Fried bean paste noodles @ Derek’s Noodle Bar
65 Renshaw St, Liverpool, L1 2SJ
Hiding in plain sight behind a faded, unassuming shopfront on Renshaw Street, Derek’s is real gem.
When it comes to what’s best here, the clue’s in the title — the menu here consists largely of noodles, all hand pulled and rolled. Alongside the noodle soups, dry fried noodles, wonton noodles etc. are a small number of side dishes, including bo (small buns filled with beef or pork) and fried pig ears.
The curried lamb noodles and mutton noodle soup are both firm favourites, but the pick for me are the fried bean paste noodles (or Zha Jiang Mian).
A Cantonese dish of medium-thick wheat noodles topped with ground pork cooked in dark, sweet and spicy soybean paste. The bowl is served with thin sliced cucumber, julienned carrots and beansprouts, and it’s up to you to mix everything together with black vinegar, soy and chilli oil to be added at your preference.
The warm, comforting meat sauce and the chewy noodles are offset beautifully by the crunch of the fresh vegetables. It’s sort of like having a bowl of the most delicious, rich spaghetti bolognese with a side of crisp salad mixed in. A dish that brings to mind memories of family dinners growing up, in a strange but welcome way.
