Nooch (CLOSED)

Prospective clients visiting industrial designer Karim Rashid's Chelsea office can just walk down the block to examine his design work: The psychedelic, futuristic, Day-Glo noodle shop Nooch (a contraction of noodles and lunch) has gel seats, a supermod electric-blue DJ console and LED message displays in the washroom. At the restaurant, part of a Singapore-based chain, Thai chefs prepare Japanese-style udon, soba, ramen and donburi, as well as Thai specialties such as khao oob sub prarod (stir-fried pineapple rice). You can slurp noodles at the bar or just stick to Bangkok cocktails such as a “bee buzzini,” with organic honey, or “chu-tini,” made with shochu, Japanese vodka.