Prompt service with a strict reservation check in a mostly empty place; menu only shown at the table and removed after ordering; sound slightly too high (generic pop). Mostly Chinese diners — a good sign. The chef/owner brought the food out and gave an animated, friendly explanation of how to eat it — a completely different vibe from front of house. 5/5 for that.
The tomato broth and ginger-scallion pepper oil are the star: rich, tangy, intensely fragrant with ginger freshness and lemony notes, good thickness from tomato and slickness from oil — rich but not fatty, with a prickly pepper sensation at relatively low heat. Somehow both wintery/comforting and intensely refreshing at once. Noodles are just decent thin flat rice noodles; tofu plain; pork finely minced and tender.
Really nice and flavorful, a little sour — possibly pickled. Big ups.
Condiments
Only salt & pepper at the table, and no additional napkins.