In Short: Biang Biang Noodles is the ultimate destination for noodles lovers. Made with simple, no-fuss ingredients, this is food that is jammed packed with flavours that invokes memories of how Chinese food is done the old-fashion way. Everything from the noodles to the sauce is hand-made from scratch, and cost-wise it is value-for-money without compromising quality.
Noodles, like rice, is one of those foods that transcend the ages and culture. Every culture that I know, has some form of noodle dish entwined in its food history, while the oldest historical mention of noodles is from the third century A.D. in China.
Biang Biang noodles is a famous street-food style noodle dish that originates from China as well. The name “Biang Biang” is derived from the sound that is made when the noodle dough is repeatedly stretched and slammed on the table top, to create strands of thick, wide noodles that form the core of this famous noodle dish. The ingredients are simple and nothing complicated, but the end result is pure flavors alchemy and magic.
Imagine my excitement when fellow Coco and Viner Sacha told me that Biang Biang Noodles had opened up a shop in the heart of CBD, in Sydney Chinatown at top of Dixon street. Their selling point is that their food is done with traditional flavours or what we know as Gu Zao Wei (古早味)
Located in Dixon Street, right in the heart of Sydney’s Chinatown, Biang Biang is making all noodle lovers squeal with delight ! The shopfront is jazzed up by lots of bright colours and cartoon characters on the wall. Seating is limited but like many street food style setups, it lends itself to a quick noodle slurpfest before heading off for more food adventure. During their peak periods, it can be challenging to find a table. But the staff is very friendly and always ready to lend a hand or an extra pair of eyes to find a table as soon as possible.
Their menu is displayed on the wall or you can get a copy of their printed menu from the counter as well, though making a choice can be tough as everything just looks and sounds so delicious. This place is all about flavour, flavour, flavour!…oh and value for money as they are known for their generous portion
Your Biang Biang experience should start with a choice of one of Biang Biang side dishes. There are so many to choose from. If you, like me, are feeling adventurous, do try the Braised Beef and Tripe(夫妻肺片). Consisting of slices of braised beef and tripe with chilli oil, this is a famous Sichuan cold dish. Slices of soft meat contrast nicely with the crunchy tripe pieces. Tossed together in a traditional Sichuan chilli oil, the entire dish has a richness but slight numbing effect from the Sichuan peppers. Not for the faint hearted but this dish packs a punch and paves the way for your Biang Biang food adventure.
With Biang Biang’s signature noodles, You can go two ways with Biang Biang Noodles, spicy or mild. If you have a high threshold for chilli, do try their Biang Biang Noodles with Stewed Pork (腊汁肉揪Biang Biang面片) . The pork is so tender that it just melts in your mouth, but its the hand-made noodle strands that is the star of this dish. Unlike most noodles that are long, these noodles are short pieces of smooth, slippery and springy dough that is cooked to al dente perfection. To do the dish justice and get maximum flavour from it, it is recommended that you stir the noodles thoroughly when it is served so that the pork and noodles is well coated with the chilli oil sauce. Don’t be shy to slurp loudly, as it is the ultimate sign that you are enjoying your meal and with noodles this good, it really doesn’t matter what your neighbours or dining mates think.
If you have a lower tolerance of hot spicy food but still need flavour in your food, we would recommend the Beef Noodle Soup (牛肉汤面). The noodle used in this dish is the more familiar long thin ones but just as smooth and chewy. The springy hand-made noodles swims in a pool of delicious soup that has all the traditional herb flavours of an soup that has been cooked for many hours. There is also the relatively lean braised beef slices, topped with mustard green vegetables to balance out the richness of the dish. The broth is so good, I could just slurp the entire bowl of broth by itself. Don’t be fooled by the light colours or simplicity of the ingredients. This is a bowl of ultimate comfort food.
Rou Jia Mo (肉夹馍) is quickly becoming popular in Sydney at the moment. It is a style of street food originating from China’s Xi’an Shaanxi province. Its popularity is accentuated by the fact this flat bread with filling is so compact yet filling. Like a burger it can be eaten on the run without too much effort. One of the many Rou Jia Mo that Biang Biang has to offer is the Pulled Pork Stuffed Burger. The flatbread is chewy and crusty. Filled with delicious tender pull pork meat (which is why this dish is called Rou Jia Mo, literally translated to meat sandwiched between bread), this is China’s version of hamburger or sloppy joe and definitely finger licking yummy to the tummy.
Besides its noodles and Rou Jia Mo, Biang Biang also has one of my other all-time favourite dishes, dumplings! There is a popular Sichuan dish that features dumplings tossed in chilli oil made with Sichuan peppers, known as Hong You Chao Shou(红油抄手). In this case, Biang Biang allows you to pick the dumpling filling and it gets tossed in the chilli oil that gives this dish its distinctive name and flavour. On this visit, I opted for the Beef Dumplings (牛肉水饺). Like its noodle, the dumpling skin is smooth and chewy, yet resilient enough to hold the prized filling of juicy steamed seasoned beef, without breaking until you bite into it. You are then rewarded with an explosion of flavour in your mouth. Paired with the chilli oil, it is jam packed with flavours and delicious to the max.
If you are planning a visit to Biang Biang, make sure you are really hungry, as their food portions are pretty generous, making this a great place for students and people who are looking for a good value meal. I know that I am already planning my next visit and can’t wait to try all the other dishes in Biang Biang’s exciting menu.
Essentials:
Biang Biang
Address: Shop 39/1 Dixon St, Haymarket NSW 2000
Google Maps: Map
Website: https://www.facebook.com/biangbiangsyd/
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