Chen Noodle House is... in the house?
What's the fastest way to get me or the Mr. excited about a new restaurant?
Drop the phrase "all noodles are handmade" onto the menu somewhere, and you're just about guaranteed we'll be there within the week, elbowing small children out of the way so we can order first.
There's a new Chinese noodleteria that just opened in late September out in the same strip mall that holds Asia Cafe. And look at Chen's Noodle House's menu!
We were there immediately, ordering about half the compact menu. Shoulda gone for the side dish, but we didn't.
The place is tiny. Ten tables, maybe? And you do the ordering at the window and serve yourself. There's a bit of a language barrier, but everyone just smiled their way through it.
Love the open kitchen. When you order, a man in back starts cutting noodles off of a giant square of dough with a big cleaver into a softly boiling pot of water. It's very precise, and I've never seen noodles made that way. (Not even at Macau's Noodle and Congee Corner, where they make about eleventeen types of noodle.)
First, snacks!
I always have to try the scallion pancake when I see it on a menu. Fried, oniony, flaky goodness. Theirs was a little flopsy on this particular day, and had a fair complement of grease, but was still nice with a little side of black vinegar.
The leek pie was good, but bland. So far, I'm not a fan of things stuffed with Chinese leeks - I've had several types of dumpling with the same filling at various places, and they've all seemed underseasoned to me.
So far, I don't sound like much of a fan, huh? It's not that I didn't like these appetizers. They tasted very straightforward, and that isn't a complaint, but my preference would be for something a little spicier.
Now, the noodles!
Stir-fried noodles would be the perfect hangover food. These were also pretty oily, bit savory bits of pork and crunchy vegetables. Once we added some chili paste, they did quite nicely.
I know a lot more about Italian regional cuisine than I do Chinese regional cuisine, but I understand that the presence of all the lamb on their menu means these guys are probably from northern China. It's that kind of insightful information that keeps you coming back, right?
They were out of the special lamb soup, so we ordered the presumably less special lamb NOODLE soup, which seemed pretty special to me.
This is a dish for a yucky cold sleety day. The broth was rich and dark and powerfully lamb-flavored, with earthy onions and bright tomato. The cilantro didn't hurt, either.
All in all, we have to give a big YES to Chen's Noodle House. The only problem I have with it is the location - it's awfully hard to pass up Asia Cafe's delicious Sichuan food if I'm going to drive all the way up to far northwest Austin!
Chen's Noodle House is at 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, at the intersection with 183. Phone 512.257.3647.
Love the open kitchen. When you order, a man in back starts cutting noodles off of a giant square of dough with a big cleaver into a softly boiling pot of water. It's very precise, and I've never seen noodles made that way. (Not even at Macau's Noodle and Congee Corner, where they make about eleventeen types of noodle.)
First, snacks!
I always have to try the scallion pancake when I see it on a menu. Fried, oniony, flaky goodness. Theirs was a little flopsy on this particular day, and had a fair complement of grease, but was still nice with a little side of black vinegar.
The leek pie was good, but bland. So far, I'm not a fan of things stuffed with Chinese leeks - I've had several types of dumpling with the same filling at various places, and they've all seemed underseasoned to me.
So far, I don't sound like much of a fan, huh? It's not that I didn't like these appetizers. They tasted very straightforward, and that isn't a complaint, but my preference would be for something a little spicier.
Now, the noodles!
Stir-fried noodles would be the perfect hangover food. These were also pretty oily, bit savory bits of pork and crunchy vegetables. Once we added some chili paste, they did quite nicely.
I know a lot more about Italian regional cuisine than I do Chinese regional cuisine, but I understand that the presence of all the lamb on their menu means these guys are probably from northern China. It's that kind of insightful information that keeps you coming back, right?
They were out of the special lamb soup, so we ordered the presumably less special lamb NOODLE soup, which seemed pretty special to me.
This is a dish for a yucky cold sleety day. The broth was rich and dark and powerfully lamb-flavored, with earthy onions and bright tomato. The cilantro didn't hurt, either.
All in all, we have to give a big YES to Chen's Noodle House. The only problem I have with it is the location - it's awfully hard to pass up Asia Cafe's delicious Sichuan food if I'm going to drive all the way up to far northwest Austin!
Chen's Noodle House is at 8650 Spicewood Springs Road, at the intersection with 183. Phone 512.257.3647.
This place looks absoultely KICK ASS! Now if only the prices were as cheap as in Asia ;-)
Posted by: Gastronomer | Thursday, 30 October 2008 at 23:37
I can tell from the scallion pancakes it's northern style. Nice and thick. Do they serve soup dumplings there?
Posted by: Spong | Friday, 31 October 2008 at 00:19
Gastronomer, that would rule. And thanks, it was good!
Spong, I wish they did. Maybe down the road, after they expand the menu a bit? There are only a couple of places in Austin that even serve soup dumplings.
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Friday, 31 October 2008 at 18:12
Looks great to me. Of course I haven't had any real Asian cuisine in years, so it wouldn't take much. The pink is so inviting too :)
Posted by: michelle of bleeding espresso | Sunday, 02 November 2008 at 12:55
Thanks, Michelle! The place is really very welcoming and homey. And at least you have access to 'nduja...
Posted by: Boots in the Oven | Sunday, 02 November 2008 at 19:25
Hi.
I stopped by in the afternoon (23Oct08). The day was dreary and good food was needed!
I ordered the combination noodle soup and the scallion pancake. They were EXCELLENT!
The shop is decorated in a chinese modern manner, with clean lines.
The like the tables as they are the right size.
To end I like to connent on the cleaniness of Chen's Noodle House and the courtesy of their staff.
Best
Posted by: Jason Chaw | Sunday, 23 November 2008 at 00:38