A lot of my friends know that I’m a huge fan of the late Mr. Chua Lam (蔡瀾). I don’t just admire his vast knowledge of food — I’m also truly intrigued by his philosophy about life, and his embrace of being a hedonist.
I first heard about Wing Lai Yuen (詠藜園) and its dan dan noodles thanks to Mr. Lam. When the restaurant first opened in Whampoa, I was actually in the first batch of guests to try its signature noodles.
Wing Lai Yuen is a legendary Sichuan and Shanghainese restaurant in Hong Kong, world-famous for its Dan Dan Noodles. Founded in 1947 in Diamond Hill, it has a rich history tied to royal recipes.
Spicy dan dan noodles (擔擔麵) ($43) — The dish came in both spicy and non-spicy versions, but I told my server that it wouldn’t be the same if it wasn’t spicy.
I love the broth. It wasn’t overly intense. The peanut butter flavor was also more subtle than the one from a few other famous Shanghainese restaurant chains. To me, it tasted exactly the same as it did more than two decades ago.
Steamed dumplings in chili oil (紅油炒手) ($58) — I have a couple of presentations coming up in the next few weeks. To preserve my voice, I ordered a non-spicy version of the steamed dumplings served in chili oil. A non-spicy chili oil, really?
I thought the steamed dumplings were pretty delicious. Interestingly, the sauce tasted more like a sweet soy than chili oil to me. Regretfully, I had to bite the bullets here; otherwise, I probably won't be able to speak in a couple of days.
Mr. Chua Lam has touched a lot of hearts through his remarkable work — his passion, knowledge, and zest for life have inspired me as well. He will be deeply missed by all of us who were lucky enough to learn from him and enjoy what he had to share with us over the years.
Food Rating: 5.9/10
Price: $$
Address: Shop 102-103 & 105, 1/F, Gourmet Place, The Whampoa, Hung Hom, Hong Kong
Closest Metro Station: Whampoa
Tel: +852 2320-6430
Working Hours: 11:00am - 3:30pm, 6:00pm - 10:00pm daily
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