It’s hard not to notice the long queue outside Funky Noodles as you walk down Charing Cross Road from Tottenham Court Road station. This halal Chinese restaurant has rightfully gained so much attention with its hand-pulled noodles and Northwestern Chinese cuisine. The queues are long, so make sure you go early. Or here’s a tip: if you are already in the area early, pop in to ask for a reservation for later. It’s not guaranteed, but you may be able to do so and skip the long queues.
Funky Noodles: A Taste of the Rich Culinary Heritage from the Silk Road
Regions such as Shaanxi, Gansu, Ningxia, Qinghai, and Xinjiang in Northwestern China are home to a large Muslim population and boast a rich culinary heritage. As a core part of the Silk Road, Northwestern Chinese cuisine can be characterised by its bold spices and focuses on beef/lamb dishes. Think of hand-pulled noodles, smoky barbecue lamb skewers, flatbreads, biang biang noodles, and many more – that’s exactly what Funky Noodles’ menu offers.
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The Food at Funky Noodles (what we ordered)
Signature Handmade Noodles in Rich Mutton/Beef Broth (£13.80)
Lanzhou-style noodle soup takes the spotlight on Funky Noodles’ menu. Each bowl of noodles comes in a clear broth, and the real magic happens when you mix in the chilli oil and Chinese black vinegar available at your table. Having tried both the mutton and beef noodles, we find the mutton one a tad bit more flavoursome. You can choose the width of your noodles, from thin to wide. I like mine thick, which was perfectly chewy, with an al dente texture that springs in your mouth.
Oil Spill Hand-pulled Noodles with Braised Beef Ribs (£18.80)
Chances are, you’ve seen this showstopping braised beef ribs oil-spilled noodles on social media, and that’s how you come across Funky Noodles. The concept of oil-spilled noodles originated from the Shaanxi region, where the noodles are topped with garlic and chilli, then with sizzling hot oil poured over to bloom the aromatics and spices. Your server will have scissors to cut up the meat for you upon serving and removing the bone. As you can expect, the meat was incredibly tender, with a good proportion of fat to give flavour. Though I feel the spice could be a little punchier
Desert-style Lamb Ribs (£13.80)
Next, we tried one of the Northwestern Special Dishes and opted for the Desert-style Lamb Ribs. Marinated with cumin, chilli, and aromatic spices, these lamb ribs were beautifully flavourful. Each rib was reasonably meaty and was tender to taste.
Tea Egg (£1.80)
Tea eggs are essentially boiled eggs simmered in a spiced tea broth and are a very typical snack in China. Since not many places in London do it, we were excited to try it out at Funky Noodles. It paired especially nicely with the oil-spilled noodles, in my opinion, but the flavours were not as rich as I’d hoped. Nonetheless, it was still a nostalgic treat for me.
Lamb Skewers (£2.50 each) (min. order 2)
Barbecue lamb skewers are a must when having Xinjiang / Northwestern Chinese food. These from Funky Noodles had a nice little smoky touch from the cumin and chilli, and the meat was tender to taste. There’s still room for improvement, though, as I find them slightly lacking oomph compared to what we had in China.
Funky Noodles Review Summary
Nothing makes me happier than seeing an authentic representation of Chinese cuisine in London’s halal dining scene. Funky Noodles is a true halal food gem to visit in central London for a delicious and affordable meal. You certainly get your money’s worth as well with their large portions. If you like Chinese food, especially hand-pulled noodles soup, this has to be at the top of your list.
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