Istanoodle House: Seven-Colored Hand-Pulled Noodles I Can’t Get Enough Of!

That day was one of those days—the kind where I wanted nothing in the world except a bowl of noodle soup. Whenever my appetite disappears, anything warm and soupy somehow brings it right back.

As usual, that meant it was my partner’s job to hunt down a restaurant we hadn’t tried yet that had noodle soup on the menu. And of course, he went straight for Chinese hand-pulled noodles—our all-time favourite, especially since I’ve never really liked the Malay yellow noodles (Mee Kuning).

This time, he picked a place called Istanoodle House. We’d seen it around before and walked past it a few times, but never actually went in. Well, this time we finally made it happen—and oh. my. god. It was love at first bite! We should’ve come here a long time ago. What I love about this restaurant is that it doesn’t just focus on Chinese dishes—it also blends Japanese and local flavours, making the menu even more interesting.

✅ What is Istanoodle?

I always used to mispronounce it as Instanoodle—which, honestly, sounds like it has something to do with Instagram. 😂 But nope, it’s Istanoodle.

Istanoodle is a popular Chinese Muslim restaurant chain in Malaysia, best known for its organic, hand-pulled noodles that come in seven vibrant colours, inspired by bold Xi’an flavours. They serve both comforting, rich broths and flavour-packed dry noodle dishes, along with some pretty addictive signature snacks.

The concept of “Seven Colors” represents a blend of vibrancy, nutrition, and celebration. Each colour is crafted with unique ingredients to achieve a vivid and captivating appearance. They balance aroma and taste in perfect harmony to ensure noodles that are beautifully balanced, richly hued, and satisfyingly smooth—a small but special touch you won’t find everywhere.

💡 Fun fact: Istanoodle holds a Malaysia Book of Records title for its noodle variety, making the menu even more exciting to explore.

✅ What’s On The Menu

Istanoodle’s menu, unsurprisingly, is all about noodles. Most noodle dishes are available in soup or dry versions, and you get to choose from seven different noodle types to add a pop of colour (and personality) to your bowl.

If you’re in the mood for a comforting bowl of noodles, some of their signature noodle soups and crowd favourites include:

Lanzhou Beef Noodles
Sichuan DanDan Noodles
Pickled Cabbage Fish Noodles
Four Treasure Seafood Curry Noodles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

However, if you’re craving something bolder, their dry and spicy noodles definitely deserve attention. They are packed with flavour and perfect for those who prefer their meals on the savoury side. Options like:

Japanese Smoked Duck Noodles ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scallion Oil Noodles
Crispy Chicken Chop Noodles
Chilli Oil Dumpling Noodles,
Braised Beef Brisket Noodles
Chicken Minced Meat Noodles

Not a noodle person? You’ll be happy to know they’ve got rice dishes on the menu too. The rice options are just as comforting and satisfying:

Golden Curry Potato with Chicken Cutlet
Aromatic Seafood Curry
Signature Pickled Fish Delight
Traditional Braised Beef Brisket with Radish
Aromatic Minced Chicken Rice Bowl

As for beverages and desserts, the selection isn’t huge—but it’s thoughtfully curated and interesting enough to tempt you into ordering at least one to complete your meal.

For the full menu and more details, you can check out their website here: Istanoodle’s menu

✅ What I’ve Tried

I’ve been to Istanoodle twice so far, and these are the dishes I’ve tried (and loved!):

🍜 Japanese Smoked Duck Noodles
This dish comes with slices of savoury smoked duck, and you can really taste the smokiness from the very first bite. The flavour is rich and satisfying. The waiter actually asked if I wanted to reduce the spice level because many customers find it too spicy, but I decided to keep it as is. Honestly? It wasn’t that spicy for me at all. I went with the original noodles and even added more chilli oil afterward. Overall, it was absolutely delicious! 👍

🍜 Lanzhou Beef Noodles
A classic, clear, and comforting noodle soup from Lanzhou, China, featuring thin slices of tender beef. The broth was flavourful and clean, the kind that warms you up instantly. Like many Lanzhou beef noodles I’ve had before, this one did not disappoint. The fun part was choosing the noodles—and my partner picked the carrot noodles, and it somehow made the whole meal even more memorable.

🍜 Pickled Cabbage Fish Noodles
This one was interesting in the best way. It’s a savoury and tangy noodle soup with tender fish fillets, pickled sour cabbage and a hint of chilli and garlic. The flavour was quite unique and took me a moment to get used to, but the more I ate, the more it reminded me of singgang—a Kelantanese dish—except this version comes with a white broth. For this bowl, my partner chose spinach noodles, which paired really well with the soup.

🍜 Four Treasure Seafood Curry Noodles
Hands down, my favourite dish so far. This bowl comes with a rich, creamy, and aromatic curry broth loaded with fresh seafood like shrimp, squid, fish slices, and clams. It’s very different from the usual Chinese curry noodles, which tend to be lighter and less flavourful. This one tasted more like a Malay-style curry noodles—bold, comforting, and perfectly balanced. I paired it with squid ink noodles, and I was honestly surprised by how good the whole combination was.

✅ My Take On Istanoodle

If you’re wondering whether the noodles themselves change the taste of the soup—honestly, not much. The overall flavour of the soup stays pretty much the same. But, having different coloured noodles in your bowl is such a fun little twist! It adds a visual pop to the meal and makes the whole experience feel special. Not every place gives you a chance to enjoy something like this!

The portions are generous, too. Everything comes in big bowls, and the prices are super reasonable—even the priciest dishes are under RM30.00, which feels totally fair for the quality and location. Plus, if you go on a weekday, you might even snag a dish for under RM10.00 thanks to their special promotions. Affordable, filling, and tasty—what’s not to love?

The staff here are also very welcoming and friendly, which really adds to the overall vibe of the place. I’m also glad that whenever I go, the restaurant isn’t overly crowded. If it were packed, it might feel a bit cramped since some tables are close together, and you can literally hear other people’s conversations—but thankfully, that hasn’t been an issue for me.

✅ Where Is It Located?

Istanoodle currently has three outlets in Malaysia, all inside shopping malls, so their opening hours match the malls’ timings:

Publika Outlet: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
IOI City Mall Outlet: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Setia City Mall Outlet: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM

It’s convenient if you’re out shopping or looking for a casual meal, and since they’re in malls, parking and accessibility are easy too.

✅ Will I Come Again?

Absolutely—100 times and more!

Istanoodle has definitely earned my trust when it comes to serving quality, flavourful dishes that never disappoint. My only tiny note is about the dry noodles—they could use a little more time to soak in hot water, as they were slightly firm. Noodles in soup naturally soften in the broth, but dry noodles need a bit more time to reach the perfect texture. Still, every dish I’ve tried has been absolutely delicious, and every time I leave, I’m already thinking about what I want to try next.

So, if you’re anything like me and love noodles, this place is a must-visit. Istanoodle is perfect for noodle lovers—hearty portions, reasonable prices, friendly staff, and seriously tasty bowls.

—Auri Duham🌸