QQ Noodle
416 Barber Ln, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Come here for flavor. Period. Not for service, not for atmosphere. This is basically the Southwest Airlines of lunchtime noodle shops. The main seating area has plenty of seats and there is generally not a wait since they are herding customers in and out like cattle. It sounds bad, but this is what you want when coming to dine here because you have places to be and they have money to make during the Silicon Valley lunch rush in the busy Lion Plaza. So come in, try and know what you want before you sit down, stuff your face and get out. Dont try and chit chat with your waiter who likely wont even smile and dont expect to linger when the food is done. Oh, and when ordering garlic noodles, make sure you switch it to the flat wide noodles. You wont regret it.
Ox 9 Lanzhou Hand Pulled Noodles
1818 Milmont Dr, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Excellent noodle shop that uses the authentic hand made noodle techniques. Simple, tasty, and comfortable. Will be back.
Korea Garden Bistro
1535 Landess Ave #143, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
INTRO:My friends and I arrived around 11:13AM. The store wasn't open just yet(They open at 11:30am as of July, 2023) but the staff members let us in early which we really appreciated because it was really hot outside.I remember this place used to be some KBBQ place a few years ago, but they seem to have new management because everything looked new inside and the menu is completely different.The hostess Chelsie and our server Doug welcomed us with open arms, we were promptly seated, as the store was full house within 30 minutes of being opened.APPETIZERS & SIDE DISHES:The sides were great for the most part. In my honest opinion, the Kimchi was a bit bland, but the Japchae(clear noodles) and sweet potato's were pretty good.MAIN ORDERS:For the main dishes, we ordered black bean noodles(jjajangmyun), yuk gae jang, a full order of fried chicken(half soy garlic and half honey cheese), and hot stone beef bibimbap.Honestly this would not be the complete review as everything we tried was spectacular, and we haven't even tried everything yet.The Yuk gae jang definitely has a spicy kick to it that'll make you sweat extra, especially on a hot day, but in a good way if you know what I mean.The black bean noodles? My good Lord, this is the dish you most definitely HAVE to try when you come here for the first time.The hot stone bibimbap was my least favorite, not because it was bad, but because I'm always choosing the non healthy options when ordering food, but if health is your priority, then this is the one.The hot stone would be an ideal choice for colder weather though, as it keeps the food hot for dayyys.My personal favorite was the fried chicken, as the amount of ingredients used for flavoring was right and gave a balanced taste(not too much or too little).Mad, huge props to whoever working behind in the kitchen to make this experience possible ???CONCLUSION:In my opinion, trying this place out was beyond my expectations.The food was the primary highlight, but the servers also did much justice, as they were super prompt and quick to deliver.I really appreciate their hospitality and professionalism very much.I've tried out many Korean/Chinese restaurants that also serve black bean noodles throughout 20+ years living in the Bay Area and I'd have to say that this is among the top 10 on my list without a doubt!
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Hui Lau Shan
288 Barber Ct, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
We came to try Hui Lau Shan on a weekday as the last time we tried (a Saturday) the line was almost out the door! There was no one in front of us in line so we placed our order and were out of there in about 5 mins! We got the coconut pudding with mango, the taro & coconut with sago, the mango chewy ball, and the mango & coconut with sago. Everything we got was packaged nicely and tasted delicious. The mango was soft and sweet and paired perfectly with the sago and coconut. Definitely recommend if you're looking for desserts that are refreshing and still satisfy that sweet tooth.
Tong Sui Desserts & Drinks (Milpitas)
265 W Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Tong Sui in Milpitas offers an exceptional culinary experience that left me eagerly awaiting my next visit. Upon walking in, the ambiance of the place set a relaxed and welcoming tone, perfect for a casual outing or a more intimate gathering. The service was prompt and friendly, making my experience all the more enjoyable. But what truly stood out were the offerings on their menu, particularly the oolong milk tea and the coconut pudding.The oolong milk tea at Tong Sui was nothing short of exquisite. From the first sip, I was impressed by its rich and smooth flavor. The teas natural sweetness was beautifully balanced, neither too overpowering nor too understated. The creamy texture added an extra layer of indulgence, making each sip a delightful experience. The artisanal quality of the oolong was evident, and it was clear that great care had been taken in its preparation. It was, without a doubt, one of the best milk teas I have ever had.Complementing the oolong milk tea was the coconut pudding, which showcased a wonderful, delicately soft texture. While the pudding itself was creamy and smooth, offering a pleasant contrast to the tea, I felt it could benefit from minor improvements. Perhaps a slight enhancement in its coconut flavor or an added touch of garnish could elevate it to perfection. Despite this small room for refinement, the dessert was still immensely enjoyable and a lovely end to my meal. Overall, Tong Sui in Milpitas succeeded in delivering a memorable dining experience with their standout offerings.
YGF Malatang
540 Barber Ln, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Considering its a franchise straight from China, I think this is the best malatang spot in the Bay! The most important tip is to get on the yelp wait-list before you head over! I went on a Saturday afternoon and got on the wait-list around 12:20pm. I didnt get called to go in till 1:15pm. Less than 1 hour wait is actually pretty fair in the Bay but I can only guess itll go up once more and more people find out about this place.When its finally your turn to go in, the host will run some instructions by you if you tell them its your first time. Its really simple and requires a lot of self control (on my end). Grab a bowl, get a tong and shimmy down the line grabbing whatever your stomach calls for. The staff were great at keeping ingredients stocked and we waited barely a moment for the fresh meats to be brought out. They have a lot of quality ingredients and many that Ive never seen at other restaurants. Its very very easy to overdo it at this step so exercise self control!Once youve filled your bowl, you head to the cashier and they weigh your ingredients (the weight of the bowl is deducted) and you pay a little under $15 per pound. You choose from the 3 cooking options, beef broth, tomato broth and spicy dry pot. I recommend the beef broth on medium spice. Its a perfect meal for this current cold season were experiencing. When you pay, you tell them the table number that your host gives you when you were called in or let them know its for to go. There should be no issues with communication cause the staff I interacted with were trilingual - English, Mandarin, and surprisingly Cantonese!!!Really happy with my experience and I look forward to my next visit.
Poke Xpress
1236 S Abel St, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
This is the best poke you can get in the South Bay. I've been going here at least once a week for the a year now since it's 5 mins away from work. The business is family owned and operated by a sweet caring couple. They feel like family to me at this point. Poke Xpress is the best priced in the entire Bay Area and you'll leave full! They have milk and fruit tea for under $5, and also offer sushi rolls and salad bowls. Their fish is very fresh since they get deliveries every other day. I enjoy getting half sushi rice and half brown rice (it's Korean mixed rice).They have 3 sizes of bowls and a combo which is a regular bowl and 6pcs of California Roll. I'd recommend getting a regular bowl that comes with 3 scoops of protein. I usually get tuna, salmon, and yellowtail as my choices of protein or you can sub out salmon for spicy salmon (like minced spicy tuna). The standouts for toppings are usually the macaroni salad which is lightly dressed and jalapeños. For dry toppings it'll be hot Cheetos and fried onions. All of their sauces are made in house and many have tried to ask them for their recipes. Spicy Mayo and Ponzu is a good standard combo, mango sauce is fruity but best as on the side, and wasabi mayo has a crazy kick. The wasabi mayo impressed me because usually at poke joints, they buy premade sauces.A nice thing is that they have a stamp card, for every ten bowls you'll get a free drink.Always eat at the place if you can, it always tastes better than taking it to go!
Teaspoon
201 W Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Overall: 4.1/5The interior of Teaspoon is nice and clean but small so most people just pick up their drinks and go. We went around 9 PM on a Tuesday so we got a table to chill at, with not many people coming in at that time. Teaspoons drinks in general are on the less sweet side so I usually go for 75% instead of 50% sweetness but even for the drinks that you cant adjust sweetness, its at a good level.Peppermint Matcha ($6.50): We got their seasonal drink and added passion fruit dolphins which was a mistake because most of the flavor came from the passion fruit. I didnt really taste the peppermint or white chocolate so it tasted like a very different drink. Its not a sweet drink so I would try it again without any toppings.Strawberry Colada ($6.50): This was actually not as sweet as I thought it would be. It tasted like a Pina colada with a stronger pineapple taste than strawberry. The smoothie is a bit more grainer though. Still, its a great non-alcoholic substitute that will satisfy your drink craving.Taro Lover ($5.50): This is my brothers go to drink here as it never disappoints. They have real taro chunks in here too so if youre picky about your drink texture, this might not be the drink for you. I had it at other Teaspoon locations and liked it.
Obaitori
1708 N Milpitas Blvd #2767, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
Gyokai Normal $17.00,Homemade Chicken Karaage 5pc $8.00,Total $ 31.00 ($25.00 + $2.35 Tax - $1.09 Cash Discount + $4.74 Tip)The reviews on Google Maps were quite high, so we decided to visit this time.Weekdays Just before 8pm on a Wednesday, two groups were inside eating, apparently the last customers before closing.Soup: Although its called seafood, it has a faint taste of dried sardines, and is easy to drink without being too addictive. The temperature is just right, not lukewarm.Noodles: Medium-thick, straight, with just the right amount of firmness, which I personally like.Boiled egg: The yolk has a light American color, but its perfectly half-cooked and has no aftertaste.Char siu: Thin, chewy and firm, rather similar to ham. Its well seared and browned. Personally, I like the melt-in-your-mouth type, so I guess its not good. Looking at past photos, it looks like some of them were mushy, so I wonder if theyve changed them recently.Shinachiku: It doesnt have any strange taste and has just the right texture and is just delicious.Spinach: Not bad, not bad. Personally, I dont think I need it.Fried chicken: The ginger and soy sauce seasoning was so strong that I wanted white rice. I wonder if it could be a little lighter in flavor. The batter is thick and crispy. Shishito peppers came as a bonus.Overall review: It was delicious. You could say its no different from the ramen you eat in Japan. Both the ramen and fried chicken were delicious. If youre nearby for dinner, I might consider it as an option. Its a little different from my favorite ramen, so next time Ill try the tsukemen, which is highly rated in the reviews.However, considering that the yen is now weak and it costs ¥4,500 when converted to 145 yen, I might be hesitant.
i-Tea Milpitas
760 E Calaveras Blvd, Milpitas, CA 95035, United States
HANDS DOWN NEW FAVORITE!This is the only boba place I go to now :pTheir drinks are well priced, taste amazing, and all around awesome. Their drinks go from large to chubby cup so none of those small cups. They have a ton of different drinks to choose from and after tasting a good chunk of them, I have to say overall Im impressed.Suggested drink to try:MANGO SAGO: if youre a fan of mangoes, try this! It reminds me of the mango drinks in HK (yes they are that good!) The mango drink itself is super yummy, its rich and fruity and it has mango bits and sago which is like mini tapioca. I highly recommend this drink! Its like having dessert and a drink at the same time :DFeeling creamy? Then try their crema! Their crema taste like light fluffy ice cream, its decadent with a hint of salt. I usually dont get crema but theirs is pretty darn good.Feeling light? I love love love their teas! Especially the roselle because its light, fragrant, and slightly fruity. Its super refreshing! Their teaspresso drinks are really good too!Their high mountain milk tea is my favorite milk tea just because I normally get green milk tea and this is similar to it but better. I dont really know how to describe it but I love it if Im feeling like a light, creamy drink.I usually get my drinks at 50% sweet and 50% ice because I dont like things too sweet. Theyre really great at reducing the sugar level without making the drink taste like water which is a problem a lot of boba places have -_-They also have delicious snacks! Their popcorn chicken and curly fries are my go to. The chicken has great flavor and the curly fries comes with takoyaki sauce!CA$H ONLY if youre spending less than $10 or you can use card but theyll charge a bit extra for fees.