Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House located on Race St in Philly’s Chinatown neighborhood. The restaurant takes its name from a city in China.
Nan Zhou was once the start of the Silk Road with a rich history dating back hundreds of years in Northwest China. The Nan Zhou noodles originated over 170 years where it was only served to society’s elite during the rule of the Ching Dynasty. However, the local shop opens its doors to everyone in Philadelphia.
I stayed a block away from Chinatown during my Philadelphia visit due to the vast selection of restaurants in the area. I walked past Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House a few times a day and it always piqued my interest. However, my schedule was filled with restaurants I wanted to try. I made my move a few hours before my flight back to Los Angeles right after eating at Terakawa Ramen.
I had the Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House Special bowl came out piping hot and the serving size was fairly large. It was the size of a large bowl of Pho in Little Saigon, California. The clear broth smelled comforting as it was placed in front of me. The broth had a nice clean flavor to it yet slightly salty; however, the cilantro, onions and mint leaves added a nice crisp taste to it. The tender slices of beef complimented thin noodles. The noodles was where it really excelled. The stringy yet chewy white noodles were very nice in texture. It tasted freshly made and soaked up the crystal clear broth.
Overall, Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House is one of the more authentic restaurants in the area. Philly’s Chinatown seems to be catering to tourist as a lot of the Chinese food tasted Americanized. However, Nan Zhou keeps true to its roots with flavors and being reasonably cheap for the portion. It’s definitely a must stop when in Philadelphia.
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- Service - 7/107/10
- Presentation - 6/106/10
- Flavors - 9/109/10
- Decor - 5/105/10
- Ambiance - 6.5/106.5/10
Summary
Nan Zhou Hand Drawn Noodle House located on Race St in Philly’s Chinatown neighborhood. Nan Zhou was once the start of the Silk Road with a rich history dating back hundreds of years in Northwest China. Nan Zhou keeps true to its roots with flavors and being reasonably cheap for the portion.
