I consider myself a "foodie" (over 100 Michelin star restaurants), and holy crap, this place has the best pork XLB I've had in America, better than the best ones in NYC and also better than the US branch of DTF. They also have the best sheng jian bao I've had anywhere and I used to live in China. I was so surprised to find that level of dumpling in a hole in the wall in Milpitas. Their house made lemonade 50% sugar is also perfectly balanced. read more

XLB - 4.5/5 Spicy Beef Noodle Soup - 5/5 (flavorful!) Tomato & Egg Noodle Soup - 4/5 The food is good, but my friends and I always get stomachache issues after eating here several times, so I don't really come here often despite liking the food. I've eaten similar or the same dishes at other Chinese restaurants, and did not experience any digestive issue. Not sure if it's the food or a 'me' problem. Their prices are standard, and the service is OK. The staff are not that attentive, especially when we enter the store and looking to be seated, as there would sometimes be no one at the front, so we would just be standing for a while. read more

I've eaten here three times now, both with friends & family and I've been pleased with the food & service here. They have a wide variety of Chinese dishes, and all can be ordered family style to share, or you can enjoy your meal individually. As the name of the restaurant suggests, - "special noodle", I would highly recommend their dry rice noodles, with beef or lamb. The lamb here is thinly sliced & delicious! I especially love the spicy cumin lamb noodles. I also love their appetizers, this place makes the best soup pan fried buns, popcorn chicken, and fried tofu! Also love that they have xiao long bao here & stir fried green beans, although the flavors differ from din tai fung. The food here is a bit on the pricier side, but the portions are generous. read more

I never tried this place before so I came in after lunch and got the Spicy Dan Dan Noodles. When it came out, I was kind of surprised because the meat came out as a chunk, even though it's grounded. It looked kind of odd, like it's been sitting for a long time and I saw something that kind of looked like solid grease. It was still decent after I smooshed the meat and broke it apart with a spoon but seeing the meat like that kind of lowered my appetite. All in all, the meal wasn't bad for ~$19 with tip but the meat was kind of odd. read more

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I stopped by for lunch and ordered noodles and orange chicken. The orange chicken was tasty, but the noodles weren't my favorite--I've had better elsewhere. I'd consider coming back to try something different. read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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I only been to the Fremont location in the past during a late night outing, but I remember I really liked the chow mein and fried rice. So I suggested this place to my friends as it was getting late for dinner. We all ordered a noodle dish since it was called Special Noodles. We got the Minced Pork Noodles, Spicy Lamb Noodles, and String Beans Veggie Noodles. Service was fine. We were seated quickly and you order yourself using the QR code. We each submitted our order and food took like 10 mins to come out. It was hot and fresh. I liked that we can customize like no spicy, less oil, etc. Other than that, it's a no frills place for noodles and dumplings. It was half empty at 8pm on a Sunday night but I appreciated that since I just wanted a quick meal. Decorations were pretty cute with music blasting. Gave a retro ambiance. read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Old Peking Minced Pork Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

Located in one of the busiest plazas in the milpitas/sj area. This place amongst many others in the plaza was great. The server was really kind and let me wait 15 minutes at a table for my party to arrive. The food was absolutely amazing and I just wanted more. You order through your phone and can keep ordering if you'd like. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the pork just melted in my mouth. Definitely would come here if I'm craving soup. The parking can be atrocious so plan ahead! read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

The food here is excellent. Amazing flavors. This is a modern Chinese restaurant. To order, you must scan a qr code and order from the online menu. No one helps you in this restaurant. They just deliver food. The ambiance is interesting. Its full of hard rock decor. Not sure what was here before but definitely don't remember any jazz location read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Stage - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

I have been to many different locations of this restaurant chain, and this is my first time in this branch in Milpitas Square. Since it was lunch time during the weekend before Chinese New Year, the parking lot was extremely crowded. The decor is kind of cute and the restaurant is rather spacious. My friend and I ordered the "must have" Pork Soup Pan Fried Buns. We also got an order of Pork Steamed Soup Dumplings and their Combination Chow Mein. Food quality was really consistent, the Soup Pan Fried Buns were excellent as always. The bottom of the buns was perfectly crispy and crunchy while the top of the buns was very thin and soft. The inside of the buns was filled with well seasoned fillings and juices. The Pork Steamed Soup Dumplings were also really good. The skin was nice and thin while the inside was juicy and tasty. The Combination Chow Mein was also very well prepared. The servers were very nice, helpful and attentive. I really enjoyed my lunch! read more

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Been going to this restaurant a couple times and the food is delicious every time! If you go during the weekday, there are lots of open tables around dinner time, but weekends expect a wait. Our group of 6 has had to wait 20-30 minutes before, but service and food is worth it! Always cutely decorated with the seasons and clean interior. Our servers are super nice and friendly and checked in on us often. When a pair of chopsticks rolled off the table, they were there with a fresh pair before we even said anything! CUCUMBER SALAD 4/5: not too much flavor besides sesame oil and salt but a refreshing addition to the dishes PAN FRIED SOUP DUMPLINGS 5/5: hot and juicy, perfect crisp on the bottom too. I like adding some vinegar and soy sauce to it but great flavor on its own SPICY BEEF NOODLE SOUP 3.5/5: in my opinion I thought it was a bit too oily but flavor is there! Def has a numbing spice to it DAN DAN NOODLES 1000000/5: my favorite dish there. There isn't even much meat in there but the sauce is so good. I love it with flat noodles to adhere all the sauce to. Good balance of veggies too. It says numbing spice but every time I've gotten it, there has been no spice, which is what I prefer for this actually. Overall, great spot and would come back! read more

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I went recently with my partner to meet a new friend and we stood awkwardly at the front for a minute or so waiting for someone to greet us because we didn't know if we could seat ourselves especially since you order via a QR code. The food was sooo good though and I've been a couple years before and the food quality is still the same. I also like the jazzy vibes inside. Food: - spicy beef mixed noodles: 5/5 the spice hurt but it hurt good - custard bun: 5/5 didn't realize it was a lava bun or forgot that's what black custard buns are like so it was a surprise but a delicious surprise - pork and crab roe dumpling: 3/5 not a fan would def skip next time - snowflake pan fried dumpling: 5/5 so so good I want to come back and eat more of this read more

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It's a solid place to go for dinner. The food is always good. The food also comes out fast and super hot. So warning, give the dishes a few minutes before starting The staff are friendly and are attentive with water but are definitely understaffed for dinner rushes. We went on a Friday night for dinner and were immediately seated and given water. Our waters were being refilled constantly until the crowds came in. Then it looked like the staff was trying their best to serve, clean, and come back to guests. I wonder why the restaurant wouldn't staff more people on weekends. We orders the salt and pepper chicken, pork belly noodles, spicy wonton soup, and snowflake pan fried dumplings. All of the dishes were delicious and piping hot. This is one of our go to spots read more

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A Chinese restaurant located at the Milpitas Square plaza that speciallizes in Chinese noodles. The menu had a wide variety of choices beyond noodles, such as dumplings, stir fries, and desserts. We got the pork and crab soup dumplings and beef stone noodle soup. Both seemed to be quite popular and it took about 15min for the food to be ready. The soup dumplings were super juicy! The skin was thin and when you bite it, the soup just burst into your mouth (it could be hot so be careful!) The soup was light and had a hint of crab. The meat inside was well seasoned too. I was a bit disappointed at the beef stone noodle soup though. The proportions of soup, beef and noodles were quite off. When it was served, we could only see a large pot of soup. We had to dig out the beef and noodles using a spoon, yet there was just not enough beef and other ingredients. There was a single piece of meatball, tofu, fishball, and a few slices of cucumber and beef. Nevertheless, the soup itself was tasty and nicely seasoned. I'd recommend the soup dumplings but not any of the stone noodle soups though. Ordering was self-serve through a QR code. The restaurant got pretty crowded during peak hours. There was plenty of parking at the plaza but it also tended to be full during peak hours. read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Pork And Crab Roe Soup Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Comforting meal, affordable, good service, and just place to go that's cozy. Enjoyed the food every time i've gone and the service is amazing. Food is comforting and just filling after a tiring day of work. read more

I was looking for a soup dumpling place and came across this restaurant. Got greeted by the workers and sat down and ordered. To order, it's a QR code that's provided on the table. Ordered and few things but my favorite was the snow flake pan fried dumplings! I loved the texture of the dumpling crust. read more

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I'll rate this place a solid 7/10. The braised beef noodle soup was rlly good but had a strong sichuan spice which for me wasn't the best but for those who love the numbness of the spice it'll be great. Dumplings was also rlly good. Definitely recommend this spot read more

Spacious, nicely decorated noodle place. Loved the vibe woody, warm, cozy. Not many servers but food came out pretry quickly once served. Hospitality is great and the food piping hot. We ordered the panfried soup dumplings (not puffy bao ones), cucumber salad ($12) and beef stew noodle soup ($24). The cucumber was refreshing but could have done without. Beef noodle in pot was delicious sichuan pepper and hand pulled noodles only. That was a tie as the star of the show with the pan fried soup dumplings. Dumpling center was not your typical Pork, but a seasoned redish color pork That was so flavorful and not spicy. Highly recommend this place and def order the dumplings. read more

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I ordered the dan dan noodles and they were really good. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the sauce had just the right hint of spice to make it really satisfying without being overwhelming. I ordered for pickup, and my food was ready fairly quickly. It's in a plaza that is really busy and parking can be hard to find during peak hours. Restaurant is nice inside and pretty spacious. Portions are pretty big and price is also pretty reasonable. read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Dan Dan Noodles - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

Noodle soup is delicious but I don't recommend their crab dumplings, salty and not worth it. Price is on the high end.

I found this place through Instagram and wanted to try it out. Luckily for me, Special Noodle is in the Milpitas Plaza so parking is pretty good. Overall, it lived up to the hype. I went with my family and we loved the crispy buns and lamb flat noodles. It was flavorful and a bit spicy. For the buns, the crunch with the soup and meat was so satisfying. I'd give the food an 8/10, mostly because I'm not great with spicy food but so worth it. The price isn't bad but it can add up depending on what you order. The soup dumplings are delicious but aren't the most filling so we ended up ordering 3 more to actually be full. (This was for 4 people) The service was friendly and helpful. The only reason I'm giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is that a lot of the plates were chipped or cracked, which isn't great for my parents. I hope they fix those soon but I would come back just to eat the buns and dumplings again read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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I've been waiting to try Special Noodle for a while! The verdict: I think it's just okay. Upon walking in, you seat yourself and ordering is done via QR code. There's pretty minimal interaction with the servers, as they only come out when food is served or when you click on the help button lol. Some highlights: the pork belly! The cons: the food really isn't as spicy as it says it is, so take it with a grain of salt (though I do have a higher spice tolerance lol). I was really excited to trying the dan dan noodles, but it just tasted like regular pork noodles. There's a LOT of seating here so that's a huge plus, especially if you have a larger group. The food also comes out pretty quickly! They were having a promotion the time I visited, where if you spend over $88, you get a free order of XLB. read more

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When you first walk in it feels welcoming and it has a lot of tables and chairs. It is more of a wide open space. You scan the QR code for the menu and you order from there or the waiter. It has a nice vibe and it never gets too loud or noisy once you're in there. It's very family style, you order to share or not. If you haven't tried their pan fried dumplings, you're missing out! The inside has a perfectly seasoned filling that has a little broth and the texture of the wonton is not dry but taste freshly made. The bottom of the wonton is fried and it has a great crispy, crunchy texture, I love it! It's so tasty! I think it's the best in town! I really enjoyed their food here. I've also tried the noodles which were a big hit! You just can't go wrong with the good! The food is so tasty and it's not heavy from the msg. I love the flavor and it's perfectly seasoned. The service is quick and the waiters are very nice and accommodating. I don't have to ask for refills or for much because they check up on you. read more

My friends and I tried Special Noodle in Milpitas for the first time. There are multiple locations now, and I've seen a lot of buzz for this place, so we gave it a try. It's a casual spot with loud music and lots of wood decor--tables, chairs, wall paneling, and slats decorating the ceiling. I'm not a fan of restaurants where it's so loud you can't hear your companions talk, but let's get to the food. We ordered Soup Pan Fried Buns, which was the favorite dish of the day. The bottoms were nicely brown and the steamy filling was soupy. We tried their salt & pepper chicken and salt and pepper ribs. I had high hopes for those two, but they were not like the Cantonese versions I love. There were spices that I'm not used to eating a lot of, maybe cumin? The coloring had an orange hue. Anyway, we also tried their Beef Wrap, Spicy Beef Noodle Soup, and the Braised Pork Belly Mixed Noodles. Nothing was bad, but we didn't enjoy the food as much as the hype and expectations. read more

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Plenty of seating on a weekday night. Staff is friendly. We ordered through QR code and got our food pretty quickly. Food is solid. Beef noodle soup is numbing spicy and good portion size. Red chili wontons were also yummy as well! Would come again. read more

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First time trying stone pot noodles! The flavor of the soup was so unique, unlike anything I've ever had before, and it was absolutely delicious. I was curious how the numbing spice would pair with the beef stone pot soup, but it completely exceeded my expectations. A must-try side dish is the pan-fried soup dumplings. The bottom of the dumpling was perfectly crispy and added such a satisfying texture. I'm officially choosing these over regular soup dumplings from now on. Both of these dishes are definitely worth trying. The portions were perfect for two people, and we left feeling really full and satisfied. The restaurant is located in a large plaza with lots of dessert places nearby, which is a nice bonus after your meal. Parking is super easy with a big lot right outside. Highly recommend trying both dishes! read more

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The first time I saw this restaurant is actually the one by Fremont. Didn't know they have a location at Milpitas. Anyways, it was a busy Saturday night, the plaza it is in is full so it's hard to find parking. Entering the restaurant, we're able to be seated right away as it's moderately busy. To get the menu, you need to scan the QR code that is placed by the table. My friend and I ordered combination chowmein, spicy beef, and Dan Dan noodles. To all the food we ordered, the one I like the most would be the spicy beef. For someone who loves to eat spicy, it's good as it hits my spice level and it lingers. I told my friend that after eating the spicy beef first, the dan dan noodles is nothing compared to it based on the spicy level. I made a comparison with all 3 dishes that we have that the combination chowmein + spicy beef is basically the dan dan noodles lol. The spicy beef is so tender and flavorful. The combination chowmein tasted good too and the meat that it has is also very tender. The chicken meat that it has is thin and soft so it's easier to eat compared to other combination chowmein. The restaurant reminded me like a bar setting that's good for catching up and hangout with friends kind of vibe that has good food. Definitely will go back and try more dishes. read more

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I was skeptical about this restaurant at first due to the jazz-themed Americana decorations lining the walls. There's a time and place for that type of experience, but I don't expect good Chinese food from such an atmosphere. I'm glad to be wrong! The spicy beef noodle soup packs a lot of flavor. The broth tastes different from most of the beef noodle soups I've tried throughout the years but still provides that comfort food type of feeling. Milpitas Square has no shortage of noodle shops, but this one puts a unique spin on their dishes that earn them their spot! read more

One star for the extremely salty noodle dishes and the very rude response I received when I asked the Chinese server boy for an empty bowl so I could share the noodles with my wife. The food was disappointing, but the poor service made the experience even worse. read more

Gave this place another try and this time was not disappointed! I think we ordered almost everything on the menu . Order off a tablet they provide or on your phone. Service was fast maybe because we were first one there for lunch. Plenty of seatings, but make sure to come early as it gets packed at lunch. We ordered Chive pancake soso Fresh Noodle soup flavors was there but wished it was piping hot. Green beans ok not crunchy flavor is good X0 good Fried buns good Steam dumplings good Mincemeat noodle good Popcorn chicken good read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Sorry I took after pictures we cleaned up - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

inside vibes were interesting - not exactly sure what style to describe the decorations cup was DIRTY .... p gross clear broth beef noodle soup - 7/10 mostly was just a lot of noodles, beef was mostly tendon :( crawfish noodle thing - 6/10 not much meat - mostly a butt load of sauce, tofu piece was soakedddddd in oil, also was not expecting spice but it hits out of nowhere; definitely a grease-heavy meal table next to usleft like half their food so lol read more

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I didn't anticipate an Asian restuarant to have a semi jazz club vibe but omg i loved it! Came here after an event with friends. We order a variety dishes: the cucumber salad which was light and refreshing on a hot summer day. Two different types of soups that were clean and refreshing ironically for a hot soup . The coconut dessert balls were crunchy and delightful . The green onion pancake was super crispy not too oily and just flavored right. I didn't help myself to the green onion pancake beef roll but my best friend who had it said it was absolutely superb. Service was very quick and excellent I would recommend eating and want to go again soon read more

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The food here is absolutely amazing--every dish we tried was full of flavor, well-prepared, and clearly made with care. Their pan fried XLB is a MUST! If you're coming strictly for the food, you won't be disappointed. That said, don't expect great service. The staff aren't friendly, and the overall vibe always feels a bit rushed. So if you're planning to go, just know it's worth it for the food--but manage your expectations when it comes to hospitality. Get in early, enjoy the meal, and don't be surprised if you're nudged out the door before closing time. read more

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Came here after seeing it featured by a food reviewer on social media. The dishes looked phenomenal online, so I visited with two friends. We ordered the soup dumplings, cucumbers, combination chow mein (beef, chicken, and shrimp), potstickers, green beans, and eggplant. The ambience was okay, but the music was quite loud, which made it difficult to have a conversation without talking over each other. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time, but unfortunately, the service left a lot to be desired. Each of us was given just one thin napkin, and it took over 20 minutes to get a second round of water -- and that only happened after our server finally checked in with us. As for the food, it was average at best. The standout dish was the green beans and eggplant -- flavorful and well-prepared. Everything else was just okay. The chili oil was especially disappointing: no crunch at all, just oil with barely any chili. We asked the server if we could try a different batch, thinking maybe it was just the bottom of the container, but he dismissed the request and said, "All our chili oil is the same, it wouldn't make a difference." He did bring Thai chilies, which helped with heat, but if you love chili oil, you know it's more about texture and flavor than just spice. To top it off, our combination chow mein came with only one shrimp, which was surprising and disappointing considering the dish's name and price. Overall, I'm not in a rush to come back. With lackluster service, average food, and hit-or-miss flavors, I don't feel motivated to explore the rest of the menu. Tip: If you're coming during dinner hours, be prepared for a challenge finding parking, as the area is busy with other restaurants. read more

四姐 Special Noodle - Only one shrimp in the combination chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Like many, this restaurant found itself doing just fine catering to Chinese clientele. I completely don't mind at all. The ordering process, also like many like it, was 100% electronic. The waitress gave us a tablet and we took our sweet time scrolling, exploring, and clicking. When we committed, she taped a slip of confirmed dishes on the table and brought utensils. It's really more relaxing and efficient than the "traditional" in-person way. There's, of course, no conversations such as "what do you recommend...." The dishes were all delicious. We liked the rice-noodle clam soup. It was laced with prickly pepper to produce the numbing sensation (not spicy hot). This is very SiChuan. We othered other dishes non-spicy and they were rich in flavors and also showed good and fresh ingredients. I was actually surprised at the cooking quality as its deco was more bar-like. Had too much fun and forgot to take pictures. read more

Special Noodle Milpitas is located in the Ranch 99 center on Barber Lane. The menu is pretty much identical with the other Special Noodle restaurants and part of a chain. The Szechuan dishes are very adequate and are a good lunch option. Plus they are open all day. Basic interior decor. Their XLB's are big and surprisingly good. We ordered the following items. Preserved egg with eggplant salad 5 stars comes in a wooden mortar and you can mash it together. Spicy beef noodle soup 4 stars pretty mush my staple go to, choice of noodles Braised pork belly 4 stars small portions. Zha Jiang mein 3 stars Service is good. Order by QR code. Plenty of parking in the large shopping center read more

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We went here pretty late around 9 PM after a long day hiking. They informed us that they would close at 9:50 PM sharp so we had to order and eat quickly. Looking around I saw that there were a ton of locals there which I knew was a great sign! We ordered some pork dumplings, chicken lo mein, lamb cumin, a lamb noodle dish, and a fried dumpling. All of these items were ordered using a QR code on the phone so it was easy and efficient. When the food came in we were in heaven. Every dish was nearly a 10/10. Some of the best dumplings I've ever had were here. The lamb noodle dish was also to die for, especially due to the perfect texture of noodle. There was also chili oil, chili crunch, vinegar and soy sauce at every table. On food alone I would give this place a 5 stars but i have to deduct a star because the sauces provided at the table were extremely sticky. I'm not sure the last time they were cleaned. Also we felt a bit rushed with the waiter telling us we had to order and eat quickly. I did love the food though and I think that alone makes it worth revisiting! read more

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We went here for lunch. They don't have paper menus. We had to scan the QR Code at our table for the menu. They have an extensive menu. The music was too loud and not very relaxing. We had to talk over the music. We ordered the Braised Ribs With Mixed Noodles, Stuffed Fish Balls, Pork Soup Pan Fried Buns, and the Snowflake Potstickers. Our food came out in a timely manner. The Braised Pork Ribs were tender but on the salty side. The Stuffed Fish Balls and their Signature Pork Soup Pan Fried Buns were deceiving. They don't look anything like the pictures on the menu. The stuffed fish balls were smaller than the picture and the pork soup pan fried buns were kind of sad looking. Both dishes tasted fine, but we weren't overly impressed. As one of their signature dishes they pride themselves with, it was overrated and undervalued. The best dish that we had were the snowflake potstickers. The potstickers were crispy on the outside and the fillings were tasty. After we dined here, we were very thirsty for the rest of the day. The service was lacking. There were hardly any interactions between us and the servers other than the servers bringing the food to our table...and one of the servers stood right next to me to make sure I leave him a decent tip him on their payment device. I felt uncomfortable to tip him what he deserved, but whatever...we won't be back. read more

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This has got to be my go to place for when my craving for the beef wrap hits! The meat and sauce were so flavorful and the outer wrapper weren't too oily either. You get a pretty big portion, definitely share with another person. The employee at the register was super nice when I came in for my online order pick up. I would come back again and dine in. The restaurant is super spacious and clean looking. read more

The restaurant has a relaxed, low key atmosphere. It's not upscale, but it feels comfortable and well kept. The service was decent, friendly, and attentive without being intrusive. Overall, it's a reliable choice if you're in the mood for Chinese food with good flavor. I'd come back mainly for the dishes. read more

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We come here for the juicy Pan Fried Buns, XLBs, pot stickers and various steamed dumplings. The Pan Fried Dumplings here are among the best we have tried- full of juicy goodness and served PIPING HOT! Beware! lol We love the food here as it is a more accessible and inexpensive, yet pleasant alternative to the big name fancy dumpling places elsewhere. A couple of years ago, this place was called "Yummy Yummy Bao", but they just changed the name of the restaurant, yet retaining what seems to be the same exact menu items. Inside you'll find a nice semi-fancy air conditioned interior with dark wood tables and decor. The service is friendly and efficient. They do a good job of keeping your water glasses filled here too. Yup.. Special Noodle is on our regular dining rotation whenever we are in the area! read more

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