A new noodle shop called SoSoBa is set to open in December on Roosevelt Row.
This will be SoSoBa’s second location — the first is in Flagstaff. The full-service, late-night “nonstop” noodle shop is a collaboration between Tyler Christensen, Joshua Riesner and Joel Dry.
The restaurant features entrees offering flavors from Thai, Vietnamese, Korean and Creole cuisine. Noodle bowls are the restaurant’s signature dish.
Christensen said he is looking forward to opening up shop downtown.
“The growth that we are experiencing downtown is great,” Christensen said. “There are apartment complexes going up everywhere. I am excited to see what the next five to 20 years looks like for Phoenix.”
Dry indicated that the growth in Downtown Phoenix, especially the area surrounding Roosevelt Row, is helpful to the business.
“Downtown Phoenix is happening now,” Dry said. “I think Roosevelt is the most interesting part of that because of the residential component, people living right outside the doors as opposed to people just coming to work during the daytime.”
Riesner is the chef and is known for his culinary work at Pig & Pickle in Scottsdale. He developed the menu and is still coming up with new creations for SoSoBa’s Phoenix location.
Those who have been to the Flagstaff location will find some familiar items. The Mic Drop, featuring pork belly, carnitas and bacon, can be found on the Phoenix menu. Another familiar entrée that will be the menu is the Mr. Karl Katsu, which has ramen and panko chicken.
The Phoenix location will have an expanded menu, including more noodle bowls, as well as sandwiches and an expanded cocktail bar menu. Christensen created the cocktail menu for the noodle shop.
“We are going to be designing the space to look like an opium den that you would be comfortable having lunch in,” Christensen said.
This location will be approximately twice the size of the one in Flagstaff and is designed to encourage people to stay.
“The hope is that the restaurant will turn out dark and swanky and comfortable,” Riesner said. “We want people to enjoy a few cocktails and sink in their chair and have a few appetizers and stick around for awhile.”
SoSoBa will be serving late into the evening. Cocktails and dishes can be enjoyed until 2 a.m. Thursday through Saturday and until midnight Sunday through Wednesday. The full menu is served until close.
The restaurant will be located on Roosevelt Street between Second and Third avenues and is planned to open sometime in December, though a specific date has not yet been set.
Contact the reporter at emily.lockwood@asu.edu
