The iconic Chinese Noodle House in Sydney's bustling Chinatown district will serve its final bowls of hand-pulled noodles on 12th December, marking the end of an era for one of Haymarket's most cherished culinary institutions.
The Lease Dispute That Split a Community
After a decade of operation at their Thomas Street location, the tenant owners received devastating news that their landlords would not be extending the lease. The family behind the current Chinese Noodle House, including Wen Li, Tina Wang, April Li and Eric Zhang, must now vacate the premises they've transformed into a cult favourite among Sydney's food enthusiasts.
The situation has created an unusual twist in Sydney's dining scene. The landlords, John Sun and Susanna Chen, who originally operated the restaurant until 2016, plan to open their own establishment in the same location - also called Chinese Noodle House. Meanwhile, the current tenants hope to reopen nearby under the identical name, potentially creating two competing restaurants with the same title.
A Complicated Noodle Dynasty
The confusion doesn't end with the impending duplication. The soon-to-close Chinese Noodle House already shares two-thirds of its name with its next-door neighbour, Chinese Noodle Restaurant. Both establishments trace their origins to former restaurateur Xiaotang Qin, whose culinary legacy has spawned numerous "Chinese Noodle" establishments across Sydney, now operated by relatives and former employees.
The similarities extend beyond names. Both restaurants feature nearly identical decor, including the signature plastic grapes hanging from ceilings, and offer comparable menus centred around hand-pulled noodles and dumplings.
Tina Wang, who purchased the business in 2016 after working at Chinese Noodle Restaurant, finds the situation particularly painful. "We make the business boom, go up and up... we're working so hard," said her son-in-law Eric Zhang. "All our customers are standing behind us, they said they're going to come back and they always support us... We're very touched."
Customer Loyalty and Confusion
The announcement has triggered an emotional response from loyal patrons. Customers have been forming queues during typically quiet hours to enjoy final meals at their beloved noodle house. Interestingly, the closure announcement has also benefited the similarly named Chinese Noodle Restaurant next door, with some confused customers showing up there instead.
The situation created a moment of confusion for Elvis Kernaghan, who travelled from the Gold Coast specifically to visit what he thought was his favourite restaurant. "It's a highlight of every year - I have to come minimum 1,000 kilometres, sometimes 3,000," he explained. After realising his mistake, he admitted he'd "never even tried" the closing establishment.
For regulars like Fiona and Zack, who work at the ABC, the replacement won't break their allegiance. "That's terrible, it's not the same," Fiona stated, highlighting the deep connections customers form with their preferred noodle spot.
The landlords maintain they're simply reclaiming what they built from scratch. "We built this restaurant, we do everything, the menu, everything, from the beginning," said Susanna Chen. "We already built a business, a very good foundation."
As the 12th December closure date approaches, the future remains uncertain for both noodle houses. What's clear is that Sydney's dining landscape is losing a genuine institution, while gaining what might become the city's most confusing culinary rivalry.
