EAT: LANZHOU BEEF NOODLE BAR, CARLTON

The Lanzhou beef noodles hype has been a thing for quite some time now here in Melbourne and after discovering that there was one within walking distance from work, I decided to check it out for myself.

Unsurprisingly, the place was filled to the brim with students when I visited one lunch time on a weekday during semester. Thankfully service was quick and we were willing to brave the winter cold in exchange for one of the many free tables located on the street. A soupy dish probably would have been more suited for the winter cold but I opted for one of the dry noodle variants, the special beef noodle. The quality of their handmade noodles certainly did not disappoint; silky with the perfect amount of chewy bite. Without question, the noodles were the star of the bowl. While they didn’t quite disintegrate at the slightest prod, the slow braised pieces of lean beef were tender enough. The braising liquid of the beef, chilli paste and fresh herbs made for quite a strong and tasty flavour profile that did not bore the taste buds.

Tasty and super affordable, it’s not hard to see why the Lanzhou Beef Noodle Bar brand has made quite the splash in Melbourne. I’ll certainly be looking to revisit before the year’s end and our move to the other side of the city.