Ashley C.

4 stars for authentic food options, but didn't feel like the soup was super flavorful and tasted a bit on the watery side. I don't think there is AC in here either. It's definitely a more casual place, but food is solid!

Elaine C.

I've been waiting for a good authentic Chinese noodle spot to open up (bc Noodle Dynasty is mid), and Impression of Lanzhou did not miss. The noodle soups are so warm and comforting but do not skimp on flavor. Judging from the broth alone, this place knows what they're doing!! I tried the braised beef noodle soup and wonton noodle soup. The chunks of beef were incredibly tender, and I loved the bite of the wontons. Reminds me of the noodle shops on the street in China. You even get to pick which type of noodle you want. Great place for Berkeley students to grab a quick bite with their prime location on north side.

Yan X.

I was craving for tomato egg over fresh noodle so I went here. The noodle was very good. The tomato with egg didn't taste fresh. I understand the prep process was usually to prepare a large amount of toppings first and set aside and cook noodle when the order comes in. But the one I had seemed to have stayed in fridge for too long.

Victor G.

Impression of Lanzhou opened recently where Cabanas Cafe/Northside Cafe once was. This is their 3rd. Location. Others in Concord & Fremont. Interior doesn't have fancy decor, just windows & seating. Open Kitchen in the far corner. Soft music in background. Unisex restrooms. Metered parking nearby. Arrived early, got seat by window, after being greeted. Ordered. Food came in 10ish minutes. Place full by noon. Offerings (Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China): stir fry, house made pastry/dry noodles, soup noodles, Deep fried, extras, drinks. All noodles, pastries made in house. Slurps: Pickled Cabbage Fish Noodle Soup (15.99) -choose thin noodles. Others: angel hair, small flat, thick round, general wide. -fish fillets thinly sliced, had blackish skin indicating fresh fish utilized or fresh frozen fish.. -soup had savoryness from fish, tartness from preserved mustard green, spiciness from chili pieces. Yummy broth! 4.5 stars Worthy! Quality: lots of noodles. No veggies. Reasonable. Quantity: noodles/pastries made in house. Everything tasted fresh. Repeatable.

Tasha H.

This is a great new spot that opened up that specializes in hand pulled noodles. The cold tofu skin was uniquely, flavored and perfectly seasoned, enjoyed this a lot Lamb "burger" was really perfect. They have the exact right vegetables and taste. The bun is also toasted really nicely on the outside and very soft on the inside. You can't go wrong with any of their noodles, but they do have five shapes to choose from. They're all hand pulled and have amazing texture! Lamb nutritious soup was nice and light, the broth is not too salty and there are many big chunks of juicy lamb. Beef noodle soup has a clean and clear broth, the meat was pretty standard. Don't sleep on their chili oil - it has tons of flavor and isn't too spicy, it makes everything taste even better

Brian S.

Great portion sizes and amazing food--if you order a medium or large, you're definitely going to be full. I grabbed the beef noodles and another dish, and honestly, everything across the board was solid and super filling. It's the kind of spot you want to hit up for a celebration because the vibe is right and the service is quick, so you're not just sitting around waiting. The atmosphere has a great energy to it that makes the whole experience better. Definitely a go-to when you want a massive, high-quality meal that actually hits.

Alex M.

My friends and I wanted to try Impression of Lanzhou, which had soft-opened in Berkeley and was located right next to campus. Even though the restaurant was new, we saw it as a promising sign that all of the tables were full, and there was a waiting list to get a table. Fortunately, we only had to wait about ten minutes for a table to clear. We ordered via QR code, where we made the difficult decision between noodle soup or dry noodles. I opted for the "numbing" minced pork dry noodles because I was craving wide, flat noodles coated with spicy sauce. While we waited for our food, we watched in awe as the chefs hand-pulled noodles for each order. We received our steaming bowls of noodles in less than ten minutes, and the portions were quite generous. We all instantly remarked how the noodles had the perfect chewy texture, and the wide noodles held their own against the minced pork. The "numbing" minced pork was not at all spicy - it tasted more sweet than anything. While the minced pork had good flavor, I was expecting it to pack more heat and spice. These noodles hit the spot, and my friends and I agreed that we'd come back to try the other noodle dishes.

Emily X.

Since it's been so cold recently me and my friend went to this place for a warm bowl of noodle soup! We saw that they have hand pulled noodles made in house so we were really excited. We came here on a Tuesday evening and we were seated right away. There is a QR code on the table that you use to place your order or you can request a physical menu and order with the staff. The inside is spacious and clean. It's also cool that you can see the chef making the noodles right behind the counter. I ordered the LanZhou Beef Noodle Soup spicy with round thick noodles. The noodles were bouncy and the broth tasted clean. I wish that that the broth was a bit more spicy. I also thought that the portion size was generous. I also shared an order of the pork XLB with my friend and these were also good. The soup inside of them was tasty and had a rich flavor. Overall, this is a solid place for noodles and the food comes out quick. I would be interested in coming back to try some of their cold noodle dishes!

Sabrina M.

Overall a pretty solid Chinese noodle restaurant in a busy intersection (though there have been a couple restaurant turnovers in the exact store corner, so .. who knows?) The restaurant is still fairly new (?) so the waitlist is an in-person sign up sheet. I would prefer a kiosk or a mobile check in of some sort so we don't have to wait outside and block that sidewalk corner. You order from a QR code. But you have to pay with one of the staff. I think it would be nice to do something similar to other restaurants nearby and order (and pay) altogether at the beginning. Food wise // I always order a tomato-based broth at these types of restaurants. So I opted for the tomato and beef noodle soup. The tomato broth was good but not great. I'd like more sesame seeds, green onions and cilantro as a garnish. My friend ordered the large plate of chicken and it felt like more than half of the chicken pieces were actually just bone with very little meat. I can't help but compare this to Noodle Dynasty, which felt much more polished and smooth even when starting out years ago. I also can't help but compare my soup to their version of the tomato beef/lamb noodle soup - I think Noodle Dynasty has more of a flavor profile. Like you can tell the beef has been stewing for hours in a rich broth. Whereas with this restaurant it's harder to tell. I understand they're different styles of cuisine but still, I felt a little underwhelmed given the hype I saw online.

Great flavors of Lanzhou! The noodles are freshly made and you can see them making it from the kitchen. You order food from your phone and they bring it out very quickly. Definitely coming back to try more of the menu!

Keita S.

A casual spot near the university in Berkeley that's easy to drop into. The ramen is delicious, and the service is quiet and low-key.

Chongwei C.

I recently tried the newly opened Impression of Lanzhou in Berkeley. It's been getting pretty popular lately, so I decided to stop by and check it out. Overall, if you're going there specifically for Lanzhou beef noodles, you probably won't be disappointed. The menu focuses mainly on Lanzhou-style hand-pulled noodles, and there are a lot of noodle options to choose from--different thicknesses and shapes. It almost gives you decision paralysis when ordering. I went with the classic Lanzhou beef noodle soup. The noodles were clearly freshly pulled, very chewy with a nice bounce. The broth was on the lighter side--not overly oily--but still flavorful. With slices of beef, cilantro, and radish, the whole bowl felt balanced and comforting. One very important tip: do NOT order extra noodles. The portion is already huge. I ordered the regular size and was already very full by the end. While sitting there, I noticed several tables around me had ordered the extra noodles option, and a lot of them couldn't finish their bowls. One table even left almost half a bowl behind, which was honestly kind of funny to watch. The regular portion is definitely more than enough. I also tried the roujiamo (Chinese burger). It was just okay--nothing particularly memorable. The bread and meat were decent, but it didn't have that wow factor. It feels like this place really puts most of its effort into the noodles, while the side items are more average. The restaurant itself has a simple, clean new-restaurant vibe. Bright interior, fairly busy, and people were constantly coming in and out. The location is convenient for Berkeley--students and locals looking for a satisfying bowl of noodles will probably enjoy it. Overall, if you're looking for a solid bowl of Lanzhou hand-pulled noodles with very generous portions, this new spot is worth trying. The noodles are great and there are plenty of options--just remember: don't get the extra noodles.

Laura E.

We were initially planning to have lunch closer to Vine Street but spontaneously decided to come here for lunch when we saw "hand pulled noodles" on the banner above the door. We shared the chili oil noodles (less spicy, added shrimp) and green beans. Both were tasty! Portions are generous; we finished the noods but took home the green beans. I wish that they had more veggie and seafood options. Even the seafood dumplings/xlb have pork. There's a QR code for the menu but you can ask questions with/order from. Restaurant was a little noisy but still able to talk at a normal volume. Worth checking out, especially if you're a meat eater and/or want to try hand pulled noodles!