The Five Brings Contemporary Henan Noodles and Snacks to Taikooli

Sanlituners in search of noodles have plenty of intriguing options to choose from, but few nail the essence of contemporary Chinese cuisine – and particularly Henan cuisine – like The Five. This little diner, named for the five main tastes – bitter, salty, sour, sweet, and umami – moved from Wangfujing to the stall beside Wagas on the third floor of the Taikooli complex around Chinese New Year, but the timing proved unfortunate due to the fallout of COVID-19. Nevertheless, it remained open throughout the pandemic and is only now getting the attention it deserves.

Now that things are finally loosening up, Taikooli visitors are able to give its take on Henan dishes a taste. The Five's staple dish is lamb broth noodles, available in not-spicy-at-all (RMB 38) and really-quite-spicy variants (RMB 42). Both are served with tofu strips, quail eggs, green veggies, wood-ear mushrooms, and a bit of lamb. The bowl also comes with a wooden spoon, which doubles as a makeshift knife because the noodles are actually a noodle – a very long, circular strip that must be cut, unless you plan on slurping the whole thing down at once.

The Five is a nice place to lunch alone, with its bar seating and raw cork stools, and a couple of other noodle choices to keep you coming back, like the potato noodles with tofu (RMB 18) or Henan steamed noodles (RMB 32).

But if you’re dining in a group, you would be remiss not to order a side or two. Watching your figure? Consider the ShakeShake salad with arugula and walnuts. Otherwise, pig out on strips of crunchy fried pork (RMB 48). If you want to try something unique, though, you can’t go wrong with fried potato starch (RMB 12) – a Henan street food mainstay – which may look like sweet jelly but is actually packed with a hearty peppery kick.

Late-night diners can also enjoy a selection of chuan'r alongside Slow Boat brews on tap. With no shortage of options for a quick, easy, and authentic taste of Henan cuisine in a modern environment, The Five is a welcomed addition to the Sanlitun noodle landscape and looks to flourish here more than its previous stuffy Wangfujing setting would allow.

The Five
Daily, 11.30am-9.30pm. S10-31, Bldg 10, 3/F, Taikooli, South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District (5834 7073)
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯Village南区10号楼S10-31

READ: Hot & Spicy 2020: Putting the Fire Back in Dragon Boat Festival!

Images: Joey Knotts