144 E Broadway (between Pike St and East Broadway, Chinatown)
Fatty Kat Eats: Beef Soup Noodles, Fried Dumplings
If you didn't know any better, Lam Zhou Handmade Noodle would seem like every other unkempt Chinatown noodle shop. There's nothing to look at besides the noodle man working his magic--kneading, slamming and pulling what becomes luscious strands of heaven.
When you go to these kinds of place, there are only a handful of dishes you should order. If there are multiple variations of one thing (i.e. soup noodles), it might be hard to decide which one to order. Just don't be stupid: Beef Soup Noodle > Fish Ball Soup Noodle. Pretty basic.
We shared the Fried Dumplings. So good. If your standard is Vanessa's, you need a new standard, and Lam Zhou does the job. I'm not crazy about dumplings to begin with, so unless I make them myself, I tend to stay away. Dumplings are usually super oily and salty, and these aren't that different. However, the thinly fried skins carried a boatload of savory soup, juicy pork and chives. Yum!
All of us went with the Beef Soup Noodles. That's what all the cool kids order, and you know I'm mucho cool. The thin noodles were tender and made a wonderful slurpy noise with every mouthful. Although the beef and beef broth were both very good, there was something missing. I can't quite put my finger on it. Perhaps, star anise or soy sauce? Regardless, soup noodles are soup noodles, and they can never fail in my mind (and mouth). My favorite beef noodle soup is still at Super Taste or King 5 Noodle House (Flushing).
Besides those 2 things, there wasn't much else that piqued our fatty cravings. Keep in mind: the noodle man's domain sits at the back of the small restaurant, so sit along the back wall to creep on the action. Even if you don't speak Chinese, strike up a conversation with the guy. He's more than willing to chat, although you might not understand half of what he's saying.
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