Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Fen Classic Guilin Rice Noodles in Oakland

4.1 (109) 188 10th St, Oakland, CA 94607, United States

Categories

Chinese noodle restaurant
Noodle shop

Location on the map

Oakland, Alameda County, California, US

Phone: +1 510-250-9333
Site: http://fencuisine.com/

Opening hours

Monday:Closed
Tuesday:10 AM–3:30 PM
Wednesday:10 AM–3:30 PM
Thursday:10 AM–3:30 PM
Friday:10 AM–3:30 PM
Saturday:10 AM–3:30 PM
Sunday:10 AM–3:30 PM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.1

109 Reviews for Fen Classic Guilin Rice Noodles 2024:

Review №1

2023-11-27 16:41:52

I’ve searched for authentic Guilin noodles in other places but this is by far the most authentic dish I’ve had. The picked green beans, bamboo, and crispy pork taste just like in Guilin. I’d come back for more!

Review №2

2023-08-27 21:56:38

Hole in the wall with good noodle soup, at very reasonable price. Guilin def has a distinct regional flavor and I myself like it alot. You would be amiss not to try it out. Im not sure why this place is rated so low.The only downside are their hours. Cant get it for dinner after work!

Review №3

2021-09-27 16:44:28

The FoodI am not sure how noodles differ in different regions of China. But when I walked by Classic Guilin Rice Noodles, it seemed like an interesting place to try. My friend and I ordered their Beef Brisket and Crispy Pork Guilin Rice Noodle (牛腩，脆皮桂林米粉) along with Special Small Bowl Rice Noodle (合味特色一口粉). The Special Small Bowl Rice Noodle came with a sampler of different noodles. These Bite Rice Noodle give a chance to try different noodle dishes. I enjoy both the Beef Brisket and Crispy Pork as well as Special Small Bowl noodles. I like these styles of noodles, and the flavors, though similar, are pretty good. They of course have a variety of other dishes besides noodles, so will need to return and try them.The MiscellaneousThe restaurant itself is decent sized with a good amount of seating. The interior is clean with interesting decor, giving the typical Chinese restaurant vibe. The service and staff were nice and sincere. They took our order when ready, and the wait time for the food was pretty quick. Their menu has other selections besides noodles such as stew, hot pot and rice plate. The prices are not unreasonable so it is worth a try if you are in the area.

Review №4

2022-05-10 05:02:44

My mom and Its favorite noodle spot of all time ever. My body feels like new when I have one of their classic bowls. Food really is medicine 🙏🙏. Please try it out. Their laiyou stuff is also delicious if you want a little kick

Review №5

2017-04-29 05:54:09

Hmmm...Not sure if im more disappointed about the let down of this place that I had chosen or because I made my husband have his first terrible meal for the past 3 months. The answer will haunt me for life!!! First things first, this place didnt have the best rating, BUT, as a good person I thought to myself - whats the point of trying only highly rated places? What about the other guys who are trying to get out there and make their restaurants known? Yea, that theory just died today! Not only this place didnt have the highest ratings but also didnt have a big amount of reviews - yea, I know, I should have known better. I learned my lesson though.The ambience was too modern for my Asian taste. The service was quick and friendly. They served complimentary tea which we both took one sip and didnt touch it (yuck). Surprisingly there were only locals eating here which made me feel - hey this place doesnt look like it will deliver but everything else says it will so lets keep our fingers crossed. That ship sailed and drowned immediately as our food arrived - hubby ordered nr 4 the beef and crunchy pork noodles with the broth on the side and I ordered nr 21 the spicy beef noodle soup. The flavors in nr 4 were pretty good, the noodles werent bad but the meat quality was the worst we have had in a very long time. My dish was pretty bland and on the contrary to nr 4, nr.21 didnt even have flavor, the noodles were pretty sad and the meat was blah. Sadly, wont return to this place. It was a good budget meal but it just wasnt tasty.

Review №6

2019-05-03 20:11:57

This place was decent. It had good flavor, wasnt too heavy or light. I had a beef noodle bowl and it wasnt anything that would put me in a food coma for the rest of my afternoon. It was reasonably priced for the volume. The next time I come, Ill try a rice dish. The service was a tad slow considering it wasnt too packed. My bowl came out about 5 minutes before my moms and the lunch rush hadnt started yet.

Review №7

2022-12-24 22:49:12

Would give a 7/10 for authenticity. Price is reasonable. pretty good option when you miss the Guilin rice noodles.

Review №8

2018-06-30 18:58:38

I found Classic Guilin Rice Noodles on Yelp when searching of places that were open after 9 pm in Oakland. It caught my attention as its cuisine was not from the common Sichuan, Hong Kong or Shanghainese cuisine that dominates the non-Panda Express landscape within the US. A quick google search showed that the Guilin is a city from the Guangxi province in the southern part of China which is famous for its beautiful scenery and its rice noodles which are known throughout China.It is located on 10th & Alice which I wouldn’t call as the heart of Oakland Chinatown but surely within it. At around 9:15 pm the restaurant was completely empty which I did not take as a good sign. I approached the counter and asked for a menu from the server/hostess who was definitely surprised to see me. Anyway, the menu mentions that their signature dish is the noodle sampler bowl which has five small bowls of dry rice noodles with different toppings and a central bowl with a thick white dipping broth. As this dish is not convenient for take out I kept looking at the extensive menu with a gazillion combinations and settled on getting the Beef brisket & marinated beef Guilin Rice Noodles ($10.57) large to-go. I was charged another dollar for the to-go containers (there is a tiny sign on the counter that proclaims this) and even though they do take cards I think I did not hit the minimum and had to pay cash.After ordering it was a small 10-minute wait and I was on my way. I got two containers one for the broth and the other for the noodles which was a good start. The noodles were cooked correctly but the beef toppings were of very poor quality. The broth was clean and not overly salty but is was not like the thick white broth that I saw in the pictures of the sampler noodle dish on the menu. Overall it was average.Price wise it was definitely more expensive when you compare with what you will pay for a bowl of noodles in other Chinese restaurants in Oakland Chinatown but I’ll let that pass as this is specialized cuisine which will have a much smaller draw as compared to more mainstream Chinese restaurants. I think it would be better to dine-in at this restaurant rather than to get something to-go. I guess I’ll stop by when I get a chance and update my review at that point. For now I’m constrained to go with an A-OK grade.

Review №9

2023-10-16 08:24:28

The Guilin noodles at this location is absolutely authentic. my girlfriend from Guangxi loves it so much.

Review №10

2023-04-08 19:15:12

Absolutely wonderful! We had never tried Guilin rice noodles before. We were in Chinatown and needed lunch. Decided to give it a shot with our teenager and toddler. I’m sure we’ll be back many times!

Review №11

2022-10-27 03:45:42

Had to try a bowl of their namesake classic. Pleasantly surprised they serve the broth on the side. I was in the mood for dry noodle and enjoyed the broth separately. First, just really clean broth, very well done. The noodles were fantastic texture and well dressed with peanut and some vegetable bits. I would have been happy with that. I added crispy pork, somewhat similar to bacon but the crispy edge was fantastic. I will return to explore more of their menu. Service was great too, very nice and helpful with their menu. Great job Fen!

Review №12

2023-06-11 21:06:25

Great place to get noodles 🍜

Review №13

2018-08-28 20:54:26

Pretty solid. Loving the new cut rice noodle stir fry.Luizhou noodle soup was good, but the rice noodles were a little over done.

Review №14

2022-06-20 17:01:19

Family run, friendly and quiet. I havent had these noodles in twenty years. I remembered how I use to eat this once a week. And it was so good then, I ordered a large bowl and couldnt finish it all.

Review №15

2018-07-06 06:54:39

This is a low key, almost no service type of restaurant. They take your order and bring your food. We even had to go pay at the counter because we couldnt find our waitress.The menu is pretty long as there are many different noodle dishes. I got a set lunch which was noodles and a milk tea. The noodles came with a small bowl of soup in the side. I saw other customers pour this into the large bowl of noodles. The noodles were very flavorful and very filling. My friend got the larger lunch set which included a herbal chicken soup and noodles. He said it was way too much food.

Review №16

2019-12-30 00:20:38

Order three noodles with my wife and son and brought 2. Waitress isnt that bright so I ask the other waiter he told me we can make it fast. At that point I said no thanks. Luckily because the price of the noodles bowls isnt cheap. If it was delicious I would of want it but flavor is o.k. I wouldnt recommend going.

Review №17

2015-05-11 18:45:15

I always go to restaurants to try their vegetarian menu and test their customer service. The food I order, that I cant remember, had a mix of noodles with tofu, lettuce, peanuts, mushrooms and something else. It was quite delicious but some of the ingredients tasted like can food, which gave me a stomachache. The tea was really good. The waitress was nice and helpful. When I paid and got back my change I decided to stay until I finish my tea. The girl came and asked me if I like the food, and I told her that it was quite delicious. What she said after left me shocked. She complained about me not leaving a tip for her!!! If I really liked it, I need to leave a tip (I guess she was expecting it right away). I answered Im still sitting here and when I leave Ill leave it. So I left ASAP to never go back in there. I do not recommend vegetarians going there, and the waitress should have more training.

Review №18

2022-06-28 20:22:49

I ordered curry beef brisket with rice and it was absolutely disgusting. I couldnt touch the meat because it was all fat. I only ate the rice and veggies. Definitely never coming back here again.

Review №19

2017-02-13 18:07:39

Very good comfort food, but pretty heavy handed with the MSG... I think they can omit it and the food would have tasted just as good. Place was pretty packed. I asked the waitress for their recommendations and she suggested the dry noodle lunch special (consist of a big bowl of noodle, choice of chicken soup and side order or lettuce and a small portion of noodle soup that you can drizzle on the noodle). This is pure comfort food and its actually better tasting if you dont drizzle the side order of noodle soup (was loaded with MSG). The black chicken herbal chicken soup is simply the best comfort food there is, especially on a cold damp day. Restaurant could use a good cleaning and the staff needs to relax. Were customers wanting to pay for good food so take take it easy

Review №20

2019-01-31 22:33:53

Bad service, especially for me.The waiter told me it was cash only. Then I noticed the sign next to the cash register that said credit cards require purchases of $20 or more.The waiter gave the other table ice water, but not us.We ordered the beef brisket and crispy pork rice noodles and Laoyou dumplings.The noodles were barely hot, and the dumplings had a freezer burnt texture and were served in a broth that was sooooooooo strong tasting.The waiter did not bring the bill to us, only the other table. At this point, I guess Ill have to admit that the dude was rude.The whole experience left a literal and figurative bad taste in my mouth.I had to get up in the middle of the night and brush my teeth again.Yuck.

Review №21

2015-08-03 01:59:04

Awesome noodles! Caveat dont order to go they give you less food and they had a to go surcharge.But if you insist on ordering to get get the regular size not large. Ive tried ordering both sizes and there is no difference in amount of noodles.Otherwise super yummy noodles!!

Review №22

2019-10-13 23:28:21

Noodles were okay. Not much flavor between the different types.

Review №23

2023-05-10 21:28:08

Ive never had Guangxi food before so Im no expert but this food was hella tasty.

Review №24

2018-02-04 00:16:44

Used to go there almost every week for my favorite spicy pork noodle since grand opening.Me and my friend decided to go again after we had hiking at lake chabot in the afternoon. A waiter unfriendly to told me that waiting number is not needed, just wait in the front door. There were 8 people in front of us, 2~3 people per table. After 20 minutes waiting, unfriendly waiter came again and asked can you wait for next table? I replied no, need to pick up my son at 2pm. We got seat around 1pm, however, our orders were still processing at 1:30pm told by a waitress. Also we found out the table next to us got seat 15 minutes later than us already enjoying their pork spicy noodle same like us. So disappointed! End up we left without food and apologize.Unfiendly and bad attitude!!! Not coming back again for sure!!! 01/03/2018

Review №25

2019-10-08 01:33:11

The combo ( 4-6 small dishes) is pretty good! you can taste each one. the taste is not super strong, which I like. prices are only about $13. which I think would probably be $17 in peninsula..

Review №26

2017-02-04 19:06:10

Casual fast service asian eatery with not much decor with one television for entertainment. Their best features are guilin rice noodles. Service was prompt and efficient however, once order is place servers are MIA. My rice noodles was pretty good, but MSG was a bit too much. Nevertheless, it gets the job done. No alcoholic beverages are sold and most rice noodles start are 8.95 a bowl.

Review №27

2017-11-23 23:28:17

Ive been to Guilin and love the rice noodle there.This Guilin rice noodle is the most authentic and delicious outside of Guilin. On top of that, the tea they serve is very good and special.Strongly recommend. Must come if youre in Oakland.

Review №28

2019-03-25 12:14:04

My wife and I really like this place and look forward to going back. Good food and a casual setting.

Review №29

2015-11-18 03:21:53

Ordered #22 - beef & tripe soupFirst spoon had chemically soap on it (second ok)Soup tasted like generously salted chemicalsI dont believe Ive tasted anything this salty beforeI hope there are no delayed after-effectsEverything on the menu looked awesome, though. Good job on that!Oh yeah, theres also $20 minimum on credit card. My bill was $10.71 and I only had $4 cash.So how do you want to handle this?Ill take your card now, but maybe next timeThere will be no next time my friend.

Review №30

2018-12-28 17:51:43

A great choice for fresh noodles and rice plates. Low/medium prices. Good flavors, pleasant service. A couple blocks south of busy Webster, easier parking at night.

Review №31

2018-12-19 04:03:59

Noodles and you mix the meat and beans and tasty sauceswe ordered side of stewed pig feet and they melted in your mouthvery good with noodles.oh the noodles were not Chinese egg noodles but tasted like barilla spaghetti from a box. dont drink the small bowl of pasta water,its to dampen the mixture

Review №32

2019-10-01 19:12:18

Food is okay though not very delicious. The price isn’t very expensive ($11+tax for a noodle pho), but still don’t think the food worth it. Must use cash if order under $20.

Review №33

2020-01-04 08:05:39

The bawang noodles are really flavorful. The classic and the other noodle series Ive tried arent bad, but imho the bawang are most flavorful. The classic lacks a variety of flavorful condiments to make it stand out on its own right.

Review №34

2014-11-19 06:43:08

Serving noodles served in the style of the eponymous city in Guangxi province in China, Guilin rice noodles are uniquely delicious. You can enjoy them in this sparkling clean, well lit restaurant.Beginners will enjoy the classic noodles served with one or two meats of choice (salty beef, crispy pork, beef brisket, or tripe). Whatever you do, include the crispy pork which appears to be thinly sliced pork belly, a perfectly crisped and crackly addition to toothsome rice noodles. Fried peanuts, picked diced long beans, green onions, garlic, and half a soy sauce egg will garnish your dishes. The waiters will explain very kindly how to eat them, perhaps in broken English, there are also instructions on the wall. Mix everything together, and why not add a dollop or two of the housemade chili sauce (the one with black beans will deliver a greater kick than the chili oil)? Slurp away. But what about this milky bone broth on the side? Well take a few sips as you eat, or just add to your noodles when you are nearly done, and spoon up the rest of your noodles and broth with relish. They serve complimentary tea made from luohan guo, which imparts a peanuty, sweet aroma that is addictive and soothing.A bowl with two meats will set you back $8.25 with tax. Pay at the counter, but you can only use a credit card if you spend $20 or more. Bathrooms are spacious and clean.

Review №35

2019-08-05 14:39:09

Good food. Unfortunately there were children going crazy running around and screaming - with their parents - while we were trying to eat. The staff of the restaurant did nothing about it. Maybe they were friends? We werent able to have a conversation and it was very loud and annoying until they finally left.

Review №36

2018-07-31 00:32:14

Had never had this type of noodle before and was interested to try something new. I cant say I preferred it to Ramen or some of the other local noodle restaurants but I appreciate having the opportunity to try it and support local food establishments.

Review №37

2016-12-26 16:16:04

I am continually overwhelmed by this place. Unbelievably good service and a delightful atmosphere.When I dream and crave about Moules (mussels) and frites (fries), the Marinière is what I crave. Garlic, white wine, lemon juice & parsley sauce. Amazing.I came here directly from the airport the last two times I have come to SF and it is just the best way to start a trip. If I lived in the Bay Area, I would be here a few times a week. As it is, one of the patrons at the bar told me that I might as well move in, as I rolled my luggage behind me. Good advice. Follow suit.

Review №38

2018-04-05 04:44:00

The ambiance was casual Chinatown. The food was delicious and varied. We ordered from different parts of the menu and enjoyed everything. The prices were reasonable for a casual dinner.

Review №39

2018-01-12 04:33:05

As a true Guilinese (born and raised), this is the best and most genuine Guilin rice noodels I have had in the States! I feel like coming here every time I visit SF now!

Review №40

2018-05-10 08:29:37

I love this place. I very enjoy this type of rice noodles. So chewy and light. I want to come back and try out all the noddles.

Review №41

2023-04-28 19:09:17

This is cuisine you dont find often, it is worth a try. Great service.

Review №42

2016-09-09 17:33:24

The noodles were delicious, very different then what im used to. oh pro tip, if you get the sampler bring your appetite.

Review №43

2016-08-06 21:17:22

One of the few places in the bay area that has guilin style noodles. The food is good. Around 9 bucks for a bowl of noodles.

Review №44

2017-03-12 03:47:24

Very authentic Guilin Rice noodle, and absolutely liked it. The slow cooked soup is also very good.

Review №45

2018-02-20 00:59:22

The rice noodles are awesome, and the service is great. The most impressive part is you can pay by wechat!

Review №46

2017-06-11 19:57:07

Something different rice noodles with soup on the side. Sweet tea. If service was more attentive i would give it a 4 star.

Review №47

2016-12-09 21:43:16

Delicious noodles. Great meats. Good spices. And omg did I mention the noodles? Superb.

Review №48

2018-07-16 15:56:22

The food is alright and they give you a lot of it. they only had 2 people running the show so service isnt great when it gets busy.

Review №49

2016-12-04 17:24:42

Definitely delicious noodles! Environment and service are not as good as food though.

Review №50

2017-06-23 23:40:23

Really great! Delicious, hearty portions. Everything seems very authentic. Price was good too.

Review №51

2017-09-21 04:06:01

Great food alone with service.

Review №52

2019-04-04 04:40:19

Cozy rice noodle restaurant, price$$ and food are reasonably good! Varieties of tidbits in menu!

Review №53

2019-01-08 06:02:42

I like this place for the roll your own noodles. Great selection of add-ons.

Review №54

2018-11-02 02:17:54

Best guilin noodle. Really traditional. Atmosphere is a little dark.

Review №55

2016-07-04 21:46:03

The laoyou rice noodles is the best. just taste the same as it was from nanning guangxi.

Review №56

2016-03-18 03:10:04

Yall have no idea how I miss my hometown cuisine. It just tastes exactly like the one I tried at Guilin

Review №57

2017-03-02 15:42:16

Amazing spot. Super unique noodle soups, nothing like it in the Bay. Endorsed.

Review №58

2020-02-18 01:23:07

Dry A11 is the order. Very similar flavor profile :)

Review №59

2021-07-11 03:01:10

The meet in the noodles was extremely tuff and chewy. Couldn’t eat it.

Review №60

2019-12-22 06:18:36

Really good noodles, served in authentic style.

Review №61

2016-12-20 16:39:47

Noodles are pretty cheap, tasty and big portions!

Review №62

2017-07-19 19:01:43

The MOST original and delicious Guilin rice noodle on the land of America EVER!

Review №63

2018-08-05 19:59:43

Finally got mine after all my friends almost finished eating their noodles.

Review №64

2017-06-19 16:16:38

Unique rice noodle in Chinatown. Cant find it anywhere else.

Review №65

2017-01-18 21:27:57

One of a kind! Probably will your only meal of the day if you go in the morning.

Review №66

2016-06-12 15:25:20

Unfiendly and bad attitude: refuse to let you use restroom when you want to use restroom before order.

Review №67

2017-09-23 06:24:06

Very delicious! I eat there twice a week. 👍

Review №68

2017-11-26 08:09:18

Great nice noodles, must have while being in Oakland.

Review №69

2020-02-21 01:32:00

It is so good. Hope you have better business!

Review №70

2021-01-29 21:24:22

Delicious Rice noodles

Review №71

2017-03-10 19:04:45

Great noodles. Very affordable.

Review №72

2017-06-12 04:23:43

Delicious noodles but terrible parking on a Sunday

Review №73

2018-01-30 22:14:36

Lots of flavor, different choices, and it was very filling.

Review №74

2018-07-12 23:46:53

First time, very tasty - will be back!

Review №75

2018-07-01 01:26:13

Authentic rice noodles and delicious too.

Review №76

2023-05-06 00:57:47

Yummy

Review №77

2018-03-03 21:58:14

Bad service, the flavor is not good.

Review №78

2016-09-17 06:02:40

Distinct noodle house. Pretty overpriced though

Review №79

2018-01-13 02:22:29

Pretty authentic rice noodle as that in China.

Review №80

2019-09-09 23:45:38

Delicious. It is one restaurant of my !!!

Review №81

2019-09-12 06:20:05

Decent food at a decent price.

Review №82

2017-04-06 19:34:32

Good food reasonable price.

Review №83

2019-08-25 04:56:56

Fast service, good food.

Review №84

2016-04-24 04:13:12

Great noodles fast service

Review №85

2016-07-16 02:49:50

Very good rice noodle

Review №86

2022-01-10 02:59:09

Nice bowl of noodles!

Review №87

2019-05-24 21:24:02

Good food

Review №88

2018-10-18 04:22:47

Good food, good price

Review №89

2017-12-09 17:09:50

Yummy and healthy. Go and try

Review №90

2020-03-11 21:04:33

Show some respect to your customer

Review №91

2019-10-02 19:20:53

Decent.

Review №92

2019-08-10 03:33:29

Delicious and affordable!

Review №93

2015-08-31 23:26:41

Delicious rice noodle!

Review №94

2021-10-11 00:27:01

The best noodles 🍜

Review №95

2019-01-12 20:32:07

The service is so bad!

Review №96

2019-05-18 15:43:39

Nooooo

Review №97

2017-07-05 03:13:59

Alot of msg

Review №98

2018-07-22 17:17:08

Review №99

2019-11-18 02:53:40

Good noodles!

Review №100

2018-08-19 20:47:19

Highly recommend it

Review №101

2017-04-24 04:58:24

Ok place to eat

Review №102

2022-11-23 23:20:50

Expensive 1⃣️ skin, a bowl of the most ordinary crispy Guilin rice noodles is 13, plus 1 for the sour bamboo shoots. The taste is also very ordinary and I can only give it 6 points. Pay for a bowl of noodles➕Tip 18. All tableware is disposable, think about it yourself

Review №103

2019-02-25 03:21:51

The food was severely shrunk and the service attitude was poor. My wife asked her if there was a high chair. She pointed to the location of the high chair and told her to get it herself. The baby was still sleeping in my wifes arms at that time!

Review №104

2023-01-29 18:41:34

Both soy milk and fried dough sticks are super authentic. The soy milk tastes slightly sweet but not too sweet. The fried dough sticks are very crispy and fragrant. Delicious! very authentic soy milk and chinese churros here yummm

Review №105

2018-01-17 22:43:33

Came here because of the reputation, the stuff is good. A mouthful of powder is very distinctive. The surrounding environment is quite scary at night.

Review №106

2020-09-02 21:58:42

The meat is soft, the soup is very flavorful, and the noodles are delicious. Wish there was a little more soup.Parking is inconvenient so it’s best to ask someone to drive and then pick up the bags yourself. Egg tarts are also sold nearby.Marinated beef noodles were my favorite.

Review №107

2018-02-11 06:07:19

It is said that it is more authentic Guilin rice noodles. I have tasted it but it is not bad, but the price is a bit expensive.

Review №108

2018-04-24 21:15:03

The waiter is average. The waiter thinks he is a dick. The food is expensive. I won’t do it again.

Review №109

2017-12-11 21:33:17

Tasty