Strange Taste, Indeed (Beijing Noodles in Chinatown)

[Chandavkl]

There are some restaurants that are obviously Chinese restaurants just because of their name. (And I don't mean restaurants with Chinese names or places like Golden Dragon.) Rather names such as Big Eat, Yummy Noodle, Spicy and Tasty, Nice Restaurant, Good Good Taste, reflect a direct commentary on the food being served which non-Chinese enterprises would not consider appropriate. In almost every case, though, the blunt description used to name the restaurant is understandable. However, this is not so with a new restaurant in Chinatown at the corner of Henry and Catherine streets, which is called Strange Taste Cuisine. Now a plausible literal explanation would exist if Strange Taste Cuisine served unusual food not normally seen in Chinese restaurants (e.g., turkey). But this is not the case with Strange Taste. Rather it serves a conventional menu of Beijing/Shanghai style noodles and dumplings. Items include jia jiang mein, dan dan mein, lamb with noodle soup and sauteed rice cake. Also soybean milk, various types of sesame pancakes and pan fried buns plus frozen dumplings by the bag of 50. Majority of the dishes are in the $1 to $4 range with the priciest being the Peking pork chop at $7.25. I guess this northern Chinese style restaurant is a little out of place in Chinatown, but the food is very good and not at all strange. The one strange thing is the address, which is described as "20 Henry St AKA 25 Catherine St". And the hours--7am to 10pm.

[scoopG]

Stopped into for a delicious bowl of their Zha Jiang Mian. Huge serving for only $3.00. Could have used a bit more ground meat but the bean taste came through. Add a touch of hot sauce and it was noodle heaven. Also served with bean sprouts. Not as good as the version I've had at the Roosevelt Food Court in Flushing but it is 30% cheaper. Real friendly folks to boot.

[scoopG]

Stopped in here today. Small but welcome place with basically two tables that could each seat 4-5 people. What a reception! Was warmly received by an older woman (who said she was from Bejing) as well as a couple of the cooks (who said they were from Fujian.) Said they had been open about two months. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles (misspelled Dun Dun.) When I ordered some Sheng Jian Bao (pan fried buns) the cook suggested the steamed ones instead, saying they were better tasting. Don't know why. The Dan Dan Noodles were served up lovely and hot. Huge portion for $3. (Menu lists them for $4.) Sauce on the bottom, topped by noodles and bean sprouts and the meat mixture on top. I thought Strange Taste's version was better than Szechuan Garden's (too oily.) The steamed pork buns were not bad and, at five for $1.25, a good deal. I used the remains of the buns to lap up the remaining juice left from the sauce. Upon leaving I was welcomed back and told that they would make anything for me, anyway I liked. In homage to the cooks they also have several Fuzhou items on the menu like 12 dumplings in soup for $2.50. Great addition to the East Broadway area. I hope they make it.

[Lau]

sounds delicious

i agree with about SG's version, i thought they were too salty last time...i like GS st marks the best, but ill have to try strange taste

[Renguin]

what kind of noodles and dumplings are we talking? la mian (pulled) daoqiao (hand cut)? shuijiao (boiled dumplings) guotie (fried)? if they offer a variety, what specifically is teh best? I have not found decent boiled dumplings in chinatown to date, only in flushing (Everywhere in Chinatown seems to pass off regular guotie or wonton skin wrapped crappy dumplings as shuijiao, but its a feeble attempt at best. you don't have to be an expert to notice the difference.)

[Lau]

the shui jiao at the fujian la mian places are pretty decent

hit either lan zhou (144 e broadway) or super taste...that said i prefer the guo tie at lan zhou to the shui jiao (they are much lighter than most of the other $1 dumpling joints, they're more similar to a japanese gyoza)

[scoopG]

Will have to investigate. Shuijiao in general is more northern. Many southerners in general prefer the texture of guotie. Technically speaking it should be the same dumpling, just prepared three different ways: boiled (shuijiao,) fried (guotie) or steamed (Zhengjiao.)

[Chandavkl]

Didn't make it over to the dumpling side of the menu. Not a dumpling house per se like Fried Dumpling or Dumpling House. They do have "little juicy buns" which I'm guessing are XLB along with pan fried tiny buns which I presume are the Shanghai style buns. Also a couple kinds of steamed or pan friend pork dumplings.

[Lau]

is it any good?

[Chandavkl]

I thought it was very good, more so taking the price into account. Most noodle dishes are $3.50 to $3.75, with a fewcheaper and more expensive items too.

[Polecat]

Regardless of the reason, fantastic name. Best since the Taiwanese stall at the Roosevelt (Flushing) food court mispelled their English moniker, "Temple Snakes."

Pretty much to the exclusion of everything else, I'm always up for trying joints like this, so thanks for the tip.
P.

[kathryn]

Agreed - great name.

BTW "strange taste" or "strange flavor" is a traditional Sichuan preparation:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/2801...

[Chandavkl]

Thanks for the explanation. Of course in a way that only adds to the mystery since I didn't see any Sichuan dishes on their menu, nor was there anything that appeared to be spicy, sour etc.

[scoopG]

Dan Dan Mian (擔擔面) is a classic Sichuanese snack. (So named from the pole the street vendors used to carry their equipment, plying the streets of late night Chengdu, offering their treats to night owl scholars at first.) Will have to check them out!

[Pan]

Thanks for the recommendation. In Beijing, I loved their pickles, as well as their dumplings and of course Beijing ka ya (roast duck). You do mention dumplings, but what about pickles (you know, the cold dishes in sweet and sour vinegar and sugar)?

[Chandavkl]

Didn't see any pickles on the menu. Note this is a fairly small restaurant with a limited menu (for a Chinese restaurant) of about five dozen items.