First visit to Zanoodle - which, given how long it's been open, is something of a personal failure I'm prepared to admit publicly.
The Asian fusion bistro sits on Rimska cesta 21 in central Ljubljana. No outdoor terrace to speak of, but the interior makes up for it. It looks like the set of a stylish Asian film - one with genuinely great poster art on the walls. Cosy, considered, easy to sit in even on a sunny afternoon when you'd normally want to be outside.
What we ordered
Three dishes between us, plus drinks.
Stir-fried noodles with prawns and stir-fried vegan noodles with chickpeas - both at €12.50. Alongside those, thick noodles with roasted duck at €18. To drink, their house radler at just over €4 - lighter and less sweet than it sounds.
The noodles were good. Not life-changing, but consistently well-flavoured and properly cooked. The duck version was the strongest of the three - the thick noodles held up well against the richness of the meat. The prawn version was clean and well-seasoned. The vegan chickpea option was the most straightforward but still worth ordering.
The experience
The price point sits slightly above comfortable for a casual lunch, but Zanoodle earns it back in other ways. Service arrived in under ten minutes despite a busy room - which at most Ljubljana restaurants would be considered witchcraft. The atmosphere is genuinely pleasant rather than just decorated, and the whole visit moves at a pace that works for both a quick lunch and a slower dinner.
The verdict
Zanoodle is a solid choice whenever you want something Asian, fast, and not boring. The interior alone makes it worth suggesting to someone visiting Ljubljana. Go for the duck noodles, try the house radler, and don't wait four years like I did.