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Sha Lin Noodle House
Category: Restaurants Chinese Chinese [Edit]
548 Broadway WVancouver, BC V5Z 1E9
Neighbourhood: Fairview Slopes
(604) 873-1816
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
71 reviews for Sha Lin Noodle House
Review Highlights
"She mentioned the fresh noodles and pan-fried dumplings."
(in 8 reviews)
"and their hand made noodles were good too."
(in 5 reviews)
"I still crave the beef cutting noodles like a crack addict..."
(in 3 reviews)
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71 reviews in English
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Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
2/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sha Lin isn't even the only noodle place on this particular block. Across the street there's a new ramen joint, and I counted two other noodle houses on the same side of the street as well as a Pho place when I walked to Sha Lin from Broadway City Hall Skytrain Station. If I hadn't known what I was looking for, I would have found it really hard to find Sha Lin.
Add to that the fluorescent lights and totally uninspired decor, and you've got a hole in the wall that could be really hit or miss. The only clue is the big window at the back of the restaurant through which you can see a team of chefs tossing and twirling and stretching big white noodles from scratch. That and, of course, the full room of nearly-silent-while-they-eat, very satisfied patrons.
I was told that Sha Lin was vegan friendly, and found to my delight that vegetarian items are marked with a tiny bok choy on the menu. I'm glad, because when I asked the server about vegetarian options, she was pretty confused. Just imagine if I'd said the word "vegan".
We ordered curry dragging noodles with tofu and vegetables, a spicy eggplant and tomato dish, and panfried vegetable dumplings. The curry noodles were exceptional. Succulent, perfectly textured noodles that are such a far cry from the rubbery Shanghai Chinese takeout noodles of my childhood. Great tofu as well, which is saying something.
The eggplant was perfectly, and I mean PERFECTLY cooked. Soft and flavourful. Any eggplant aficionado knows that eggplant must be prepared properly or it downright sucks. Listen, eggplant lovers: you can trust Sha Lin.
The dumplings, hoo-ey. A great big plate meant for a group of at least 5 people. Freshly rolled dough wrapped around cabbage and other spiced veg, lightly panfried into a cake of dumpling.
We took lots of takeout home with us and by golly was it great the next day.
Next time I want to try the noodles in broth. It may be one of the only places to get a vegetarian noodles in broth in the city.Listed in: Vegan Vancouver, Exceptional Vancouver
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Review from Wendy Y.
1/26/2012
I've bussed by and walked by this joint for the longest time. I am happy to say that I can finally remove it from my Yelp bookmark now. I was here early this week with Amy T. We ordered a bowl of dragged noodle soup with beef tendon, tripe etc and a plate of pork dumplings.
I liked the dragged noodle soup. The noodles were fresh and chewy. I don't recommend buying take out for this dish though because towards the end of the meal, the noodles were starting to get soggy. If you wanted to eat fresh noodles, eat them at the restaurant.
The plate of pork dumplings was a hit. The dumpling skin was slightly on the thick side but it was chewy (two thumbs up). These dumplings were water-boiled rather than pan-fried. The meat, after taking an initial bite, looked like beef because the color was rather dark. I think it must have been the soy sauce or whatever seasoning used in the filling. Regardless, the filling was good. The meat was soft and not overly salty or loaded with MSG. The dumplings went well with black vinegar and red chili oil.
The total bill came to $17 ish. Not a bad place to eat.Listed in: Chinese Food
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Review from Amy T.
1/25/2012
Noodle soups have always been an Asian comfort food to me. I eat it when it's cold outside and I slurp the soup when I'm sick. Add some fresh chewy dragging noodles to the mix and you have my attention.
But you know what really surprised me? My favorite dish wasn't the noodle soup. It was actually the dumplings. Thanks to Wendy Y. for asking the waitress for suggestions!
The dumplings were fantastically fresh and had slightly chewy skin. The meat inside were juicy and flavorful. Dip it in the black vinegar and the combination of salty and tang is just perfect. -
Review from Trudi C.
Let it be known that a long queue and busy place does not necessarily a good restaurant make! I don't quite understand why this place has so many customers, it was all average at best, am I missing something? Or perhaps I've been spoiled by Legendary Noodle.
It didn't take us too long to get seated, despite being a busy Friday night. The lighting was harsh and bright, it was loud, packed, and cold. This certainly isn't a place to come relax ad enjoy company - I felt rushed, and uncomfortable with everyone in the queue watching me eat.
Don't get me wrong, the food wasn't bad. But it wasn't great either! Legendary Noodle is a dollar or 2 more expensive, but well worth it for the food and ambience, which this place was lacking in.
So sorry, Sha Lin, I was disappointed :/ -
Review from Emily-Anne P.
Vancouver, BC
1/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
So, I have to say first of all I can't believe this places exists and I only JUST went to it.
Since moving back from China I have searched everywhere for these noodles and the dishes that they have.
Now while I had set the bar pretty high for this place I have to agree with Crystal's review, the service was kinda crap.
They were super slow and kept forgetting to bring us more tea and I'm pretty sure they were eating my leftovers and gave me left over left overs.
All in all I'll obviously go back as the food rocked and now I know what to expect with the service. -
Review from Marlena M.
Vancouver, BC
12/21/2011
I think my favorite thing about this place is how crappy it looks. It burned down not too long ago, and you think they would use that as an opportunity to spruce it up a bit. And you would be long. It is all EXACTLY the same down to the faded linoleum and wobbly tables.
It's entirely about the food in here. That's the only thing they give a damn about.
Their green onion cakes are the best in the world. You can order any noodle dish and it will be so good you'll hurl swear words at unsuspecting families sitting nearby. Their spicy fried green beans are a life necessity. Order dumplings, many dumplings, especially the fried ones. You'll be making low moans and hurling those swear words around again, I promise you.
The restaurant equivalent of sweat pants. In a good way. -
Review from Deja S.
Vancouver, BC
12/22/2011
I had the cutting noodle with vegetables and tofu. I also had the bok choy and mushroom plate, and the noodle soup. The noodle soup was extremely dull. Even after adding hot sauce and the pizza flavor spices they give you at the table it was meh. But the cutting noodle was very tasty and satisfying! Bok choy and mushrooms were pretty good.
Yes, there is zero ambiance.
Keep in mind that they usually open at 5 PM. Soon after, the place fills up, even on a Thursday evening.
Free tea, nice. -
Review from Russty N.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2011
Unappealing from the outside and it doesn't get any better once you get inside. Ignore the fact that they have no taste in decorating and they only sweep large visible pieces of food off the floor. But what am I here for? Look at all the hungry patrons enjoying their plates of food and bowls of noodles. I'm here to try fresh hand made noodles.
We decided to try three different noodles; cutting, pushing and dragging. They also have rolling and round. I think these terms refer to how the noodles are formed. You can see the noodle-makers through an open prep area behind glass. He cuts, drags and rolls. Once you've decided on the type of noodles you can choose the soup base, vegetables and meat additives. The soup seemed a little bland compared to some of the Japanese and Korean noodle houses, but tasty nonetheless. We also had a plate of dumplings. You can choose steamed or fried.
I would say you get good value for the money. The noodles are freshly made and the meat and vegetables are generous. Service is typical of Chinese noodle houses. It would be nice if they brought dishes out together for a table seating. We all received our food at different times. So as some of us ate, others sat and watched. -
Review from Lindsay E.
Vancouver, BC
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
It's hard to find good noodles in this city, particularly ones with veggie broth, so when my boyfriend took me to Sha Lin Noodle House I was even more impressed when I realized they make all their noodles IN HOUSE - dragging & cutting everything. I really appreciated seeing the guy behind the glass making the noodles, it's easy to trust a restaurant where you can see exactly what they're up to back there..
The neon lights left much to be desired in the way of ambiance, but to be honest, I forgot all about it once I dug into my bowl of fresh noodles, broth (with plenty of ginger) and veggies. I really wish I'd had room for the veggies dumplings too - but that was a giant, giant bowl.
All told, I'll be back. I'll probably go late again (we snuck in during the last half hour) to avoid the line. And there's always a line. -
Review from Betty T.
I have only been here once, but i am thoroughly impressed by the quality of the knife-cut noodles. The noodles are handmade and kneaded to a point of super chewiness. I ordered the Za Jiang Mien (minced pork noodles), and it is seriously the best I've ever had in restaurants. Usually, restaurants serve this dish with little minced meat but WAY too much bean sauce. Not the case for Sha Lin Noodle House!
The reason i took 1 star off is because the beef pie was average... nothing special... and the soup base for what my friend ordered was a little bland.
Highly recommend for a quick lunch or dinner! And they actually accept credit card. YAY! -
Review from patricia l.
Vancouver, BC
10/11/2011
Great food, good service and great prices. You won't ever leave here starving.
IMO - they make the best authentic "handmade" noodles in the city. I really like their dragging noodles and their cutting noodles. They have the best consistency and texture, nice and chewy and their broth is simple but tasty as well.
At the end of the day, everyone has different things they like or prefer - especially when it comes to something like Asian Noodles. That all being said, they are definitely worth trying if you claim to like any of the sort.
Main thing that proves how hard core they are in the art of making the noodle is their display window open to all guests for viewing. While you are waiting for your order to arrive, what could be better than seeing it all being made right before your eyes?
I usually have the beef and bean sprouts cutting noodles and if I'm super hungry (which I always am) I get their steamed pork dumplings to share. I make my own dipping sauce for my cutting noodles - a combo of their spicy chilli oil and their vinegar in a separate dipping bowl or plate- soooooo good!
I also really like their bean curd with garlic - if you are not on a date and don't have to speak closely in anyone's face after your meal, give this small appy dish a try as well.
There are other places in the city that I enjoy, but everyone else always seem to come second to this place. They also serve a special tea here in a special tea pot. My mom told me it's pretty authentic and close to what you would find in Northern China - might be something to try when you go to visit.
I think they only accept cash and debit here as well. I forget, but make sure you bring some just in case on your next visit.Listed in: I HEART Food!
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Review from Jasmine T.
Burnaby, BC
11/11/2011
I lied to my husband and told him this was like Legendary Noodle. Okay, so I didn't really lie-- they make noodles... they just lack the same ambiance.
So since we were here after 6pm, we got to park right outside. Yippee... I love free parking. We were second in line, but they seated us first. I guess they wanted us to seat us because we were a couple and they could seat the single guy at a two seater table. I dunno. I felt bad. I hate being seated before people who are there first.
We ordered the pan fried dumplings and a noodle dish. Me loves me a good dumpling. They were fried in a wok until the outsides are a crispy golden with little fried bits hanging off the mass of dumplings that have stuck together. Stuck together in fear because I am going to attack them after dousing them in vinegar. I am not sure what I got... I am sure I ordered pork. I try to get input from my husband, but when he says something like "Let's get the vegetable one," I tend to ignore him. I packed up the leftovers (because he didn't eat his fair share) and I ate them for lunch the next day.
We had the cutting noodles with beef and broccoli. Wowie wowie. We finished that whole dish. So good, so chewy... sauced perfectly.
So under the florescent lights, I had the perfect meal. Sure my husband felt cheated that we didn't go to a romantic restaurant, but I got to have a great meal served to me by some really nice folks. -
Review from Michael C.
Vancouver, BC
11/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Very busy joint, but an overrated meal for me.
This place boasts about their handmade noodles. They have many kinds of noodles in which they make in house: dragging noodles, pushing noodles, and cutting noodles just to name a few.
I ordered the pan-friend pork dumpling and dragging noodles in pork meat sauce. Dumpling was more like pan-fried pork buns than dumplings and they were huge. Unfortunately, when you bite into these "dumplings" they was more bun than meat.
The noodles were pretty good. The noodle was chewy, the good kind, and each strand was super long. This made it very difficult to eat! Kind of wish i magically had a pair of scissors to cut it up :(
The service is typical of any Asian place. They don't speak English well nor Cantonese so pointing is key!! Oh, they don't have ice for iced water on a warm day.
Decor? Non-existent! Kind of felt like a cafeteria.
Also, I really didn't like the way the menu is laid out. it was organized by the type of noodles, (dragging, pushing), rather than the type of dish you can get. So it'll be the same items over and over again, but under a different noodle category.Listed in: 30-Day Yelp Challenge.,
You came highly recommended through Yelp, so I came. The results = Expectation…">Yelp, why me? -
Review from Smitcha B.
8/3/2011 7 photos
Doesn't matter where I go, I some how always end up in some noodle brothel errr I mean "house." Sha-Lin was recommended for a quick bite so we gave it a shot. The wait was about 20 minutes and there was no formal wait list. Just show up and try to remember whose next and who is after you. This got a little annoying especially when I wanted to sock this dude in the face who arrogantly walked in the joint and acted like he owned the place. When the waitress asked who was next, he pointed to us so I let it ride and kept my inner LA at bay.
Noodles can be made in the following manners: dragging, cutting, throwing, pinching, spitting, and squatting, and so on (I'm j/k with some of those btw). Inevitable it's all the same noodles but just cut or made differently. I had no idea what they were talking about until I opened the menu where I was greeted by pictures of how each verb above shows how they make the noodles. Plus it's an open kitchen so you actually see the chefs make it in the variety of ways.
This isn't one of your fancy or fusion Asian spots so I hope you're ready for the simple and mediocre interior. A couple behind us said that if Sha-Lin was to ever expand its restaurant, it would look the same as if nothing has ever been changed. I must agree. I don't see them making any significant upgrades anytime soon.
We ordered two different noodles, one soup and the other dry (pan fried). Both were quite mild and bland until we poured a mountain of vinegar, soy sauce, and chili. This changed the taste dramatically as you can imagine and it did work out for the better in the end.
We also ordered the fried green onion pancake which I thought was pretty blah. It's such a simple dish so my expectations were obviously high. I think we should've gone with the dumplings instead.
Although I did like the texture of the noodles: soft but not mushy and hard but not undercooked; I wasn't too impressed with the food overall. The taste just didn't live up to par especially for someone who eats all kinds of noodles almost every other day. The restaurant does seem like a hit with the locals because it was full when we arrived, during, and even after we left there was still a line to get tables. I did notice that at least half or more of the patrons were not Asian so this restaurant is definitely known beyond the yellow scene. Be prepared for the wait for your table when you plan on eating here.
Just "aiight." -
Review from Justin L.
8/8/2011
Wow. First impression upon entering: SO MANY CAUCASIANS. I was comforted when I saw some other Chinese folk slurping away at their noodles.
You can see the guys behind the glass window making all the noodles fresh. Since I was dining alone (trying to not feel insecure about my Chineseness), the waitress said the pan-fried dumplings were too much for one person. Indeed, every table around me had ordered them and they looked delicious. I had imagined potstickers, but these were more round and doughy, and they kind of stuck together and covered and entire platter.
I opted for the pan-fried cut noodles with lamb and cumin ($9.95). This, the waitress told me in her native tongue, was one of their better dishes and a good combo. Well, the flavor was good, and the chewy noodles were very satisfying. The lamb, however, was extremely tough and even chewier. My jaw was exhausted by the time I finished the plate.
But I must return to try all the different kinds of noodles! This place is serious about noodles.
Generous portions, reasonable prices, vibrant atmosphere of happy customers. Credit cards accepted.Listed in: Vancouver: Chinese
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Review from Willow L.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2012
Okay, the first time I went here, everything was delicious. I had the dragging noodles with jajang (black bean sauce) and it was great. We also had udon and some other drier noodles. Mine was by far the favourite.
There was a bit of a wait, but it was barely 10 minutes and it was alright. The door is open a lot though so it was a bit cold, so wear a sweater!
We also had the pan fried dumplings (half veggie, half meat). Veggie was wayyy better in my opinion. Huge portion.
Then I went back two weeks later. I ordered the exact same thing again. It was disgusting! The noodles were so stuck together I almost got indigestion later, the sauce had a sour aftertaste...BLEH. We also had a huge argument at the table at the time too, so maybe that affected the experience, but what a difference! I should have sent it back but I was so mad I couldn't think straight and ate the entire bowl...oops. Next time! -
Review from dZilla T.
Vancouver, BC
9/18/2011
Well first off Peaceful Restaurant down the street was closed as they were filming something for "Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives" on the Food Network, so there was a bit of a wait on a Tuesday night for I'd say 20-25 minutes. I went there with my mother, and my little sister (who were visiting) and my wife.
We ordered the pan fried dumplings. Now let me tell you when they say pan fried, they actually mean an entire pan of fried dumplings its no joke there. Also ordered the scallops, a noodle dish and beef fried garlic? I think.
As someone else said don't come there for the ambiance, decor or service, they are trying to flip as many people in and out of there, so for me that can be a BIT of an issue, as if something isn't right, or you want say something to drink, you've got to literally grab someone and tell them that.
For four people the food was okay, I feel like we needed another 2 people to actually enjoy all the food and perhaps get another noodle dish or just stick with the noodle entree. The portions were large, the service was horrible, not what I was looking for in food, but I might give them another try and change my rating if I do so. -
Review from Kevin F.
Vancouver, BC
10/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for my first visit to Sha Lin since they reopened after the fire. I'm flabbergasted that it took them as long as it did to reopen and yet it looks and feels *exactly* the same as it did before (read old, dingy, cold, boring). There's something to be said for consistency, however, when a place is as good as this is. The food matches the decor: cheap, fast, greasy, and flavourful. We always manage to order far too much, and have far too much fun ordering from the ridiculous/amusing menu. How can the menu of a noodle place have so many pages? I suppose it's easy when you consider how many combinations of noodle varieties / flavours / toppings there actually are. I've always got a hankering for the cumin-flavoured cutting noodles with pork, and the salty green onion pancakes. Order anything off the menu, however, and I doubt you'll be disappointed.
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Review from X G.
8/8/2011
THE BEST NOODLES AND DUMPLINGS IN NORTH AMERICA, period.
I'm thrilled they re-opened after the fire and disappointed that so many in Vancouver are clueless as to how special Sha Lin really is.
Service is so-so sometimes but, like a Seinfeldian scene, you go in knowing and not caring because the noodles and dumpligns are just THAT GOOD. Life affirming, really.
BTW, you don't go to Sha Lin for anything but the noodles and pan-fried dumplings. There is nowhere, NOWHERE that does them even close to their superb quality (including Peaceful, sorry).
Sha Lin RULES!!!!!!!! -
Review from Michael L.
Vancouver, BC
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Great Asian noodles at a very affordable price. I suggest the soup noodles!
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Review from Kari C.
12/6/2010
One of my friends invited me out for dinner, and we popped into one of his favourite holes in the wall, which I used to live near and never visited. Yelp, you are slowly changing my life, one Chinese restaurant at a time.
First off, don't come here for the decor, ambiance, or service. This place is crowded, bustling, and tables are flipped constantly for the eager customers who have just walked in and have to stand by the door.
The food is what makes this place great. The dumplings here are huge! Pork and chive filling was fresh, delicious and tender. The dragging noodles in soup with wontons were also lovely. There are a few places in Vancouver that know how to pull and stretch the dough into long, even, chewy noodles, and it truly is an art form. Every time travel TV show hosts or people on reality shows like Chefs vs. City try to make them, it's a miserable fail, hee hee!
Prices are affordable (we were stuffed for $25 total) and the food is easy to enjoy if your table faces away from the door where hungry people are waiting to be seated. Unfortunately, this place is closed right now, due to fire damage. Hopefully they reopen soon! I have a dumpling craving...Listed in: Surefires
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Review from Chris Q.
We checked out Sha Lin Noodle House upon my sister's referral. She mentioned the fresh noodles and pan-fried dumplings. Any place that has these type of potstickers has my full attention. It's located off a major street and the parking is limited in the back alley. If you find a space, I hope you have skills because it can be a burden to park in their spots.
We arrived roughly 45 minutes before they closed in the afternoon. The waiters were nice and seated us right away. Now, here's the thing. There's certain type of chinese restaurants. For starters, you have your run-of-the-mill PF Changs which isn't authentic cuisine, but it caters to western tastes. Then comes the authentic but user-friendly Chinese restaurants. These are the ones where their menus that usually have pictures to assist you if you can't decide and are not too versed with the cuisine. Then there's places like Sha Lin, these places are nonetheless authentic but they are what you call "advanced". I mean that in order to enjoy the full experience, you better have a good grasp of Chinese cuisine or else you'll be pretty clueless what you're getting into.
The menu is one of the most complex readings I've seen in the many Chinese restaurants I've tried out. Their fresh noodles come in a boatload of ways you can make them. You can have them pan-fried, boiled, draggin, and so forth. Put it this way, I still have no idea why my dish was called "dragging". I believe it may have to do with how they knead the noodle in the first place. I use BBQ pork to measure how good Chinese restaurants are, so I had them throw it in my dish. I also ordered some steamed dumplings. Unfortunately they only serve pan-fried dumplings at dinner time and we weren't in that window. My dish was fresh and tasty, but not eye-opening. You can tell the noodles are freshly made but the pork wasn't too crazy. My dumplings were fresh as well, piping hot but not as flavorful as a pan-fried version.
I feel like I should give this place 3 stars because it wasn't anything substantial. However I think I could enjoy this more if I knew what exactly what I was getting into. I like the idea that everything was very modular and you can customize the shit out of every order. On top of this, the hot tea was tasty and they offered free wi-fi. So yes, I think this place deserve 4-stars but I HIGHLY recommend if you want to try it out then you should bring someone who's well versed in classical Chinese cuisine. -
Review from Janet B.
Vancouver, BC
8/22/2011
We appeared on the doorstep of Sha Lin Noodle House on the day it reopened like lost puppies. After far too many months of cutting noodles with tofu and veggies withdrawal (curry for me, garlic for my husband) we waited (sort of) patiently for a table to open up for us. I swear the food tasted better than it ever had. This time we threw in an order of green onion pancakes and a plate of deep fried hot and sour tofu and ended up stuffed to the gills. Happily.
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Review from Will K.
Vancouver, BC
9/27/2010
Every time I came by near this place, I have been swearing that the name is missing an "O". That would become the Shaolin Noodle House (and Kungfu Monastery).
Anyway, I had to try the noodles of this Noodle House. There are different kinds, all hand made (chefs making the noodles are visible through a window). There are pulled, dragged, cutting, etc. noodles.
A BBQ Pork dragging noodle plate and a green onion Chinese pancake were ordered. I remember that, as almost all decent Chinese restaurants, they fill and refill your tea. The whole order came quite fast, in less than 10 minutes (but there were few patrons that weekday evening).
The noodles presented a good texture. Not soggy or too hard. However, I found them a little flavourless. Maybe that is the way it is done. The broth was good, but not exceptional. Garnish was nice, with bok choi and well cooked pork. The plus of this dish is that I had never had so much noodle in a noodle bowl. Along with half dish of pancakes, which were quite tasty despite only having dough and green onions, I was stuffed.
I would have rated this place 4 stars if it was just a little bit cheaper. The noodle bowl came to 8.5 CAD plus 2-3 CAD for the side. I consider it not to have the best price/food ratio for a noodle house. Don't forget the HST and tip.
Good food and fast service, I would return to this place, but I would go first to other ramen joints because they are almost the same price as Sha Lin. -
Review from Scott M.
8/3/2010
I had heard about this place from a lot of my colleagues who know I love real Chinese food. I wasn't disappointed. My first time I had the Fried Cutting Noodles with Seafood (shrimp and bay scallops) and Fried Dragging Noodles with Lamb. Absolutely amazing!
I actually came back a second time, ordered the Fried Dragging Noodles with Lamb again, but felt I should explore the menu more and I got the Dragging Noodles with Char Siu and some Pork Dumplings. Again everything was great.
I will have to add this to my Vancouver line-up. -
Review from Kristina C.
Vancouver, BC
11/21/2010
I always order the same thing every time I come here, which would be the fried dragging noodles with chicken and vegetables (spicy; the first option on the very extensive menu). It's my favourite dish here; I've tried a couple of the other fried noodle options as well, such as the regular fried noodles, the curried flavour one, and, most recently, the tomato sauce one (I wasn't a fan of this one). The curried noodles aren't too bad.
I don't really like their soup noodles because I find the broth kind of boring. The panfried pork dumplings are good, and they're even better as leftovers. They're only available at dinner time or on weekends.
The service may be lacking, but it's not the worst in Vancouver. -
Review from Yunn A.
7/4/2010
Maybe it's just the dish I ordered, but I don't understand why everyone loves this place soooo much. The noodles I had were thick, tasted like slightly undercooked dough, and the broth I had was very very bland. I really don't want to come back even though my boyfriend loved it and says his dish was much better.
I might go back some time, but not likely with all the other great choices in the city. -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2010 1 Check-in Here
I'll make this chop chop, unlike the service we got tonight.
-Cutting noodles, cucumber and pork - meh, the noodles were a bit underdone and while I love cucumber, this dish just didn't do it for me.
-Dumplings with pork and bok choy - alright
-Dragging noodles with vegetables and tofu - oh yeah! Winner! And the reason for three stars!
Lingering questions: is it standard issue to have to get up to pay? When you ask for leftovers to be taken home why did they only give us part of your food? And why won't anyone fill up my tea? Okay, rant done.
I'd go in for take away, those dragging noodles were that incredible, but to stay and eat, I think I'll be heading to Peaceful. -
Review from Peter S.
3/19/2010 1 photo
Close but Nooooooooooo NOODLE!
The Pork Black Bean & Dragging noodle dish was as limp as the cucumbers that surrounded it. The meat reminded me of Chef Boyrdee, and the black beans... Where? Not even a hint of BB flavour.
I thought the dumplings could have used a quick toss in a pan, but they were pretty damn good nonetheless. Perhaps some advice on how to mix up a dipping sauce would have helped the situation? My Whiteness was painfully noticeable at this point. A dash of the hot red stuff, and a blob of the black stuff, and why not a little soy? Yikes.
Service was lame and I was not happy about leaving a tip. However, I did, and will likely pass on a return visit unless I have an experienced guide. -
Review from Hella D.
Vancouver, BC
1/25/2011
I was given a special treat this year for my birthday-lunch out at the Sha Lin Noodle House in Vancouver, BC. They don't take reservations so we crowded into the doorway to get out of the rain and hovered hungrily over the nearest table, the wait wasn't long and we were soon seated with a great view of the glass-enclosed kitchen where noodles were being tossed, cut, pulled and cooked. We ordered noodles in various states as well as cucumbers in a toasted sesame dressing which was fantastic. The helpings were huge, even though we were stuffed we walked out the door with some hefty doggy-bags.
On the way out the back door, I was able to get a quick video of the professionals at work, noodles being pulled and steam rising as other noodles are dropped into pots of boiling water. Service is rapid and friendly. Fun interactive and very reasonably priced. I was lucky to get a meal here, before I realized that I am sensitive to gluten, as it will probably be a while before I can go back! -
Review from Christine K.
Vancouver, BC
8/3/2010
I've waited so long to review this because I seem to keep trying it and hoping I will like it better the next time. I'm going to be honest, I don't like this restaurant and like it less than Peaceful, which doesn't thrill me consistently either!
Sure, the noodles are good, but service is bad and everything tastes bland, no matter what I order. I think I've had my limit as far as visiting this place goes! It may be that I don't have enough time to decipher the menu as it's huge, but I've tried to pick from every different category over the years and all have been duds to my taste buds...meh!
Onward! -
Review from Jeff D.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2011
My all time favorite noodle house in Vancouver! I tried a bunch of other noodle houses while Sha Lin was closed for restoration and no other restaurant even came close. My favorite dishes include #1 fried tofu vegetable dragging noodle, green onion pancake, garlic broccoli, the vegetarian dumplings and the seafood noodle soup.
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Review from Diesel Y.
Vancouver, BC
3/11/2009
Overall a good place to visit.
The Pros-
Great Noodle soup - we had the pulling noodles with beef.
The broth was very good.
Dumplings - Pork and Chive - steamed - flavourful and good!
The prices are reasonable.
Noodles made fresh onsite.
Ellysia Coffee a few doors away :) for that after noodle latte!!
The Cons-
Don't go here for the atmosphere - no waiting area - loud.
A mad scramble for an open table.
Overall - I will return!! -
Review from Edwin W.
10/11/2010
3.5 if I could.
For me the trademark of this place is a HUGE menu. There's 150 items on the menu. Pretty much every permutation of soup, fried, meat and noodle style. The noodles are fresh made on the spot. Flavors were a little mild on the noodle dish. The steam dumplings were well done, a bit much on the chives, but not a deal breaker. Good sized portions. I wish I would have knew about the parking in back before I got there. -
Review from Ramon V.
3/31/2010 2 Check-ins Here
I love this menu. If you crave it, and it has noodles, Sha Lin has it.
My favourite is the spicy beef cutting noodles, although most of the hand made noodle dishes are a step above what you'd find at most noodle houses. The green onion pancakes are always a hit. But without a doubt, the veggie pan fried dumplings, which I'll gladly cross the bridge of Cambie for. They're huge, and if you can't finish them, will make you the envy of your office lunch table the next day. No frills, prices are good, and you can watch the various noodles being made through a glass portal into noodle land.
Smallish restaurant. I wouldn't advise going with a group larger than six. Four is ideal, and perfect for sharing. People seem to really love this place and it can be quite busy at times. A line-up crowd often forms while the restaurant next door remains completely empty and silent.
The only problems I have with Sha Lin is the git-yer-own-drink-from the-fridge-at-the-front and get-up-yourself-and-stand-awkwardly-by-the-cashier payment method, and the fact that they close WAAY too early. I've been denied a to-go order of dumplings well before 9pm. -
Review from Stacey E.
12/19/2008
I love the food here. Yes, I know the atmosphere is a little startling if you've never been to a real Chinese restaurant before but trust me, you'll adjust. First you will wait in a line-up where people will try to butt ahead. Hold your ground, this is serious business. When you stake your claim sit down immediately - there is still a chance for table piracy.
Order quickly. If you take to long they forget about coming back for quite some time. When your food arrives it will be so amazing you won't care how many elbows to the ribs you've taken or that there's a child crouching under your table. I love the pan friend dumplings, eggplant with tomatoes, fried green beans, noodles... sigh.Listed in: Hole-in-the-wall Vancouver
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Review from Gersham M.
Vancouver, BC
5/4/2009 2 Check-ins Here
Pretty reasonable noodle place with an enormous selection.
Having just returned from two years in China I'm pretty acquainted with Chinese food. I'm a huge fan of noodles, especially the dry sort. I also love the basics and chaos inherent in Chinese dining. The atmosphere here can be pretty good from that perspective.
The noodles here are mostly authentic with some concessions to the more Chinese-Canadian variety here and there. I love the choice of cut, pulled or pushed noodles.
Oh, and real beer from Beijing if you happen to miss it (it's pretty reasonable in context). -
Review from Holly L.
Vancouver, BC
4/29/2011
YAY! Shalin noodle house is back! It's as good as ever and I always order too much.
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Review from Sheila W.
BC
1/2/2009
I have to agree with Marc D -- Peaceful is better and so close to this place!
I did enjoy my noodle soup here -- I went for the wide cut noodles and BBQ pork, which was sweet and savoury at the same time and very tasty. There was bok choy and carrots in the soup too. They don' t have any spicy soup options, but there is ample hot sauce in a little pot on every table. I actually think that the noodles were tastier at Peaceful.
There is always a line to get in here, and a very, very small waiting area. If the place has any atmosphere, it is that of a cafeteria. There were three servers, but one seemed to do all the hostessing and serving work while the other two just stood around by the cash register. It made the service very rushed -- to the point where the girl doing the lion's share of the work just handed us take-out containers for us to package up our own leftovers.
I would definitely go back to Peaceful over Sha Lin. But maybe I'm just a peace-loving diner. -
Review from Adam F.
4/25/2009
I'd passed this place on the bus a few times and it was always packed, so I thought it must have been good, and how right I was!
Brilliant - noodles made right before your eyes. Worth going just to watch the different types of noodles get made. Cheap, authentic, rapid.
