Restaurant Review: Chongqing Noodle

CHONGQING NOODLE

10140 104th Street | cqnoodlebubbletea.com Instagram: @cqnoodleyeg

Co-Diners: The E.A.T Crew

I don't know about you but I'm always in the mood for noods! Who isn't?! Luckily, Edmonton has an endless amount of options to suit whatever your craving desires; from ramen to phở to laksa and everything in between. I'm always on the lookout for types of noodles that are new to me and am interested in trying different styles from every country and region that I can get my chopsticks on. When I saw that the Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2024 list named Chongqing Noodle as a pick for Favourite Noodles I took notice. Chongqing is a municipality in southwestern China that is renowned for its intense, spicy cuisine. In fact, Chongqing Noodle claims that they are serving the only authentic Szechuan noodles in Edmonton. A bold statement! I visited on a Saturday evening and their location is one of the best spots in the city. You'll find the restaurant right Downtown on the 4th Street Promenade, a bustling stretch known for its density of amazing restaurants and streetside patio dining in the summer. Stepping inside the restaurant, I was immediately struck by how tiny the place is! It felt like I was going into a closet - but this also added to the authenticity of the experience. I can certainly imagine that tiny (and amazing) noodle spots exist exactly like this in China. For their diminutive size, Chongqing Noodle has crammed in every table and seat possible - and every single one of those spots was occupied. Expect to be rubbing shoulders with your neighbour (they're your dining friends now). There was only one table available and it was directly in the doorway and that's where I sat. Honestly, I was delighted by the quirkiness of it all. Apart from the crammed quarters, the restaurant is actually very cute. The location was previously a Quickly Bubble Tea shop so there are still some remnants of that defunct business. However, there's also a rainbow of colourful lanterns hanging from the ceiling which is quite striking and a mural that describes what Chongqing dishes are all about. Maybe I'm weird but I do find the half-done vibe of the restaurant pretty endearing. Before we could even sit down properly our friendly server asked if we wanted tea (which was complimentary). The answer is always yes.

A warm cup of jasmine tea is always welcome. When Chongqing Noodle first opened they were also serving bubble tea but now there seems to be no mention of it at all. (Maybe they were trying to keep the Quickly dreams alive?) Each table is adorned with a caddy complete with condiments such as soy sauce, chili crunch oil, and whole heads of garlic. There is no physical menu and instead customers are instructed to scan a QR code on the table and to place their entire order through the digital ordering system. During this process you are able to customize your dish to taste. Although the restaurant was completely packed (and new customers kept coming through the door) the food arrived to our table in almost no time at all! The city of Chongqing is known for its spicy and flavourful food with its most famous dish being xiǎomiàn AKA Chongqing noodles. Described as fiercely spicy, mouth-numbing and super aromatic, I was very excited to try them for myself! Of the several types available I chose the Chef Meat (Pork) Noodle Soup ($15.49) and added a Tea Egg ($2.99). I was able to choose my level of spiciness (medium) and you can select your portion size as well as the type of noodles used. Interestingly, this dish is usually eaten for breakfast in China.

The bowl that was placed in front of me looked irresistible. I could barely wait to dig in! The deep, rust-coloured broth threatened danger but the intense developed flavour from the Chinese chili oil and Szechuan pepper created a deliciously addictive umami. Yes, it was very spicy. But it hurt so good. I would say that the medium spice level was perfect (for me anyway) because I got all of the heat that I could handle while still getting to really enjoy the robust flavour of the broth. The fried minced pork was extra delicious! I loved the savoury taste and the texture felt very satisfying. The noodles were slippery, springy and elastic; exactly as you would want. I loved the tea egg as an accompaniment and it was seasoned to perfection. With chopsticks in one hand and a spoon in the other, I slurped and devoured. This bowl was like a flavour punch to the face and I adored every single bite. It is very clear to me why people can't stop coming back for more - it's like a Stockholm syndrome situation. The menu at Chongqing Noodle features other types of dishes as well including dumplings and rice sets. You'll also find many authentic ingredients on offer such as yellow peas and pork intestine. I really appreciate that they aren't shying away from doing their dishes justice. There are many types of noodle soup that I love and this is absolutely now one of them. I know that I'll be thinking about this unabashedly fiery flavour for a long time and dreaming of when I can feast upon more! 谢谢你！