GOL’S LANZHOU NOODLE
Neighbourhood: Fort Richmond
Address: 1-2795 Pembina Hwy
Phone: 204-261-0030
Entrees: $16 – $17
In an era when many restaurants are trimming menus and focusing on doing one thing exceptionally well, Gol’s Lanzhou Noodle feels perfectly on trend yet quietly timeless.
Not long ago, many of Winnipeg’s Chinese restaurants leaned toward dishes tailored to Western tastes.Thankfully, the city’s dining scene has evolved. From Chinatown to the south end’s uni-scene, diners can now explore flavours rooted in centuries of culinary craft.
Few places capture that shift better than this bustling noodle house devoted to one of northern China’s most celebrated traditions.
Originating in the Silk Road city of Lanzhou, these noodles are prized for their hand-pulled texture and clear, aromatic broths, a culinary style refined over generations. In the open kitchen, cooks stretch and fold dough into long, springy strands to order before bowls arrive steaming at the table.
The room itself is relaxed and unfussy, the kind of place where the hum of conversation mingles with the steady soundtrack of enthusiastic slurping. First-timers quickly learn the drill. Choose your bowl, then select your noodle width, from delicate, threadlike strands to satisfyingly wide ribbons.
The traditional Lanzhou noodle soup is a comforting introduction. Typically served with beef but easily swapped for chicken, the bowl arrives layered with sliced radish, cilantro and scallions in a savoury broth that welcomes a spoonful of chili oil. Another standout is the pickled mustard beef noodle soup, where tangy fermented greens cut through the richness with a lively, slightly sour edge.
For something without broth, dan dan noodles bring bold Sichuan character. Chewy noodles are coated in nutty peanut sauce, chili oil and spicy pork. Zha Jiang noodles lean heartier, topped with savoury sauce, vegetables and tender beef, while seafood chow mein provides a milder, comforting counterpoint.
Cold starters round out the meal nicely. Crisp cucumber salad tossed in spicy peanut sauce adds refreshing crunch, while chilled chicken in Sichuan peppercorn sauce delivers the spice’s signature tongue-tingling buzz.
In the end, the menu circles back to a single idea: noodles, prepared with precision and thoughtful variations. It is a simple premise that has sustained diners for centuries, and feels strikingly fresh today.