A Chinese restaurant concept based in New York, known for hand-pulled noodles, has opened in Plano: Called DH Noodles, it's a small chain based in New York, now open at 2001 Coit Rd. #165, in a mostly Asian shopping center at the intersection of Park Boulevard.
DH stands for Dun Huang, named for a city in China’s northwestern Gansu Province, on the edge of the Gobi Desert. The concept was founded by Yang Lui, a native of China who moved to New York to study, then decided to open a restaurant in celebration of his hometown.
He opened the first location in Flushing, New York in 2015; the chain has since then expanded to 15 locations in New York and California.
The menu features authentic Northwestern Chinese cuisine, found in Chinese cities such as Dun Huang and Lanzhou, with an unusual profile thanks to the history of the area as a stop on the silk road. This resulted in economic, cultural, political, and religious interactions between the Eastern and Western worlds, with business from many places including the Middle East.
This helps explain why the region is known for ingredients found in Arabian countries such as cumin and halal meat.
“There is a very long history and culture behind this cuisine, and we are thrilled to bring it to Dallas," Yang says.
Pulling noodles at DH NoodlesDH Noodles
Specials include crispy lamb rib, mutton on the bone, and braised beef with potatoes — all spiced with Middle eastern flavors, and priced from $24 to $28.
Their Lanzhou noodles are their other big draw: hand-pulled and prepared to order, to the thickness desired, from thin to regular to wide, from angel-hair thin to nearly as wide as a belt.
This type of wheat flour noodle is characterized by its long, thin strands, made by stretching and folding dough. The "show" is part of the fun: The chef is visible to the customers through an open counter, spinning and twirling the noodles to get them to the preferred thickness.
Their most popular dish is noodle soup in beef broth, with braised beef or lamb, and vegetables. They also have a spicy soup and a curry alternative, priced around $12-$13.
Some of their dishes are a revelation, such as the shredded potato salad, quite different from the American picnic standard. In the Chinese version, the potatoes are cut into fine matchsticks and boiled for barely a minute, so that they are cooked but still with a little crunch, then tossed in soy sauce anad vinegar, and topped with chile pepper, green onion, and chopped garlic for a dish that's cold and refreshing.
Yang says their customer based is about half Chinese and half Middle Eastern, but they are hoping to attract an even more diverse customer base. That explains menu items such as the "Chinese burger" with lamb served on pita bread.
A variety of dishes at Luna Roja.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja
The bar area, which looks out to the patio.Photo courtesy of Luna Roja