26 April 2012

Chinese Noodle Bar ~ Haymarket


This little spot on George Street has gone through a few changes of name and ownership over the years. Throughout it's many incarnations it has always been popular, North Chinese and yum.





A few months back this joint was Kung Fu Ramen, now it is Chinese Noodle Bar.  Interestingly the signage says it's Malaysian Halal, so we guess it is run by Malaysian folks of Northern China heritage, who knows.  The menu has changed a fair bit, but praise the deity of your choice, or Richard Dawkins, because there's still blokes out the back making wonderful hand pulled noodles right in front of your eyes, fresh to order for each dish. We're extra happy because they are still making our favourite dish here, the Lanzhou style beef noodle soup. And we've got a new favourite, the English spinach with ginger.

Chinese Noodle Bar does a certain style of food that isn't going to appeal to everybody's taste buds, but it definitely has it's fans, it's usually pretty busy when we walk by almost every night of the week. And yes, we always say this, but the staff are super nice.



We're abuzz with food-nerd joy when we try this side dish of English spinach with ginger, $5. It is perfectly cooked with notes of sweet vinegar and a little nuttiness, probably from the sesame seeds and is served cold. If you like a good veggie dish then this is highly recommended.



Our favourite: beef noodle soup. The broth is clear and plain, perhaps too plain for some folks, but when you have a hankering for a simple, healthy, re-hydrating soup, this is a winner. It doesn't quite have the same magic as version made by China Noodle King, who were the folks here two name changes ago, but it's still a damn fine detox dish. A good deal at $8.80.



Gotta have a cumin lamb skewar, $2.50 each, or 5 for $10.



Shawn accidentally orders the braised beef noodle soup $12.80 - a light, sweet, beefy broth with a touch of tomato, chunks of braised beef and tendon - it's ok but doesn't give those magic noodle soup moments.



After our first visit Shawn develops a strange obsession to try this mystery of the menu: rice with beef and potato stew - $10.80.  It's a simple, homely dish, not art but does the trick on a cold, wet night. The beef and tendons are the same proteins as in the braised beef noodle soup we had previously.



Stir fried noodle with lamb - $11.80. A huge serve of lovely, thick handmade noodles. It's not the spicy cumin flavoured number we were hoping for, but we did enjoy it. The lamb is plain but tender and the garlic shoots are divine.



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar Menu



Chinese Noodle Bar is at 800 George Street, Haymarket. Phone 02 9282 9570.


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Chinese Noodle Bar on Urbanspoon








4 comments:

  1. haven't been there for years, interesting thing is even the owner changed like three or four times, they still making noodles! BTW super fan of your blog, funny and fantastic!

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  2. I love braised beef but shame if it didn't have the magical feeling of comfort

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  3. I've always seen the name changes but haven't stepped inside any. This time round it looks great!

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  4. Shame that it shut down. This was the first spot I saw noodles being handmade and I loved it. Lot of memories here mean it may be lost but never forgotten.

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Thanks for your comment joy - please keep your musings happy - if you want to complain about a restaurant please do it on a restaurant review site (or your own blog) - we're all about celebrating cultural diversity and the great eats that come along with it :-)

Our ethics: We pay for all our own meals and travel (though sometimes Mum shouts us).