I came to 101 Noodle Express in Alhambra for a late dinner on a Thursday night. It's located in the same building as Alhambra Valley Bowl. From the outside, you can't tell the inside has really good space with booths plus tables and chairs, but it does. They weren't super busy at the time... about 5 tables occupied. I was greeted right away by the one server who was working the entire floor. Interior was clean and well lit. Atmosphere was comfortable. Menu has a variety of options... boiled dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, steamed mini buns, stir-fried noodles, regular noodles, rolls & pancakes, side dishes, rice, soup, and beverages. They also have frozen food to-go (just two items... dumplings and dezhou chicken). I got one Steamed Mini Buns (aka Xiao Long Bao), one Stir-Fried Noodles with pork, one Lamb Noodles Soup (with hand torn noodles), and one Jasmine Green Tea with honey. Yes, this seems like a lot of food for one person. I'm not a stranger to bringing food home for another meal. *Steamed Mini Buns - juicy with flavorful pork filling, adequate skin thickness, good size buns *Stir-Fried Noodles with pork - best dish out of the 3, good balance between pork, veggies, and noodles, mild spice level was perfect, portions were reasonable for the price *Lamb Noodles Soup - great amount of lamb and noodles, lamb was tender, noodles were a tad mushy on the edge... they need to be firmer, soup was savory *Jasmine Green Tea with honey - good size cup, tea was a bit bitter, probably needs more honey Food came out steaming hot and timely. Staff and service were wonderful. Yan, the server, was patient and helpful. He did an amazing job working the entire floor by himself. Thank you Yan! Highly recommend this place for their pan-dried and soup noodles. I would come back for more pan-fried noodles and try their pan-fried dumplings. Btw, cash, Zelle, or Venmo payment ONLY for bill total under $50. Bring cash if you don't plan to eat lots. read more

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I have been coming here for years. I like the beef roll here. It doesn't disappoint. The beef and tendon noodle soup is sometimes a hit and miss. This time it was very good. I have had ones in previous visits that the beef was chewy, not tender. You have a choice of regular noodles or hand torn noodles. Hand torn noodles are more filling since the noodles are much thicker than the regular noodles. They are both good. It is a matter of preference. The minced pork with noodles (aka Jia Jiang mien) is also good. For this visit, I did not order dumplings. But their dumplings are usually good. The service is adequate but don't expect good service. read more

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It was our first time visiting this place and as highly recommended from all the reviews we got the famous beef roll and it did not disappoint! I highly recommend the beef roll! Our other items were also good, but I still think about their rolled beef til this day! If you go to an Asian restaurant and majority of your guests are Asian then just know this is a clear indication that this spot is bomb! I'm not saying other restaurants are not good, what I'm saying is.... Asian's love going to authentic tasting Asian restaurants. The restaurant is busy, but we had no wait time. They have a lot of tables, so you don't have to worry about the long wait. I also saw big parties and they were pretty quick seating them too. If you're looking for a noodle spot, you should check this place out! read more

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Great food, bold flavors, and very satisfying! I had a great experience at 101 Noodle Express , Everything came out fresh and full of flavor. The beef roll was excellent--perfectly wrapped, tender beef, and seasoned just right. You can tell it's made with care and quality ingredients. The spicy beef noodle soup was the real standout for me. The broth was rich, flavorful, and had a great kick without being overpowering. The noodles were cooked perfectly, and the beef was tender and delicious--comfort food done right. To top it off, the green lemon iced tea was super refreshing and balanced out the spice perfectly. Not too sweet, very clean and crisp tasting. Overall, great food, great flavors, and a spot I'd definitely come back to. If you're craving noodles, beef dishes, and something refreshing to drink, this place is a solid choice. Highly recommended! And also great customer service read more

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Ordered to go & it was ready pretty fast Got stir fry beef noodles & dan dan noodles. Two items for about $33 & I liked the dan dan noodles! It was flavorful & both were great portions read more

101 Noodle Express - Stir fry beef noodle & Dan Dan noodles - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

We went to 101 Noodle Express in Alhambra, CA. I had four guests. I have not been here in many years. My cousin had also eaten here many years ago. The place was not busy when we went at 6:00 pm last night. We ordered many of the classic dishes. Same great tastes. Parking: a shared lot, but can fill up quickly. Rating: 4 Stars read more

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Food - okay. Beef roll was a 3/5, appetizer platter was also 3/5, beef noodle was 3.5/5, xiao long bao 2.5/5 (not in picture), fried dumplings heard it was about 4/5 (not in picture & my table had it but not I) Service - okay. 3.5/5 overall. Ambiance - quiet when we were there, in the early afternoon on a Saturday. Then when we were about to leave, about half of the place filled up. Beef roll - meat was salty. I think adding cucumber and more scallion would've made it taste better. If you want a good beer roll, Noodle Street in Santa Anita Mall (aka The Shop) is my favorite for beef roll so far. Xiao long bao - taste of the meatball is ok. soup was there. skin was very thick though. Din Tai Fung or Prince Dumplings are still my go to for xiao long bao beef noodle - soup was meh. enjoyed the knife-cut noodle very much. i added some fried chili sauce. that made it loads better. the trio appetizers - liked the leafy option the most. very mile mala note and not spicy. heard the pig ear was frozen when it first came out. I didn't understand the seaweed. if i'll ever go back, wont order this again. Yunnan location on Atlantic has the best pig ear still imo (enough spice and chili for a good kick) read more

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I used to go to the 101 Noodle Express in Atlantic Square all the time, but it closed. Then with COVID, I hadn't been back to this restaurant in years. Today, while shopping at 168 Market, I spotted it again and decided to give it another visit. Pulling into the parking lot, it was a little tricky to figure out the spaces since the lines were faded and it was dark. But since the restaurant was empty and there weren't any cars around, I figured it didn't matter much--so I just parked. I ordered my go-to favorites: Shandong chicken and onion pancakes. I noticed right away that the price of the onion pancakes has doubled since my last visit. They used to be about $4.50, and now they're over $10--OMG, inflation really hit hard these last 6-7 years! The Shandong chicken, though, was only around $12 back then and now is about $15, so that one didn't increase as much. Taste-wise, it was just like the good old days. I really love the sauce in the Shandong chicken--it pairs perfectly with the cucumber. The onion pancakes were still good, but honestly, I think they're overpriced now. Service was good, probably helped by the fact that I was the only customer at the time. When it came time to pay, the waitress asked me to pay in cash, but I didn't have enough with me. She reluctantly accepted my credit card. I'm guessing it has to do with how tips are shared when customers pay by card versus cash. Oh well--next time, I'll try to bring cash! read more

101 Noodle Express - Shandong Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Finally tried this spot! Can definitely see this place becoming a staple in my "going out to eat" rounds! We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, beef noodle soup, and stir fry veggies. Best Dan Dan noodles in the area that I've tried (and that says a lot for Alhambra/Monterey Park)! Beef noodle soup was good too (not amazing). Abs the stir fry veggies were hot and yummy (mostly bok choy but has the right amount of garlic). MUST get the hand torn noodles for each dish as it is only $1 more. Service was excellent. The server was quick, refilled our waters in a timely manner, they also brought green chili to the table which was a nice addition to our dish. The ambiance was very pleasant and not too busy for and evening at 6pm! Two other parties besides us and they looked like regulars who knew the menu already (which I love to see!) We'll definitely be back for the Dan Dan noodles! read more

101 Noodle Express - Dan Dan (Minced Pork) Noodles/ Rice Noodles Beef Noodles / Rice Noodles Stir Fried Vegetables - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

101 Noodle Express is a must for dumpling lovers. Everything tasted fresh and made to order--exactly what you want from a spot known for its dumplings. The dumplings were juicy and flavorful, and the beef roll was a standout: savory, herby, and super satisfying. Portions are generous for the price, so it feels like great value. The restaurant itself is clean and nicely kept, nice enough for a casual date or a relaxed dinner out. What really made the experience even better was the service--everyone was warm and welcoming, even though we came in about 30 minutes before closing while they were cleaning up. Great food, fair prices, and genuinely kind service. I'll definitely be back next time I'm in the area. read more

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tl;dr the signature beef roll lives up to expectations; you must pair it with the complimentary cilantro relish plopped unassumingly on each dining table 101 Noodle Express has been a San Gabriel Valley stalwart, owing almost entirely to its popularization of one dish: the Shandong beef roll. This Northern Chinese street food staple consists of a braised beef, cilantro, and hoisin-esque bean sauce tortilla'ed within a scallion pancake. 101's rendition spawned multiple imitators and spin-offs, but the original Alhambra location remains a local legend, even cracking Chinese cuisine aficionado David Chan's shortlist of best Chinese restaurants in America. 101 shares a Valley Blvd strip mall with a bowling alley and a nondescript phone repair shop. The interior decor errs on tawdry. Oppressive fluorescent lights shine down from the worn paneled ceiling onto modern faux-marble tables and red-cushioned booths. Patterned wall fixtures distract from otherwise industrial, frill-free restaurant features. No music plays to cut through the hum of the refrigeration units. My partner and I arrived for weekday lunch, and service was masterfully efficient. Food hit our table nearly as fast as the ice water. We began with the signature Beef Roll. The forearm-sized roll was sliced into manageable pieces, and each bite offered a pleasant balance of sweet, rich, and tart flavors. My only minor criticism was that the roll was warm rather than hot. We also shared the Pork Pan Fried Dumplings. Each blisteringly hot wrapper was evenly thin and well-textured, with a crispy pan-fried edge. The flavor was mostly standard, but the execution was above-average. The accompanying sauces were a hidden gem that took 101 to the next level. The chili oil was a familiar favorite, while the tangy cilantro-based relish was a sleeper hit. As the restaurant's name suggests, dining is a quick affair. Our total dining time was well under an hour, and our bill was $40 (after tax/tip). In all, I left impressed by the beef roll; I expect to be hankering for it and the cilantro relish in the near future. read more

101 Noodle Express - Beef Roll - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Had a great lunch here with some friends after a nearby hike! Service was unbelievably fast, so fast you'd think they wanna get you in and out to serve the next table. The food didn't miss as well! Every dish was so good! We got an assortment of different dishes and each one was full of flavor! I'd highly recommend coming here for an easy, cheap, good fast meal, that's not "fast food", good quality at lightning speed read more

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Food was excellent.I really enjoyed the beef roll.Service was outstanding.John is the best waiter ever. read more

101 Noodle Express - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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We love this place! The food is consistently good, service was great. Wish it was closer, but its good enough that we make the drive form Whittier! read more

Lack of flavors. I felt like my grandma tried to cook for me again (I don't like my grandma's cooking fyi)

Came in after a long day at work. The place had plenty of tables with multiple groups. The waitress was polite and helpful, food came out quick. I ordered the hot beef soup noodle which had a juicy broth, chewy noodles, with the right amount of spices. Just know that there is an additional charge on credit cards. read more

101 Noodle Express - Beef soup with Hand Torn noodles. - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

4/10 Got the dandan noodles, pan fried dumplings, xlb dumplings, beef chow mein, and the beef roll. Pan fried dumplings were the good but everything else was mid unfortunately. read more

We came for a quick late lunch. There was only another table with customers. It's a quiet Saturday afternoon. We ordered the beef soup noodle and the green onion pancake. The food came out quickly. The broth is good and the noodles are chewy and the beef is fine. The green onion pancakes are good. They only take cash if the order is less than $50. Ok for a quick lunch. read more

101 Noodle Express - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I am giving this place a solid 4 but maybe should be a 3.5! Here is what is nice: open late, great service, good portions, the pan fried sole dumplings are juicy and tasty. However, the scallion pancakes could be more crispy, the hot and sour soup is not balanced. Other than that a straightforward Chinese restaurant with good late night options and great place to sit and chat with friends. Has boba and real delicacies like tree ear and pigs feet...lamb soup and sea cucumber dumplings. read more

101 Noodle Express - Pan fried sole fish dumplings yum! - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Great experience here. They are cash only but still very good. I haven't had lamb noodle soup like this in such a long time so I was really excited to try and they taste just like I remembered. The beef rolls were also very good as well. Overall, highly recommend. The parking is super convenient and it's walking distance to other shops in the area. read more

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we almost forgot about this place because we had not been there for years. It's located in a strip mall on Valley Blvd close to New Ave. We came here on the weekend but it had many tables available. The ambiance was modern and comfortable with a lot of spacious seating. We remember that we liked their popular dish of Shandong-style roast Chicken. This time we ordered their Shan Dong style roast chicken ($15.50), beef noodle soup with hand-torn noodles ($15.50), scallion pancakes ($10.25), shrimp and pork pan-fried dumplings (10 pcs for $14.99) and they now have promotion for spending $40 and above then you can order dan-dan noodles with minced pork for ($4.99? or half price- I forgot, regular price $12.99). The ShanDong-style roast chicken was still delicious. The chicken was tender and we also liked the sauces with cucumbers. Another dish that we liked was the beef noodle soup with hand-torn noodles. The beef was so tender and the soup flavor was on point and my daughters also liked the hand-torn noodles so much. It was smooth and chewy. Dan-dan noodles with minced pork were also flavorful and addictive. However, we were disappointed with the scallion pancakes because they tasted so bland and they were not crispy. We only liked that they were light and cut into thin slices. The other dish that we would not order next time was the shrimp & pork pan-fried dumplings. We couldn't taste or see any shrimp at all and the skin was so thick and they were lack of flavor. Overall it was not bad but some dishes could be better. read more

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Such a delicious spot!! Checked it out this past week and it didn't fail! I loved the wontons

Somewhat saddened after returning for the first time since the pandemic. I remember 101 Noodle Express, at lease this location, to be ideal for comfort Chinese food, dishes with in-depth savory flavors. The most recent visit, however, did not return me to that impression. We ordered the XLB, cold shredded seaweed, beef tendon noodle soup, yang chow fried rice, dan dan noodles and pork noodle soup. Not as disappointing were the XLB, dan dan noodles, seaweed and fried rice; the soup items (pork noodle soup and beef tendon noodle soup) lack flavor and you can tell that the broth had been cooked several times with added water, diluting what would have been a flavorful bowl of soup. The fried rice was standard, in a good way, and hits the spot if you're looking for a side of carb. The dan dan noodle was about the same. Service was prompt and attentive, even though we came during an "off hour" for lunch. Interior is also generally clean and well kept. read more

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Get the beef roll! Cash only for most small orders and take out. Really deep menu with something you're sure to enjoy. I love that I can get my dumplings here and I get plenty of quantity and quality for the price! read more

101 Noodle Express has me in a full-blown situationship with their xiao long bao and beef roll. Like, if loving these dishes is wrong, I don't want to be right. The xiao long bao are little pouches of happiness--juicy, flavorful, and borderline dangerous because I keep burning my mouth from lack of patience. Worth it every time. And that beef roll? Crispy, flaky, savory, with just the right amount of sauce--it's basically a rolled-up love letter from the kitchen. I've only ever done takeout from here, so I can't comment much on the service. But the food always shows up like it just stepped out of a rom-com makeover montage: hot, fresh, and ready to impress. Everything else I've tried on the menu has also been great--no filler dishes here. If you haven't tried this place yet, fix that immediately. Your taste buds will thank you, and your self-control will stop returning your calls. read more

I haven't been to a 101 noodle location in years. They use to be my go-to place for dumplings and beef rolls. I'm sad their other locations have closed. They're just as delicious as I remembered. Everything comes out relatively fast. We ordered the ox tail hand torn noodle soup, shrimp and pork pan fried dumplings, beef noodle soup, and XLB. The XLB was tasty, only con was there was too much dumpling skin. Beef roll tasted the same as always, but the amount of meat is less than before. I would recommend the beef noodle soup over the oxtail, since there is more meat. read more

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Finally got to try this place! Shared a plate of beef rolls and zha jiang mian and everything was delicious! The beef roll was probably my favorite just because the flavors were strong and the pancake was crisp. Noodles were bouncy and well cooked. We didn't wait to seat or get our food despite all the people there so the service is fast and efficient. Great place to stop by, eat, and get boba nearby after read more

101 Noodle Express - Zha jiang mian - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I've always adored 101 Noodle Express. We got takeout here a few days ago, and it was delicious. I will say, my biggest gripe is how expensive everything is now. My noodle soup and beef rolls were the same price - almost $20 each. It feels almost criminal but I'm still giving this place 5 stars because support small business!!!! The Beef & Beef Tendon Noodle Soup is divine. The meat is tenderly cooked, so flavorful, and the soup just heals the soul. Truly I can have this for dinner every day. You can choose between regular noodles and hand torn (for an additional price). The hand-torn ones are a bit chewier and thicker, if that's what you enjoy! The Beef Rolls were perfect. I do love that they gave us quite a lot! The skin was crunchy, the beef had a tiny hint of sweetness, and each bite was so heavenly. If you've never been here before, you MUST try the Beef Roll! We get it every time, and all the other Yelp reviews will echo this sentiment! read more

Food: We ordered so much food. The best ones are the beef rolls and pork dumplings aka xiao long bao. The beef roll was tasty and had good amount of meats inside. The pork dumplings aka xiao long bao tasted good with the ginger and vinegar and the chili sauce. The fried pork dumplings were just okay, not as good cause it lacked flavor. The Dan Dan noodles was very hard to eat due to this herbal taste or so from the sauce and ingredients in it. It was the only dish we dislike and it didn't sit well in our tummies. Overall, the foods were mediocre dishes. Other places that offer similar cuisines tasted much better. Atmosphere: We arrived when it wasn't as packed and no wait. Service was okay. There was only one server when we were there so you have to wait a bit for food, ask for extra utensils, and to get the bill. FYI: They only allow credit card transactions for $60 and up. They also accept venmo. Otherwise preferably pay with cash. They're located in the same plaza as the bowling alley so plenty of parking spaces if it's not busy. read more

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Chinese family style dinner is served. Highlights of the menu: 1. Shrimp & pork dumplings 2. Stir fried shredded pork w noodles 3. Steamed mini pork buns 4. Cheese beef roll 5. Shangdong style chicken 6. Stir fried vegetables 7. Cold mix of pig ears, beef tripe & dry tofu 8. Hot & sour soup w pork read more

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Place was great. Portion sizes were pretty massive. Def will go back we loved it. Price was very very fair and affordable. read more

101 Noodle Express - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I very much like my visits at 101 NE. In the middle of the SGV off the Valley Blvd stretch of delicious dining options, the restaurant looks uninviting situated in a small minimall. But wait until you've had the hand torn noodles! Wow, so the beef soup with hand torn noodles are my go to here. I don't eat much beef and will make exceptions for restaurants like 101 Noodle Express. Also, the beef rolls are insane with the house made salsa of peppers, pickles, cilantro and a hint of sweet; the sweet/pungent flavors make sense when melded with the toasted roll wrap and savory beef filling. I would like to try a more savory version of this famous salsa though. Finally, the steamed dumplings were also very good with a nice chewy texture to the skin. Service is not super speedy but the wait was not an issue for me both times I visited. Would definitely come back EOY. read more

101 Noodle Express - Beef noodle soup with hand torn noodles (best it can be) 2/16/24 - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Cheese on beef rolls is definitely new for me...and for many people I'm sure since it's not a common ingredient in Chinese cuisine. It's a new menu item that they're featuring and I tried it out. It surprisingly worked together but I personally prefer it the traditional way. A standout item though was the dan dan noodles. The sauce was incredible. It had a slight mala spice with a mild peanut flavor and the noodles were so springy. I had to savor this so I took some home to enjoy later. We ordered a lot of other items which were all good but not the star of the meal such as the pork pan-fried dumplings, scallion pancake, spicy beef noodle soup, spicy beef tendon, shrimp and fish dumplings, and steamed mini pork buns (aka xiao long bao). One thing I didn't particularly like and wouldn't order again was the kung pao chicken. The chicken was dry and slightly hard. The service was great and efficient in bringing out the dishes quickly. The restaurant is also spacious and gets pretty crowded after noon for lunch. read more

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I have been here at least 10 times and Beef rolls are no brainer. I would come here straight for their beef rolls. Make sure you ask for the their special green sauce. Procedure: unroll the beef roll a couple turns and then spread the green sauce across like the picture below. The roll it back for the hella delicious beef rolls and probably one of the best in town. I love their Dan Dan noodles too ! NOTE: cash only unless you spend more than $60. read more

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Cash only! 3-ingredient dumpling:-1 star doughy skin is so thick, fillings is very much mushy, can't taste shrimp, sea cucumber nor shrimp...it's no flavor. Beef Roll 2-star Wrapping is deep fried which its traditionally supposed to be pan fried. Worse than in the past when the original owner started this little spot. Beef is already cracked in little pieces inside the roll other than in slices. Fish Ball Soup 2-star Lots of MSG. Fish ball is too soft barely any texture. Prices is double higher than b-4 but quality is way down. read more

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We ate here 12-24-24 for lunch and got so sick for over 72 hours after eating lamb noodle soup, pickled mustard greens (side dish), and beef rolls. Coughing and throwing up everything daily, diarrhea, body chills, fever, can't eat or drink. All tasted good but we are never coming back. The lamb soup smelled funny but we didn't think anything. This is the only food we ate and we never got sick from food for decades. Be careful of stale lamb or beef meat, or cooks and wait staff handling food who are not hygienic after bathroom use. Hard to know how we got so sick. The bathroom is dirty. Several reviews mention this. It's difficult to know if it's the staff and not washing hands or stale food or contaminated food. Cash or Venmo only. read more

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Pork roll - 5/5 This comes with 2 rolls per order. I love a good pork roll. The roll itself is thin and not greasy. I like that it's not thick or dense, really easy to eat a whole one by yourself. DO add the crispy spicy crunch at the table, it's not very spicy. XLB - 3.5/5 I always love to order the XLB. This is pork only, no shrimp. This was delicious after a long day of hiking. The only issue I had with this is the skin. I had half of my XLB where the skin was ripped and the soup leaked through. Sad. Otherwise, this is tasty. Tea was good, but I don't think it's caffeinated. read more

I always order their Dan Dan noodles and beef rolls. Service is great prices are reasonable. read more

101 Noodle Express - Frozen dumplings to go - Chinese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Food was delicous and was very fast to get seated. A very homey spot to eat at, theres lots of dessert and boba options around the plaza too! read more

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Quality definitely has changed. Been to this location for more than 10 years. When it was an authentic old mom and pop shop and franchise to other locations. This was the original location which expand and upgrade their decors. Beef rolls is their well known dish. Along with the green chopped jalapeño and cilantro sauce that goes well with any dish on the menu. They do not take credit card unless it is over $50. They will take Zelle or Venmo if it is under $50 total. They do not split credit card either. When I used to work nearby we would always come to this location to get beef rolls and other dishes for lunch. I do reminisce their beef rolls since last week. It did satisfy my cravings but not completely. Their flavors have definitely changed. The beef rolls can be a bit more crispier read more

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