Chinese noodle restaurant Mian Sichuan opened September 24 at 4695 N. Oracle Rd.

Mian Sichuan has no relation to MiAn Sushi & Modern Asian Cuisine, which closed in June; mian in this context is the Chinese word for noodles.

Located in a north-facing strip mall a few doors down from Chuy’s Mesquite Broiler, Mian features a minimal black-and-white interior with lightbulbs hanging from the ceiling.

Guests order at the counter and seat themselves.

The menu currently offers five Chinese noodle dishes and two side options: kimchi and zhacai, a type of pickled mustard green. Bottled and canned drinks are also available.

Noodle dish prices range from $9.68 to $12.68. Although the photos from Mian’s Instagram appeared conservative with portion sizes, portions in the restaurant are actually generous.

The cashier was friendly and helpful on our visit. We ordered the Dan Dan Noodle ($11.68) and Volcano Noodle Soup ($12.68) and sat on the patio. The cashier brought out our orders surprisingly quick, around five minutes after we ordered.

First thing’s first; the noodles are cooked softer than al dente but held their shape well. The Dan Dan Noodle came with a lightly spicy sesame sauce and ground beef; stir it up before eating. Since the dish is so rich, order a side of the pickled mustard greens to help balance the dish.

Shortly after the Dan Dan Noodle arrived, the cashier brought out the Volcano Noodle Soup. The flavor possessed the qualities of the Dan Dan Noodle, but also included a medium spicy broth with chili oil, Sichuan pepper, salad greens, slices of braised beef, and a slice of American cheese.

The salad greens felt out of place in comparison to more traditional Chinese greens, but the bitterness ended up working well with the spicy broth. The American cheese melted around a central cluster of noodles, leading to a bite that would resemble a Chinese queso dip or mac and cheese. Strange, but addicting.

Mian Sichuan Menu

• Shoyu Noodle Soup ($11.68) – shoyu paste, soy sauce, minced beef, scallion, greens, sliced beef
• Volcano Noodle Soup ($12.68) – spicy broth, sesame paste, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced beef, braised beef slices, scallion, greens, American cheese slice
• Beijing Jajangmyeon ($9.68) – soy paste, minced beef, scallion, cucumber
• Chongqing Noodle Soup ($10.68) – spicy broth, onion oil, chili oil, ya cai, minced beef, scallions, greens
• Dan Dan Noodle ($11.68) – sesame paste, ya cai, chili oil, Sichuan pepper, minced beef, scallion

Mian Sichuan has no fancy bells and whistles, just a straight-forward and small noodle menu. However, the menu might expand in the future; stay tuned for any additional updates.

Operating hours are 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. and 5 – 9 p.m. daily.

Mian Sichuan is located at 4695 N. Oracle Rd. For more information, visit miansichuan.business.site. Keep up with Mian Sichuan on Instagram.