Dine on a Dime Noodles Ranch

You might miss this must-try restaurant on your regular drive to school, but trust me, it's a meal you will want to look for the next time you're in the area.

Located on the southwest corner of Thomas and Scottsdale roads, Noodles Ranch is fairly priced and has fast service.

The comfortable and inviting booths that line the walls are only the beginning of a delightful experience. The décor reminds you of a faraway Vietnam, and invites you to see into the culturethat surrounds the food.

Chef Andre Nguyen and his wife Noel opened Noodles Ranch a little over two years ago. Their vision was to share their Vietnamese cuisine with everyone in Arizona, and they are well on their way to pleasing the stomachs of their customers with large portions, fresh ingredients, and quick service.

Although each menu item is identifi able by three titles, it makes sense to make otherwise hard-to-pronounce Vietnamese dishes a breeze to order.

Some of our favorites from their extensive menu include A1, Cha gio, or Crispy Eggrolls ($5.95).

We were instructed to wrap the eggrolls in the lettuce provided with a medley of vegetables and a light dipping sauce made for a delightful twist on the traditional eggroll we are all used to. One of my childhood favorites, M2, Pho lon xao, or Chow Fun ($8.50) almost brought me back to my hometown; rice noodles, black bean sauce, and vegetables made this dish stand out.

For a less risky selection, the fried rice at Noodles Ranch was a traditional and familiar favorite. Known as the K5, Com Chien Dac Biet ($7.75) you can choose from chicken, pork, shrimp or a combination of the three. The jasmine rice made this dish stand out, and the cautionary use of soy sauce made the perfect combination of flavors. An addition of green onions would have made this dish outstanding, but a combination of red onions, broccoli and bean sprouts mixed in nicely with the rice.

After our pleasant and filling trip to Noodles Ranch, we retreated back to our newsroom with overstuffed stomachs and a desire to try everything ek[lse on the menu. We will be frequently visiting Noodles Ranch to ensure that we don't leave a menu item untried; this is the the place to find high quality, inexpensive Vietnamese food, all for under $10.