I tried these spots today at lunch. They are fairly close to each other. The first is in the middle of I Drive (b/n Sand Lake and and Kirkman). The second is in the strip mall across from it. Around the corner on Carrier Dr.
Amma's Kitchen - I was there to try another Indian place down the street called Aangun. It didn't open until 4pm. Good for me because this three month old will be a Fav. Southern Indian. I had the Chicken Meal for $11 because it had so much. Chicken 65, Kushka, Chicken Curry, Parotta, Rice, Kootu, Poriyal, Sambar, Rasam, Vathakuzhambu, Buttermilk, Raita and Payasam. Three were dips. Two were a tad thicker than that. Two were rice. One was a kind of rice pudding. One was thin bread. One was chopped green beans. The chicken 65 was about five pieces of fried chicken with bones attached. A bit tough. The curry was a stew with bones. Tender. The jasmine rice was fine. The biryani style had nice flavor. The raita was thick with chopped cucumber and onion. Most of the dips were superfluous. One of the thicker ones seemed like there were some lentils in it. The "wrap" bread was a bit crunchy. Many things had a punch. I loved the idea of cutting the green beans like scallions. Their length always annoys me. The rice pudding used cut vermicelli noodles and had more of a butterscotch taste. Some things I had never had/seen. Served on a metal tray. The menu is large. Lots of dosas ($8-$15). More egg dishes than I have ever seen in an Indian restaurant. The breads were called parotta and chapathi. They had a category called Tiffen. It had something called an Idly. Never saw those words before. Lots of apps (veg, chicken, goat, fish, shrimp) from $2. Curries ($8-$15). Biryani ($11-$17). Rotti ($12-$20). All these "family packs" ($40-$62). They had pomfret. I wonder if the pre-prepared business is large. The one issue was the service. It seemed like you were imposing on them. The place doesn't look like much. I believe it was a Middle Eastern place before. They didn't change much. Two large tvs. One blaring Indian dance music. Fourteen tables. Most are booths. Some stone work. Plastic forks and cups. They claim other locations in Ontario, NJ and NY. If I lived near here, I would eat here once a week. Amma pleased. Youma will be as well.
Slap! Hand Ripped Noodles - Open a month. Orlando Weekly guy had it as a Fav. I tried the Cumin Lamb Noodle Soup for $17. I've had it without soup in a famous place in Las Vegas. It's a Chengdu dish. It was much hotter there. Since I had it to go, I could taste the lamb on it's own. Good flavor. You have to know cumin. A tad grisly. That's lamb. I wish they wouldn't give such long strips. With a knife and fork, it would be a pain to eat. With chopsticks, it's impossible. And hard to get down the gullet. The noodles all stuck together. That made it harder to ascertain the quality. I think they were good. The broth was a bit sour. Maybe vegetable broth? I'm not sure I would like it in other soups. The cumin here turned it tasty. Bok choy and bean sprouts as well. Big portion. They also offer seven other soups ($15-$21) and the same seven without soup (chili). Two chili slurps ($12) with a different noodle that they didn't have that day. I think these are not hand slapped. You can add a short rib slab for $8.That looked good. They had three crispy pancake "baos" from $8-$9 that I almost went with. Would have if I was in town longer and this place wasn't called hand ripped noodles. They or the four dumplings ($12-$13) or some fried skewers (10 at $6). Four apps too. I saw beer and what I think were canned booze in the fridge. The place has had a total refurb. Looks like an izakaya. Around a dozen wood tables. Some long with benches. Lanterns galore. Black ceiling. Slap kitchen in the rear behind glass. I saw the guy slapping his dough. Almost full. Two waitresses in black. They didn't know about the Weekly's articles. This gimmick isn't as rare as it once was. I just reported on a similar place on Turkey Lake Rd a little while ago. That said, with more than just noodles and the other options seemingly good, it will probably be a Fav too.