Sofun Noodle Bar — Restaurant in Summit

Service was phenomenal. All servers were super attentive. They were always aware when our teapot was empty, and they always promptly refilled it. One time the server even knew that our teapot was about to be empty, so she poured tea for all of us, and then went to refill the pot. Another time one of us dropped his chopsticks, and another server saw it, and he had grabbed another pair for us before the dropped chopsticks had been even picked up. The servers were very busy, yet still provided prompt and excellent service.

The tea is not watery; it was good quality. We were told it was a Sichuan Jasmine tea. The tea tasted like Jasmine tea with a flowery scent.

My favorite dish was the Salted Egg Yolk Pumpkin, which was labeled as a new dish. It was deep fried, so it tasted like a sweet potato french fry that wasn’t sweet, with additional umami flavor from the rich slightly-powdery salted egg yolk batter.

Btw, the menu is accessed through scanning a QR code that’s on a transparent plaque on the table. But you still order the traditional way; each server has a tablet. The menu was different than the one on the website attached to this Google Maps listing — that one seems specific for their Long Island city location? I will say that I wish the menu had pictures for all the dishes (only some did). Also, the English names of the dishes aren’t as descriptive as the Chinese ones; the additional descriptions in the “Detail” link for each dish don’t really add much more context. Overall, each dish could benefit from more specific descriptions, whether there are differences between English or Chinese dish names or not. For instance, the Salted Egg Yolk Pumpkin could mention that it is deep dried in the description.

Other dishes we got were the Shrimp Fried Rice, Century Egg Salad, Smoked Pork and Bean Curd, and for desert, the Black Salted Egg Custard Bun.

The Shrimp Fried Rice comes actually in a clay bowl to keep it warm, it’s not the same as claypot rice though, the bowl wasn’t the same type/wasnt heated to that degree. So no crispy rice bits. The rice was also more moist than dry. So just be aware if you’re expecting dry fried rice.

The Century Egg salad was ok; in addition to century egg it had eggplant and some pretty spicy peppers that had been cooked so they weren’t crispy. It’s a cold dish.

The Smoked Pork and Bean Curd was very flavorful and extremely smoky. A bit salty for my taste, but I think that comes from the cured meat process. I think the cut of meat used is pork belly. Anyway, if you like cured meats like iberico ham or prosciutto or bacon, you’ll probably like this. This is like stir fried cured pork. The bean curd in this dish is also extremely soft, which I hadn’t experienced before. The red-colored peppers in this dish are cut up pretty small, but man do they pack a punch. The spiciness stings on specific points in your mouth even after you swallowed the pepper, just so you know in case you accidentally eat one. But peppers are high quality.

The Black Salted Egg Custard Bun was good. I recommend maybe ordering this when you’re in the latter half of your meal, so that you can eat it while warm. Or order this and then ask if you can let them know when you’re almost done with your entrees. We didn’t do either, but it still was good. Each order comes with 3 buns.

Lastly, I have to mention the aesthetics and other small details. The environment/ambiance is very nice — clean and bright, with a modern flare. There’s half-booth half-chair seating, as well as all chairs and also semicircle booth. Personal use bathrooms are nice and clean, and theres even lotion next to the handsoap! Other small details are a plus, such as gum being given at the end with the check, and also a sturdy “plastic cloth” reflective take out bag for leftovers. Also when they present tip options, tax is not included in the calculation.

All in all, a nice, cozy spot that offers superb service...

• Update (reply to the owner) below*

Thank you for your response, but I feel the main issues I raised still haven’t been fully addressed. And what I found in your reply is that the mistakes are all the customers' problems! You all have no problem!

Most of all, you seem to have ignored the fundamental problem I mentioned: the guidance of your waiter to the customers, and his condescending and disrespectful attitude to the customers when problems occurred!

First, you mentioned the staff’s intension. Why should I know 100% of the waiter‘s intension？As a customer, I am not a worm in his belly！

Second，you mentioned that the kiosk is clearly marked for takeout orders, as a first-time customer, I relied on your staff's guidance. When I asked at the front desk, I wasn’t told that the machine was only for takeout orders, nor was I given any alternative instructions for dine-in. Clear signage is helpful, but it doesn’t replace proper customer communication, especially when interacting with someone unfamiliar with your system.

Further, you said “the kiosk is marked”，why must I notice that？What if the customer doesn’t know much English? Even if the customer didn’t notice that is it an excuse for your waiter to treat customer in such a rude way? Can he not communicate in a proper way? The tone and attitude during the interaction made us feel uncomfortable and unwelcome.

Finally, the situation with the water was another example of neglect, as my child had to ask another waitress for something as basic as a glass of water after being ignored. The waitress apologized for not thinking about us. My first review also clearly said that it was the waiter’s problem!

You said your aim to provide clear communication and respectful service to everyone. Sorry, at least I didn’t felt it in some of your staff, but I still appreciate your apology.I have no intention to report you, nor do I want to argue about who is right and who is wrong because our time is precious. I only hope this feedback can serve as a reminder to improve communication and customer service, particularly for first-time visitors. Simple guidance and a welcoming attitude could have turned our experience around.

Thank you for taking the time to respond, and I hope future customers have a smoother experience.

I had high expectations when I visited Sofun with my son for the first time, but unfortunately, our experience was extremely disappointing.

As first-time customers, we weren’t familiar with the ordering process. I approached the front desk for guidance, and the staff member simply told me that there’s an ordering machine where we could see what they offer. Naturally, I assumed we could place our dine-in order through the machine. However, after completing our order, we were rudely informed that the machine is for takeout orders only and that we would need to pay an additional service fee if we wanted to dine in.

At no point were we properly informed about the ordering system or the difference between takeout and dine-in procedures. The lack of clear communication and the condescending attitude we received made us feel as though we were being judged for trying to avoid a service fee, which was never our intention.

For a restaurant that should prioritize customer experience, this was an incredibly unwelcoming encounter. Clear instructions and basic courtesy should be standard. If any misunderstanding occurs, should have good communication, not a contemptuous attitude，especially for first-time visitors. Unfortunately, Sofun fell far short in both areas.

The waiter poured water for the next table, but ignored us and didn't offer us. The child finally cried because of hot and went to the other waiter to ask for water.

I cannot recommend this place based...

This spot is a gem and I cannot believe it has taken me this long to visit! A decent amount of tables inside and a couple benches out in the hall while you are waiting for a table. Easy phone or text to keep you updated on table status. The popcorn chicken was a great appetizer with its perfectly crispy bite-sized chicken pieces fried with basil. You cannot go wrong with the cabbage stir-fried with garlic and sun-dried chili. That is a classic and absolutely delicious.They also had a spicy squid dish that was either with chives or lemongrass. Regardless, it was fantastic and I would get that again. We got two noodle soup dishes. One was the Beef Brisket that had rice noodles served in a tangy and aromatic sour soup, topped with tender beef brisket and fresh herbs. The second was the Pickled Cabbage & Fish Fillet that had rice noodles served in a tangy broth with tender fish slices, flavorful pickled cabbage, bean sprout and greens. Both were phenomenal and I want to try the Spicy Beef Slice rice noodle soup next time.

Now for my standard comments. Parking is pretty easy with street parking or paid lots. Most of the spots use ParkMobile so it is convenient to pay via the app. Location is well kept and clean. Indoor seating is...