Chengdu Taste Expanding with Mian Noodles?

When the low-key Yagyu Ramen debuted on Spring Mountain Road, it replaced a Japanese barbecue restaurant with ramen bowls. Less than a year after opening, Yagyu has quietly shuttered, but its replacement could be one of the most lauded restaurants in Southern California’s San Gabriel Valley.

An Eater Vegas tipster reports new signage outside Yagyu is announcing Mian Sichuan Noodles is next for the space, in the retail center a short distance to the west of Chinatown Plaza.

Named for the Chinese word for noodles, the Mian concept was launched last year in Alhambra, California, by chef Tony Xu, specializing in zhajiangmian-style noodles found in the Chinese city of Chongqing, located 167 miles from Chengdu, the metropolis that inspired his other extremely popular creation, Chengdu Taste.

No confirmation for the expansion has been revealed, nor a proposed opening date, but last month, new company Mian Las Vegas LLC was created with a contact address at the Las Vegas home of Chengdu Taste, less than a half mile away on Schiff Drive.

Chef Xu operates three very successful Chengdu Taste locations in California and debuted the Las Vegas expansion in late 2015, featuring an almost identical menu to the originals.

The Mian menu features appetizers like “spicy black fungus,” Chengdu pickles, beef in chilli sauce and steamed beef stew.

“Chaozhou dumpling” options, similar in appearance to wontons, include “milk soup,” “red oil,” or seafood and the noodle selections include crispy minced pork, gizzards, “clear broth ZaJiang,” “Ziwei Beef” and slightly thinner Chengdu inspired flavors.

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