Authentic Eats
Noodle Works Aims To Elevate Traditional Chinese Cuisine.
When Southlake craves Chinese cuisine, local American-Chinese chains such as P.F. Changs and Panda Express help deliver savory goodness. But since Howard Wangs closed in 2021, there’s been a gap in high-end authentic Chinese food. Noodle Works is looking to fill that void by bringing traditional, hand-crafted meals inspired by Northeast China to Southlake’s ever-evolving foodie scene.
“We want to bring more authentic Chinese food to local people,” says Joanna Zu, co-owner of the family-run and operated restaurant.
Characterized by its namesake, Noodle Works uses house-made dough to prepare all of its noodles, dumplings, bao and pot stickers for a taste and texture that bursts with every bite.
A great choice for first-timers is the pan-fried pork scallion, a slightly crunchy dumpling filled with marinated meat and onion for a vibrant flavor profile.
One of the most popular choices is the beef roll, consisting of spiced beef wrapped in a Sichuan scallion pancake with bean sprouts, cilantro and fresh greens. If you consider yourself a spice lover, the Kung Pao Chicken is the kick you need with fresh and dried chilies, as well as Sichuan peppercorns. Unlike orange chicken that could be swimming in sauce, Noodle Works’ Sesame Chicken is lightly battered and fried in an orange sauce and topped with sesame seeds, fusing flavors that don’t overpower each other.
You won’t want to skip out on dessert either. Chef Jackie Fan introduced the Taro Pastry from his 30 years of experience cooking in New York, combining a bean paste and fried pastry to make for a simple sweetness that’s not too overindulgent. The Chocolate Bao is another must-try, consisting of a gooey, melt-in-your-mouth milk chocolate center that’s thinly fried and sugar-coated.
It’s no secret that the Zu family successfully brought traditional Chinese to the community, but they take it a step further by putting guests at the center of the experience.
“Some customers ask me ‘Let me try that,’ and they tell me it’s really different,” Joanna says. “I love that. It encourages me.”