Wednesday, February 07, 2024

Greasy spoons with a Chinese kick at Spicy Noodle Cafe in Balham

I love traditional caffs that serve a proper fry up.
This time I visited Spicy Noodle Cafe which was actually unsuspectingly a caff.
20 years ago this cafe was acquired by SL who has added Chinese dishes to the menu while fry ups are cooked in a wok.
It felt like a Chinese Take away but caff style with breakfast and Chinese.
I made several visits because there were so many things to try on both the Chinese and English menu.
Personally, the English menu was more to my palate.
The Chinese menu was a little too sweet for my liking but better than many other places.

A quick review of what I have tried:

English Menu:
Ham. Egg and Chips: Ham, Egg and chips are food of Gods but every element has to be perfect for that winning satisfaction.
I have been observing the food served at this place so I was assured.
The ham was glistening and moist, full of flavour without being too salty, the eggs were perfectly done with a runny yolk as well as the egg white being bang on with that delicate jelly yet bouncy texture.
Last but not the chips were to my liking, nice and anaemic in colour and same as the ones served in my favourite fried chicken shop.
Eating this was pure joy, each mouthful was delicious especially the ham and egg white while dipping my chips in the yolk.
Each bite was different!! Sometimes it was egg and chips, sometimes it was ham and chips, or ham and eggs!
Bubble: a nice mash of potato and peas, delicious with salt and pepper
Cheese on toast: flawless with proper melted cheddar
Roast Lamb: Bit dry and tough, not enough gravy.
Roast potatoes were the frozen ready ones which were a bit dry and hard.
Cheese and Salad Roll: Best cheese salad roll I've had in ages.
It literally took me back to school dinner days where they were wrapped in clingfilm.
I loved that traditional roll which has that yeasty smell and chew.
The lettuce had that crunch, the tomato umami, the tasty cheese and the freshness of the cucumber.
Pure foodgasm.
The presentation of this couldn't be better because it was freshly made so all the salad was fresh, vibrant and glistening.
Liver and Onions: much better than other greasy spoons but I think it's just not my cup of tea because the texture of the liver is too hard and firm.

Chinese Menu:
Prawn noodles: delicious fine egg noodles with bouncy tender prawn but overall a bit sweet for my liking.
Beef Ho Fun: Again, nice and clean compared to Chinatown, it was not heavy or oily.
Wonton Soup: Sweet while the wonton fillings was a bit mushy.
Mushroom Tom Yum Soup: Very tasty but not tangy enough
Singapore Vermicelli: nice but they do not use the finer ones that I like by Yeoh's, overall ok and you can taste the curry powder.

There are three other Asian English Caffs out there which I have tried.
One is English and Thai while the other one serves English and Chinese roast on one plate.
Last but not least Billingsgate Cafe which serves Chinese noodles on Monday morning which takes effort to try.
Wing Loon is also a caff in Waterloo but serves 100% Chinese food.
 






























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