Beef Up Noodle — Restaurant in New York

It’s not every day that one hears the words of Rumi—13th-century mystic and poet—resonating through a halal beef noodle shop in Midtown Manhattan. Yet Beef Up Noodle became just that: a space of stillness, sound, and spiritual reflection during Vol. 3 – An Afternoon with Rumi, part of the From Zayton to New York World Music Series.

The setting was unexpected but intimate. Beneath the glow of digital menu boards and the scent of Lanzhou-style broth, a full house gathered—some seated, many standing—to witness a deeply moving performance that blurred the lines between poetry, music, and prayer.

Multi-instrumentalist Gabriel Akhmad Marin laid down rich, improvisational textures; Muhammad Ali Mojaradi gave voice to Rumi’s verses in Persian and English with heartfelt clarity; and Amin Sarshar, trained in classical Persian vocal forms, infused the space with lyrical devotion. Their chemistry was immediate and responsive—each element reacting to the other in real time.

With no set script, the performance flowed like water. Silences were as powerful as sound. The verses of Rumi—on love, loss, longing, and divine unity—were not just recited but felt.

That it all happened in a noodle shop only deepened the magic. This wasn’t about transporting audiences to a distant past or sacred shrine, but about grounding Rumi’s timeless wisdom in the everyday. For a moment, the busy city outside faded, and something ancient and...

I was looking forward to coming back here but unfortunately it was an extremely disappointing experience. The first time I came here the service was a bit slow but I was kinda excited to finally try this place so I brushed it off as a one time thing and the food was good so I still gave them 4 stars.

Second time, was 10 times worst, I ordered the sesame chicken ($19.99, no rice included, not a large portion). After 35 mins I had to go up to the counter to ask about my food, and my plate was sitting there (not sure for how long). They gave it to me and I asked them for the rice, and he said it's coming. I sat down and tried the food, not bad but it was COLD. I waited another ten minutes and just decided to take the food to go & leave. 45 mins for a small portion of cold sesame chicken for 20 bucks, I don't think I'll be coming back here again. Had to change my review from 4 to 3 stars. They definitely need to do better especially if those are the prices they want to charge. ($20 for sesame chicken is insane in nyc.)

First review. "I stopped in here just for a little snack to try it out since I was in the area. I wasn't too hungry so didn't get the noodle soup, which I'm hoping to try next time. I tried the chicken dumplings & lamb skewers. Both...

Possibly one of my favourite restaurants for many reasons. First, the food is extremely delicious. We ordered the braised beef noodles and steamed beef dumplings. While the food was excellent, what stood out most was how the restaurant puts its customers first in everything they do. Tips are not required — all tip options are set to $0. This isn’t standard in a Manhattan restaurant, especially considering how expensive rent can be for a small family, yet they still manage to offer reasonable prices and no tips. There’s also a sign that says Free Suhoor and Iftar in Ramadan. This is incredibly beautiful and such an inspiring representation of Islam.

Lastly, what I loved most was that Coca-Cola and Salam Cola were priced the same. This encourages customers to make an intentional choice in their drink selection. Since Salam Cola is more expensive to source than Coca-Cola, it’s clear their margins are smaller on Salam Cola and higher on Coca-Cola. It balances out — a very smart business decision.

Muslim restaurants can learn a...