Look for the glass window when you enter Shan Shan Noodles. From there, you can look into the kitchen and watch the chef as he makes the authentic hand-pulled noodles that are featured in many of their dishes.
Located in a nondescript shopping mall, this 48-seat restaurant, named after the owners’ daughter, is low on ambiance but high on flavorful, inexpensive food. Our bill for two, with tax and tip, was $30 and we brought leftovers home.
When seated, we were served a bowl filled with chunks of cucumber that had been salted and combined with vinegar and sesame oil, creating a refreshing palate cleanser. We were also given tea and were surprised to see a Lipton tea bag, rather than a Chinese teabag, hanging out of the pot.
Handmade pork soup dumplings were steaming hot and served with a dipping sauce containing chunks of garlic. Dark vinegar, soy sauce and hot oil are on the table, if you want to kick the sauce up a notch or two. The duck in the duck with hand-pulled noodles was tender and the broth, which is made with beef bone, chicken and more than 10 different Chinese herbs, reminded us of pho. The dish is served with a scissor, as the noodles are easier to eat once cut. Ma Po tofu was also ordered and contained spicy minced pork. Adventurous eaters will be happy to know that pig ears, marinated chicken feet and beef offal in chile sauce are a few of the menu offerings. We bypassed the bubble tea and dessert options of Chinese rice pudding and Chinese rice wine with sticky rice, as we were stuffed.
This is not a “fried noodles or fortune cookies” restaurant. but one where diners can explore dishes containing beef, pork, lamb, fish balls, chicken and much more served with hand-pulled noodles. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 AM.
Psst—If you are looking to buy Asian groceries, there is an market next door to the restaurant.
Shan Shan Noodles
333 Rt 46 East
Parsippany
973-287-7399
BYO
Noodle soup
Photos courtesy of Lowell Saferstein
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