There's nothing quite like the sound of slurping and satisfied sighs permeating a restaurant with staff yelling in Chinese every few minutes. Unless, of course, you suffer from misophonia; in which case, you'll hate it here. Also, get ready to wait, as unless you come when they open, chances are you'll have to queue a while for a spot at one of their communal tables.
I will be the first to admit that I have always felt really iffy about eating anywhere in Chinatown after being told by a health inspector that it's one of the worst places to eat in London as far as food safety goes. However, I could not deny the long queue and looks of satisfaction on the diners' faces, as well as the expertly hand-pulled noodles being made in the open kitchen. My foodie gut told me this was the place to be if I wanted some authentic noodle dishes with all the trimmings.
My gut was right. The menu is written in both Chinese and English and boasts a wide variety of noodle dishes any which way you want them. Most of them come in soup form with a rich, tasty broth that's lighter than ramen but heavier than pho. I ordered the Braised Beef House Special with pickled vegetables, and let me tell you, that was one beast of a meal. Perhaps my Western sensibilities are too easy to please, but the perfect balance of the spiciness, the "cooling" ingredients in the soup like the coriander and the bok choy, as well as the hearty texture of those freshly-pulled noodles had me inhaling that thing like I hadn't eaten in days. The beef could have been a bit less gamey, but hey, I didn't have to eat it all.
At less than £15 a bowl with portions this generous, you really can't complain about this Chinatown hot spot. The ONE thing I will say is that after finishing my meal, I went to use the bathroom, of which there is only one stall for men and one for women. As I waited for the ladies' I noticed a female staff member come out of the stall and right out the door without washing her hands. I really hope she wasn't hand-pulling any noodles, but I can't help remember what that health inspector told me all those years ago...
Good luck! read more