MDM Noodles is one of my weaknesses. Every time I pass by, I think about going in; then I remind myself that I bought groceries the day before and really ought to cook them, after which I think, "I could make noodle soup at home." And then I think about MDM Noodles again. The hand-pulled noodles are chewy, fresh, and delicious. The soups are full of flavor, deeply savory, and always satisfying. They're certainly delicious, but what I love most is that the bowls actually look beautiful. My dad always said Chinese cooking has to have three things: color, aroma, and taste (色香味), in that order. First, it has to look good. Then it has to smell good. Then, for Pete's sake, it had better taste good too. MDM gets all three right (色香味俱全). The soups are arranged with real care: vegetables layered, colors balanced, everything looking fresh and inviting. I eat a lot of noodle soup around Boston, and I have had some very pale, sad, skin-toned bowls. At that point, I might as well go home, save money, and make my own. MDM is not that. Their soups taste fresh, have tons of umami, and are pure comfort food for me. Noodle soup has always felt like home because my dad used to make it on Saturdays before driving me to music lessons. His noodle soups and MDM's are totally different, but somehow I still get that same feeling when I eat here. You do not come to MDM for ambiance. One time in the summer, I honestly couldn't tell whether they were open because the lights were so low. Were they saving energy? Were they creating mystery? Unclear. The service is good, but very direct. The prices are reasonable. Not cheap, exactly, but for the quality, flavor, and number of ingredients, absolutely worth it. I always leave full, happy, and very glad I ignored the groceries waiting at home. read more

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I'm sure other dishes are good, but I was looking for good soup/noodle dishes. The taste of the broth was good, as were the green veggies, but for me the meat had a strange taste and texture to it. It was very tender but almost shriveled. I'm not asian but any means so I can't speak to the authenticity of natural quality of the old friend noodles, but it wasn't for me. Perhaps egg drop soup, scallion pancakes, or other items I'd go for. This place has a lot of good ratings so I might give it a second chance. The noodles tasted more like spaghetti was added in. I left so much food behind as a result. I more so would go for korean or japanese noodle spots from now on. read more

MDM Noodles - Old Friend Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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MDM is fantastic. Everything on their menu is delicious and I appreciate how friendly, efficient, and speedy they are. I've never stayed to eat, but the space is spacious enough with plenty of tables. My only complaint is that they're closed on Mondays, which is almost always when I want them! A few of my favorites: -Moon Pie with chives and egg filing: Super good. Crispy texture on the outside, piping hot filling on the inside. Savory, well seasoned, and very surprisingly tasty even though it looks super simple. I don't always get it, but I'm stoked every time I do. -Beef scallion hand pulled noodles: Any of their hand pulled noodles are delicious, but these are very good. Not super spicy, but has a bit of the hot oil and great umami flavor. -Scrambled egg tomato hand pulled noodles: These are THE ONE. The sweetness of the tomatoes mixed in with the savory threads of egg are chef's kiss. The noodles are the perfect texture and covered in the balanced flavors of egg and tomato. I used to shy away and complained that this dish didn't have enough protein, but the flavor easily makes up for it and you still get the filling, savory tastiness that you're looking for. Definitely a must-get. -Wonton (noodle) soup: Pretty sure their wontons are homemade. Really delicious, flavorful broth. Anytime someone in the house is sick, this is always a go-to. -Fried dumplings: Also delicious. Well fried, has a nice crust on the outside. -Beef stew noodles: Really flavorful broth with tender beef chunks. I believe the noodles that come with it are skinnier, but you can swap them out for the hand pulled noodles. Really great option/choice for hand pulled noodles! If you can't find a parking spot on the street, there's a lot behind the building (near Corrib Pub). read more

The hot pot fish fillet is a staple here. It comes out the same every single time. They make it just right and as per your spice level. The stir fried eggplant is next in line. Finally, the hot oil hand pulled noodle with some cold side dishes like the cucumber or seaweed. The staff is pretty friendly and gets you your food in time, with a set of no-frills tables and chairs. read more

Lamb hand-pulled noodles (8.5/10): These noodles are freakin' fire. I am amazed that I lived so close to this place but never knew about it until now. The lamb was super tender and flavor was spot on. Perfect amount of cumin. The sauce was bursting with flavor. The ~~noodle texture~~ omg. Holy moly. Exquisite amount of chew. Definitely better than Home Taste. Only comparing noodle dishes, I might even say it's better than Xi'an Famous Foods (in NYC but there's also a location in Boston). Simple dish, but they pull it off flawlessly. Beef Scallion hand-pulled noodles (8/10): This comes down to personal preference, but I just really like cumin lamb more. The beef was also oh-so-tender. It reminds me of the Cantonese dish beef chow/ho fun (干炒牛河). A sweeter sauce paired with the tender beef, and the same great noodles. Lamb Skewers (3/10): On the other hand, we have the lamb skewers... unfortunately, you shouldn't get these. They don't have enough cumin or any other spices. The gaminess of the lamb leaks through a bit. Really lacking in flavor and spice. Texture was a bit dry. Service was very good. Restaurant had plenty of open seating during Saturday dinner. read more

MDM Noodles - Lamb hand-pulled noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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This is such a hole in the wall, after so many years, but the food is still top-notch. Bare, no frills restaurant but they do not skimp on portions or taste. Service is efficient and to the point. Hot pot fish fillet. You will not be disappointed. The crispy fried fish, the chilli crunch on top with a side of white rice and you're set. You could get the stir fried eggplant or the hot oil hand pulled noodles as a couple more entrees and it's a hearty meal between 3-4 people. Wherever we eat here, we've rarely deviated from our favorites because these dishes are spectacular, always taste the same, and you won't get this same flavor elsewhere. Might not look like much but it is worth it, trust me. read more

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Love MDM. This little mom and pop store is legendary and I'm so glad they're still around. I've only really ever get the Egg tomato here but there was two of us so we also got some fried rice. All three dishes came out to be about $30 including tip and we still had some leftovers to take home. Considering this economy this place has become a staple. Egg tomato is always excellent. Sweet and savory with some special umami on their hand pulled flat noodles hits the spot every time. Mixing it with some fried rice is next level though. Beef fried rice is on point, even had a few crispy rice bits in there. That's how you know it's good. Scallion pancake is absolutely stuffed with scallion, egg, and chopped up glass noodle. read more

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Yummy food. Good price. Friendly staff. Clean restaurant. My party ordered the following. All recommended. The hand-pulled noodle was well made! - Guilin Rice Noodle - Beef Scallion Hand Pulled Noodle - Spicy Boiled Lamb Hand Pulled Noodle read more

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Came here while I was in the area to run an errand. Since it was my first time there, I asked the waitress for some recos and went with the lamb noodles. Super tasty and hearty, I had to take the rest home. Definitely solid noodle spot in the area. read more

The food. Especially the beef noodle and scallion dish. Then there is Jeng the guy with big smile who is always so welcoming. Merry Christmas read more

Quick service if you're in a hurry for a cheap, filling meal. I had the beef noodles since they seemed to be the most popular dish here. I thought the texture of the noodles was nice and chewy and the meat was cooked well. I only wish they were less oily and maybe had a little bit more seasoning. The lamb skewers were well seasoned and carried a strong spice taste, mostly cumin. The lamb burger was the worst dish, as the meat overcooked and the bread was on the stale side. read more

Recently came back and so glad to be back! So hard to find dedicated free parking lot in the Brighton area, so I made sure to take photos of the small alleyway (easy to miss). So others know where to turn into the back of the building and find parking. Very friendly service as always. Ambiance is very traditional Chinese. Their menu option is somewhat limited, having dumplings, hand-pulled noodles, a few stir fry dishes, with spicy dry pot options. The price actually didn't increase that much since my last visit, considering inflation. It's definitely one of the more "affordable" place to dine out these days! Good indoor air quality. The CO2 jumped up to 1,000 ppm briefly, but quickly stabilized around 600 ppm. There were some people here for dine-in, and others for takeout. Delicious and authentic food, as always! Hope to be back again soon! read more

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Used to go here all the time when I lived in Oak Square and am still making the drive from Waltham for the scrambled egg tomato, the beef scallion, and the spicy lamb hand pulled noodles. Good dumplings too. Would recommend. (Photo after we ate half the top half) read more

MDM Noodles - Scrambled Egg Tomato Hand-Pulled Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

I usually order get MDM delivered, but got to eat inside the restaurant this time. It is pretty spacious and, on a Tuesday evening, it wasnt crowded at all. Not the fanciest, but a quiet and casual place to eat in Brighton. I ordered the beef mal soup, which comes with a lot of vermicelli noodles, which I like. It isn't too spicy and is a good quick meal grab when you're craving mala in the area. My friend got spicy lamb hand pulled noodles, which she enjoyed as well. I would recommend it for people looking for a quick, casual Asian noodle place in the area! read more

MDM Noodles - Beef Mala Soup w/Vermicelli Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

MDM isn't a fancy place. They're a no frills restaurant that makes really delicious food. They have ample seating inside so there shouldn't be a huge wait. When I first came into the restaurant, I saw a lady make dumplings by hand near the kitchen so you know the dumplings are fresh. I came with my family and my parents are a tough critic so we ordered a couple different noodle dishes, dumplings, and fish. Of all the items, we loved the dumplings. They were so fresh and they were pretty big for the amount we paid for. The beef scallion hand pulled noodles were also a favorite of mine because the noodles were the perfect texture and the dish had a lot of flavors. Surprisingly, we also finished the whole pot of sichuan style fish fillet. It was a pretty large dish and the fish was incredible soft and flavorful. Overall, I would come back again if I'm in the area. There is a huge parking lot in the back of the restaurant so it makes traveling there very easy. read more

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Good value! Super yummy! Love the hand pulled noodles! Really authentic food, you don't even need to go to China! Good variety of appetizers! I love the picture menu. There is parking in the back of the building. Very friendly servers/owners! read more

We've been trying different hand-pulled noodles places recently and this place is really good! Our favorites were the liang pi and the eggplant. Liang pi texture was so good. The eggplant had great wok-flavor. We also had the spicy boiled lamb hand-pulled noodle, which wasn't very spicy but had good cumin flavor. The hand-pulled noodle texture was pretty good, though we were full by the time this dish came because it took longer than the other dishes, so maybe I wasn't able to appreciate it fully. The portion sizes and price were excellent. Service was efficient and interior is very no-frills. The dishes are served in normal bowls/plates, but you eat from paper plates using disposable chopsticks which made the place seem even more casual. I was surprised they didn't just use all normal plates or all paper plates, like why both? Anyways, we liked the food -- will def be back! read more

Was I area and in mood for hand pulled noodles. Had the beef scallion noodles and 2 side pieces of lamb kebabs. Noodles in sauce were very good flavors. The beef was a little stringy and tough eating . The lamb kebabs were good but not lamb tasting . Service was quick, served warm water vs ice water ? 1 paper napkin with fork or chip sticks. , no sauces If looking for service or ambiance, eat else where 13.95 for good portion of noodles, beef I hope wasn't intestinal beef as that is offered as a dish. read more

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Where do I even start? This is probably one of the best Chinese restaurants I've been to in Boston, which is saying a lot (because I've been to quite a few). My friends and I came by around noon on a Sunday - a decent number of tables filled, but still lots of seats available in their relatively spacious restaurant. Their speciality, it seems, are their traditional flat noodles, so we had an order of the beef scallion noodles and the spicy lamb hand-pulled noodles. Both were SO delicious - noodles perfectly chewy, the beef/lamb really juicy and in generous portions, and the respective sauces just phenomenal *chef's kiss*. Other than that, we had the sliced roast beef and an order of the beef dumplings to share. Both were really tasty, and I was pleasantly surprised with the roast beef - it was super tender and flavourful and came in a large portion size. One friend also ordered the spicy cumin lamb burger, which was pretty good, too. (They also have the DIY-type of mala spicy pot, but we weren't that interested this time - maybe on our next visit!) Price point was fantastic, especially for how much food we got - we were all full and even had some leftovers to take with us. If MDM was closer to where I lived (or slightly more convenient to get to with the T/bus), I'd honestly be here all the time. Can't wait for my next visit already! read more

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The starches here are AMAZING: chewy, glutinous, satisfying and memorable. As a restaurant experience, though, don't bother dining in, unless you would like to eat off paper plates, be served bottled water, and have appetizers arrive after the mains, even when you ask for them to come first. The scrambled eggs and pulled noodles were tasty and savory, but short of balanced: it needed scallions, and something else to cut the richness. The dried fish hot pot was fresh and lightly crispy, but there was no dipping sauce, which would've added salt and flavor. The dumplings were a good version of something you've had before. I used their sauce for the fish. If you got takeout here, you'd have a good night. read more

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Favorite Chinese in the area. Good quality and reasonable prices. The spicy Sichuan soup is to die for

SO and I came here on a weeknight with a craving for noodles. As mentioned by other reviewers, there's a parking lot in the back that seems to be shared by multiple businesses. However it was completely full when we were there. We ended up just parking in some spots directly behind the restaurant (designated as spots for MDM). The restaurant itself is very no frills. It kind of felt like we were at a dining hall. We were given bottles of water and disposable plates and utensils (and yes the water was still free!). Food took maybe 10 to 15 minutes to come out. We got the following: Eggplant - came out HOT! As in temperature. It was very tasty and clearly was cooked to order in a hot wok. Would recommend. Note that this is not yu xiang qiezi but rather just sautéed eggplant with sauce. Beef scallion noodle - got this as it seemed to be one of their most popular dishes. I think it was decent. The flavor was good but the noodle texture was a bit soggy, I think from the sauce. Spicy boiled lamb hand pulled noodle - also a bit underwhelming. It wasn't that spicy. However the noodle texture was much better in this dish so out of the two, I preferred this one. Pork cabbage dumplings - I almost wonder if they gave us beef by accident because they didn't taste like pork lol. Aside from that, these were also super greasy, like a soup dumpling but instead of soup it was oil. Tbh we still finished all the food and I think there's potential for this place. I read a lot of positive reviews for the Mala pots so I'd try those next. Maybe soup noodles would be better than their dry noodles too. read more

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This place is fresh and local to the Brighton Allston area. It's tucked away so don't blink...you'll miss it. I was a fan of their food but I wish I got what some of the experts ate. One guy was slurping his noodles so loud that others took notice. That's how good it is. read more

MDM Noodles - Beef Scallion Hand-Pulled Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Authentic Chinese noodles like those your best auntie or mom made, the lady and the chef are super extremely nice, warm my heart in this freezing day, making me missing my oversea family. I live very far from this restaurant or I will go there just for a delicious home made dumplings everyday read more

MDM is definitely my go-to restaurant in the Brighton area, and always hits the spot when I'm craving something savory. I got the Beef Scallion Hand Pulled Noodles the first time I came, and have only ordered that ever since. The service is quick and the food always comes out fresh. read more

MDM Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

We enjoyed our time at this small, seemingly family owned, restaurant. The noodles are hand pulled and the dumplings are hand-made. Rich and flavorful with generous portions. We definitely could've split one entree but our eyes got the best of us. read more

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Been looking for some hand pulled noodles. I had the hand pulled noodles with chilli oils and veggies along with filet of fish dry roasted with chili's. The noodle was exactly as I hoped, firm texture with a nice bite. Chili oil was mild, not too spicy. The chili fish was perfect. Perfectly done with a light crust with medium spiciness. This place is nothing fancy, tables for about 20-30. Clean and operated by people that care about their craft! read more

MDM Noodles - Filet of fish roasted with dry chilis. Hand pulled noodles with chili oil and fresh veggies - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

My whole family *loves* this place (especially my mom and my grandma... who come here at least once a week) Some family favorites: Spicy Chicken for Two Spicy Boiled Lamb Hand Pulled Noodle Luo Si Noodle Fish Filet with Tomato Sauce (grandma's favorite) BBQ Lamb Kabob Straightforward menu with dishes bursting with flavor and fresh ingredients. Staff are friendly, accommodating, and always happy to help. Have been here many many times and will be back many more times in the future!! read more

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this establishment continues to be a staple in my diet through thick and thin .... noodles.... sometimes the quality is better than others... but overall it's a good joint for noodles of all sorts. read more

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I tried out take outs from here before and last weekend I had a great indoor dining experience here. To be honest the food was decent enough I've definitely had better noodles, however the great location and service really made this a great location to try some great Chinese noodles. First the foods, I thought the pork burger lacked a bit of spice, the noodles are definitely top notch and I really appreciate the chili oil sauce on top of it. However, I thought the Scallion Beef didn't really go that well with it, feels like two separate dishes combined in one bowl. Aside from those everything else was great. I really enjoyed their friendly service and quite spacious dining area. There's actually parking spaces in the back just for MDM as well. I'd highly recommended their noodle menus as it's really their main strength. read more

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I came here for the first time because Lanzhou was closed, and I'm definitely glad I did! We tried a wide variety of their offerings. Crispy fish fillet - this was delicious and everything I wanted. Tender fish, crispy outside, perfect flavor. Liang pi cold noodles - this was a surprisingly large portion size given the price and it was one of my favorite dishes. The noodles have a great chewy texture and the sesame marinade and vegetables are very refreshing. I would definitely get this again. Biang biang noodles - these were very solid. I like the noodles more at Lanzhou but these are also good. I wish they had more meat options like chicken or something (I don't eat lamb). Someone else got the lamb noodles and said the lamb didn't add much (the flavor was good but the meat quality was not). Pork bun - Pretty lacking in flavor compared to other dishes. Cucumber salad - pretty normal, would have liked if there was some chili oil or something. Definitely a lot of cucumber. Overall I really liked the cold noodles and the fish fillet -- I would definitely get them next time I go to MDM Noodles! read more

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First of all, when I eat out Chinese food, I am picky. So if you have a high standard, please continue to read otherwise discard what I am to write. They used to be one of the most authentic restaurants in greater Boston. However, nowadays food here is lacking flavors. The sauce or the broth, nothing tastes correct. The cold noodle dish, I don't know how they're making sesame sauce, is zero star. The sauce is watery no aroma. read more

MDM Noodles is a solid spot in Brighton. Located right in Brighton Center across from three Irish restaurants, it certainly breaks up some of the monotony in the area. It's never my first thoughts when I'm thinking of where to get dinner, but the food is solid. Every time I've gone in it's been relatively empty and the food has come quickly, which is great when you're starving. I always get the hand pulled noodles with either beef or lamb. I know they're known for their lamb, but I tend to go with the beef as I like the taste better. Both are great options and under $10. The hand pulled noodles are chewy and long and always cooked perfectly. They're pretty bland in flavor so use some of the toppings that are at your table. I've also gotten the scallion pancake which was good and not too greasy. I've heard the other appetizers like the lamb burger are good, but I'm usually full with just ordering the hand pulled noodles. Overall, I will definitely be back when I want a starchy meal although I don't think MDM will join my regular rotation since I do feel greasy after eating here. On the plus side, the noodles are long enough for a great noodle pull pic. read more

MDM Noodles - Lamb hand pulled noodle - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

The lamb noodles dish was so good! The mala medium spicy was pretty spicy and overall delicious. Service was prompt and good! read more

MDM Noodles - Mala beef & lamb pot with lotus - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

First time ordering take out from here. My friends and I tried their spicy hand pulled noodles along with the tea soaked egg. The prices were fair with the noodles and eggs both about $10. The noodles had a good texture and flavor to them. The tea egg was very subtle in taste, not something I will order again next time. Staff was very friendly and made our orders quickly. Would come back to try more! read more

I've eaten here 4 times in the last 2 months. This place is the bomb!! A diamond in the rough. I always get the Sichuan-Style Fish Filet. The dish includes heaps of fish filets with spicy sauce and veggies. Comes with rice. This is my go-to! I've also had a few of their noodle dishes, featuring hand-pulled noodles. However, with covid forcing take-out, the noodle dishes have been less than ideal for me as the noodles get a little dry. 4 stars because the fish filet is the only dish worth raving about, and I can't comment on their service (yet), but I'm looking forward to eating inside ASAP! Call ahead and pick up in 15 minutes. read more

This might be the single best value meal I've had in Boston. Under $8 for a high quality bowl of hand pulled noodles with a well of spicy oil and crushed garlic at the bottom. In the world of hand pulled noodles, a talented chef can fill an entire bowl with a single unbroken noodle, and I indeed did not see any breaks in mine. In general the portions do err towards the generous side. The vibe is low-key and spacious. Thankfully it wasn't too crowded when we arrived at 8 on a Wednesday. Will definitely return! read more

MDM Noodles - Scallion Pancake - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

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the hand pull noodles are top notch- lots of spring/chew to each bite. there is a hefty amount of lamb that they place on top as well. the apps are REALLY large in portion and can be a lot if you are dining alone. they pack easily to go though so don't let that deter you from ordering more. i would say most of the customers speak mandarin, so you know its a pretty decent place. the restaurant itself reminds of what you would find in chinatown. the tables already have condiments in the corner and the surface top is a tad sticky. in the back, you can see the cooks making dumplings or doing other food preparations. for me, it feels like home. i am definitely going to bring my parents here next time they visit to see what they think. read more

MDM Noodles - Spicy lamb noodles and garlic woodear mushrooms - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

Excellent, authentic, hand-pulled noodles with a friendly staff and warm, welcoming environment. Thank you for a delicious lunch Anna! I'll be back next time. read more

MDM Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Brighton, Massachusetts

I've had take out from this spot twice now. My go to is the Sichuan style fish filet. It is soo good!! Not as oily as other places make it and great portion size. For $16, it lasts 2-4 servings. The first time I got the beef scallion hand pulled noodles and the second time I got the lamb hand pulled noodle. I am not a huge fan of lamb in general, but the dish was delicious... and surprisingly the noodles are still great for leftovers the day after. read more