Taste of Changan - Review - Ardmore - Philadelphia - The Infatuation
"If you listen carefully after submitting your order on the kiosk at Taste of Changan in Ardmore, you’ll hear the thwack of dough hitting the counter. Their biangbiang noodles are all hand-pulled to order, so-named for their onomatopoeic “bianging” on the table. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Known locally and totally unofficially as “the Chiner,” (Chinese restaurant-diner hybrid), the restaurant is a 1950’s era silver diner, and has all the charm of an employee cafeteria in a factory: bright lights, formica tables, food served in disposable cardboard containers, and a vacuum carafe of complimentary tea. But the staff bring warmth and hospitality with their enthusiasm for guiding you through the menu and bringing you samples. Try the wide hand-pulled biangbiang noodles with pork or vegetables, or any of the lamb dishes served with noodles or bread in a rich lamb bone broth. Come for lunch with friends looking for an authentic experience in the burbs, or grab some serious weeknight takeout. Food Rundown Pork and Chive Dumplings The dough mastery of Taste of Changan is evident in these dumplings with skin just resilient enough to hold the abundant filling and delicate enough to melt in your mouth. A must-order along with the chicken and corn dumplings. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Changan Biangbiang Noodles Wider than pappardelle, the hand-pulled noodles are in a thin sauce with soy sauce, scallion, garlic, ginger and chili oil, then topped with pork belly, stewed tomatoes, cabbage, bok choy and diced root vegetables for the ultimate noodle bowl. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Sauteed Spicy Chicken Noodle Braised boneless chicken thigh sauteed with large dices of peppers, onions, and potatoes top wide noodles in a spicy cumin-rich broth. This is a good dish to add to an order to share or a satisfying meal on its own. photo credit: Jonathan Deutsch Stewed Pork Burger Roujiamo, “pork burgers” of shredded braised pork on a split flatbread are a signature street food of Xi’an. This one is on the drier side and perfectly fine, but not up to the level of Taste of Changan’s noodle dishes. Skip this one and grab it from Xi’an Sizzling Woks instead." - Jonathan Deutsch
