Yum yum: Shanxi Knife-Cut Noodle King rules for authentic northeastern Chinese food
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Big servings cooked in true Shanxi fashion.Shanxi Knife-Cut Noodle King
245 Sha Tsui Road, Tsuen Wan
Tel: 2409 1209
Cuisine: Northeastern Chinese
Vibe: It looks like any other small dim sum restaurant, but its black ceiling and ceramic walls give it a modern twist. The semi-open kitchen gives you a peek at the excellent knife skills of the chefs, slicing away like kung fu masters, while a never-ending flow of steam carries the scent of braised pork into the dining area.
Expect a short queue that will give you five to 15 minutes to prepare your taste buds.
Who to take: Friends from the mainland, or any noodle-lovers who don’t care about table manners, as everyone will be slurping and gulping down their food. But don’t take friends who don’t like a lot of salt in their food, as this place would be their worst nightmare.
What’s hot: The large variety of knife-cut noodles are a must try. Instead of following the traditional “northern style” of cutting noodles with the side of a slightly bent knife, the chefs here use a modified, razor-like noodle cutter, resulting in thinner, chewier strips of noodle. Try them with fish balls for a real blend of cultures.
There are loads of side dishes are cooked in true Shanxi fashion to choose from. For instance, the crispy sweet and sour black fungus is a great summer dish. The steamed xiao long bao is also an excellent choice, while the well-seasoned shredded chicken and Wuxiang beef are sure to please any meat lover.
What’s not: Serving sizes are huge, so if you are one of those I-have-to-finish-every-single-piece-of-food kind of person who hates to leave even a morsel behind after a meal, then these oversized bowls of noodles might be off-putting.
However, you could always share a jumbo-sized bowl of noodles with a close friend – don’t forget, sharing is caring, after all.
The food can be pretty salty here, so if you don’t like that, it might be tough finding a dish you’ll enjoy.
Shy people might have a problem here, too. When the restaurant is fully packed, or if you were to go alone, it’s very likely that you’ll be seated next to a stranger.
If you do find it awkward being a third wheel, then just keep your eyes focused on your noodles and enjoy your delicious meal!
Cost: Knife-cut noodles are HK$38. Appetizers and sides are around
HK$25 and up.