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    Mandarin Noodle House

    3.8 (73 reviews)

    Mandarin Noodle House Photos

    MANDARIN NOODLE HOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Andrew H.

    We stopped here for our first meal of our Des Moines weekend trip and were really blown away by Mandarin Noodle House. We did not assume we would be eating any Asian Fusion while in Des Moines, let alone actual Japanese dishes you cannot find at most Asian restaurants. We arrived on a Friday evening about an hour before close and there were just a couple other people dining in at this time. Our waitress was very friendly and sat us right away. The menu was not huge but had a wide variety of options, not just Americanized Chinese food dishes. They had authentic Korean and Japanese dishes!! They also have daily specials which are up on a whiteboard near the middle of the restaurant. So we ordered: Crab Rangoon, takoyaki, beef bulgogi, and a vegetable tempura bento box. Crab Rangoon: fried perfectly and had a nice crab/cheese mixture Takoyaki: Not as good as the real thing from Japan, but considering we are in the middle of the United States, these definitely were good enough! Sadly no Benito flakes but everything else was there and it tasted like it should. Bulgogi: The marinade was ok, could have been marinated longer or at least given more of the marinade. The fresh vegetables and steamed rice were perfect. Bento Box: The eel was actually really well done and better than a lot I've had (very mild). And the vegetable tempura was also fried perfectly in a very delicious batter. Overall, we absolutely loved our dinner and left uncomfortably stuffed. The food was really well done considering they do a variety of different Asian countries cuisines. Nothing was perfect or the best I've had, but everything was very good and we had no complaints. We definitely will come back here if we are in the area again. Lastly, the décor inside the restaurant is wonderful to with a lot of different art pieces scattered throughout the restaurant. I still would have never guessed I would have ate takoyaki in Iowa - and really enjoyed it!

    Kalbi Bento
    Vivian T.

    I'm thoroughly impressed with this place! It has authentic Korean dishes that I've been looking for around here! They also serve Chinese and Japanese dishes. The atmosphere is quiet and quaint. The service was great! Got there around 6:50pm and left by 7:30pm. Food came out promptly. Everything we tried was good or delicious! Make sure to ask for the authentic foods menu. The Food: -Crab Rangoon is not sweet. More on the savory side. Kids liked it -Kalbi Bento was pretty good. Not as flavorful as I'm used to but it was still good. Would definitely get again. Tempura in box was delicious! -Bibimbap I would skip and just get the Bulgogi meal. It was definitely lacking meat but it wasn't bad! It tasted good, just not worth the price. Get the Bulgogi meal or bento instead -Yushang Eggplant with pork was a little more on the vinegary side than I'm used to but it was still cooked thoroughly and good -Hot and Spicy Chicken had more of a Korean influence in the dish and to me it wasnt spicy but it was good -Kung Pao Beef was good! No complaints -Sesame Chicken was good according to my oldest son All-in-all, we are looking forward to our next meal here! Can't wait to try the other items they have!

    Seafood Delight - mussels, calamari, shrimp, sea scallops

    Good, service, cleanliness, and ambiance exceeded our expectations! We started with Combo Tempura Veg and Shrimp, which came with a slightly sweet mustard and ponzu sauce. We were expecting panko, but it was thicker.... Very tasty fresh (not limp) squash, mushrooms, peppers, shrimp -good size. I had the Seafood Delight: shrimp, scallops, calamari with vegetables and rice. All was super fresh and delicious; large scallops, long calamari pieces, and plenty shrimp. He had Szechuan Chicken with vegetables. Service was very fast... we will stop again

    Exterior restaurant
    Jerri L.

    We ordered take out one night in support of local family run small businesses during the pandemic. I saw they had good reviews, were nearby and had a decent selection of Chinese. We ordered egg rolls, hot and sour soup, orange chicken, and seafood delight. Our ordered was to be ready in only 15 minutes but with the lower volume of customers this was not surprising. We arrived and went in to pay and received our ready to go order. The bill came to just around $30 which is very reasonable for the order of two entrees (one being seafood) and two sides/appetizers. The egg rolls were absolutely the way I prefer them - not soggy but very crispy with deliciously crisp vegetables inside! They came with 2 in the order, are vegetarian and served with sweet and sour on the side. The hot and sour soup was also delicious. It was a slightly sour broth with just a little spice and had grated bamboo and pork. I could have made a meal of this and the egg rolls! The orange chicken was marked as spicy and my husband is not a fan of heat, but lives orange chicken typically. The dish came with breaded chicken, vegetables and sliced oranges in a slightly spicy red chili pepper sauce. A side of rice also came with the entrees and brown rice could be ordered for a little extra. The dish itself was very good and he enjoyed it as long as he did not bite into the red chili peppers... they packed a punch and the heat did not go away. The seafood delight was a dish of shrimp, scallops, mussels and vegetables in a mild sauce. I was surprised by the mussels as the menu said calamari and the two are very different, and I prefer calamari but am not opposed to the mussels. Also with a side of rice, the portion was perfect and I always enjoy seafood. This small Chinese restaurant is in a strip mall on Northpark and is owned and operated by a family who have been in the business for a number of years in Beaverdale, Clive and most recently moved to this Johnston location.

    The menu
    Jason M.

    My wife and I ate here for a dinner date in October. I admit I had my misgivings from the outside, it's in a strip mall and there isn't much to go by outside. Don't let the looks fool you, this is a great spot. The food is very fresh and there is a wide menu selection - a little bit of every kind of asian food you can imagine. Ramen, Korean, and Chinese. No sushi, but there are plenty of great choices. They have adult beverages and a nice selection of appetizers. The ambiance is nice and open, but doesn't feel like a cafeteria, it was really comfortable. Our waitress was really prompt and friendly as well. After talking to some other people who have eaten here, I hear the lunch is really good and fast (same with carryout). I liked the whole experience here, and we took leftovers home and they were great the next day. If I had any ideas for improvement I would say the dishes were a little bland, but maybe that's just because they weren't smothered in soy or msg:) We would definitely eat here again.

    schezuan chicken

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    2 years ago

    We did carry out and it was just okay. The sweet and sour chicken and calamari were soggy.

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    2 years ago

    My favorite place to get Szechuan chicken, a nice balance of vegetables, chicken, and spice!

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    2 years ago

    We got take out for the first time here. The food was very good. Will definitely come here again.

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    2 years ago

    Excellent food and service! Nice local owned restaurant. Nice place to hang out with families and friends.

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    2 years ago

    I went there 20 minutes until 2 pm and got rushed out. The miso soup was cold. How was I supposed to know they were closing at 2 PM?

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    3 years ago

    Always good. Owners and staff are nice and attentive. We do carry out a lot and lunch in store. Good either way

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    5 years ago

    I'll go back simply for the fried tofu. Most of the dishes I've tried are exactly as you'd expect but that appetizer sparks a craving in me.

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - Mandarin Noodle House

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    Roots95

    Roots95

    3.9
    (35 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    I ate there today with a friend, and our server was excellent and I want to make sure she knows…read morethat. However, the music is very, very loud, it is hard to converse because of it. I had asked her twice if they could turn the music down, which she did ask the guy behind the bar, I don't know if he was a bartender or a cook, but I heard him say what do they want, I've turned it down four times. Well, yes, I did overhear that I was sitting very clause to the bar. It was very rude of him, and I had been very kind and requested that the music be turned down some. The food was pretty good, I had the fig and creamy goat cheese flatbread. Overall, it might be a very good place for other people, rudeness is not acceptable.

    4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 5* Value: 4*…read more Service: 4* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $42 08/01/2025 We have stopped here at least one other time but for some reason, I don't have a review documented...so getting it done this time. While a bit of a hidden gem off of 86th Street, the building is modern, chic and inviting - with a large covered patio area connected to the north side of the building. The one negative is that the temperature is kept very cold inside, so consider bringing a sweater or light jacket to stay comfortable. Unfortunately, tonight was a bit cold outside, so it was a coinflip on which was better - we opted for the patio seating and the wind settled down during our visit to get quite comfortable. We started with a Cuban Martini and Sojito (see picture) along with an order of Bang Bang Shrimp (see picture) for an appetizer. We enjoyed the drinks and the Bang Bang Shrimp with the drizzled Yum Yum-type sauce was delicious! For our main courses, my wife ordered the Thai Pasta (see picture) and I opted for the Fig, Avocado and Goat Cheese Salad (see picture). As is our custom, we both shared bites from each of our plates and liked both of them very much - although the Thai Pasta definitely had a bit more 'kick'. We ordered the Tres Leches for dessert (remembering it from our last visit), but unfortunately found that they were sold out, so had to leave without dessert. If you are looking for a modern, unique, Asian fusion type restaurant in the Johnston area, Roots 95 won't disappoint. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

    Photos
    Roots95
    Their roasted brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious!
    Their roasted brussels sprouts were absolutely delicious!
    Thai Pasta

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    Thai Pasta
    Wasabi Urbandale

    Wasabi Urbandale

    4.1
    (12 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I give 5-sushi rolls to Wasabi-Chi (you like what I did there?!) I order from this restaurant at…read moreleast once a week, and it is consistently delicious every time. I also dine-in occasionally and I love their cocktails and neon lights... especially during happy hour! Although the restaurant is never busy, this is not an indicator of the quality of food or drinks served. I think it's just in a bad location. More people should try this hidden gem of a place. The sushi is top-grade and it's a perfect place for a date night! (... with the most beautiful sunsets.)

    It was really weird going in here as I was a big fan of the original Irina's that used to occupy…read morethis space... And a big fan of Wasabi Chi...which Wasabi Urbandale effectively replaced. Staff was friendly as is usual with most of the Wasabi locations. I feel like a recognized a couple people from Wasabi Chi. We were greeted right away as we walked in. I went with a friend and my daughter, We ordered a few rolls, drinks, and dumplings. Everything was good as far as the food and the service, but I felt out of place as I found myself reminiscing about the businesses Wasabi Urbandale has taken the place of... The many meals I'd had at the horseshoe bar in Irina's...which is now gone. The special moments shared with friends at Wasabi Chi in my past. I got the feeling of being in any other Wasabi here. It's almost a cookie cutter of Ankeny, Johnston, Waukee... Not that there is anything wrong with that. Wasabi offers consistently good food and service at all it's locations. I just found myself missing an emotional connection that I wanted to feel this time.

    Photos
    Bar
    Bar
    Brussel Sprout
    Brussel Sprout
    Pork Dumplings

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    Pork Dumplings
    Vietopia Asian Fusion

    Vietopia Asian Fusion

    4.7
    (43 reviews)
    6.6 mi

    Tried Vietopia (carryout), and overall...we left a little confused…read more The wings were honestly the highlight--really, really good. Didn't get much "lemon pepper," but still super flavorful. Potstickers were just okay. The dipping sauce didn't do them any favors--this felt like an easy upgrade they're missing. Imperial Egg Rolls were the biggest letdown. At $17 for three, I expected something memorable...they just weren't. Pad Thai landed squarely in "average." Grilled Honey Roast Chicken Egg Noodles was a mixed bag. The chicken itself was delicious, but the noodles were pretty bland--and oddly, they didn't really work together. Royal Fried Rice was a win. The combo of BBQ pork, sweet sausage, and shrimp came together really well. Seafood Noodle dish was unfortunately pretty bland. All in all, a few bright spots, but not a place we're rushing back to--though I'd reorder those wings without hesitation.

    If you are looking for a unique experience to try a different style of vegetarian pho with tofu…read morethen Vietopia of E. P. true near Jordan Creek is the place. The entrees are well portioned. My favorite style of Pho is Soft meats. The tenderloin is too chewy but flavorful. The soft poached egg and the fresh veggies are phenomenal. The service is great with the wait staff being very attentive. However they were out of Mocktail offerings which is not good when more gatherings are opting for non alcoholic flavors. They need to stock up for millennials and the genzeers who want options. The total vibe was very peaceful and it allowed you to sit and think.

    Photos
    Vietopia Asian Fusion
    House phone special , pretty good
    House phone special , pretty good
    Vietopia Asian Fusion

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    Mandarin Noodle House - chinese - Updated July 2026

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