Snack Attack: Are These the Best Biangbiang Noodles in Beijing?

Snack Attack is your guide to the sometimes smelly, sometimes flavorful, sometimes odd munchies to be had in the capital.

I have been on the look out for a good noodle place for some time, and that's why when my friend told me that there is a place called Shan Restaurant that serves mouthwatering Biangbiang noodles -- aka the Shaanxi noodle dish with the hardest name to write in Chinese -- I had to visit.

The restaurant, hidden down an alleyway between the bustle of Workers' Stadium South Road and the Dongdaqiao Byway, features handmade noodles that are a true representation of Xi'an flavors. As soon as I entered the place, I was greeted by cozy and bright décor replete with simple wooden furnishings with a handful of seats.

I took the best seat in the house: a table by the counter, so that I was able to watch the chefs as they cooked up fresh orders of noodles and 肉夹馍 Ròu jiā mó, a feast for my eyes indeed. As I was eagerly waiting for my food, I could hear the sizzling sound of the oil, and while I was lost in this sensory soundscape, my juicy Biangbiang noodles (RMB 20.8) finally arrived.

The noodles were thick and soft, piled up in the bowl and coated in a delicious savory sauce that is made up of soy sauce, five spice powder, and a touch of vinegar.

But the best part of it all had to be the toppings that consisted of pork, tomatoes, bean sprouts, carrots, and egg. The pork was unlike anything I've ever had in a bowl of noodles. It had such a savory and fiery taste that without it, I feel like the entire dish would be incomplete.

This bowl of noodles was certainly delicious, moreover, with each bite, it almost felt like you could taste the care that the chefs had put into making the dish.

For a little treat on the side, I ordered myself a bowl of 汤圆 Tāngyuán， a kind of sweet dumpling made of glutinous rice flour and filled with black sesame paste. This simple, hearty dessert, bursting with its nutty filling was truly tasty. These humble, handmade, explosions of delight definitely tasted a lot better than the frozen tangyuan sitting at the bottom of my freezer!

Plus, for RMB 26.8, you can get their signature set meal which comes with Biangbiang noodles, roujiamo, and a coke. The noodles alone could have filled me up for the rest of the day, so I'd recommend saving your roujiamo to eat the next day for a quick, yet hearty breakfast. I can't wait to go back again the next time I'm craving some noodles.

Shan Restaurant 陕味食族油泼面 (Sanlitun Branch)
Xinghua Apartment South Gate, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场兴华公寓南门

READ: Persimmon Pleasures: Recipes for Beijing’s Juicy Fruit

Images: Courtesy of 陕味食族，Irene Li