Gulnar Noodle is a popular eatery in Birmingham city centre serving authentic halal Uyghur noodles and rice. But there is a sentimental family story behind the secret of its delicious food.
Owner Bella Wang heralds from the west of China in Urumqi but made Birmingham her home when she came to study International Logistics at Birmingham University as a student.
The cosy restaurant in Pinfold Street was an idea that developed as a very personal project for Bella when her beloved grandmother back home in China fell ill with Alzheimer’s disease seven years ago.
What she remembered most about her grandma called Gulnar – meaning pomegranate flower that is strong and beautiful – was how she was a good cook, who made the family wonderfully tasty noodles.
When her grandmother’s recipe book passed on to Bella, she decided to start making them in the UK, which inspired the cosy noodle bar, named after her gran.
There are now 60 dishes on the Gulnar Noodle menu that came from that special family recipe book. With authentic flavours of China, they range from Silk Road Lamb Dumplings to Lanzhou langhman clear beef broth noodles and Uyghur Style Stew Noodles.
Other mouthwatering options include Imperial Big Plate Chicken, Pot-Pot Slow Braised Lamb Ribs and Uyghur Style Vegetable Pilaf with tomato and celery.
“I spent a lot of time with my grandmother, who was a good cook and all the recipes are from her,” explained Bella Wang, aged 30.
“She wanted to open a restaurant in our small neighbourhood in China but at the time, I got a place at Birmingham University to study. Grandma spent all her money to allow me to study in the UK.
“She got Alzheimer’s and when I went back to see her in China, she’d forgotten everything but one day she remembered me and I treasure that moment. She died five years ago sadly.
“Before she died, I felt the need to do something in her honour. I had the recipes and found authentic ingredients in the UK and that’s how Gulnar Noodle started.
“I bought everything to fit out the restaurant from ebay, as I didn’t have much money. The customers became my friends and after a year it suddenly had regular clients and was working out.
“To this day, I still use my grandma’s recipes. Maybe grandma is looking down on me.”
Gulnar Noodle has built up a regular customer base from office workers to families. It’s taken off to such an extent that Bella has expanded with new restaurants in London’s Liverpool Street and Bristol city centre.
“I have got staff who are super friendly and treat the customers like friends and the chefs all use my grandmother’s recipes,” added Bella.
“I feel lucky that I have a team of hand-picked people to keep grandma’s dream alive.”
Find Gulnar Noodle at 50 Pinfold St, Birmingham city centre, B2 4AY. It is open every day from midday to 10pm.