Mulan Noodle specialises in the hand-pulled noodles that are a staple in Xi’an, which is located in Shaanxi province in the central north west of the country, and are now popular all over China and beyond.
Guests can choose from biang biang noodles or la tiao zi, their thicker, slightly more chewy cousins.
Served with chilli, vinegar, garlic and oil, the noodles are customisable with toppings including braised beef shank; brisket; minced beef; tomato and egg; seasonal greens; and marinated soy egg.
Supporting dishes include smashed cucumber with garlic–soy–vinegar dressing; Xinjiang pepper chicken; black fungus salad; and a selection of fresh buns, potstickers and dumplings.
Mulan’s bar offers a ‘small but imaginative’ cocktail list with options including the jasmine tea-featuring Jade Margarita; and the Oolong Eclipse, a whisky sour made with oolong tea.
According to the founders, the team at Mulan are all from China and have over 30 years of experience making noodle dishes with ‘time-honoured techniques and a dedication to fresh ingredients’.
There is also a live music programme that sees musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments take the stage on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Mulan takes its name from the legendary Chinese character Hua Mulan, a female warrior who disguised herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army (now the protagonist of a major Disney film of the same name).