As a Chinese muslim, I couldn’t be more ecstatic about the surge of halal Chinese hand-pulled noodle restaurants in London! From steaming bowls of Lanzhou beef noodles to wide, chewy Biang Biang noodles, there are now plenty of places in London where you can finally enjoy a more authentic taste of Chinese cuisine – especially freshly made Chinese noodles. In this guide, I’ve rounded up some of the best places to find halal hand-pulled noodles in London, covering everything from Lanzhou-style beef noodle soup to Xi’an belt noodles, etc. So, whether you’re craving a comforting bowl of Chinese noodle soup, thick and chewy Biang Biang noodles or simply want to discover some of the best halal Chinese noodles in London, here are the places to have on your radar.
What Are Chinese Hand-Pulled Noodles?
Chinese hand-pulled noodles, known as lamian (拉面) in Chinese, are fresh noodles made by repeatedly stretching, pulling and folding a piece of dough by hand until it forms long strands. Unlike noodles that are rolled out and cut, the strands are created through the pulling process itself. The result is a wonderfully springy, chewy noodle texture that you simply don’t get in quite the same way from dried noodles. Depending on how the dough is pulled, the noodles can also come in different thicknesses, from relatively fine strands to wider, flatter noodles. Many of the restaurants listed in this article allow you to choose your own noodle thickness/width.
One of the best-known hand-pulled noodle examples is Lanzhou beef noodles (兰州牛肉面), a speciality associated with Lanzhou in China’s Gansu province. A classic bowl typically combines freshly hand-pulled noodles with a clear, aromatic beef/lamb broth, meat slices, radish, fresh herbs and chilli oil. Another famous example is Biang Biang noodles, from the Shaanxi region, as well as Laghman in Uyghur cuisine in Xinjiang.
Different Types of Chinese Hand-Pulled Noodles to Try
- Lanzhou Beef Noodles – clear beef/lamb broth, meat, radish, chilli oil, coriander, spring onion, and freshly pulled noodles
- Biang Biang Noodles – wide, belt-like noodles associated with Shaanxi/Xi’An cuisine; usually tossed in a sauce rather than a noodle soup.
- Uyghur Lagman – hand-pulled noodles common in Uyghur cuisine, typically served with meat and vegetables (e.g. Big Plate Chicken)
- Stir-fried Hand-Pulled Noodles – stir-fried noodles
Lanzhou Noodles vs Biang Biang Noodles – What’s the Difference?
| Lanzhou Noodles | Biang Biang Noodles | |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Gansu | Shaanxi |
| Shape | Thin to wide strands | Very wide ribbons |
| Usually served | In beef or lamb broth | Tossed with sauce and toppings |
| Texture | Springy & chewy | Thick & chewy |
| Famous for | Lanzhou beef noodle soup | Wide belt noodles |
Discover More Halal Chinese Food in London
Halal Chinese Hot Pot in London
London Chinatown Halal Food Guide
Where to Find Halal Chinese Hand-pulled Noodles in London
Q Beef Noodles
Out of all the halal Chinese noodle restaurants, Q Beef Noodles is one of our top favourites, with the most authentic flavours, in our opinion. Their Stewed Beef Hand-pulled Noodle Soup (I recommend having it with thick noodles) was generous in portion and features a flavoursome broth with tender meat. Noodles aside, we highly recommend that you also try their Lamb Chinese Burger, which is the best we have had in London so far. Do note that you may have to share tables with strangers during busy times.
Location: Soho
(click to open location on Google Maps)
Belt Noodles
Boasting London’s longest noodles, Belt Noodles is a viral halal Chinese restaurant specialising in hand-pulled noodles and Chinese barbecue. We enjoyed their signature Beef Brisket Belt Noodles, featuring wide, flat hand-pulled noodles tossed in their savoury signature sauce. The noodle soups were decently good too. However, the Chinese BBQ skewers, while seemingly enticing on socials with a rotating grill on the table, were unfortunately a miss and lacked seasoning.
Location: Leicester Square
(click to open location on Google Maps)
Noodle Nova
Tucked inside a historic London building at the Strand is Noodle Nova, a halal Northwestern Chinese restaurant that does authentic hand-pulled noodles. Their signature is the Lanzhou Beef Noodles, but they also do Zhajiang noodles, Ningxia-style stir-fried noodles, and many more traditional Northwestern Chinese dishes such as Big Plate Chicken, Lamb Ribs, etc.
Location: The Strand
(click to open location on Google Maps)
Noodle Inn
The queues say it all. No matter the location, Noodle Inn consistently attracts a crowd. Whether it’s their signature chilli oil spill noodles, hand-pulled noodles, or knife-cut noodles, they’re certainly one of the most authentic halal Chinese restaurants in London.
Location: Liverpool Street / Covent Garden / Soho
Baker Noodles
Situated in Baker Street, Baker Noodles is an affordable and fully halal Chinese hand-pulled noodles restaurant in London. They make a comforting classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup, with a free noodles refill available. Additionally, they also do cold noodles, which come topped with seasonal vegetables and meat, and are perfect for the summer months.
Location: Baker Street
(click to open location on Google Maps)
Noodle & Beer
Noodle & Beer is a lively noodle spot in London Chinatown and specialises in Chongqing and Sichuan-style cuisines. They have a good selection of both dry and soup noodles to choose from, and are best known for their Super King Braised Beef Ribs with Blanket Noodles and Niu Rou Mian (beef noodle soup).
Location: Chinatown
(click to open location on Google Maps)
JWD La Mian
Coming from a well-known Chinese franchise, JWD La Mian is one of the first halal Chinese noodle restaurants in London that started the noodle frenzy. Their Liverpool Street location is a casual eatery, with a self-ordering and self-collection setup, that offers affordable and well-portioned halal Chinese hand-pulled noodle dishes.
Location: Liverpool Street
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Funky Noodle
With its prime location near Tottenham Court Road station, Funky Noodle was initially our go-to halal Chinese noodle spot. Despite the earlier social media hype, we found that the food quality at Funky Noodle has unfortunately gone down.
Location: Tottenham Court Road
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Papa Noodles
Papa Noodles specialises in Lanzhou Chinese cuisine, offering a range of classic dishes, such as Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup, Oil-splashed Noodles, Big Plate Chicken with Noodles, etc. They also do Chinese BBQ skewers (lamb/chicken) and a range of traditional Chinese small plates.
Location: Holborn
(click to open location on Google Maps)
