Face Off - Chongqing Hot and Sour Noodles

Face Off (變臉Biàn liǎn) is a tiny Chongqing noodle shop down an alley about halfway between Zhongshan Elementary School and Xingtian Temple stations, with only six or eight seats and a husband-and-wife team behind the counter. She grew up in Chongqing and he spent time there as well, and the kitchen's reputation rests on the 酸辣粉Suān là fěn (hot and sour noodles), sweet potato glass noodles in a sour, fiery broth that regulars rate among the best hot and sour noodles in the city. The 變臉小麵Biàn liǎn xiǎo miàn that gives the shop its name and the soupless, heavily sauced 乾溜麵 Qián liū miànare popular alternatives, the spice level adjusts to order, and much of the seasoning comes from dried spice blends the owners mix themselves and sell by the bag.