Noodle Dynasty is a Berkeley must-try if you're in the area. There's a reason why it is always so…read morecrowded! Since there is fairly limited seating, wait times can be rough, especially if you're going during lunch or dinner rush. I've waited 30-45 minutes before. The restaurant is pretty small so tables are pretty close to each other and it may be difficult to be seated quickly if you're going in with a larger group. That asides, the food as Noodle Dynasty is unmatched. I typically get their noodle soups, which are a massive portion size, & appetizers, such as lamb skewers, spicy wontons, and chinese doughnuts. To this day, I think that the spicy wontons are the best in the area - super flavorful beyond just the chili oil taste. Definitely recommend getting these! You order on a tablet & food comes out so fast. Could not recommend this place enough!

They open at 5 and since I was very hungry, I asked them to sit indoors around 4:45pm until they…read morestart serving. Not only were they accommodation but they allowed me to order early. I did not expect that at all. I ordered tomato and egg lo mein - it was a very comforting dish. I did not have any leftovers.

I highly recommend Noodle Fresh! The staff was so friendly and welcoming. I actually walked in just…read moreto use the bathroom, but I noticed they had a lunch special and decided to give it a try. I ordered the noodles with chicken and vegetables, and everything came out fresh and very quickly. One of the ladies was especially friendly and even offered me some water while I waited. The atmosphere was amazing--very spacious, clean, and beautifully lit. Great food, great service, and a great atmosphere. I'll definitely be back!

Okay guys don't steal my lunch spot!!!!! Best value because…read moreof the portion and price. Food was quick and delicious~~ The restaurant was also clean and the seating area is very comfortable. Service is also great 10/10 for me~

I love their hokkein noodles! I've been here twice this month, and I'd probably go more often if I…read morelived closer. I love the build your own bowl- and the serving is big enough for me to have a box of leftovers. The first time I got a mix of the Thai and Malay sauces with chicken- and that was great. The second time I got just the Malay sauce. I think next time I'd mix it with the Thai again for the extra layer of spice on top of peanut. For balance.

First time trying this place. I love eating noodles so it's amazing to see so many different…read moreselection of noodles and sauces on the menu. My family ordered garlic noodles, laksa soup rice noodles, pad see ew, and a recommendation with noodles and Thai plus Malay sauces. The portions were plenty and 5 of us got plenty full and still had some leftovers. The place was clean and had counter service. Food came to our table very quickly as it wasn't crowded at the time. We enjoyed it very much!

Special Noodle is located in Pacific East Mall towards the back. Ordered a pretty big spread that…read moreconsisted of beef rolls, dumplings, fried rice, and salt and pepper chicken bites. The dumplings were delicious and even better with some chili oil. The chicken fried rice had huge chunks of egg and chicken which I loved with a deep soy flavor. The salt and pepper chicken was decent, I think I prefer salt and pepper wings/fish/shrimp. The beef rolls weren't for me, though. It's typically one of my favorite dishes but it seemed to be lacking beef & I wasn't a fan of the lettuce filling or the roll itself being a bit too soft and doughy. Overall, a good experience. Our server was nice and everything came out quick!

The soup pan fried buns...the soup pan fried buns..the soup pan fried buns..saying this three times…read moremay stick ;) Wow, will definitely be back for these! So delicious..plump/juicy/crispy and golden brown..chef's kiss. Special Noodle in the Pacific East Mall has delicious noodle dishes, small bites/dim sum, and a pretty extensive and unique dining menu. We ordered a combination chow mein and pan fried buns. FYI, the pan fried buns take a bit of additional time and come piping hot. I would wait a few minutes before eating, or check out a video on @yelpbayarea of how to eat soup dumplings! Another note, you order from an iPad that's handed to you upon arrival once seated. Make sure after you 'add items to cart' you submit your order. We left that step out and didn't realize until a few minutes later. Staff is friendly and make sure to ask if anything additional is needed like napkins, etc. Overall a fun experience, fair pricing, located in the hustle and bustle of the mall, and cool digs if you're looking for a comfortable dining experience without the frills.

The food was amazing and the staff was very kind! It was all very flavorful and delicious! Highly…read morerecommend!

*Great ambiance, feels like a great mix of walking into a corner food stop in China or visiting an…read moreold friends house ** Service is attentive with great recs and an adorable robot **** So easily accessible and price range is so good compared to the portion size ***** One of my favorite Chinese joints in Oakland now 谢谢

Started off with the fresh rolls and corn cakes. The fresh rolls lived up to their name of being…read morefresh and they were a good size with a perfect crunch. The corn cakes were fried just right so they were golden on the outside but soft on the inside and the slaw and sweet sauce elevated it. I would get both appetizers again. For entrees we had: Mama Pad Kee Moa (3.5/5) - instant noodles with fresh veggies and very thin beef. Flavor was good, but the beef missed the mark because it was lacking. Massaman Gai Curry (5/5) - the curry was so flavorful in this dish and the soft potato complimented it very well. Definitely the winner of the night. Chicken Khao Pad (Fried Rice) (3/5) - rice was a little too dry and the thinly cut chicken again did not pop out in the dish. Overall, very fresh and authentic Thai dishes. Service was fast and attentive. There are plenty of seating options to dine in, but I also saw a lot of take out orders. Street parking can be difficult on Shattuck but easier to find on the side streets.

No complaints about the service; they were quick and very friendly…read more Unfortunately, I was not the biggest fan of the food. The green curry noodles came with vermicelli, and I wanted to try it since it's what they recommend, but it just was not the right texture for the curry I felt. The flavor of the curry itself was not super flavorful. I felt like more coconut milk could have been added to coat the noodles more. The spring rolls were good. I enjoyed the peanut sauce. We also sat at the front by the door, and it was rather cold in that seat.

I'm assuming this location has a poor star rating due to service/procedures, because the location…read moreand food itself is good. We popped in on a Sunday, right before 11, but unfortunately they were late to open the doors by about 5 minutes. Once they did open the doors, we found the tempura options weren't ready so we had to stand to the side and wait a little longer for them to get those out. They had several posters and signs up advertising the new Tomatama curry, which I really wanted but when I ordered, the employee informed me they don't offer that sauce anymore. I let her know all the signs outside say they do.. she said they didn't realize that and they have to be replaced. She was really nice, but that was a bummer. She said I could sample the sauces they do have though, so that was the consolation prize. It did help me choose between their normal curry or the new Bolognese. After you choose the udon option you want, they make your bowl and give it to you on a lunch tray, along with a paper container to put your tempura options. I went with the Big Chicken ($5) and sweet potato ($2 something). You can top your bowl with as much tempura flakes and green onions you like, which is nice because I love me some green onions. At the end, the cashier will ring you up and then you find your seat. The dining area is nice. It's well lit, aesthetic but we haaaaate the chairs with a passion. There is no back support unless you sit in a booth. I really like that all the utensils, napkins, to go items, tempura sauce, etc are all available to grab as needed. I also like that they have chili powder! A must for us spicy eaters. The tempura sauce is rich, and flavorful. A little sweet, but it balances the tempura well. They also have katsu and gyoza sauce in packets. Pro tip - use the larger cups instead of the plastic sauce cups to dispense the tempura sauce, so that it's easier to dip! Wow this was long winded, but onto the food. The regular size bowl will have you full but you can opt for a Large for a couple bucks more. My bolognese was sooooo creamy and savory, and made even better by adding the chili powder and a couple spoons of the tempura sauce. Don't ask me why, it just works. I don't know if it's just a seasonal item, but hopefully not, as the sauce works. I like that i clung to the noodles well too but def get yourself a spoon to help ladle the meat alongside each bite of noodles. The big chicken isn't that big lol But it's basically 1 chicken thigh. I appreciate the dark meat, as it keeps the meat juicy. The sweet potato had the perfect batter on it, but tbh I probably could have gone without another starch. I had a sip of the Creamy broth and the Nikutama my sisters had. Creamy broth was savory and creamy, but it didn't have a bold enough flavor for me. The nikutama is sweet af.. way too sweet for me. But i liked how tender the beef was. There's street parking, free on Sundays. I wouldn't wait in line to eat here, but for a quick, comforting meal, this will hit the spot without breaking the bank.

Rude and dirty! We came because we'd gone to the sister…read morelocation in Hawaii and we loved it so much. But this location was disgustingly dirty, the staff were snippy and rude, and so much of the tempura was ice cold. The ginger and dipping sauce station was crusty and empty. We were super disappointed we made the trip out to Berkeley for this. The plus side? The udon was delicious. but after sitting at sticky tables, and seeing how the rest of the restaurant looked, I'm worried about the food safety of the areas we could see.

This is a cute little noodle and tea house that really hit the spot. I was craving noodles, and…read morethey definitely delivered. I ordered the Canton Seafood Stir Fry, which came with plenty of seafood and fresh-tasting noodles. The portion was generous, and everything came together really well. My husband ordered the Sweet & Sour Chicken, and he really enjoyed it too. It even came with rice, which feels like a nice bonus these days! Another pleasant surprise--they serve wine, too! We'll definitely keep this place in mind the next time we're craving noodles.

Update: Thank you for your response and for taking this seriously. I only remember that the man was…read morean older white male driving a white car, but unfortunately I didn't notice the make. A friend of mine was also stopped by the same person when driving through the alley before, so this doesn't seem to be an isolated incident. I had previously been told that he might be associated with the restaurant, so I appreciate the clarification and your willingness to look into it. Original comment: I've been a regular customer at Noodles Fresh for a long time, and I've often entered through the Kearney St. entrance to pick up food. Tonight, at around 8:45 PM, I was simply walking through the small alley next to the restaurant's back entrance when an older white man in a car, who appeared to be associated with the restaurant, called out to me and told me that it was a "private parking area" and that I should not walk through there. His tone was unnecessarily rude and confrontational, especially since I was just passing by and had done nothing wrong. If pedestrians are not allowed to use that area, there should be clear signage or some kind of barrier indicating that it is private property. If there is an open walkway with no clear notice, I don't understand why someone should be spoken to so rudely simply for walking through it. As a longtime customer, I found the interaction extremely unpleasant and disrespectful. Unfortunately, after this experience, I will not be returning to Noodles Fresh.

Excellent food and service. Very friendly staff. Food is clean and fresh. All the dishes we had…read morewere great, both times we went. Lao cuisine is similar to Thai, but better! They use less sugar, which allows other flavors to come forward, while also being healthier. Definitely going to be a regualr spot for us.

So blown away. My fiance and I tried this place on a whim after signing up for the InKind app at my…read moresister in law's suggestion. We decided to try this place craving something new, and we weren't disappointed. It wasn't busy around 6pm, but the vibes were really cute inside. I love the patio area they have. Would be perfect for a group meet up on a nice day. We ordered the pork sausage to start, the saikoo which according to my fiance is a must for laotian food, the yellow curry, and the crab fried rice. Everything was genuinely amazing. Here are my rankings below: Sausage: 8.5/10 Crab Fried Rice: (with the fish sauce) 9.5/10 Saikoo: (with the fish sauce) 9.5/10 Yellow Curry: 9/10 Would definitely order everything again. It's not quite thai, but thai with a twist I'd say. Bit on the pricey side, but everything was so fresh and you can see where the chefs are making everything, so you know you're getting quality. And the portions honestly made it really worth it. Such a great place! Will 100% be back.

Came around 5PM on a Sunday and were seated after 15 minutes. The restaurant is not super big, but…read morethey offer indoor and outdoor seating. Ordered pad kee mao, pad thai, baby back ribs, spicy fried rice and beef salad for the table to share. Food comes out quickly after placing an order.The spicy fried rice has a kick to it, but a great option if you like spicy. There was no option to select a spice level when we ordered the pad kee mao, and it came out spicy. It doesnt come with basil but instead its stirfried with green beans, red pepper and tomatoes. Can't go wrong with pad thai. It was saucy with all the flavors of sweet, salty and sour. The baby back ribs are a must try! Some pieces have bones, while others do not. The meat is deep fried, but each piece is tender and juicy. It wasn't too greasy and was delicious when paired with the sweet and sour sauce. The grilled beef salad was a refreshing dish tossed with herbs, green apple and red onions in a lime and fish sauce dressing. The one downside was that the beef was a little tough. I can see why there is almost always a line out the door. Will definitely be back again to try other items on the menu

Service for walk-in takeout was extremely fast so great if you're in a hurry. Spring rolls order…read moreand received in 10 secs - literally just a few seconds. Prices though are through the roof relative to quality and quantity. Small portions even for an appetizer but sufficient for what I wanted. Plus a drink $19. I'm thinking you'll spend close to $50 for lunch with an entree.