Sadly, Tianfu Noodles is now closed!

This place is exceedingly popular with the denizens of Newmarket, its customer base made up mostly of shoppers and students and local office workers — essentially anyone looking for a quick, affordable feed. The main drawcard, noodles, are served speedily in soups, or with minced meat, or cold with a pile of shredded chicken and peanuts. You can adjust the noodles to your preference and heat level, which ranges from “tiny” to “extra hot”. There are also braised Sichuan-style nose-to-tails types of meats — for example, pig ears, chicken gizzards, ox tripe. Dumplings, too. And cauldron-like casserole dishes. We usually order a few of the snacks: sliced vegetables and meat which are cooked in a bubbling brew of oil, chillies and aromatics, and go for a dollar or two a pop. Almost everything here rings with the unmistakeable floral prickle of Sichuan peppers and livid chilli, which means you will probably get a fun, endorphin-fuelled rush — but you will also need something to dab your brow with.