Chef’s Choice Noodle Bar first opened on April 11, 2011, in the heart of downtown Bakersfield, primarily as a lunch-focused Asian Fusion eatery. The inspiration came from owners Nick Hansa, a local physician, and his wife, Pum Hansa, who both grew up in Bangkok, Thailand. Their vision was to bring the variety of “street food” so popular in Bangkok and serve it here in Bakersfield. To make this vision a reality, executive head chef Preeda Piamfa was recruited to create the menu, coordinate the procurement of ingredients and build the kitchen staff. The front of house staff was brought together by Nick Panici, a young but experience general manager with unparalleled passion for food and spirits.
“The Noodle Bar”, as the restaurant would be known to our regulars, grew and evolved over the years guided by the talent of our head chef, our general manager’s dedication to provide a unique dining experience and the support of our patrons. Months after opening, we started our wine dinners, expanded to use the 2100 square feet banquet area and expanded our menu to include a full dinner menu. In 2014, we added a full bar and in 2015 the Mandalay private dining room.
After ten years, we are excited to move to The Marketplace and continue to grow as a restaurant. We are so grateful for the support of our regulars and look to add more “Noodlers” in this new location. The steady hands that both our executive head chef and general manager have provided over the years have been invaluable to our growth and evolution.
With excitement and anticipation, we invite you to be part of our journey…
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