Chesterton Road has become a real foodie hotspot as of late, with exciting new restaurants opening all the time. But let’s not forget the long-established places that have faithfully served the local area for years.

Tonight, I visited Golden Noodle Bistro, an authentic, family-run Chinese restaurant specialising in hand-pulled noodles that has been serving the local area for years.

It is an easy place to miss, being one of those hidden xiao-spots frequently dotted around the city (xiao being Chinese for small or little). These places are primarily aimed at Chinese students and tend to fly under the radar with zero advertising or internet presence. I have walked past it dozens of times without even noticing it and the windows are always steamed up, adding a sense of mystery that makes the place feel even more enticing.

Practical

The restaurant itself is small but well laid out. The interior isn’t going to win any design awards, but it’s pleasant enough. The place was quiet when I arrived but immediately became rammed with Chinese students who knew exactly what they wanted, ordering before they had even sat down. By the time I had received my drink, they already had their huge, noisy dishes being shared across the tables.

I had planned on ordering noodles (the clue is in the name, after all), but after seeing everyone else ordering the same thing, I decided to copy them. It seemed to be the “hot dish” of the moment.

Dry Pot

The dish in question was the Dry Pot – a type of Hot Pot served without the broth. It’s essentially a sizzling stir-fry often used as a way to mix a concoction of different ingredients. It arrives in a metal pot with candles underneath, allowing it to keep cooking at the table. It comes out kicking and screaming, sizzling away with smoke rising into the air.

I opted for the pork belly and cabbage, which turned out to be a great choice. The pork was thinly sliced and plentiful, with the cabbage providing enough greens to make it feel like a balanced meal. Despite there being no broth, a small amount of spicy oil sat at the bottom, with two types of chillies adding a fiery kick that really brought it to life. I ordered a bowl of egg fried rice which soaked it all up perfectly.

I can see why this is so popular!

Dumpling

I also ordered a portion of eight dumplings, which arrived piping hot with pale, delicate skins. While the dough was thick and impressively soft, the generous filling lacked a certain depth of flavour. To add a bit of character, I dipped them into the spicy oil from my dry pot – a simple addition that worked perfectly to elevate the dish.

After finishing my lemon drink, I settled the bill by card. A useful tip for future visitors: those paying with cash receive a 5% discount, and notably, no service charge was added to the total. This, combined with the already competitive pricing, offers a great opportunity to save money, which is especially welcome given the current economic climate.

The service was friendly and the food arrived quickly, though the timing was a bit ad hoc, with the rice arriving five minutes before the Dry Pot, and the dumplings ten minutes after that. It didn’t bother me, but if you are dining with friends, it might be worth asking for everything to come out together, just to avoid everyone eating at different times.

A great foodie find for authentic Chinese flavours

All in all, I had a great meal. This was my first Dry Pot and I bloody loved it. I was genuinely impressed with the bill, which came to approximately £30. The Dry Pot and rice alone is a big meal, so you could easily feed one person for under £20. If you are looking for authentic Chinese food in Cambridge but don’t want a huge bill then these are under the radar “Xiao-spot” Chinese restaurants are a great way of saving money.

​Thanks for reading.