One of the best spots for noodle soup in the Bay Area. I've tried coming here on 3 different…read moreaccounts and the line was always too long to fit my agenda. After the long anticipation, I was able block off my calendar and finally try this place on a Friday night. We had a part of 7 and it was more challenging to find a table to fit all of us. Especially with the wait, I would recommend coming here with parties of 4-5 max. The restaurant was mainly filled with students from the nearby college so it's very lively and packed. Usually when my anticipation is high, my expectations are higher and I'm usually disappointed but this did not disappoint!! The broth was so flavorful and the noodles had the perfect consistency of bounce and chew. The meats were tender and on top of that, the portions are huge and very reasonably priced! You can't go wrong with anything on the menu, but highly recommend the House Special Beef Rib Noodle Soup if it's your first time.

Our youngest daughter has been telling us to dine at Noodle Dynasty for the past couple of years…read more Each time we visited her at Cal, we ended up not going because the line happened to be too long when we were there on the weekend in the evening. We finally had the chance to try their noodles this time around and ordered both the regular and spicy noodle soups, all came with the gigantic pork ribs. They also came in large bowls. The meat was tender and the soup was rich and flavorful. The thin noodles were good as well. Overall, the service was great and the order came in fast. The pricing was also affordable. So far, this might be the best place to have an authentic noodle house close to the school. We'll certainly stop by again the next time we are in town.

This place is so lovely, delicious, and affordable! Highly recommend, and it's a family-owned…read morerestaurant. I had been meaning to dine in for a while and only regret not visiting sooner. I enjoyed the Hunan Hot and Sour Soup on a cold, rainy day and it was an incredible meal. The service was excellent!

Great restaurant, almost don't have anything to complain to deduct a star…read more Noodles and app, better than the usual 4 stars, taste is authentic and they do put in more than enough flavor. Decor also classy, for big group like us a round table and less noise will be great. Most surprising was prices, for this quality in the busy downtown of Berkeley, certainly a good value.

After I was introduced to this restaurant, there was no going back. This place has such amazing and…read moredelicious dishes. I was here all the time in college, and I try to go back whenever I can. I genuinely dream about this place. My go to meal is the hokkien noodles with the Thai flavor and chicken. It's also a very good bang for your buck. If I get this meal, I'm eating for the rest of the day. The service is always super quick! Sometimes, there might be a line, but they do a very good job at getting the food out quickly. It is a smaller restaurant ao seating can be limited ơn busier days, but that's bc it's so good, everyone's trying to go. I don't blame them.

Overdue review as I've been here several times now. Ambiance isn't much to write home about. It's…read morevery simple and casual with few tables and seating areas. Service here is overall friendly and welcoming. Although, I've mostly gotten take out and dining in means you clear your own table? Food*: - Tom Yum Soup 8/10, bold and tasty - Laksa Soup 7/10, tasty but oily - Clear Soup 10/10, clean and flavorful which is what keeps me coming back almost every time (especially good when feeling under the weather) * I've only had the soups and always with the big flat noodles Overall: - 8/10, great place for quick and casual dining or maybe best as take out order to enjoy at home

The service is good, if I do say so myself. They're attentive and bring out our dishes to our table…read morefairly quickly (times that we do dine in). Normally, we order to-go. Their pan fried buns are delicious and the noodle soups are equally delicious!

it's been a while since i've enjoyed chinese food outside of home, especially xiao long bao. i have…read moreenjoyed many in the past, which set my expectations pretty high, which were quickly met with my first bite of these xlb. they were sooooo juicy, you could see it sloshing around when you picked them up. the skin had a nice chew to it, and was well balanced with the pork filling we selected. i am the type to drench any dumpling-type food i eat with vinegar, even when it's yummy, but i just couldn't bring myself to do that with these ones. they were so delicious and reasonably priced as well. the beef wrap is skippable. it's on the sweeter side, which wasn't necessarily bad, but I was expecting a different flavor profile and this fell short of my desired taste

As a expat who lived in China for over 20 years, this is the most authentic Shanxi-style noodle…read moreI've had in the Bay Area. Chewy, savory, comforting, and tastes just like the noodles I used to eat in China. I'd 100% bring friends back!

food was savory, service was exceptional. and the prices…read morewere very inexpensive. Definitely got bang for my buck.

Started off with the fresh rolls and corn cakes. The fresh rolls lived up to their name of being…read morefresh and they were a good size with a perfect crunch. The corn cakes were fried just right so they were golden on the outside but soft on the inside and the slaw and sweet sauce elevated it. I would get both appetizers again. For entrees we had: Mama Pad Kee Moa (3.5/5) - instant noodles with fresh veggies and very thin beef. Flavor was good, but the beef missed the mark because it was lacking. Massaman Gai Curry (5/5) - the curry was so flavorful in this dish and the soft potato complimented it very well. Definitely the winner of the night. Chicken Khao Pad (Fried Rice) (3/5) - rice was a little too dry and the thinly cut chicken again did not pop out in the dish. Overall, very fresh and authentic Thai dishes. Service was fast and attentive. There are plenty of seating options to dine in, but I also saw a lot of take out orders. Street parking can be difficult on Shattuck but easier to find on the side streets.

No complaints about the service; they were quick and very friendly…read more Unfortunately, I was not the biggest fan of the food. The green curry noodles came with vermicelli, and I wanted to try it since it's what they recommend, but it just was not the right texture for the curry I felt. The flavor of the curry itself was not super flavorful. I felt like more coconut milk could have been added to coat the noodles more. The spring rolls were good. I enjoyed the peanut sauce. We also sat at the front by the door, and it was rather cold in that seat.

8/10 (this location) | 9/10 overall…read more How can you go wrong with Marugame Udon? Seriously. It's one of those spots that just hits every time. This location gets an 8/10 from me--still solid, still satisfying--but overall, the brand is easily a 9/10 because it's just sooooo good. If you're going for the first time (or even if you're not), do yourself a favor and get the beef or nikutama. The broth is rich, savory, and comforting, and the noodles have that perfect chewy texture that makes every bite worth it. It's simple food done really well. And don't skimp on the tempura. That's where people mess up. Load up your tray--shrimp, sweet potato, whatever catches your eye. It's crispy, fresh, and honestly half the experience. Quick, casual, and consistently delicious. Hard to miss here.

I came here from Marin since I felt it was slightly closer than the San Francisco Stonestown…read morelocation. Man I regret that decision. The location itself is super clean and nice. Street parking which wasn't hard to find is about $4 per hour. I was able to park literally right in front of the restaurant. Came on a Thursday around 2pm. We ordered: 1. Large Nakutama (cold): I've had this dish before a bunch of times and today the broth or meat had an odd taste to it. It almost tasted gamey like they meat was old or something. About 40 mins later I had a pretty bad stomach ache and had to use the restroom. Not sure if it was a coincidence or what. My wife had a small amount and agreed that there was an odd taste but she didn't have any stomach issues after eating it (but she also only had a small bite). 2. Large Shrimp BK: This was alright. The noodles were significantly overcooked and bloated. Not sure how that happened since they looked like they were freshly making it. The shrimp tempura was good though. 3. Tempura Pumpkin, potato Croque, Sweet potato and Crab: Honestly the tempura was the best item on the menu. I really liked the Pumpkin and imitation crab while my wife liked the sweet potato the most. Overall food quality probably 2/5 stars. The only saving grace for this location was the guy running the register who was awesome and super nice and funny. He was running around the restaurant helping out making the dishes and running the register. 5 stars for service. Location is also really nice and clean. Just very disappointed with the food quality.

If you like special one of a kind dishes, you have to come here and taste their special dishes by…read moremaking appointment before hand. Not only the dishes are delicious and special, their service is very nice and friendly. Highly recommended!

Feb 24, 2026 3:00 pm 3.7 stars…read more This place is smart to stay open when New Dumpling takes midday siesta. Always plenty of non metered street parking when I'm in the area for lunch. We are the only customer when we arrived. Very pleasant not overpowering jazz mood music plays. Our server has a very pleasant demeanor. We have Taiwan beef noodle soup. Nice and hot the way it should be. Perfect to my tongue textures of the beef cubes and egg noodles. The beef broth was amazing. At the end of our meal I was full. Too full to the point that I almost cried that I couldn't drink the last gulps but it was too small a portion to warrant taking home. Our Kung Pao chicken? Delicious. Chock full of chicken bites and delicious vegetables. Somehow the plentiful peanuts set my taste buds acraving. Wow wow Pao tasty. The only miss with this was that it was brought to us on a coldish serving plate. A common mistake. We didn't get to try this dish hot. We are now wanting our bill. Seems like long time wanting. To our dismay, our friendly server got herself enmeshed in an on again off again conversation with someone at another table shortly after we arrived. Then she disappeared for a while. We are tempted to guess the bill amount (turns out we guessed wrong by $1), leave cash on the table and walk out. Instead I get up and she appears at the register. Magic. We pay proper like and walk out respectfully. I wouldn't mind coming back.

My friend (who's half Lao) was visiting from Atlanta, and since there's an abundance of Lao cuisine…read morehere in the Bay Area, we had to try one out! We narrowed it down to three and chose Lao Garden because of the positive reviews and authentic menu items. Lao Garden did NOT disappoint!! We visited during Memorial Day for lunch. PARKING There's a sign outside, but I missed it. Parking is available at the back of the restaurant as well as street parking. SERVICE Since it was a week day for lunch and it was a holiday, the restaurant wasn't at capacity. There was one server who was attentive and wonderful! We met the owner and head chef, Kanlaya, who was very friendly. I could see her passion for Lao cuisine and her desire for guests to enjoy it. FOOD We were pretty excited so ordered quite a few items to try -- we definitely had leftovers. Everything was DELISH. * Pandan Green Tea -- delicious! * SAI QUA (Lao sausage) -- made fresh. Meaty and herbaceous. It was grilled and charred. Yum! * THU LITH'S FAMOUS SAIKOO --My friend was waiting to try this, which was the main reason we chose Lao Garden. It was excellent. Under "Wraps," these are steamed tapioca balls filled with pork. The tapioca balls were fresh, soft, and chewy, while the pork filling was well-seasoned and balanced. It was served with lettuce, mint, and parsley. * MOK PA -- Steamed catfish with lemongrass, dill, onions, and wrapped in banana leaves. A favorite of mine! Light and aromatic. It was served with steamed veggie medley and jeow mak len (tomato dipping sauce with various spices). * EGGPLANT PRAWNS -- Seasoned and tasty. Eggplant and prawns cooked to perfection. Since it was lunch, there was a special for this entree. * FRIED CHICKEN WINGS w/ PAPAYA SALAD -- This was also a lunch special served with sticky rice. We were chatting with the owner, and she was kind enough to change it to Lao style, which is more pungent with the umami from fermented fish sauce. The wings were crispy, and the papaya salad was well-balanced and tasty. Discovering Lao Garden was a fantastic experience, and we truly enjoyed their delicious dishes. I can't wait to return and share this hidden gem with friends and family so they can enjoy it too.

3.5 STARS I'm boring…read moreso where did I get my spice? SE AZN food! It's hard to find a Laotian resto that isn't clumped in with Thai and/or Khmer cuisine so Lao Garden piqued my interest. Walk-in only. But if you have a party of 5+, rezzies are accepted. Back patio is dog-friendly. F O O D * Nam Khao: Crispy Rice w/ fermented pork sausage, peanuts, lettuce, herbs ($25): https://tinyurl.com/yn97yper Many rave reviews on socials saying this is the best nam khao and worth the price. The crunchy, chewy texture was on-point and they were generous with the naem, fermented pork sausage....but it was oddly bland, like they forgot to dress it with the spicy, punchy acidic dressing. * Thu Lith's Famous Saikoo: Steamed tapioca balls w/ ground pork, sweet radishes, shallots ($25): https://tinyurl.com/5n8xnhsz Saikoo is hard to find so this was a must order on our visit. The saikoo had a nice bouncy QQ chew and is filled with a ground pork mixture. Flavor leaned sweet. If you like Viet bánh bột lọc, this will be your jam. * Mok Pa: Steamed catfish w/ lemongrass, green onions, dill, steamed vegetables, jeow mak len ($22): https://tinyurl.com/yxrvnxjb The catfish was flaky and moist but the flavor was one note: earthy. I wished they used more fish sauce and aromatics (i.e. lemongrass and galangal) for citrusy umami. Served with steamed veggies with a traditional Laotian spicy roasted tomato dip that was not spicy at all. * Grilled Rack of Lamb (3 pc-$32): https://tinyurl.com/57hstz93 - Requested medium rare A touch overcooked but the marbled lamb was forgiving, it was still very tender with a great smoky char from the grill. Served with nam jim jaew that felt diluted as it was missing the bold spicy, tangy, salty, and slightly sweet flavors. * Sticky Rice ($8) Aside from the incredibly steep price for a single serving, they brought this with the apps so by the time our entrees arrived, the sticky rice had cooled and hardened. S E R V I C E Friendly and earnest. We had to flag them down for things but understandable since we were the only ones in the patio. We arrived for an early dinner and were the only customers at the time so it was surprising food service was slow with entrees taking 45+ minutes. A M B I A N C E Spacious and vibrant with faux greenery and flower walls. The back patio is partially covered. P A R K I N G They have a private parking lot in back but can easily be missed; take a right after April Rose Provisions. Overall, I had high hopes for Lao Garden but the flavors were far too mild for my personal taste. When I have Laotian food, I want to be punched in the face with funk, citrus/acid, and heat. Off day?

Soo good! Came on Cal Day and it was a little busy but we were able to join the waitlist outside…read moreand were seated outside in 10 minutes. They also have a restroom for customers. We got the pad thai and pad kee mao with a side of sticky rice. Everything was super tasty and flavorful. I really enjoyed the flat rice noodles. The sticky rice sides came wrapped in foil and were so compact (but delicious)!

Great food, hit or miss service. Definitely get signed into the Yelp waitlist as Imm Thai is always…read morebustling, even at 3pm on a weekend! -2 stars for service. One of the staff members were so sweet and regularly checked up on everyone, but our main server was incredibly rude. My vegetarian friend wasn't able to eat eggs but the rest of the table could, so we asked kindly if it's possible to just have it put on the side. I understand if they couldn't do it for whatever reason, but we were just met with so much passive aggressiveness for asking. It made the mood very unpleasant. But honestly, I find it strange as most restaurants are pretty understanding of dietary restrictions and can make modifications to cater to their many costumers. I previously had their pad thai for takeout in 2024 and remember being very disappointed. That said, I would give it another try if dined in. RECS: + Pad see ew ($16) was good, one of the better ones I've had + Green curry ($16) was delicious and full of flavor! + Crispy pumpkin ($10) had a light, airy coating of batter and was paired with a tasty sweet and sour sauce