Noodles. A staple in almost every culture in Asian cuisine.

But have you ever had noodles that are so good, a Chinese emperor once called it ‘the best noodles in the world’? San Xian Tang Mi Xian is a dish said to have originated in the early years of the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that Emperor Kangxi (1654-1722), who was visiting the southern part of his empire, came across a stall and noticed people eating noodles made from ingredients sourced from a mountain range nearby. He decided to order a bowl to go with a bottle of Chinese wine. The combined taste was so good the emperor invited the chef back to the palace so that he could prepare it as part of the imperial cuisine!

Us commoners lol can now enjoy the same noodles at Go Noodle House, a homegrown brand specialising in mi xian (rice noodle). Despite being a newcomer in the F&B scene (they opened their first outlet three years ago in Jaya One), they’ve expanded rapidly with over 20 outlets across Malaysia (!), and are eyeing their first overseas expansion to Melbourne, Australia. Almost all the outlets I’ve seen anywhere enjoy a full house and long queues, a testament to their popularity.

Closer to home, there is now one open at the new Food Street in IOI Mall Puchong.  Since the noodles are said to have originated from the Qing Dynasty, the decor reflects this with a red colour scheme, paired with wood, brick and bamboo-like motifs to get that ‘ancient China’ feel.

Milk tea. Love the cup design!

My bowl of noodles came within minutes, steam rising from the surface. Their bestseller (above) is the Superior Soup Bursting Meat Ball (RM10.40), so called coz the inside is filled with a savoury broth (be careful when biting into it lest you want a burnt tongue!).

The balls were huge, springy and I enjoyed nibbling into one corner and slurping up the broth. The soup was also phenomenal – I could really taste the Chinese wine in it, but not to the point that it overpowered everything else.

Noodles were silky with a slight bite, but can be slurped easily. Chopped parsley added a hint of fragrance. Bokchoy was also thick and fat. Now I know why their outlets are so popular!

Food: 9/10!

Ambience: No frills, 7/10. Not for lounging around coz the shop is always busy (especially on weekends) and waiters will be eyeing like a hawk to clear your table.

Service: 7/10

Price: RM10+

GO NOODLE HOUSE (IOI MALL PUCHONG BRANCH) 

13G, Jalan Merbah 1, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100, Jalan Merbah 1, Bandar Puchong Jaya, 47100 Puchong, Selangor

Open daily: 1030AM – 10PM