A recent date night took The Astronomer and me to beautiful Arcadia. Following a sneak peek of the Moonlight Forest exhibit at the Los Angeles County Arboretum and Botanic Garden, we made our way to Cindy’s Noodle Land, where Shaanxi- and Henan-style noodles and lamb dishes reign supreme.

As soon as we walked into the restaurant, simply appointed with a mostly neutral color palette, I made a beeline for the cold appetizers in the case upfront. I have my priorities straight.

From the available selection, I honed in on the seaweed, tofu skin, and spongy wheat gluten (choice of 3 for $7.49). All three were solid, especially the lattermost, whose tang-forward flavors brought me back to the random street stall in Beijing that The Astronomer and I frequented over a decade ago.

Crusted in cumin and dried chilies, the grilled lamb skewers ($8.50) delighted with their tender, well-marbled texture.

We could not resist ordering a bowl of the restaurant’s signature lamb noodle soup ($9.50), which was advertised on nearly every available surface. The house-made noodles, impossibly long and wonderfully toothsome, along with the deeply satisfying broth, were as essential as billed.

And finally, a “cumin lamb biscuit” ($4.50), a classic street food found in the Muslim Quarter of Xi’an. Stuffed with thinly sliced lamb and enough fresh chilies to make one sweat, the burger was a savory powerhouse of terra cotta army-sized proportions.

Our impromptu dinner at Cindy’s Noodle Land was so very good. Each dish delivered, while service was efficient and warm-enough. The Astronomer and I both agreed that date nights in the SGV should be a much more regular thing.

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Cindy’s Noodle Land
921 S Baldwin Avenue
Arcadia, CA 91007
Phone: 626-445-7662

One year ago: Kin Khao – San Francisco
Two years ago: Slacker.
Three years ago: Adana Restaurant – Glendale
Four years ago: Swan Oyster Depot – San Francisco
Five years ago: Conquering Fears: Last Call for Rabbit Heads at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport
Six years ago: Mariscos La Puntilla – Mazatlán
Seven years ago: The Pie Hole – Los Angeles (Downtown)
Eight years ago: {swoon} Caramelized Bacon and Salted Caramel Bread Pudding at Crème Caramel LA
Nine years ago: Don Chow Tacos – Los Angeles
Ten years ago: Barbara West Catering: A Nerdy Thanksgiving
Eleven years ago: Ngự Viên – Ho Chi Minh City
Twelve years ago: Kanoyama – New York City