That day was one of those days when I wanted nothing in the world except a bowl of noodle soup.
Whenever my appetite disappears, anything warm and soupy somehow brings it back. I don’t know why, but it works almost every time.
As usual, that meant it was my partner’s job to find a restaurant we hadn’t tried before that had noodle soup on the menu. He went straight for Chinese hand-pulled noodles, which are our all-time favourite. I’ve never really liked Malay yellow noodles (mee kuning), so we usually end up choosing hand-pulled noodles instead.
This time, he picked Istanoodle House.
We had seen the place around before and walked past it a few times, but never actually went in. I’m not even sure why. Somehow, we just kept walking past it.
This time, we finally decided to give it a try, and oh my god, it was love at first bite! We should have come here a long time ago.
What I liked about Istanoodle was that the menu wasn’t just about Chinese dishes. There were Japanese-inspired dishes and local flavours too, which made the menu a lot more interesting. There was plenty to choose from, but of course, I was there for the noodles.
✅ About Istanoodle House
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
As you would expect from the name, noodles are the main attraction here.
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 have visited Istanoodle several times, and these are some of the dishes I have tried.
- Japanese Smoked Duck Noodles
The smoked duck had a noticeable smoky flavour, and the sauce made the whole bowl rich and savoury. The waiter actually asked if I wanted to reduce the spice because some customers found it quite spicy.
I said no.
It turned out to be perfectly fine for me, and I even added more chilli oil afterwards.
The combination of the smoky duck, savoury sauce and spicy noodles worked really well together. If you enjoy something with a little more kick, this is one I would happily order again.
- Lanzhou Beef Noodles
Lanzhou beef noodles are one of those dishes I naturally gravitate towards when I see them on a menu.
This one came with a clear, comforting broth and thin slices of beef. The broth was light but still flavourful, without feeling too heavy.
The fun part was getting to choose the type of noodles.
My partner went with the carrot noodles, which added a bright orange colour to the bowl and made the whole thing a little more fun.
Simple, comforting and satisfying.
- Pickled Cabbage Fish Noodles
This was probably the most interesting bowl for me because the flavour was quite different from the usual noodle soups I order.
The broth had a savoury and slightly tangy taste from the pickled cabbage, with fish fillets, chilli and garlic adding more depth.
At first, I needed a little time to get used to the flavour.
The more I ate, though, the more it reminded me of singgang, a Kelantanese dish I enjoy, although this version had a white broth and a very different presentation.
My partner chose the spinach noodles for this one, which made the bowl look even more colourful.
- Four Treasure Seafood Curry Noodles
This is still my favourite dish at Istanoodle.
The curry broth was rich, creamy and aromatic, with seafood including shrimp, squid, fish slices and clams.
What surprised me most was the flavour.
Instead of tasting like the lighter Chinese-style curry noodles I am used to, this one reminded me more of Malay-style curry noodles. It was bold, comforting and full of flavour without becoming too heavy.
I paired it with squid ink noodles, and the combination was surprisingly good.
If I had to pick one bowl from everything I have tried here, this would be it.
- Mala Pan Mee (Dry)
I am a big fan of Pan Mee, so I can be quite fussy about it.
This one was okay, but personally, it was not the best Pan Mee I have had. I found the noodles a little too firm for my liking, and it did not have enough of that I need to order this again feeling for me.
The portion was satisfying, though.
I would probably try something else on the menu next time.
✅ What Do I Think of Istanoodle?
One thing I was curious about was whether the different coloured noodles actually changed the flavour of the dish.
For me, not by much.
The soup remains the main source of flavour, so choosing a different noodle is more about the texture, colour and the fun of trying something different! It adds a visual pop to the meal and makes the whole experience feel special.
I do like having the option, though.
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.
✅ Location and Opening Hours
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
For this visit, I went to the IOI City Mall outlet, located at LG-73.
Being inside a shopping mall also makes parking and accessibility fairly straightforward, especially if you are already there for shopping or other errands.
✅ Will I Come Again?
Absolutely.
100 times and more!
Istanoodle has definitely earned my trust. Every dish I’ve tried has been flavourful, satisfying and generous enough to leave me feeling like I had a proper meal.
My only small note would be the dry noodles. They were slightly firm for my liking and could have used a little more time in hot water. The noodles in the soup soften as they sit in the broth, so I did not have the same issue with those. It is a small thing, though, and definitely not enough to put me off coming back.
In fact, every time I leave I already find myself thinking about what I want to order next. That probably says enough.
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. 👍
Wanderhoney Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.8/5)
Love,
Auri Duham 🌻
