It was a cold and rainy day, so chicken soup sounded perfect. I found this little restaurant close to our hotel. I had the chicken pho. It was full of white meat chicken, yummy rice noodles, and savory broth. Absolutely delicious and warming. Hubby had the shrimp pho. He was very pleased. He had a large bowl and slurped down every drop. Loved this little gem of a restaurant, and hope to return. read more

Tasty in a good price! I had The beef pho and it hit just the spot! It's along a busy road, but there should be street parking. We were lucky enough to be able to park right in front of the restaurant. There weren't a lot of people when we went, so there was no wait! The service was nice and fast. read more

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My girlfriend and I visited Noodle City since our regular pho spot was temporarily closed. I ordered the pho super bowl with everything except rare steak (flank, tripe, tendon, and meatballs. Personal preference but, I believe it is a crime to not have brisket when serving pho. The only options left were dry, tougher cuts that felt very mediocre. Regarding the broth, it was overwhelmingly bland. It was extremely clear and had minimal fat. Again personal preference but, it seems they had extracted all of the fat after simmering the beef and that left the broth so lackluster. We also got the Thai tea and my girlfriend thought it was delicious. Regarding the ambiance, I think Noodle City tries their best making use of their limited space. However, it wasn't very clean: the spoons were a bit dirty, it seemed like the floor isn't cleaned often, and the utensil/condiment holder on our table was a mess with the chopsticks about to fall off the table. As for the service, they had plenty on their hands tonight as a ~12 top came in shortly after us and they a line out the door until right before we left. They checked in multiple times, however, we did have to mention our thai tea was forgotten and got it AFTER our pho came out. It also seemed like there was an altercation with a male server and the party of 12: orders were confused and he yelled "well figure it out". Overall, I've been to Noodle City for ~3 years and I think they have GREAT rice dishes. However, their pho is pretty mediocre, service is often fast but not friendly, and prices are always CHEAP. read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Best Vietnamese food in the area. Yeah, it doesn't compare to OC or the Bay Area but you'll get your fix here for pho, bun bo hue, or hu tieu. Everything is solid, even if they might not have all the most authentic toppings. The vegetables are fresh and they will give you more if you ask. The service is brusque and efficient, and the food comes out fast. This is a good place if you need to have a quick lunch but you'll be competing against the workers in the area. A lot of people come to pick up takeout, and they do a good job with packaging them. This is an old town staple and I'm glad they're still around. read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

What happened to Noodle City??? Tonight we ordered takeout Pho. We've been here dozens of times and typically love the savory broth so much. But tonight? Blech! The broth was absolutely flavorless. Terrible. No matter how much chile oil or hoisin we added, it tasted bland - nothing like NC's usual Pho. The broth usually tastes like it's been cooking for hours... rich & delicious. Not tonight. It tasted like a shoestring had been soaked in water. I'm afraid to go back and be disappointed again. This was utterly FLAVORLESS. if I could give tonight's rendition of Pho zero stars, I would. Please bring back the delicious broth!!! I used to be such a fan. :( read more

Noodle City - This photo makes the broth look even better than it looks it person, but pales in comparison to the usually delicious rich yet light broth. - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Best place to come during a lunch break, fast friendly service. I asked for extra limes and he basically brought me a lime tree! They have chili oil on the table unlike some pho spots so you don't have to ask for it. Me and my coworkers love coming here for a quick filling lunch read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Noodle city has gone down in quality in the last few years. The two stir-fry noodle dishes had zero wok hei and the flat rice noodles were clumpy. Judging by how fast they came out of the kitchen, I think they were cooked in large portions ahead of time. The pho tai was too sweet and too salty, without much beefy flavor. Probably my last time going there unless their broken rice plate is still good. read more

I ordered the pho tai and it didn't disappoint. I like the way they cut their meat into bite size pieces. The noodles were not overcooked and the broth was flavorful. The restaurant has an old school feel. The service on the other hand makes you feel like you are being rushed because they will bring your bill when you are half way through eating. read more

Noodle City - Pho tai - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

I enjoyed a bowl of pho, spring rolls, and a Thai iced tea. It's a small spot that gets a lot of guests so if you arrive early enough you won't have to wait long for a table. And speaking of waiting, my pho was there in less than 60 seconds. It was delicious. Next time I am in town, I will eat here again and try more of their items. read more

Missing this place extra today!! I moved to Irvine for school and I always go to noodle city when I come to town. Honestly love their pho, I always get the number 11 which always hits the spot. The service and ambience is alright for what it is but I never complain since I love this place. The Thai tea is wonderful as well. read more

Noodle City - Number 11, shrimp rolls and Thai tea - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

This spot is definitely a local hang and I'm so happy we stumbled upon it for lunch one day. I am guilty as I've driven and walked by this spot way too many times to not have come inside. I just think this spot isn't as pulling from the outside as to how delicious the food is on the inside. That's why I definitely say it's a locals spot because they know about it and it was pleasantly busy on a weekday at lunchtime. A great Vietnamese and Asian inspired restaurant in Goleta/SB. As I mentioned above this is a humble little restaurant advertising their pho and noodle dishes. We found street parking pretty easily but I could see how it would be more challenging on the weekends. The restaurant just gives classic old school diner restaurant vibes, no frills, you come here for the food and not the ambiance. Fine by me. I love that the tables are stacked with chopsticks, spoons, and chili oil canisters, that is always a good sign. Service was very efficient and the gentleman who served us was on top of things. He checked up on us many times throughout our dining experience and we were impressed how quickly the food came out and it was piping hot! Super fresh and everything came out, correctly to order. I ordered the egg rolls and the big flat combo noodles that had shrimp, chicken, and beef while my friend ordered the same one but with just beef as the protein. Thai egg rolls were a solid 4/5 as they were crispy, fresh, and the light broth for dipping was good. The noodles though were a 5/5. I love a thick rice noodle and this had plenty of protein to noodle ratio. Really what makes it so delicious is the sauce mixture with the noodles. It was super filling but we couldn't stop eating it because it was so delicious. Add chili oil and this was the best dish I ate this week. Fabulous! Lastly, the value and pricing here is incredibly reasonable. I couldn't believe how big the portions were for under $15. You really can't find that value for such good food anywhere else. This place is a dive, the bathrooms aren't super clean so I know that gives some people the ick but I accepted this place for what it is. It's no frills and probably they don't care as much as they are just striving to get customers in and out with stellar Vietnamese inspired dishes. You don't come here for the ambiance it's all about the food. read more

Noodle City - Egg rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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For what it's worth, my Vietnamese husband loves this place -- it gives him a lot of nostalgia for the Vietnamese restaurants he and his family love back home in NY. They have very efficient service and great-tasting food. That said, if you eat plant-based, I recommend double-checking with the server about the ingredients before you order. Although they have a section of the menu that says "Vegetable Dishes," at least two of the dishes contain some sort of meat product by default. For example, the pho is made with beef or chicken broth regardless of the section you order from. When I discovered this, I instead ordered the bánh hỏi, a thin vermicelli noodle dish served with lettuce wraps, herbs, and your choice of protein. I ordered this with tofu, and I'm almost certain it was served with pork floss on it. I don't fault the servers for not telling me this (it was the dinner rush, and I should have asked). It does give me something to ponder for the next time we have the option to come, though. Being in SoCal, where there are a fair number of plant-based eaters around, it would be super helpful to note (or at least make sure to inform customers) when a "Vegetable Dish" is or is not a *vegetarian* dish. I'm not sure how often they get vegetarian or vegan customers, but this would probably also make their ordering even more efficient as they wouldn't have to ask these sorts of questions. We will probably be back (see: husband), and I hope to be able to try some of their other vegetable options! read more

Ah one of the best pho places I have ever tried!! Restaurant is super tiny and service is super fast. Everything on the menu is very delicious. Broth is so hearty, clean and flavorful. Some of the meat can overcook inside the hot broth but I don't mind it since it depends how fast I am eating. Noodles are always cooked very well and they give such a great portion of bean sprouts. So yummy!! read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Service is terrible!!!! Do not go here if you want to lose your appetite, wanted to celebrate and have a family dinner but ruined our whole experience by being rude. Too much drama and unprofessional, not a business you should support. Made people want to cry by them being passive aggressive. Read all the reviews closely. Would rather go to McDonald's, yes it's that bad. Never again!! read more

If you're on the hunt for the best pho in town, look no further--this spot in downtown Goleta is it. I don't say that lightly. . . The broth here is rich, flavorful, and tastes like it's been simmering for hours (because it probably has). The noodles are always perfectly cooked, and the portions are generous--you will not leave hungry. Everything about this place just hits right--comforting food, fast service, and that magical combo of quality and affordability that's getting harder to find these days. This is my new go-to pho spot. No contest. read more

Literally the best pho spot in Santa Barbara. When it comes to the Asian food scene (whether it be Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, etcetera) Santa Barbara is not currently big on it. Noodle city is the gem that hits my pho cravings whenever I need it in SB! Service is efficient and quick, but don't go looking for friendly service here! Food is yummy and taste as close to authentic as you can get in the area. Noodle city used to be my go to when I lived in Isla Vista and is still my go to when I visit and crave some quick and yummy Vietnamese food. read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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I've had the pho here a number of times and love it! It's very consistent, flavourful broth, and plenty of noodles and protein to fill you up. The chicken pho is the best one I've had so far! Typically I call my order in ahead of time for pickup and the service is quick and friendly. read more

We got the pho, chicken and beef and it was delusions! It was also fast to come out and pretty empty when we went, saturday around noon, so it had a nice vibe. read more

Absolutely the best pho I've ever had. The restaurant is pretty small so it fills up fast, but the food comes out quickly.

Fast bringing out your stuff , (kinda sus) but the worst customer service . Rude and not commutative at all. Dont look at you or even acknowledge a thank you read more

Alright I got the 46 which was pretty good took some time to not be very hot temp but it came fast so that's nice. The ambiance is not much, few photos up. They should start a wall with people on it that has a sign about the blunt service. We were met with very dismissive attitudes upon small requests. Was suggested we could leave instead at some point even though we were not rude. Water was spilt by the waiter without cleaning it up. Not very helpful or kind in navigating payment. read more

Noodle City - Ambiance? - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

The food is good The service is TERRIBLE. Not only did the waitress put her sweater over my food and it touched it she was rushing me so I couldn't even finish my food. She rushed us to pay. Terrible place. The food is good but they need to hire better servers. And she scratched me!!! So rude. Why did you rush us and no one else for payment? Clean your nasty bathroom too! read more

Small, cramped and fast. Love it's charm, will be coming again and the food was amazing.

Had pho from somewhere else yesterday because i was sick and had to uber it and it was terrible , nothing compares to noodle city !! I hope they get on uber eats some day !! read more

It can be difficult to find parking, they do have a parking lot in the back- though it can get quite tight. My family and I always order to pick up, and no matter how large the order it's always ready in 10 minutes! They also get the order right every time. Now, when dining in it can be a bit tricky. This place can get packed with UCSB students or small groups around dinner time. When eating here the staff sometimes is a bit curt. They are quick to bring out your food as well as the check. I do appreciate the delicious pho on a chilly day, especially with jalapeños and extra sirarcha. read more

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Noodle City is my new favorite Pho place in the Santa Barbara Area. Located on the main road in Old Town Goleta. It's a simple restaurant with limited restaurant that makes delicious food! The pho is prepared quickly after you order but tastes amazing! They provide spicy oils and condiments to customize your meal however you want it to taste. Since the restaurant has limited seating, this would best be a place to go with groups of four or less. Depending upon the time of day you may need to wait for a spot to sit but it's worth t If you're in the mood for pho and are in the Goleta I'd tell you go to Noodle City. read more

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* #6 Pho Dac Biet (large) $13.75 * #26 Com Tam Bi Cha Thit Tau Hu Ky $14.75 * #40 Bun Nem Thit Nuong Cha Gio $13.75 * #42 Bun Bo Hue $13.75 We have tried these dishes on March 26, 2025. Our favorites were #26 and #40. Our least favorite is #42. read more

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food is pretty decent. nothing like bay area pho. saigon noodle house is superior by far. what gets me is the horrible service. every time i've been here the tall guy with the glasses is always rushing us trying to get us out fast so they can use the table for another group. super rude and makes me not want to come back. another pointer is do not get the vegan soy beef or chicken it tastes like straight up rubber! stick with the tofu for vegetarian read more

Always a favorite, the food is delicious every single time. Sort of a no frills place, family environment, relaxed. The soup is incredibly delicious! Thanks read more

Dined here today. Was supposed to go to another pho place but it was closed so we researched and discovered Noodle City! It was a blessing in disguise since we enjoyed the food here. Serving was big for the noodle soup and price was reasonable plus service was quick. We ordered egg rolls, spring rolls, pho, and milk tea. Everything was tasty. There is rear parking but there is also street parking right in front of the restaurant. We'll definitely come back! read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Super quick and easy and reliable service. I love them. My go to Pho place in town! Plus it is affordable.

- parking is a hassle - customer service isn't the best... - restaurant is dirty... - "regular" bowl size is very small... - broth was surprisingly decent - protein was tough.... - noodles are overcooked... read more

Noodle City - Pho Combo Special (#6)... - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Simple sit down restaurant with great service and fresh made noodles that are great. Quick service and friendly server's.

This is my most visited restaurant in the area, staff is very quick and attentive. The food is great and at a very fair price. I will keep coming back. read more

Noodle City - Piping hot pho - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

I've had phó in many places, cities, states and countries. Hands down this is by far my favorite! I get the #7 that is rare steak and why not add crunchy egg rolls on the side! The broth has so much flavor, it beats many places out there. The only thing that is a slight bummer is parking. Kinda hard to find if the front parking spaces are all taken. read more

Noodle City - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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This is my go to pho spot in Goleta! I like how the owner/staff are very friendly and quick to take your order (the food will be out in less than 5 min)! I've never had a problem w/ asking for more limes or onions on the side. It's a cute little spot, with limited seating but I love the intimacy of it. Perfect spot to eat out w/ a friend when you're craving good Viet food. My go to order is the pho tai but I'm hoping to try more menu items. Please come here and support a local business! read more

Noodle City - Pho tai (#7) - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

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Best pho in Goleta -- sure, it's not OC or LA level, but it gets the job done when you're craving a pho fix. I usually get the pho tai, and it's consistently good. The side spring rolls are solid, and service is quick. It's a small spot, so it can get busy during the lunch rush. Still, a reliable go-to for a comforting bowl. read more

Pho is good. Bun Bo hue (spicey noodle soup, which is rare to find in restaurants) is super yummy. I'm Vietnamese & know good VN food after eating lots in LA. Better than Saigon Noodle House. read more

Charming spot. Coming from LA, I miss Vietnamese cuisine. Here at Noodle City, their speedy service and rich and aromatic broths is nostalgic. I always order the #6 and it never disappoints. The assortment of meats and side of bean sprouts, Thai basil, lime wedges, and jalapeño hits the spot. I love mixing equal parts soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili oil as a dipping sauce. No AC but the fans and open doors are enough. Lovely and quick service. Would love to come here weekly if I could. read more

Noodle City - #6 - Vietnamese Near Me - Goleta, California

Why is the female waitress rushing us???? We literally sat down and AS SOON as we sat down she asked us if we knew what we wanted. Like girl we just sat down?? Can we look at the menu? Two minutes later she comes back again asking if we knew what we wanted. NO. five minutes later. NO. Pho is average. Charbroiled beef was basic and minimal portion. We just felt rushed and there were only two other tables filled. Did not deserve a tip but we gave one bc whatever. read more