Came here again and ordered: Red cabbage with peanuts Popcorn chicken Pork w green chives & shrimp dumplings Braised beef noodle soup House made soy milk The soy milk is so refreshing! All the food was great again and service was prompt. This has become one of our gotos when in San Mateo and fortunately the wait time seems to have dropped off. The shop nextdoor used to also be a noodle place but has changed...so I'm assuming this is the main restaurant on this block if you're in the mood for beef noodle soup or other knife cut noodle/soups. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - E07. Tomato & Egg Noodle Soup E07. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Review is for the frozen dumplings. We love having them on hand for a quick dinner when life gets busy and usually frequent a few handmade frozen dumplings places in Outer Richmond and Palo Alto. We've tasted several places (including ones in Burlingame), but haven't found a decent option. Price-wise with tax, these frozen dumplings ends up being about 79 cents each, consistently priced with the other locations we frequent. There's an offer Buy 10 bags get 1 free. We bought: chicken and corn, shrimp with green chives, pork with cabbage. The skin on the dumpling wrappers were inconsistent- some were thin which broke thru during cooking, while others were thicker. That was one of the major issues - at least 2 per bag were broken after cooking. Also, the wrappers didn't have a consistent bite/chewiness (or QQ if you're Chinese) that makes a great dumpling. The filling was okay - not extremely generous. The meat ones had a distinct 5-Spice powder seasoning. It was interesting the Shrimp with green chive dumplings did not have pork - it's just shrimp, chive and egg, even though they call it 三鮮 (3 delicacies). Was hoping to find a closer alternative, so gave Li's frozen dumplings a try. But it's still worth it to drive a bit away for dumplings that are more consistent. . read more

Coming to try because a friend recommended and saw their cute bowls and plates. Waiting was easy because of online system let you know your table almost ready. It's a really small area with cute decorate Order online, so not much service food comes out fast. We ordered a variety of different items. Soy milk is good, did not have any burn or uncooked bean favor not super sweet. Chinese burger: the meat is good fatty a bit salty but disappointed for the bun. I was hoping it's crispy and flaky but it's really a bun. Popcorn chicken was dry inside Green onions pancakes are crispy but again not flaky and too much layer. Favor is good Garlic green beans, it sure if they are too busy? One bean is crispy one is not, and one is favorful the other one is not, it didn't mix well for sure Lamb dumplings not very juices the skin thicker side a lot of carrots Spicy beef tendon and marinaded beef, it's cured really thick so it's in chewy side. If they cut it thinner will be better the flavor is good Tomatoes egg & stir fried minced pork noodle, we got round noodle, the noodle is good qq, the meat taste about the same as the burger meat and it's not minced it looks so big. The egg and tomato needs more tomato. read more

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Li's Knife Cut Noodle has been in my bookmarks for a while, so we ventured to a quieter side of San Mateo, which we rarely see, West 25th Avenue. Upon entering, the spot looked clean and bright with colorful red signage. We got there just in time and found one table available for the 3 of us. All you have to do is scan the QR Code for the menu and place an order. The staff was friendly and pleasant. Food came out quickly. *** O U R P I C K S *** a06. CUCUMBER WITH BLACK FUNGUS ~ This was nicely seasoned and on point for flavor and texture. Enjoyed by all! 5/5 a10. SPICY PIG EAR ~ Nice, crunchy texture and a bit spicy, but nothing I couldn't handle (I'm weak when it comes to very spicy things!) Love this too! 5/5 c04. MARINATED BEEF PANCAKE ROLL ~ The meat was tender and tasty, but the pancake didn't seem to be flaky and was denser than others we've had. It was more chewy than crispy or flaky. But leftovers were taken home and heated in an air fryer for a delicate, crispy finish. 3.5/5 e01. BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP (KNIFE-CUT NOODLES) ~ Noodles were chewy, and the beef stew was very tender. However, the broth could be more flavorful. 4/5 c01. CHINESE BURGER ~ I thought the burger bun would be somewhat flaky and crispy like a Raojiamo, but it was more like an English muffin. So this wasn't what I had expected. Though the meat filling was tasty, a flaky bun would have made the burger exceptional. Sadly, this didn't make the cut. 2.5/5 They even sell frozen handmade dumplings for $12.99/18pcs (buy 10 & get 1 free). Fillings: Pork Dumpling with Napa Cabbage Pork Shrimp with Green Chives Egg Shrimp with Green Chives Beef Dumpling with Onion Lamb Dumpling with Carrot Chicken Dumpling with Corn Prices are really reasonable for the amount of food we had, though we had a few hit-or-miss dishes. However, if we're in the area again, we may try other things on the menu. read more

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We stumbled upon a hole in a wall spot for a quick dinner and it's like semi street food vibe. Loved the fresh aldente noodles and frozen pork & shrimp wonton to go are available, service was friendly as well. read more

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We really enjoyed trying out this spot! It is always crowded with a long line, but using their Yelp Waitlist system helps a ton. They only have indoor seating available and the place is clean. The hand-cut noodles are amazing and have the perfect chewy texture. While the soups are a bit on the saltier side, the beef noodle soup was definitely the winner for us--it has a great spice profile, whereas the lamb soup tasted a bit heavy on the MSG. Another awesome perk is that they give you free noodle refills (half or full portion) for soup noodles! On top of the great food, the staff were very nice and the service was attenti read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - E02. Lamb Noodle Soup (Bone In) E02. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came to Li's Knife Cut Noodle and minus the initial interaction with staff, we enjoyed the experience. When we arrived, there were two tables ahead of us. After a few calls, we noticed they skipped our number and boyfriend asked. The waitress claimed that she called us (did not) and he retorted the claim. She then apologized and acknowledged that she didn't but she had already called another number. Fine. She then comes out again and calls another number that's not us. When we ask why she says it's because the table is for 4. Uhh...ok? When she comes out a third time, she skips us yet again and this time the family she calls tells her that we were first and yet she presses that it's because of the table size. DUDE. In the next call, a man comes out instead and we expressed some frustration and he immediately seats us....at a table for 4. The irony. But at least that was the end of it, the rest of the experience was tasty and as we expected. We started with the sliced tendons which were paper thin and so good. The portion was incredibly generous too, we kept eating and it felt like a bottomless plate! We then tried the egg and chive pancakes which were herbaceous and very chive forward, nice! For a main, we shared the tomato egg pork and chili oil dry noodles. The noodles are perfectly QQ and really satisfying. The combination of pork with classic tomato egg was also really hearty and tasty. Would recommend for sure! All in all, we definitely look to come back. Hopefully we get better service next time! read more

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Line moves fast but the food is delicious! We waited about 20~ minutes for a late lunch. The beef shank and tendon came with a big portion! The dumplings and beef noodles soup were delicious. Both tasted authentic and I would definitely get those again. The beef roll was good but my partner wished there was more beef inside. The wrapper was delicious and crispy. The string beans had good wok hei but a good amount still were stringy. The soy milk was also a nice touch, as it's a rare find in the bay area nowadays. This place is a great bang for your buck with big portions and authentic food! read more

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Before seeing a show in San Francisco, my buddy and I dined at Li's KCN based on a recommendation of a friend. While the food is around a 4.5, I'm rounding up to a 5. On a Tuesday, we arrived a little after 5pm and there were still plenty of tables available, but they quickly filled up with diners and the restaurant was busy with take aways as well. We ordered the following: Pork Dumplings With Napa Cabbage Garlic String Beans Braised Beef Noodle Soup with extra bok choy + beef+noodles Everything was tasty and I wouldn't hesitate to order everything again. Ordering is through QRC, but if digital is not your style, our server, who was quick and efficient, said she'd take our order the old school way. Fortunately, the QRC method was easy and had pictures. Additionally, there is a Li's KCN loyalty program that you can load, but in order to get the 3% rebate, I would have had to remember to scan the card at checkout which I didn't. Extra noodles are homemade and complimentary, too. On a weeknight, parking nearby was available. The restaurant is clean and well lighted. read more

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NOODbody told me a new kid was in town. Li's Knife cut offers unlimited noodle but each person at the table has to order one bowl of noodle. .:: FOOD ::. Braised Beef Noodle with knife cut flat noodle $14.99: pretty flavorful, loved the texture of the noodle Dan Dan Noodles $13.99: dry noodles. I thought it was ok! Marinated Beef Pancake Roll $9.99: delish and easy to eat! a must order when I see it on any menu Pork with Green Chives and Shrimp Dumpling $12.99 (12pc): kinda addicting only. made perfectly. kept popping these in my mouth Garlic String Beans $13.99: stir fry veggies to keep us healthy .:: Service / Ambiance/ Parking::. We got our food pretty quickly. We spoke mandarin with them so I think it was easy to communicate and got what we wanted. Spot is a bit small but gives a really traditional vibe, I felt like I was in a very local mom and pop spot. Parking wasnt too bad, there was street parking. It was christmas and I found parking right across the street from the restaurant. read more

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Delicious!! I thought portions would be smaller but it's a very big filling bowl. I made it through about 1/3 of the pork noodles, one beef scallion pancake roll piece, and a couple dumplings. The knife cut noodles live up to being the namesake of the restaurant and I appreciate the sauces they have ready at the table (vinegar, soy, and chilis in oil, also sriracha). I see why this place is packed past 1pm on a Wednesday! Yay for leftovers! Pricing here is super fair, especially compared to San Jose prices. I'd definitely come back. read more

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My friend recommended this place and I'm glad we got to try it out! This restaurant is located near DT San Mateo in a small street with small shops. Parking is street or some free lots around. We came here on a Thursday afternoon for lunch. There was a good amount of people in the restaurant for that time of day. Luckily, we were able to be seated right away. There's a QR code menu where you order. We got the knife cut braised beef noodle soup, the pork and Napa cabbage dumplings, and the marinated beef pancake roll. Everything was so delicious! The broth of the soup was seasoned well and the beef was tender. The noodles were al dente and had a nice chew to it. The dumplings were simple and light which I appreciated! And the pancake roll had a nice crisp to it. I'd definitely come back to this place and will probably bring my parents here! read more

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We sampled a variety of dishes, including the Braised Beef Noodle Soup, Tomato Beef Chow Mein, and Lamb and Carrot Dumplings. However, the clear winner was the Beef and Potato Dry Noodles. * Beef & Potato Dry Noodles: This dish is incredibly flavorful--much more so than the noodle soup. The potatoes are the star; they are fried before being braised, giving them a slightly chewy exterior that perfectly soaks up the rich sauce. * Tomato Beef Chow Mein: This is essentially the same flavor profile as the dry noodles but without the potatoes. If you love the sauce but aren't a fan of spuds, this is the one for you. * Lamb & Carrot Dumplings: These were excellent. The filling is juicy with a subtle sweetness from the carrots, all encased in a wrapper that is perfectly firm and chewy. Braised beef noodle soup: Nothing too special about this. * Free Refills: If you're a big eater, you're in luck! They offer free noodle refills on both the noodle soups and the dry noodle dishes. You definitely won't leave hungry. * The Wait: The space is quite cozy and fills up fast. If you're visiting on a weekend or during the lunch/dinner rush, expect a 20-40 minute wait. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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The name of the restaurant caught my eye a few months ago, and I finally made it back on a Saturday. It's a cozy space with fewer than 15 tables, so we waited about 30 minutes for a party of two. Ordering is convenient via a QR code. We tried the beef noodles, dumplings, and beef pancake. The noodle soup was a bit too oily for my personal taste. I wish there were a clear broth option. The pork with Napa dumplings were excellent and reminded me of my favourite dumpling place in San Bruno/Sunset. The beef pancake had good flavor but it was also a bit on the greasier side. Overall, it was a good experience and I'll potentially come back. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - Braised Beef Noodle Soup - regular round noodle - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I took out on this rainy NYE. I should have stayed as the staff was friendly and welcoming. I expected there to be a line like yesterday in this bright and shiny restaurant, but they were mainly filling take out orders. The food was plentiful, tasty, chewy and definitely hit the spot. I especially loved the 9 peppercorns with so much floral spice I could chew on those nightly! Happy New Year to you all!! read more

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The store is relatively small, might have to wait a little during rush hours. It could be a long wait for a large group. We wanted to try this place mainly because of the free noodle refills. One free refill per bowl of noodles per person, which is perfect for noodles lovers. QR code on the table, you scan and order. Services were pretty fast. Decent beef noodle soup and flavorful broth with good amount of beef chunks. The skins of the dumplings are a little on the thick end. We have also tried the beef pancake rolls. Overall, pretty good experience. read more

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Food: 5.0 | Service: 4.75 | Ambiance: 4.75 LI'S KNIFE CUT NOODLE, opened a second location in San Mateo from their original location in Berkeley. Went for a quick dinner and LKCN's a brightly lit but small space filled with diners who are there to slurp their noodles down and run. So turnover is pretty good even with a wait. There's a kiosk to get on a waiting list but I got seated right away since I was solo. You can order via QR code or waitstaff. Waitstaff is nice, fast and efficient. Ordered: A02. CUCUMBER SALAD, smashed w/garlic. A must order if you like garlic like I do! C03. PORK POTSTICKERS, freshly made potstickers. What more can be said! Really meaty and juicy - it squirted juice across the table. Ooops! Fine alone but did add a dash of black vinegar to up the umami. There's also house-made chili crisp but the vinegar was perfect for me. E01. BRAISED BEEF NOODLE SOUP, arrived piping hot in a big bowl of braised beef cubes, knife-cut noodles, broth, garnished with bok choy. Did not add any condiments to the bowl and it did not need it. While the big bowl was a bit intimating, happily slurped my way through to almost the last drop! There are a few operational issues to be ironed out. Though it doesn't affect diners but you could see duplicate dishes showing up at tables that had the dish already. I ordered by QR code but the wait staff didn't realize it until he looked at his tablet and confirmed it for me. I do appreciate the waitstaff checking in during the evening. With most QR code ordering you don't necessarily receive the customer care. So I really like this latter point. Cannot wait for a return visit to try SPICY BEEF TENDON, DUMPLINGS, MARINATED BEEF PANCAKE ROLL, GARLIC STRING BEANS or PEA SHOOTS, SALT & PEPPER TOFU, SPICY PORK INTESTINE NOODLE SOUP, TOMATO BEEF CHOW MEIN and more! LI'S KNIFE CUT NOODLE is a nice find for a good, clean, fresh made meal, and has found its way into my regular rotation when in the area. See you there! read more

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Tried Li's Knife Cut Noodle for the first time and really enjoyed it! My girlfriends and I visited on a Tuesday night around 6:30pm and there were a few tables open but it was still fairly busy. It's a cozy spot, with tables placed close together to maximize seating. Once seated, you scan a QR code to view the menu and place your order. I got the beef noodle soup, while my friends ordered the lamb noodle soup and the dan dan noodles, all with knife-cut noodles. We also shared an order of pig's ear. The broth was flavorful and then beef was tender, but the highlight was definitely the noodles! Perfectly chewy and al dente. I also stole some of my friends dan dan noodles, which was a nice change of pace from the soup. The sauce was nutty and creamy! The portions are generous but I forced myself to finish my bowl, so I could get a noodle refill. The refill was also a very generous portion. The pig's ear was tasty as well, though a bit heavy on the cilantro for my preference. The staff was prompt and brought us take our boxes and also the bill. Looking forward to coming back when I'm craving a big bowl of beef noodle soup! read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - E01. Braised Beef Noodle Soup E01. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Had a very filling lunch here! We didn't have a reservation, but I don't think you really need one. We arrived at 11:15 though so it was pretty empty and had started getting busy around 11:45. There's a good amount of tables available, and I would definitely say this is more of a casual spot. They gave us water but they also had hot tea available. You order by scanning a QR code and that sends your order to the kitchen which is neat. I ordered the braised beef noodle soup with regular round noodles and a marinated egg. We also got the chive and egg pancakes which were not bad but a bit flimsy to hold. The portion of the noodle soup was huge!!! I couldn't finish it, but it was delicious. When you're ready to pay, you can indicate it on you phone and then a server will come to take your payment. Pretty efficient! read more

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This is one of my go-to casual dinner spots whenever I'm craving Chinese noodles. The restaurant is small, so there's usually a short wait after checking in at the kiosk. That said, the turnover is fairly quick, and the wait is never too long. There's plenty of street parking nearby, and it also seems to be a popular spot for solo diners grabbing a quick, satisfying meal. The service is consistently efficient and friendly. For two people, we usually order one appetizer and two noodle dishes. They offer free noodle refills, so you're guaranteed to leave full. Excellent value for money considering both the portion sizes and food quality. I've tried many dishes on the menu and honestly, you can't go wrong. My personal favorite is E01, the braised beef noodle soup with knife-cut flat noodles. The noodles are perfectly chewy, and the broth is rich and flavorful. Exactly what you'd expect. Highly recommend! read more

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I was at Hillsdale Mall and was looking for something to eat nearby when I found this restaurant on Yelp. It was only few minutes drive from Hilldale. Outside the restaurant, there's 2 hr street parking, but it can get crowded during lunch and dinner time. Once, seating inside the resturant, you scan a QR code to order online. The food came pretty quickly once ordered. Personally, I really like their noodles. However, their spiciness is not that spicy, their mala isn't mala either. I wish they can add more spicy and mala. Overall, their non spicy noodles are good though. Would come back. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - A12. Spicy Beef Tendon A12. E01. Braised Beef Noodle Soup E01. E06. Mala Beef Potato Noodles. E06. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

Small restaurant with probably around 10 tables, mostly 2- and 4-tops, so it does fill up quickly. It is a popular spot and there is often a line, but the staff is efficient and the wait usually moves faster than expected. The food is consistently great. My go-tos are the Dan Dan noodles, chili oil noodles, spicy wontons, salt and pepper tofu, and chow mein noodles. If you are with a group, the beef noodle soup is almost always a crowd favorite. Always get the knife-cut flat noodles. They have the perfect bouncy texture and really make the dish. One nice touch is that if you finish your noodles and want more, they will give you a small bowl to top it off. Overall, well worth the wait for excellent noodles and efficient service. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A little spot in South San Mateo that has become quite popular. There is a waitlist and servers will seat you according to the number of people in your party. The wait can get long especially since it's a little shop with small tables so think twice about bringing a group. The food was delicious and came out fairly quick. The braised beef noodle soup was a highlight with a delicious broth and tender pork. The Dan Dan noodle was numbing with a big kick of sesame and chili. Definitely a hit with the spice lovers. We got wide noodles for both and the noodles are chewy with a good bite. The appetizers all around look tasty. We ordered chili beef tendon and marinated beef app and love the taste with all the extra cilantro but liked the tendon a bit more. Overall, Very satisfying and warming for the colder months. read more

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I visited this family-owned restaurant known for its specialty in knife-cut noodles. The menu offers a well-rounded selection typical of this style of cuisine, featuring freshly made knife-cut noodles, handmade round noodles, potato starch noodles, handmade dumplings, and a variety of appetizers. During my visit, I tried the Marinated Beef Pancake Roll, Pork & Napa Cabbage Boiled Dumplings, Braised Beef Noodle Soup, and Tomato Egg & Spicy Stir-Fried Pork Noodles. Each dish was thoroughly enjoyable, showcasing well-balanced flavors and served at an ideal temperature. I highly recommend this restaurant and look forward to returning to try more dishes. read more

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The weather has been so cold this week! We were craving for something soupy and warm. Everything here was delicious! We were blown away by the Mala Beef Potato Noodles! We did not expect it to taste that good! None of the dishes disappointed us! We saw a sign on the window saying free refills so we asked about it. Unfortunately we did not get free refills because we ordered a bunch of dishes to share but if you order your own bowl of noodles and are not full from it, they give you extra noodles! Service was great! read more

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The Braised Beef Noodle soup was delicious. The beef is so tender. The knife cut noodles cooked perfectly. The Potsticker and Garlic string beans were awesome. The marinated beef pancake roll was satisfying. The place itself is small and tight. Ample street parking available. Service was good and fast. read more

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My wife and I were looking for a dinner opportunity on our way to San Francisco. We found it in this compact restaurant in San Mateo that is a nicely put together and modern take on a Chinese noodle shop. To start with, it is clean, well lighted and the signage outside clearly identifies it as the place we were going to. There is a check in kiosk at the entrance if there is a wait. We didn't have to use it because we got there early (~5pm) but by the time we finished we noted that customers were all needing to use the iPad/kiosk to save their place in the seating queue. On to the food: 1. Pork dumplings. Excellent and a change from our normal XLB type dumplings. These are an entirely different thing. I am not an expert on food origins, but these are not soup filled. They are meat and other stuff filled with a tender skin and steamed. There are simple but good condiments at the table (soy, vinegar, chile oil, sriracha). All of the condiments have some claim of being special to the house. We both went through these pretty quickly! 2. Garlic stir fried green beans. Excellent flavor. The strings are not taken out of the beans, but we didn't mind. Excellent flavor. They add chiles and lots of garlic crisps. Really, really liked these - no leftovers. 3. Beef noodle soup with the knife cut signature noodles. That is not what it is called on the menu, but it is what it is. The big bowl of soup was more than enough for the two of us and more. We had ordered the extra noodles at the beginning, but ended up taking a container home with a lot of them due to the serving size being pretty great. The taste and texture was great and we probably over-ate a bit. You order via your phone and a QR code here. You can look at a paper menu too, but the actual ordering is easiest using the electronic way. The staff speaks English, but clearly as a second language. If you do the QR code ordering you end up with food at your table in about five minutes. Excellent! I really like the efficiency. Nobody jawing around for minutes while they don't move the overall ball forward. Just a stream of food coming out. Excellent place and we will be back! read more

Great option in San Mateo for hand cut noodles! Stopped by here for lunch on a Saturday, and was able to grab a table before it filled up. Highlight of the trip was the extra tender beef was in the beef noodle soup! Soup flavor was on the lighter side, but solid. Hand cut noodles were solid too. The green onion pancake was reasonable, but nothing that amazed me. Service was reasonable and polite, and ordering is all done through their mobile app. Place is on the smaller side, and is great for a quick bite, or if your craving some casual asian food. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - E01. Braised Beef Noodle Soup E01. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

We've tried this place several times with friends and it's always busy. There isn't a lot of seating for how popular it is so busy times the wait was easily 30-45 minutes. My favorites are the string beans, potato noodle with beef/pork, and the beef pancake roll. The beef noodle soup is also good but not as good as like Ox Noodle. The bonus is you can get extra noodles for each bowl as long as each person orders a bowl. read more

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Very homey and traditional feeling eating at this restaurant . Came over here quickly after seeing it on TikTok and it definitely did not disappoint. Foods cheap, quite big portions, and very detailed service. Mom ordered a braised beef noodle but a different protein arrived when we got the food. We didn't even notice but the waiter who bought it out noticed right away and offered us a bowl of beef as an apology for the mistake. Fast service and great food, killer combination! Will definitely come again. Oh and their noodles? read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - D03. Salt & Pepper Tofu D03. H02. I02. Chicken Fried Rice I02. Pork Dumplings With Napa Cabbage(50) 50 - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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If you are in the area and looking for some authentic Chinese food, definitely come here. From the 牛肉卷饼 to the 红烧牛肉面, everything was delicious. The best thing about this place is that the noodles are hand pulled and hand cut. It is a style of noodle making that is very traditional. The texture as perfect and the noodle to meat ratio was perfect. I think it is not that easy to find good handmade noodles in the Bay Area and this place definitely does a great job. The dumplings were to die for also, we ordered the beef w/onions dumpling and it was juicy. If you are looking to bring some home, they have a great deal on the premade frozen dumplings. Check this place out, service was mediocre, but it is not a fine wine and dine establishment so didn't expect much. Recommend this place!! 8/10 my recommendation scale. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - A10. Spicy Pig Ear A10.A03. Shredded Potato Salad A03.C07. Beef Pancake (2) C07. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Hand cut noodles + the most flavorful broth? A whole load of yummy dumplings? Yes to all! The noodles were great, the broth so hearty! I tasted a little of the beef broth, so so great! The dumplings were amazing as well. We tried a few different ones, with chicken, pork, shrimp and veggies. I particularly loved the shrimp dumplings. But, the garlic string beans were the star of my meal! So yum, crunchy, and garlicky. You must try them and thank me later :) It's a small restaurant, and can get crowded at lunch time. But oh so worth it. read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - Garlic String Beans - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California

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A nice option in San Mateo for casual Chinese food if you're in the neighborhood. I wouldn't go out of my way for it, but the food is tasty enough. My friend and I came on a Wednesday around 7pm and the restaurant was half empty. Ordering is done via QR codes and the staff is efficient but not engaging. We shared: Chinese burger - I enjoyed this as the pork belly is juicy but also quite greasy as there was a pool of oil on the bottom of the bowl. A bit too rich for one person to eat alone Lotus root salad - refreshing side dish Tomato egg and spicy stir fried pork noodle - this was my least favorite of the 3 dishes we got. There was a lot of overcooked egg and fatty pork but barely any tomato. The dish was lacking depth of flavor and the noodles were a bit softer than I'd expected given the name of the place and other Yelp reviews. read more

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This hidden gem on San Mateo's condensed 25th Ave is one of the only noodle places in the bay that'll supply you with free noodle refills (one per person) - handmade fresh daily! They reside in a very small and cramped abode suitable for smaller parties, much like the cramped street (difficult to find parking in during popular hours), and replaced the luosifen (snail rice noodles) tenants, which I saw coming since that catered to a very particular taste. Also love how they have a competitor literally next door, in the form of mifen. Li's Knife Cut Noodle serves a few types of Chinese noodles - knife cut, round, and potato, either in soup, dry, or stir fried form. They also serve random Northern Chinese appetizers as well as dim sum, handmade dumplings, rice and mains - all at very reasonable prices. They use an on-site Yelp waitlist if it's crowded, which is random since the seating is limited; I've typically been able to walk in, since the area is still not too known to non-locals. There's always at least a few other tables of native Chinese diners, and the themed and modernized interior somewhat makes you feel like you're eating in China! I love the cute mini tea cups they provide for water, and their water is deliciously cold! All ordering is done via QR code on each table, so feel free to order as soon as you sit down. - Cucumber with Black Fungus Loaded with garlic, ultra fresh, fragrant sesame oil, and well marinated. It tastes like they made it fresh there as well, and they give you a hearty bowl of both sliced cucumbers and huge pieces of black fungus mushroom. - Chinese Burger Fresh cilantro and juicy pork morsels between grilled sturdy bread that reminded me of a cross between baos and English muffin. One of the favorites I've had since it tasted so fresh and moist. - Braised Beef Noodle Soup Their popular standard. The broth is very meaty and savory, though on the oily side. It comes with cute little fresh and crisp bok choy and tons of beef pieces. The knife cut flat noodles (you can choose knife cut or round) are bouncy and chewy, and one of my friends had to take some leftovers home even without her refill! I do wish this came with a spicy version, but it doesn't really matter since this is one of the better beef noodle soups in the bay. - Lamb Potato Noodles Very clean, subtly savory and soothing, with surprisingly no gamey flavor from the tender lamb. Everything tastes soul nourishing, light, and healthy, especially with the freshly chopped herbs on top. The random strands of fresh seaweed add random texture surprises, and the potato noodles were super slippery, slurpy, and light. The potato noodles are similar to the ones used in japchae and hotpot, except theirs is extremely airy and very easy to swallow - almost like thick rice noodles but made with potato. If you wanted to utilize the free noodle refill without getting full, these are the easier noodles to do it on, since it's easy to get full off the other types. The hard boiled egg included was sulfuric overcooked, so just extra protein. - Mala Beef Potato Noodles The super spicy version of the braised beef noodle soup! I would not recommend this unless you're super into mala flavor or pretty spicy food, because this made me sweat. I really enjoyed it, and it's great for mala weather days - love the random slice of potato. I think the potato noodles in this broth made it easier to eat, since I didn't have to chew through the heat as much. Definitely have my eye on trying a few of their other flavors, as this is a great repeatable restaurant. I actually find it hard to be hungrier for a noodle refill, but when I did request one, I even had the option to choose a different noodle type for the refill serving (which is a smaller portion - a little over half of the original amount you get, but still generous nonetheless). If you see photos of the smaller square appetizer plates, that's the amount of noodles you'll get served for a refill. There's a lot of Asian places in San Mateo but this is one of the best - especially if you want quick, casual, and practical Chinese noodles. read more

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We came on a Saturday afternoon and there was a fairly long wait. We just joined the Yelp WL and walked around, so it was fine! And the wait was soooo worth it!! Inside is so cute, warmly lit, decorated well, and just spacious enough. They fit multiple tables inside which is impressive. The three of us shared two noodle dishes and two appetizers, and it was all more than enough. First the apps: The marinated beef and tendon is SO GOOD (it has some raw onions and is just so flavorful and the perfect texture)! Beef pancake roll was also 10/10. Loaded but not too much so it was easy to eat. Flavor and components were great. On to the noodles: Wow the lamb noodles were so good. Soup was clear, but flavorful and gamey (my favorite). Lamb was tender and there was plenty in the dish. Tomato egg was great too (I did wish it was a bit more tomato-ey and maybe sweeter). Adding the braised beef on the side was the right move! And the knife cut noodles in both were the perfect texture!! I WILL BE BACK TO TRY MORE DISHES!! read more

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I don't need to say much about this place as it is already known and popular. The noodles (hand cut) are really good. The dumplings are really good. The beef roll pancake = yum. Service is good. Place is small hence the waiting but worth the wait and they get people in and out at a steady pace. This place is very good. Gone twice left happy twice. Give it a try. read more

Decent little spot! I've been on the hunt for a good knife cut noodle spot in SF/peninsula. (My favorite is actually in Vegas but I haven't found one here that compares). It is small so sometimes you'll have to wait for awhile. You scan and order from QR code. I wanted to try the fried chicken wings but didn't know what to expect as there were no pictures and no other Yelpers had ordered. Well, I gave it a try and liked it. Nothing fancy, would have been better with a dipping sauce or salt pepper style. The QR code ordering system did show the wings with sauce so I'm not sure if they forgot to give it to us. We ordered a chow mein and the braised beef noodles soup for our noodle dishes. The soup is a bit oily and can use some more flavor. The chow mein was decent. The potstickers were homemade and yummy. I felt all my food there needed sauce in my opinion. It's nice that you can order a free noodle refill too. Definitely will come back to satisfy my knife cut cravings but if definitely not my favorite spot. They do have a lot of variety on the menu! read more

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I've been here a couple times and also ordered takeout. The kids love the dumplings and the spicy noodle dishes are very satisfying for the adults. Get there early to get on their waitlist. Staff was helpful and friendly. read more

Excellent thick homemade style knife-cut noodles served in broth or as chow mein. No nonsense vibe here - just a clean, brightly lit place to enjoy your food. Inside, you'll find lots of bright cheery signage above three rows of tables in this tiny storefront establishment. Step on in, and enter your name on the Yelp-operated waitlist, especially if it was anywhere nearly as packed as we saw it on a recent Friday evening. Once seated, scan the QR menu, and order right from your smartphone. We chose the following: Onion Pancake - Loads of green onions unlike most. Thin skin with a golden char - served piping hot. On point, but I prefer a slightly thicker doughier skin. To be fair, the world of onion pancakes are is just like the universe of different pizza styles, where there are nearly infinite ways of preparing this dish. Still very good. (8.5/10) Pork and Chive Steamed Dumplings - thick tender doughy skin, lots of filling inside - totally on point 9.5/10. Chicken Chow Mein - Chow mein, but using knife cut noodles, served with small bits of chicken and shredded carrots. Needs more chicken! Great chew on the noodles and good wok aroma. (8.5/10) Popcorn chicken - thickish featureless smooth batter, a bit too chewy. flavor is nothing special either. (3/10) Pork Burger - Think of a big toasted english muffin absolutely stuffed with shredded pork and cilantro , pan toasted - TONS of shredded pork. You won't go hungry here. (8/10) Verdict: A great casual place for knife cut noodles, steamed dumplings and onion pancake. Just skip the popcorn chicken. Gosh.. I'll need to squeeze this place into my regular rotation too! read more

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I was craving knife cut noodles and this spot was nearby so here I am. I ordered their signature braised beef noodle soup. The noodles were chewy and the portion sizes were nice. The restaurant is kinda small and tends to get packed pretty quickly. Thankfully, I came before it got too crowded. Try it out if you like. :) read more

Li's Knife Cut Noodle - E01. Braised Beef Noodle Soup E01. - Noodles Near Me - San Mateo, California