Chen Geleh Village Noodles (陈饸饹村)

Chen Geleh Village Noodles (陈饸饹村) is a noodle house near Longxing Temple in Zhengding County, Shijiazhuang, in Hebei province. Geleh, written 饸饹 in Chinese, is a northern noodle made by pressing buckwheat or mixed-grain dough through a wooden or metal press directly into boiling water, and it is a staple of the Hebei and Shanxi plains. The restaurant presses the noodles to order using a traditional wooden press, which gives the strands a thick, springy, slightly rough texture that holds sauce well. The signature dishes are lamb geleh noodles (羊肉饸饹), served hot in a savoury lamb broth at about 18 to 28 yuan, and cold-mixed geleh noodles (凉拌饸饹), tossed with vinegar and chilli oil at about 12 to 18 yuan. The hot bowl is warming and best in cooler months, while the cold-mixed version is popular in summer. The setting is a simple village-style noodle house, with plain tables and a no-frills service style; the mood is relaxed and the noise level is moderate, with a mostly local and visitor crowd drawn by the proximity to the temple. Dress is casual. The beverage list is limited to tea and soft drinks, and the noodle broth itself is the main liquid component. Opening hours run from about 8:00 AM to 8:30 PM daily. Reservations are not taken and are not required, since the shop is walk-in only and serves quickly. Prices are low, so a filling meal for one costs only a few US dollars. The location makes it a convenient lunch near Longxing Temple, one of Zhengding's principal historic sights, and a fair introduction to the plain wheat-and-grain cooking of the Hebei countryside.