Based on food alone, Lanner definitely deserves five stars. Their noodles are outstanding. I had the beef rib chili oil noodles and opted for the wide noodles; everything about the dish was delicious. The meat was tender, the noodles were chewy, and the seasoning was very balanced, bringing some spice and some sweetness in every bite. They might be suffering from their own success, however. Operations here were pretty tough to watch. The servers on the floor were pretty overmatched in terms of keeping up with seating guests, taking orders, and bringing out dishes. There were two noisy drops in my visit, one of which almost led to food landing on a customer's lap. Accidents happen, but in the context of how hard the servers were working just to barely keep up, it was obvious this place needs more staff. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space itself is also a bit underwhelming, with a makeshift quilt at the entrance to try to keep heat in, and cheaper plastic cups that didn't look the most clean.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great food, definitely worth a visit, and I hope they tighten it up so that the rest of the experience follows the amazing cooking! read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - 牛肋骨油泼面 Beef Rib Chili Oil Noodles - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

parking is street. you'll have to go a block away for metered parking. this review is for the second visit. stopped by for a saturday lunch. ordered the fried mushrooms, lamb skewers, chili oil beef noodle, lamb shank soup noodle, and a can of coke. mushroom was fantastic, really crispy, mushrooms inside was fresh, the seasoning was flavorful. the chili oil beef noodles lamb shank soup noodle was fantastic as always. the lamb skewers were RAW. the smallest piece on the skewer was raw, the bigger pieces were super raw. we took a few bites and noticed the texture was off. then realized it's not even cooked. we asked the server to take it back and have the kitchen cook it some more. see the pics on how raw it is. c'mon lanner, the whole existence of the place is to cook food and failed at that. the raw meat upset my stomach for the rest of the day. this is a health concern as you failed to operate your restaurant to code. read more

See all

First come, first serve and it gets pretty busy in here! I recommend adding your name to the waitlist before you go. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a cute, small restaurant with a cozy feel.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I think the service here is okay - pretty chaotic, so it took us awhile to get our food and when they forgot a drink, we weren't able to get it until we were almost done with our meal. The noodles are amazing. The beef falls off the bone and the spice is perfection for someone who loves spicy food. I like it so much that I've started ordering it when I'm craving noodles! read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - 牛肋骨油泼面 Beef Rib Chili Oil Noodles - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Enjoyed my meal and would come back to try other menu items! [[HIGHLIGHT]]The space is small and cozy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I ordered the Beef Rib Chili Oil Noodles, and I wished the noodles were a bit bouncier and the chili oil was spicier. The beef was incredibly tender and delicious. I think it'd be even better if they included cilantro with this dish as well. Really interested so see if the texture is better with their other noodle shapes? read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Beef Rib Chili Oil Noodles - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Food: Broth was REALLY good. The beef and noodles were ok-ish, maybe not my taste? Service: There was a bit of a wait, but this place gets super busy. Ice, my server, was super friendly! The servers were nice too. Ambiance: [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant has swearing all around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] You may be put on a wait list but it moves fast. I wish I tried the other stuff tbh like the tea or soup dumplings. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - 红烧牛肉面 Braised Beef Noodle Soup - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

After much speculation and much rumination I scheduled an important dinner at Lanner Noodles & Bar, which is located a mere hop, skip, and jump away from the Central Square Target on the beautiful Pearl Street, the road that famously leads to the Morse School. Upon entering, guests have the pleasure of grazing their bodies through a piece of thin and lithe fabric that covers the entryway. I did not examine this piece of lithe fabric as concertedly and wholeheartedly as I might have earlier in the day -- alas, I entered Lanner Noodles & Bar at approximately 7 PM. I was neither surprised nor fazed that the menu selection largely consists of noodles. This is likely whence came the name Lanner Noodles & Bar. The noodle options offer a range of soupiness -- there are soups for some and dry options for others. My table shared an order of cucumber salad and an order of marinated wood ear mushrooms. These plates were both delicious and flavorful, especially the mushrooms, which did not taste like wood but did remind me in texture of a piglet's ear. A piglet's ear is a delicious food, particularly on tacos. I ordered a dish whose name now escapes me, but it was a seasonal item that essentially consists of a beef shank with noodles. I have attached a photograph for reference. The dish is tasty, but for many the true pleasure derives from the large cow's shank bone that you can gnaw at on the road after you leave the restaurant. The service was slightly confused. We were seated promptly by a server who seemed to be impressively competent. The waiter then assigned to our table forgot about us, but fortunately the competent waiter was able to take our order so we did not have to sit in the restaurant into the wee hours of the morning. I would return with readiness to sample the other menu items. This restaurant is a good addition to Central Square. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - A delicious cow's shank with noodles - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

For a Tuesday lunch, I returned to Lanner. The establishment was almost full at 12:15pm, though I managed to get one of the remaining tables. As usual, I ordered the $20 lunch combo. The lanzhou noodles today seemed under-portioned compared to before. The broth only went halfway up the bowl, and the noodle amount was substantially less than before. Previously I would be definitively full after; today, however, I still felt a bit hungry. The new batch of students acting as wait staff also needs better training. My lunch combo tray was unceremoniously shoved onto the table under my arm from behind me without consideration for, say, if I moved at the last minute and accidentally knocked the server's stuff over. The bill was also handed to me in the middle of dining. I'd expect this from the disaffected Chinatown establishments, but not Lanner. Quite the unpleasant change from previous lunches, where wait staff were much more polite and deliberate with their movements. Hopefully today's experience is a result of the new student chaos that descends upon the city biannually. However, I don't feel all that inclined to return test my hypothesis. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

The hand pulled noodles are tasty, fresh and a perfect chewy texture! Get the beef noodle soup which is so flavorful, savory, and perfectly warming in this cold, snowy weather. The service is efficient and food comes out quickly which I love. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It may be a casual noodle bar but I'm always surprised to see that everyone's always dressed up to come here![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Small joint just off Central Square, with an obviously noodle-centric menu. There's a bar, but more for making drinks to take to tables. I didn't see any stools. Cucumber Salad: Cold dish with large chunks of cucumber, marinated in sesame oil and hit copiously with minced garlic. A little one note, but prepared well and refreshing. Be prepared for the heavy garlic. Sweet and Sour Shortrib: Hefty serving for a small plate. Cut across the bones and lightly glazed with a dark barbecue sauce that wasn't that sweet and wasn't at all sour. Very tender meat, as if braised. No crispness. Pleasant enough but seemed like a reheat. Stir Fried Noodles with Tofu: My wife's dish. She enjoyed the noodles but thought the dish was heavy on the salt and that the tofu wasn't that fresh. Pork Belly Noodles: My dish. Thick noodles with the right feel, with plenty of pork belly and just enough somewhat-spicy sauce to keep everything lubricated, but not drowning. Minimal fat in the tender pork belly, which had a stewed, mono-textured feel like the shortrib app. Hand Torn Cabbage: Stir fried with hot peppers and garlic, this dish was built as two peppers of heat, but wasn't that hot at all. Perfectly cooked, with some crunch left in, and very lightly sauced. Another fairly plain one, but a suitable complement to the proteins. Service: Awkward. Value: Every dish was under $15, with the small plates $6 and $11. Parking: Tough to find on the street, but there's a garage right around the corner. I liked everything I tried-- somewhat. There were no mistakes or duds, but none of the dishes brought the excitement or flavor wallop of what I consider to be superior noodle joints (Jahunger, Lan Feast) nearby and across the river. read more

See all

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Great experience dining here on a bustling weekday evening![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was a 10 minute waitlist for a walk in around 6pm and the restaurant was packed but cozy.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered the Langzhou beef noodle soup, cucumber salad, and mushroom dish plus warm milk tea which was so delicious with caramel notes and uniquely served in a mini pitcher which you can pour into a tiny tea cup. The noodle soup was cozy and just what I needed to warm up (: read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Warm milk tea - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

I just had the food here and it is excellent! I can't believe I've lived in Boston all these years, and I never knew of this place until my friends recommended it. I had the beef chili oil handful noodles and they were absolutely delicious. The beef just slipped off of the bone my friends and I also have the crispy mushroom bites the lamb skewers, and the bean curd. I think the only downside is most likely the wait time because this place is super popular I waited for 40 minutes just touring around Cambridge and Harvard, but I'm so glad I didn't go to another restaurant because this food was so worth it and the staff were really nice too. Thank you. read more

Came in for a quick bite with some friends, no wait on a Friday afternoon. Food came out FAST! Like I think within 5 minutes of ordering, all the dishes were out. Mushroom crisp bites {3.5/5}: Crispy and hot, but lacked flavor. Stir fried noodles w/tofu {4/5}: Pretty good chewy noodles and good flavor. Decent portion for price too! There was a ton of barely cooked onions though that I couldn't eat. All in all, pretty decent option and would wanna try other things too! read more

See all

You are able to wait in line online which is a nice perk. When we got there after getting the notification that our table was ready we were seated fairly quickly. We ordered the chicken nuggets (basically Taiwanese popcorn chicken) to share and I got the braised beef noodle soup with wide hand pulled noodles. The popcorn chicken was dry and the batter was strangely dense and felt very heavy. It came out piping hot though and the flavor wasn't bad. My noodle soup was really good but the chili crisp oil they provide on the table was mostly just oil unfortunately. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It is busy and pretty brightly lit inside and the two servers seemed pretty overloaded when we were there.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We didn't get to try their drinks but they had some really interesting cocktails on the menu! I would definitely go back for the food but maybe get takeout next time. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - 黄金鸡块 Golden Chicken Nuggets - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Went in with high expectations but left slightly disappointed. This place was very busy, but luckily they had an open table. The vibe was lively and casual, with quick, friendly service. I'm obsessed with their crispy mushroom bites--so crunchy and flavorful, and tasted like the spicy ramen spice packets. The noodles were just okay (and I *love* hand-pulled noodles). The broth tasted watered down, and I felt like the chili oil was being used to mask the lack of flavor. The noodles were slippery, almost disconnected from the broth, and didn't sit well with me afterward... If you ever find yourself in Philly and craving great hand-pulled noodles, you should definitely try Nan Zhou Hand-Drawn Noodle House in Chinatown --this just doesn't compare. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Crispy Mushroom Bites - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

I'm duke here. But probably never be back here again. The staff--notably the male server, with a necklace and tattoos on both arms (not to be confused with another with just tattoo in one arm, no complaint with this server) and looks like he just can't wait to take a break from his shift to get more cigarettes and/or cracks. His mind isn't even there. Floating around the restaurant being upset when he is forced to attend to customers' needs. Does he know tips are EARNED and NOT REQUIRED? The way this personnel takes order, throws the dishes on the tables, and behaves suggest he thinks he's entitled to the minimum 18% tip, i.e., tips are mandatory, and he can just act like an arrogant being. NOPE! Management ought to pay serious attention to this, especially since Lanner is still in its early days and vulnerable to fail and disappear. Came back here repeatedly but probably never had to deal with this careless low demeanored addict. The female waitress that served us during previous visits was so sweet and caring. Would've continued being a regular here if had not experienced this careless male server (tattoos on both arms) this time. read more

See all

5 stars for the food and 3 stars for the service. So 4 star average. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very trendy restaurant that had loud music going on at night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was packed when we went and the seating is very crowded and cramped. Not enough room to stretch your arms.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Not my kind of atmosphere but not deducting anything for that. Just personal preference. The girl taking orders and seating people was nice but it seems she was overworked or overwhelmed. We asked for an extra side of noodles to go with our noodle soup and that ended up not going. Same with the table next to us. She had asked for some sort of drink and it never came so she asked that it be cancelled from her order when she got the check. It also took awhile for the check to get to us even though we had asked for it awhile ago. Again, it was one girl working the entire restaurant taking orders, one bus boy, and one person helping bring out food. The food was actually very delicious and the noodle broth was very rich and flavorful. Just wish there was more help to improve customer service. read more

Just a few minute walk from the red line Central stop, Lanner seems to be a pretty popular noodle shop, and for good reason. Upon arriving, I got onto the waitlist for about 15 minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I noticed the shop was busy and lively, with a beautiful wooden decor.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was good and attentive. We quickly got our orders in. The lamb shank noodle soup and braised beef noodle soup were both great, though I personally believe the braised beef to be a step above. The chili oil provided is essential and I would highly recommend adding in at least 2 scoops. Other than that, I wish the pepper-y flavors in the soup were a bit stronger and bolder. Still, very solid!! Just off of the main streets, I still believe parking looks difficult to find. There should be a garage nearby to park at. Convenient though if you're taking the red line. read more

Worst dining experience. Visited on a Sunday. I wanted Lanzhou beef noodle soup, but was served braised beef one. The waiter (with tattoo on both arms and necklace) asserted that I ordered "beef noodle soup" without saying "Lanzhou" hence I meant the braised beef noodle soup. See posted menu. He said he could get me what I wanted, but I must pay for the wrong item because the manager is not there to override the order. I have never experienced such before -- you don't just blame the customer when you make a mistake; why don't you clarify with the customer when things could be interpreted differently; why is there no solution to fix your mistake. I think the restaurant is trying to present itself as a high end dining experience. But however I was treated definitely doesn't meet that envision. read more

See all

My friends all know how I feel about noods. Really, they're sick and tired of me suggesting we go for noodle soup, sometimes they just want some solid food. But me? I am 90% noodle soup. If you think about it, the human body is essentially a soup. So trust me when I say I wanted to like Lanner. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Even though it's wildly overcrowded and their online waitlist is essentially a random number generator.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I still really wanted a good noodle soup in Central. And it isn't bad! The noodles are very fresh and tasty, the broth tastes like there were actually bones involved. But it's just kinda...eh. And the truth is, $20 is a lot for eh. I feel like the seasonings have the volume turned down, the lamb broth definitely had the makings of goodness, but they held back on something to make it really pop. I had to add basically the entire cute little chili pot on the table to taste anything. It's pretty good, don't get me wrong. But Gene's Flatbread does it better for $3 less. Saves me the T fare, but combine this with the crowds and the waitlists...I'll just have my Gene's, thanks. read more

[[HIGHLIGHT]]Delicious food and lovely ambiance.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The milk tea was very soft and perfect for a night pick up. The lamb was fantastic. Highly recommend coming here. read more

See all

This place serves up a delicious hot bowl of soup! The service is really quick and you can join the waitlist online before you arrive, which helps when it gets busy. The quantity of noodles is a perfect amount and the beef is super tender, and it's very filling! You can always order extra noodles too. When I went, it was really cold and windy outside and we were seated right next to the door, so every time the door opened I got blasted with cold air so I wish there was better insulation or something to prevent that. Otherwise, the food was great and the service was fantastic! read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Lanzhou Beef Noodle Soup - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

This review falls somewhere between three to three and a half stars, as I do have some mixed feedback about my recent experience at Lanner. The restaurant is small yet cozy. We came on a mid Sunday afternoon during a long weekend. There weren't a lot of people when we first arrived, but the place was starting to fill up for dinner just before we left. The waitress who initially greeted and took care of us was very nice. For drinks, boyfriend had a Tsingtao beer and I got one of the new cocktails. I can't remember the name of the drink but I think it had elderflower and sake. It also contained what I believe to be some thinly sliced cucumber (which I'm personally not a fan of), though I don't recall it being in the drink's menu description. However the cucumber was very subtle and thankfully didn't end up overpowering the overall flavor of the drink; it was indeed a solid cocktail. We ordered the golden chicken nuggets to split, which had a nice spicy flavor and were absolutely delicious. Boyfriend got the golden tofu and said that it was perfectly cooked and spiced, so it's pretty clear that he enjoyed it. I had the braised beef noodle soup. There was definitely a lack of meat in the dish, which was definitely a bit disappointing. Despite this the broth, chili oil and handmade noodles were all very tasty and the dish overall ended up being pretty filling, which in a way made up for the lack of meat. We finished our entrees but still had probably about half of the nuggets left; I think this was because the dishes ended up coming out rather sporadically, though that alone usually doesn't really bother me. However one of the guys who appeared to be food running/bussing abruptly took the nuggets away when clearing our other plates and I had to get his attention before he made it too far away to ask to get a box for the rest of them. Perhaps I should've stated that I wanted a box for the rest of them when he first came over, but I honestly wasn't expecting him to take a still half full plate of food with the intention of throwing it away and not asking if we wanted to take the rest to go. Maybe it's just me, but I found that a little off putting. As we were finishing up, a second very nice waitress came over to ask how we were doing and gave us the check, which at first glance looked very short considering everything we got. I looked more closely and saw that it was indeed the wrong check, only having a couple of items on it, items that we didn't order. We flagged the waitress down to tell her, she thanked us for letting her know and gave us the correct check. An honest mistake that was easily fixed. It seems that this might've occurred in the middle of a shift change and as they were getting a lot busier with more tables filling up for the dinner rush and receiving lots of takeout orders over the phone. I will also say that everything here is pretty reasonably priced, especially when you compare it to similar restaurants in the area. Overall, some aspects of our experience at Lanner were great while others were definitely a little bit spotty. Given the abundance of positive reviews, they seem pretty well established in the neighborhood so it's quite possible that I just happened to catch them on an off day. I'm definitely still rooting for this place and will say that the noodle lover in me would consider returning to try some other items and give them another chance, or perhaps check them out at the new location they're preparing to open in the Seaport since that location would actually be closer to me anyway. read more

We were the FIRST table to sit down right when they opened. One single order of braised beef noodle, which came out about ~15 minutes after. A lunch combo of pork belly noodles came out 30 minutes after. Last lunch combo of chicken herb noodles came out 45+ minutes after - plenty of other tables already got their food and even takeout orders. The chicken herb soup with wide noodles had the noodles stuck together and the soup lukewarm like it's been sitting. The bowl was wide mouth with small base, and tips over spilling soup easily especially given the noodles were clumped and difficult to separate. No one came by after our order was taken other than to deliver food. Even had to ask multiple times for our bill. The flavor was fine, probably better if food was warm. The whole experience is just so frustrating that there is no reason to suffer by coming here. read more

We waited at least 25 minutes for our food.The order in question? 1 serving of dumplings and a side of noodles,as well as green tea.In the end we were driven to the brink of patience and was going to ask them when it was coming until it finally came.The noodles did not have the sauce we requested.Moral of the story,do not order takeout and have high expectations for a high quality looking noodle bar . read more

The food is delicious and unique. Not many places sell hand pulled noodles--and it's amazing that you may customize your noodles. You can get wide, thin, classic, or flat noodles. A bowl of noodles is quite affordable, but they also offer lunch sets on occasion (a noodle soup with two small sides and a bottle of sparkling water). Sometimes it can get busy, but you the service is quick and soon comes out quickly. The interior is modern and classy, even if the exterior is unassuming. I've been to Lanner multiple times before--and I recently was delighted to hear that they will open another location in Seaport! read more

See all

Stock good. Staff friendly. Noodles are mushy not like homemade hand pulled noodles. If you like hand pulled noodles go somewhere else.

Have only ordered takeout, but am so impressed by the quality of their food even for delivery. Their packaging is high quality and ensures that the noodles arrive in premium condition and without getting soggy! I was very impressed by the level of thought clearly put into their takeout containers. Every noodle dish I've had has been perfectly flavored with generous portions. Both beef noodle soups are hearty and spiced exquisitely. I recently also tried the braised beef noodle and found that flavorful and tender. Their cabbage and chicken is a highlight! Highly recommend for someone looking to try a new noodle dish or missing the taste of home. read more

Stopped by on a chilly weeknight for dinner and was seated right away, despite it being relatively busy. The wood sat mushrooms are delightful and a large enough portion to share, but also light enough to munch them all. The beef noodle soup broth was tasty. The noodles were hand pulled and thicker. I opted for an extra egg. Overall the soup was balanced and I thought heavy on the noodles - plenty to take home. Service was lightning fast and efficient. Great spot for a casual and quick meal, without sacrificing taste. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all

Was in the area for dinner and ice cream and saw this place. Small, cozy and cute restaurant. The noodle soup here is good but could be a bit more rich. The hand pulled noodles were just a block stuck together. I really enjoyed the stir fry noodles here. The flavor was perfect and everything was very savory and fresh. The cucumber salad and Wood ear was OK. It's not bad. It was refreshing but lacked flavor. Overall I enjoyed dinner. I love the space and how cozy it is and we'll come back next time to try more stir fry noodles and different apps! read more

It was my first time coming here as I was excited to try a new noodles spot in Cambridge! We came right as they opened on a Saturday but even then, their dining room was already filling up. Their space is small, but seats a decent amount of parties. We sat close to their door and it was quite breezy every time someone walked in or out. They have a small selection of different noodle soups and some appetizers, and I really wanted to try their milk tea but they were out of all three kinds. We ordered the lanzhou beef noodles and the braised pork noodles, but I think we got two lanzhou beef noodles. Despite this, we were quite hungry so we just dug in. I wasn't particularly wowed by their noodles or broth, both seemed very mediocre. There was little flavor in the broth and not that many noodles for the price. I wasn't too impressed with this meal, but I was craving noodles and this satisfied that craving. I might come again in the future to see how their other offerings compare. Nonetheless, its a cute little spot to check out if you are nearby! read more

See all

Great place with massive portions. We had the cabbage and lamb skewers to start. I had the special hand pulled spicy beef noodles. Wife had the lamb noodles and daughter had the beef noodles. Great and unique Asian flavors. You get to pick your noodle type from thin angel hair esq to wide flat fettuccine esq. read more

We walked in without a reservation or waitlist and were seated pretty quickly. We ordered the Lanzhou beef noodle soup, sweet and sour short ribs, and the large plate cauliflower. The noodles were chewy and flavorful, though they came with only a small amount of beef. The sweet and sour ribs tender and perfectly sweet. The cauliflower was crispy and had a great crunch. While the food was great, the restaurant experience had some downsides. Service felt a bit awkward... our waters didn't have ice, and the bathrooms were cramped with lights that kept flickering off. The biggest issue was the lack of AC., on a hot summer day eating hot noodles, there was only one fan in the whole place. Great food! But the environment needs some improvement read more

See all

Lanner is a hidden banger off the side of Mass Ave and a great place for a quick and affordable lunch or dinner. The noodles are an amazing quality and definitely hand-made in store. You can tell from the unevenness at the ends of the noodles (but doesn't affect the quality!) Wide Noodle supremacy, of course. My go to order is the braised beef noodle soup, and the soup is flavorful but I wish they gave a bit more beef per order. I have also gotten the lamb shank noodles, and they do give a lot of meat for this one - it's very hearty and homey. The lamb skewers are fresh, and always piping hot. They're so authentic it reminded me of eating lamb skewers on the road side of China. read more

Lanner Noodles & Bar - Lamb Shank Noodles - Noodles Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

See all