Lanner Noodles&Bar — Restaurant in Cambridge

For a Tuesday lunch, I returned to Lanner. The establishment was almost full at 12:15pm, though I managed to get one of the remaining tables. As usual, I ordered the $20 lunch combo.

The lanzhou noodles today seemed under-portioned compared to before. The broth only went halfway up the bowl, and the noodle amount was substantially less than before. Previously I would be definitively full after; today, however, I still felt a bit hungry.

The new batch of students acting as wait staff also needs better training. My lunch combo tray was unceremoniously shoved onto the table under my arm from behind me without consideration for, say what if I moved at the last minute. Quite the unpleasant change from previous lunches, where wait staff were much more polite and deliberate with their movements.

Hopefully today's experience is a result of the new student chaos that descends upon the city biannually. However, I don't feel all that inclined to return test my hypothesis.

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Original Visit:

For a quick work lunch, I stopped by Lanner. At 1 p.m., the establishment was about one-third full (probably less foot traffic on a Monday). I received a seat immediately, put in my order for the lunch special, and received it within five minutes.

The lunch special ($20) allows you to select one of the noodle soups (Lanzhou or braised beef; +$5 for lamb shank noodles), one cold appetizer, and one hot appetizer. These are mini-sized appetizers, about twice the size of Korean banchan side dishes.

I selected the Lanzhou beef noodle soup, marinated wood ear mushrooms, and pork-stuffed green peppers.

The marinated wood ear mushrooms were crispy and refreshing. Garlic, soy sauce, and black vinegar made for a classic execution of this cold appetizer.

The pork-stuffed green peppers were savory without being too heavy. The abundance of scallions helped.

The Lanzhou noodle soup came with copious amounts of noodles (I opted for the regular noodle thickness). It was a bit difficult to separate some, but they had just enough springiness for wheat noodles. The soup packed a decent amount of stock—flavorful but not heavy (similar to pho). The chili oil crept up on me; I broke a sweat by the end. I do wish the beef had been sliced more thinly (like at Zhi Wei Cafe in the Leather District by South Station), but these chunks of beef shank were well-marinated; they could have been served alone as a cold appetizer, Taiwanese-style.

For the lunch special price point, you get a well-portioned noodle soup and some appetizers to mix...

Lanner is the newest local craze -- we went on a Friday at 6:30pm and had a 1 hour 20 minute wait (we hung out in Hmart for an hour before going back and waiting inside). They're clearly very very popular, and for good reason! The restaurant has a simple and elegant interior. It was very busy so it was hard to flag down a server to order, but the service was otherwise good.

Delicious, would get again Hand-torn cabbage ($14) - I never thought I would be rating cabbage as the #1 item. The dish was hot and flavorful -- the sauce had delightful wok hei and perfectly balanced soy vs vinegar, elevated with chili and garlic. I would definitely get this again. Handpulled beef noodles ($14) - Light flavorful broth, great noodles, tasty radish. The beef slices are a bit tough. Braised beef noodles ($14) - The differences between this and the hand-pulled beef noodles are minimal -- the noodles here are still hand-pulled, but the broth is a bit more dark/soy saucey and the beef chunks are more flavorful and tender. It doesn't have any vegetables inside though, sad. Golden chicken nuggets ($9) - These were delicious! The description was so enticing that we had to get it. They had a light crispy coating and were hot and juicy inside. There was a slight spice as well. Really good.

Good, might get again Big plate chicken ($18 for small size without noodles) - This was a good amount of bone-in chicken. It was pretty tender and soy-braised. Quite good, but would probably be even better with noodles. Stir fried noodles with pork ($13) - These were pretty basic, but hit the spot.

We tried the seaweed salad as well -- I liked the garlicky flavor, but I'm not a fan of this kind of seaweed. My dining partners said that the lamb skewers were good -- some parts were a bit tough, but it had good flavor and was authentic.

We ordered so much food that we were all stuffed, but were surprised that after tax and tip it only came out to $30 per person (4 people total). You could definitely have a satisfying meal for closer to $20-25 per person. Everything was so hot, fresh, and delicious -- they clearly know how to cook well. There's lots more on the menu that I want to try, like the fried mushrooms and some of the cold apps and vegetables. I'll definitely be back! Hope we don't have to wait as long...

Casual noodle bar in Central Square that specializes in Northwestern Chinese cuisine.

For years, Central Square's Chinese dining scene was dominated by Dumpling House, so the arrival of something fresh and exciting like Lanner Noodle was a welcome addition. Created by first-time restaurateurs Sean and Marissa, Lanner Noodle brought a unique experience to the table with their focus on Lan Zhou noodles—something Sean grew up eating every day. The result was food that feels crafted with care and authenticity.

At Lanner Noodles, the highlights are obviously the hand-pulled noodles. As advertised, these noodles boast an impeccable chewiness that’s hard to beat. Unlike the heavy broths you might find in hot pots or other typical Chinese restaurants in the city, their broths are also more subtle, which allows the natural flavors from meats and bones to take the spotlight. But if you're in the mood for something with a bit more punch, the broth-less Sautéed Pork Topped Noodle delivers a perfect flavorful knockout.

From their small plates, the mushroom crispy bites and the spicy marinated black wood ear mushrooms were my favorites. Maybe it’s because I’m a mushroom lover, but the subtle earthiness combined with the kick from Chinese seasonings like pepper and cumin really hit the spot. It’s a combination that always seems to work.

The only letdown was their new Tornado Potato Skewers. Having grown up eating plenty of these in Seoul, I was excited to try them, but unfortunately, this was probably the worst one I’ve ever had. The potato looked crispy on the outside but was soggy on the inside—likely a result of moisture getting trapped from frying at too high a temperature.

Lanner would probably be my new go-to spot for Chinese noodles in Cambridge. With Northwestern Chinese cuisine being a rarity in Boston, the noodles here offer unique and distinctive flavor profiles that stand out. Plus, the prices are surprisingly affordable for the area. Highly recommend...