This is part 4 of the China Series detailing my recent trip to Beijing, Xian, and Shanghai. Other posts in this series include part 1: Wander the Streets of Beijing, part 2: Xian'r Lao Man (Dumplings), part 3: Made in China {Peking Duck}, and some other preview posts: China: Lost in Translation, and Happy Birthday Bryan: an Ode to Noodles and Ducks.
Welcome to Noodle Bar, a cozy, authentic, and absolutely charming hand-pulled noodle bar in Beijing.
I've realized I love true noodle bars. You know, the kind where the entire restaurant is just one circular bar with a bunch of barstools surrounding the bar. Everyone gets front row seats to the awesome hand-pulling noodle action. It's super fun to watch your noodle dough get pounded, bounced, and then pulled right in front of your eyes. Plus, you get to interact with the chefs a lot more in this setting (ha ha, assuming you are proficient in the language!). It's intimate, relaxing, and really enjoyable.
In view of my current entry in Round 7 of Project Food Blog (how to make hand-pulled noodles), I thought this post would be the perfect segue back into the China series.
Noodle Bar is tucked away behind an unassuming door inside of a courtyard of the 1949 Hidden City Complex. ("Hidden" indeed - this place is difficult to find). Thankfully, directions I found on this site were helpful enough to help me find the place. Yes, you really do walk through an art gallery before entering the courtyard.
The place is tiny - there probably aren't more than 15 seats in the entire place. Thankfully, the menu is written in both Chinese and English. To order, you simply check off items on a piece of paper indicating which items you wish to order.
It's hard to choose between all the mouthwatering small eats (e.g., various pickled vegetables, soy braised eggs). We settled upon the roasted pork belly (see picture at top of the page), which was succulent, juicy, and crispy all at the same time - in short, it was fantastic. We also got the pickled pumpkin, which was interesting to try, but not something we would get again.
And of course, there are the noodles. The Noodles! The noodles were pulled with expert precision and ease. Look at how evenly thick they are! The menu choices are simple - you choose thick or thin noodles, and then you choose beef brisket, tendon, or tripe (or a combination of the above).
I love thick pieces of tendon, so I was thrilled that I had the option of ordering tendon only. I love tendon!
All in all, this is an excellent place to see and experience hand-pulled noodles in Beijing firsthand. It's a tad pricier than the hand-pulled noodles you'd find on the street ($5 USD versus around $1-2 USD on the street). However, if you like enjoying your noodles in a slightly nicer environment OR you like having the ability to use your credit card OR you want to rest assured that you won't have stomach problems later on, then this just might be the perfect place for you.
:)
Noodle Bar
1949 - The Hidden City
Courtyard 4, Gong Ti Bei Lu
Chaoyang District
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