Mian Sichuan Gourmet Noodles — Restaurant in Costa Mesa

Not bad, could be better!

Conveniently located directly under Din Tai Fung and next to Marugame Udon, this place seems to be a last resort for those who don't want to wait in line for the other restaurants. It usually has the shortest line/wait, at least from what I've seen. My girlfriend and I decided to give it a shot the other day.

We waited maybe 10 minutes in line at most and got seated immediately as soon as we were up. The ordering process was simple, we just needed to scan the QR code on our table and submit our order. We were instructed that we could also add items during our meal as well.

We ordered the following: Spicy Beef Rice Noodles, Chili Oil Dumplings, Chengdu Zajiang Rice Noodles, and the Chengdu Fries.

The food:

Spicy Beef Rice Noodles: This was my girlfriend's dish, and she mentioned that she really liked it and gave it a 5/5. I tried a spoonful and also think it was pretty good. The broth tasted good and the meat was tender.

Chili Oil Dumplings: These were good. The sauce and the dumplings come in separate bowls so you can dip or pour to your liking.

Chengdu Zajiang Rice Noodles: This was okay. I ordered the spiciest I could get so there was a ton of chili oil as expected. I wasn't much of a fan of the flavor, as it got old (tiring) real quick. For some reason my dish was missing the bok choy that it was supposed to come with.

Chengdu Fries: These were pretty good. Slightly crispy on the outside, soft and warm on the inside. Salty and somewhat sweet. I'm not sure what it was seasoned with but it was pretty good.

I also added a bowl of white rice during my meal to eat with my noodles but it took around 10 minutes to come out.

Service was okay, I didn't expect much as we order and pay with our phones.

Plenty of seating inside and the wait isn't terrible. The food comes out fairly quick so don't expect many people staying long.

Parking is available in the parking structure and surrounding South...

Mian has quickly become one of my favorite go-to spots for comforting, flavorful Chinese soups and noodles. The menu is packed with options, from spicy beef rib soup noodles to Chengdu Zajiang rice noodles and golden soup chaoshou dumplings. There’s a clear emphasis on hearty broths and balanced spice, and every dish I’ve tried so far has been deeply satisfying.

The soup noodles are the real stars here. The broths are incredibly rich and clear-flavorful without being greasy, and perfect for warming up or just seriously hitting the spot. My favorites include the Spicy Beef Soup Noodles and the Clear Broth Beef Noodles. The noodles themselves have great texture, and you can choose between wheat and rice noodles (gluten-free upon request), which is a nice touch.

The appetizers are also worth exploring. The Thousand Year Egg with Tofu, Fried Chinese Donuts with Sweet Soy Milk, and the Mian Cold Combo (with Spicy Black Fungus, Radish, and Beef in Chili Sauce) are all standouts. Everything is full of umami and perfectly seasoned.

Dumplings and chaoshou are also excellent, especially the Golden Soup Chaoshou and Chili Oil Dumplings, available in small ($9) or regular ($15) sizes.

Pricing is fair and very reasonable considering the quality and portions: Most appetizers range from $6–$10 Noodle dishes are generally $13.50-$16.50, with some premium options like Spicy Beef Rib Noodles at $20 Dumplings and chaoshou fall between $9-$15 Fried rice is $13-$16, and sides start as low as $2.50 Desserts and drinks range from $2.50 to $6

Portions are generous-you'll definitely leave full. And even the dumplings, like the Chili Oil Chaoshou or the Golden Soup version, are flavorful and well-crafted.

If you’re craving bold Sichuan flavors, silky noodles, and soul-warming broth, Mian is a must-try....

I wanted to love this place so badly!! The wait for Din Tai Fung was way too long in the mall, so my boyfriend and I decided to eat here instead- just downstairs, especially after seeing that it was recommended in the Michelin guide as posted out front of the restaurant.

Ordering was very efficient with the app, and food came out extremely quickly- maybe a bit too quickly!

The good: I found the chili oil dumplings (mild) delicious!

The meh: rice noodle soup 🍜 with pork belly was okay- nice broth but the meat tasted hard

The not so great: The tofu skin with fungus and celery was extremely mediocre- I’ve had this dish in at least 100 restaurants and this was the least memorable. Tofu tasted dry and there were a total of 3 mushrooms in the appetizer. There were a few slivers of celery, they were OK.

My boyfriend had the pork noodles which he didn’t like- I tried it and it was indeed very bland.

The fried “pumpkin pancakes” had no particular taste, and a Mochi texture in the middle. I feel that it would have been more interesting had it been either more salty, savory or sweet- it looked very beautiful and the fried texture was nice but left literally zero impression other than… huh?

We didn’t finish any of the dishes, and went to 85° bakery after. Not terrible but wondering how this place was recommended in the Michelin guide.

Sorry!! I hate writing negative reviews but have...