On Today’s Episode of Secret Kid-Friendly Eats (That Parents Also Love) in Carlisle…
We braved a chilly morning at swim lessons, stopped by Georgie Lou's Retro Candy for a candy reward (because parenting is 85% strategic sugar deployment), and ended up at Issei Noodle for a hot noodle fix that turned into one of the best family meals we’ve had in a while.
Roland confidently ordered the vegetarian ramen with spicy tofu and sampled everyone else’s too. Rhys, who usually side-eyes anything new, happily devoured a plain ramen bowl. River, originally expected to live off gummy sharks from next door, took one bite of Ridley’s spicy kimchi fried rice and claimed it as her own.
Ridley negotiated a trade: he kept the eggs and passed the rice to River, then went full mad ramen scientist. He ordered a bowl of miso, dumped in a side of rice noodles, and crowned the whole thing with a fried egg. It was a masterpiece. He polished it off like a pro.
I had chashu ramen and added the fish cakes. They were every bit as cute and delicious as they looked. Our friend ordered the chicken pho and looked equally pleased.
The boba was next-level. Watching my kids drink it with wide eyes and dramatic gasps made the whole table laugh.
The staff was patient, kind, and completely unfazed by our large, chatty, spill-prone party. The online ordering was down, but they handled it all smoothly, pushed a few tables together, and made sure the baby had a safe spot.
The only mild complaint is that their hours can be unpredictable. I’ve pulled up ready to feast before, only to realize it was their off time. That said, the food, service, and atmosphere are always worth the trip.
The open kitchen adds to the charm. There’s something satisfying about seeing the food being made while the kids color, sip boba, and try to slurp noodles without launching them across the room.
Issei Noodle is officially a new go-to for our crew. Comfort food, great people, and a kid-friendly vibe that never feels dumbed down. Carlisle, you’ve got a gem.
Tamar Wallace
I have been here many times for the ramen and it is delicious, but this time I decided to try something new from them. I ordered the pad Thai, which I’ve had dozens of times from other restaurants, including dozens of times in Thailand. This was by far the worst pad Thai I’ve ever had, and I wouldn’t even consider it pad Thai. It had no peanut flavor at all, all of the very thin noodles were glued together in one giant blob, and it had a very sour vinegar taste to it and something else I couldn’t identify. I never do this, but I truly couldn’t eat any of it, so I went up to the counter to send it back. I was told that they don’t accept things being sent back or offer refunds because someone doesn’t like it. I can understand that to some degree, but this was not the product I ordered. It was not pad Thai and it was bad enough as to be inedible. A few minutes later as we were standing to leave the waitress brought the dish, boxed in a to-go box to our table. I was so put off by the experience that I don’t know if I’ll return, not even for the ramen.
Meghan Thomas
I try to stop in or get takeout whenever I’m in town, and always enjoy my meal! It’s always packed at dinner time and for good reason. I’ve tried the ramen, pho, and various rice and dry noodle dishes and have never been disappointed. Most recently, I ordered takeout for a group of 7 adults - each of us getting our own entree as well as sharing 3 orders of gyoza. Not only was the order completed very timely on a busy Saturday night, but portions were generous and several of us had leftovers for the next day.
The staff have always been kind and attentive, and I like how relaxed and informal the dine-in experience is. Can’t wait go to back!
Mara Smith
I must admit, my expectations were low when I walked into this quaint noodle shop in the middle of PA, but when I took that first bite of food I was absolutely blown away by the flavor, texture, and warmth that radiated from the dishes. The drinks were amazing, the food was absolutely delightful, and you could tell that the people working there poured every last bit of effort into everything they were doing. They have a large variety of dishes suited for every group of people and I loved every minute of being there. 11/10, I would encourage everyone in the area to try this masterpiece.
Joe Baxter
One of my favorite lunches. The waitstaff is friendly and seemingly very happy to be there. Try the Okinawan yakisoba! Yum!
Sharon Smith “Sharon”
5 🌟! Everything we tried was delicious and the service was fantastic.
Caroline
The food is quite yummy and the staff is very sweet. Limited vegan options despite advertising “veggie” options. I am concerned because their reason for not being able to make pad Thai vegan is due to the fish sauce but they say they can make it vegetarian… fish is an animal, so fish sauce isn’t vegetarian.
Despite this we found that I can eat the vegetarian pho (actually vegan! :)) and I enjoyed my lunch.
KulioSingh
I’m a vegetarian, and I can always find options. Plus, they’re always willing to customize dishes for me. #Veganuary
umami001
Some dishes that are labeled ‘vegetarian option available’ (e.g. the Haru and Sakura ramen) are not actually veg. Even if you order veg option, they use fish sauce. I think the only truly veg entree is veggie miso ramen.
Jay Liu
I ordered a chicken pad Thai. And it is really bad. So much oil. I can’t even eat it. Just order their Raman. Do not order their pad Thai.
Granted, I ordered the beef pho on special, but even at a “discount” of $16, there are certain fundamentals that shouldn’t be compromised if you’re going to serve pho. Let’s start with the broth. Rather than the clear, deeply flavored beef broth that’s essential to authentic pho, I received something that tasted suspiciously like chicken broth—completely missing the rich, layered flavors that make this dish comforting and memorable.
Then there were the garnishes. I had to ask for them, and they were even out of Thai basil—a critical herb for a true pho experience. That’s like serving pizza without cheese! And as for the noodles, they weren’t the traditional thin, silky pho noodles but a thicker type that missed the mark on texture entirely.
The brisket came in awkward chunks instead of thin, tender slices, and the meatballs were equally disappointing—bland and lacking in any flavor that would enhance the dish.
Honestly, I should have just made the pho myself. They’d probably be better off attempting a simple bo kho—happy to provide them with a recipe if they’re unfamiliar with authentic Vietnamese flavors. And don’t worry about the lemon grass, it’s on me
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
sujuan wu
racism
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
kayagirl love
First of all I want to explain how you order here since at first I was slightly confused since I was new to the restaurant. You will go up to the front counter and they will give you a table to go to. They will also give you a menu. Then you will seat yourself, go through the menu, and pick what you want. If they don’t have space for you, they will give you a buzzer and it will buzz when there is a table ready. You will pay at the front counter and get the food afterwards. The food here is very good, I got the issei chicken pho, the fried tofu, and the fried gyoza. The chicken pho is extremely good, if you’re a picky eater I think it would be fantastic since chicken pho is very reminiscent of chicken noodle soup. If you want something with more flavor and kick I suggest the ramens since there is more complex flavor in ramen in general. The portion for the soup is huge so if you don’t eat much like me, then you’ll be happy to know you’ll have plenty of leftovers! The tofu was very crispy and not greasy which is great. I would keep in mind it does stay hot in the center for a while so be careful not to burn yourself (like I did stupidly). It comes with this sauce on top that I think is sesame based which is very nice. If you are expecting sweet fried tofu this is NOT sweet tofu. I was hoping it was and was surprised when it wasn’t, but it was still very tasty. The gyoza is nice and crispy, it’s not too greasy and tastes amazing. I highly suggest them. Gyoza is also good for picky eaters since they’re almost always the same no matter what and have simple but tasty flavors. The service is very good. The Thai tea is very rich and seems authentic. I love Thai tea so 10/10 The lady at the front is extremely considerate and friendly, very good at reading customers. They make sure to get you seated and eating ASAP and are always hustling which I admire and love. The atmosphere is lovely. I love the colors and how they made a small space feel so open. The brown they chose for the walls was probably the best for this store since it helps make it feel open and friendly. Although it’s busy as a bee, it is very calming and chill. I’m an introverted person and I didn’t feel too stressed being there alone and hanging out for a tiny bit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup, Fried Gyoza
Patrick
Delicious Asian food. Small place so very busy at dinner time. They do turn the tables very fast.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Lisa Li
Not sure why this place is rated so highly. My assumption is that this is the best the town has? Im from out of town and the pad Thai is the worst pad Thai I've ever had. It didn't even taste like pad Thai. It almost tasted like they made it with ketchup. The Thai tea wasn't the worst I've had but wasn't the best. The tapioca was over cooked and were really mushy. The lavender bubble tea was actually really good and I was surprised at that.
FYI- You order your food at the counter and sit anywhere. The workers will bring you your food when it's ready. I didn't mind this concept but definitely hated that the food sucked
On Today’s Episode of Secret Kid-Friendly Eats (That Parents Also Love) in Carlisle…
We braved a chilly morning at swim lessons, stopped by Georgie Lou's Retro Candy for a candy reward (because parenting is 85% strategic sugar deployment), and ended up at Issei Noodle for a hot noodle fix that turned into one of the best family meals we’ve had in a while.
Roland confidently ordered the vegetarian ramen with spicy tofu and sampled everyone else’s too. Rhys, who usually side-eyes anything new, happily devoured a plain ramen bowl. River, originally expected to live off gummy sharks from next door, took one bite of Ridley’s spicy kimchi fried rice and claimed it as her own.
Ridley negotiated a trade: he kept the eggs and passed the rice to River, then went full mad ramen scientist. He ordered a bowl of miso, dumped in a side of rice noodles, and crowned the whole thing with a fried egg. It was a masterpiece. He polished it off like a pro.
I had chashu ramen and added the fish cakes. They were every bit as cute and delicious as they looked. Our friend ordered the chicken pho and looked equally pleased.
The boba was next-level. Watching my kids drink it with wide eyes and dramatic gasps made the whole table laugh.
The staff was patient, kind, and completely unfazed by our large, chatty, spill-prone party. The online ordering was down, but they handled it all smoothly, pushed a few tables together, and made sure the baby had a safe spot.
The only mild complaint is that their hours can be unpredictable. I’ve pulled up ready to feast before, only to realize it was their off time. That said, the food, service, and atmosphere are always worth the trip.
The open kitchen adds to the charm. There’s something satisfying about seeing the food being made while the kids color, sip boba, and try to slurp noodles without launching them across the room.
Issei Noodle is officially a new go-to for our crew. Comfort food, great people, and a kid-friendly vibe that never feels dumbed down. Carlisle, you’ve got a gem.
I have been here many times for the ramen and it is delicious, but this time I decided to try something new from them. I ordered the pad Thai, which I’ve had dozens of times from other restaurants, including dozens of times in Thailand. This was by far the worst pad Thai I’ve ever had, and I wouldn’t even consider it pad Thai. It had no peanut flavor at all, all of the very thin noodles were glued together in one giant blob, and it had a very sour vinegar taste to it and something else I couldn’t identify. I never do this, but I truly couldn’t eat any of it, so I went up to the counter to send it back. I was told that they don’t accept things being sent back or offer refunds because someone doesn’t like it. I can understand that to some degree, but this was not the product I ordered. It was not pad Thai and it was bad enough as to be inedible. A few minutes later as we were standing to leave the waitress brought the dish, boxed in a to-go box to our table. I was so put off by the experience that I don’t know if I’ll return, not even for the ramen.
I try to stop in or get takeout whenever I’m in town, and always enjoy my meal! It’s always packed at dinner time and for good reason. I’ve tried the ramen, pho, and various rice and dry noodle dishes and have never been disappointed. Most recently, I ordered takeout for a group of 7 adults - each of us getting our own entree as well as sharing 3 orders of gyoza. Not only was the order completed very timely on a busy Saturday night, but portions were generous and several of us had leftovers for the next day.
The staff have always been kind and attentive, and I like how relaxed and informal the dine-in experience is. Can’t wait go to back!
I must admit, my expectations were low when I walked into this quaint noodle shop in the middle of PA, but when I took that first bite of food I was absolutely blown away by the flavor, texture, and warmth that radiated from the dishes. The drinks were amazing, the food was absolutely delightful, and you could tell that the people working there poured every last bit of effort into everything they were doing. They have a large variety of dishes suited for every group of people and I loved every minute of being there. 11/10, I would encourage everyone in the area to try this masterpiece.
One of my favorite lunches. The waitstaff is friendly and seemingly very happy to be there. Try the Okinawan yakisoba! Yum!
5 🌟! Everything we tried was delicious and the service was fantastic.
The food is quite yummy and the staff is very sweet. Limited vegan options despite advertising “veggie” options. I am concerned because their reason for not being able to make pad Thai vegan is due to the fish sauce but they say they can make it vegetarian… fish is an animal, so fish sauce isn’t vegetarian.
Despite this we found that I can eat the vegetarian pho (actually vegan! :)) and I enjoyed my lunch.
I’m a vegetarian, and I can always find options. Plus, they’re always willing to customize dishes for me. #Veganuary
Some dishes that are labeled ‘vegetarian option available’ (e.g. the Haru and Sakura ramen) are not actually veg. Even if you order veg option, they use fish sauce. I think the only truly veg entree is veggie miso ramen.
I ordered a chicken pad Thai. And it is really bad. So much oil. I can’t even eat it. Just order their Raman. Do not order their pad Thai.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
phở không ngon
Granted, I ordered the beef pho on special, but even at a “discount” of $16, there are certain fundamentals that shouldn’t be compromised if you’re going to serve pho. Let’s start with the broth. Rather than the clear, deeply flavored beef broth that’s essential to authentic pho, I received something that tasted suspiciously like chicken broth—completely missing the rich, layered flavors that make this dish comforting and memorable.
Then there were the garnishes. I had to ask for them, and they were even out of Thai basil—a critical herb for a true pho experience. That’s like serving pizza without cheese! And as for the noodles, they weren’t the traditional thin, silky pho noodles but a thicker type that missed the mark on texture entirely.
The brisket came in awkward chunks instead of thin, tender slices, and the meatballs were equally disappointing—bland and lacking in any flavor that would enhance the dish.
Honestly, I should have just made the pho myself. They’d probably be better off attempting a simple bo kho—happy to provide them with a recipe if they’re unfamiliar with authentic Vietnamese flavors. And don’t worry about the lemon grass, it’s on me
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 1
racism
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
First of all I want to explain how you order here since at first I was slightly confused since I was new to the restaurant. You will go up to the front counter and they will give you a table to go to. They will also give you a menu. Then you will seat yourself, go through the menu, and pick what you want. If they don’t have space for you, they will give you a buzzer and it will buzz when there is a table ready. You will pay at the front counter and get the food afterwards.
The food here is very good, I got the issei chicken pho, the fried tofu, and the fried gyoza. The chicken pho is extremely good, if you’re a picky eater I think it would be fantastic since chicken pho is very reminiscent of chicken noodle soup. If you want something with more flavor and kick I suggest the ramens since there is more complex flavor in ramen in general. The portion for the soup is huge so if you don’t eat much like me, then you’ll be happy to know you’ll have plenty of leftovers! The tofu was very crispy and not greasy which is great. I would keep in mind it does stay hot in the center for a while so be careful not to burn yourself (like I did stupidly). It comes with this sauce on top that I think is sesame based which is very nice. If you are expecting sweet fried tofu this is NOT sweet tofu. I was hoping it was and was surprised when it wasn’t, but it was still very tasty. The gyoza is nice and crispy, it’s not too greasy and tastes amazing. I highly suggest them. Gyoza is also good for picky eaters since they’re almost always the same no matter what and have simple but tasty flavors. The service is very good. The Thai tea is very rich and seems authentic. I love Thai tea so 10/10 The lady at the front is extremely considerate and friendly, very good at reading customers. They make sure to get you seated and eating ASAP and are always hustling which I admire and love. The atmosphere is lovely. I love the colors and how they made a small space feel so open. The brown they chose for the walls was probably the best for this store since it helps make it feel open and friendly. Although it’s busy as a bee, it is very calming and chill. I’m an introverted person and I didn’t feel too stressed being there alone and hanging out for a tiny bit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Soup, Fried Gyoza
Delicious Asian food. Small place so very busy at dinner time. They do turn the tables very fast.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Not sure why this place is rated so highly. My assumption is that this is the best the town has? Im from out of town and the pad Thai is the worst pad Thai I've ever had. It didn't even taste like pad Thai. It almost tasted like they made it with ketchup. The Thai tea wasn't the worst I've had but wasn't the best. The tapioca was over cooked and were really mushy. The lavender bubble tea was actually really good and I was surprised at that.
FYI- You order your food at the counter and sit anywhere. The workers will bring you your food when it's ready. I didn't mind this concept but definitely hated that the food sucked
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 4
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