Nestled in the multicultural area of Dublin 1, Lee's Charming Noodles is an unassuming, "blink and…read moreyou'll miss it" little cafe, but don't let its unassuming exterior fool you: it's a Dublin favorite with flavorful dishes that pack a punch. Once inside, the space is compact yet welcoming, with cramped and casual seating, and simple décor that makes you feel like you've stepped into a local favourite rather than a tourist trap. The vibe is relaxed and informal: great for a quick lunch, casual dinner, or late-night noodle craving.
At around 7:30pm on Valentine's Day, my party of four arrived at the restaurant, which was packed full. However, the lady at the counter told us that our wait would be shorter if we divided up into parties of two; with two tables, we ended up only waiting about ten minutes. The menu is extensive, with the eponymous noodles (with a variety of soups, fried dishes, etc.), various proteins, and vegetables. Each table comes with salt, pepper, vinegar, soy sauce, and chili oil to doctor up your dishes as you'd like, which we appreciated.
We ordered their House Special Pan-Fried Noodle (€17.80), with beef, chicken, pork, and prawns. It didn't seem like a large portion, but it was surprisingly filling, and not overly greasy, despite being fried. The noodles maintained an al-dente toothsomeness, soaking up a savory, almost gravy-like sauce, and all of the meat/prawns were cooked nicely.
The Szechuan Style Mapo Tofu (€13.80) was truly a surprising delight; a staple dish in almost every Chinese restaurant, Lee's version is absolutely lovely. The tofu is soft and pillowly, soaking up an addictive sauce with that numbing mala spice that keeps you coming back for more. Rice is extra (€2.50), but I would highly recommend it to mix with the mapo tofu.
Their Hot & Sour Braised Beef Noodle Soup (€11.80, extra €2 to switch to flat and extra wide hand-pulled noodles) was delicious; topped with succulent chunks of melt-in-your-mouth braised beef, bok choy, and hand-pulled extra-wide noodles soaked up the spicy, acidic broth with a hit of vinegar. Additionally, their Chicken Noodle (€11.80) was another hit; it's a warm, comforting, clean broth, with tender slices of dark meat chicken, and we ordered it with rice noodles.
We absolutely loved our meal at Lee's; it's the kind of place where the focus is squarely on the food rather than ambience, and the atmosphere reflects that. We didn't expect to find such a hidden gem (and perhaps the best Chinese food we've had in Europe), offering generous portions and satisfying flavors without a hefty bill. Certainly a recommendation if you're in the area!
