In a country of countless beef noodle soup places, the ones that have withstood the test of time are worth celebrating. Lao Zhang is one of these. Founded in 1958, this humble noodle shop started off as a street-side shack, gaining popularity among locals over the years and eventually opening a more formal restaurant just a short walk away in the Dongmen neighborhood, amidst the competitive foodie streets of Yong Kang.

Lao Zhang serves up the classic menu of options: beef noodle soup, some little side starter dishes (xiao cai), and steamed millet pork. They have three different options for the beef noodle soup, a dark soy braised beef that is a little spicy, a tomato and soy based broth, and a lighter stewed beef broth. They also have added a few other noodle options that use pork, for non-beef eaters.

In a country with endless choices of things to eat, Lao Zhang is a consistently solid choice. It might not be the most crowded spot on the block, but it has been around for long enough that you know they’re doing something right.