Though the Ari area might be better known for its hipster cafes, high-end housing, and trendy restaurant “concepts,” it’s now also home to a new-ish noodle spot that specializes in a northern Chinese dish we don’t see too often in this country: biang biang mian.
Housed in a traditional, loft-style, Chinese tavern, Yoong Chang Restaurant bills itself as the first and only restaurant in Bangkok that serves biang biang noodles, which are made from wheat flour and hand-pulled into long, thin sheets cut into broad strips. This type of noodle hails from China’s Shaanxi province, and is particularly popular in the city of Xi’an, where it’s also known as you po che mian. Translation: belt-shaped noodles.
Fun fact: the written Chinese character for “biang” is one of the language’s most complicated, with 58 strokes in traditional form, and 42 in simplified Chinese.
Though it’s only been open a few months, Yoong Chang has already received a lot of positive reviews from customers who compliment the authenticity of its recipes. The credit goes to the owner, chef Kulapol “Air” Samsen, whose culinary experience includes studying at a Hong Kong cooking school and working at Bangkok’s Michelin-starred restaurant Gaa.
With its characteristically chewy-yet-soft texture, Yoong Chang’s biang biang noodles are served with various toppings, both dry and in soup. The classic version, biang biang noodles with fermented soy sauce, sesame oil, and fried shallots (THB160), is also vegetarian, while other highlights include the duck noodles with pickled lime and yuzu soup (THB235) and smoked barbecue pork in bone broth (THB215) version.
The drink specials include the restaurant’s sparkling peach black tea, chestnut milk and a soju-based lychee liqueur (THB180 for 160ml bottle / THB980 for 1,600ml bottle).
Yoong Chang is located in Soi Ari Samphan 6 and can be reached by motorbike or taxi from BTS Sanam Pao. Their hours of operations are 11:45pm to 2:30pm, and 5:30pm to 9:30pm every day except Tuesday.
FIND IT:
Yoong Chang is at 24, Soi Ari Samphan 6, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok
Open 11:45am – 2:30pm, 5:30pm – 9:30pm daily, except Tuesday
Phone: +66 90-976-4686
BTS: Sanam Pao
