This is a slick, light-filled eatery in the middle of Albany, nestling neatly in a growing hub of retail shops and restaurants next to the bus station. The menu features noodles that are hand-pulled to order and cooked for only about 40 seconds or so before they’re ready to go. The style is Lanzhou, which is famous for its beef noodle soup, and in typical fashion, you can watch, through a clear glass window into the kitchen, the chef smack the dough against the metal counter, folding and stretching it until the noodles form.

On a recent visit, our favourite was the signature beef noodle soup, with sliced beef pieces and thin slivers of daikon, served in a clear, sweet-savoury broth that makes the noodles the star of the show. There’s also soupless bowls, including the vegetarian youpo chilli noodle, and the classic tomato with egg. Apparently the main clientele are young families — which explains the kids’ section of the menu and its fried chicken with chips, if you have particularly fussy children — but 1981 Noodle is also well-placed for a session of after-work beers and snacks (with suitable-for-adults-too fries, fried chicken and spring rolls).

Find 1981 on Uber Eats here