Noodle Blvd — Restaurant in Cary

Overall Rating: 6.7/10 This establishment offers a unique dining experience with its distinctive interior and varied menu, though some dishes did not meet the high expectations set by others, and the pricing felt slightly steep.

Atmosphere: 6.9/10 The restaurant features a notably unique interior that combines the charm of a noodle house with modern touches, such as high tables and a small bar section. The addition of outside seating enhances its appeal, making it a cozy yet vibrant place to dine. However, the smaller size might feel cramped to some patrons.

Service: 5.4/10 Service was competent but unremarkable. While the staff were friendly and maintained cleanliness, the busyness of the venue might have impacted the overall service efficiency. The use of a digital menu was not favored, which might detract from the traditional dining experience for some.

Food:

Pork Belly Bun: 8.1/10 The pork belly bun featured high-quality, tender pork paired with a bold sauce on an average bun. The excellent preparation of the pork set a high standard, making this dish a highlight.

Gyoza: 8.2/10 The gyoza were perfectly cooked, accompanied by a flavorful sesame soy sauce. This dish stood out for its delicious taste and was well-received.

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl: 5.1/10 This dish was notably underwhelming, with a lack of flavor depth that did not match the quality of other menu items. While the ingredients were fresh, the dish could benefit from a bolder sauce and a more varied vegetable mix.

Ramen: 7.4/10 The ramen was commendable, with fresh ingredients and a delicious broth that carried the right flavors and consistency. The noodles were also well-cooked, contributing to a satisfying dish.

Takoyaki: 8.1/10 These octopus balls were described as perfectly cooked and delicious, providing a genuine taste experience that lived up to expectations for this traditional Japanese snack.

Value: 5.1/10 At $104 after tip for three people, the cost was considered above average. While the food quality was generally high, the overall price point felt somewhat disproportionate to the value...

I was treated discriminatively here. This used to be my favorite Japanese ramen shop, but recent events have left me with no choice but to blacklist it. It’s been a month since I received a response from the Best Business Bureau, and I’d like to talk about it today. We didn't take any photos or videos during the incident, so I only have a screenshot of the BBB's reply.

On the evening of March 31st, I ordered a chicken teriyaki ramen at their restaurant. As soon as I started eating the meat, I noticed a strong rotten smell. I called the waiter, who also confirmed the foul smell, and he brought the menu over, indicating that I could order another bowl. While I was looking at the menu, the Japanese owner of the restaurant rushed over, interrupting me, and said, "There is absolutely no problem with our meat. You must pay," with a very bad attitude. I said, "Your food is not fresh; I just want an explanation." The owner responded, "You won't get a free meal today." Feeling wronged, I argued with him for a few minutes. At this point, a white man sitting at the cashier's desk (uncertain whether he was a customer or staff) suddenly stood up and said, "Did your mother teach you to behave like this? If you don't like the food, you pay the bill and never come back. I can have a fight with you outside." Hearing this threat of a fight, my friend and I were scared, so we paid the bill and left. After calming down outside for about ten minutes, we tried to go back and communicate with the owner and have my friend record the conversation on her phone, but a few men from the restaurant blocked us from entering; we had no choice but to leave feeling wronged.

I was bewildered by this incident from start to finish. I was just trying to solve the problem and didn't understand why the owner thought I wanted a free meal since I never said I wouldn't pay. Moreover, whether that white man was a staff member or a customer, the fact that the restaurant allowed such threatening behavior shows the owner's lack of quality.

Therefore, I do not recommend anyone to visit...

Usually I have fantastic experiences here, except occasionally some seating issues/long wait times which I expect. I came here with 3 friends (4 total) and we waited for about 15-20 minutes. This is in part due to the fact that they were seating couples (2 people) on 6 seater tables. The hostess even asked us if we wanted to share that table… no thanks. Eventually we were seated at 2 tables pushed together. No big deal but we were less than 6 inches from the table next to us. After ordering, my friends all got appetizers, but I did not. The entrees came out before the appetizers and they even accidentally gave us an extra appetizer that was supposed to go to the table behind us. When we alerted the waitress, she asked “what do you want me to do? Add it to your bill?” Like no that’s not how it works. If someone didn’t order something, why would he pay for it? I got the spicy seafood tum yum, but I requested no squid or scallops and added corn with a level 4 spice. This is my go to order, it was a 6/10 due to the fact that it was barely luke warm. They have a cool payment processing system to where they’ll just bring a tap to pay device so it’s nice and simple. However, the waitress still tried to charge my friend for his meal. After he protested, she removed the charge. As I stated usually my experiences here are amazing, this one was not up to par. I did not recognize any of the faces serving today, so not sure if it’s a new management or just new staff. It has been about a month or so since my last visit, but I am used to seeing the same waitresses - just not this time around. Overall 3/5 experience with that being generous only because their track records proves otherwise better experiences. My biggest critique is to move to a bigger space or expand the current one. They are far too popular to be in such a small and confined space. Would recommend, just hope you have a more pleasant experience than mine. Parking is also...