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Papa Noodle

4.5 (220 reviews)
ModerateChinese, Noodles
Closed • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Updated 3 months ago
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Order Papa Noodle Takeout or Delivery

Papa Noodle Photos

PAPA NOODLE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Good for groups
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Papa Noodle

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Sara K.

My work ordered papa noodle for us. I got the crispy tofu and wings. I've only walked by the restaurant so I can't fully express what the ambiance is but everytime we order from papa noodle the utensils come with toothpicks and hand wipes which is so nice! Overall, good flavor, they don't joke on their spices, and it's filling and I would recommend to try for lunch.

Inside
Alisa P.

It's a perfect spot for my lunch break catch ups with friends now. They have nice short menu and kiosk helps to make an order faster. The space is nice, not too crowded on Monday lunch time. There are a couple of tables outside too. Food comes pretty fast - my favorite is Chefs Americano beef noodles - delicious tender meat crispy from outside on top of perfectly cooked noodles with a crunch from carrots and freshness from cilantro. Amazing hearty bowl. Recommend it!

Shay M.

We stopped by this restaurant for lunch while visiting San Francisco and I liked the cute street market feel of the space. Upon entering, we encountered a touch screen to order and the process was easy and intuitive. I ordered a papa noodle and it was delivered to my seat by a server. The only issue within this is that I had to wave down the server because when he came out with my meal he went to a few tables before he found me. The food was tasty and seemed fresh. The complimentary candies as well as self serve condiments and water was a nice touch. This is a good lunch spot in the heart of the city.

Papa Noodle
Jasmine L.

One of my favorite lunch spots in FiDi! The noodles are so chewy and have a great QQ texture. Can't go wrong with the classic Papa Noodle. The service is quick and easy and there are complementary candies and dental floss to pick up when leaving.

Nina W.

This place is close to our hotel so we decided to try it. I got the dry noodle (with chicken) and my husband got the beef noodle soup. Both are really delicious and the meat is super tender. Food is super filling too. You order at the iPad and wait for your food. They have some tables outside so it makes this place dog friendly! Does get windy on the sidewalk so bundle up!

Braised Beef Noodle Soup
James L.

What a hidden gem... quality noodles that are convenient and quick, right in downtown SF. I was in town visiting for the weekend and looking for something quick and easy to get for dinner and was able to locate Papa Noodle a few blocks from my hotel. I got the braised beef noodle soup, which was rich and hearty and really hit the spot. I hope to come again and try more items.

Jennifer Y.

I can't believe I waited this long to try this place! I didn't have high expectations going in, but the flavor and portion sizes really surprised me. It was relatively quiet for the weekend, so we were seated right away and the food arrived quickly. The portions were generous, packed with plenty of protein and veggies. We tried the papa noodle (which came with your choice of chicken or pork), and the thick noodles soaked up all that delicious sauce perfectly. The beef in the braised beef noodle soup was also very tender. We particularly enjoyed the Chinese sauerkraut as it added a great touch to the meal.

free candy
Michelle Z.

Very tucked away spot in fidi but the service and ambiance was great! The space is very thoughtful and they have tons of nice touches like free candy for customers, a tv playing food videos, utensils and water (& hot water too!!) and takeout boxes laid out for easy grabbing, and also a cool pac man machine inside. My friend and I got the braised beef noodle soup which was around $19 but a pretty hefty portion. The soup was a bit too salty/spicy for me but the beef flavor was great and I liked the chewiness/flavor of the noodles. The pickles and bok choy were also yummy touches. I do wish the cilantro stems weren't included though as they were unpleasant to eat. Overall this was a comforting meal and a nice spot for a casual dinner if in the area!

Photo 1: Montage of images from Papa Noodle
Ed U.

I haven't worked in the office drone part of eastern SoMa in quite some time. In fact, the last time I was at this address was when I was a semi-regular at Lee's Deli. I still miss the chicken salad sandwich, but I recently happened upon this casual Chinese zhijiang-style noodle house. With an understandably hip vibe given the populace, it wasn't a traditional-looking spot, but the food tasted authentic. The menu consists primarily of five noodle dishes of which customers pick one and order to customize on one of two kiosks. Naturally I was slow it was my first time, and the youngsters behind me managed to control their heavy sighs since they were more focused on their phones. Since it was the namesake dish, I decided on the $16.88 Papa Noodle with Pork, which they delivered in less than ten minutes. It looked appetizing with all the fresh vegetables (bean sprouts, shredded carrot and cucumber, pickled cabbage) surrounding the pork sauce and topped with chopped scallion. For extra crunch, I had them add spicy peanuts for an extra dollar (Photo 8). The handmade noodles were hidden underneath. Once tossed together, the flavors were quite satisfying (Photo 7). A nice noodle find. FOOD - 4 stars...deliciously authentic noodles AMBIANCE - 4 stars...kinda hipster but not irritatingly so SERVICE - 4 stars...very minimal interaction but quite fast TOTAL - 4 stars...Papa's got a brand new noodle RELATED - Exploring the eastern side of SoMa? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/TVGnDwzpSY

Shrimp Cold Noodle (with Spicy Peanuts)
Alyson S.

Papa Noodle is a hidden gem in downtown San Francisco serving delicious food and fun vibes. The interior is decorated with Chinese memorabilia, vintage arcade games, and best of all (for us Chinese) a candy section with free candy from our childhood. There is loud music playing different genres from classic rock to Chinese rap and a huge TV screen playing YouTube videos. Staff are friendly and welcoming. You have to order with them first before grabbing a table. We came on a weekend during lunch time when it was packed and only waited about 10 minutes for a table to clear. The dishes are rich in ingredients and have so much depth of flavor. We had the Vegan Loma Noodle (fried tofu) and the Shrimp Cold Noodle with Spicy Peanuts. The handmade noodles are so chewy. The portions are quite large and very worth it for the price. I highly recommend everyone come support this business. I can't wait to go back and try their other dishes.

Super Tofu Tots (Vegan)
Serena P.

stopped by on a friday around 5. immediately took in the ambiance. the space was so carefully curated and each piece felt so intentional, creating a fun and engaging atmosphere. there were 2 kiosks to order and we ordered the tofu tots and the vegan loma noodle. we sat down and there were lots of different seating options. they had 3 free to play games, a giant projector playing some travel food tv show, and a self serve station with candies, floss, and condiments. each table also had chili oil and extra spicy chili oil. the noodles were bouncy and flavorful and the tofu were some of the best i have had in sf!! service was quick and friendly! definitely will be back!

Inside
Lizzie S.

4.5 stars! I was very happy with Papa Noodle. I love zhajiang mien and not many places in SF make it. Papa Noodle does it well--my only gripe was I felt that the portion could've been bigger! I often take food home but here, I left a little and thought about taking it but then did not think the amount left warranted a takeout container. It's quick and many people do takeout here versus sitting down. It fills up during weekday lunch rushes, but the line moves quickly. I ordered Pork Papa Noodle and Walovi, which is Chinese herbal tea. It was cool and refreshing. The Papa Noodle had tender meat, not too fatty. It was very fragrant, as my old coworker who I dined with said. The noodles had good texture, consistency, and chewiness. I liked the amount of vegetables and meat they gave, as well as sides of vinegar and chili oil you could add. It's very clean inside and I love the decor and art. Very fun. Will be back!

Braised Beef Noodle Soup with thin rice noodles
Rita C.

This is such an amazing place! service was great and the place was very clean. At the front, they even provide mints and flossers for after the meal. what we got: beef noodle soup with thin rice noodles (10/10 yums): WOW. the rice noodles were really chewy even though they were thin. I was pretty impressed by the broth as well. The meat was super tender and fatty, which was definitely a plus! loma noodle (10/10 yums): this is the vegan option dry noodle! loved it as it wasn't too salty. there is an option to get it spicy or not spicy! super tofu tots (10/10 yums): must get appetizer to share! super crispy and flavored really well. Went great with the pickles on the side!

Tofu Tots

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Coolest doggy! Haha. Thank you for the kind review! Nina.

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Thank you for the kind review! Chanson.

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Thank you for the kind review! Rose.

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Ask the Community - Papa Noodle

Can you do non spicy noodles? Asking for the kids.

Dear Tina, our Vegan Loma Noodles are not spicy at all. We can also make Chicken Wings and Tofu Tots not spicy per request as well. Thank you for your support!

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Sobakatsu - Cold soba

Sobakatsu

4.4(310 reviews)
1.5 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights
•$$

Felt like I got transported back to Japan when I was dining here! The space is very small and only…read morefits 11 people total across a couple tables and bar seats. You self order at a kiosk and seat yourself. There are two people cooking everything from scratch in the open kitchen and they'll call your number when your food is ready. I advise coming before they open as my friend and I came 15 minutes before they opened on a random Wednesday and there were already 5 others ahead of us. If you miss the first seating, you'll have to wait 45 min until someone finishes and leaves. We decided to share one cold soba with shrimp tempura and veggies in addition to the spicy dipping broth. It was delicious!! If you aren't a big eater, one order is definitely enough to share. The soba portion is quite generous. The tempura is made-to-order and really crunchy. I'm excited to come back and try their scallop kakiage. The spicy broth was really good with a hint of yuzu so if you like spicy food, I'd recommend adding that as a side item. It's a "cozy" restaurant so you might be sharing a table with another party. I'd come solo or even at most with one other person to have the best opportunity to sit each other.

Visited this lovely restaurant during a layover in SF. Even though I do not have to eat gluten free…read moreitems, it's nice for those who are gluten free. We ordered the Hot Yuzu Scented Niku Soba ($25) & the Tenzaru Kakigage ($28) which were both delicious. The hot soba came with onsen tamago which was rich in flavor. The Tenzaru Kakigage came with cold soba, crispy deep fried veggies, and dipping sauce. The restaurant is small & you have to order before picking a seat. I would not recommend bringing a big group. Ordering food is through a self serve tablet and you pick up your food at the counter when your number is called. They offer soba-yu for after you're done with your meal that is meant to be added to your dipping sauce and consumed as a broth.

Photos
Sobakatsu - Inside

Inside

Sobakatsu - Tenzaru Soba: Shrimp + Veggie Tempura w/ chilled soba noodles | $19.25

Tenzaru Soba: Shrimp + Veggie Tempura w/ chilled soba noodles | $19.25

Sobakatsu - Cold soba + tempura

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Cold soba + tempura

Mensho Tokyo - Vegan Miso

Mensho Tokyo

4.1(3.4k reviews)
0.8 mi•Lower Nob Hill
•$$

Back in December 2018, I passed by and caught a whiff of something pleasant. There was a remarkably…read morelong line, but I decided to get in it thinking I could order quick, chow down, and be on my way. Alas! it was not to be, as I had to meet up with my group, and the line only moved in smidges. The intervening years visiting SF didn't provide me with any opportune moments to stop by. That is, until one Saturday evening August 2026 while I was walking around and by chance happened upon the same lovely scent. Although it was a few minutes before 11pm, the line to get in was closed off. Tomorrow was my last night in SF, so I made it my primary objective to dine here. Well, Sunday I was at the Chase Center till about 9:20pm where the Muni line was packed and going nowhere fast. In the spur of the moment, I ran all the way from Chase Center to Lower Nob Hill, a 2.3-mile journey, yielding to red lights and Pokémon fans. Exhausted, it was a couple minutes past 10pm when I arrived. Lo and behold, the line had not closed yet. Ordered their Signature Toripaitan ramen and was very pleased that it was ready in about two minutes. I'm not afraid to admit I literally vacuumed the contents of that bowl. Sure I was sweaty and famished, but the combination of chashu, menma, burdock root, ajitama egg, chicken broth, and every other element checked all my proverbial boxes. The waitstaff who took my order was likely aghast that I ate so violently, though she was professional and responded energetically when I showered her with thanks and praise for the meal. I also ordered a mazemen to-go for the next day's lunch, and that was a real treat. Recently, I learned that there is a location in Culver City. Heck, why wait another 8 years?

Waited about 30min at 730pm on a Monday night. The line moves relatively quickly, but there are…read moreonly about 30 seats inside. The line was twice as long at 830pm, so would recommend coming earlier. Service was very quick, food came in less than 10 minutes. I really enjoyed the TKO Ramen as compared to the Classic Toripaitan it was more unique and flavorful. If you want something you can only get here, I'd go for the more unique options like TKO. For the TKO, they really packed it with garlic and the fried carrots paired very well. The Classic Toripaitan was delicious, but more similar to Ramen you get elsewhere. Love the chewy noodle. Portions are on the smaller side. Given the small restaurant, would recommend coming here as a smaller group. Parking is pretty easy since there's usually street parking around the block.

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Mensho Tokyo - Counter seating

Counter seating

Mensho Tokyo - Enoki chips

Enoki chips

Mensho Tokyo - A5 wagyu sushi

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A5 wagyu sushi

Taniku Izakaya - Spicy beef ramen

Taniku Izakaya

4.6(355 reviews)
1.1 mi•Tenderloin
•$$

I've been there twice and everything I've tried is delicious!…read more They have vegetarian ramen and different, unique appetizers. Their sake is also great! There is a line to enter, but it usually goes fast. The ambiance is cozy and nice.

We were exploring town late at night and found this place on Yelp. Unfortunately, it shocked us in…read moreall the wrong ways. I'm still a little speechless 48 hours later. Granted, we came in around 9 PM, about an hour before closing, so we understood that the kitchen was getting toward the end of the night. We ordered a few dishes to share and there were actually some highlights. The scallops: These were great! Easily one of the better dishes we ordered. The karaage chicken: The chicken itself had great flavor, but the creamy sauce on top was extremely rich and ended up overpowering the chicken. I think with less sauce, this could have been a really good dish. Now, the ramen: This is where I was genuinely left speechless. I don't think I've ever had ramen with absolutely no umami. Like, none. It was one of the strangest things I've ever tasted. I was biting into something, there were textures in my mouth, it smelled great... but that was it. No depth. No richness. No umami. The broth, meat, and even the noodles somehow had almost no flavor. The only thing that really came through was the greasy chili oil that lingered on your tongue afterward. After a couple of bites, we looked at each other and decided to leave. At that point, most of the food was still sitting on the table practically untouched. Maybe we caught the kitchen on an off night, especially coming in later in the evening. The scallops showed us that there's definitely potential here, but unfortunately, the ramen was such a miss that it overshadowed the rest of the meal for us.

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Taniku Izakaya - Interior

Interior

Taniku Izakaya - Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !

Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !

Taniku Izakaya - Calamari

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Calamari

Mashita Galbi Jjim - Tender Galbi Jjim!

Mashita Galbi Jjim

4.6(165 reviews)
1.4 mi•Polk Gulch, Russian Hill

Awesome place with a huge portion size of food!…read more Good: - Only waited about 5min for a seat on a Sunday night for dinner - They are generous with the banchan and we had a couple refills - The galbi jjim for 2 people was way too much and well worth since it powered 2 more meals after - super fresh and so many toppings - the meat is super soft - The watermelon strawberry drink was huge and great value Bad: - Takes a while for the food to come - The place is pretty small Overall would come again, super comfort food. Great value and just enjoyed the vibes.

super cute small-ish restaurant serving korean dishes and known for galbijjim! we came by to try it…read moreout and i really enjoyed it. it didn't seem too busy on a weekday night and our party of five was able to sit right away. the food also came out quickly once ordered! the only thing is that service could be spotty, as it seemed they didn't have enough staff for the floor when we were there. i didn't mind too much but keep that in mind if you are on a timeline! we tried the galbijjim, which comes with glass noodles, rice cakes, and cheese by default. they also gave us banchan and rice. the galbijjim was saucy and savory with tender meat & lots of cheese. i do think it's less sweet than daeho's version, which can be a plus if you find theirs to be overly sweet! additionally, they include the rice cakes and cheese, which are paid add-ons if you go to daeho. the banchan were better than daeho's in my opinion. their fish cakes were nicely grilled and kimchi tasted great. i only wish they had purple rice as an option! the portion was perfect for five of us so it's a really great value in my opinion. overall a good vibe, great food and banchan, nice portion for galbijjim. service can be slow but they're very kind and helpful.

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Mashita Galbi Jjim
Mashita Galbi Jjim - Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes

Complimentary Banchan (clockwise): Salad w/ sesame dressing, kimchi, japchae, fish cakes

Mashita Galbi Jjim - Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

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Soy KFC, sauce on the side ($22.75)

Papa Noodle - chinese - Updated October 2026

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