Noodle Bowl

Bargain Chinese on Satwa’s Dhiyafah Street 11 Reviews

noodlebowl_1
© ITP Images

From Time Out Dubai Eating Out 2008

Not being a massive restaurant, chances are you’ll breeze past The Noodle Bowl, which is adjacent to the dismal Dune shopping complex. But push open the doors and you’ll find a vibrant and funky (think red walls) restaurant serving some of the most delicious and carefully prepared Cantonese food in town; something suggested by the reassuring number of Chinese diners present.

A fail safe starter of spring rolls sets a high standard, and works well when followed by a delicious bowl of seafood, snow peas and Chinese mushrooms, braised with noodles in oyster sauce – the perfect accompaniment to a bountiful bowl of soft, chewy rice.

Other stand-outs include the Malaysian stir-fried noodles with chicken, shrimp, squid and extremely addictive tofu. For a flawless finish, round off with the naughty-but-nice fried banana – always a success – and wash it all down with excellent oolong tea.

Service can be hit and miss, but for ample portions of authentic food at competitive prices, you can’t go wrong. Al Dhiyafah Street may be famed for its Arabic fare, but you’d do well to shun the shawarmas for one night and head here instead.


By Jeremy Lawrence

Time Out reviews restaurants anonymously and pays for meals. Of course, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or independence of user reviews.

Details

    Location: Satwa, Dubai
  • Tel: 04 345 3381
  • Travel: 2nd of December

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User reviews

ValueAmbienceService
DecorFoodOverall
  • Users voted this restaurant most suitable for: Family friendly
Posted by: Abhinav Garg on 29 Apr ' 11 at 09:47
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

This is one the best places I visited in Dubai.....in one line.." Best value for Buck".....please read the above reviews for in details...as i have exactly the same opnion.....good qty, affordable, and delicious food...thanks to arab news for covering this restaurant....i went there and was not at all disappointed...Will i go again ? YES YES YES....with lots of my other friends...i had chicken satay, chi. fried nice, roti canai, and some malaysion rice..( dont remember the name )....bill was slightly abve 100 Drhams...yes...go there to beleive it.....

Posted by: Lim on 29 Mar ' 11 at 18:03
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Noodle Bowl was recommended by fellow Singaporeans - young and not so young. So far the best item is the char kway teow.

Posted by: ID on 22 Dec ' 10 at 11:51
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Business lunch
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I had lunch at Noodle Bowl today, a choice based on the raving reviews from TimeOut Dubai.

Appearance-wise, it looks like a quirky, hole in the wall restaurant, where the garish neon green and orange walls clashed with the hodge podge of Asian trinkets and souvenirs on the walls. But then, most of the good eats I've had around Asia were inside quirky places like this.

The lady servers were efficient and friendly enough, despite the stretch of serving areas they had to attend to.

Okay, down to the food. The dimsum was good to average (The steam buns were light as a feather). But the laksa I ordered came at a slight disappointment. The broth was a bit bland and needed a little bit more kick of coconut milk. I like my laksa brimming with energy and spice. This one tasted like it just woke up. Be forwarned... the servings could feed 2-3 people! :)

One thing that disappointed me was the attitude of the owner/manager, who argued with a customer and virtually told them to leave in front of other customers. Albeit it was in tempered tones, still, I don't think clashes like these are appropriate if done in front of others.

Posted by: Marx on 31 Oct ' 10 at 11:27
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Business lunch
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

The interior od the restaurant looked out of place. At first, I thought they served fried chicken, burger and fries. It had that sort of fast food ambience to it, probably because of the bright color scheme featured. When the menu was handed to me, I raised an eye brow that all of the bright ambience didn't extend to the menu brochure.

(It made me think if this was just a clever coverup for some top secret operation)

I was overwhelmed when I recieved my order. the bowl was huge, it span the length of a ruler/scale. I ordered seafood noodle soup. The soup was flavorful and the meat tasty.It left a good enough impression for me to comeback and once again immerse myself in their good food.

Posted by: Renel on 17 Oct ' 10 at 17:48
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Love the Laksa Noodle! Authentic!

Posted by: Bob on 28 May ' 10 at 14:47
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Tried the Yunan soup, the one with lemon grass. That was awesome as was the shrimp+chicken dim sum.
A word of advice do not underestimate the portion size, that bowl is huge!

Posted by: Rasha on 24 Mar ' 10 at 07:36
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

best chinese food and the most affordable quality food

Posted by: syamsulfaiz on 31 May ' 09 at 14:03
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

I can confirm that the Malaysian Nasi Lemak (Coconut Rice on banana leaf) here is the best you can get in town. The Chicken Rendang accompanying the Nasi Lemak is just fantastic.

Posted by: dess uranza on 06 May ' 09 at 17:36
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

delicious food great

Posted by: Juliette on 17 Mar ' 09 at 11:13
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

Most authentic chinese/ south east asian staples. Great value.

Posted by: dess uranza on 31 Jan ' 09 at 11:47
OverallDecorService
FoodAmbienceValue
  • Best for: Family friendly
  • Would you go back to this restaurant? Yes

good food

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