>SUBSCRIBE FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO EVERY WEEKEND<

Tucked in an unassuming corner of Acre Lane is one of the newest additions to Brixton’s ever-growing repertoire of cuisine-led restaurants. Wander into Mulan Noodle and you’ll be greeted by a narrow stretch of bar opening up into a warm and intimate dining area.

Everything is quaint and cute: our Jade Margarita arrived in a dainty teapot accompanied by a miniature cup dusted with a light circling of sugar. The drink itself is light and refreshing, a tea-infused take on the classic Margarita, encrusted with a sweet sugar chaser. Our other drink proved similarly delightful: a bright blue lychee cocktail decorated with a dried slice of blood orange.

We began with a selection of starter snacks and street food bites. A plate of firm yet wondrously silky tofu drizzled in addictively good chili oil started us off, and what a great start it was. This was soon accompanied by succulent won tons in a soft, delicate pastry (also in chili oil; we couldn’t get enough), crispy butterfly shrimp with a sweet chili dip, and ‘meat potstickers’ – fried dumplings with a heavenly filling of chicken, chive and egg.

We’d already been treated to a veritable feast and it wasn’t even yet time for the mains. Everything was utterly wonderful, though the stand-out dishes would have to be the tofu and the butterfly shrimp. Yum!

(Scroll to keep reading)

Next came the star of the show. I’d opted for the cumin beef with wide hand-pulled noodles; and when they say wide, they mean wide. The noodles were wondrously thick, coated in fiery, spiced beef packed with intense flavour. It tasted fabulous and came accompanied with refreshing pak choi.

Those who enjoy a deep-fried sweet treat will be pleased to try the deep fried rice cake with muscovado sugar. If you prefer a lighter option you can go for the Mango Pomelo Sago. There is also a bubble tea option – you can order a range of bubble teas which come from the place next door and will be delivered straight to your table. Options range from brown sugar bubble tea to mango coconut bubble tea and every flavour under the sun in-between!

On Fridays and Saturdays you can enjoy your meal accompanied with live music, where musicians play the soundtrack to your meal with traditional Chinese instruments. We were treated to a Guzheng performance: a traditional Chinese zither trilling beautifully delicate, harp-like tones

A lovely little place with brilliant service and a warm atmosphere. A fabulous addition to Acre Lane.