HiroNori Craft Ramen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (964) • $$

"First and foremost, the ramen is excellent. The broth is rich with umami, and the noodles have a great mouth feel. Other than that, the roasted pork in the regular tonkatsu set is delicious and satisfying. The combo said it's only six more dollars, and it comes with a bowl of rice and a size salad, which is more than I could finish today Overall, this is a stand out Ramen restaurant that either is learned from the failings of others, or never followed in their trendy footsteps in the first place"

Udon Mugizo Mountain View

★★★★☆ 4.3 (942) • $$

"Traditional, and Unique Udon!You can choose to sit either indoors or outdoors at this restaurant. The server was friendly and he recommended some menu items. Aside from regular udon, they also offered creative options like ramen-style or pasta-inspired udon. With so many choices, it's a great spot for first-timers trying udon.Beef Sukiyaki Udon:Since it was cold, I went with a hot pot-style udon to warm up. The slightly sweet broth became even more flavorful with a sprinkle of shichimi chili powder from the table--it added a nice kick and tasted amazing!"

Chai Thai Noodles - Oakland

★★★★☆ 4.1 (983) • $$

"Great people, the tea tastes amazing and overall the food is awesome. Highly recommend this place to anyone looking for the Asian Cuisine"

Bing's Dumpling

★★★★☆ 4.1 (977) • $$

"Passed by this place for what feels like my entire life and only getting to try it now. The xiaolongbao here are as flavorful and satisfying as any high end restaurant I've been to. We weren't too hungry so kept to that and their pot stickers, which fried bottoms are coated with sesame seeds. Staff are friendly and it's a small but clean place. Four stars only because we didn't try enough food to give a proper evaluation, but what we did have was super tasty. Definitely returning."

Marufuku Ramen - Cupertino

★★★★★ 4.5 (720) • $$

"Marufuku is one of my favorite ramen to go to spots! So when they brought it down to Cupertino, I was ecstatic! The flavors in their ramen is so rich and makes each bite so delicious every time. I've tried multiple ramen places but always come back to this one. I always get their tonkatsu ramen. DX just means you get thicker cut of meat and some extra items in your bowl. I typically like thicker ramen noodles but this one comes with the thinner ones and it's actually perfect. I also always get their chasu rice bowl too. Very delicious! My friend got their chicken and it was juicy and came out sizzling! Service is always incredibly attentive. The restaurant is always clean and the decor is modern and beautiful. I came here during a weekend one time and the wait was pretty long, like 1.5hrs. Probably also because we had 6 of us but might be easier to snag a table with 2-4 people in a group. My friend was able to add our names to the list in person but still had to wait. During lunch hours and weekdays are usually not too bad. Parking can be tricky during busy hours but there's a ton of parking spaces shared with many other shops. Overall I do highly recommend. This place have always been one of the first restaurants I always recommend and take non locals to try. It never disappoints."

AZIT

★★★★☆ 4.2 (775) • $$

"The EPITOME of Korean comfort food and late night cravings. I am salivating as I type this review and missing all the flavors of each dish. Everything I tried was absolutely delicious, but my favorites were the Spicy Carbonara Rice Cakes, AZIT rice, and Garlic Bossam. The rice cakes were creamy, spicy, and umami. The Azit rice was cheesy, savory, and addictive The Garlic Bossam was the perfect refreshing bite with the lettuce wrap and assorted pickled veggies. Loved the garlic sauce on the pork. Was my first time trying this and it won't be my last. You'll also be blown away by the portions of basically everything here. Perfect for big groups to share! Great night life ambience. It's pretty dark inside but nicely decorated! Very unique. Our waitress was super nice and helpful. We had a delicious and enjoyable dine. Highly recommend to everyone!"

Wild Ginger

★★★★☆ 4.3 (719) • $$

"Wild Ginger makes the best biang biang noodles I have ever had in the states, hands down. Run, don't walk!!!!!!! Truly some of the best noodles I've ever had in my life. Extremely reasonable prices, friendly staff, cozy intimate feeling seating, and in a great location!"

Tay Ho Oakland Restaurant & Bar

★★★★☆ 3.9 (830) • $$

"Love this place. Never had a dish I didn't like. It's always bustling but I live near by so I take it to go. Staff is great."

Silver Spoon Gourmet Cuisine

★★★★☆ 3.8 (870) • $$

"This is a great choice here in town. Tasty dishes and good service. The flavors are robust and the food is prepared fresh."

Coup De Thai

★★★★☆ 4 (744) • $$

"Was craving some Thai food and I had this spot on my bucket list for a while so I knew I had to slide thru so here I am.I started off with some tapas. The dragon balls and the chicks on a stick. The dragon balls were pretty good. I like how it had the right amount of spiciness to it and that it wasn't overpowering. The chicks on the sticks (chicken satay) was also a hit. I also ordered the Panang curry w/beef. The Panang curry has a nice blend of sweet and savoriness to it. For drink, I ordered the Thai tea and it was delicious. The service here was really good as well. My waitress Bella gave me a great rundown of the menu, was attentive in checking in, and often refilled my water. The restaurant itself is small but it is very nicely decorated. All in all, a nice authentic Thai spot. I definitely recommend checking this spot out! Try it out if you like. :)"

Dumpling Depot

★★★★☆ 3.8 (794) • $$

"Solid, no frills, affordable. This is a hole-in-the-wall dumpling shop but surprisingly still has plenty of seating and good service. The food comes out pretty fast and hot! I really like their beef noodle soup. It's good and consistent. They are slightly cheaper than nearby Top Dumpling."

Pho San Jose

★★★★☆ 4.2 (633) • $$

"If there's one thing I know, it's that San Jose in the state of California has thee best pho - without a doubt. Knowing that the Vietnamese community is so strong here - Their soup has be cooking none stop for that deep broth that a lot of other places strive for but within a shorter cooking time. This place, the ambiance is golden. Beautifully picturesque, clean, spacious, and organized - we absolutely knew we were in for a whole 'nother experience that what we've been privy to. When we first got there, the staff was super nice and was able to seat us as soon as we walked in the door. The servers were especially patient with us as we needed some time to look over the menu (we did not know about the hype) and was able to order the San Jose Bowl with additional bone marrow and ribs, Cowboy Pho with side of boneless ribs, and a few drinks. I did not know that the additional ribs would be so huge! I thought that they brought us both orders of ribs and mistakenly forgot about the boneless ribs but when they came back with the boneless ribs I was shocked at how much food I had ordered! The bone marrow. WOW. That gave the soup another level of texture! Let's not forget about the broth, so deep and flavorful. Don't even dare drench that bowl of soup with sauces until you taste the soup. I can't stop thinking about this soup. It was rememberable!"

Burma Choice

★★★★☆ 4.4 (564) • $$

"The Powers that TeaLocated at the former Masa Ramen Bar (home of the Masa Ramen Challenge as seen on Man vs Food [S8:E19**]), Burma Choice has been serving up one of the more underrepresented restaurant cuisines: Burmese.Burmese food is a Fusion of mostly Thai with some Indian and Chinese thrown in for food measure. Burma Choice is one of only a small handful of restaurants that do this, but it should be noted, they do it very well. The Good:*Friendly service*Dog-friendly outdoor dining *Large shared private lot *Service was friendly and attentive*Local beers on draught, as well as a full bar. *Palata app is a must-order! The crispy, flaky palata was sensational. Imagine a croissant smashed into a flat bread. Yeah. It's that good.*Carissa loved her Pumpkin Stew w/ chicken, as it was a well-balanced soup/stew with good pumpkin flavor that had a subtle sweetness to go with the earthiness. *My current obsession, after reading about it on a local subreddit, is Burmese Tea Leaf Salad. This was only my second time consuming one but it was even better than my first time. Earthy, crunchy, and filled with tons of legumes and other goodies. Please note this is a vegan dish, but I highly-recommend going to the dark side and asking for some complimentary Crushed Dried Shrimp to sprinkle on top of the salad to give it an even bigger umami punch. The Meh:*Jackfruit Bananas dessert was just OK. I felt like all I could taste was the bananas In the filling and not enough jackfruit for my liking. And the ice cream was a boring vanilla. If they really wanted to pump it up, make the filling all banana and the ice cream jackfruit flavored. The Ugly:*Why is it when you're in a mostly empty restaurant they always feel the need to seat people literally right next to you? -_- Kinda like that guy that always parks their car right next to you in a 95% empty lot. Like wtf? Conclusion: Fantastic Burmese food with great service and a nice location. Highly recommended. **I'm actually somewhere in that episode. Hmmm..."

Xiang Xiang Noodle

★★★★☆ 4.2 (580) • $$

"Great food, friendly staff, and a fun show with the owner doing some gymnastics. He's a world champion!We got the B9 Salt Pepper Eggplant, G9 Mutton Soup, and E5 Sauteed Oil Noodle with Shredded Pork, all on the owner's recommendations. The E5 noodles are stir fried in vinegar and I love dousing them in more vinegar. The Mutton Soup had tender meat and a great flavor broth. And the salt pepper eggplant was a great crunchy different texture to pair with everything else.The owners are really nice, more so if you know Mandarin, but come by to chat to everyone!"

575 Miishien

★★★★★ 4.6 (409) • $$

"My son loves their rice noodle. And I love their soup. Plus, great service. The owner's self promo video is looping all the time. Pretty entertaining"

Jo's Modern Thai

★★★★☆ 4.3 (464) • $$

"Note this review is for a meal we had before the news of the sudden departure of the chef. So sad to hear of this news, what a great loss for Oakland and this neighborhood. I read the article from former staff. I am shocked. I don't want to support a restaurant that mistreats staff. Sanitation issues, so many other things that show a lack of integrity from the top...you'll have to read the article yourself. I have to say, the customer service we received from staff was great, and the food was great...where it goes from here on out though, no one knows. Hope they can get it right, clearly many locals love this place. The food was so tasty! This place has been on our list to try ever since it opened and for my brother's birthday we finally made the visit! Our family of four shared everything family style (the best part about going out with a group is you get to sample a little bit of everything). And although we were a little shocked at the smaller than expected portions, we were actually quite full at the end! I do recommend family style for this place. Here's what we shared:-Crunchy Catfish Salad: shockingly small portion and the catfish was unexpectedly served in a crumble style instead of chunks of meat as I imagined it would, and a little too sour for me but it was still delicious and definitely earned it's name--crunchy! Due to the sour nature of this dish, I would not recommend anyone order this as their main, definitely share it.-Massaman Curry: vegan dish, sweet, sauce was so good we asked for more rice to finish off the sauce; although it was good I'd probably go for a meat curry next, as a carnivore I did miss my meat in my curry.-Drunken Noodles: loved the smokiness, sweet flavor, brisket was cooked just right (medium rare); glad I shared this dish because I think the smokiness could get overwhelming had I had the entire plate to myself-Stir Fried Japanese Eggplant: tasted great but the outer skin was a little tough, wished it was cooked more thoroughly although I can see some other people enjoying itFor dessert:-Blue Rice Pudding w/ Mango Sorbet: so good, my favorite of the two desserts we ordered! I really liked the variety of textures--blue sticky rice, crunchy sticky pandan rice krispies, sorbet, mango pieces. Can never go wrong with mango and really loved the unique pandon rice krispies (I'd seriously purchase a bag of those)!-Corn Sundae: very unique, sweet & salty flavor profile; don't order if you don't like any sort of bitterness (the mock fish sauce was a little bitter, similar to bitters in a drink). I'm a big creamy corn milk fan, less of a coconut fan. I felt like the corn part was a little overshadowed by the other flavors. But that might just be me, my brother said this was his favorite of the two.Birthday boy got the Samarai Sun cocktail, which he liked! I tried a sip, and it was really refreshing and light. Would make for a great summer drink. The cocktail menu is pretty expansive, so many flavor combos that I'd love to come back to try. Great customer service. No birthday specials, but they kindly put a candle on the dessert that we ordered. Seating is pretty limited, and busy even on a weeknight. Note that they do take reservations, so it would be a good idea to make one in advance. Since we didn't make one, we were given the outdoor patio seating, basically coffee table seating, but within 5 minutes of sitting down to study the menu another table opened up and they offered that to us! The place is very modern/hip, and the unique asian fusion flavors on the menu reflects that. Didn't realize it was in the 2024 Michelin Guide until we got there. It's rated Bib Gourmand, which means quality food for a reasonable price. Not sure what the future holds for Jo's now that staff and chef are gone. We will be following the head chef Intu-On Kornnawong and where she goes next (I hope she stays local)!!"

One Piece Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (552) • $$

"Small shop, restaurant was almost empty. I think the ambiance could be a little better. The fish cuts were thick & the fish tasted amazing. I think it's very good value compared to other sushi spots, especially with how thick the cuts are. The rolls were great too & I love how it comes in small portions so you can try a bit of everything. My favorites were definitely the Tiger Roll & Sake Nigiri. My total came out to be $50 for 2 people & it was super filling. Much cheaper than other sushi restaurants I've been to & I enjoyed everything!"

Rosniyom Thai Street Food

★★★★★ 4.6 (389) • $$

"This hole-in-the-wall random gem is so out of place at Vasco Rd and 580. Nothing there but gas, fast food, and this wonderful restaurant. I live at that intersection, let Altamont/Brentwood traffic stare at tail lights and try this place.KHAO SOI GAI!!!!!You probably haven't had this dish before at your average Thai place, it's not on the menu. I beg you to try it if you want something unique. It's like thai curry met ramen, with noodles and pickled vegetables melting together in a creamy coconut chicken soup. It's like eating pho though, once you mix, you gotta eat it meow, but they will package in all it's pieces so that you can get the full experience at home. Only restaurant within a mile of my house worth leaving a glowing review for. Cherry on top, their service is top notch.The rest of the menu is excellent in flavor and quality, but mostly common items. It's a street food place, and it's street food tiny, simple, and tasty. Expect a satisfying meal at a decent price no matter what you order."

四姐 Special Noodle

★★★★★ 4.5 (389) • $$

"I don't mind turkey. I just don't die if I don't have it on Thanksgiving, though I have to admit I still miss my mom's green Jell-O mold with cottage cheese. For Thanksgiving, Jamie W and I usually find a restaurant that doesn't serve turkey (Asian usually), make a reservation on OpenTable, and be done with dinner by 7PM. This year we plain forgot to plan anything, so we decided to try an untried place in the otherwise jammed Pacific East Plaza.On Thanksgiving evening, the parking lot was uncharacteristically half-empty, even though 99 Ranch was open. We chose this restaurant right across from the supermarket. The dining room was certainly set up for customers, but there was only one solitary diner looking quite content with his dim sum consumption. There were certainly plenty of menu selections, so we were spending an inordinate amount of time studying the menu on a tablet.We decided on the $17.99 Braised Pork Belly over Noodles (photo: https://yelp.to/Gf5FJrRqVj). The pork was tender if a bit saucy, and there are never enough noodles for my taste. We also went for the $11.99 Salt & Pepper Chicken, quite a pile of crispy little tenders that came with an unnecessarily sweet cherry sauce for dipping (photo: https://yelp.to/o97ZzbKGMI). As our vegetable side dish, the $19.99 Hand Ripped Griddle Cabbage turned out to be a miss because it was completely saturated in sesame oil (photo: https://yelp.to/tu16WGXi6W).The saving grace came with the $12.99 Steamed Pork Soup Dumplings (photo: https://yelp.to/KyDUO-_qnU). They were appropriately filled with hot broth, and the minced pork and dumpling skins had just the right consistency. Overall the food was pretty good but kinda pricey with no real standouts to make waiting for a parking space worthwhile on a weekend. Nevertheless, for a last-minute Thanksgiving dinner option, we could've done a lot worse.FOOD - 3 stars...plentiful and pricey, just missed the markAMBIANCE - 4 stars...plenty of tables and not too loudSERVICE - 3.5 stars...mostly attentive TOTAL - 3 stars...not quite destination dining for usRELATED - Exploring Richmond? Here's my collection of places I've patronized and reviewed: https://bit.ly/2VyCP18"

Shanghai Bun Dynasty

★★★★☆ 3.8 (532) • $$

"Shanghai Dun Dynasty is a culinary gem that brings authentic flavors straight from Shanghai to Cupertino! Every dish was a delightful experience, showcasing top-notch quality and care.The Crab Roe Xiao Long Bao was the star, with rich, savory broth bursting from the delicate dumpling skin. The Pan Fried Buns had the perfect crispy bottom, while the Shrimp & Pork Wontons (both spicy and non-spicy) offered comforting, bold flavors.We also loved the variety: the Chinese Little Greens were fresh and vibrant, and the Shanghai Ham and Vegetables Fried Rice was hearty and flavorful. The Shanghai Style Braised Duck and Poached Chicken were beautifully tender, and the Shanghai Stir Fried Noodles were everything you'd hope for--perfectly chewy and delicious.Thank you, Grace Chen, owner of Shanghai Bun Dynasty, for inviting me to an unforgettable dining experience. This is a must-visit spot for anyone craving authentic Shanghai cuisine. Please come here with your friends and family!"

Mint Leaf Vietnamese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (502) • $$

"I've ordered from this restaurant a few times now, never disappointing and always filling. Usually get 2 + meals out of an order when ordering for myself.My favorite would be the ginger lemonade, tastes made from scratch or at least there seems to be a lot of fresh ginger soaked into it without a bunch of ginger tidbits floating around and getting in the way.Veggie broth has a good flavor and love getting a batch too good for my own noodles at home, so maybe I get 3 meals out of an order! Veggie egg rolls are good as well and come packed with lots of additional veggie sides, fantastic snack. Steamed broccoli and bok choy are great solo out added to a soup. The garlic noodles were probably my least favorite. There was a lot of added stuff to it which made it more like a garlic chow mein than a straight up garlic noodles to my taste buds. Wouldn't order that one again without changes.All in all there is something for everyone on the menu and you can get creative if you think ahead for a few meals as well or combine things in from your pantry!"

Rice and Spoon Vietnamese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (432) • $$

"Their combination pho without tripe (my go to) is so good!! The service is awesome and quick!"

Time Thai Kitchen

★★★★☆ 4.4 (390) • $$

"I've been here more than a few times and have also ordered a party tray and each and every single time the food was delicious. Every single dish I've tried has been amazing and kept us wanting more!! Their fried chicken is always fried to perfection. It doesn't taste/feel greasy. Same with their calamari. Their staples are always a hit--pad Thai, khao soi, fried rice, curry. All super super delicious. Service is always quick and friendly. They also recently renovated so the spot is a lot more spacious and open.This is our go to Thai restaurant!"

New Tung Kee Noodle

★★★★☆ 4.2 (421) • $$

"I used to frequent the older San Jose Tung Kee Noodle location as a kid and I've always loved their #1 combo rice stick noodle soup, freshly squeezed orange juice, and #30 fried taro cake. When my parents told me there was a 'new' tung kee noodle that opened relatively recently, I was excited to try it. The rice stick noodle soup is no longer as salty/msg-y (which I kind of liked)... now it's blander (probably so you can adjust the soup yourself if you so choose), so I add some of their housemade chili sauce to go with it (which is quite good actually!) This could've been hotter, but I like my soup pipping hot. My husband got the #2 spicy beef satay, but he liked mine better. It was quite good, though not spicy at all. This place is packed on the weekends when I went, but the food comes out pretty fast so the turnover is relatively quick. Loved the fried taro cake, it was so good! Fresh, piping hot, and massive portions for the price. The prices are extremely reasonable - soups were $12 ish and the taro cake was ~$12 as well. Freshly squeezed orange juice is very good and tart. A little pricey but juices usually are nowadays. A dollar or two more if you want no ice. Pay at the front with your table number when you're done. Would definitely come again for some comfort food."

Isarn Garden Thai Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.2 (413) • $$

"Was looking for lunch after a shopping session near San Carlos, and Isarn was an amazing find. This place will rank very high of all the Thai restaurants in the peninsula.The restaurant will hold a fair amount of people and the space was pretty cozy, aided with all kinds of Thai and holiday motifs. Big bonus for having their own parking lot.The menu was very extensive, and I appreciated the availability of the lunch specials. The Pad Thai and Pad See Ew captured the right flavors, the dumpling in curry sauce and fried tofu were hits with the children, and the basil beef rice plate was fantastic. The Praram Chicken could have benefited from more flavors. The special papaya salad dish was surprising with all the extra meats, but be forwarded that their spice levels are right at par on what you would expect in the Thai culture. A level 2 spice is far more than a tickle.There were two servers for a weekday lunch, but they were very attentive to all the patrons. This was a great experience and worth another drive back to get more."

Pho Vy Vietnamese Cuisine

★★★★☆ 4.4 (361) • $$

"Cute family-friend pho place with awesome service and good vibes!! There's a small claw machine & plenty of various size tables.The pho broth was ON POINT! If you don't like to drown your pho in Hoisin & Sriracha like me ... the broth holds its own! The summer rolls were fresh & delicious, too!! We enjoyed our overall dining experience!!!! When we were ready to pay, I noticed some cupcakes! And then, they shared the story of how cupcakes started as a fundraiser for their daughter to get books to help with her reading... then, it took off from there! So, naturally... We had to try some! We took home 4 flavors: Ube, Pandan, Vietnamese Coffee & Double Chocolate. When our delicious food from earlier finally digested... We tried all 4 flavors! SO GOOD! The cupcakes are perfectly baked, so soft (b/c I don't like the m word that ends in oist, LOL). Even though they are small cupcakes... they're totally worth the price per !Highly recommend this place!!! Thanks, Pho Vy! We'll be back again soon!!!"

Dalian

★★★★☆ 3.8 (476) • $$

"Nice restaurant very accommodating staff. There were 7 in our party, 4 vegans, a vegetarian, and 2 "regular" eaters. The menu had a vegetarian section, and I asked if the food was vegan. The server told me she could have any of the menu items prepared vegan by subbing tofu and they had a "clear" broth for the soups. We ordered one of the house made noodle soups with pickled cabbage (normally spicy beef) but had it with tofu instead. It was delicious! We also had the veggie clay pot, Kung Pao tofu, and 2 chicken and veggie dishes with a few sides of rice. Generous portions and excellent flavor. Everything tasted freshly made and nothing was too oily. Service was great and very clean restrooms."

Ox 9 Lanzhou HandPulled Noodles

★★★★☆ 4.2 (389) • $$

"We had a fun time at Deer Hollow and worked up an appetite for lunch so we finally tried this place that had been on my to-eat list for years. Little did I know they have multiple locations in the south bay. We were seated right away on a Sunday because we squished into a table for two. It isn't a large place so be prepared to wait if you want a table for 4. I ordered the popcorn chicken, stewed pork ribs noodle, and the chicken fried noodles. I love thick noodles so I went for the biggest they had. My toddler loved the popcorn chicken and even though my pork soup was spicy, he loved the noodles. The soup was spectacular- reminded me of a Mexican pork stew my grandma used to make. You can really taste all the spices and the difference with the noodles. We were also impressed with how quick the service is. Everyone was so friendly and accommodating. We ordered online at our table and the food came out right away. They also pack your leftovers up. Exceptional service and you get a lot of food!"

Hanoi Chicken Noodle

★★★★☆ 3.8 (458) • $$

"OMG...freaking love this place to death. I am a hardcore chicken soup girl. When I'm at a pho place I always look for chicken pho and when I'm at a ramen place I always look for chicken ramen. The fact that I stumbled upon this place that literally specializes in chicken noodle soup...I cried.The food here? AMAZING. Portions are HUGE (mind you we got the regular size). The price point is great. The soup is clean and comforting. I got the #1 w/ the clear noodles. My bf got the #3 with vermicelli rice noodles. Both of them were 10/10-so comforting. They also came with a side of ginger scallion oil sauce to dip your chicken in. The sauce was on point. We also go the salt and pepper wings. It came with 12 pieces--that's a shit ton. The chicken was FRESH, JUICY, and PIPING HOT. We didn't tackle these until after we killed a good portion of our noodles and they were STILL so hot. When we bit into it, the juice was literally dripping out *cries*. I also highly recommend eating it with an extra sprinkle of pepper!The service here is super efficient. You order first at the counter and then grab a seat. Your food comes out in like 5 minutes. Ambiance is great too. The store is super spacious with plenty of seating. It was also quite clean!If you're looking for a nice hearty and clear chicken soup -- this is the place to go. 10/10!"

Koong's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (432) • $$

"Good for the Seoul Nondescript Mom & Pop run restaurant not too far away from 237 that's seemingly been around for maybe 30-40 years from what I can tell. I'm not sure if it's the original owners or was sold at some point, but the food seems to have stayed consistently good over the years.I wanted to come here after reading Elena C's review of the Liang Zhang Pi (LZP--yeah you know me!) because I'm always curious to try new-to-me dishes and it was a cold, rainy day and figured why the hell not?The Good:*Customer service was friendly, fast, and efficient. *Décor is simple and understated but enough to know one's in an Asian restaurant. *Complimentary hot tea! Seems simple enough, but so many places charge for simple things like this these days.*Who's down with LZP? Everybody! Essentially, it's a cold noodle salad with shrimp, squid, and more veggies than you can shake a chop stick at. The concomitant peanut-wasabi sauce was sweet, spicy, and delightful. *Black Bean Sauce Noodle (aka Jajangmyeon) is a popular Korean noodle dish that we'd tried before, and theirs was delicious. Earthy, sweet, and served with oodles of noodles. *Their Dry-Fried Fried Chicken Wings are nothing short of FANTASTIC! It is so crispy, juicy, and full of flavor. My one complaint was I wish they were a little spicier, but Carissa felt the heat level was fine. *Housemade ban chan (pickled radish and kimchi) were also both terrific. *Servings are massive, and we had plenty for leftovers for the next day. *Prices were very reasonable, especially considering the portion size. The Meh:*Beer was served tepid, at best. Maybe they had just restocked the fridge, and it hadn't come up to temp yet? *I'm a little confused if this place is Chinese, Korean, or just a place that serves up both? It's definitely not fusion, as the two cuisines are definitely held in equal regard.*No outdoor seatingThe Ugly:*Evidently, not everyone is on-board with the whole cutting the noodles with scissors thing, as I was notified by another Yelper who shall remain nameless. (:TLDR: Come for the LZP, but stay for the wings. Highly recommended."

Yo Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (451) • $$

"We found Yo Sushi on a whim when searching for food allergy safe sushi. We are so glad we found Yo Sushi and their amazing staff and service. We have come to them for quick lunches and long lunches and they have been great at accommodating gluten-free and shellfish allergies and even with catering they make sure our staff all have options. It's a simple, quick service restaurant that offers great eats at affordable prices. Their catering is done fantastically and they accommodate special allergy needs and are simply amazing. Can't rave enough."

KV Noodle

★★★★☆ 4.4 (336) • $$

"KV Noodle was amazing from start to finish. It's unassuming from the outside, but everything else is just how you'd want it to be. The vibe is part sports bar, part fancy restaurant. The service quick and attentive. The people working there seemed to be happy working there.And the food!!! I'll dream about that shrimp tempura tonight. The menu has changed a bit from some of the photos in other reviews-they no longer have the crispy noodles. Do we tried the combination yellow noodles (dry) and it did not disappoint. From the presentation to the taste it was superb. The spring rolls were fresh and the sauce it came with was delish. If our meal was any indication of the rest of the menu, I need to find more excuses to go to San Jose so I can try more things."

Taiwan Cafe

★★★★☆ 3.8 (447) • $$

"This place was recommended by the nice ladies at TECO, and it lived up to its reputation! Very authentic Taiwanese. We just wanted a simple meal and ordered based on the kids' preferences. We had the pork hock vermicelli noodle soup, popcorn chicken and egg fried rice, and it was all so tasty and flavorful! The kids gobbled up the popcorn chicken, it wasn't too spicy. Service was quick and the restaurant very clean."

The Famous Khmer-Lao Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (358)

"The food is like 3.2 but rounded up because the workers are nice.TLDR: I would come back for the mango sticky rice. Overall though, so far the best place in the South Bay I have found.The bar's not very high..Vibe:The ambience gave food court vibes, like a sit down at a fast food place.They had a bunch of little rice container baskets on the wall that was really cute. It prompted me find and purchase one on amazon lol I got a heart shaped one.Food:Khao poon- My friend got this and I noticed that this was quite popular with the people who came in to order. I had a bite and wasn't a fan. The broth was bland and extremely oily. It was straight oil and watered down coconut milk with some barely there spices. Maybe a bad batch? Idk. There was enough oil in that bowl to clog an artery. It looks better than it tastes.I'm a big broth girlie. I love noodle soups and am very particular about it for my favorite ones. Which brings me to...Khao piak: this dish is my all time favorite dish and it's so rare to find a restaurant that serves it, so naturally I had to get it.I like my Khao piak broth on the thicker side when it gets a good mixing with the starch from the noodles- typically found when it's homemade. This broth was very chicken broth thin. I find this common with restaurants that serves khao piak and it makes me kinda sad.It satisfied my cravings, but it didn't HIT. This was good, but not great.Another one of my favorite dishes..Papaya salad: got it with 7 peppers because I was sharing with 2 other people and wasn't sure of their spice tolerance.Flavoring wasn't very... Lao.. it was like a mix between Lao and Thai flavors. If it's claiming to be Lao I am expecting dank crab paste, shrimp paste, and padaek with maybe marinated crab pieces sprinkled in- okay?? This was not that. I tasted a bit of shrimp paste, tamarind and some fish sauce which is to the Lao flavor profile, but it's also tasted Thai in terms of it being on the light and fresher side in addition to the green beans.It was good, but not what I was expecting.Side of sticky rice: it was sticky rice. A liiiiitle over cooked because some parts of it was a little mushy like regular steamed rice textured almost. Or maybe they used a brand I wasn't accustomed to. Who knows, but I would say it was sticky rice even though it wasn't on my standard of what sticky rice should be.Mango sticky rice: this was so good you guys! So far the best mango sticky rice from a restaurant. Of course, that is just preference though. If you ever gotten mango sticky rice and wished that it was just a little more milky and sweet and had a good ratio of juicy mango toppings to rice, this right here is IT.P.S.If yall know of any Lao/Mien/Hmong places that you consider hella good, let a sister know because I'm struggling to find what they have in the valley, here in the bay! I'm looking for a restaurant for when I just want a bowl of something when the cravings hit without having to cook a whole ass family portion size when it's just me and my bf... 'kay, thanks!"

Beijing Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (412) • $$

"3.5 STARSBeijing Restaurant isn't your typical Chinese resto.It's like they're living in 2030. Their Chinese entrees are priced 25%-70% higher than other Chinese restos in the area. They're not upscale and they're not using premium ingredients so what am I missing? School me. Since opening in 2014, Beijing Restaurant has been a staple in Santa Clara for Junghwa, Korean-style Chinese food (sister businesses: Roll N Noodle & Two Zone Chicken closed during the pandemic). It's a cuisine created by Chinese immigrants in Korea. Open for takeout, delivery, and indoor dining. No more outdoor dining. During the pandemic, we did outdoor dining and had an underwhelming experience but recently gave them another chance. This time for delivery since I had a UberEats discount. D I N E - I N // April 2022 // 3 STARSFor outdoor dining, food was served in takeout boxes with disposable utensils. Best part of the meal?The complimentary goguma mattang: candied sweet potatoes - so delicious and addictive!* Complimentary Banchan: Kimchi + yellow pickled radish* B3 Mandu - Steamed Meat Dumplings (6 pc - $9.95) // 3 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/4zjnh5jvStandard - chewy wrapper with a savory pork filling but large air bubbles and bland. Other than packets of soy sauce, no dipping sauce was provided. * H11: Deep Fried Prawns in Hot Pepper Sauce ($23.95) // 3 StarsPlump shrimp with a good savory, mildly spicy sauce with a kiss of sweetness. Arrived completely soggy tho since the box was sealed with no vents. * J1: Jjajangmyeon: Black Bean Noodles ($10.95) // 3 StarsA variation of Chinese zhajiangmian, the jjajangmyeon's black bean sauce had good savory sweet flavor with bits of pork, potatoes, onions, and mushrooms. Noodles were overcooked and clumped together. D E L I V E R Y // October 2024 // 4 STARS* Complimentary Banchan: Kimchi + yellow pickled radish* J14: Jaengban Jajang - Spicy Dry Fried Black Bean Seafood Noodle Plate ($26.95) // 4 Stars: https://tinyurl.com/2znv2a4jSister to jjajangmyeon, jaengban jajang is the way to go if you have more than 2 people. The stir-fried black bean noodles were glossy and chewy, tho were overcooked so it was missing that QQ bouncy chew. Chockfull of shrimp, octopus, potatoes, mushrooms, and onions. Good heat with a savory sweetness. Def eat with the yellow pickled radish for refreshing, acidic in-between bites. Def like this better than their jjajangmyeon. * G8: Tangsuyuk - Sweet & Sour Pork, Beijing style ($23.95) // 3.5 Stars- Requested jjikmuk style w/ red sauce on the sideArrived fully sealed with no vents but luckily the pork wasn't soggy since it was nekkid (sauce on the side). The fried strips of pork were crispy and tender with some slightly fatty pieces. The onions, carrots, and bell peppers were still raw. Canned pineapples for sweetness.I personally like the radioactive Chinese-American red sweet & sour sauce more than the usual Korean-style orange sweet & sour sauce. * F2: Mongolian Beef ($24.95) // 4 StarsTender, savory slices of beef served with crisp green and white onions. Topped with fried vermicelli noodles for texture. Menu said, it's "spicy" but it's not. Couldn't detect wok hei and I don't think they velvet the beef (didn't have that obvs softness). * Rice ($2 x2)Properly cooked. No goguma mattang included for delivery orders. =(S E R V I C ECordial and prompt. Delivery took 40 minutes (about 8 minutes away). A M B I A N C EBustling with a mainly Korean crowd on the weekends. There's about a dozen tables inside and several private rooms. P A R K I N GShared parking in the plaza.Overall, decent Korean-style Chinese fare with improvements needed on noodle cook time and packaging of fried foods. I prefer Paik's more (didn't care for Tong Soon) but I rather support a small local business over a large chain."