Bao Noodle Shop is part of the Taiwanese mini-chain’s empire that includes three ‘regular’ Bao restaurants and Cafe Bao in King’s Cross. They’ve taken over the old Andina site in Shoreditch, facing Smoking Goat and Brat, and have given the place a lovely spruce up. As you might guess from the name, it’s noodles that are the focus here rather than the steamed buns that made them famous, specifically the beef noodle shops of Taiwan. Despite this, there’s only actually two beef noodle soups on the menu, a rich Taipei-style with beef cheek, short rib and spiced beef butter, and a lighter Tainan-style beef soup with rare beef rump. And then to the trusty bao, here as good as ever, and with a particular shoutout to the prawn croquette bun which may just be our new favourite. There’s also sake, wine, tea, and Bao’s own-label beers to crack into. With a prominent position in Shoreditch and a crowd-pleasing menu of big hitters, Bao Noodle Shop is another surefire hit for the team.