FOOD PROFILE Buba Street Noodle & Bar • Keene, NH

This past summer, while walking down Keene's Main Street, you may have caught the savory aroma of Vietnamese ramen dishes and pho that people were enjoying at outdoor tables at Keene's new restaurant, Buba Street Noodle & Bar (at the former Muse restaurant's location). &emsp;"We love the town of Keene and we're happy that we're here," says owner Trumin Nguyen of this college town with its vibrant community. &emsp;Buba, which stands for "Be Unique, Be Authentic," offers a distinctive menu featuring various dishes that showcase the rich foods and flavors of Vietnamese culture. The restaurant, which had its grand opening this past summer, offers both indoor and outdoor dining (weather permitting) in a comfortable atmosphere with a welcoming local staff. &emsp;"There's been lots of positive feedback and we get a lot of support," Nguyen says of the community. &emsp;This is the third New Hampshire restaurant that Trumin and Keisha Nguyen have opened, following the success of their locations in Manchester and Concord. Seven years ago, the Manchester Buba Noodle was the first New Hampshire noodle bar to open, Nguyen points out. Their second location, Buba Kitchen, opened two years ago in Concord. &emsp;When they decided to expand, they posted a survey on the NH Eats Facebook page to gather potential location suggestions, and a real estate broker informed them of a Main Street space available in Keene. &emsp;"We couldn't pass up this location; it has everything we are looking for to have a successful restaurant," says Nguyen. &emsp;He explains that having an outdoor seating option was one of the most important features for their restaurant. This appeals to people in warm weather, a season when the business would typically be less busy than in the wintertime, given its hot, warming food options. &emsp;A nice bowl of pho "warms your soul," he says of the broths that cook for 24 hours, garnished with onions, cilantro, and scallions, and featuring rice noodles that can be combined with beef, chicken, vegetables, or seafood. &emsp;Other menu items include options like steamed bao, which are rolls filled with pork belly, short rib, Korean fried chicken, or crispy tofu, along with other ingredients. Small plates feature foods like crab Rangoon egg rolls, spicy dumplings, and pork gyoza. A Korean cucumber salad or a crunchy cabbage salad are lighter options, and ramen dishes include spicy miso ramen, Japanese curry ramen and more. Entrees also include bulgogi yaki udon, short rib garlic noodles, and Buba fried rice. &emsp;Nguyen says he creates the flavors, and the kitchen crew follows his formulations to ensure consistency. He makes seasonal changes to the menu and responds to customer requests for the return of a past dish or the introduction of something new. &emsp;Overseeing the "back of the house" — which includes kitchen operations, food quality, and menu development — is his department. Keisha manages the training and "front of the house." Both oversee events and staffing. &emsp;Buba Noodle can host small events, such as parties and meetings. Their Manchester restaurant features a private room that accommodates up to 25 people, while the dining room has space for 36. For larger events, the entire restaurant can be rented. &emsp;Nguyen came to this country from his native Vietnam in 2007, not knowing how to speak or understand English at the time. He worked with his aunt at her restaurant in Portland, Maine, learning how to cook Vietnamese food and what aspects of the restaurant business entailed. &emsp;He learned English, studied engineering at the University of Southern Maine, and worked as a Systems Engineer at IDEXX Laboratories in Westbrook, Maine. &emsp;Yet something else called to him: The restaurant business and the cooking he began learning at age 10. &emsp;"Sometimes you don't choose the career, the career chooses you," he explains, adding that it can be kind of scary to make the jump, especially with a family. &emsp;Nguyen thought it was essential to understand how different people ran businesses, so he worked at restaurants like Thai, sushi, and hibachi steakhouses. &emsp;With his Buddhist background, he understands that kindness goes a long way and includes giving back to the community. When COVID-19 led to the shutdown of many restaurants, he and his wife took the initiative to cook and distribute free meals to children and healthcare workers. &emsp;And on Christmas day, his restaurant cooks food for the area's homeless populations. &emsp;On the other hand, he notes that local restaurants like theirs truly need continued support from the community to thrive, as evidenced by the high number of local restaurant closures. So, this holiday season, add Buba's to your list of dining options and savor the incredible flavors of Vietnam's delicious cuisine. BOX with logo Buba Street Noodle & Bar 44 Main Street Keene, NH 603-338-0038 Facebook: Buba Street Noodle Bar To order online visit: https://order.toasttab.com/online/buba-noodle-bar-keene