Hand-Pulled Noodles in Atlanta:
Where to Find Lamian, Biang Biang and Knife-Cut Noodles

The short answer: For hand-pulled noodles in Atlanta, go to LanZhou Ramen on Buford Highway in Doraville, New Lan Zhou Noodle in the Atlanta Chinatown Mall food court in Chamblee, Xi'an Gourmet House in Midtown for wide biang biang noodles, or Authentic Hand-Pulled Noodle House in Decatur. In Duluth, try halal Xibei Lanzhou Beef Noodles in the Jusgo food court and Noodle House (有面儿) on Pleasant Hill Road. LanZhou Ramen and Xi'an Gourmet House both appear in the 2026 MICHELIN Guide USA. For other Chinese noodle styles, try Taiwanese beef noodle soup at La Mei Zi and Yunnan rice noodles at Ten Seconds, both in Doraville.

Where to eat hand-pulled noodles in Atlanta

Hand-pulled noodle styles to know

Lanzhou lamian (兰州拉面 lánzhōu lāmiàn). Dough is stretched and folded by hand into long, springy strands, then served in a clear beef broth with radish, cilantro and chili oil. Many shops let you choose the thickness, from thread-thin to wide and flat.

Biang biang noodles (biángbiáng miàn). A Shaanxi specialty from Xi'an: belt-wide noodles pulled and slapped against the counter, then topped with garlic, chili flakes and sizzling oil. They're served dry, so mix well before eating.

Knife-cut noodles (刀削面 dāoxiāo miàn). Shaved straight from a block of dough into the pot, giving thick, uneven ribbons with a chewy bite. They hold up well in stir-fries and spicy sauces.

Taiwanese beef noodle soup (牛肉面 niúròu miàn). Usually made with machine-cut or hand-cut noodles in a dark, soy-braised broth with chunks of beef shank. It's comfort food rather than a show, and a good pick on a cold day.

Crossing-the-bridge rice noodles (过桥米线 guòqiáo mǐxiàn). From Yunnan in the southwest. You get a very hot broth plus a tray of raw meat, vegetables and rice noodles, and add them yourself so they cook in the bowl. Gluten-sensitive diners should ask, since rice noodles contain no wheat but the broth and sides may.

Tips for ordering hand-pulled noodles

Watch the kitchen. At noodle houses with an open kitchen, the pulling is part of the meal. Sit near the window if you can.

Choose your thickness. Thin noodles suit soup; wide and flat noodles hold sauce better in dry or stir-fried dishes.

Eat soon. Fresh-pulled noodles soften in broth, so they're best right away. If you're getting takeout, ask for the broth on the side.

Add a side. Smashed cucumber salad, cold spicy beef and dumplings are the classic partners. See our soup dumplings guide and Sichuan food guide for more.

Nearby guides

Most noodle shops cluster on Buford Highway. Start with our Buford Highway guide, the Doraville and Chamblee guide or the Duluth guide. Long noodles also stand for long life at Chinese New Year; see Chinese New Year food.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I get hand-pulled noodles in Atlanta?

The best-known spots are LanZhou Ramen on Buford Highway in Doraville, New Lan Zhou Noodle in the Atlanta Chinatown Mall food court in Chamblee, Xi'an Gourmet House in Midtown and Authentic Hand-Pulled Noodle House in Decatur. In Duluth, Xibei Lanzhou Beef Noodles and Noodle House (有面儿) also pull noodles to order.

What is the difference between hand-pulled and knife-cut noodles?

Hand-pulled noodles (lamian) are stretched and folded by hand into round or flat strands. Knife-cut noodles (dao xiao mian) are shaved off a block of dough with a blade, so they're thicker, uneven and chewier.

What are biang biang noodles?

Biang biang noodles are very wide, hand-ripped wheat noodles from Xi'an in Shaanxi province, served dry with chili, garlic and hot oil. In Atlanta, Xi'an Gourmet House is the place most known for them.

Is Lanzhou ramen the same as Japanese ramen?

No. Lanzhou lamian is a Chinese hand-pulled noodle soup with a clear beef broth. Japanese ramen descends from Chinese noodles but uses alkaline, machine-cut noodles and richer broths such as tonkotsu or miso.

Where else in metro Atlanta can I find Chinese noodles?

Duluth has two hand-pulled noodle shops, Xibei Lanzhou Beef Noodles (halal) and Noodle House (有面儿). Dunwoody has Wok Provisions for Hunan and Sichuan noodles, and Marietta has Handmade Dumplings and Noodles and Wei Authentic Chinese. See our Duluth, Marietta and Johns Creek guides.

Hand-pulled noodle restaurants in our guide