SLAP! Hand-Ripped Noodles in Orlando - Worth the Wait

We had heard about SLAP! Hand-Ripped Noodles for weeks before we finally made the drive to Carrier Drive. The Orlando Weekly had crowned them, the Instagram crowd was lining up, and every comment we read said the same thing: it is worth the wait. We are happy to report that for once, the internet was right.

SLAP! sits in Dowdy Plaza off Carrier Drive in Orlando, about 20 to 30 minutes from Walt Disney World depending on I-4 traffic, and just minutes from Universal Orlando. We arrived on a Saturday at 6:30 PM - exactly the prime-time window we expected to be punished for picking - and the line was huge. Fifty minutes later we were sitting down. Fifty minutes later, the wait was a non-issue.

Guests arriving later were being advised of an hour and 40 minute wait. So be prepared if going during prime times.

Quick Details

• Location: 6532 Carrier Dr Ste B, Orlando, FL 32819 (Dowdy Plaza)
• Phone: (407) 337-6999
• Distance from Walt Disney World: 20-30 minutes by car depending on traffic
• Distance from Universal Orlando: Less than 5 minutes - extremely close
• Style: Hand-ripped wheat noodles, Northwestern Chinese, Xi'an-inspired
• Price Range: $$ - skewers $5.99/order, dumplings $12.99-$13.99, noodle bowls $14.99-$20.99
• Hours: Opens at 12 PM (closed Mondays - confirm current hours by phone)
• Reservations: Walk-in only, expect a wait on weekends
• Seating: Small dining room, communal tables possible during peak hours

The Vibe

The dining room is small and intimate. On a busy night you may end up sharing a table with strangers, and that turns out to be part of the charm. Paper lanterns hang from the ceiling beside cloth napkin sacks stamped with the SLAP! logo. The branded ceramic tea cups, the printed chopstick sleeves, and the open kitchen window where you can watch a chef pull and stretch dough by hand all feel deliberate without feeling staged.

The vibe is upbeat. The room is loud in the best way - busy, full, energized. The service is fast, efficient, and friendly. They blast through tables at a speed that makes the long line outside make sense. Nobody rushes you, but nothing sits.

The branded touches add up - paper-sleeved quality chopsticks that wish you welcome and small ceramic tea cups stamped with the SLAP! logo. It is the kind of detail that signals a kitchen that takes its identity seriously.

What We Ordered

The menu at SLAP! is built around three categories: appetizers and fried skewers, dumplings and crispy pancakes, and the signature chili slap noodles and noodle soups. We ordered across all of them.

Fried Skewers - $5.99 per order

Skewer orders are $5.99 for four sticks (cheese tofu comes three to an order). We ordered a mixed platter with crispy chicken, regular chicken, and beef. They arrive hot and they live up to their name. The crispy chicken was the headliner - shatter-crispy on the outside, juicy in the middle, with a dusting of cumin-chili powder that hits the back of the throat in a pleasant way. The regular chicken and the beef were just as good - tender, well-seasoned, and worth ordering across the board. Search the reviews and you will find a consistent verdict that the skewers alone are reason enough to come back.

Beef Onion Dumplings in Chili Oil - $13.99

These were Megan's favorite of the night. Each order comes with ten plump dumplings filled with seasoned beef and onion, swimming in a chili oil sauce that is loaded with flavor without being aggressive. The heat is medium but it is balanced - you can taste the garlic, the scallion, and the chili crisp without your tongue going numb. Just right.

Crispy Pancake with Braised Beef - $8.99

The crispy pancake was flaky indeed but the inside was a bit moist with a nice dense bite. The braised beef was excellent and provided a nice balance to the appetizer.

Cucumber Garlic Salad - $7.99

A bright, garlicky smashed cucumber salad - the standard cool counterweight to the chili oil on the rest of the table. Worth ordering, especially if you have a heat-sensitive person at the table.

The Slap Noodles

The chili slap noodles are why SLAP! exists. Wide, hand-ripped wheat noodles with the kind of chew that only comes from dough that was pulled and torn moments before it hit the bowl. We ordered three and had plenty to take home. While it was ok reheated, it is best enjoyed in the restaurant.

Signature Chili Slap Noodles - $14.99

The baseline. Wide ribbons of noodle, chili powder, garlic, scallion, bean sprouts, and bok choy. The portion is excellent. The flavor is bright and oily and exactly what every other version on the menu builds from.

Beef Short Rib Chili Slap Noodles - $20.99

The same signature bowl with one massive addition: a bone-in short rib that towers out of the bowl. The meat falls off the bone with a chopstick. This was the showstopper. Same noodle base as the signature, but the short rib turns it into a meal worth driving across town for.

Signature Three Way - $16.99

The same noodle base with three toppings layered across the bowl: sliced pork, tomato and egg, and vegetables. The slicked pork brings savor, the tomato brings sweetness and acidity, and the egg pulls it all together. The tomato addition was the surprise - it adds a flavor element that the other bowls do not have, and we kept going back to that side of the bowl.

The Menu

For reference, here are the printed pages we ordered from. Prices and lineup as of our visit in 2026.

Worth Knowing Before You Go

• The wait is real, but the line moves. A 60-minute wait at 6:30 on a Saturday is normal. They turn tables fast.
• Cash or card.
• Bring an appetite. Portions are generous. Two people can split a skewer order, a dumpling order, and one noodle bowl and leave full.
• Parking. Dowdy Plaza has a shared lot - busy on weekend nights but usually navigable.
• Closed Mondays. Opens at 12 PM the rest of the week.
• Heat level. The chili oil is flavorful, not punishing. If you do not love spice, the dumplings, the three way, and the cucumber salad are gentle entry points.

Is It Worth the Drive From Disney?

If you are staying near Walt Disney World and want one off-property dinner that does not feel like a chain or a tourist trap, SLAP! is one of the best swings you can take. It is 20 to 30 minutes east up I-4 to the Carrier Drive corridor, and you are eating something you genuinely cannot find at a Disney resort. If you are at Universal you have no excuse - the restaurant is minutes from Universal Boulevard and CityWalk.

This place came with rave reviews and the rave reviews held up. We are so glad we waited.

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is SLAP! Hand-Ripped Noodles from Walt Disney World?

About 20 to 30 minutes by car from Walt Disney World resorts depending on I-4 traffic. Take I-4 East toward International Drive, exit at Sand Lake Road or Carrier Drive, and SLAP! is in Dowdy Plaza off Carrier Drive.

How close is SLAP! to Universal Orlando?

Very close - typically less than 5 minutes by car. The restaurant sits just east of International Drive, only a short hop from Universal Boulevard and CityWalk.

Do they take reservations?

No. SLAP! is walk-in only. On weekend evenings expect a 30-60 minute wait. The line moves quickly because tables turn fast.

What should I order on my first visit?

The signature chili slap noodles for the noodles themselves, the beef short rib version if you want a centerpiece dish, the beef onion dumplings in chili oil, and a mixed skewer order with crispy chicken on it. The cucumber garlic salad is a smart cool side for spice-sensitive diners.

Are the noodles really hand-ripped?

Yes. You can watch through the open kitchen window as a cook pulls and tears the dough into wide ribbons before it goes straight into the boil. That chew is what sets the bowls apart from typical wheat noodle dishes.

Menu items, prices, and hours are based on the printed in-store menu and our visit in 2026, and are subject to change. Call (407) 337-6999 for current hours and pricing before driving over.