Noodle Barn

Noodle Barn serves Thai and Vietnamese food on Centre Street, with noodle soups as a strong reason to stop. Pho sits alongside Thai dishes, and the menu lets you choose between a bowl of broth and noodles or something from the wider kitchen. Starters include wings, calamari and crab rangoon, so a soup order can easily become a meal to share.

It’s a useful Jamaica Plain choice when you’re craving noodles but haven’t settled on a cuisine. Look at the broth, noodles and protein in each bowl before choosing, rather than assuming every soup is a variation on the same base. You can order online for takeout, or eat at the restaurant when you’d rather have your bowl straight from the kitchen.