TEN SECONDS Yunan Rice Noodles

Under new ownership, Ten Seconds Yunnan Rice Noodles features not only rice noodles, but also Japanese ramen and Cantonese desserts.

In January 2022, Jeff Lau and his family took over the establishment which is located On Havana Street in Aurora. He and his family had previously worked in the restaurant industry and thought it was time to own their own restaurant.

His father Kam served as a chef for numerous restaurants, so it was natural for him to take over the kitchen operations, while his mother Sau assists in the kitchen as a sous chef with the prep work for each meal service.

With his sister Karen and wife Eva also a part of the team, Lau can rely on them for staffing the restaurant when an unexpected flux of diners visit Ten Seconds Yunnan Noodles.

Noting the importance of family values, Lau believes working together as a family unit will allow a flexible schedule. Plus, family is more reliable, especially when staffing shortages are common these days.

Keeping the restaurant’s name, the family updated the entrance, and added more options to the menu. This has helped them maintain the existing customer base, while enticing new diners, who want authentic Chinese cuisine.

On the Menu

Popular among young adults, the restaurant offers more than 40 flavors for Asian boba and teas. With such a huge selection, it’s almost hard to pin down the preferred flavor profile.

Customizing noodles is also fun for customers, who want to try something new during each visit. First, start with the type of noodles. Then, select the broth and level of spiciness. Next, determine the protein to be added to the bowl. Additional choices include vegetable toppings and sprinkles of cilantro, dried onions, and scallions.

If soup isn’t what you came for, the restaurant offers a large selection of appetizers, shrimp entrees, combination entrees, fried rice, lo mein noodles, pad thai or drunken noodles, wok entrees of chicken, beef, or vegetables/tofu, Japanese ramen, and of

Written by Mary Jeneverre Schultz

Photos by: @eatdrinketc

course, rice noodles.

Favorites include the chicken noodle bowl, spicy beef tendon, spicy beef tripe noodles and pickle pepper rice noodles with beef. These Chinese dishes are served Hong Kong style. The Hong Kong toast with peanut butter is a specialty item.

Atmosphere

Offering plenty of parking spaces and with a capacity of 40 diners, the ambiance is contemporary. Because of Lau’s ability to speak both Cantonese and Mandarin, he can serve a wide range of Chinese menu options and can converse to these patrons when they visit the restaurant. Lau, 29, confessed learning Mandarin during his grade school years.

Decorated with an Asian flair, the interior is both welcoming and inviting to diners, who want to escape from suburbia Aurora and walk into an Asian portrait. The artwork is pleasing and inviting with bold colors.

Origins of the Restaurant’s Name

A folk story, originating in Yunnan,

2000

S Havana St, Aurora, CO 80014

China, shares a wife attempted to deliver food to her husband, a scholar studying for his imperial exams. However, after crossing a bridge, the soup turned cold, and the noodles ended up soggy.

The wife used a large earthen pot with boiling broth topped with a layer of oil fat on top. This oil fat executed as an insulation to keep the broth warm. The noodles and additional ingredients were kept in separate container before consumption. ShiMiaoDao is translated as ’10 seconds arrival.”

Family History

Back in 2007, Lau’s family departed Hong Kong. They pinpointed Denver because his aunt and uncle settled in the same area back in the 1980s, so it was a chance for his whole family to begin their life in Colorado. The family had visited many parts of the United States, including San Diego, Chicago, and New York.

“We love Colorado because it gave us a different lifestyle,” Lau admitted, adding it gave a “chill” vibe. He also knows he can travel to California, planning for travels during the summer with his family.

During off hours, Lau and his family frequent neighboring Seoul Korean BBQ and Old Town Hot Pot. If it’s not hot pot cuisine, he craves sushi dishes. During his downtime, Lau enjoys movie dates with his wife, chilling with his friends, or playing basketball to destress from the arduous work of maintaining a restaurant.

The name, Ten Seconds Noodle, refers to a franchise found in Dallas, New York, and Seattle. The Aurora site differentiates from the New York location by adding more menu options such as boba teas, grilled fish, and clay-pot rice.

Service by Lau and his staff is rated excellent by Yelp reviewers. Customers noted that they appreciate the personalized greetings, assistance with the menu selection and prompt service for food.