Indian street food
Hakka noodles vs chow mein.
The noodles are similar, but Indian hakka noodles are tangier, garlickier and spicier than most chow mein, with crunchy vegetables and a hot wok.
From the Tapri Chai kitchen · November 2026 · 1 min read
Hakka noodles
Indo-Chinese
Chow mein
Chinese-American
Sauce
Soy, vinegar, chilli
Heat
Higher in hakka
01
What chow mein is
Chow mein is a Chinese stir-fried noodle dish that took slightly different forms in China and in North America. Versions often include soft cabbage, bean sprouts, celery and soy sauce, and may be crisp or soft.
02
What hakka noodles add
Indian hakka noodles lean on garlic, vinegar and chilli sauce. They use cabbage, carrot and capsicum cut into thin strips and cooked briefly, so they stay crunchy. The flavour is sharper and spicier.
03
Different cooking
Both use a very hot wok. Hakka noodles are often tossed with a splash of vinegar at the end, and the noodles are cooked al dente and cooled first so they stay separate.
04
What goes with them
In Indian Chinese restaurants, hakka noodles come with Manchurian, chilli paneer or spring rolls. The pairing of noodles with a saucy dish is part of the style.
- Hakka Noodles, $14.99
- Veg Manchurian, $14.99
- Noodle Spring Rolls (x2), $9.99
05
Find them
Tapri Chai is at 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Barrhaven, Ottawa, open Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm.
Questions, answered.
Are hakka noodles the same as chow mein?
They are similar stir-fried noodles, but Indian hakka noodles are tangier and spicier.
Which is spicier?
Hakka noodles, usually.
Are hakka noodles vegetarian?
The vegetable versions are, and all of Tapri Chai’s food is.
How much are hakka noodles at Tapri Chai?
Hakka Noodles are $14.99 CAD.
At Tapri Chai
Taste it for yourself.
Our kitchen in Barrhaven is 100% vegetarian. 200 Kennevale Dr Unit 104, Ottawa. Tuesday to Sunday, 11am to 11pm. Closed Mondays.