Noodle

A city centre café-style Chinese diner offering good-value dishes using noodles handmade on site.

The 2019 edition of The List's Eating & Drinking Guide is out now – only £5.95 (+p&p).

This unassuming addition to Glasgow’s Chinese scene is marked out by its claim that all noodles are handmade to order. Sure enough, the open-plan space (more café than restaurant) leaves chefs in full view as they roll and shake out these delights, pleasingly chewy and irregular and fresh. It makes a big difference. Nothing is fancy, but it’s authentic and it tastes good: rich, clean broths, veg that’s fried full of flavour but still crisp, served with thin, beaten slices of chicken or beef. A generous portion of ‘northern style dumpling’ (chicken potstickers) is served in the steam basket – glutinous parcels that explode into vinegary umami in the mouth, while a cold counter offers simple accompaniments such as fried peanuts, little twists of tofu, or a spicy kimchi-esque bowl of cabbage (try them all: £1 for a small plate, £2 for large). Things crunch, contrast and sizzle when they’re meant to. No alcohol, or pork dishes, but there is a Chinese language menu with some more intriguing options for the adventurous.