Probably the best Noodle Bar in London.
There, that about sums up my opinion of Chi, and given that I’ve been there four times in the last two weeks goes some way to demonstrate I enjoy eating there a lot.
Chi Noodle bar is hidden away behind Fleet Street and New Bridge Street, in a little covered alley by St Bridge church, behind Ludgate Circus.
Why is it good? Well, for a start it’s superb value. Secondly, the food is excellent. And third it has a nice selection of beer (Hoegarden is a popular choice with my colleagues). Oh, and fourth the staff are usually exemplary, and very quick to process orders.
If you’ve been to Wagamama, you’ll know what to expect. But the selection of noodle dishes is wider here, and the quality better (although I’m inclined to say the Wagamama salad is simply gorgeous, and there’s nothing comparable to it at Chi, regrettably).
There’s a huge selection of rice and noodle dishes, both soup and stir-fried. Oh, and Katsu curries to die for. Personally, I like the Nasi Goreng or Mei Goreng dishes (”spicy indonesian dish” with rice or noodles, depending).
Watch out though, it’s horribly busy during lunch time and early evening. Getting there before 12.30, or after 1.45 usually makes for a more relaxing experience, and any time after about 7.30 in the evening. Probably something to do with the lawyers 
Absolutely top notch stuff. My colleagues and I have tried a number of other noodle bars, and keep coming back to Chi (it helps that we’re known there by name it seems, at least by one of the staff). Nothing else quite matches the value, quality, atmosphere and staff care. If there were more restaurants like this in London, they’d have problems. But there aren’t, and it’s well worth paying a visit if you find yourself in the City.
Update 4/December/2003 - It seems I’ve been rumbled, and Chi have had my website mentioned, so please feel free to mention Richard Leyton if you visit as a result of this page. And, in response to a few requests, here are the telephone numbers:
Telephone: 020 7353 2383 or 020 7353 2409
They’re open Monday to Friday, 11.30am to 10.30pm, and offer a whopping 20% discount on Takeaway. They do delivery too (Min �10 order).
Address is: 5 New Bridge Street, Bride Court, London, EC4V 6AB.
Update: 10/December/2004 I’m pleased to report that their own website has started up at last: chinoodle.com
Update: 26/January/2006 I revisited Chi late last year (It’s still as good as ever: I live with the (distant) hope of a Glasgow branch opening!), and it seems this website is still a popular route to finding out about Chi, or digging out the address. Please feel free to mention this site when you arrive (”Richard’s website”: They’ll know what you mean :-).
January 14th, 2004 at 1:08 pm
A great find - service was helpful and food brilliant. If you want a veggie version of anything just ask if it is possible.
Happy eating
August 6th, 2004 at 10:25 am
I have been frequenting Chi Noodle Bar since the first month it opened (some 4 or 5 years) and have to say it is my favourite restaurant in the world!
Above and beyond everything said above, the owners Abbie and Simon are brilliant; often sitting down for a chat during quiter moments.
They will also endeavour to provide off the menu options and new creations to those who so desire. Richard - ask about your salad, you might be pleasantly surprised!
December 5th, 2004 at 5:40 pm
See now the web site at chinoodle.com
December 10th, 2004 at 1:23 pm
I’ve been going here for the past 2 years and still the food/service/staff are amazing! If I find myself hungry and in the city after work I will normally always end up here and take every opportunity to introduce friends , family and colleagues.
March 17th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
I’ve been going here for about 8 months, since I started working across the road on Fleet Street. First impressions were; Wow, this place sells quality beer cheaply during happy hours (which does seem to be all the time), and this had a lasting effect. However, as the Fridays rolled past this purely economic viewpoint gave way to a more substantial level of respect. I tried the salt and chillie squid (I’m not normally a seafood fan) and I’m hooked. The service is fast efficient and friendly -three things it i nigh-on impossible to find in city bars. And to top this it is not ferquented by a ‘wunch’ of bankers all making piggie noises as they recount their bonuses for the 100th time. Instead it attracts a cross-section of middle earners, both the young (and generally highly attractive) city girls and the more established middle-aged family man (who probably does earn a lot but spends it all on his wife’s prada habbit and children’s social lives (two reasons why he’s in the bar in the first place). As a 23-year-old who loves good conversation, affordable cold crisp beer and huge helpings of noodles and soup, I’d highly reccomend it!!