Top Noodle Shop in Poway
Ju Feng Yuan Dumpling Cafe
12265 Scripps Poway Pkwy #b109, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Food: 5/5Service and Setting: 3.5/5Value: 3/5Ju Feng Yuan is a new restaurant that has opened where a Lao restaurant used to be. The interior has not changed much and there is not even a sign up yet. The restaurant itself is clean. They are very short staffed so while the service is very kind, they do tend to run behind. One of the chefs would come out and serve the food and share lots of information about the restaurant and how things are going in Mandarin, so if you want to practice this a great spot! The young lady helping me in the front told me that this restaurant is an extension of another small restaurant in LA. I was not expecting much, but the food here is exceptionally honest, authentic, fresh, and has a homey flavor. Please come out and support a new small business!Pork and Chive Dumpling: 5/5I really wanted to try their xiao long bao 小籠包 and their sheng jian bao 生煎包, the waitress told me that they just sold out. I got the pork and chive dumpling instead and it was very good. The skin was thick and chewy the way a boiled dumpling should be. The filling was lightly bouncy and had a good amount of soup inside. The ratio of meat to chive was perfect as well as well seasoned. I did not like the dipping sauce and would have preferred just some soy and black vinegar, but I did not want to add more to their work load. A stellar example of what a dumpling should be.Shrimp and Pork Wonton in Chili Oil: 5/5This wonton was also spectacular. I have always been disappointed with wontons from most restaurants as they tend to use the same filling as their dumplings. At Ju Feng Yuan, they do it the right way with a coarsely chopped meat and big chunks of shrimp. Again, a deliciously thick skin with a wonderfully springiness that soaks in the sauce. I am not a particularly big fan of their chili oil, but it is very complex and hits all of the flavor points, particularly sweet and sour and not so much spicy. To me, it tasted a lot like a sweet and sour version of sha cha jiang 沙茶酱.Beef Dumplings: 4.5/5I'm not an expert on Chinese food, but beef and onion dumplings are a Northern style that I do not have a lot of experience with. Always seeing people eat this online has made me crave it intensely and I'm glad I got to try it here. It is not common to serve and they do a good job. The flavor of the meat is strong, almost a bit gamey with some bits of gristle that I think help give it flavor. It was a bit tough, but “tough” isn't the exact word I would use. Maybe sinew-y? The flavor was shockingly similar to beef kebabs, especially Pakistani renditions. Again, the dumpling skin was great and lots of soup inside with the filling.
Top other services in Poway:
Papa Dukes Deli & Grill
12169 Kirkham Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Ive been looking for a good deli in Poway for about 2 years now. Found Papa Dukes on a Google search. Its kind of tucked away in the industrial section of Poway, near a lot of office complexes. I ordered a Reuben and OMG it was delicious. Perfect flavors. Some delis make them and one or more ingredients overpower the others. This was a perfect blend of all. They not only make sandwiches, but they also make pizza and burgers. I havent tried the burger but the owner said that dont freeze them and are hand pressed. He also brought my wife and I complimentary 2 slices of their cheese pizza. Thin and crispy without being burnt. You could hold out the slice and it would stay flat. PERFECTION. And the flavor of just a regular slice of cheese pizza was fantastic. You could taste the cheese, taste the sauce, and feel the crunch and flavor of the crust. Phenomenal. We will definitely be coming back to try all of what they have. Highly recommended eatery.
OBriens Boulangerie
13615 Stowe Dr, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Not being a local of poway I wasn't sure where a good place was for breakfast but this cafe/bakery has amazing reviews so why not try it and let me say, I wasn't disappointed. I pulled up to a HUGE building and thought to myself, this place is ginormous for a bakery/deli. Once inside I understood why. As you enter you notice a comforting color balance between the light grey cabinetry, dark colored seating and the white floors. You're instantly greeted by friendly staff before you get the chance to lay your eyes upon the sweet, heavenly baked decadents they have on display. You had your mind set on breakfast but then you see all the treats you can choose from! The menu is the perfect size between too much to decide and could use a little more. Again, this place has that perfect balance. I had hit the gym earlier so I stirred up an appetite. I ordered the breakfast burrito and the egg white ham and cheese croissant.Not even trying to exaggerate, best breakfast burrito I've ever had and that's being raised in south San Diego. Perfect balance between hash browns, egg, cheese and bacon. And the sauce they give you! The croissant was huge and the ingredients were fresh. I also ordered a latte which was superior to any coffee I've had before including Starbucks. The coffee barista Alex was cheerful and extremely knowledgeable. He's the kind of guy that can hold a conversation with anyone and also has an amazing personality. After my meal, I chatted with the staff and came to learn this place is FAMILY OWNED! Not too many places like that anymore especially in north county. The General Manager Yvonne and her sister Sara the sales executive took me upstairs where everyone is welcome and i got to see the industrial size ovens which was so cool!! Turns out they've been in business for decades and had just moved from Escondido after being in Del Mar. They cater all across the county including Barona Casino, Board and Brew, and the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Their father, Edgar Escobar started the business in the late 80s and it's been booming since. Not to mention the brother Eddie is the pastry chef!! Talk about keeping it in the family! I had to order some sweets and it was worth the sweet guilt. If I could give this place 10 stars I would. Definitely coming back for the lunch menu and more coffee and sweets! If you're a coffee, breakfast or sweets lover, this place is the perfect fit for you. Prices meet the quality of what you're getting. It's not cheap but it's not breaking the bank either and you get what you pay for. Check this place out you won't regret it!!
Villa Capri Trattoria & Wine Bar
14771 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Not sure what all the fuss is about? I am extremely surprised by all the praise for this restaurant? Perhaps it is different when you dine in. The website states traditional Italian food, more like traditional American Italian food. Either people are extremely hungry and love anything they swallow or not well traveled.As far as my experience goes;I called a take out order. The guy answered and said sure what would you like, oh actually can you please hold. Got back on phone and hung up. I called again, asked if I could hold. Another guy picked up and received my order. Fine.My best friend picked up the meal, said the place was hopping and the atmosphere seemed fun. Nice.Now most importantly the food;The Pollo Parmigiana was basic, the side of mashed potatoes tasted like they came from a box, and the best part of the dish were the vegetables.The meat lasagna definitely had a nice blend of cheese but you would have to search for the meat inside.Finally the gnocchi was decently cooked but the sauce was common. In fact when it comes to the sauce on all 3 dishes, they all seemed to be watery without any delicious texture whatsoever.I am quite surprised by all of the reviews claiming how amazing and delicious the food was? I tasted nothing but too much salt in every bite and not enough Italian flare, American or otherwise.Having family in Long Island NY and familiar with many cities in Italy and Sicily, this is NOT traditional.My best friend asked the next day if I wanted any of the leftovers. My response; is that some sort of sick joke?!You want authentic and delicious Italian food in San Diego, go to The Godfather on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. Trust.
Smokin Js BBQ
14035 Midland Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
As theyve continually disappointed me from each of my past few visits, sadly, I finally have to be honest and bring Smokin Js down from a 5 stars rating down to 4 now a 3.Smokin Js BBQ was fantastic before they downgraded their menu. Today, they are inflexible as far as making any deviation from their listed menu. Which leaves you no other choice than ordering ala carte. Which will cost you triple.The Mac n Cheese which was once one of my favorites, as well as the other sides have all become mediocre. I dont care for the coleslaw!There are no more baby back ribs at Smokin Js They call them St. Louis style ribs now. They are not baby back ribs.The chicken I just received was extremely over cooked and dry. Despite all of the claims from JS on YouTube that the smoker saves the dried up chicken for himself. Its NOT TRUE! Dont believe it! All the BBQ sauce in the world cant make up for that dryness. Dont order chicken.For 6+ years it was a very satisfying experience. Not anymore. They are actually very rude, arrogant and unfriendly. They think that because they are the only game in town that they can get away with it. But their food is overpriced and going downhill just like their service.Now theyve artsmarted themselves. Instead of sticking to what made them successful in the Poway market in the first place, now they are being creative. Changing everthing. From simple to complicated. After all, they know better than us as to what Poways want. RIGHT?A problem weve always had with Smokin Js is their small portions. Check the meat weight out for yourself when you get your order.Smokin Js serves the worst breakfasts in Poway. Why would you go to a BBQ smokehouse for breakfast in the first place? There are many many better choices in Poway for breakfast and much better value than Smokin Js. There is only uncomfortable outdoor seating available to enjoy your disappointing investment there.The chicken fried brisket, (whatever it is, is to be avoided) its disgusting! And all of the other likewise disappointing breakfast burritos are all not just overly priced, but they are all worthy to be ignored as well.I encourage you to avoid those thems. Unluss you want to collect botulism. They love to undercook and serve raw eggs in their burritos at Smokin Js. Which leads to...what?Hopefully with the growth in Poway it will bring in some authentic alternatives to these spongers at Smokin Js who claim to be anthropologists. When in actuality (if you examine the history) they actually do nothing but sponge off of the local community, promote themselves, and pass the costs of their righteousness on to you the customer.Please, will someone bring in some real smoke house BBQ to Poway? Its long overdue. Im sure that that day is coming.Why would you expect to get quality BBQ from a place thats going to serve your food on plastic plates with plastic eating utensils.? They will charge you extra for napkins.
Chopsticks Chinese Cuisine
14885 Pomerado Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Plenty of parking in this plaza. Friendly staff and quick service. I asked for a split check prior to ordering but she still combined it at the end. Cozy indoor and outdoor dining. Rate 3.5, round to 4.Their lunch specials are daily from 11-3pm that comes with rice and appetizers. You can add $1 for soup and $1 for vegetables. There are 16 items with two vegetarian items.There's also a section called “special combination plate” that offer choices served daily 11-5pm, after 5pm would be $1 extra. Different items than lunch and comes with same sides but with egg roll and wontons. Add $1 for soup.I decided against lunch menu and got fresh wonton soup with noodles. It was a decent size bowl that could be easily shared among two if family style. Since I ate it as a meal, it was like the size of a ramen bowl.It was lo mein noodles and 4 freshly made pork wontons with cabbage, broccoli and carrots. The broccoli was too tough and needed to be cooked a tad bit longer. The broth was perfect for my palate but others might say it was bland. You can add sauces.My friend got the lo mein bba pork under special combo plate. I saw an egg roll but not cream cheese wonton.For dinner, there's a menu for $16 or $17 per person with 6 choices.The menu is comparable to other Chinese restaurants and with fair prices. The shrimp category seems to be the highest at $17.85 which is understandable with seafood.
Bua Thai
12378 Poway Rd Suite C, Poway, CA 92064, United States
Bua Thai is a quaint Thai restaurant tucked into a strip mall in Poway. Dont let the location fool you though, you walk on and the resteraunt is beautiful inside. My daughter and I shared the drunken noodles with beef and the crab fried rice and it was so good! You can order your dishes on a spice range of mild to hot (1 through 10). We got midway at 5 and it had just enough kick but not so much you burnt your taste buds. The drunken noodles were long and thin, perfect to soak up the tasty sauce and it was loaded with fresh carrots and plenty of thinly sliced beef. The crab fried rice, oh that rice. I have never had anything like it before. A large plate piled high with perfectly delicate fried rice and tons of real crab. They have something for everyone from noodle and rice dishes to soups and appetizers and even dessert. Plate prices range but are well worth the cost and each plate has plenty to share. I would suggest getting a few items, bringing some friends and checking Bua Thai out. The staff is wonderful, there were only two employees helping that we saw but they were super friendly, very helpful and on the bal with everything. The food and drinks came out hot and pretty quickly. For sure check them out! Cant wait to go back!
North Park Produce Poway Bakery & Grill
12342 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
This is a long review! Bear with me. I witnessed a terrible incident where the owner of this bakery was speaking to a customer over the phone, upon the end of the call, a man looked at me and told me the story of who that customer was. I will type in excerpts below, on what this man told me about this story..The President of our nonprofit charity briefly left her phone unattended on a table, only for it to disappear as the area was being tidied up. Upon seeking assistance from employees, she was directed to contact the owner, Sara, who was unavailable at the time. Subsequently, a follow-up call regarding the status of the $1700 phone, which held significant sentimental value due to unsaved photos of deceased parents, was met with unhelpful responses from a staff member who appeared dismissive of the situation. After an apology from our President, she was met with a heated response from the owner, who took over the phone call with yelling and condescending remarks. Customer was grief stricken and expressed indifference towards the long-term patronage of our organization, even though we regularly referred over 2500 customers monthly for service.Regrettably, the phone was not returned, and subsequent investigation revealed its presence in the same bakery weeks later. Despite these events, our President chose not to file a police report. As a member of our organizations staff, I firmly believe in the pursuit of justice, especially considering the broader context of our charitable efforts and the personal challenges faced by our founder, who has been bedridden due to a life-threatening infection for the past nine months.Furthermore, it is disheartening to note that potential discrimination and mistreatment may have played a role in the handling of this situation. The reported mistreatment of individuals of Afghan descent, in contrast to favorable treatment received by others, raises concerns of prejudice within the establishment. Such behavior is unacceptable and undermines the principles of respect and inclusivity. The owners dismissive attitude towards addressing derogatory statements made by employees further highlights a lack of accountability and respect for diversity within the workplace. It is imperative that all individuals, regardless of ethnicity or background, are treated with dignity and fairness in all interactions.Sadly the phone was never given back, and I'm the CYBER security Analyst who found out that the phone was SPOTTED in that same bakery weeks later! What does that tell you? The Amazing President of our company still did not file a police report despite all of this!! In fact they do not even want anyone to post this review but I'm one of the Men who believes Justice must be served! During these events the customer was diagnosed with a life threatening infection and nearly died. Had been bed bound for the past 9 months, and yet the owner of this bakery yelled “we don't care if you bring us the most business we don't need you.! You can go elsewhere.Wow sadly, it must be because this customer is Afghan and the owner of bakery and grill is Persian/middle eastern, unfortunately I hear they mistreat afghans as rivals. Like most clans do to each other. Except me and my wife witnessed this event. And we are not middle eastern so we keep getting treated really good by the owner… however she doesn't treat this customer with respect. In fact the customer reported to the owner that her employee that day made a deragatory statement that was very predjudice. To which the owner sounded proud and said, our employee is the best you can't blame her for calling you by the WRONG gender. You sound and dress like a man. They will not be stopped and forced to refrain from saying Sir/Ma'me over the phone or in person, it's the natural way” It's the normal way” I won't force them to respect or correct and properly pronounce peoples pronouns. The normal ones will come out of my staffs mouth automatically “reffering to Male and female pronouns such as He/she…
Kai Sushi Restaurant
13425 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
We found this place randomly searching for food. Its such a cute space. We didnt realize they had the bell to call for service(just like in Japan) until we finished eating. They were so present I didnt even realize they had that. We went at 730-810pm on a Friday night. I spent 10-15 minutes just looking at the menu items because they had some interesting renames. I love their white sheet of information that lists the roll names and the ingredients(not sure if I was supposed to order with that sheet). The kids bento box portion was massive. I should have had both kids share 1 dish but one wanted sushi and the other wanted a bento box. The prices of hand rolls are great. My 7 year old barely finished a CA handroll(it was huge), my 5 year old barely made a dent in her delicious chicken teriyaki bento, and my husband ate more than half of full size chicken teriyaki bento. I got a UFO roll and was soooooo full. It was such a massive roll that could have been 2 lunches for me. The portions are huge in a bento box, sushi roll and kids bento. They gave us a free piece of salmon(fin or tail). It was delicious. My son asked for extra crumbles of tempura on his CA roll so it doesnt normally look like what it does in my photo of his roll. The prices are good considering the portion size is the largest out of all the places in SD I have been to. Its an easy place to bring the small kids to eat. Although there is no coloring pages to distract them, the food comes out super quick.
Ichizen Sushi and Japanese Cuisine
13307 Poway Rd, Poway, CA 92064, United States
I love it when I can try out a small business in Poway and actually like the food. Please continue to support your local small business!I actually never knew this place existed. It's wedged between Five Guys and Little Ceasars. What attracted me was the oversized big banner that referenced 19% off entire bill.I ordered for pick up: Tonkotsu ramen ($11.48), shrimp tempura udon ($10.98), and a lunch bento box that came with rice, salad, miso soup, 2 piece CA rolls, 4 tempura, 2 gyoza, a small drink and a protein ($9.98). I got chicken teriyaki.They packaged the bag very tightly and neat. I was afraid of the udon and ramen broth spilling but they put a small piece of card board at the bottom of the bag for support.The udon and ramen noodles where kept separately in a container and the broth was still super hot. Both broths were good but udon tasted like what you can make from the store. The tonkotsu broth was yummy and creamy. The ramen was tasty and had texture and chewy. I would order the ramen again but the udon.The bento box was well worth the price. I wish the chicken had more teriyaki drizzle because it was a bit dry. Can't go wrong with tempura and they gave a huge container of sauce to dip. It was all veggie but the udon came with one shrimp tempura. I was also surprised that the lunch bento prince was offered on a weekend.Please don't forget to tip more since 19% discount was given.