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    Bowlba Cafe

    4.5 (64 reviews)
    ModerateThai, Bubble Tea, Noodles
    Open 11:30 am - 9:00 pm

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    Chashu meshi
    Janet C.

    Good food but mid drinks, unfortunately. Friendly employees. Great casual option for Asian food. Cute mural on the wall inside. The strawberry matcha? Was super disappointing and boba wasn't that fresh but the food really is fantastic.

    Popcorn shrimp
    Evangelina W.

    Stumbled upon this place on a holiday when a lot of restaurants were closed. It is located in a nice neighborhood and definitely feels like a welcoming place to eat or meet up with a friend. I saw a lot of kids walk in and families come in and out, suggesting to me that it really serves the neighborhood or community it is located in. That's a feeling I don't get at restaurants that often and I think is unique to this place because of its location. Enjoyed the flavors of the food much more than I anticipated. I particularly found the popcorn shrimp to be fried well, juicy, and have a lovely yuzu flavor. The rice to protein ratio for the Basil Rice was off but the flavor was delicious. The ramen was pleasant but not outstanding. Overall prices are on the higher side for what they serve. The service was satisfactory. Served well but the staff was not necessarily warm or friendly. Recommend it for a cute, casual date or family friendly spot!

    Kellie R.

    I absolutely LOVE Bowlba and constantly recommend it to people. Bowlba is strategically placed in a neighborhood and can be easily missed if you're not using GPS. There's adequate parking which is nice. Bowlba is cutely decorated with Shiba Inus and boba plushies. It's a comfort cafe for us and I specifically love visiting on rainy days. We've eaten here numerous times and have never had a meal we didn't like. The boba and specialty tea drinks are all delicious, especially the Thai Tea and the Taiwanese Milk Tea! Our favorite go-to dishes are the Pad Thai, Drunken Noodle, Massaman Curry, and the Tom Kha Kai Ramen. Do try the Karaage, Crispy Duck Buns, or the Chashu Buns to start! If you prefer tofu instead of meat, you can request it even though it's not on the menu as an option, no upcharge! There is something for everyone here and you will not be disappointed!

    Pad thai, boba, chicken
    Sonam S.

    I got the chicken pad thai and it was so fresh, I would definitely come back and get this again. I always try brown sugar bobas wherever I go and this was pretty good.

    Tom kha kai ramen
    Sydney H.

    We've been here before for drinks and love their oreo milk tea slush and yuzu matcha. we decided to get food and ordered the tonkatsu ramen and tom kha kai ramen. Compared to other ramen restaurants in the area, i would say the portion is a little smaller. I was disappointed that neither ramens came with an egg and seaweed, as that's usually one of my favorite parts of ramen. also there were only 3 thin pieces of pork for the tonkatsu. Not sure if the meal was worth $17 a bowl. otherwise, the ramen was ok but not sure if we would come back for their food. However, we got a yuzu matcha on the way out and it was delicious as always! Highly recommend their drinks.

    Fried rice with chicken
    Barbara B.

    We ordered takeout for the first time. I had Bowlba ramen noodles which had pork slices, egg, seaweed and a tasty broth. My husband liked the Thai fried rice with chicken. We will come back. Notice that tbe "front" door is on the courtyard side of the shopping center and not on the street side where I would have expected it to be.

    Tonkotsu ramen

    Very great atmosphere, amazing food, very quality service, I was definitely pleased with my first visit!!

    Very cute spot.
    Charlotte B.

    I was searching for either ramen or boba tea and Bowlba popped up - I had no idea it was there! I know there have been a few businesses come and go in this semi hidden area; I hope they do well! It's a quick service style, order then sit down. Very cute, Instagramable for sure. I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, Goyza and a Taiwanese Milk Tea with boba. The ramen was quite good! I didn't find it overly salty nor bland. The noodles were well cooked, fresh sprouts and kikurage mushrooms. The goyza was also good, steamed and served with sauce. My friend ordered the Pad Thai and said it was very good. Everything was enjoyable, food came out quick and it's just overall fun. Saw many teens and young ones come in just for a tea. They do offer some soft drinks in cans as well. Even though it's order then sit down, the staff was attentive and kind. Was clean, easily found parking. Certainly worth a visit!

    a man sitting at the counter
    Kathy W.

    I'm not impressed. Presentation is all good. But to me personally. it way too salty. I don't think I will come back. I order the Bowlba noodles - presentation is great - with the pork on top, and seaweed sheets - but the soup itself was super salty, w/o noodles i would not be able to eat it. My hubby's and my son's entrees were also very salty.

    Thai fried rice with chicken
    Ming Y.

    Stumbled upon this place while running errands bits tucked away but the food was fantastic. It's quaint and appears to run by a family. I got the Thai fried rice with chicken and my wife got the chicken pad Thai. The taste reminds me of something our parents would cook at home. I also got the lychee sparkling drink and it was one of the best sodas I've ever had in flavor and carbonation. I would definitely come back and even drive to eat here again(and it's about 25 minutes away)

    Jess M.

    Fantastic and happening place. So cute and fun in here, with ample parking in front and behind the restaurant. Servers were friendly and the place was small and cozy....but so fun. Cute metal servingware and cups. There were a lot of pickup orders while we ate, with a number of walkins for their bubble teas. We had the fried gyoza and calamari apps. Both dippung sauces were a bit unusual/atypical...but still good. We also had the shrimp pad thai and beef thai froed rice...both were fantastic and you could taste the seasoned wok flavor! This is a must stop!

    Pad Thai- delicious
    Matt C.

    So, when the best sushi chef in the Triangle (who is Thai) says "this is the best Thai place around," you go check it out. Bird was right. This place is pretty darn good. We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and all ordered the pad Thai, because that's what Bird said to get. What we got was a deep bowl of beautifully sauced rice noodles- sweet, sour, umami-packed. The garnishes are what always get it for me- crunchy bean sprouts, lightly charred green onions, not-too-many crushed peanuts, and generous protein (we all got the chicken). There's a wide variety of teas and such available in the punch-the-top cup, with plenty of add-one like boba or pudding and such. Service is sweet and attentive, and the homey cafe vibe makes you want to just hang out and people-watch the neighborhood folks who are dropping in and out.

    Diverse Asian fusion menu

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    1 month ago

    Hidden gem for sure. Excellent and authentic flavors. It looks like they are mostly known for their teas but the food is fantastic too!

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    4 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 months ago

    Ate at Bowlba Cafe yesterday for the first time and I cannot wait to go back! I got the garlic shrimp and it was fantastic!

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food was fabulous. Service was attentive. Great artistic ambience. We had the ramen and pad Thai and Bowlba drinks.

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    9 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Love their boba tea and pad Thai. Cute place and a great to go option. Recommend the milk tea.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    The duck was really good ... the pad Thai was also excellent! Definitely try the Boba tea

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Love the Crispy Duck Buns!!! I get them every time. Everything has been delicious and service is very personal.

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    1 year ago

    Love it here. Food is amazing. Staff is so nice. Great atmosphere. Clean. The basil tofu is delish.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    Tonight was our first trip to this restaurant. The food and staff were wonderful; we will likely return soon!

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    Noodle Boulevard - Spicy Seafood Tom Yum Ramen (spice level 4, on a scale of 1 to 6)

    Noodle Boulevard

    4.5(1k reviews)
    15.4 mi
    $$

    Delicious!! This was…read moremy first time having ramen, and my friend suggested we go here, and I'm so glad we did! Noodle Blvd is located in a spot that you could easily miss, but it's easy to get back on track. I pulled into the gas station parking lot beside the restaurant, then just turned right into the restaurant parking lot. The parking lot is fairly small, so be warned about that. My friend was there when I arrived, and he sat at the bar. When I walked in the door, I was greeted with smiles and waves. It was very inviting, which is fitting for a ramen restaurant. My friend ordered us Lychee Margaritas, and oh my goodness, it was so good! We decided to visit right at opening on a Saturday, so the bartender was still preparing some of the ingredients needed for the margarita. The bartender informed us that it's usually better once a key ingredient sits for a while, but I loved the drink regardless. I ordered edamame for an appetizer, which came quickly and was good! Since I've never had ramen before, I asked our server what he recommended, and he told me about some of their most popular dishes. He told me the N9. Chicken Curry Ramen was a favorite of his and the patrons, so I decided to order that. It came quickly, and I was immediately in HEAVEN upon my first bite. I loved every bite after! I decided to play it safe with the spice and got level 2, but I can definitely go up a level or 2 since I love spicy. Highly recommend, and I will be back! Worth the drive from Clayton, where I live.

    Noodle Boulevard delivered exactly the kind of comforting, flavorful meal I was hoping for. I…read moreordered the Shoyu Ramen with Chashu Pork and an Ajitsuke Egg, and it was outstanding. The broth was rich and balanced, the pork was tender, and the toppings--bok choy, beansprouts, bamboo, onions, nori, and that perfectly seasoned egg--brought everything together beautifully. I did ask them to cut the meat up but they were "not able" to accommodate that request. Every bite felt warm, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared. The service was friendly and efficient, and the overall vibe of the place is fun and energetic. The music was a bit louder than I prefer, but it didn't take away from how good the food was. If you're craving a great bowl of ramen in a lively atmosphere, Noodle Boulevard is absolutely worth the stop.

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    Noodle Boulevard - Inside restaurant

    Inside restaurant

    Noodle Boulevard - Black Garlic Miso Ramen (spice level 4, on a scale of 1 to 6)

    Black Garlic Miso Ramen (spice level 4, on a scale of 1 to 6)

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    Vegetarian Ramen

    Miss Chang An - https://order.mealkeyway.com/merchant/674a4e5365512f6b574d3533434979326e47686352773d3d/main

    Miss Chang An

    4.6(31 reviews)
    18.1 mi

    I love their gluten and cold wheat noodles! Also their warm date cake dessert is very good.read more

    Yum! Service is friendly and it's easy to order your food on the touch screen. They primarily do…read moretakeout and the restaurant is absolutely tiny. Room for probably 3 diff groups of people to eat. There were tables to seat 4, two tall stool seats by the window facing the parking lot, and a tucked away spot with a folding chair beside it and had cups of utensils on it. I ordered the cold flour noodle with sesame sauce and the shaanxi mutton soak buns. Both were tasty and the cold noodles were refreshing. The employee described the mutton soak buns dish as a soup soaked pancake which is pretty accurate. It reminds me of a rice porridge but with chopped dough instead of rice. The restroom is in the back through the kitchen which is kinda cool because you can see them rolling out all the round flat bread that they use for the dishes. I'm guessing it's what they use for the rougamo (I've seen it at other Chinese restaurants described as a Chinese hamburger) and the shaanxi soak buns. It almost has a gnocchi type of consistency. It isn't your average fried rice and stir fry type of Chinese restaurant so if you're looking for something like that it might not meet your expectations. I would definitely come back to try other menu items. Also, get the plum juice. It's delicious!

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    Miss Chang An - Front desk kiosk

    Front desk kiosk

    Miss Chang An - Braised Chicken served with rice

    Braised Chicken served with rice

    Miss Chang An - Xi'An Flour Cold Noodle with cucumber, wheat gluten & 3 sauces- garlic, vinegar & chili oil

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    Xi'An Flour Cold Noodle with cucumber, wheat gluten & 3 sauces- garlic, vinegar & chili oil

    David's Dumpling & Noodle Bar

    David's Dumpling & Noodle Bar

    3.9(677 reviews)
    11.3 mi
    $$

    This restaurant has been on my list to visit for a couple of years. I was finally able to go. It…read morewas fine. Nothing spectacular. The reason I gave it 4 stars was because the dumplings were disappointing. They were not warm and the dumpling dough was thick. We got the David's dumplings and the crispy spicy wontons. The wontons were better. I liked the crispy dough but they weren't spicy at all. The entree meals were better. I had the Malaysian curry soup which had a nice kick and was steaming hot. It had lots of different toppings in it which was nice. My husband got the fried rice. It was also really good. The Chinese sausage complimented the rice well and there were plenty shrimp in it too. If I went back I would forgo the dumplings and just go straight to having the entree.

    First of all, I love the ambiance there. The exposed bricks are so pretty to me! They also have…read moresuch a huge space. They even have a private event room as well! Secondly, the food!!! We ordered a lot of food (2 appetizers and 3 entrees ) and our eyes were not bigger than our stomachs because we finished all the food We are proud big backs lol What we tried and how we'd rank them: David's Original Half Fried Dumplings Malaysian Curry Noodle Soup Open Top Pork and Shrimp Siu Mai Dumplings Sautéed Green Beans David's Fried Rice with Chinese Sausage Make sure to ask them for their house made chili oil! It's spicy but a little sweet. We were both fans. My friend even asked if they sell it

    Photos
    David's Dumpling & Noodle Bar
    David's Dumpling & Noodle Bar
    David's Dumpling & Noodle Bar

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    Bowlba Cafe - thai - Updated May 2026

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