Was gonna say, it doesn't look "meh." You know what makes something better? Cheese. Everything is better with cheese. Even if you're lactose or milk protein intolerant. Pull a rotting 2x4 off of the side of your garage and cover it in cheese and it's suddenly edible. XD
But seriously, what made it boring? Were the noodles undercooked? Wrong combo of spices? Tough cut of beef? Was the broth more soy or fish sauce or something else?
Sorry, it just looks really good...and I think I need to go find some dinner.
It was the broth - the soup, if you will. It didn't have the flavor I was expecting. The noodles were OK - again, not quite what I was expecting. Is suspect they would have been better in a stir-fry. I've since stopped buying those noodles.