Noodles Street: Where to Eat in Brighton (4.9★)

Bowls on London Road

London Road is Brighton’s working high street. It has discount shops, cafés, takeaways and bus stops, and none of the polish of the seafront or the Lanes. Noodles Street sits at number 14, near the southern end where the road meets The Level and the stone spire of St Peter’s Church.

It’s a noodle shop, plain and simple. It isn’t trying to be a destination restaurant. Prices are mid-range, and the reviews are glowing for a place this size. Plenty of people walk past it on the way into town without looking up. That makes it a good find if you want a hot bowl without a seafront queue.

The menu is the only reliable guide to what’s on offer, so read it at the door. Ask staff how spicy a dish is before you order rather than guessing.

Getting to 14 London Road

You can walk from almost anywhere central:

• From Brighton station: go downhill and east through the North Laine streets towards The Level. It takes roughly 10 to 15 minutes on foot.
• From the Royal Pavilion or Churchill Square: head north past St Peter’s Church. London Road starts just beyond it.
• By bus: lots of city routes run along London Road and stop near The Level. Check the Brighton & Hove Buses app for the stop nearest number 14.
• By train from the north or east: London Road (Brighton) station is at the upper end of the street. From there it’s a downhill walk of about 10 minutes.

Street parking around London Road is limited and metered. Walking or taking the bus is easier.

Picking your hour

The doors open at 10:30am and close at 10pm, seven days a week. There’s no short day to plan around. That long window is useful in a town where many small kitchens stop serving between lunch and dinner.

A few ways to fit it in:

• Before a day out: arrive at 10:30am and eat before you head down to the beach or Preston Park.
• Mid-afternoon: come after the usual lunch hour when you want something hot.
• After dark: stop by after a gig or a pint in the North Laine. Get there well before the 10pm close so the kitchen has time to cook.

Afterwards, The Level is right outside. Its skate park and grass are good for a walk. The Open Market is a short stroll up London Road on Marshalls Row.

Ordering, paying and tipping

UK etiquette applies here, and it’s relaxed. Card and contactless payment are standard in Brighton, but it’s still worth asking before you sit down if you only carry a phone wallet.

On tipping:

• Look at the bill first. Some UK restaurants add a discretionary service charge, and you shouldn’t tip twice.
• If no charge has been added and someone served your table, around 10 to 12.5 percent is the British norm.
• At counter-service places, tipping is optional.

It’s a small neighbourhood shop, not a booking-app restaurant. If you’re coming as a large group, call ahead or check its Google listing before you turn up. That’s better than arriving with eight people and hoping for space.

Takeaway is common on this stretch of London Road. If the tables are full, ask whether you can take your order out. The benches on The Level are a short walk away.