Chef Joshua Skenes and Adam Fleischman announced their joint plan to open the first Fat Noodle (面有福) restaurant at 92 Second Street in San Francisco, California. Slated for an end of 2014/early 2015 opening, Fat Noodle will be a fast-casual Chinese restaurant serving hand-pulled noodles and other interpretations of Chinese food classics. This will be the first collaboration between Skenes’ Saison Group and Fleischman’s AdVantage Restaurant Partners, and will be the first Chinese food concept from Fleischman, who has already opened Umami Burger, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizzeria, and ChocoChicken.
Skenes originally conceived the Fat Noodle concept back in 2007. He envisioned a restaurant that was accessible with a genuine, focused and balanced style—the same philosophy he instills in Saison but in a casual package. Reflecting this approach, the menu will consist of hand-pulled noodles inspired by the traditional flavor profiles of Western China’s Sichuan and Shaanxi provinces. The restaurant will also offer infusions such as five flower tea, pantyhose milk tea, and yinyeung coffee, as well as beer and wine options.
Fat Noodle will have a quick service format where guests pick their preferred noodles, choose from a selection of proteins, vegetables, sauces/broths, and condiments, and select a beverage, all in about three minutes no matter the length of the line. The average price of noodle dishes will be under $10. Fat Noodle will be open daily from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
