The Noodle Inn — Restaurant in London

OK here is my breakdown, after deciding we wanted Chinese food, we started researching for places to eat, this place was what we eventually settled on. Research was on tiktok (if a place is hyped up on there then just avoid).

We arrived and saw the queue from one side of the pavement and then the other side of the pavement, we waited approximately 50 mins to get a table for 3, once seated we were squished onto a square little table, the ones where it should seat 2 people not 3.....fine it's busy so that's like whatever.

The server came over like immediately and took our order, again that was fine as when we were queuing up we were given a menu which we got 10 mins into the wait.

Me and a friend both got the braised rib as that was the hyped up menu item to try, so it's easy to assume that it's going to be great, we also ordered drinks, I ordered the sugar cane with passion fruit and she order a coke..... The sugar care with passionfruit was actually really nice, so no complaints there.

After about 5 mins our food arrived, I'd like to note that I also ordered toppings on my noodles, which was scrambled eggs and tomatoes and a deep fried egg (yeah I like extra protein with my protein).... The bowl arrived and it looked appealing, however that was the only real positive thing about it.

The noodles are advertised as spicy, (I also requested extra spicy for my bowl), the meat was super tender but not very flavourful, the noodles were incredibly bland along with everything in the bowl, on top of that everything the food arrived pretty much cold and dry..... Also for the love of God, I suggest not to order the toppings the egg and tomatoes was absolutely abysmal, it tasted like it was cooked in the morning the eggs instead of being soft and fluffy was tough and crumbly and the portion was just sad, like half an eggs worth, it was like half a spoons worth (£3) and the deep fried egg was sad as well, as if they cooked it again way in advance and was just an after thought..... I ate the food, just because I was hungry and I hate food wastage, and I took this as a lesson to never trust tiktok for food recommendations.

Tldr the food was lower than mid and tasted like it was catering to a western palate aka bland, the service was fine, but there are some shady business practices (example if we paid the guy who was seating us in the queue £20 cash we would have been able to skip the queue to get in and we could get 3 free drinks).

We was never asked how we found the food etc.

We asked to remove the service charge as overall the experience was crap and overpriced, I personally won't be dining there again, and if you read this review to this point, then I suggest you skip this place and try a place with less hype and a lower google rating as it most likely be better... Out of 5 I would give this place a 2.3 / 5.

Spend your hard working...

I visited the Noodle Inn earlier this month and wanted to share my experience to help others decide if it’s worth the visit.

The wait We joined the queue at 2:34 PM and didn’t get seated until 3:30 PM—a wait of 54 minutes which is quite a long time (however this was a busy Saturday so we anticipated the wait).

What we ordered Oil spill wide noodles with braised beef rib (topped with minced pork) Shredded duck burger with hoisin sauce Pan-fried dumplings (minced pork and Chinese cabbage) Deep-fried popcorn chicken (with salt and pepper powder)

Drinks Sugar cane juice with passion fruit Pure sugar cane juice

Food Wide noodles: these came out super quickly—less than 10 minutes. They were spicy, full of flavour, and generously portioned. The beef rib was tender and fell off the bone. For £18.80, the portion was huge, easily enough for two people we had leftovers to take home. We both would’ve liked the noodles to be a little softer, it was a bit chewy!

Popcorn chicken: fresh, crunchy, and with a slight sweetness to it. Delicious, but it lacked a dipping sauce, something like sweet chili or spicy mayo so it wouldn’t be as dry.

Duck burger: My friend TA, who loves duck, rated this a 6.5/10. I personally found it underwhelming at 4/10. It was okay but didn’t wow me.

Pan-fried dumplings: Solid 7.5/10. They were fresh, flavourful, and well-made. But again, they could’ve used a dipping sauce like soy sauce or a vinaigrette.

Sugar cane juices: 9/10. The passion fruit version was the clear winner—refreshing and flavourful. TA loved it so much, she ordered a second one!

Atmosphere The place was loud, and had no music. It felt more like a school cafeteria than a cozy dining spot—definitely not ideal for an intimate quiet meal. The interior was clean but basic, and the tables were quite compact.

Service The service was fantastic—9/10. Was quick to bring out our food, everything moved pretty fast paced once we were seated.

Our two waiters had excellent customer service and great recommendations.

Overall The bill came up to £71.89 for two people, including service charge (£35.95 each) which is not bad value for money considering the amount of food we had.

Overall, in my opinion, it’s not worth the crazy hype but definitely worth a visit at some point! Perhaps when the TikTok craze has died down so the queue wouldn’t be so long.

Now that we’ve had a try, we won’t be going back anytime soon, but I do recommend trying the wide noodles with beef shank, and the passion fruit sugar cane juice.

I’ve attached some photos of our dishes, menu and the receipt for reference, hope...

Ah, but to simply state that this establishment is "THE PLACE TO EAT" in central London feels rather... pedestrian, wouldn't you agree? Let's delve a little deeper, shall we? One doesn't merely eat here; one embarks on a culinary pilgrimage. From the moment the vibrant hues of your plate arrive, practically singing with promise, until that final, lingering whisper of flavour fades from the palate, this is an experience that transcends mere sustenance. Indeed, to articulate the sheer depth of flavour on offer feels akin to chasing a phantom; words seem to crumble and fail in the face of such unadulterated deliciousness. My advice? Arrive with an appetite bordering on ravenous, for the generosity of spirit extends to the portions themselves. We, in our initial hubris, dared to believe we could conquer every delectable offering. We were humbled, delightfully so, and the subsequent enjoyment of the remnants the following day only served to underscore the kitchen's prowess. Now, be warned: entry requires a certain dedication. Bookings are eschewed, necessitating a queue upon arrival. However, fret not, for this is no ordinary purgatorial line. A diligent member of the front of house orchestrates the flow with admirable efficiency, ensuring one never feels adrift or forgotten. The service is a masterclass in understated attentiveness. Polite, caring, and ever-present, the staff contribute seamlessly to the overall experience. Even the melodic cadence of the kitchen's native tongue, a vibrant hum of culinary creation, adds to the immersive atmosphere. And despite the admirable commitment to freshness – one can observe the very noodles being crafted – the wait for one's meal is surprisingly brief. The ambiance itself is a warm embrace, an invitation to linger and savour. To put it plainly, a return visit isn't a matter of if, but rather when. Consider my curiosity thoroughly piqued, and my future reservations (figuratively speaking, of course) already...