May 27, 2018

Lon Men's Noodle House

I got the recommendation for Lon Men’s Noodle House from a colleague, and I half expected another hip asian place, with a brutalist concrete interior and incandescent lighting. It was not.

Lon Men's. Photo: Daniel
Lon Men's. Photo: Daniel

I got the recommendation for Lon Men’s Noodle House from a colleague, and I half expected another hip asian place, with a brutalist concrete interior and incandescent lighting. It was not.

Lon Men’s actually feels like an asian noodle shop: Plain and utilitarian with a busy, open kitchen behind a counter. I took a seat at the bar and randomly ordered some dish from the pictures at the entrance. It turned out to be wonton in thickened hot and sour soup.

Usually I avoid the hot and sour stuff: Although it brings back childhood memories of visits to chinese restaurants of the 90s, I secretly suspect that it comes from some giant factory, in a combo package with the tacky dragon decorations that those restaurants always used to have.

But Lon Men’s version was decent, and I remain halfway convinced that they make the stuff in-house. What won me over, though, was the wontons: The filling had a surprising fresh taste which contrasted nicely with the hot and sour soup, and they threw in a decent amount of them.

The owner seemed a bit reserved, but was quite chummy with regulars, which seemed to be everyone but me, and judging by the pictures on the wall some local celebrities also come there.

I have no idea if the place would be considered “authentic” by Taiwanese standards. Probably not. But in spirit it is close to other little shops I’ve seen in Asia, in that it is simple and unpretentious. From what I’ve seen it also carries some remnants of the old West-Berlin tight-knit community flair from the time before the Wall came down.

Lon Men’s is a (not so) “secret” destination in Berlin, and can get quite busy during peak hours.

Practical Details: Lon Men's Noodle House

  • Kantstraße 33, 10625 Berlin
  • S Savignyplatz
  • Open: Every day 12:00-22:30

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