One of the best cheap eats in Burwood has got to be the 1919 Lanzhou Beef Noodle. Conveniently located just across the road from Burwood station, it's hard to miss. Just look for the long queue out the front on any given evening.
1919 Lanzhou Beef Noodle - located just across from Burwood station in Sydney's inner west
The menu is not extensive, but that's because people travel from all over for just one key drawcard - fresh, handmade noodles. Experienced chefs work hard as they roll the fresh dough into noodles of different lengths - you can choose from a variety of thick and thin sizes when you place your order. You can watch them through the window of their Burwood Road shop - the chefs make it look effortless as they transform the balls of dough into long noodles made fresh to order, but no doubt it is the result of years of experience.
It's worth coming here just to watch the chefs roll out the noodles
It's mesmerising to watch the dough being stretched out
When you arrive you place your order - which dish you'd like (Special Pork Noodle and Lanzhou Handmade Beef Noodle Soup are particular highlights), what thickness you want your noodles, whether you want a small or large size, and whether you want chilli, coriander and spring onions. There's a few other items on the menu too - dumplings, stir-fried noodles and accompaniments like seaweed salad, pickled radish and Chinese tea eggs.
The menu isn't extensive but really, you're here for one thing and one thing only...
That's a lot of chilli...
Then you find a table in the no-frills restaurant. The decor is hardly going to blow you away, but this place is about tasty food, not a beautiful ambience. Within about five minutes you usually have your meal in front of you - that's the benefit of fresh made-to-order noodles - the noodles are rolled into shape once you order, thrown into boiling water to quickly cook and voila - they're ready to go.
Each table has soup spoons and bamboo chopsticks and a box of tissues for serviettes, and you can help yourself to water. As I said, this place is no-frills.
The special pork noodle is my go-to dish
Special pork noodles with thick noodles
The Special Pork Noodles come topped with a delicious pork mince mix with cold julienned cucumber and carrot, and the Beef Noodle Soup comes in a tangy, tasty broth with soft meat. The stir-fried noodles are also worth trying - you can choose vegetarian, beef or chicken.
A small bowl of Special Pork Noodles will set you back $13.80, and a large $15.80. For a quick, cheap and filling lunch or dinner, you really can't go past Burwood's 1919 Lanzhou Beef Noodle.
The stir-fired noodles are delicious too, with a tangy sauce
And even if you're not hungry, it's worth wandering past just to watch the chefs in action as they roll the dough into noodles. It's like the Myer Christmas Windows, but for noodle enthusiasts.
