonkatsu ramen while I went for a build your own bowl. I ordered the miso chicken broth, udon (personal favorite), shrimp tempura, Kimchi, corn, and greens. We also ordered appetizers this round going for takoyaki, kimchi, and curry croquette. (They do offer chicken tenders and onion rings, fries and other options for kids or folks visiting that might not enjoy noodles bowls.)
Our food did not take long to come out and was worth every bit. The takoyaki was larger in size than what we experienced at Tasty Pot. This allowed for a much softer inside that was fluffy and larger pieces of octopus that I could tell was hidden inside. The outside was nice and crispy with added flavor from the bonito flakes and sauce.
The croquettes were an interesting side. I’ve made my own deep fried mashed potato balls while trying out Japanese Korokke but mine had other toppings mixed inside. These curry croquettes were pure potato with a light curry seasoning that let you know it was there without overpowering the fried discs. They came with a creamy side sauce that I believe was the yum yum sauce but not fully sure.
The Kimchi was tasty, crispy, cold, and the right amount of spice. I’ve had spicier, and I’ve had less. This definitely will please a general audience looking for a kick but not one that takes them out.
My noodle bowl was fantastic. The broth was light, clean tasting and kept its warmth well. The udon was cooked great with soft noodles that were easy to slurp and enjoy. My greens paired well with the kimchi and corn and the shrimp tempura was delightfully crunchy outside (until I let it soak in the broth) and the shrimp was well cooked and easy to bite through. I loved every bite.
Liz’s shoyu tonkatsu ramen was also a hit with her. She described it as “ a good shoyu ramen is salty with lots of umami flavor, and this bowl delivered that for sure. The pork in this ramen was tender and so flavorful, and the bamboo shoots added a nice crunch. Delicious, filing, and warming on a cold day.“
Mixi Noodle is a great stop for a quick lunch or dinner for anyone that loves noodle bowls or wants to try their first. Easy to find, easy to order and quick and easy to eat. The portion sizes were well thought out as we didn’t feel as stuffed as we have at a few other locations but were able to come away with left overs. The food is fresh and quality ingredients as advertised and I believe it will be a place that expands as owner Ting Ni hopes.
