The whole time I’ve lived in Prague I’ve found it to be great for all-vegan restaurants, but quite poor for vegan options at non-vegan eateries. Alas, that is still generally true, but the situation is slowly improving, and this is one of the places that is really excelling. Chi Xiao Mian is a noodle restaurant which serves meat but has well-labelled vegan options, which are very tasty to boot. I hadn’t really heard anything about it when I was first persuaded to visit, and it only had one review on Happy Cow so I wasn’t too optimistic, but I’m very glad I gave it a chance and I’ve been recommending it to everyone since then!

On our first visit we ordered some veggie pockets, which are steamed dumplings. The texture was good and they were certainly hot enough, but the filling felt a wee bit underseasoned. It wasn’t too worrying though, because the main dish was firing on all cylinders.

The veggie mian is absolutely sublime. The broth is really flavoursome and hearty – it’s not very spicy, but there’s some chilli oil on top which gives it a kind of growing heat. The broth is absolutely packed with noodles. It’s a really generous portion and filling dish, so for me the dumplings are not a necessary side or starter. The best thing about this dish is that there are lots of good toppings and not a lot of those that I consider to be filler (sweetcorn, bean sprouts). There’s plenty of tofu puffs, which are a spongy delight, and a good supply of mushrooms, with just a smattering of beansprouts and a bit of chopped bak choy. It’s hearty, well-seasoned, and just really delicious.

Dr HH has also ordered from the specials menu once, trying this aubergine mian. It seemed like the same broth but with the most tender aubergine imaginable instead of the tofu puffs. He was dazzled by the aubergine, except that it was tepid, in contrast with the rest of the dish, which was a shame.

If you want to visit this place, make sure you book a table! It has been packed every time I’ve visited. The tables are a bit close together as well, so there’s not always a lot of privacy from other diners. The menu is in Czech and English, and the staff speak both languages as well, so you shouldn’t struggle to navigate it.

Chi Xiao Mian has quickly become one of my favourite spots in Prague, so definitely give it a try if you’re in the city and a fan of noodle soups!