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    Paik’s Noodle

    4.0 (173 reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 4:30 PM - 8:30 PM

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    Jin J.

    The jjampong soondubu was delicious. I asked for rice instead of noodles, and while the flavor was great, I do wish the rice had come on the side instead of directly in the soup. Next time, I'd definitely request it separately. The jjajang was a little sweeter than I personally prefer, but it was still very flavorful and satisfying. The noodles were the highlight for me! Perfectly bouncy, chewy, and cooked just right. The tangsuyuk wasn't my favorite. It tasted a bit too salty, and something about it felt a little different from what I'm used to. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it didn't stand out the way the noodles did. Overall, the noodle dishes were great, and I'd come back for those!

    Sweet and Sour Pork
    Anh P.

    Paik's Noodle has always been my go-to spot for Korean food (especially jajang dishes), and I went to San Carlos location the most since it's the closest to my house. Some of my favorites are: Jajang noodles, shrimp fried rice, jajang rice. They're all strong flavors, but if you're used to black bean sauce you would love it. Jajang rice comes with fried shrimp and egg, and an extra bowl of jjamppong soup (spicy seafood soup) - so basically it's the best deal allowing you to try a bit of everything. But my absolute favorite is the sweet and sour pork! I really love the sauce and I think nowhere else in the Bay is as good as this. Portions are always huge, so it's best to come with a group and sharing food.

    Jajang Rice

    Overall, this chain consistently delivers. The real star here is the noodles, they always have that perfect, springy bite and carry a deep, rich jajang flavor that keeps me coming back. The only minor letdown this visit was the sweet and sour pork, which lacked its usual signature crunch. The wings for my taste were a little too salty but overall they were decent. Our eats included: Meat Jajangmyeon (5/5) Jajang Rice (5/5) Sweet and Sour Pork (4/5) Soy Garlic Chicken Wings (3/5)

    Signage
    Cristine G.

    So conveniently located, just a 5-minute walk from our hotel. Staff were friendly and really listened to our input. We ordered #13 Shrimp fried rice and #16 sweet and sour pork. The shrimp fried rice was delicious, not oily, the jajang sauce was a little salty for our taste. The sweet and sour pork had a light breading, and the meat was tender and juicy. It's a casual dining restaurant with a good mix of music genre in the background. Located in a strip mall with shared parking.

    Elaine D.

    The food was okay not as flavorful. They have a parking lot which is good. Service was okay. Overall it was okay.

    Carolyn T.

    So excited I stumbled on this restaurant in San Carlos . Excellent choice for kdrama Korean casual meal !! Service was super friendly . Loved the free radish starter ! We ordered two non spicy noodles . Yummy beef jajangmyeon and beef jampoong. Lots of protein both bowls. Loved that they give you a pair of scissors to cut the noodles !! Definitely coming back .

    Sweet and Sour Pork
    Tiffany L.

    3.5 stars - I really enjoy the Santa Clara location to get my Korean-Chinese cuisine fix, so I was excited Paik's opened a location in the peninsula. However, I think that the Santa Clara location is better overall. We came on a Saturday evening around 7pm and were seated immediately. It took longer than expected for our food to come out (about 15 minutes after ordering). The food tasted good. For 2 people, we order the jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles), jjampong (spicy seafood noodle soup), and sweet & sour pork. The portion sizes felt smaller compared to Santa Clara's location. The interior is clean and modern. There is plenty of free parking (lot).

    Too much batter on the Sweet and Sour Pork (sauce on side)
    Erika C.

    3.5 stars? Quick service and clean interior. Jajangmyun was good. I wish there was an option for the egg on the noodles (like there is for the rice). I got a side of the jjamppong soup (no noodles) and just added some of the jajangmyun noodles untouched by sauce. Like a jjamjjammyun. The reason I didn't give this four stars is because the sweet and sour pork had too much soggy batter and no crunch. It deflated on bite. We already got sauce on the side, too. Parking lot is blocked on one side so if you're coming from the direction across the street, just be aware.

    Jajangmyeon
    Bethany W.

    This is pretty much Korean fast food here and I love it. Service has always been great and very quick. The inside is clean and spacious. I will say the hours are weird...wish they could stay open later since they close for a bit in the late afternoon. (If it was open late, you'd find me here more often.) For starters, the jajangmyeon is not the star dish haha. Whatever people say, it ain't great. The black bean flavor isn't strong enough (not salty or sweet enough imo). I'd rather eat instant jajangmyeon tbh. But the jjampping is great haha. Overall noodle texture is perfect and you get a lot of seafood! The garlic soy wings are always fried to perfection and have good flavor. We tried the sweet and sour pork this time which was a 7/10 for me (wasn't crispy and was just chewy....) good flavor though. Either way, I love how quick, easy, and yummy this place is!

    (10pc) Garlic Soy Chicken Wings
    Marissa C.

    I don't venture out to San Carlos that much, but I was happy to try this Korean-Chinese restaurant! It was nice to find out that there were exclusive dishes that can ONLY be ordered at this location, so we made sure to order at least one of those items. My favorites were the Jjamppong (spicy seafood noodle soup) and the Meat Jajangmyeon (black bean sauce noodles). Both had very different flavors, but still comforting. The seafood soup had a nice kick to it, but was perfect on that cold night we went. Noodle texture here is also pretty close to perfect with just enough bounce to them. What we ordered: * Chili Shrimp * Black Pepper Beef (only available at this location!) * Jjamppong * Meat Jajangmyeon * Garlic Soy Chicken Wings (10pc)

    Esther C.

    Tried the Paik's Noodle in San Carlos and... it was okay! The space is huge with tons of tables, but it was surprisingly empty for dinner time. The food was pretty decent overall, just not as good as I remember from the Santa Clara location. We ordered the jajangmyeon, jjamppong, jajang rice, chili shrimp, and fried chicken. Everything tasted fine, but it didn't have that same "wow" factor; the flavors felt a bit milder and less rich compared to Santa Clara. Still a solid spot if you're craving Korean-Chinese, but I'd probably stick to the Santa Clara branch next time.

    Jjamppong
    Yiyi H.

    Jjampong: 2/5 This dish was fishy and slightly spicy, no other flavor here. If only they put more spice, then the fishiness would have lessened. Jajangmyeon: 3/5 this was okay. Wasn't a fan of the tough noodle texture though. Spicy chicken: 3.5/5 Not bad. Tender chicken and batter was decent.

    Jjajangmyeon
    Maggie W.

    Surprised that Paik's has opened a store on the Peninsula! The interior is clean and it is nestled in an unassuming strip mall with tons of parking. The dishes are really yummy- I came with a party of 3 and was immediately seated. I got the jjajangmyeon, my mom got the chili shrimp, and my boyfriend got the beef jjampong. We got the black pepper beef to share. I liked my jjajangmyeon a lot! The ratio of sauce to noodles was solid, and the noodles are the best I've ever had at any restaurant. The beef and shrimp were like... double deep fried? They had an additional breaded and crispy layer to them. Definitely a unique texture. The beef jjampong broth was clear and well-nuanced, I was a fan. Ultimately, I would return to Paik's Noodle to complete my tangsuyuk and jjajangmyeon cravings in the future.

    Jjamppong

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    15 days ago

    Got terrible diarrhea from eating at this restaurant. Order the Jajang Rice and black pepper beef so either one of those were the culprit

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    Ask the Community - Paik’s Noodle

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    Dumpling & Dough

    Dumpling & Dough

    4.4
    (159 reviews)
    1.2 mi

    Very fast service, several healthy options, great for families and low-key…read more Came here after kids' sports events and it was perfect. The greens and dumplings are amazing and portion sizes are generous. Some of the dumplings are not freshly made there and are made from frozen packs.

    Came on a Friday in the early evening and this place was completely empty except for one patron,…read morewhich made me nervous that the food wasn't going to be great. Glad that that wasn't the case! Ordered xiao long bao, fried tofu, sheng jian bao, Beijing potstickers, pea shoots, and green curry with rice. - Xiao long bao: quite tasty and probably my favorite in this area. The soup inside was really sweet and savory and there was a lot of it. Meat was tender and the flavor was spot on. The skin was nice and thin, but with enough elasticity that it didn't tear when the dumplings were still hot out of the steamer and being picked up with chopsticks. I wish they would steam on napa cabbage instead of the foil cups though. Towards the end, the dough was trying to stick and that's no bueno. Also, wouldn't cabbage be cheaper? - Fried tofu: favorite dish of the night, surprisingly. Super crispy coating, and the soy sauce they serve it with has enough salt and flavor to really make it shine! Will order this again and again. - Sheng jian bao: I have serious doubts that these are made in-house (though they might be?). They looked like the frozen ones that every restaurant with sheng jian bao on the menu seems to be serving nowadays. Not that they're bad. In fact, they're pretty good, with a good amount of soup inside, but the dough was a little tough. - Beijing potstickers: like regular potstickers, only less good. Didn't like the dough on these, but they were super juicy! Wish I'd known that before I bit into mine and all the juice came shooting out of the opposite end. Don't be like me, eat this with the butt end in your spoon to catch all the liquid. - Pea shoots: I spit out half of these onto my plate because they were so tough that I couldn't chew the woody stems. I haaaaaaate when restaurants do this - the people preparing the food know what a tender pea shoot feels like. If they're not good, don't serve them to customers. It was like $17 for a plate of greens that were almost inedible, and super unenjoyable to eat. Aside from the poor quality of the veggies themselves, the way they prepared them was perfect, and the flavor was so good. Made me sad that I could barely eat them. - Green curry: ok, but not great. There wasn't enough flavor and there was too much heat. I expect Thai curry to be spicy, but not marking this on the menu for someone who is just trying this for the first time feels like a mistake. Also, not letting someone choose their level of spice also feels like a mistake. Speaking to the menu, there are things about it that make it hard to order. Basically, everything is in English, which is fine, but there are dishes that are translated or simplified that make it hard to know what's what. "Pork buns" are sheng jian bao. I wouldn't have known that if I hadn't asked, and to me and most people I know, a pork bun is just another simplified name for a char siu bao. The only reason why I knew they had sheng jiang bao on the menu was because of the photos on Yelp. Maybe just calling it sheng jiang bao or "pan fried dumplings" would be more helpful. Photos or a brief description (or Chinese characters, for those who can read them) would have been even more helpful. Other notes: the waitstaff is friendly enough, and the kitchen is efficient. Wish they had ice water here. Water is served in carafes that appear to get reused without first being washed, with a sprig of some kind of green thing inside. It goes from the kitchen tap into their fridge to cool a bit before being served, but there is no ice. A water filter on that tap would go a long way to make the water taste more palatable. Not sure what the green thing was, but it didn't impart any appreciable flavor. Will ask for ice next time and hope that it's available because at least if the water were actually cold, it would mask the tap flavor. We'll be back to try other things on the menu, and to order the XLB and fried tofu again, but with tempered expectations.

    Photos
    Fresh-made dumplings
    Fresh-made dumplings
    Redbean piggy bun inside
    Redbean piggy bun inside
    Thai Papaya Salad

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    Thai Papaya Salad
    Kajiken

    Kajiken

    4.4
    (1.5k reviews)
    4.9 mi
    $$

    Kajiken was the perfect Michelin-recommended lunch stop before my flight out of SFO! There was a…read moreshort line when I arrived, but the staff turned tables quickly and kept everything moving efficiently, so the wait wasn't long at all. I ordered their #1 recommendation, the Homura Aburasoba, and immediately scarfed it down. Popping the perfectly runny egg yolk into the noodles was incredibly satisfying, and every bite was packed with rich, savory umami. The noodles themselves were thick, chewy, and had a great bite that held up well to the sauce. I also tried the Wagyu dish, but it arrived more cooked than it appeared in the photos, which made the texture and overall experience a bit underwhelming. The sauce also leaned on the creamier side, which isn't my favorite pairing with Wagyu, so I'd probably skip that one next time. That said, the Homura Aburasoba alone is worth coming back for and easily earns Kajiken a well-deserved 5/5.

    Found another great ramen spot in downtown San Mateo. I had seen this place several times before…read moreand simply assumed it was trendy by all the youngsters lined up out front. This guy likes to let the hype die down before trying the latest "cool place". Kajiken specializes in Arubasoba, which is like a dry ramen. I haven't had it here in the U.S., but tried it in Tokyo and loved it. I was excited to learn that is what Kajiken was all about. I tried their signature dish Homura Aburasoba with two poached eggs. It was absolutely fantastic. I think I might have found a solid challenger to my favorite ramen place in the downtown. This dish was an incredible blend of soba noodles, spicy minced pork, fresh vegatables and egg. Wow. I am a huge fan. Just thinking about it now makes me want to jump in MINI and race down to them Italian Job-style. I also had the ponzu karaage and it too was simple delicious. The ponzu gave the wonderful fried chicken an added zip. Oh, yeah. Service was good and our service kept refilling out water carafe, which as appreciated. I needed it cool down the spiciness of the soba. Okay, time for the iPhone snaps.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)
    Oroshi Ponzu Karaage($10)
    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder

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    Complimentary Accoutrements ($0) Vinegar, Chili Oil, Dried Garlic, Sesame seeds, & Chili Powder
    Blue Sky Café

    Blue Sky Café

    4.3
    (650 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Going to update my review here since I've now been here ~10 times. Let me say this place is an EASY…read morefive stars but since I've been a lot of times I have noticed some things that could be better. That said, I'll talk about the good things first. Pretty much everything on the menu is good here. If there's something that sounds interesting, get it. If you've been curious about spaghetti dishes at southern Chinese restaurants, get one. The General's Chicken is actually insanely good here, like the best lunch special I know anywhere, and it's General's Chicken. Hainan chicken, salt and pepper spare ribs, rice clay pots, eggplant dishes, and even Chinese curry are items I commonly see ordered around me. The tofu seafood claypot is fantastic. Pretty sure they have Peking spareribs and they were great iirc. The chow fun dishes are only good, not super exceptional, you rarely see people order them. Alright the few things I've noticed that could be improved have all happened when I come closer to closing than opening. I've had a couple times where the tea kettle was still soapy, so the tea tasted awful. Their kettles keep the tea piping hot for the whole meal, so maybe that makes them hard to clean. But I've also had the tea come not very hot. They don't like giving you water and tea, some Chinese service lol. And for some reason, the food has also been a bit worse when I came later too Space is small and it can be crowded, especially on weekends. Come early for the best experience

    We came to Blue Sky last night just for the salt and pepper spare ribs and pork chop, which are…read moreusually the dishes we crave. We also decided to try a couple of things we had never ordered before after seeing other tables enjoy them. The beef chow fun looked amazing when we saw someone else order it, so we gave it a try. Unfortunately, it was a bit disappointing. The noodles were on the dry side and lacked the flavorful wok hei and savory taste that I usually look for in a good beef chow fun. It was just missing that something special. We also ordered the Chinese chicken salad because we wanted something lighter to balance out the meal. I was expecting the traditional shredded chicken with lettuce, but instead it came with thin tortilla-style chips underneath. That really changed the whole feel of the dish for me. I was hoping for a refreshing salad, but the chips made it feel more greasy, and the mustard oil dressing was not really my preference. The chicken was also a little dry. I probably would not order this again. The good news is the salt and pepper spare ribs were still delicious, just like we expected. They remain one of our favorites here. Overall, I would stick with the dishes we already know and love and skip the beef chow fun and chicken salad next time.

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    Small, sparse, busy restaurant
    Small, sparse, busy restaurant
    Sweet and Sour Pork Rice Plate
    Sweet and Sour Pork Rice Plate
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    Hunan Mifen San Mateo

    Hunan Mifen San Mateo

    4.3
    (75 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Hunan Mifen is another good spot worth trying if you love authentic Asian cuisine…read more I don't eat spicy food so I was happy that they have some dishes that is not spicy, I love the flavor of their broth, tasty not salty and it has a balance. I love that they have variety of appetizers and side dishes. Price is very reasonable for a freshly cook dishes. I would give them two thumbs up

    Had low expectations coming here and was pleasantly surprised!…read more Food: T-he braised beef noodles were amazing. Noodles were chewier than most beef noodle soups I've had and the beef pieces were very tender and soft. The soup wasn't too spicy by itself and had alot of depth and flavor. -Pro-tip: There is a little self-serve station near the kitchen where you can get add'l condiments like cilantro, green onion, chili, and pickled daikon. SCORE. Add in the cilantro/green onion for a flavor explosion. -Ordered one of the combo noodles + 2 sides. For my sides, I got a blanched bok choy and a fried gyoza. The bok choy was needed to help cut the spiciness of the soup and to add veggies b/c without it, you'd just be having carbs, beef, and soup. Gyoza was a win too. Service: FAST and friendly, just how I like my non-fine dining restaurant experiences. You scan a QR code at the table and then choose an english/chinese option. If you have questions, you can ask the staff, but there isn't a TON of options to choose from, so make it easy on yourself and order a noodle soup. Ambiance: Ample seating at 1:30pm on a Sunday. Didn't have to wait, which was a big plus as all the other restaurants in San Mateo over near 3rd/4th and B street were packed. Overall: Highly recommend and would come again. This might be my favorite niu rou mian spot!

    Photos
    Hunan Mifen San Mateo
    Hunan Mifen San Mateo
    Hunan Mifen San Mateo

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    Li's Knife Cut Noodle

    Li's Knife Cut Noodle

    4.4
    (207 reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$

    Enjoy the staff's service. They were patient to answer our questions and gave us their…read morerecommendations. Had the beef pancake roll. My personal fav. Chinese burger, had it mild, not bad. Good to try but probably won't get again. Braised beef noodle soup with knife cut noodle was great. I do prefer adding chili oil to it, you won't be disappointed. Would come back again!

    I came here with 2 of my coworkers on a Saturday around noon time and there was a long line. We had…read moreto put our name down and were finally given a table after waiting for maybe 45 minutes. It wasn't that bad of a wait though as we were entertained by the dog groomers next door. We ordered a beef noodle soup, potato and beef dry noodle, wonton soup, beef pancake rolls, and spicy wontons. It was so much food that we didn't take part in their extra noodles after finishing the bowl. My favorite had to be the braised beef stew as the soup was hearty, the beef was tender, and the noodles were very firm and bouncy. The beef pancake rolls were a very close second, though there wasn't anything different that they added compared to other places. The rest of the dishes were pretty good though I would definitely pass on the wonton soup next time as the soup just tasted like dried seaweed (something I don't like). Overall a really nice place to share dishes with your friends and family.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Lotus root salad
    Lotus root salad
    Cute graphics on their wares

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    Cute graphics on their wares
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

    4.4
    (381 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    Came here at 6pm on a Saturday and put myself down on the Yelp wait-list at the entrance and waited…read more35 minutes. The interior design was beautiful and modern and comfortable. There was an employee making the udon fresh in-house with a machine in a large-windowed room along the hallway to the bathroom. Service was great. Our waiter was friendly and went through the menu thoroughly along with what's popular here and what he personally recommended. He also refilled our waters without prompting. Our food arrived quickly after we ordered. Karaage - 6 large pieces of moist, juicy, well-seasoned chicken. The batter was crispy and not oily. I would've liked there to be a little more dipping sauce. I would get this again. Tonkotsu udon deluxe - chashu was tender, broth was perfectly pork-bone-milky, udon had a nice chewy al dente texture, egg was perfectly cooked with that gelatinous yolk and well-marinated. The texture of the kakuni (pork belly) was a bit too dry/well-done for my taste, so I think I'll just get the regular tonkotsu next time. Niku udon - larger bowl/portion than the tonkotsu, even though both were regular size. The fish broth was nicely blight, udon was the same great al dente texture as the one in tonkotsu dish, beef was not chewy. Mentai cream sauce udon - akin to a Japanese carbonara pasta, the sauce was very garlicky and had a kick of spice from the spicy cod roe. All of the elements came together well, from the crispy tempura bits, to the richness of the sauce, to the crunch from the green onions. In terms of flavor this was my favorite dish out of the 3. This dish can get a bit heavy as you keep eating, so I would recommend you take some home for another meal or split with someone else. All 3 noodle dishes were solidly good, so I don't think you can go wrong! My father couldn't name a favorite dish; he just says it depends on what you're in the mood for. My mother thinks everything was a bit too salty for her taste, though; she would personally rank the niku udon the best for the value and salt content and non-heaviness, followed by the mentai cream udon, and then tonkotsu last. She said she would rate this place 4.5/5. Overall, I would definitely return again to try other dishes, like the curry udon that my waiter highly endorsed, or one of the set meals (like the unagi rice bowl with tempura and steamed veggies and mini udon).

    I love udon mugizo and this always hits the spot! Portions are pretty for regular sized entrees so…read morekeep that in mind, even if you think you're super hungry just get the regular Creamy mentai udon- 9/10 this is super buttery and creamy and delicious, I get chashu on the side to have more protein with this dish. However after half the meal it does get pretty heavy but u can take it togo! Tonkatsu deluxe - 9/10 the soup here is rich and creamy, pairs so well with the udon noodles and the pork they add. They add lots of protein and this bowl is huge. I had to take the regular size home and surprisingly it tasted even better after reheating for a couple days! Onigiri bites 9.5/10 - this surpassed my expectations! Crispy on the outside and soft inside. The bites itself was big and I could probably finish an entire plate to myself and be satisfied Decor is beautiful inside but it's a bit small. Service was not bad, when we went they only had 1 or 2 servers for the entire restaurant so they seemed short staffed so not their fault

    Photos
    Tempura Donburi
    Tempura Donburi
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

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    Zen Noodle Bar

    Zen Noodle Bar

    3.9
    (604 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    The red bean buns are highly addictive. Seriously! I've…read moreordered many different dishes from this restaurant and the only thing that consistently sticks each time I order are those red bean buns. So delicious!!! And they reheat really well. Service is quick and efficient. Restaurant is always busy when I go in so I always call in my order and pick up/eat at home. Clean restaurant every time I visit! [this review was made in connection with a Toast promotion, Zen Noodle Bar did not ask me to write this review]

    Second time visited here, first time i really enjoyed this place. Unfortunately I don't think I…read morewill be visiting again anytime soon. Service was good as before , the boss lady and waitress were both very nice . But the place seriously needs a little more update. Hall way to bathroom was extremely dark, wished they can turn on some light so I could see my way. One of the dish were served on a cracked plate , so we asked for a new plate. The metal steamer for xlb was very dirty with lots of grease all around, wished they could have cleaned it better or maybe it's time to replace new ones. We ordered several dishes, I liked meat mooncake the most , mostly I think the crust skin was quite good , but the xlb meat was so greasy, after one I couldn't really eat a second. Pan friend bun was pan fried really a bao, skin too thick all around. We also had Shanghainese eel dish, which I don't feel they were cook authentic Shanghainese way, more of Beijing style with lot of sauce, too much actually. Maybe it was not a good day, but I really wanted to like this place.

    Photos
    Lots of stuff around, but still about 10 tables.
    Lots of stuff around, but still about 10 tables.
    Shen Jian bao
    Shen Jian bao
    Dan Dan noodles

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    Dan Dan noodles

    Paik’s Noodle - korean - Updated August 2026

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