Right next to Tottenham Court Road tube station, Noodle Oodle brings decent prices, excellent portions and of course, oodles of noodles to Oxford Street, throwing in some world record winning culinary skills just for good measure.

The Venue
Typically of Oxford Street restaurants, Noodle Oodle (formerly known as Inn Noodle) isn’t the most glamorous of venues, preferring instead to opt for a decor that’s simple, efficient and more suited to a location that pulls in passersby at an impressive rate. So don’t expect palatial golds and water features, this is one Oriental restaurant that prefers to keep diners concentrating on the food. A few well positioned flower arrangements are about as extravagant as it gets, with uncomplicated wooden seating, cream walls and unfussy lighting ensuring the eye wanders over to a busy, fragrant open kitchen that draws inquisitive looks from local shoppers. And inquisitive those looks certainly are, thanks in no small part to the presence of a head chef who boasts the world record for the most hand-pulled noodles in three minutes, beating Gordon Ramsay in the process.

The Atmosphere
Any street-side eatery on Oxford Street is going to be a product of its location, namely busy, bustling and somewhere to grab a relatively quick bite. Consequently, Noodle Oodle is exactly that, enjoying a speedy turnaround of satisfied diners ranging from tourists and local workers through to appreciative Chinese natives happy to order in Cantonese. Service is quick too, and always with a smile, but don’t expect to get embroiled in conversation as the staff follow that archetypal Oriental technique of being politely abrupt in order to be efficient. Which is no bad thing at all, especially when food comes out on time and you can easily get back to the office within an hour.

The Food
Noodle Oodle’s name suggests what this place does best, but it doesn’t quite tell the whole story. Noodle Oodle was the first restaurant in London to bring the hand-pulled noodle technique to town, a technique that sees noodles created in a matter of seconds by a skilful process of repeatedly pulling the dough apart until it is in one long strand, ready to be cooked. Don’t understand? Ask for your very own demonstration – it’s very impressive. The noodle dishes themselves are equally impressive, with the sliced beef lamien soup (£6.90) being particularly good. Tender slivers of beef are immersed in a spicy chilli oil broth that has just the right amount of bite, and surrounded by light, soft and airy noodles.

If you’re a dim sum fan then these are very tasty, with the Noodle Oodle speciality of the pork Shanghainese dumplings (£3.60) being well worth a try thanks to incredibly delicate rice flour skin with lightly spiced pork inside, served with a tangy vinegar and ginger dip. The pick of the dim sum though are the pork and vegetable dumplings (£5.00) that boast the same deliciously light exterior but a more flavoursome meaty interior that has that unmistakable hint of star anise.

The roasts, a popular staple of Chinese cuisine in London, are decent enough, with a roast meat platter being a good place to start and not bad value at £7.90 for a sample of three. The roast duck is soft, succulent and not too fatty; the char siew (barbecue pork) is sweet and well seasoned; and the roast pork is tender and boasts a deliciously crunchy top layer of fat.

Also worth trying are the stewed beef pot and the special fried rice, which handily go together very well. The special fried rice (£6.60) is hugely superior to the limp versions most Chinese restaurants and takeaways serve up, thanks to fluffy rice that’s impeccably seasoned and served with generous portions of char siew pork and shrimp. The stewed beef (£7.50) is exceptional, with tender beef falling apart on the fork and boasting a delicious sweetness from just the right amount of Chinese five spice.

If you fancy a dessert then the cold mango pomelo sago (£2.80) is a good way to go, with mango and pomelo pureed into a refreshing, cold and sweet smoothie that’s the perfect antidote to all those spices.

The Drink
As well as the Western carbonated favourites such as cokes, lemonades and the like, there are a few Oriental options that have to be tried. The coconut juice (£1.60) is deliciously refreshing, with sweetened milk served over ice, garnished with chunks of coconut and served with a straw. The Chinese teas are also tasty, yet more to the point, helpful, as all those wise Oriental sages that have promoted them as good for digestion throughout the ages seem to be very right indeed. Jasmine tea (£1 for a refillable pot) is particularly good and nicely drinkable thanks to a sweetness that other herbal teas don’t always offer.

The Last Word
Belying the notion that Oxford Street eateries are just there for the tourists, Noodle Oodle serves up very tasty, authentic Chinese fare at very reasonable prices. Especially when you can watch a genuine world record holder put on a show for free.

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