"The noodling never stops at this Chinatown favorite, famous for its beefy, brothy soups. From a ground-floor window of Plaza Swatow, the kitchen team hypnotically hand-pulls dough into lamian-style noodles, giving passersby a preview of what lies inside. Those who brave the frequent queue are met with efficient service and steaming bowls of soup, customized with noodles in their preferred size. Though soup makes up the lion’s share of the menu — and is its signature — consider opting for the dan dan noodles instead. They’re a flavor bomb, loaded with spicy meat sauce, fresh veggies, and an optional black tea egg. Know before you go: Though the Chinatown location is the OG, a new downtown outpost (four metro stops away on the Green Line) is just as good, and generally less of a wait." - Valerie Silva
"The skillful chefs here pull noodles in the front window (often for an audience), producing endless bowls of beef broth soup and dan dan noodles. Order the spicy cucumber and edamame salads to round out the experience." - Ivy Lerner-Frank
"This unassuming Chinatown staple grabs the attention of passersby with cooks hand-pulling noodles in the front window, and the restaurant’s substance backs it up. Expect huge bowls of beefy broth with those springy noodles at low prices, or opt for their Dandan noodles topped with spicy beef and crunchy peanuts." - Valerie Silva
"Palais des Congrès borders Chinatown, so it would be a shame to miss out on beloved local noodle shop Nouilles de Lan Zhou. Noodles are hand-pulled on-site and come in a variety of thicknesses, complete with an array of accoutrements to choose from, and plenty of beef and chili oil." - Mallory Frayn
"Hand-pulled noodles with beef broth soup are the go-to at this Chinatown fave. Pull up a table in their strangely laid-out dining room, right next to a picturesque escalator to the downstairs grocery store and throw down just $8 for a small (read: huge) bowl." - Ashley Joseph