“AD” – Why is this here?

1+1 Rougamo has been a fixture on Regent Street since 2018, which is no small feat given how many Asian restaurants are located here. They claim to be the first Xi’an spot in Cambridge and they certainly make sure you know where they are. Even in the middle of a grey January, the bright orange shop front and the massive plastic rougamo sitting outside make it impossible to miss.

I’ve been meaning to visit for a while – staying open that long in such a competitive spot usually means the food speaks for itself. So when the team at 1+1 Rougamo invited me to review their cuisine, I couldn’t resist.

The interior is minimalist and practical, with a bustling atmosphere that hits you the moment you enter. The menu is vast, featuring an array of handmade noodles, dumplings, and their signature rougamo. Given the central location, the prices feel perfectly reasonable but don’t expect rock bottom bargains like at the Xiao Spots I have been covering either.

A word of advice for future diners: do not get too cavalier with your ordering. My guest and I got a little carried away, only to realise that every dish is a generous, full-sized main course.

Oops! 😂

Dumpling Sour Soup

We began with the dumplings in sour soup. You can choose between pork and leek or pork and cabbage (with a veggie option too). The deep red broth looked fantastic and the bowl was filled with an abundance of dumplings. While they were a bit slippery to manage with chopsticks, switching to a spoon proved to be the superior method as it allows me to catch plenty of that fiery broth with every bite. The “sour” punch actually comes from aged black rice vinegar, which is a staple of Shaanxi cooking.

Sichuan noodle soup

The personal highlight of the evening was the sliced beef in Sichuan pepper noodle soup. It provided everything I look for in a noodle soup: it was spicy, comforting, and plentiful. The beef was so tender it practically fell to pieces, and unlike the sour soup, this one packed a serious punch. You can really tell the noodles are handmade; they have that distinct “chew” (or QQ texture, as it’s known in China) that you only get when they’ve been freshly pulled.

Biang Biang noodles

We were given a dish that I couldn’t see on the menu but looked like Biang Biang noodles. It is named after the banging sound from slapping the dough against the table during the noodle making process. It arrived with cabbage, bean sprouts and chilli oil.

At first glance, it looked a bit bare, but once you gave it a stir, the ingredients came together to create a spicy glaze that really brought everything to life.

Coiled in the centre like a snake was one incredibly long strand of hand-pulled noodle. As you lifted it, it just seemed to keep coming. I have no idea how people actually manage these with chopsticks – it must have been about four feet long. It felt less like a typical noodle and more like a wide ribbon, thick enough to have its own distinctive flavour rather than just being a bland base. You can really taste the freshness; I was getting a proper masterclass in noodles during this visit.

Rougamo – great to grab and go!

Of course, you can’t visit 1+1 Rougamo without trying the actual rougamo. Often called “the oldest burger in the world” or the “Chinese hamburger”, these are a type of popular Shannxi street food made from stewed meat in a crispy flatbread. I tried both the duck and the pork. Both were fantastic but the pork was the clear winner as it was made from incredibly juicy and tender pork that provided a perfect contrast to the crunch of the bread. The duck, by comparison, was slightly dry and might have benefited from a touch more hoisin sauce, but it was delicious nonetheless. These are a great item to grab while on the go, so if you travel past Regent Street on the way to work then definitely give 1+1 Rogugamo a thought.

The “Something Different”: Chicken Feet & Smoked Chicken

I couldn’t help but notice smoked chicken feet on the menu. I ordered these out of curiosity more than anything else and they were…exactly as I had envisioned. They are mostly skin and cartilage with very little meat, but they taste remarkably like a roast chicken. The smoked flavour was subtle, but I have to admit, these weren’t really for me. If you’re a foodie looking for a unique dish then they are definitely worth a try but these are clearly aimed at Chinese regulars who miss home.

The Smoked Chicken, however, was a fantastic choice. It’s served chilled, more like a refreshing salad, tossed with mushroom and cucumber. The smokiness gives it a really robust, punchy flavour, yet the whole dish somehow manages to stay light and crisp. It’s a brilliant example of a traditional Chinese cold starter, where the cooling cucumber balances the richness of the wood-smoked meat.

Lamb Soup

This lamb soup was the ultimate winter warmer. It featured a light, delicate broth that really let the flavour of the lamb take centre stage. Rather than being weighed down, the soup felt refined, with spring onions adding a nice bit of sharpness to the large chunks of roasted meat.

Since the lamb was cut into strips, it was easy to handle with chopsticks. The meat was impressively tender, practically melting in my mouth without any of that annoying chewiness. Tucked away in the depths of the broth were glass noodles. Unlike standard wheat noodles, these are made from vegetable starch, which gives them a shimmering, glossy look – almost like thin strands of light. They did a great job of soaking up the broth, and while I enjoyed the chewy texture, they didn’t quite have the satisfying bite you get with a thicker noodle.

My big boy bib 🤣

A final warning: if you look like a messy eater, be prepared to be handed a bib. I complained to myself at first, feeling a bit like a toddler (as I consider myself quite handy with chopsticks) but it turns out they were absolutely right to give me one. Looking at the state of it by the end of the meal, it’s fair to say I made a right mess! 🤣

Conclusion

1+1 Rougamo is a fantastic addition to the Cambridge food scene. Whether you are looking for a sit-down feast of spicy noodles or a quick, crispy snack to grab on the go, it delivers authentic flavours that justify its longevity on Regent Street. The prices are reasonable and the team is organised and friendly. Though my experience with Xi’an cuisine is limited, it has to be one of the best spots in town – just make sure you wear the bib if they offer one!

Thank you reading!