Davis Noodle City

Cheap and good food and from a small family run business. Sadly, the dumpling house recently had a fire nearby, they could probably use the support right now. I highly recommend the vegetarian options even if you eat meat. The chefs noodle salad has been my go to for a long, long, time.

This place is Davis's saving grace! Just so you know, Davis-douchebags, this place does NOT put MSG to their food; It's just awesome! Their portions are massive and for the price that they charge, so beyond fair! It has an awesome ambiance and the most friendly of service you'll find in that crap town. If you are looking for really good food (I recommend the orange beef!), fantastic service, and an interesting atmosphere, it's worth having to be in Davis to visit Noodle City!

Very yummy. My favorite is the chef's noodle salad: cold noodles with veggies and choice of protein served with a tasty peanut sauce. Other favorites are the hot soups like mustard green or pork chop.

Noodles and soup were really warm and cozy feeling, the fried sesame balls with redbean paste were so good and fresh!! A great place for lunch with friends or family!!

Food was amazing would of liked if they fried them a bit longer but other than that it was good

Kelly is super sweet! The noodles are fresh and super tasty! Super highly recommend! :)

Fast service and authentic foods. Kind of a hole in the wall place, focus is more on the food and not the decor. Place is tucked behind Sophia's thai kitchen.

Eating here feels like going home. Tucked away in a corner framed by arching red-glazed buildings, Noodle City is a hidden gem in Davis. I got the five spice beef noodle soup ($12.50), which arrives piping hot with chunks of flavorful braised beef, their specialty soup, and housemade noodles. You can easily tell the noodles are handmade from their unevenness and unrivaled bounciness, delightful mouthfeel when chewed. "Homemade" and other synonyms are most apt for Noodle City, it truly feels as if you're sitting down to a meal prepared by the best version of family cooks. If you've watched “Ratatouille,” do you remember that scene where the critic tries the dish and is whisked back to his childhoood eating a dish prepared with a mother's love? You might have that experience when sipping the soup at Noodle City; their recipes bring that familiar touch of a home kitchen with the refinement of restaurant service. I sat indoors at one of their booth seats, but there's also (limited) outdoor seating. I've been here before with family and found the tables are flexible enough to accommodate larger parties or just a solo diner (as I was). Anything with noodles is guaranteed to be a hit here, I'd personally recommend the pork chop noodle soup. Don't overlook their desert options either, those fried sesame balls are freshly made with just the right texture (similar to sticky rice or mochi) and perfectly paired with ice cream. The friendly staff recommended I come back again to try their jjajang noodles, and who am I to refuse such an enticing offer? I'll definitely visit and eat at Noodle City again, and hope that others give this affordable place a chance.

I like the cozy feeling of this place, food are good and price is even better! A lot of vegetarian selections are just a plus!

This place is surprisingly very good for the price. The noodles are great. I had the black pepper beef noodles and it was great for a cold winter day.

Great flavor and portion size with relatively low prices!

Hole in the wall Chinese noodle joint. Got the mustard green chicken noodle soup. That's all the ingredients, gotta love a non-fussy soup!

Katie Zhang

Noodles and soup were really warm and cozy feeling, the fried sesame balls with redbean paste were so good and fresh!! A great place for lunch with friends or family!!

Brandon A. Barraza

Food was amazing would of liked if they fried them a bit longer but other than that it was good

Wesley

Kelly is super sweet! The noodles are fresh and super tasty! Super highly recommend! :)

Gwendolyn Porter

Fast service and authentic foods. Kind of a hole in the wall place, focus is more on the food and not the decor. Place is tucked behind Sophia's thai kitchen.

Joy

Eating here feels like going home. Tucked away in a corner framed by arching red-glazed buildings, Noodle City is a hidden gem in Davis. I got the five spice beef noodle soup ($12.50), which arrives piping hot with chunks of flavorful braised beef, their specialty soup, and housemade noodles. You can easily tell the noodles are handmade from their unevenness and unrivaled bounciness, delightful mouthfeel when chewed. "Homemade" and other synonyms are most apt for Noodle City, it truly feels as if you're sitting down to a meal prepared by the best version of family cooks. If you've watched “Ratatouille,” do you remember that scene where the critic tries the dish and is whisked back to his childhoood eating a dish prepared with a mother's love? You might have that experience when sipping the soup at Noodle City; their recipes bring that familiar touch of a home kitchen with the refinement of restaurant service. I sat indoors at one of their booth seats, but there's also (limited) outdoor seating. I've been here before with family and found the tables are flexible enough to accommodate larger parties or just a solo diner (as I was). Anything with noodles is guaranteed to be a hit here, I'd personally recommend the pork chop noodle soup. Don't overlook their desert options either, those fried sesame balls are freshly made with just the right texture (similar to sticky rice or mochi) and perfectly paired with ice cream. The friendly staff recommended I come back again to try their jjajang noodles, and who am I to refuse such an enticing offer? I'll definitely visit and eat at Noodle City again, and hope that others give this affordable place a chance.

Tina Huang

I like the cozy feeling of this place, food are good and price is even better! A lot of vegetarian selections are just a plus!

Jon Rouse

This place is surprisingly very good for the price. The noodles are great. I had the black pepper beef noodles and it was great for a cold winter day.

A P

Great flavor and portion size with relatively low prices!

Kail A

Hole in the wall Chinese noodle joint. Got the mustard green chicken noodle soup. That's all the ingredients, gotta love a non-fussy soup!

Are you looking for a hole-in-the-wall type place with great food and value? Look no further. DNC is a no-frills place - don't come here if you want someone to wait on you constantly. They seat you, bring you water, ask for your order, bring it, and leave you alone to enjoy your food. If they see your water is low, they will come fill it. I say "they", but really there is typically one waitress who handles all the tables and checks. If you need anything else, you catch her eye or go ask her at the counter. Personally, I love this type of service. If you don't, well, you should still try the food, but maybe temper your expectations before you go. The food is delicious and served in big portions. I can't usually finish a bowl of soup in one sitting. Pro tip: if you have leftover soup, but maybe too many noodles for the remaining broth or vice versa, you can order an extra serving of noodles or broth to take home. The chow mein isn't traditional American Chinese chow mein - it's more like a garlic noodle stir fry. And it's delicious. I like most of the vegetarian dishes I've had there. I usually default to the kimchi tofu noodle soup or the regular veggie noodle soup, but I think I've tried all the soups on their dedicated vegetarian menu and have enjoyed them all. If you want more protein, you can ask to add tofu to any soup. Their veggie appetizers are also good, but my favorite is not listed on the menu - the vegetarian pot stickers. Perfectly crispy and chewy, they come with a filling of mushrooms, glass noodles, and minced vegetables and a dipping sauce. The only appetizer I haven't enjoyed was the fried tofu. I only tried it once, though (the potstickers are my favorite) and I give restaurants two shots before giving a solidly negative review on any item in case it was just a one-off event. It was the only disappointing item I've ever received from them, so I'm looking forward to trying it again. (I'll update this review when that happens.) All in all, this is one of my top 5 restaurants in Davis. It's what I crave when I'm sick, or if I just want a quiet lunch with a comforting bowl of soup (with leftovers!). I love this place.

The restaurant was empty when I stopped by around 2:30pm, but the reviews were good, so I stayed. I ordered the pork chop noodle soup (#10). The noodles were a bit soft for my tastes (not really a PROBLEM, I just prefer firmer noodles) and the vegetables didn't really do it for me, however the broth was pleasant, and the meat was simply phenomenal; grilled thin and crispy like katsu. It was a little sweet with a hint of cinnamon and sugar, and compliments the broth well. I would have been happy with just the pork and a bowl of broth, as the pairing was wonderful, and the portions were a bit large for my smaller stomach. If you're like me split a bowl Next time I'm in Davis, I'll definitely check out the other items on their menu.

Noodle House, as my family and I lovingly call it, is an icon in Davis. It's a little hole in the wall behind Sophia's Thai Bar that was referred to my husband and I 15 years ago. We walked in and almost left because it's small... and old... and a little sketchy? But we decided to give it a try anyway. We have been coming regularly since then, and our family has grown, and grown up begging to go there for special occasions like getting good grades, etc. There is nothing we have had that isn't delicious. I highly recommend the won ton noodle soup, pork chop noodle soup, szechuan eggplant with noodles, the potato curry with noodles, the 5 spice beef noodle soup, and the chow mein. The noodles are homemade. The broths and sauces are unique, delicious, and literally award winning. The service is fine. It's the same lady for the past several years. She's quick and efficient. Before that, I think it was her mom or aunt. You won't regret trying it out - and if you do, you'll be back.

So so so wonderful!! I got the sesame balls, kimchi tofu noodle soup & jujube honey tea. All ingredients just had the best mouth feel! So much better than I could have anticipated!! All for a really great price! 😋😋 🌱and tons of vegan options!🌱 5 stars!!

Clark Hawley

Oh My GOD! Sichuan Eggplant over noodles lunch More food than a football player could eat... $8.95

Sofia Wright

Noodle House, as my family and I lovingly call it, is an icon in Davis. It's a little hole in the wall behind Sophia's Thai Bar that was referred to my husband and I 15 years ago. We walked in and almost left because it's small... and old... and a little sketchy? But we decided to give it a try anyway. We have been coming regularly since then, and our family has grown, and grown up begging to go there for special occasions like getting good grades, etc. There is nothing we have had that isn't delicious. I highly recommend the won ton noodle soup, pork chop noodle soup, szechuan eggplant with noodles, the potato curry with noodles, the 5 spice beef noodle soup, and the chow mein. The noodles are homemade. The broths and sauces are unique, delicious, and literally award winning. The service is fine. It's the same lady for the past several years. She's quick and efficient. Before that, I think it was her mom or aunt. You won't regret trying it out - and if you do, you'll be back.

Claire K

So so so wonderful!! I got the sesame balls, kimchi tofu noodle soup & jujube honey tea. All ingredients just had the best mouth feel! So much better than I could have anticipated!! All for a really great price! 😋😋 🌱and tons of vegan options!🌱 5 stars!!

Casey Miller

Are you looking for a hole-in-the-wall type place with great food and value? Look no further. DNC is a no-frills place - don't come here if you want someone to wait on you constantly. They seat you, bring you water, ask for your order, bring it, and leave you alone to enjoy your food. If they see your water is low, they will come fill it. I say "they", but really there is typically one waitress who handles all the tables and checks. If you need anything else, you catch her eye or go ask her at the counter. Personally, I love this type of service. If you don't, well, you should still try the food, but maybe temper your expectations before you go. The food is delicious and served in big portions. I can't usually finish a bowl of soup in one sitting. Pro tip: if you have leftover soup, but maybe too many noodles for the remaining broth or vice versa, you can order an extra serving of noodles or broth to take home. The chow mein isn't traditional American Chinese chow mein - it's more like a garlic noodle stir fry. And it's delicious. I like most of the vegetarian dishes I've had there. I usually default to the kimchi tofu noodle soup or the regular veggie noodle soup, but I think I've tried all the soups on their dedicated vegetarian menu and have enjoyed them all. If you want more protein, you can ask to add tofu to any soup. Their veggie appetizers are also good, but my favorite is not listed on the menu - the vegetarian pot stickers. Perfectly crispy and chewy, they come with a filling of mushrooms, glass noodles, and minced vegetables and a dipping sauce. The only appetizer I haven't enjoyed was the fried tofu. I only tried it once, though (the potstickers are my favorite) and I give restaurants two shots before giving a solidly negative review on any item in case it was just a one-off event. It was the only disappointing item I've ever received from them, so I'm looking forward to trying it again. (I'll update this review when that happens.) All in all, this is one of my top 5 restaurants in Davis. It's what I crave when I'm sick, or if I just want a quiet lunch with a comforting bowl of soup (with leftovers!). I love this place.

Very amazing place. The customer service on a busy day is slow, however the waitress is very nice. They have a big variety of plates and all are very good. The only thing that disappointed were their dumplings.

Expect lots of MSG and oil; that's what makes the soup so tasty. The green onion pancakes are amazingly delicious. Don't come here if you're looking for some healthy noodle soup, but the savory taste makes it worth it. Service can be a little slow some days, so if you're in a rush, this isn't the best place to go.

Simple, cheap, reliable. Nothing amazing, but all of it is good - and you can customize anything on the menu. Just know that the Dan Dan noodles and similar dishes come with nothing on them (unless you add extras, like I do!)

Nice little place for some delicious noodles. Had the orange chicken over noodles and it had a strong orange taste to it. Also had a plate of chicken fried rice and that was the best part about my meal. Lots of egg and chicken in the rice perfectly paired with vegetables. Overall the food is really good freshly made but not the ideal place for a fancy dinner date due to its decor.

Tucked away in the back courtyard behind Sophia's, Davis Noodle City has some great food that should not be hidden. The noodle soups are definitely the signature dishes with their flagship offering, in my opinion, the Five Spice Beef noodle soup. For a colder autumn or winter day, it is absolutely fantastic!

My bf and I went just before noon and enjoyed the place to ourselves. Nice and quiet, the service was exceptional. The food did not take long and was tasty. Generous portions and affordable. I got the lunch orange beef on noodles and my bf got the crispy orange chicken on noodles and we got an order of pork wontons.

Delicious food and great service. They were quick to getting my food out as soon as I ordered. Only complaint is the coating on the tables (it feels sticky when touching it)

Alex

My bf and I went just before noon and enjoyed the place to ourselves. Nice and quiet, the service was exceptional. The food did not take long and was tasty. Generous portions and affordable. I got the lunch orange beef on noodles and my bf got the crispy orange chicken on noodles and we got an order of pork wontons.

Juan Garcia

Delicious food and great service. They were quick to getting my food out as soon as I ordered. Only complaint is the coating on the tables (it feels sticky when touching it)

Nice place, had a good chicken noodles (my first ever)!

1st time eating here and the food is good very traditional Chinese food. Beef stew is very tasty, the pork chop noodles were too crispy for my taste but also very tasty seasoned very well maybe the best I've had. Highly recommend.

joseph awwad

Nice place, had a good chicken noodles (my first ever)!

Irvin Yee

1st time eating here and the food is good very traditional Chinese food. Beef stew is very tasty, the pork chop noodles were too crispy for my taste but also very tasty seasoned very well maybe the best I've had. Highly recommend.

We ordered dumplings, five spice beef noodle soup, Marco Polo and veggie Dan Dan noodles. The beef noodle soup was my favorite. The other dishes were not impressive. The price is reasonable though.

The Kimchi noodle soup was okay. I really enjoyed the dumplings and wonton soup. I would recommend going for one of those options. A nice little place and great for families since it is pretty cheap. Feed a family of 5 for around $47.

Decent noodle soups and dishes that are really cheap (especially for lunch specials). They have Taiwanese specials and an array of typical Asian dishes. Five Spice Beef Noodle soup- A good quantity of noodles, but the dish was just ok. The soup lacked flavor and was a little too spicy. I also thought there was a lot of oil and not enough meat. Chicken Curry Noodles- also a lot of the noodles, but the curry was a little bland and too spicy (which was surprising for a yellow curry). Although the food was just ok, I can't really complain since it was an $8 meal and pretty filling. Perfect for college students trying to make the most out of their $.

I went there for lunch and the food was OK. However, I arrived close to 2pm and the person in charge was not very happy to see me. She urged me to order quickly, and was clearly wanting to see me out of there ASAP. I will not return to this place. If you want to try it, do not arrive close to 2pm!

Beef with noodle soup expected to come w bok choi, other Asian vegetables but instead came with carrots and Broccoli. The dinner special of minced pork and noodles was good enough. Overall, food was fine for the price ($10-$15) but wanted springer, chewier noodles and sauces with more depth of flavor. If you're missing noodles in Davis, ot sure if it'll do the trick.

Fast service, cheap prices. The wontons were pretty good, but the green onion pancakes were kinda soggy in the middle. Dan dan noodles were underwhelming, but it was only $7. My favorite was the five spice beef with noodles. The beef was so flavorful and tender, and they gave me a decent amount for $11. You get pretty full though since the bowls are mostly noodles.

This is a small noodle place -- the owners were very friendly and they gave us the sesame balls for free. We tried the wontons - which were very meaty and juicy. The sesame sauce noodles were also tasty, the portions were really generous. We also tried the fried pork cutlet with rice, the pork was a little dry. Overall it was a nice meal.

Ivy Leung

This is a small noodle place -- the owners were very friendly and they gave us the sesame balls for free. We tried the wontons - which were very meaty and juicy. The sesame sauce noodles were also tasty, the portions were really generous. We also tried the fried pork cutlet with rice, the pork was a little dry. Overall it was a nice meal.

Davis Noodle City is a small, old, quiet place in a cute little area. There is table service. We got the veg wonton noodle soup (6 wontons, noodles, broccoli and carrots) which was pretty good (but could use more flavor and veg), as well as the Dan Dan noodles (only noodles with peanut sauce) which would have been much better with some veg.

Wendy Rees

Davis Noodle City is a small, old, quiet place in a cute little area. There is table service. We got the veg wonton noodle soup (6 wontons, noodles, broccoli and carrots) which was pretty good (but could use more flavor and veg), as well as the Dan Dan noodles (only noodles with peanut sauce) which would have been much better with some veg.

The food can improve. We ordered the wonton in chili oil and that came out with peanut sauce, no chili oil. The wonton on its own had no flavor except for the taste of cabbage. The DanDan noodles from what we have originally know it to taste like is spicy with chili oil and minced meat, this one came with only a peanut sauce and crushed peanuts. However, the fried rice and steam BBQ pork buns were good.

Been here 1.5 hours, no food yet. Appetizer was tasty. They've changed the noodles we ordered twice now. Table is super sticky and greasy. The waiter used the same towel wiping tables to wipe sauce dispenser heads. Worst part was the plates being as old as the table

I rarely leave Google review for anything, but I have to say that this place is horrible! Don't go if you are looking for authentic Chinese food. I ordered a noodle, it is straightly from a package of instant noodle you can buy from Chinese grocery store with 69 cents!! I couldn't believe it!! I confronted them about it, they did not deny, and told me: " you don't have to order it if you don't like it!" Are you kidding me? Did you say "69 cents instant noodle" on the menu??? I Am Chinese who live in US for more than ten years, have never had such bad "Chinese food" ever! If you want to ramen noodle from a plastic bag, this is the place to go!

I went to Davis Noodle City because of the high google rating and was very disappointed. I had the five spice beef noodles and it was disgusting. The beef was slimy and tasteless, the sauce was also tasteless (hardly a trace of one spice, let alone five), the accompanying vegetables were under-cooked and not fresh, and the whole mess was swimming in some water at the bottom of the bowl. What I ate of the meal left me feeling sick. I hope this was an off day for them as it was for me.

Very disappointed with my meal here. Very bland flavours. I'm surprised how highly rated this place is, because it's certainly nit deserving of it.

The food is so terrible that I left the restaurant 5 minutes after they serve me the food. The chicken soup in the noodle is very blend and almost taste like tap water with a bit of salt. The stuffing of the wonton is also very blend.

Served premade, frozen veg spring rolls that were empty, eggplant noodles were overcooked. Sriracha bottles refilled with a cheap vinegar tasting replica, service is poor and plain rude. I do not recommend this restaurant. Spend your dollars at a better quality noddle restaurant.

Doc the Country Vet

Served premade, frozen veg spring rolls that were empty, eggplant noodles were overcooked. Sriracha bottles refilled with a cheap vinegar tasting replica, service is poor and plain rude. I do not recommend this restaurant. Spend your dollars at a better quality noddle restaurant.