敦煌

Dunhuang is one of my favourite restaurants in the area -- I often order takeout for a nice bowl of noodles after work, but occasionally stop to dine-in with some friends in the area. My go-to order is the braised beef noodle soup 紅燒牛肉麵 -- I like getting the really thick noodles, but they have a few sizes to suit your taste. The broth is fragrant and savoury without being too heavy/oily, and the chunks of beef are plentiful and delicious -- so tender and juicy. Portion size is very large and is a fantastic value for the price. The classic lanzhou beef noodle soup 蘭州牛肉麵 is a great choice too -- I like the clear simplicity of the broth, which is light but carries the rich beef flavour very well. The beef slices are really flavourful and cooked to a perfect softness. Also, the zhajiang noodles 炸醬麵 is a particular favourite; the pork sauce is so generous and yummy, and the fresh, sliced cucumber is a lovely texture and flavour contrast. I also like getting some of their skewers when in a larger group -- the cumin can be a bit much at times haha but I'm a big fan of the beef and the potato skewers. Price point is really great -- portion sizes are large and when I order takeout, it's usually enough for ~1.5 meal's worth of food haha. Service is prompt and unassuming, and the restaurant itself is comfortably spacious.

A simple noodle dish with great hand-pulled noodles! The noodles were chewy and super long, and the broth wasn’t spicy even at the 🌶️🌶️ spice level, so you’ll be fine even if your spice tolerance is low. I personally prefer the bowl here over more highly rated noodle shops in the area, because the noodles definitely taste hand-pulled. It’s also only $13 per bowl and the portion size is very decent. (You can also add extra meat for $5, but I’m not sure there was that much more meat compared to my regular bowl, which had an adequate amount.) Service was all I wanted from a casual eatery; I imagine you’d be able to get more across if you speak Chinese, but communicating in English was fine and we got our food pretty quickly. Not sure why the rating is low here, but if they made improvements since, it definitely works now.

I ordered Kao Pao chicken and it was very delicious. The lunch special was good deal. My friend ordered the everything noodle. The space was also neat and clean. The soda selection was limited, but that’s not a problem for me.

I stopped by Dunhuang around 3:00 PM and was happy to find their Lunch Special runs until 4:30 PM—a huge plus for late lunchers. I ordered the 土豆牛腩 Potato Braised Beef Rice plate, which came with a complimentary Diet Coke. Honestly, the food itself was 5-star quality for the price. The portion was incredibly generous, the beef was tender and plentiful, and the presentation was spot on, complete with half a perfectly marinated tea egg. However, the service was a tale of two halves. I was initially served by a younger female staff member who was professional and efficient. But once the shift changed and an older female server took over, the vibe shifted a bit. She was performing what I can only describe as 'selective hospitality.' She was showering a non-Asian table nearby with a level of cloying, syrupy attention, with she being giggling and acting as if she were on a first date with him. Meanwhile, she completely iced out me and the Chinese couple at the next table. We were treated like we were invisible—no eye contact, no check-ins, nothing. I still left an 18% tip because the kitchen staff did their job well, but the 'service' from this lady was embarrassing to witness. If you’re here for a quick, solid meal, the food won’t let you down—but don't expect a warm welcome unless you fit a certain profile.

This Dun Huang location is consistent with the other locations — reliable, quick, and satisfying. The food comes out pretty fast, which makes it a great option for a casual meal or quick dinner. I ordered the signature noodles with a mild spice level, which turned out to be very light —even though it had two chili peppers on the menu. The flavors are clean and balanced, and the portions are generous as always. Overall, a solid and dependable spot for hand-pulled noodles, especially if you’re already a fan of the Dun Huang chain.