We ate here on a Thursday night for dinner and the restaurant had enough seating and wasn't too…read morebusy. You walk in and order at the front and then sit at a table and they bring the food out to you. The restaurant is nicely decorated with bright colors and detailed wallpaper. We ordered the pork rice bowl, scallion pancakes, and beef noodles to share between two of us. The standout dish by far was the beef noodles. The flavor was amazing and the noodles were cooked perfectly. I probably would opt to try something different from the pancakes and rice bowl in the future. Overall a very pleasant experience and I would come back again for those noodles!

Food: - braised pork rice: 8.5/10, the best I've had in this…read morearea - cucumber cold dish: 4/10, will pass next time - gai lan: 5/10, if you want to order a vegetable dish, this is a good choice - green onion pancake: 7/10, good but small portion - beef noodles: 7/10, one serving, beef is tender - overall small portions Service: - friendly staff - order at the counter + pay before getting food Ambiance: - reminds me of very "hip" restaurants in highland park - new gen Asian food - parking lot is pretty busy even on a weekday but there is street parking

Popped into Noodle St. in Old Town Pasadena for an early lunch, and was thrilled to discover this…read moresmall chain offering Asian fusion creations. It's a comfortable spot with padded banquettes or chairs at the tables, which feature chrome frames and (very good-looking) faux marble tops; along with white walls and light-colored wood accents, the owners have created a clean, simple, welcoming environment. The mood is jostled even further into a specific vibe of calmness with the carefully curated music being played: bossa nova covers of pop hits from bygone days (The Bee Gees' "More Than A Woman" and the Bee Gees'-written Streisand hit, "A Woman In Love" being examples), but it all works. The menu offers a varied selection of dishes from several Asian cultures, from Chinese Beef Rolls to Japanese noodles and soups to Korean Beef over rice. It's not a huge menu, but there's definitely enough there for everyone to find something interesting to eat. The food is all cooked in view of the customers by a staff of chefs working in a sparkling clean kitchen enclosed by windows, and the staff is uniformly friendly despite juggling a lunchtime crowd at the tables plus quite a lot of to-go orders. I tried 2 really enjoyable and satisfying dishes. Beef Rolls featured thinly sliced brisket rolled inside crispy fried crepes with scallion, cilantro and a touch of Hoisin sauce. The brisket had a mild but distinctive flavor that spoke of careful preparation, while the slightly astringent pop from the onions and herbs was a nice foil for the inherent fattiness of the fried crepes. The Hoisin sauce was very subtly deployed, lending tasty support without overwhelming everything else. I added some of the house chili oil for a little extra spice and peppery depth, but these well-made rolls were terrific all by themselves. It should also be noted that the portion is very generous, especially for the price ($12.80), and more than enough for 2 people (perhaps 4 people, if each has 1/2). My other dish was the Qinghai Clear Cold Noodle, a terrific-looking, and even better-tasting blend of thick, chewy noodles, fresh chopped garlic, veggies, tofu and chili sauce that's got a bit of heat but more so a pleasing depth of Chinese spices. This appetizer is packed with flavor and just happens to be Vegan (as are a number of menu items), so it can be enjoyed by anyone. All in all, this was a fantastic mid-week lunch that pleased the senses without breaking the bank, and I even brought some home for later. Do give this Noodle St. a try -- and if you're not in Pasadena, check their website, because they have 8 locations, with a 9th opening soon in Sherman Oaks.

Had a great experience at Noodle St Pasadena. The food and service were both really good, and I…read moreloved being able to see the cooks making the noodles fresh to order. The quality was solid, and everything came out hot. The chicken wings were great, the garlic green beans and cucumber salad were amazing, and the signature spicy ramen was really good too. It was a bit greasy, almost like birria, but the meat was tender and the broth tasted like it had been cooking for 48 hours deep, rich, and full of flavor. The only thing I wouldn't recommend is the Korean beef. It was way too sweet and didn't really give Korean BBQ flavor. The meat seemed more steamed than grilled, and not even vinegar or chili oil could save it for me. Other than that, everything else was fresh, flavorful, and worth coming back for.

Mama Lu Dumpling House is my favorite Chinese spot in the area. The dumplings are amazing, which is…read moreexactly what you hope for when going to a place known for them. You really cannot go wrong with the xiao long bao, steamed buns, or any of their other dumpling offerings. Beyond the dumplings, they have a lot of other dishes I really enjoy. Some of my favorites are the beef rolls, spicy wontons, green onion pancake, chow fun, orange chicken, and chow mein noodles. The noodles are especially good and, importantly, not overly greasy or oily, which can sometimes be an issue at other places. The prices are also competitive, especially considering the portions and quality of the food. It is the kind of place where you can order a good spread, share a bunch of dishes, and feel like you got a solid meal for the money. I also love that they bring out sugared peanuts when you sit down. It is a small touch, but a really nice one. The restaurant has plenty of seating, though service can be a bit slow at times, so good luck flagging down a waiter when it gets busy. You can also tell they are a high-volume dumpling restaurant because there is often steam in the dining room, which can make the restaurant feel a little warm at times. A couple of practical heads-ups: the tables are on the smaller side and can get crowded quickly if you order a lot of dishes, so just be mindful if you are planning to feast. You will also likely need to park in one of the structures around the area, but there is a large parking structure right across the street and plenty of parking options around Old Town. Overall, Mama Lu is a great spot with excellent dumplings, solid noodles, competitive prices, and a menu that keeps me coming back. Definitely one of my go-to places in Pasadena.

This is one of my go-to spots in Pasadena. The Shanghai rice cake is one of my favorite dishes of…read moreall time, perfectly chewy and well-balanced with the sauce. It's not mushy like the usual rice cakes you get compared to other places. The spicy wontons were light in spice, which is exactly how I like them. The XLBs are always a hit and perfect for sharing. The staff was attentive, and there are plenty of parking spaces around. Super spacious compared to the MPK location.

Upon recommendation, I decided to visit this restaurant with a friend. We really enjoyed the…read moreslippery shrimp ($24.50) and Szechuan (orange) chicken ($22.50). Bowls of steamed rice cost $2.50, and we each got one. Portions are generously large and worth the cost; we took leftovers home. The tea offered to us tasted good. The slippery shrimp had a nice crisp with a pleasant blend of sweet, tangy, and spicy flavors. There's a slight spice from the red chili that felt mild on my tongue. This was our first time trying out the dish, and we liked it the most. The orange chicken tasted solid, and it had a slightly crispy texture. For some reason, the rice had an aftertaste I wasn't familiar with, but it was still fresh. There was a fortune cookie at the end of our meal. I'd come back for the slippery shrimp and order something other than the orange chicken. The restaurant opened at 11:30 am, and we were one of the first customers to dine in. The ambience was quiet and relaxed, but they got busier as many more people arrived. Service was good as the staff packed our leftovers in containers for us. Our server asked us where we were from as he was used to seeing regulars during the time we visited. Before we exited, we took some time to see framed photos of celebrities who visited Yang Chow before, including Conan O'Brien and Magic Johnson.

We've been loyal customers of Yang Chow for over 20 years, but we will never give the Pasadena…read morelocation another dime. We placed a large order including slippery shrimp, Szechuan beef, and wonton soup, but the chicken lo mein arrived with charred pieces and tasted terribly burnt. ​When we called, the manager, Phil, was incredibly rude. He demanded we drive 30 minutes back just to return the noodles for a refund, defensively asking, "What else do you expect me to give you?" When we tried to reason with him and reminded him of our 20-year loyalty, Phil literally said, "That's not my problem," and "I don't care." ​Everyone knows that businesses are struggling in this economy, and a manager with this kind of attitude is definitely not making things any better for the restaurant. It makes zero sense to treat a 20-year regular like a scammer over a side of noodles. Phil's horrific attitude and total lack of accountability just cost them a lifelong customer. Avoid this location.

Overview: convenient kiosk ordering, tough parking, delicious dim sum…read more ---- We decided to order some dim sum to-go and got the classic offerings of siu mai, har gow, cheung fun, chicken feet, pan fried turnip cake, ginger beef tripe, black bean pork short ribs, and egg tarts. Everything, and I mean everything, was so delicious. One of the best dim sum places I've been to. The pricing of the items ranged from $8-$10 per item we ordered which is expensive but as a treat every once in a while and for the amount of time and effort that goes into making dim sum, it was worth it. I've tried making dim sum at home and it is so hard! Pricing breakdown: $8 items: - har gow (4 pcs) - siu mai (4 pcs) - black bean spare rib - pan fried turnip cake - egg custard $9 items: - chicken feet $10 items: - shrimp rice noodle roll I think they no longer have the tripe on their menu anymore bc I couldn't find it on their online ordering. Also their chili oil was priced at $0.98, which was kind of small, I would do without it next time. ---- The parking was really tough, luckily I had another person with me drop me off then I ordered and then we double parked waiting for it to be finished. The inside of the restaurant felt like an elevated dim sum place, things were neat and a darker ambiance which felt more intimate if you decided to eat in. We took ours to-go and it was still so good! ---- Overall: if I'm ever back in Pasadena I'll be sure to stop by for dim sum, classic dishes with an elevated taste, pricey but worth it

Perfect family dim sum experience for us…read more We took out my parents and in-laws for dim sum: my parents' very first time ever. We did wait about an hour, but honestly I didn't mind at all because it gave us a chance to relax, talk, and catch up as a family. Once we were seated, my parents were immediately impressed with the decor: elegant and cultural without feeling overly modern or cold. And can we talk about the tea kettles? They looked like literal pieces of art being poured at the table. Ordering was super easy with the QR code system, so my husband handled the whole spread: shumai dumplings, chicken feet, sesame balls, and more. Everything came out hot, fresh, and beautifully plated. The ENTIRE table agreed on one thing: the chili oil condiment deserves to be sold in bottles to take home. It was that good. Smoky, just the right amount of spicy, and addictive. Now for the real test: my in-laws. They've been to *many* dim sum places and are not easily impressed. They declared this place to have the best chicken feet that they've ever had: meat easily sucked off the bone, melt-in-your-mouth tender, and perfectly seasoned. High praise coming from dim sum veterans. Most importantly, my parents' first dim sum experience couldn't have been better. They loved everything from the ambiance to the food to the overall experience. My husband and I want to come back to explore more of the menu because there's clearly so much more to try

I've been coming here at least once a week for the past five months, and this place continues to…read moreimpress every single time. The service is consistently great... attentive, efficient, and genuinely welcoming. Fair warning for anyone new to Sichuan cuisine, the dominant flavor is "spicy". That said, the dishes are not just about heat... they're layered, aromatic, and incredibly well-balanced. Every dish I've tried has been outstanding, both in flavor and presentation. If you're a fan of bold, authentic flavors and reliable service, this spot is definitely worth visiting. Tip - If you're new to the cuisine, I strongly recommend getting everything MILD spicy. I've been told by some of my colleagues that MILD spicy is still pretty spicy, so be warned. With that said, strongly recommend the dishes below. Lamb with Cumin 11/10 - My favorite dish here by far. Aromatic, flavorful, and the spices are just on point. Dan Dan Noodles 9/10 - Solid and consistently good. The sauce is properly seasoned and truly compliments the perfectly cooked noodles. Shredded Cabbage with Pork 9/10 - Not to be confused with twice cooked pork. This dish is so simple and bland looking, but it's packed with flavor... so good! Garlic Pork Belly 8/10 - This is a cold dish. The meat was perfectly cooked and properly coated in chili oil. Solid and consistently good. Kung Pao Chicken 8/10 - In my opinion, it's an elevated Kung Pao Chicken. Solid and consistently good.

This place is crazy good. When you think of Szechuan food you're probably thinking SPICE, but you…read morecan adjust the heat of most of the dishes here so you're not frying your tongue off. It can get really busy, though, so expect to wait or just call in your order and take your food to go. I recommend the soy sauce tofu with beef dish. It's fire. Massive W. Gen Z words. Good.

This is such a hidden gem! Their wonton soup was full of flavor and priced right. It was piping…read morehot. Parking can be limited, but definitely worth checking out.

Slightly tricky finding street parking. Just park in the Vallarta lot near starbucks and cross the…read morestreet. Its not too bad Food is good. Big portions. Friendly staff. Good service. Price is reasonable compared to other restaurants these days. Overall a pretty good value for what you pay for

There's a parking lot that is free for 3 hours with validation from the restaurant. We had…read morereservation and were seated immediately. Our waiter was Jacob and he was great. Soft spoken and kind, we were very at ease with him. The restaurant itself was beautiful and the couches are very comfortable, which was a huge plus. The ginger ale is made in house and is many tiers higher than Canada Dry. We ordered the Panda Beef and the Panda Inn Special because it was our first time there and why not? Lean in to what their specials are. Both dishes were amazing. The Panda Inn Special featured large plump bites of lobster, chicken, and shrimp, with a medley of vegetables and smaller pieces of pork. The Panda Beef was shockingly amazing with crisp and flavorful slices of beef. We finished up dinner with Chocolate Lava Cake and the Warm Rice Pudding, the latter of which is also made in house. Both were a very great end to the dinner. Other notes that were very appreciated: - the checkbook and how nice it looked -they took the parking ticket with the check so we didn't have to go validate it ourselves - white rice is free? - the bar had an automatic wine glass shiner that was fun to look at - take out bag has a very luxury feel to it

The best dinner we ever had. All food are very good and specially the sushi are excellent made by…read moreChef Ian. Thanks to Manager Kenny, Maureen and Tony for great service.