Ox9 Lanzhou was the first restaurant in the Bay Area to specialize in noodles native to China’s northwestern Gansu Province, and two of its four outposts are located in the San Jose metro area (Cupertino and Milpitas). They've got six noodle styles you can slurp in complex broths, sauces, and pastes brimming with spice. The sichuan braised beef stew, which takes a full ten hours to slowly simmer, is a real standout—especially when paired with flat, broad noodles. Prime your palate with an order of sinus-clearing crispy lamb chops that get their kick from chili powder.