First Glance: A Wang, Guomao

The creators of A Wang Noodle Bar bring us a new joint -- less bar, more sit-down, and an even more diverse range of Southeast Asian options on the menu. Located in the basement of Beijing Fortune Center, the place gets busy around lunchtime with office workers pouring in from above and nearby. 

We started off with both the deep fried spring rolls (RMB 28) and the fresh rice paper rolls (RMB 28) featuring authentic Vietnamese flavors, and were filled to the brim with vegetables and meats. The spring rolls boasted huge prawns, and the vegetables retained that beloved crunch. Combined with their respective sweet-and-sour sauces, these make for great sharing starters.

The Vietnamese beef noodle soup pho (RMB 58) was filled with sliced beef, beef tripe, beef brisket, beef balls, and beef tendon, giving the broth a, well, beefy flavor. A side of bean sprouts, spices and herbs, and onions can be added to your taste. The steaming broth is both delicate and complex, especially with all herbs and spices added.

However, if you're more into spices, the stir-fried Indonesian mee goreng with prawns (RMB 68) might be more to your liking, as the pho's flavors are more delicate and lack a bit of that punch that we like so much. A Wang's rendition of mee goreng comes with plenty of huge prawns, and a sunny side egg to top it off. 

Having adopted Singapore as my home country, expectations were high for the recommended Singapore Hainanese chicken rice (RMB 48), and it did not disappoint. The chicken was full of flavor and retained its juices. In combination with the chicken broth, the deliciously flavored rice, and as many sauces as you want, this makes for a wholesome and comforting lunch. As the temperatures drop, expect to see me here on a regular basis.

Its location means a couple of things for us: prices are decent and service is really fast. This is great if you're looking for a quick lunch in the area, but some of the dishes definitely warrant a trip here just for A Wang. 

A Wang
Daily 7.30am-10.30pm. B1, 111, Fortune Center, 7 Dongsanhuan, Chaoyang District (6596 9078)
朝阳区东三环7号财富金融中心B1层111

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Email: margauxschreurs@truerun.com
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Photos: Margaux Schreurs, courtesy of A Wang