Noodles in Oakland, CA

“We brought our friend here to celebrate his birthday because we wanted to gift an experience. We saw you featured on Check Please . . . And you guys WOW’d us beyond our expectations!! Amazing staff! And amazing food . . And yes, amazing cocktails!! Down to the last finishing touches ! We will definitely be back !“

“Good food, but expensive for what it is. Very authentic and has a similar flavor profile as some of the noodle places I've had in Japan. I ordered the duck soba and the soup was quite bitter and medicinal. I can see why some people like it but personally not for me.“

“At this location, the fried garlic is served separately—a detail I truly appreciate. I also really enjoy their thin egg noodles, which strike a perfect balance between chewy and tender without becoming overly soft. However, the dish tends to be quite oily, so if you prefer lighter meals, this might not be ideal for you.

My usual order is the Number 1 without kidney, with the soup served on the side. I also always add fish cake as an appetizer. The total cost for two regular dishes plus one appetizer comes to $53.75.

What I love about this restaurant is how it evokes the authentic flavors of Thailand’s street food, especially the dry yellow egg noodles. While it doesn’t include traditional Thai-style char siu or wontons, the taste remains quite close to home.

This well-established Chinese restaurant impresses me with its surprisingly clean restrooms, likely due to my morning visits. Parking can be difficult, as only metered street parking is available. The branch tends to be busy, so clear communication with staff is important. Although there may be a short wait, the service is attentive and friendly.“

“This is my favorite Vietnamese restaurant in the Bay Area. Where else can you get authentic Bun Bo Hue and Mi Quang, except maybe San Jose and SF, and they give you a ton of veggies, unlike most restaurants. Plus you always get a grissly bone with your Bun Bo Hue, and pork blood, otherwise it wouldn't be authentic! If you like vietnamese food, you gotta come here. Trust me, I grew up eating vietnamese food and have been to Vietnam, including Da Nang, where my wife was born, and it doesn't get much better than this. 5 stars“

“Good place for a quick bite. The atmosphere and service are no frills, but the food is quite tasty.

We ordered the Chongqing Street Noodle (D11) and the Noodle with twice-cooked pork (D10). The portion sizes were good, but there was very little protein in either bowl. Aside from that, the noodles had a nice bounce to them and the broth was flavorful. Just beware that both were a bit spicy if you are sensitive to heat.“

“Ngon 😍cung đậm chất Việt Nam“

“Slow evening evening in at Mr. Liu Noodle house had a warm and calming dinner. I had the House Special original beef noodle soup. The portion is a healthy size so it’s quite filling by itself with good depth of flavor. I was told it was slightly spicy, but couldn’t really taste any, I don’t actively seek very spicy stuff but do enjoy spice to a dish. I added two small spoons of chili oil to add some of that spice to the dish so if you are concerned about spicy, unless you are incredibly sensitive it is very low spice. I ordered a side of the pork ribs as well, they were tender and fall off the bone with good flavor, but personally would’ve liked if they were slightly crispier exterior with like a broil or something to finish. Overall very happy, the meal was warm, filling and comforting in a slightly chilled evening“

“A bit of a hole in the wall restaurant serving Chinese food with an emphasis on noodles. I had the bbq pork bun and tan tan mien, both of which were really fresh and flavourful. Prices are pretty standard and the portions are pretty big for the price. The place was completely empty when I went there during lunchtime on a weekday so service was quite fast. There was one guy tending to the front of the store and he was polite and attentive. Overall, I'd definitely recommend checking this place out.“

“This is a must visit for anyone in Jack London Square“

“Cool place (love the decor/style), nice staff & tasty food. Some dishes you will not find in the average Thai restaurant in the Bay Area. For example, the chef or owner is from northern Thailand so the menu features a top Northern Thai dish - Kao Soi noodle soup (beef or chicken), or the all time fav 'street food' grilled pork skewers (moo ping) served with sticky rice (ck out the menu on their website). I had the Pad Kemao Chicken (menu says beef but they are happy to make dishes with what you like & even have Beyond Meat dishes on the menu - cool to see stir fried basil with Beyond Meat (Krapao Beyond Neur)). The taste of my wok fried pad kemao was delicious, same or better than any I've had on prior trips to Bangkok. Glad to have discovered a solid Thai restaurant that doesn't have watered down flavors. Good to see they have a lot of gluten free and vegan choices on the menu too. Definitely will be back, keep up the good work!“

“Fresh, delicious and great folks“

“Pho was great! Order was ready quickly compared to another spot I had tried to order from. I love having the option to select beef broth with my veggie pho! The soft fried tofu in the veggie pho was so good!! The grilled shrimp and pork spring rolls were delish too! Will definitely be back - nice to have so close to my home!“

“We ordered Salted Boiled Edamame as an appetizer, Unagi Rice Bowl, Tonkatsu Ramen, Miso Tonkatsu Ramen and a bottle of local Nigori Sake. The Tonkatsu soup is very umami delicious paired with seaweed, bamboo shoots, thinly sliced ear mushrooms, half boiled egg and two cuts of boiled pork Chashu. The Unagi Rice Bowl has two skewers of Unagi, which lacks more roasting, it needs to be burned or toasted more. It has a combination of fresh seaweeds, fresh salad and plain rice. There were three of us and we paid a little over $80. We will definitely come back for more Ramen and Yakitori. This place is highly recommended!“

“Monster Pho is an absolute gem, both in terms of food + value, and community support; they've just announced that until SNAP benefits are fully restored, kids under 12 can get pho for free if you show them your SNAP card (and a discount for parents, but no purchase necessary for the kids' pho).

I could not be prouder or more grateful to have a business like this in our area. Get some delicious food and support their community efforts! I love their bahn mi, it's definitely one of the best values in the area, and I've never had to wait long for take out (can't speak to dine-in service but I would guess it's also fab).“

“Holy Basil is one of our absolute favorite places to get delivery from in the Bay Area. Our kids are addicted to the bao buns and garlic noodles. I'm obsessed with the tofu vermicelli. Nothing is cozier on a cold day than their Chili Lemongrass soup. Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than their fresh rolls and ginger lemonade. We love Holy Basil food!“

“Tasty! The Asada was perfect and generous amounts“

“I visited Mugunghwa on a Saturday evening and was pleasantly surprised to find no wait time. The restaurant immediately gave off a calm and welcoming vibe — clean, well-organized, and spacious, with soft pop music playing gently in the background. The ambiance strikes a nice balance between modern and comfortable, making it easy to relax and enjoy the meal.

Service was prompt and professional. I was seated right away, and the staff handled everything efficiently and courteously. My dishes — Galbi Tang and Bulgogi — arrived impressively fast without compromising quality.

The food was the true highlight. The banchan (side dishes) were especially memorable — fresh, flavorful, and clearly prepared with care. Each small plate added a vibrant contrast to the main dishes, showing attention to authenticity and balance. The Galbi Tang was comforting, with a clean, rich broth and tender beef that fell apart easily. The Bulgogi was tasty and well-seasoned, though the rice on the side was a touch too moist; a drier texture would have made the dish even better. Still, the quality of ingredients and consistency of flavors stood out.

Overall, Mugunghwa delivers an impressive combination of fresh flavors, attentive service, and a peaceful atmosphere. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel taken care of without any pretense. Despite a minor flaw in the rice texture, I’d gladly return for another meal — especially for those wonderful banchan.“

“Delicious pho ga. Soup is on point. Full of flavor.“

“Ok this place has the best Bhan Mi in Oakland. Here why the bbq pork is sliced thick and is juicy on a crispy baguette. The baguette is the best and the pork is number one in my books. Ive been eat Vietnamese food since the 90’s and place is the best I have ever eaten. The price is good at 9.00 I hope they don’t raise it too for a long time cause I m going back there soon. Cheers everyone“

“This ramen place was on my list but always crowded and today I got to expect it. I didn't try anything other than the spicy tantan noodles but felt it was no more than a 4. The noodles were very tough, the broth tasted very powdery and the grounded chicken was a no-op.

I also don't like how they don't have opinionated authentic vs spicy broths and offer any spice level with any broth. Tells me not proud of their work.“

“Just scroll a little bit if you want to hear more about how exceptional their Chinese Food is. I have to at least say it's the best I've ever had. But for me what was most impressive is how despite having an absolutely massive menu, a menu so massive Gordon would yell at it. Shan Dong's team consistently serves insanely delicious and certainly fresh food in under 15 minutes, regardless of how busy they are.

I was lucky enough to get seated near the kitchen for my latest visit. They didn't have a line out the door this time, but they certainly had a small army of Doordash drivers out front waiting for delicious eats to deliver. Expo was a heavily used end table and rope for paper tickets, but their team managed to send piles of sinfully delicious food out in record time. The fact they're making handmade noodles on top of running a perfect service in that environment, totally mind boggling.

Like if you're leaving anything other than five stars, you ordered the one dish they can't get right. Have yet to figure out which one that is.“

“目前最喜歡的螺絲粉😍😋“

“Great dumpling restaurant, reminded me of going to dim sum, but with larger portions! They had a large selection marked with a green dot for Vegan. 💚

Absolutely loved the bean curd salad, the garlic noodles, the veggie bun, and the red bean pancake!

Super duper nice staff, took really good care of us!“

“Very nice and welcoming staff!Ordered takeout on a slow night and felt very calm while waiting for my food.I had the pad see ew with pork and the spicy basil with chicken. Good amount of spice for me with an average spice tolerance palette. Lasted me two meals!“

“There is a surprise lunch special at 10.99: Sweet and sour chicken, moderately sweet and sour, it is the taste I want~zheng, the ingredients are onion/pineapple/green pepper, delicious, delicious, and I ate it all...? Give the chef a thumbs up?“

“The praram sauce was delicious. They made the sauce vegetarian on request and it was absolutely delicious despite a modification. The veggies in the praram vegetables dish were cooked to perfection as well. Waiting for next visit 🤤

Vegetarian options: Truly vegetarian alternatives on request. At a lot of places the vegetarian swaps taste fishy (pun unintended). No such thing here, their vegetarian dishes are truly free from meat/fish. Thank u Pagarung 🙏“

“Quite authentic Hong Kong-style BBQ, not the best in its class but they won the price war. Their breakfast deal is unbeatable in the entire bay area at <$8 with a drink of your choice. Taste is ok, as well as their service... there is more room for improvement than room for comfort seating, but overall a solid 3.5 out of 5 and got my recommendation if you're on a tight budget.“

“During our recent visit, we decided to try the sichuan noodles, fried chicken wings, chicken and mushroom dumplings along with the XBL variety, and we were absolutely blown away by how freshly made and scrumptious they were! The flavors were rich and perfectly balanced, making each bite a delightful experience. The dumplings were cooked to perfection, with a tender, flavorful filling and juiciness.

Adding to our wonderful dining experience was our waiter, Tony. He was incredibly friendly, attentive, and went out of his way to ensure we had everything we needed. His warm demeanor and excellent service truly enhanced our meal.

The restaurant had a cozy, welcoming atmosphere that made us feel right at home. The menu offered a great variety, catering to different tastes, and the food presentation was both appealing and appetizing.

I highly recommend this place for lunch, whether you're looking for a quick bite or a leisurely meal with friends and family. The combination of delicious food and outstanding service makes it a spot worth visiting again and again.“

“We went on April 2nd 2025 a “Friendship Day.” A group of friends we enjoy the food and Ms. Ying owner came and greeted us with delicious oranges she bought next store for us to enjoy come back again she said. I said surely I’ll recommend you guys“

“I’ve been coming to this place with my family since I was in my mom’s womb, and let me tell you how long I’ve been waiting for them to open up again after they finished remodeling, because their pho is the best, from the broth to the noodles to their beef meatballs.“

“So chill. The food is so good I could cry. Kao Soy is my favorite, and they do it so right!! How cute is their lychee Thai tea?! Pumpkin Curry is delicious. “Stay with me” is playing. This spot hits in every direction!! It’s an oasis in Oakland.“

“The food is always good here! Fresh and cooked to order. Service has gotten better over the years I remember when they were so rude. For the Ambiance I give it a 3 this is really a order and go. My favorite is always a dry fry ribs they're always top-notch. Today I ordered dry fried ribs beef chow mein and chicken fried rice with no soy sauce. The wait time has even improved I only waited 15 minutes.“

“Great food and good service“