Lan Zhou Handmade noodles and dumplings
She saw through me right away. I had asked her what type of noodles they offered and she pointed to the menu on the wall. I stared at the all-Chinese menu and was stumped. It was all of two seconds before she said, "Can't read Chinese?" then pointed me to the English menu. Telling you, that moment would have made Mom proud. Thankfully, I had read about Robyn and Kathy's fooding adventures at Lan Zhou Handmade noodles. I knew to order the Lan Zhou Handmade speciality: hand-pulled noodles.
It should come as no surprise that Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles is a restaurant the specializes in handmade noodles. The good stuff doesn't come out of a box at this joint on East Broadway. It's not really a place you go for ambiance, but you don't necessarily need such a thing to fill up your belly.
If you're familiar with noodle shops like, Super Taste, you will like the no-frills nature of Lan Zhou Handmade Noodles. Go with the Beef noodle soup or the beef brisket noodle soup. Or if you want something different, try beef tendon noodle soup. The soup seems to be the same for all the beef variations. It's deeply flavorful and really warms you. The noodles have a springiness. For those of you who may be from Taiwan, you would say the noodles are very "Q" I don't know how to explain this notion of the "Q" except to say that it's this way to describe noodles much like the way Italians use the word al dente.
At Lan Zhou Handmade, the other thing you should get is a plate of dumplings. They come ten for $3 dollars and they're packed with chives and pork. You can get boiled ones or pan fried ones. If possible, get both. Fill your life with awesomeness. Why not? It's the holiday season, you should fatten up for the winter. Hibernation is just around the corner.
And if you like cartoons and dumplings, you'll love this video from Kung Fu Panda. I just saw that movie and it's pretty awesome. It kind of makes me wish I could be the dragon warrior, and a panda, and a noodle making panda that's also a dragon warrior. Movies have that kind of an effect on me. Good thing I didn't watch Sex and the City this past weekend. No word on what that would make me want to become.
Lan Zhou Handmade Noodle
144 E Broadway.
New York, NY 10002
212-566-6933
yum... I want some noodles! also, that panda clip was funny, but don't they know that it's impolite to fight with chopsticks?!
Ang
November 17, 2008 1:13 am
QQ! Al dente is a great comparison. It's toothsome or bouncy. Chewy but yielding, but not mushy or too firm.
kathryn
November 17, 2008 1:31 am
@Ang,
That's a great movie, you should netflix that thing.
@kathryn,
You said it better than I could! Thanks :)
Danny
November 17, 2008 10:55 am
Ang - apparently that depends on your family. A friend of mine told me that at her family dinners (where I would probably die of starvation!), everyone fights for food with their chopsticks. Including the grandparents with the grandchildren. She didn't seem to think it was the funny kind of fighting either. I would have gotten slapped across the face if I dared try to take food from my grandparents, by my parents. And when I have grandkids, one of those uppity young'ns tries to take MY dumplings, it's ON. Hahahahahaha anyway I agree with you.
But mmm, dumplings, why must you taunt me so!
Yvo
November 17, 2008 11:17 am