Fat Girl Noodles Brings Chongqing Heat to Taikooli West
Sanlitun’s Taikooli West – the recently opened Western section of the popular shopping and lifestyle area – continues its transformation into a foodie paradise with its latest addition, Fat Girl, aka Pangmei, Noodles.
The second branch of the popular Chongqing-style noodle eatery – and recent Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient – opened to much fanfare on Mar 10, offering up bowls of 小面 xiǎo miàn, 牛肉面 niúròu miàn, and more.
The shop was undergoing some final adjustments when we arrived
Upon heading to the fourth floor of Taikooli West's mall space, we're greeted to our left by what looks to be an unfinished restaurant. Inflated protective coverings adorn the exterior of the space, while the interior is simple and bright. It turns out this is all by design.
According to Pangmei owner Beibei, the shop's design is meant to replicate a Chongqing construction site, with long open tables, foldable chairs, and fluorescent lights to transport diners there.
But that didn't stop an ample flow of customers for the lunch hour rush
If the style of the place doesn't transport you to Chongqing, the noodles certainly will. We ordered their 干拌豌杂面 gān bàn wān zá miàn (Dry Bowl Pea Noodles) – RMB 28 for small, RMB 32 for large. They arrived within minutes, served up in the restaurant's signature white and red bowls.
There's something eyecatching about a bowl of noodles like this
The noodles are thin and easy to mix with all the ingredients. The yellow split peas and ground beef work especially well together, the peas lending a lightness to the meat and heat of the sauce.
Washed down with a cold glass of Slow Boat's osmanthus peach hard seltzer, it's the best kind of lunchtime or after-work treat.
They've even got the logo on their glassware
With a cozy and well-designed space, attentive service, and good noodz to match, we'd recommend getting to Pangmei Taikooli as fast as possible, because if the wanghong status of its sister branch is anything to go by, this one is gonna be popular.
Fat Girl Noodles 胖妹面庄 (Sanlitun Branch)
4F, Taikooli West, 58 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区工体北路58号太古里西区四层
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Images: Vincent R. Vinci
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