Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House has been serving Southwest Chinese comfort food since 2019, alongside their signature Mixian rice noodles. Since the pandemic began, Shao Bruce, managing partner, says that being a small family restaurant, “we work very close together, and chose not to open the dining room” at the beginning of lockdowns, making takeout the bulk of their revenue. Now, after one year and complete renovations of the kitchen and dining room, Bruce and his family “are excited to welcome guests into our home.”
Photo courtesy of Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House
Yunnan menu options include small plates.
By reinvesting in the business, Bruce says that the “space not only becomes beautiful, but it speaks to the region of Yunnan [a southwestern province in China] and the contemporary style of the area.” Alongside the natural wood paneling that covers the dining room walls, a skylight was added to let in natural light from the sun and stars. “The heart of the renovation,” the kitchen, is now “able to execute the menu that we have envisioned.”
With a new kitchen comes an expansive and more adventurous menu full of traditional flavors and Americana twists. Small plates, similar to tapas, are created as conversation pieces for sharing food and stories. A Bao bun section includes the traditional pork bun with a vegan and fried chicken option, but the unique twist is the option to pan fry the dumplings in duck fat, rendering the juices to make a golden crust.
Photo courtesy of Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House
A variety of buns are on the menu at Yunnan By Potomac Noodle House.
Handmade dumplings are painstakingly handmade by Bruce and his wife, Jia Cui, every day. New dumplings, including the butter crab dumpling inspired by his father’s upbringing in Cape May, New Jersey, bring non-Chinese techniques to Chinese cooking and “cooked in love.” Their newest item, Shaokao skewers, are the Chinese form of BBQ, seemingly underrepresented but a large part of Chinese food culture and nightlife. Everything new is tucked next to their signature comfort food: meisheng rice noodles marinated in slow cooked broth, meats braised until tender and a family’s devotion to telling their story.
The reopening for indoor dining and a special “By Potomac Tasting Menu,” a multi-course meal available on Tuesdays by reservation only, will be announced soon. Stay tuned!
