Chipotle-style Vietnamese restaurant opening in Plaza Midwood — and it’ll have Taiyaki fish ice cream

Cilantro Noodle’s menu will include dishes like pho noodle soup with 24-hour broth, banh mi sandwiches along with customizable rice bowls, spring rolls (not quite burrito sized) and vermicelli noodle bowls.

“We are creating something new for the Charlotte area,” owner Steve Li told the Agenda.

How it’ll work: Cilantro Noodle will have a kiosk where guests will place their order and pay. For the customizable bowls and spring rolls, you can choose from toppings and proteins, similar to Chipotle.

Location: It’s in the heart of Plaza Midwood, a few doors down from Common Market and across the street from the new N.C. Red.

Dessert: Cilantro will also have a cool dessert side of the restaurant that will be branded separately as “Ocha Time,” and serve boba tea, Thai roll ice cream and taiyaki fish ice cream (very Instagram worthy). Cilantro and Ocha Time will each have their own spaces but will share a wall and have a door where you can walk between both. Ocha Time will open later than Cilantro and is currently targeting a June 28 grand opening date.

We’ll keep you posted as they near the grand opening date.