Davis Noodle City — Restaurant in Davis

Are you looking for a hole-in-the-wall type place with great food and value? Look no further.

DNC is a no-frills place - don't come here if you want someone to wait on you constantly. They seat you, bring you water, ask for your order, bring it, and leave you alone to enjoy your food. If they see your water is low, they will come fill it. I say "they", but really there is typically one waitress who handles all the tables and checks. If you need anything else, you catch her eye or go ask her at the counter. Personally, I love this type of service. If you don't, well, you should still try the food, but maybe temper your expectations before you go.

The food is delicious and served in big portions. I can't usually finish a bowl of soup in one sitting. Pro tip: if you have leftover soup, but maybe too many noodles for the remaining broth or vice versa, you can order an extra serving of noodles or broth to take home.

The chow mein isn't traditional American Chinese chow mein - it's more like a garlic noodle stir fry. And it's delicious.

I like most of the vegetarian dishes I've had there. I usually default to the kimchi tofu noodle soup or the regular veggie noodle soup, but I think I've tried all the soups on their dedicated vegetarian menu and have enjoyed them all. If you want more protein, you can ask to add tofu to any soup.

Their veggie appetizers are also good, but my favorite is not listed on the menu - the vegetarian pot stickers. Perfectly crispy and chewy, they come with a filling of mushrooms, glass noodles, and minced vegetables and a dipping sauce. The only appetizer I haven't enjoyed was the fried tofu. I only tried it once, though (the potstickers are my favorite) and I give restaurants two shots before giving a solidly negative review on any item in case it was just a one-off event. It was the only disappointing item I've ever received from them, so I'm looking forward to trying it again. (I'll update this review when that happens.)

All in all, this is one of my top 5 restaurants in Davis. It's what I crave when I'm sick, or if I just want a quiet lunch with a comforting bowl of soup (with leftovers!). I...

Eating here feels like going home. Tucked away in a corner framed by arching red-glazed buildings, Noodle City is a hidden gem in Davis. I got the five spice beef noodle soup ($12.50), which arrives piping hot with chunks of flavorful braised beef, their specialty soup, and housemade noodles. You can easily tell the noodles are handmade from their unevenness and unrivaled bounciness, delightful mouthfeel when chewed. "Homemade" and other synonyms are most apt for Noodle City, it truly feels as if you're sitting down to a meal prepared by the best version of family cooks. If you've watched “Ratatouille,” do you remember that scene where the critic tries the dish and is whisked back to his childhoood eating a dish prepared with a mother's love? You might have that experience when sipping the soup at Noodle City; their recipes bring that familiar touch of a home kitchen with the refinement of restaurant service.

I sat indoors at one of their booth seats, but there's also (limited) outdoor seating. I've been here before with family and found the tables are flexible enough to accommodate larger parties or just a solo diner (as I was). Anything with noodles is guaranteed to be a hit here, I'd personally recommend the pork chop noodle soup. Don't overlook their desert options either, those fried sesame balls are freshly made with just the right texture (similar to sticky rice or mochi) and perfectly paired with ice cream.

The friendly staff recommended I come back again to try their jjajang noodles, and who am I to refuse such an enticing offer? I'll definitely visit and eat at Noodle City again, and hope that others give this affordable...

Noodle House, as my family and I lovingly call it, is an icon in Davis. It's a little hole in the wall behind Sophia's Thai Bar that was referred to my husband and I 15 years ago. We walked in and almost left because it's small... and old... and a little sketchy? But we decided to give it a try anyway. We have been coming regularly since then, and our family has grown, and grown up begging to go there for special occasions like getting good grades, etc. There is nothing we have had that isn't delicious. I highly recommend the won ton noodle soup, pork chop noodle soup, szechuan eggplant with noodles, the potato curry with noodles, the 5 spice beef noodle soup, and the chow mein. The noodles are homemade. The broths and sauces are unique, delicious, and literally award winning. The service is fine. It's the same lady for the past several years. She's quick and efficient. Before that, I think it was her mom or aunt. You won't regret trying it out - and if you do,...