Noodle Topia — Restaurant in Madison Heights

The only open minded, thorough, and experienced review you need to read

Heard about this hidden gem from a friend in the area. Brought my father here to try these Hand Pulled Noodles for the first time and we were not disappointed 👌🏽 Sichuan Noodles are now my new favorite noodle soup. Can’t believe I didn’t try it sooner but there’s only a HANDful of places around the area that serves it.

[Location] A “hidden” gem. You’ll likely miss it driving up the road as the sharp parking lot entrance is right off John R that opens up into the back (Careful, it’s a one way entrance/exit). Their front door entrance is located at the back of the building facing away from the street which is an odd building design but adds privacy from the public roads.

[Atmosphere] Building looks blacked out and shady from the outside street but very modern and spacious inside upon entering. A warm and inviting decor wrapped around the room with a nice corner bar for alcoholic drinks too. Looks a lot nicer than outside and livens up the mood for a tasty noodle soup. You can hear a mix of Chinese and upbeat electronic music playing as the noodle chef pounds and whips dough to the beat.

[Service] Don’t expect tip top customer service at cultured restaurants like this unless you can speak their language. It’s the sacrifice you make for trying authentic non-Americanized foods. This isn’t your typical Sweet N Sour Chinese joint that caters to a lot of Westerners. Asian restaurants do not like to intrude while customers are eating so they will stand by and only come by request. English isn’t their best but they try and I can appreciate that.

[Food] The menu is short and simple with 6 main dishes that have different flavored broths using the same fresh noodles in various styles (Shaved, Pulled, Bell) you see the chef whipping up behind the glass. Didn’t see anything else interesting besides the noodles and their xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings) which was superb. Prices are perfect ($8-11) with generous portions of food filled to the rim. I finished my entire bowl of noodles and broth satisfied while my father could barely finish his.

I ordered the Sichuan Noodles which was a flavor explosion of spicy minced pork soup similar to Ramen. My father had the Beef Noodles which was a clean rich broth similar to Pho. Broths were well seasoned with glistening oil rings of flavor and additional hot chilli oil on the table was a nice touch that wasn’t too spicy. The meat and veggie portion was perfect for me but you can always add extra if needed; it’s all about the noods here.

Cultural foods like this are not for the sensitive pallets as it’s an explosion of oily, salty, spicy, umami flavor so fair warning; it’s not Campbell’s Chicken Noodle Soup.

The xiaolongbao (Soup Dumplings) was a plus to our meal that I recommend trying; probably the best I’ve had. I’d give it a couple minutes to cool down first as the hot soup trapped inside might catch you off guard first bite. The staff on the other side of the restaurant was wrapping the dumplings as they were brought to our table steaming fresh (Authenticity checked).

The drinks aren’t anything to brag about but the Cheese Tea was something new and unique to try. I like the fact that it’s not too sweet and has a light creamy taste. $9 for Plum Juice though? Not worth it enough for me to try; that’s the cost of a whole bowl of noodles.

[Take Out] Brought back the same dishes we ordered for the family at home and they enjoyed it too. As with any restaurant, take out is good but won’t be as good fresh; especially noodle soups. Request the noodles and broth separate if they don’t already do that to preserve the freshness. You can heat up the broth in a pot then add the noodles from the tray to loosen them up.

[Tech] They bring iPads to your table for payment. The future is here.

[Overview] Best first time Hand Pulled Noodle Soup experience. Service is okay. Cool to watch noodles getting slapped around. Well seasoned flavorful food. Generous portions at a good price. Xiaolongbao, just...

Beef dumplings are great, braised beef so pretty good, also enjoyed garlic noodles and sweet pork (although some came out cold, they didnt heat or cook properly). We had an issue with our service. There was about 7 tables of ppl and one waiter, but also a robot was used to bring ppl their food and drinks. Our food was brought out at random, instead of appetizers first and mains after. We had to ask for our beers we ordered bc they never gave them to us before our main dishes arrived. We also ordered 2 order of egg rolls, which never came. The waiter at one point was standing at the bar looking my general direction if not right at me as im waving my hand at him in 2 separate time within minutes, but he never acknowledged me or came over. I got his attention once a new table sat down beside us to let him know about of egg rolls over came as were finhing main dishes. He came back a few moments later and egg rolls were in a pool of oil, with no plum/duck sauce. We ate a few eggs rolls and decided we wanted the remaining food to go home and needed containers. He was helping table next to us when I raised my had and said "excuse me sir" to get hus attention. He paused a sec and what looked like gave me a side eyed and helped a table across they way without ever acknowledging maybe he will help me after he helped someone else. He never came to our table after that. Funny thing was the previous table turned around to look at me when I called out for him, so I know he heard me. We waited to see if he'd come out to the floor again but he was in the back area near cooks/back end, and busy. We waited long enough to where I just got up helped myself to the containers on the end near cooks station, bc he never came out. This was our first time there, so this was disappointing at the service. I also understand if waiter was busy but I only hope he's partially deaf/blind, to explain his lack of acknowledgment when someone trying to get his attention. Also you use a Qr code at table to order food and prepay dinner. I didnt like that they expected you to tip ahead of service. I waited til the end of dinner to...

Turn into small driveway between the taller large gray building and the restaurant. Park in back.

Update: photo added of their wonderful Dumplings. I made my own Asian standby Sauce/Broth for Soup at home. See my throw together ingredients in a paragraph below. OMGoodness! 2 additional delicious meals (3 dumplings each.)

First Time ordering.... my Szechuan Noodle Soup was gorgeous and so delicious! Spicy beef broth, fried ground pork, soybeans, ground garlic, peanuts, preserved Szechuan pickle, green veggie, scallion, sesame

It wasn't overly spicy, but the heat does hit your throat a little more as you go through the bowl. Huge portions. I don't remember seeing or tasting Peanuts, Szechuan Pickles, or Scallions. I also would have loved a little more Baby Bok Choy. But, my goodness! That rich reddish Beef Broth was wonderful! I also preferred the type of Noodles in this Soup - lighter, tastier, and more tender than the kind I tried in my cousin's Beijing Soup. I'd order the Szechuan again. Btw, the egg in the Beijing Soup was cooked so the Yolk was not runny and I didn't care for the broth as much either, more mild than mine.

I also ordered the By-Gee-Mo (Pork Bun) and the Pork Soup Dumplings To-Go. I'll make my own Garlic, Ginger, Sesame Oil, Sambal, Soy, Vinegar, Scallion Broth to serve the Dumplings in. If the Pork Bun Meat needs a sauce, I'll save a little broth from my Szechuan Soup leftovers. My cost was a little higher because of additional To-Go items.

How good was this? I forgot to take a picture before eating. Definitely, a...