Came on a Friday lunch in September with 2 friends at 1pm; we were the only souls in the place. We sat out back on the patio, which was nice due to the day and weather, and each got our own thing. Usually I prefer to share food with everyone around, but that wasn't really the vibe that was going on that day. My friends got a pad thai with shrimp and another vegetarian noodle option (can't find menu online) and I had the spicy cold noodles. I have an aversion to paying more than $10 for noodles, unless I can watch them being made before my eyes --and I mean, with the pile of flour and egg and pulling and stringing and pulling and slicing and boiling--not putting hard noodles in a vat of water. I assume these were the latter; it is hard to tell with a thin noodle. So mine was around $8 which was reasonable. But the noodles were not to be ordered again. If I were to pick out the flavors, I would note super-thin vermicelli, Srachi sauce, slivers of jalapenos, and slivers of cucumbers, and red pepper flakes. That was about all. I didn't care much, since I was there to talk shop (it's a good private place for that; waiter doesn't bother you at all), but I have to say, it isn't a place I will likely return to. The other entrees were too expensive for my noodle preferences ~17ish. read more

I think that the prices here are a little steep compared to the plating/decor/etc, but everything that I tried was quite tasty. I had the cold tuna with noodles that was $19. I was there on a friday around 430, so it was too late for any kind of lunch special. The fish was fresh, and there was a good amount of it. However, wish there were more veggies and a tangier sauce. My friend had the pad thai ($12) which was definitely worth the money. Tasty and lots of chicken. My other friend had the salad with cold poached chicken which was well dressed and a large portion ($16). Again, not sure if the ambiance and food justifies the higher(ish) prices, but overall, it was a decent meal. read more

I had the miso soup, which was great, and the oriental chicken soba - excellent. Very fresh tasting, and the perfect amount of spice (for me). Generous portions of high quality food, and Suzie was very friendly. Whenever I am in town, I'll be back to try the rest of the menu. read more

I am very surprised to that people complained about the service here. When I walked in from lunch, I was greeted by a nice lady who I presume to be Suzie. After we were seated, her shift ended and another waitress took over. This waitress was also very nice and responsive. The food came out very quickly too. When reading these reviews, we need to remember that most reviews are written by people of the more extreme opinions. ANYWAYS, the food was great! We ordered the seafood hotspot and the chicken soba and green tea based on recommendations from yelp While the decoration is slightly avant garde, it made me feel as though the owner put in effort to design the restaurant. The music choice was a great fit (jazzy vocally stuff) I would highly recommend this joint to anyone looking for good (non-takeout) Asian food! read more

I've been going to this place for years, and I love it. Suzie gets to know her customers, and I like that she always checks in with me and comes to my table to chat. She is a sassy lady! The food is delicious. I always have trouble choosing what to get - if you're like me, just tell Suzie what sort of thing you're in the mood for (like, "Something light and fresh" or "I'm starving! What's big?") and she will give you the perfect recommendation. She always uses fresh, delicious ingredients. My favorite things to get here are the variety of teas (hot & iced) they offer, and I love to get the chicken donburi as my main. The home-made sorbet is always great as well. This place is so quiet, which makes me sad. When I go I am usually the only customer, or there might be just one other table occupied. There is a wonderful patio out back that is perfect if you're dining on a summer evening. I'm not sure why this place has so little business. I would say that my one complaint is that the decor inside is a bit out of date, and it's also very dimly lit inside. I think the wall decor in particular could use a serious refresher - maybe an update would help bring in business, especially a younger crowd. I love Suzie's and will be going back for years to come! read more

Suzie's Soba - Chicken donburi - Korean Near Me - Baltimore, Maryland

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Got the cold soba. Mmmmm Mmmmm delicious. But the serving was small. So also ordered the bibimbop. It too was mmmmm... *drool... Both plates were definitely fresh and tasted homemade. It's not a Korean restaurant, but an Asian fusion restaurant that happens to serve some Korean dishes. So don't expect any side dishes that are typical of Korean restaurants. The atmosphere is artsy and hip. The owner/server is ok if you get to know her and you catch her in a good mood. ... Of course, that sounds like all women, huh? =p read more

I am shocked when I read the reviews of this, a restaurant I have been eating at for years. That being said the food is fresh, authentic, and well worth the sometimes slow service. There are plenty of choices for vegetarians and omnivores alike. I recommend the seafood hotspot on a cold winter night or chicken soba read more

Please get over the bit about the owner's temperament. Those who are great in their field can be impatient or uncomprehending of our requests. They can even have bad nights. So be it. Count me grateful this woman knows how to serve a fabulous entree, not to mention appetizer. This may very well be the most underrated restaurant in Hampden. This is not Hon Food, meat and potatoes. This is Asian, very nicely prepared with fresh ingredients. There are some gluten free options. The beer list lacks flavor; but the wine list is adequate. Favorite dinners are the Smoked Salmon and Basil, the Grilled Spicy Tuna and Ginger chicken. And frankly, I like Suzie. Maybe sometimes she appears to like me, but I'm not there not to be coddled but to enjoy conversation and a good meal with friends! The decor is a bonus, too. And there's a quiet patio during warm months. All in all a great little place. read more

If you enjoy long waits, service that alternates between inattentive and actively rude, perfectly paired with bland food, Suzie's is your spot! Shame. Hampden could really use good, authentic Asian options. This aint it. read more

Okay, the food is very good, but there's a lot of very good food in Hampden. I read the previous yelp reviews and thought "Duh, I can endure a brash personality for some great Korean," but Suzie made eating here SO WEIRD and uncomfortable. It just wasn't worth it. Seconds after we entered she commented that my 72 year old father should be "glad" he "can still walk with his cane." Our table decided to order a few dishes and appetizers to share, but she felt we hadn't ordered enough, became upset, and kept yelling "DID YOU COME FOR DINNER OR A SNACK? WHY DID YOU COME IF YOU'RE NOT HUNGRY?" I felt like I had to fight with her to confirm that we actually wanted what we'd ordered, and then she threw each dish on the table in a huff as she brought it out. As I said, the food was really very good, but not magical enough to get me to return. Even an inattentive server that never checked on us would have been worlds better. read more

I can't believe the other reviews here--this restaurant was a great, unexpected treat for my boyfriend and I. Our sever, in contrast to the other reviews, was attentive and friendly. The service was a little slow, but no worry. We were served a wonderful ginger tea to start, and ordered some crispy crab dumplings. I ordered the bibimbap, which was delicious, and my boyfriend ordered this mushroom soba dish with spinach and basil. I ordered my bibimbap with beef, and it was missing when I got it. The server alerted the kitchen and it was fixed, no problem, but I was a little put off at how quickly the server blamed the kitchen. "Their fault." That's not really good restaurant decorum. Aside from that, though, the food was delicious, and the server was friendly, and the prices weren't too bad. I'd return. read more

More Korean than Japanese but good noodles. Shrimp and chicken dumplings were very fresh on a slow Sunday night. Would return to try some other dishes. Wish they had cold soba... read more

I love Suzie, she is great. Yeah she can be random, but she's a cool lady. I came in once and they were closed for a private party in back patio, Suzie said sorry and I left. 1 min later she yelled for me to come back and said they need some "distraction" anyway, as it was a surprise party, so I could have a table and service after all! I love the apps, and the bidam bhap. And she is all about "fresh veggies". Just look inside a spring roll, it's actually has color inside it. Been coming for years, it's an act respectful get respected kinda place, which I don't mind. She's not going to kiss your ass like you are a sultan. Go elsewhere if you expect that. read more

Great food! I highly recommend the pork tenderloin soba. Also the service was great, very friendly!

I have been here several times over the years from 2005 to the present and the food is always delicious and Suzie is always sassy, but that's her prerogative. All the reviews of her being snarky and mean are hilarious. I think there's something lost in translation and those whiney turds need to lighten up. One of the reviewers called it a Thai restaurant, clearly they are idiots. Yes they have Pad Thai but it is not a Thai restaurant. No she doesn't somersault and belt out 'Be Our Guest' but the food is prepared to order, always delicious, and she's managed to stay in business for a long time in a busy neighborhood with competitive restaurants. There is a nice outdoor dining area with casual patio style table and chairs when the weather is nice. It is a bit dimly lit inside, but that is way better than bright lighting if you ask me. The entrees are healthy and the ingredients are fresh. I tried to order the scallop Robata the other day for lunch but told her I was eating in a few hours and she said it was a small portion and why don't I order the cold sesame noodles instead. The scallop appetizer in addition to the edamame and side of brown rice was too much food and instead I just got the cold noodles and edamame. I've ordered the entrees before and they are always delicious. Happy to support this Korean restaurant (with Japanese dishes) and I hope it remains in the neighborhood for a long, long time. read more

I love Suzie so much. perfect mom. Full of sass and warmth. I haven't even eaten yet (this time) and I'm already so excited for the incredible food I know is coming. I've been here a number of times and at this point, I've just learned to trust her - I don't even look at the menu anymore, just ask her what's good today. so far I've been rewarded with eel donburi, tuna tartare, seafood noodles, and many others just as delicious. The outdoor area is beautiful and there are some shady tables, so eat outside if you possibly can. The flowering trees and vines covering every surface are a major reason i come here, its so refreshing for my soul. read more

This was a very tasty dinner. We just moved top the area and are trying places in the avenue and glad we stopped here. I had the shabu shabu beef which started sweet and went savory and was very good. My husband the top pork dish which was savory and spicy and good as well. Give it a try! read more

Soba noodles should be comfort food. Here, they made us distinctly uncomfortable, which was not good. The outdoor patio was too cold the night we came, and the place was sparsely populated with diners, so perhaps we got a bad vibe here. And we were basically in the dark about what to order, since we did not know about Yelp at the time (so sad) and even now, only Rob N. has reviewed it. Suzies probably is 4 star or 5 star, even, if things align properly. They did not for us, so we cannot in all honesty be more than mildly impressed with this place. That said, it's a great addition to the Avenue scene, so we hope that it stays and attracts more patrons who will yelp it, so that we can enjoy vicariously your dining experiences! read more

I love the Korean seafood noodle soup here. The food is excellent. However, I was very disappointed to hear the owner yelling and belittling the cook/chef last time I was here. She was so loud I could hear her from my table. The chef looked so tired - I know that kind of work, it's not easy and the last thing any boss should be doing is belittling you in front of guests or while your holding a sharp knife, around boiling water... you see my point. I can't support a restaurant that treats the staff like that. read more

I'm so impressed with this place! Want for a late lunch and we we're the only ones there. I can't imagine this happens often. Started off with some edamame that was perfect. They were in the shell with course sea salt. I got the udon and it was so good! The noodles were cooked perfectly and the veggie broth was so flavorful. The service was terrific, and the owner catered to our every need. There are lots of beautiful details in the restaurant. The tables are gorgeous and even the sink in the bathroom gives the place a distinct Japanese feel. There's also a very pretty and private outdoor dining area in the back. To top off a perfect meal, there's not cheap jelly beans but Jelly Bellies on the counter on your way out! I love it and will be back for sure! read more

I really loved everything about this place. Every dish we tried was phenomenal - some had a fusion flair, and some were more classic dishes, and they were all delicious. Suzie came and chatted with us a bunch - she's hilarious, tough, and you can tell she loves what she does. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in town! read more

The whitefish Is not to be missed. Absolutely perfect. I had it wIth a fermented plum tea. We also had the Shabu Shabu Beef which was good and completely different set of flavors. The whitefish though is perfect - little lumps of perfEctly cooked moist fish in a subtLe red peppery sauce with cranberries and cilantro all over wheat noodles. Delicious. read more

As other reviewers have noted, the service is dreadful. Stopped here with my teenage daughter on a college visit to Baltimore and found Hampden to be a cool area to explore. With all of the other restaurant choices, I wish we had tried somewhere else for lunch. The lady (Suzie?) that "greeted" us (I use that word loosely, as her recognition of us entering her restaurant was a kind of vague nod in the general direction of the tables, which we assumed meant we should be seated) was not at all friendly the whole time. Took a long time to take our order and then she made it very clear that she did not like that I only got an appetizer while my daughter had a meal. The selections were interesting. The food was OK. We were not asked the entire time if we needed anything or how things were, which I find unacceptable for a restaurant. There was no need for the lack of attention to paying customers (overpaying, I should say as the prices were high for portion/quality.) There was only one other party of two in the dining room and a couple of people on the patio - and this was a Saturday afternoon, so I guess others have caught on and going elsewhere. Would never recommend this place. read more

I walked into this tiny one room restaurant and was greeted by a friendly woman who I assumed to be Suzie. The crowd was very small, the ambiance was funky, and the first thing I noticed was the abundance of fresh veggies in the kitchen. Suzie acted as both head chef and server while the another woman helped her in the kitchen with food prep. The food was traditional, healthy, fresh, and made to order. The experience was so personalized, it felt as if she was a private chef cooking for us in our own home. I would certainly go again, but only with very small groups as seating is limited. Here is a breakdown of what we ate: Special: Spicy Tuna Sashimi in a Half Avocado: The tuna was so fresh a cold, spices were perfect, avocado was perfectly ripe. If I had access to sushi grade tuna, I would eat this on the daily. Vegetable Tempura (Korean style)- Made with fresh veggies, crispy, with delicious (and not too salty) soy and green onion dipping sauce. House salad- Made with fresh spring mix. Dressing was light and refreshing. Chicken Pad Thai- I thought this was just OK. It's not the Americanized version of pad thai that I expected, but it was still very well flavored and the portion was nice and big. read more

Very expensive, but the food is authentic and very flavorful. I've been twice and very much enjoyed the dishes I was served. The service is confusing. There was only one lady there and she is not what I would call "friendly". She is quick and to the point. Doesn't smile. Doesn't engage at all. But there is something about her....can't put my finger on it....you can't help but like her. Maybe it's because she's an old asian lady. And they're just too cute to be mad at. Anyway, it's a great experience. I recommend going once and not taking things personally. Just enjoy the food, your company, and the decor. It's worth the trip. read more

I don't get people liking Susie. She actually yelled at me several times because she didn't like my order. She yelled at me once for asking if I could have something without the mushrooms. My friend got yelled at for asking a dish to be extra spicy ("Is there anyway that can be made with extra peppers? I like a lot of heat." - She took offense to that.). For that kind of service, the mediocre food was not worth it. read more

I went there Friday 12/14/2012. I was in totally shocked when I went and saw only 6 people in the restaurant at 7 pm. I am a chef of 35 years, and I have never been to a restaurant where we saw the owner and waitress pass us at least 15 times without even acknowledging us, my wife just came from her Christmas party and was not hungry, when after 15 minutes if sitting there, the waitress gave us a dirty look when we ordered a meal and an appetizer, Really? when we asked what was good she did not answer and said she will back and came back in 9 minutes despite me staring, I was about to leave but I was hungry. After we ordered, we heard the owner in voices louder than anyone should talk in a ropen kitchen restaurant starting slamming 2 older women and saying they wed stupid and idiots. I was appalled. 10 minutes the appetizers came at the same time as the entree, again REALLY? About the food was bland and the dumplings were doughy and over pan fried, somewhat burnt! The Yook Gae Jang was hot (spicy) but bland, no meat as promised and the noodles were over cooked. I worked in Chicago At Eurasia Restaurant a 4 star Asian fusion restaurant as this really is. The prices were 25% to 30% higher than the website stated and most of the entrees were different than on the menu. I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SUCH RUDE PEOPLE IN MY LIFE AT A SERVICE ORIENTED BUSINESS............... STAY AWAY THE FOOD AT BEST IS LESS THAT ADIQUATE AND THE SERVICE AND STAFF ATTITUDE IS ABSOLUTELY DISGRACEFUL AND SOME SHOULD BE HONEST AND SAY IT TO PROTECT PEOPLE. IN LIFE I "PAY LIFE FORWARD'" AND MY GIFT TODAY IS TO SAY STAY AS FAR AWAY FROM THIS PLACE AS YOU CAN IF THEY ARE THIS BAD WITH THE OBVIOUS WHAT ARE THEY DOING WHEN PEOPLE ARE NOT WATCHING! read more

I've never written a Yelp review before, but I took a first date here (let's call her "Katie"), and decided to make an exception and share my experience. "Katie" and I sat in the beautiful courtyard in the back of the restaurant. When Suzie came out to take our order, I knew it was going to be a memorable dining experience. Suzie has the perfect blend of friendliness and sass. Within 30 seconds, Suzie, "Katie" and I were shooting the breeze like we were old friends. While "Katie" was in the restroom, I told Suzie we were on a first date, and she offered her 2 cents. She told me that Katie was "witty, pretty, and I better make a second date happen". So fingers crossed! Oh yeah, we also had food. It was delicious and the portions were perfect. First Yelp review? Check. read more

Only thing you need to try is the tuna noodle dish! $25 for dinner but totally worth every bite of it! It is out of this world! Probably the best tasting Asian noodle dish I've ever had. I plan to bring my husband back. Fair warning tho, the Asian woman that work behind the counter/host is not very nice. She's got a very alpha attitude and quick/coarse responses. The male server was a real sweetheart, so maybe you can ask for him when you eat. It'll make the visit more enjoyable!! Bon appetit! read more

I've been in this place 3 times and question why I return. Oh. Right.....the food. It certainly isn't the hospitality of the owner. And I'm giving it 2 stars because the food shouldn't get a bad wrap. When we get there THIS time (giving it one last try) the place was empty on a Saturday at 6 pm. We stood there for about 4 minutes when we were finally approached by the owner. She, with a snarky reaction, went to seat us. The table was sticky and dirty so I asked if we could sit somewhere else. My God! You would have thought that I asked for ownership of the place. It's very apparent to me that this woman is a control freak. Anyway her answer was "No!" Period. Just "No". So she threw the menus on another table of her choice. We ordered dinner. The food is always really good. The experience though is like a Thai version of the Soup Nazi. We had to ask for chop sticks and napkins. No napkins...really? After we ate we wanted a dessert. They were out of Tempura Banana. So what they had left was apple pie with a few sorbets. No vanilla ice cream. Oh well. I really try to like this place because of the food. But it's not worth going in to face an angry, controlling and snarky owner. If you don't like the business then get out of it. So, no more. I respect myself and others far too much to continue putting myself in a less than cozy surrounding. read more

The people were unfriendly and with no one there on a Monday night we asked to sit at a particular table and they refused. They rushed us to order and the Mizo soup was just average. read more

Went here with a couple of friends. The food was alright, not bad but nothing to write home about. The reason for 1 star is that about an hour into our stay when we'd nearly finished eating and were mostly chatting, a woman (probably the owner going by the other reviews) came out and started shouting at us to either order more or get out. The place was empty except for us and it was still 4 hours until closing so I have NO idea what her problem was. We were pretty spooked so we each scrambled to get our cash out and pool it, and in the middle of this she returned from the back, snatched the cash from the table, counted, and threw it back down, claiming we were either trying to short her or couldn't count properly. I gave up on splitting the bill in cash with my friends and just used my credit card so we could get out of there ASAP. Completely BAFFLING experience. You could not pay me to return here after all that. Steer clear!! read more

I very seldom write poor reviews of any restaurant - I know how hard it is to keep a place going and how subjective reviews can be. That being said - yikes. The food here was less than mediocre, even by American standards for Asian food (which are pretty low), and way overpriced. My daughter and I were the only ones in here for lunch the other day. We ordered gyoza appetizers, yaki soba, and bibimbap. The gyoza (there were only 4 of them) were obviously of the frozen, pre-made variety that you can pick up at H-mart. The noodles were not really soba type noodles, were overcooked, and the sauce was miserable. The bibimbap was no better. The woman who served/cooked was by turns rude and obnoxious. When I asked for some chili sauce, she actually yelled at me. To top it off, both my daughter and I became ill later in the day (will not go into detail - you can figure it out). A call to the Health Department is in the offing. read more

The food here was honestly very good. The broth was tasty and the noodles were just what I needed on a rainy day. My overall experience wasn't fantastic though due to the poor customer service me and my partner received. Suzie was incredibly friendly when we walked in. After sitting down, we scanned the menu for a couple of minutes. Having a second, I decided to check my email on my phone. Suzie came by and snapped at me for being on my phone saying that, "if I didn't like anything on the menu, that I could leave." I'm assuming she thought I might have been looking up other restaurants in the area? Suzie's snappy remark showed a lack of confidence in her own food, in my opinion. We eventually ordered, Suzie continued with snappy remarks every now and then, and we eventually left after our meal. Maybe you could attribute the negative customer service to cultural differences. I didn't mean to offend, if that is the case. Yet, the snap at a customer checking their phone for a quick second was more a display of poor customer service, in my opinion. read more

This food is amazing. People have the wrong impression about Suzie's attitude - she is actually hilarious and very helpful in pairing drink with food and appetizers with entrees. I just giggle whenever she comes off as pushy or gruff - it's adorable, not offensive. People who complain are maybe used to being coddled, but Suzie is EXTREMELY KNOWLEDGABLE AND AN AMAZING CHEF, so give credit where credit is due and learn to laugh a little. read more

The food here was good and it was it that expensive. The lady thay worked there suggested I drink the pink lime ade and it was really good. I would definitely go back again. read more

Amazing and authentic. You can pay $1 to park for 2 hours so no worries there. It's worth it. This spot has FRESHLY made dishes. The owner is wonderful at offering suggestions. It's like having your own Korean mom cooking for you! Highly recommended. Try the dumplings and one of the Korean specials if it's your first time. read more

This visit was during my business in the Hampden area of Baltimore. I ordered a pho-style beef soup. I was prepared to my order and had just the right level of spiciness. I am considering a trip back to Hampden just for another meal at Suzie's Soba. read more

Ordered carryout, so can't speak to the ambiance, but the service was quick and friendly and we all enjoyed our food. The soba with pork tenderloin was probably the overall favorite, but the pad thai was good (not stellar) and while the servings were a reasonable size, when compared to other noodle places the price seemed a bit steep. I would certainly go back but it's not an instant favorite. read more

I agree with the other reviewers that this place is best avoided. I first ate here two Decembers ago and while the servers were about as abrupt then, at least the food was better. Also they had a young man doing the waiting upon; he is the owner's son, spoke good English and was professional. Sadly he did not wait upon us then but we basked in the glow of his attention to other diners. Tonight, I took a friend there and had not checked reviews before going. Not only the prices were outrageous, the service was non-existent and rude. I was treated condescendingly because I did not want beef in my food. We had the bdekdun(spelling ?) which is an overpriced fried hash of mung beans, cabbage etc. It lacks flavor. We ordered a pho(with tofu substitution) and a beef-noodle dish for my friend. Not worth $38 before tip. read more