Never Say No to Noodles: 1949′s Noodle Bar

When the weather is rainy and I’m feeling blue, a steaming hot bowl of freshly pulled noodles will, more often than not, do the trick and turn that frown right-side up!

Considering we’re in China, we are all spoiled for choice when it comes to having awesome noodles to slurp on never further than an arm’s length away.  Whether it’s your local, hole-in-the-wall noodle stand right in your local hutong (click here for one of my all-time favorite local noodle joints) or you’re balling out on some fancy-pantsy noodles, it’s totally your call.

During my first years in Beijing, I was all about grubbing in super grimy, street-side spots that were consistently packed out with local Chinese taxi drivers. From that initial streak of adventurous dining, I’ve since upgraded to venues I trust to serve food that is both clean and use only high-quality ingredients. As the saying goes, “you are what you eat”, so why wouldn’t you only consume the best? Must I remind you of the days when they discovered jiaozi containing cardboard mixed into the meat?

The Noodle Bar in 1949-The Hidden City still stands as one of my favorite places to get my noodle fix. Walk straight back through the main courtyard of 1949 and you will meet double doors that you will need to literally pry apart (they are quite heavy-duty).  Step inside the unassuming doors and you will see a total of 12 seats lined around an open kitchen with kung-fu chefs hand-pulling wheat noodles in front of you.

The Noodle Bar concept is super simple and straightforward – a concise menu with boxes you check off to order your appetizer and noodle dishes. Obviously, this little cave is big on giant, steaming bowls of beef noodle soup (with beef brisket, beef tendon, or beef tripe) or mixed wild mushrooms (a thoughtful vegetarian option), fresh, seasonal veggie dishes (choi sum, kale or lettuce), and a selection of 9 cold appetizer dishes.

An easy, breezy ordering system, you no longer run the risk of getting the wrong order or miscommunication with the waitstaff.

I recommend ordering the set menu for RMB 42 (bowl of beef brisket, tendon and tripe noodles with a small appetizer and Oolong Tea). Boom. Done.

But I’m also a sucker for tendon, so that’s what I order every time, without fail. Check out these super thick noodles soaked in fragrant broth and thick chunks of tendon. Your table setting also comes with a handy set of condiments you can conveniently help yourself to.

Try their range of tasty appetizers. Keep in mind that all are served cold and all are rather pungent. The spinach and enoki mushrooms dish was a little too drenched in overwhelming horseradish/mustard dressing and similarly the bamboo shoots was also too spicy and oily for my liking, but you can’t go wrong with the fresh vegetables and marinated egg & tofu dish.

Spinach & Enoki Mushrooms with Mustard (RMB 10)/ Bamboo Shoots in Chili Oil (RMB 18)

Marinated Egg & Tofu (RMB / Seasonal Kale (RMB 20)

With only 12 seats in total, this is a great spot for a quick, casual lunch with a friend or two (not more considering the limited seats).  It’s small and cozy rather than intimate and romantic. It’s not pretentious or aiming to be anything more than simply what it is: A Noodle Bar.

Review of Noodle Bar: At 1949- The Hidden City. Courtyard 4, Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Sanlitun. Opposite Pacific Century Place South gate. Tel: 6501-1949

Best Part:

• Delicious giant, steaming bowls of beef noodle soup 
• Cozy setting, casual atmosphere – easy come, easy go
• Kung-fu noodle-pulling chefs that pound, beat and pull thick noodles right in front of your eyes
• With an open kitchen, you can see how everything is spick and span. Most likely the opposite to every other local noodle joint you come across.  
• Straightforward, bilingual menu and ordering is made even easier with check boxes to tick off

Comments:

• There are only 12 seats that wrap around the kitchen, so don’t expect to come in a group larger than 2 or 3 and still sit together.
• Definitely not conducive for big groups, but perfect for you to come on your own and not feel awkward about it (definitely a rare opportunity when it comes to eating out at a restaurant).
• Similarly, this is also not the appropriate place to sit and chat and hang out for hours.  Much more of an “eat and leave quickly” style of dining.
• I recommend this place to anyone who loves to indulge in oodles of noodles at a reasonable price considering the quality you’re getting!
• Seats may fill up quickly, but rest assured that wait won’t be long!

Rating: (on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being best)

• Food: 7
• Atmosphere: 7
• Service: 6
• Overall Experience: 7

Oodles of Noodles

1949′s got a lot of people talking about their newest additions: Club Décolleté and Club Glen (replacing 1/5 Taverna’s previous bar).  Club Décolleté is a dazzling new champagne bar with beautiful sparkling cocktails and fresh sparkling daiquiris where Club Glen is a member’s only lounge featuring premium whisky and cigars. Both venues providing a nice balance for both lovely ladies and gentlemen in each respective venue.

Aside from these two new additions, 1949-The Hidden City is also home to eateries such as 1/5 Taverna, Duck de Chine, Sugar Bar, and the quaint and cozy Noodle Bar, the smallest of 1949′s venues. With only 12 seats around the noodle station, guests quickly come and go for delicious bowls of noodles with high-quality ingredients and kung-fu chefs hand-pulling wheat noodles in front of you.

The Noodle Bar concept is quite direct – a concise menu with simple dishes, clearly specializing in big bowls of beef noodle soup (with beef brisket, beef tendon, or beef tripe), veggie dishes, and about 5 cold appetizer dishes. I recommend ordering the set menu for RMB 42 (bowl of beef brisket, tendon and tripe noodles with a small appetizer and Oolong Tea). With only 12 seats in total, this is a great spot for a quick, casual lunch with a friend or two (not more considering the limited seats).  It’s small and cozy rather than intimate and romantic. It’s not pretentious or aiming to be anything more than simply what it is: A Noodle Bar.

Noodle Bar Review: At 1949- The Hidden City. Courtyard 4, Gong Ti Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Sanlitun. Opposite Pacific Century Place South gate. Tel: 6501-1949

Best Part:

• Delicious bowls of beef noodle soup
• Nice Set Lunch Option for RMB 42 (Combo of Beef noodles, small appetizer and tea)
• Wait isn’t long (people come, eat, and leave rather quickly)
• Cozy setting and casual atmosphere with chefs hand-pulling noodles in front of you

Comments:

• There are only 12 seats, so it’s a bit complicated to arrive with more than 2 other people and expect to sit together.
• Not really a place to sit and chat and hang out (there’s more of an ‘eat-and-leave’ mentality)

I recommend this venue as a quick, casual lunch destination for people who love oodles of noodles for a reasonable price.