Not your average Lucky Me

Carlos wanted me to try Lan Zhou La Mien’s Chicken Chop Noodles. Initially, I admit I was a skeptic. I have had quite a number of noodle dishes and, most of the time, the flowery raves and wonderful reviews have fallen short of my expectations. I’m not exactly an expert on food and my palate is actually very pedestrian in nature, but I know for a fact that I am very particular when it comes to noodles. I hate bihon and I prefer sotanghon, and although I am not an al dente freak, the noodle nazi in me often brushes wannabe dishes aside while thinking, “I can do this at home” or “I’m paying that much for this?”

Given all that, this dish blew me away.

The Chicken Chop Noodle bowl seemed harmless. Chicken cuts arranged neatly on top of a bed of hand-made noodles and right beside a few pieces of leafy greens. I cautiously took my chopsticks and began digging in. I was expecting a Chinese parade in my mouth complete with all the confetti and band music, you know, the way most Chinese dishes announce themselves when they finally meet your taste buds. I was bracing myself for that Chinese taste bulaga with the accompanying MSG headache but I was pleasantly surprised by the subtleness of the taste. The chicken was crispy, didn’t taste gamey or undercooked, and blended quite well with the subdued broth and the noodle’s texture. The noodles, by the way, were outstanding and had the right amount of resistance. Iba talaga ang hand-made. Everything was suave.

Soon enough, I lost myself in that bowl as I filled the whole place with satisfied slurping.