Strands of Bliss

ZHAO ZAI ER SICHUAN NOODLE | 赵崽儿川式面品 (湖滨道店)
Address: B2/F, Hubin Dao, 150 Hubin Road, Huangpu District (near Jinan Rd.) | 黄浦区, 湖滨路150号湖滨道购物中心B2层 (进济南路)
Telephone: +86 158-2108-1470
Hours: Daily 11:00 – 20:00
Price: 25 – 35 RMB/person
Cuisine: Chinese – Sichuan
Rating: 3.5/5

 

Anyone for spicy Sichuan?

I ventured back to Hubin Dao for another quick lunch. In case you haven’t been, this mall offers quite the variety of strands, amongst other food (but mostly Asian). Last time I went there for Moian Noodle, I noticed a long line for this Sichuan noodle spot and this time was no different. Long lines have the illusion of being good, so we got in line.

 

This food court restaurant is small and narrow but the tables extend into the mall space and turnover is fast. Décor is nothing fancy with some lanterns hanging and scrolls on the walls. Even if there was more décor, you wouldn’t see it with the crowds of people eating.

 

The menu items are mainly noodle dishes with a few side dishes to complement. The recommended noodles have photos which is nice (although we know in China, sometimes photos look different from what you get) and there’s multiple options of dry and soup noodles. We ordered a soup noodle and two dry ones along with a common Sichuan side dish of shredded potatoes. The noodles in all dishes are the same, a standard wheat noodle, not too thin or wide and with a good bite.

 

Hong Shao Niu Rou Mian – Braised Beef Noodle (红烧牛肉面) | 35 RMB

There are so many varieties of 红烧牛肉面 based on what region it comes from. I wasn’t expecting this dish to be particularly special, but it ended up being my favorite. The soup is peppery and spicy with that nice Sichuan 麻辣 flavor (ma la – numbing spice found in Sichuan foods). The noodles were very al dente which I prefer if it’s in soup since the noodles tend to continue cooking and get softer. The pieces of beef are very tender and soak up the nice peppery soup flavor. Strongly recommended.

 

 

Zhan Dou Ji Ban Mian – Chicken Noodles (战斗机拌面) | 35 RMB

This dish kind of missed the mark for me, but it’s a good option if you can’t eat that Sichuan spice. The chicken pieces are tossed with peppers but the spice doesn’t adhere much so it’s more the chicken and oil that give the noodles flavor. I usually prefer a bolder, spicier taste.  Recommended (if you can’t eat spicy)

 

Chongqing Za Jiang Mian (重庆杂酱面) |  20 RMB

I was particularly looking forward to this one, but it fell flat. It is spicy but was lacking something. Even with the minced meat and garlic, the flavors are one dimensional and would benefit from some acidity or herbs. The dish almost seems to be in soup, but instead sits in a pile of chili oil.  Not recommended.

 

Shredded Potatoes (凉拌土豆丝) |  10 RMB

This is a go-to side dish for me and it didn’t disappoint here. The potatoes have a nice, refreshing crunch and were not too vinegary. The chilis give it a nice spice without being too overpowering. A strong side to any Sichuan noodle dish. Strongly recommended.

 

Overall, for Sichuan noodles, I still prefer Liu Dao Men Mian (六道门面) but for a quick lunch if you’re craving spice or if you’re in the area, this is a decent option. Just be sure to avoid the crazy lunch rush!

 

Bliss Tips:

• Try to avoid the lunch peak between 12 – 1PM.
• On my list to try for next time is: Tomato Egg Noodles (西红柿鸡蛋拌面) and Diced Eggplant Noodles (茄子肉丁拌面)
• Portions are very generous and carb filled. Be careful not to over order!