Hand-Pulled Ramen & Made-To-Order Northwestern Chinese Cuisine Comes to Princeton

PRINCETON, N.J. - Feb. 6, 2018 - PRLog -- Watching ramen noodles being made is a mesmerizing experience. The large log of dough is rolled out, it's twisted and turned, and next thing you know, it's turned into hundreds of tiny strings of noodles. And now, Princeton, NJ residents and visitors will be able to enjoy these authentic delicacies without hopping on a flight to China, with the opening of Lan Ramen at 4 Hulfish Street (previously Infini-T Café).

Lan Ramen owner, Jessica Xiao, is originally from Lanzhou, located along a river valley between two mountain ranges in the Gansu Provence. It is here that ramen shops sprinkle the streets, sometimes three to a block. In Lanzhou, ramen is traditionally enjoyed at breakfast time, with shops opening bright and early at 6am, and typically closing around noon. Meat weighed out by the grams and salad additions are served alongside.

"The hand-pulled noodles we serve are made from scratch and come in five different sizes, from as thin as angle hair, to as wide as a belt!" Says Ms. Xiao. And while beef noodles are traditional in Lanzhou, the noodles at Lan Ramen come in a variety of ways: beef brisket, chicken, seafood, or vegetarian. They are served in a fragrant, slow simmered broth that will warm you up on the coldest of winter days.

But Lan Ramen is more than just noodles. Northwestern China was the starting point of the silk road, the ancient trade network connecting the Eastern world. To all our culinary delight, that role resulted in a perfect fusion between Chinese and other cuisines, particularly Middle Eastern cuisine. Lan Ramen draws on that rich heritage, with authentic dishes such as crispy baby lamb chops with fermented sweet rice wine, griddle cooked spicy beef & chicken pots, and sweet baby lily bulbs with wood ear mushrooms, carrots and celery. The lily bulbs are a particular can't-miss, according to Ms. Xiao, as "Lilies grow best in the Gansu Province. If they are grown elsewhere they are very bitter." All dishes are made to order, resulting in the freshest tasting food possible, and offering a distinct difference from standard Chinese take-out.

According to local Lanzhou lore, the best bowl of ramen is the first of the day, so Lan Ramen encourages locals to embrace the tradition and enjoy your noodles early. They're open 7 days a week, 11am-10pm. Learn more and see what foodies are saying at https://www.yelp.com/biz/lan-ramen-princeton