Zen Noodle Bar
$ • Chinese, Shanghainese, NoodlesAbout Zen Noodle Bar
Customers' Favorites
Pan Fried Pork Buns
Dan Dan Noodles
Shenjian Bao
Spicy Wonton
Braised Beef
Noodle Soup
Dry Noodle
Dumplings
Beef Soup
Beef Wrap
Zen Noodle Bar Reviews
109 ratings
Share your opinion about Zen Noodle Bar
Shanghainese cooking on East 3rd in San Mateo, small and family run. The pan fried pork buns are the order, and the spicy wontons and the dan dan noodles back them up. The chilled cucumber with chili oil is a good starter while you wait. Split hours, lunch until three then dinner from five, and closed Tuesdays. No alcohol. Thank you for the cooking. Five stars.
Extremely authentic and delicious! Amazing Shanghainese food.
As a shanghainese, I have to say this is the best shanghainess food I ever had in US.
Hours
| Monday | 5 - 9PM 11AM - 3PM |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 11AM - 3PM 5 - 9PM |
| Thursday | 5 - 9PM 11AM - 3PM |
| Friday | 5 - 9PM 11AM - 3PM |
| Saturday | 11AM - 3PM 5 - 9PM |
| Sunday | 11AM - 3PM 5 - 9PM |
Zen Noodle Bar offers a unique blend of traditional Shanghainese cuisine with modern twists. The restaurant serves a variety of dishes, including chilled cucumber with chili oil, Tang Yuan, and soup dumplings that are filled with flavorful broth and have a good umami taste. The pan-fried soup dumplings are crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside. The service is friendly, with staff speaking both English and Chinese. The restaurant is clean and simple, with parking available outside or on the street.
The restaurant is a welcoming, community-based establishment. Customers enjoy the home-style cooking, which is not too oily or heavy. Popular dishes include pork belly over rice, vegetarian dan-dan noodles, and spinach dumplings. The white rice is fluffy and perfectly cooked. The pan-fried dumplings are a favorite, and the dan-dan noodles, while not as spicy as some may expect, are still enjoyable. The restaurant also offers spicy wonton, beef wrap, and string beans, all of which are highly praised by customers. The relaxed ambiance reflects the family-run nature of the establishment, with the open floor plan allowing customers to see the family working in the kitchen.