A global noodle chain has opened its first U.S. location in the Delmar Loop

The Delmar Loop has a new Asian-inspired dining addition: Zhanglala Beef Noodles (6316 Delmar), a hand-pulled Chinese noodle shop that opened April 24.

The restaurant features traditional noodle soups, appetizers, and more. It specializes in a style of handmade noodles from Lanzhou, the capital and largest city of the Gansu province in northwestern China.

Here’s what to know before you go.

The Concept

According to general manager Chin Zhang, the Zhanglala Beef Noodles brand originated in China and has more than 200 locations, including storefronts in Germany. The Delmar Loop eatery is the brand’s first franchise location in the United States.

The concept specializes in “rich, aromatic broths and tender, slow-cooked meats.” The menu’s signature dish is spicy beef noodles, with broth options that range from numbing Sichuan heat options to clear and savory.

The Atmosphere

Zhanglala Beef Noodles fills the approximately 3,000-square-foot space previously occupied by PokeDoke, with around 105 seats. Contemporary décor was imported from China, including backlit decorative panels on either side of the dining room. A window to the kitchen offers visitors a glimpse into the kitchen’s noodle-making station.

The interior features modern decor imported from China

A window to the kitchen offers a glimpse into the noodle-making process

The brand features food from Lanzhou, the capital and largest city of the Gansu province in northwestern China

Wicker-back chairs, plants, and beige upholstered wood booths lend a modern feel to the interior. Ornamental cubes suspended from the ceiling feature Chinese characters for peace, happiness, and good fortune.

The Menu

“We offer authentic hand-pulled noodles and very unique broths,” Zhang says. According to Zhang, a specialty high-gluten flour blend is used to make the wheat noodles for a chewy product that is resistant to broth absorption. Guests can choose from six widths of noodles, from an extra-thin, angel hair-like consistency to wider flat noodles.

Guests can choose from six different noodle widths

Around a dozen types of traditional noodle soup options make up the bulk of the menu, including spicy Lanzhou beef noodle, tomato beef noodle, and classic hand-pulled beef noodle soup. The latter features a clear beef broth with a splash of fiery chili oil, topped with marbled beef shank slices, pickled greens, and radish slices.

The Chinese burger is another speciality from Lanzhou. “It’s a very famous breakfast item in the city. It’s made with a special yeast-based, flaky bun filled with meat,” Zhang says. The sandwich comes with stewed pork, lamb, or spicy beef.

Appetizer highlights include Sichuan-style shredded chicken with spicy chili oil, as well as spiral-cut cucumber salad dressed in a sweet vinegar-based sauce.

Chef Bomo Song localized the Zhanglala Beef Noodles menu to fit the market, including such options as chow mein, fried rice, and big plate chicken. For a brothless noodle preparation, Zhanglala offers savory minced meat stirred noodles featuring boiled thick ribbon-like noodles tossed with minced meat sauce, topped with cucumbers, carrots, crushed peanuts, and a soft-boiled marinated egg.

“The noodles we have are very different,” Zhang says. “They’re hand-pulled and aren’t frozen or dry—they’re made fresh to order.”