Yummy Lan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House sits in inconspicuous harmony with its Chinatown neighbors. On an ordinary Wednesday night, the brightly lit restaurant was not teeming with customers, but the few in attendance seemed to be regulars. From a page–long menu of appetizers, noodle soups and plates, it was difficult to decide what to order. Our party of five settled on steamed pork dumplings (9 pieces for $4.75), an egg and vegetable hand drawn noodle soup ($4.50), a sliced beef hand drawn noodle soup ($5.75), a roast duck hand drawn noodle soup ($5.75) and Beef Chow Hand Drawn Noodles ($6.95).
Not daring enough, I abstained from the more exotic dishes like Spicy Pig Ears ($7.50), Ox Tail Noodle Soup ($6) and Beef Tripe Noodle Soup ($5), just to name a few. Self–proclaimed “five star” prices, all dishes remain within a $5–9 price range, and the food is unquestionably worth its price.
A sizable portion, my Sliced Beef Hand Drawn Noodle bowl consisted of slender beef shavings and spinach leaves swimming in a quenching miso–based broth. After a bite of unpleasantly crunchy beef, I chose instead to savor the subtly sweet flavor and delectable texture of my noodles. Observing the slurping technique employed by my next–door tablemates, I was able to consume the soup fluidly, despite the occasional appearance of fat deposits.
I recommend the roast duck as a meat choice given its full flavor and more uniform texture. Complimenting the noodles, the dumpling plate’s doughy consistency concealed shredded pork and herb flakes, which melted atop my tongue — these did not disappoint. Undeniably superior to an unexciting Ramen Noodle Cup, the homemade noodles at Yummy Lan Zhou are worth a ChiTown adventure.
Yummy Lan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House 131 N. 10th St. (215) 923-2222 Don't Miss: the dumplings Skip: beef —go for duck instead $$$$$
