I'm officially updating my previous rating because MẹCha Noodle Bar has seriously stepped things…read moreup. For anyone wondering about the name, it's pronounced "Me-uh Chah" (not "Mek-ah") and translates to "Mother and Father"--which feels fitting given how much more "soul" the food has lately. A few years back, I felt like they were missing the mark on the essentials, specifically the phở broth and the nước nắm. If you know Vietnamese food, you know those are the dealbreakers. The great news is they've clearly dialed in the recipes. I've been coming back regularly now because the flavors are finally hitting those traditional notes that are so hard to find in this part of Connecticut. My typical order: * Phở Gà (Chicken) * Phở Tái (Rare beef) * Phở Bò Viên (Beef meatballs) * Chả Giò (Fried spring rolls) -- Absolute must-order. They do have a lot of non-traditional stuff like Bao, Handrolls, and a solid Spicy Miso Ramen, and while those are actually very good, I usually stick to the Vietnamese classics since they're doing them so well now. The atmosphere is also worth mentioning. It has a really cool, organic vibe with tons of wood accents. The ceiling is covered in hundreds of 2x4s that hang down like a weeping willow canopy--it's unique and looks great in person. Pro-Tips: * Parking: Don't even bother trying to find a spot on Bedford Street; it's a nightmare. Park in the lot around the back and just use the pedestrian passage to walk through the building. * The App: If you're doing takeout, use their mobile app. It's a lifesaver on the weekends when the dining room gets slammed. So glad to have a reliable phở spot in downtown Stamford again!

stopped by Mecha Noodle Bar on my lunch break and ordered the pho ga, adding Thai chilis and bone…read moremarrow. the prices are definitely on the higher side compared to other local, more authentic pho spots. I actually went during restaurant week, but since I ordered it to go, I didn't get to take advantage of any of the promo pricing. the ambiance is always nice at Mecha, no matter the location. Even just popping in, you can feel that trendy, laid back vibe they're known for. This was my first time trying bone marrow with my. pho, and I'll admit I thought it came mixed into the broth. Instead, you have to scoop it out of the bone yourself, it reassures you that it's fresh, but I think I might've ordered it wrong. I'd probably go with marrow oil next time for a smoother experience. The pho itself felt clean and comforting, definitely one of those meals you can enjoy a little guilt free, especially if you're feeling under the weather. Overall, it's a good option, just a bit pricey for what it is. I'd be open to coming back, especially to dine in next time during a restaurant week if I have the time.

Stopped in just for drinks, though the food menu looked promising. The space is cute with a mix of…read morestool and table seating, and you can order either at a kiosk or with staff. I used the kiosk but forgot a modification--one of the employees was quick and happy to fix it, which I appreciated. I had the brown sugar black tea with boba, and my partner got the mango slush. Both were okay, though nothing particularly standout. The tapioca pearls in my drink were not the freshest.That said, the area doesn't have many bubble tea options, so it's a nice addition to the neighborhood. I'd come back to try the food next time--they also offer a fun selection of Asian snacks.

Very fresh and filling. The boba tea is one of my favorite spots in town. The staff is also very…read morefriendly.

Being from NY I'm spoiled for choice for sushi. Would I go out of my way here? No. But it was good…read moreand it was nice to sit outside.

MIKU has some of the best sushi I've ever had! Every bite was perfectly balanced with layers of…read moreflavor that built beautifully. We tried the tuna pizza, which I'd never had before, and it was incredible. The perfect amount of spice and the tuna tasted so fresh it really did melt in your mouth. I have no idea what the "crust" was made of, but the flavors came together so perfectly. A must try!!! The service was really good, very professional and fitting for the more upscale atmosphere. The only downside was they started cleaning and closing up well in advance of their closing time which made things feel a little rushed! Still, the food was so great I would love to go back!

Overall good... nice selection and a friendly staff.. food was good. Nice cute downtown arearead more

Every time I go here, I never see anyone. Nevertheless, one of my favorite things to do is order…read moresushi to go. It is decent, but I was surprised to eat a pretty good okonomiyaki, it's pretty good. It is not authentic Japanese, but I was impressed. Ramen was good and they had a different variety than its neighbor Mecha. The ambiance is basic, but service is good and I think they have pretty tasty dishes on the menu.

Everything was very fresh. I only eat sushi at sushi restaurants where I know they are turning…read moreeverything over quickly and nothing is sitting in the back of the fridge. This place delivers. They also have some odd things, like bao which are not Classical Japanese. They were delicious regardless. Their claim to fame is ramen. I don't like ramen so passed on it. On the other hand if they can get me to like it they get six stars not five. Major extra credit. Maybe next time. Oh and parking is easy which is not always the case in Norwalk.

The vibe is chill. Would recommend the Ishiyaki Wagyu on hot stone! It was tasty and came with a…read moreside of kimchi and string beans. The poke bowl was flavorful but was mainly rice. I wouldn't recommend the Yaki Onigiri, despite reading positive reviews for it. The fried rice was way too heavy and didn't taste good. The greasiness was competing with the strong taste of the salmon. Some servers knew their job well, and greeted us at the door. A newer server wasn't as knowledgeable on gluten free options there and also didn't take away our used appetizer plates before serving us the mains. Not a huge deal, but it does make a difference in your dining experience and how the flow of your meal goes.

I would say this is a hidden gem, but it seems like most of Stamford knows what a treat this place…read moreis. We came on a cloudy Saturday afternoon after lunch in the area and were hoping for a nice spot to just sit and catch up. I got a Yuzu tea while my friends got a matcha latte and we got a strawberry cream tart to share. The Yuzu was fragrant and the tart was nice and light, exactly what you'd expect from an Asian dessert -- "not too sweet". When we were done, we happily perused all of the goods in the store. They had so many different Japanese offerings, it was so nice to see -- ceramics, teas, snacks, cooked food, etc. There was SO much, and on top of that, they seemed to have almost all of the Harney & Son's offerings, including the special edition teas like the Death of the Nile and Murder on The Orient Express. I was super impressed by this little shop and can't wait to visit Stamford again to explore more of the goodies.

The Japanese ladies who work there--handling product quality, food preparation, and…read moremanagement--work very hard and always welcome me with a smile. The spirit of "ichi-go ichi-e" (treasuring each moment as unique) embodies the beauty of "wa" (harmony) rooted in Japanese Zen philosophy. However, now that the store has become a massive chain, the employees (local part-time or temporary workers) can't even say hello or offer a simple "thank you." They just toss food and items into paper bags. In the worst cases, even when they have a free hand, they won't even bother to put items into the bag for you (much like the self-service at many local supermarkets). They don't ask if you'd like chopsticks, and they remain so unfriendly that customers have to pack everything into the bag themselves--they do nothing until you specifically ask for chopsticks. Can this really be called a Japanese restaurant? Given my position, I'm quite particular about discipline and manners, but I rarely reprimand people I don't know. However, since the situation was so bad, I did speak up--but they must have held a grudge, because their attitude has been even worse ever since. I want to eat delicious food, but I believe the true beauty of Japanese cuisine is only realized when you not only taste the food itself but also appreciate the elegance of the tableware, the pleasant atmosphere of the venue, and the "spirit of hospitality.『Omotenashi no Kokoro」 It's truly disappointing.

Came here for a sushi fix while I was in town and was NOT disappointed! The service was very nice…read moreand even gave suggestions when asked. The miso soup was really good and both rolls we ordered were tasty. I would definitely come back!

Sushi is good! One order of fried rice is plenary for two people . It's also delicious!!…read more Just about everything is good ! Not upscale or fancy but good local sushi restaurant for Weaverville.

Excellent ramen and very friendly service! I had the spicy volcano ramen and pork dumplings. There…read moreis easy street parking - great spot for a quick lunch.

Came here on a Friday afternoon. Open seating. Very nice woman served us…read more We loved the spicy Sichuan dumplings (that she recommended) were our favorite - that sauce! But the pan fried dumplings and soup dumplings were also good. The pickled daikon was another favorite. And the chicken bao topped us off. If I was back in the neighborhood, I'd definitely come back.

I'm a fan of tonkatsu ramen but they didn't have it here. Tried shio ramen and noodles were good…read morebut the meats weren't. It was chewy and bland. It was a bit disappointing.

A hidden, authentic ramen place run by a ramen master! We…read morestopped by recently out of luck and I immediately had a good feeling when I saw this tiny place with just the counter seating because that's how many great ramen joints are in Japan! No frills, simple menu and the chef seemed exacting and totally focused on his craft. I ordered the original shoyu ramen with chasu and red spicy sauce, while wife had the Wafu Shoyu ramen with chicken. Mine was robust and had a clean taste, although I felt the broth was a bit light for my taste compared to some NYC joints. Wife's ramen had even more watery broth - I think because she ordered the "wafu" broth style which menu claimed had no meat, and together with lean chicken meat without much fat, we both agreed it was tad bit boring. I think it's a matter of chef's philosophy and not necessarily a bad thing, but I preferred a bit richer, more viscous broth than this one. We would stop by again if we're in the area, but won't go out of our way for it either. Still, a welcome addition to the East Bergen County area!

Hands down one of my fav. Kawa Ni in Westport. I recently went there for late lunch. Its the kind…read moreof atmosphere that feels trendy without trying too hard. Ive been there for dinner time as well, it's lively, loud in a good way, and immediately feels like somewhere you could stay for hours. I ordered the miso ramen, and it was honestly one of the most satisfying bowls of ramen I've had in Connecticut. The broth was the star of the dish its deep, rich, savory, and layered with that perfect balance of umami and subtle sweetness from the miso and a bit nitty form the sesame seeds. The noodles had the perfect texture: chewy, springy, and able to hold onto the broth beautifully. Nothing was overcooked or mushy . What impressed me most was how balanced the ramen was. Some ramen spots go overboard with salt or spice, but this bowl felt refined. Rich but not greasy. Flavorful but not overpowering. You could tell there was actual technique behind it. The portion size was also generous enough to leave completely full without feeling uncomfortable afterward. The service matched the food perfectly and so freaking sweet. I have trying to rec this all my coworkers

The rooftop dining! So good! Loved being able to sit atop and have a view of the water. A serene…read moreescape from the loud downstairs. Only drawback is everything is takeout, so it's a pretty wasteful experience with all the paper plates (the stairs leading up are probably too narrow for carrying dishes). The food was just so-so. Def one of those sceney places where prices are high and people dress up more to dine. The best dish was the soothing yuzu salmon over rice entree, while the chicken wings, crab fried rice, snd tofu pockets were all a little junky and overly dressed. Wouldn't come back but so loved that rooftop.