Spotlight Series: Dan Dan Noodle
Sichuan Soup Sizzles
There’s nothing quite like a bowl of steaming soup made by a cook who knows how to combine the spices. Add fresh, home-recipe noodles and sides from dim sum to dumplings and you have the West End’s best kept secret — a noodle soup spot, Dan Dan Noodle on Denman.
Family Recipes Simmering Delicious
Things have bustled at Dan Dan Noodle, right from their 2021 opening. Founder and keeper of the family recipes, Holly Wei, told us how the restaurant came to be. “Our family has a long history in the restaurant industry in Sichuan, China. There’s a way to make Sichuan soups and dishes that gives just the right amount of seasoning. We say it’s “the right amount of numbness,” because you can feel it around your lips, a tingling that says your meal was spiced to loving perfection,” Wei said.
Spicy Cold Chicken, Chengu Dumplings, Beef Noodle Soup — there’s a wide-ranging menu of regional favourites to try. Dan Dan Noodle is highly rated in online customer reviews and that means their cozy restaurant’s interior is hopping. The decor of Mediterranean brick and tile, complete with multi-level archway and seating at the bar, gives the spot a cute and modern appeal.
Cozy Warmth with Full Flavours
“Sichuan noodle soup is comforting,” Wei explained. “We have Spicy Hot Pot, traditional and dry-style. We use our signature broth with peppercorns in the hot pot stir-fry. We want our family-style feeling to come across, but it’s really our commitment to authentic ingredients that sets us apart. We use local suppliers with Hong Kong experience, for fresh ingredients daily, plus we import our spices right from Sichuan Province. We make our signature chili-oil and we use top-grade sesame oil, so our flavours are alive with health benefits.”
There’s Sichuan Cucumbers and Yi Bin Dry Noodles to go with shrimp dumplings and spicy wonton. The menu is vegan friendly, with options that maximize flavour while staying true to vegetarian and vegan diets. Licensed, with a beer and wine menu, Dan Dan Noodle is a neighbourhood favourite, where you can stop in for a quick lunch or enjoy casual dinner with friends.
Peppercorns & Imported Spices
Authentic Sichuan recipes are the star at Dan Dan Noodle, 836 Denman Street, in the heart of Denman’s restaurant row, close to Robson Street, Coal Harbour, and Stanley Park. The name Dan Dan Noodle comes from the old-school street vendors in China with a bamboo pole across their shoulders — hand-made dan-dan noodles on one side, farm-fresh vegetables and simmered broth on the other.
Open from lunch to late evening, comfort is waiting and the sizzle will be on your lips. The quaint, street-level dining room is busy, but the significant size of their take-out/delivery service speaks of their app-ordering popularity. Put in an order on your favourite app now, and feel the spicy zing of Sichuan soup goodness in the comfort of your home tonight.