If you are new to china and would like to know about chinese culture -start from food and noodles is something basic for all chinese. This place you can see the whole process of making noodles. Its good for your knowledge if you have interest in cooking yourself or knowing about noodles.
Noodles are good. Shanxi is a place which is famous for noodles and you are sure to like this experience.

Its distinctly average. Yes they do make a bit of a show out of making them, but the food wasnt that good. I would prefer going to my local chuan'r man....

If you are a fan of Noodle, then I strongly recommend you to experience the Loft. I went there with a friend who was supposed to be a Noodle specialist, then he was also inspired by the taste and variety. I'll go there again!

My first experience at the Loft backs 4 years ago. My beloved teacher invited me to the restaurant and we enjoyed the food and atmosphere for several hours! Then I became a fan of Noodle Loft! If you need to eat out for lunch everyday and there is Loft near your office, then I envy you:-)

The Hepingli branch of Noodle Loft as moved to Wangjing.
Its in the Fairmont Building - Fu Mao Da Sha?
GuanshunBei Da Jie #33. Phone is 8472-4700

New venue is on the second floor, you can see it from the street. Its really lovely - prices still reasonable for quality, quantity and environment. Great place to bring visitors - especially ones with kids.

Have been to this place a few times. It isn't bad - its fun to sit on the first floor and watch the cooks prepare all of the different noodles. The skill that goes into pulling, kneading, twisting, and then cutting the dough (via scissors, chopsticks, razor, hand, etc) is fascinating. Dinner and a show.

The food itself is fine. The noodles actually are one of the less impressive things on the menu... last night had the shrimp and corn and it was excellent, as are some of the shanxi vegetable dishes.

Lastly, I would echo the sentiment that this place isn't exactly "South of SoHo New Town." While that's technically correct, its kinda like saying Tiananmen Square is West of Wangfujing. Anyone going to Soho New Town and then walking south will have a good 15 minute walk ahead of them before they run into Noodle Loft.

P.S. This restaurant is one featured by Anthony Bourdain on his US No Reservations TV show, so it seems to be well-frequented by foreigners and tourists...

We were at the Xidawang branch yesterday, near New Soho. First, the restaurant name only says "Loft" outside the building, not "Noodle Loft" (at least in Roman characters) - so don't mistake it for a furniture shop or something! Second, we had a hard time figuring out what to order, and in the end, we weren't too excited about what we had. The menu is a little difficult to navigate. Third, if your kids are at all sensitive to sound, I would stay on the second floor. My 2-year-old did not like the sharp dough-slapping snap at all! It may be better to dine upstairs and come down to briefly watch the noodle making.

I doubt we would ever make a special trip to NL again, but if we were in the area, we may still hit it.