[Food Review] Lanzhou Beef Noodles - Authentic Chinese Lanzhou-style Hand-Pulled and Knife-Shaved Noodles in Amsterdam

Amsterdam may not be renowned for its Asian noodle offerings. While you can find a few Ramen and Pad Thai places, words like Pho, Udon, Soba, Naengmyeon, Mian, and Mee are not commonly heard in this city. However, I recently stumbled upon a fantastic hand-pulled Lanzhou Beef Noodle spot right here in Amsterdam, defying expectations.

Having lived in Asia, Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup has always held a special place in my heart among Asian noodle dishes. I adore Bak Chor Mee, Soto Ayam, Bun Bo Hue, Pyongyang Naengmyeon, and Tonkotsu ramen, but there's something about the spicy and savory broth of Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup paired with its satisfyingly chewy noodles.

At this establishment, you can indulge in six different noodle thickness options, along with knife-shaved noodles. While Lanzhou offers eight varieties, the thinnest options have been excluded here. Accompanying your noodles, you can choose from side dishes like wood ear mushrooms, potatoes, and cucumbers.

The menu features three main types of dishes: traditional Lanzhou Beef Noodles, braised beef noodles (Hong Shao), and knife-shaved beef noodles. During my visits, I had the pleasure of trying Lanzhou Beef Noodles with wide noodles. The noodle soup arrived garnished with a tea egg, and we also ordered a selection of side dishes.

To my pleasant surprise, my first experience surpassed expectations. Just like the famous Chinese proverb, "when we transplant the Southern Orange to the North, it grows into something else, something inferior" (橘化为枳), I didn't have high hopes, but the soup turned out to be genuinely authentic. The broth boasted a deep and spicy flavor, and watching the noodles being hand-pulled right in front of me added an extra level of appreciation for their extraordinary texture.

On subsequent visits, I opted for thinner noodles, and they proved to be equally delightful. To enhance the experience, I gladly accepted their offer of adding spiciness and coriander, which turned out to be a wise decision.

During one visit, we decided to try the braised beef noodles (红烧牛肉面). Unlike the sliced beef in Lanzhou beef noodles, the beef for this dish is cut and braised specifically for the noodles. We chose different types of noodles—thin and wide—and once again, our noodles were skillfully prepared right before our eyes based on our preferences.

Apart from the Uyghur restaurant, Silk Road Kebab House, I struggle to recall any other exceptional hand-pulled noodle establishments in Amsterdam, except for this gem—Lanzhou Beef Noodles. If you find yourself craving a flavorsome noodle soup on a rainy day in Amsterdam, this is the place to be. The friendly staff go above and beyond to ensure cleanliness and a pleasant dining experience.

Lanzhou Beef Noodles

Address: Rijnstraat 67, 1079 GW Amsterdam

Phone: Phone: +31 020 644 5377

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