Noodle Theory

The duck noodles may have led me back into the meat eating world. Perfectly spicy and balanced dish. Their tofu dish is also amazing. The wait is generally about 20 minutes, even on a week night. I appreciate that they will call to let you know that your time to be seated is approaching. Great, friendly service and fair prices. Their overall cleanliness could be better, specifically the bathroom.

First timers & if you like curry I would recommend the curry lime beef udon noodle soup. It’s good esp if your not feeling well. My friend had the salmon ramen and he seem to like it. I’d come back for the soup and the garlic noddles.

This is my go-​to for Asian Fusion noodles! I like it slightly more than Toss in Downtown Berkeley because Noodle Theory’s quality tastes better (even though it’s ~50% more expensive). Noodle Theory’s ambiance is also calmer, but since the restaurant is so small (no bathroom either), expect to wait a while if you come during regular meal hours.
I really like their Veggie/​Tofu Garlic Noodles for $ 10. Everything about it is heavenly. The tofu is crispy on the outside and melts in your mouth on the inside. The stir-​fry veggies (a combination of green beans, eggplant, mushroom, and bok choy) taste so flavorful and juicy. I actually don’t like eggplant or mushrooms, but Noodle Theory’s is one of my few exceptions. And lastly, the noodles are thick, stir-​fry noodles which has that chewiness that is perfect for a noodle person like me! I was expecting to eat half of my portion and walk out with the rest in a to-​go container, but the dish was so good I ate the whole thing. No regrets.

Noodle theory is a fun!
The place throws me off each time I visit. It’s on the corner of a very busy 5-​street intersection on College. Noodle theory is so small that it’s almost funny. But also quaint and inviting.
Its micro small, about the size of a very small coffee shop. There’s only about a dozen or so two or three person tables. From a technical standpoint, 4 people could sit down, but there would be no room for all the food. There are also a couple tables and chairs on the perimeter of the building, outside. The inside is cute, but the compact space can get fairly loud you to be chefs in the kitchen banging out orders. It’s fun, but can get a little loud. I’d recommend sitting outside if you’re in a chatting mood.
Their menu is actually fairly large compared to the size of their facility. I don’t believe I’ve gotten an appetizer or salad here yet, but they are on the menu. The meat and bones of the business, obviously, are their noodle dishes. They have Asian style stir fry noodles, ranging from China, to Thailand, to Korea.
One complaint I do have with respect to their dishes is that the veggies are very light and sparsely added. It is very carbohydrate centric. And it’s unfortunate because the veggies do compliment the meals so well! For example, I will usually get the Thai peanut noodle dish, and add basil or whatever veggies are available to it. But even then, they are only sprinkled on there a little bit. That being said, their portions are very generous, and often constitute as two meals. And irrespective of veggies, the dishes are always delicious.
There are two or three sides of veggies you can actually order on the menu, but they are $ 7 each! No bueno. I believe that is my only complaint about noodle theory. Everything is always hot and made fresh to order. I mean when it arrives your table, it is still piping hot off of the skillet.
They also have a nice selection of booze, as well as non-​alcoholic beverages. And the staff is very quick, but also attentive and nice.
This place would be kind of fun for a second or third date, or to catch up with a friend. Although you can merge the tables for groups, it could be difficult to find sitting with a group larger than 4. Just a heads up. But, come hungry, they do not fool around with their portion sizes. They are huge!
I’m excited to try their new location in Oakland

Whenever I’m in the mood for Asian fusion noodles this is the place that always comes to mind. Everything that I have tried here has been rich and full of flavor.
The sweet potato fries are an awesome appetizer and worth trying.
The blackened cod on garlic noodles is probably one of the most tried things on the menu, but the green and red curry dishes are super delicious and should be tried too. (Both have a spicy kick to them)
Seating is super limited and you can wait a bit for a table depending on when you go.

I’ve been to Noodle Theory 3 times already, and I hate to admit that it really doesn’t live up to its hype. The restaurant has a nice ambience and is very clean. The staff are great and friendly as well.
When it comes to the food, the noodles are just not great and the sauces or soups are always too salty. The noodles always seem overcooked so they lose a lot of their chewy texture. I recently had the black cod with garlic noodles and those were just insanely salty. My friend ordered the ginger chicken with garlic noodles and her chicken was just so salty I couldn’t even finish one small piece of it. I don’t understand how people can enjoy the food here — it’s overpriced and it doesn’t taste very good.

Wow that was really bad. I had the fried chicken ramen in pork broth. The pork broth was terrible. It tasted like rotten pork and was totally inedible. I’m feeling like I’m going to throw up… :(The fried chicken was tasteless and dry and came on the side?
This place was recommended by a good friend so i think they had a bad night? Or maybe they didn’t realize the pork went bad? I would just avoid to be safe. Also pretty pricy and a very long wait.

Noodle Theory is a decent spot, not a bad alternative if you’re unable to tolerate the hour and a half wait for a table at Ramen Shop. The appetizers are much better than the mains. I enjoyed the goat cheese fried gyoza. The salmon rolls are pretty good too. Unfortunately, the broth of the ramen was not very good and the ramen itself fell a bit short.

Came here once and enjoyed it. It gets pretty busy and it’s a small space. Good food and good service. Will come again

The crispy salmon rolls were excellent. They had a nice mustard kick to them and the fish was not overcooked. The salmon noodle dish that I had was also good but maybe a bit too much on the sweet side. The sauce is rather thick so there’s a very generous amount of sauce per bite, even though the noodle is not textured. The noodles themselves were chewy and likely just right for most people. I tend to like my noodles much more on the firm side but I can see how it would not appeal to others.
Portions were very generous. All in all, I would recommend this place despite the slightly high prices — given the location, I think it is reasonable though.

Reasonable prices, great food and really nice service! I ordered the salmon ramen. It comes with greens, and I requested hot sauce… The waitress brought *what seems like* Sriracha and a spice powder that is delicious. I will be back!

Hook: Fusion Noodles.
Tired of eating ramen that tastes the same no matter where you go (Miso… Udon… Soy Sauce… Tonkatsu… boring!!!)? Well so was whoever started Noodle Theory.
This place is a great spot for lunch and dinner, and another must-​try if you’re living in and around Berkeley. I’ve tried the grilled Norman ranch beef udon in coconut lime curry and pork belly in pork miso broth, and both were pleasantly enjoyable. However, Noodle Theory sometimes changes its menus so you never really know for sure if your favorites will still be there when you return. If you’re looking for some appetizers, their wontons/​dumplings have always satisfied, no matter what shape and form they are taking on that week (and once their sweet potato fries).
Although the portions are not the largest, the flavor/​fusion/​explosions of taste is something you need to experience first hand.
Actual restaurant is a little bit small, so come in non-​rush hours if you don’t want to wait more than 20 minutes, which is entirely possible and likely if you come during peak lunch and dinner hours.

My boyfriend and I were craving for some ramen and Noodle Theory was the closest place that popped up on Unilocal so we figured hey, why not?
I got the slow cooked pork belly in the miso pork broth ($ 12) and he got the fried chicken karaage in the spicy miso broth ($ 12). We also got an order of the pork and chive dumpling appetizer to share ($ 8). Their jasmine green tea is amazing. I believe they use the loose leaf dragon pearl leaves which are premium quality leaves and have such a sweet and earthy, almost flower like aroma/​taste. Get it!
Pork and chive dumplings were beautifully wrapped. They were fresh, plump and very tasty. For $ 8, you get 6 pieces which isn’t the greatest deal. I do think that they have a lot of better appetizers that I would have liked to try, like the goat cheese wontons, ribs or Brussel sprouts.
The pork ramen was good and flavorful, but honestly the broth was nothing spectacular. The noodles were a little on the softer side and not chewy like how I normally prefer them. The best thing about this dish was the pork belly. They give you a good amount of it. I’ve seen photos of people who got the pork ramen which came with mushroom and bamboo shoots in it which was what I was expecting, however, what came in my bowl was a sad amount of pickled bean sprouts and some pickled yellow radish. I do wish there were more toppings or that they would give you more since I felt like there wasn’t as many things to be excited about in the dish. Normally when I have ramen, it’s a burst of different flavors and textures, however, in this dish it was all kind of similar tasting except for the pork belly. For the price, you are getting a fairly large serving of ramen so portion sizes are perfect.
My bf wasn’t particularly fond of the fried chicken karaage spicy ramen dish. The chicken karaage itself was delicious. Very tender and juicy chicken that was nice and crunchy on the outside. The ramen broth was just not very good. It tasted like it had been flavored with a bunch of sriracha sauce and it was not that spicy. My bf is normally never picky about food, however, this dish he barely touched. I think you definitely have to be a lover of sriracha flavoring to be a fan of this dish.
The service we had was great. The staff were welcoming, extremely attentive and quick. The restaurant is very tiny inside with only a few tables. We were able to snatch the last table inside and not have to wait, yay! Anyhow, I don’t think I will come back here for ramen, however, the other appetizers and dry noodle dishes that we saw other people ordering looked quite appetizing, so may come back to try those.

This review is solely on the beef udon in coconut curry broth. I came here for dinner and saw udon on lime coconut curry and my first thought was that this was Blasphemy. I love udon, and combining it with lime coconut curry did not sound right, but Unilocal reviews showed otherwise, and since I love udon, I had to try it. And I’m so glad I did, the beef wasn’t tough and paired perfectly with the udon and curry broth. The curry was tasty with a blast of lime tang, if you’re not one for sour, then I wouldn’t recommend this dish because the lime definitely plays a key role in this dish. Overall, great atmosphere and good job to them on their different take on udon, YUM

That BEEF UDON W/​COCONUT LIME CURRY BROTH (4.5÷5) is the reason why I’ve postponed my diet by one more week. #nextmonday #whosaidthattheweekbeforetoo
Since I first tasted it on Saturday, I have had it FOUR times. Mind you, today is Thursday.
‘Nuff said.
The NEIMAN RANCH PORK BELLY IN SAVORY MISO BROTH (⁴⁄₅) isn’t bad either. The ramen is cooked al dente and super firm to the bite. The broth rivals those at other famous establishments that serve a miso broth. The pork belly is tender.
The CHICKEN W/​GINGER-​something or the other (1.5÷5) is disgusting. (And I don’t use that word often with regards to food reviews on Unilocal.) I don’t know why the person who picked up the phone recommended it, because neither my husband nor I could eat this dish. It was bitter and the ginger was suuuuper overpowering. Yet, the dish lacked salt. Awful. Just awful. Steer clear!
Whatever, Noodle Theory.
Okay, I forgive you. Because you know I can’t resist that coconut lime curry broth. And with 3 days left to my diet (no really this time I mean it), you know I’ll be back!
Oh, and I’ve only ever been there for take-​out. Not factoring in ambiance nor service in my review.

Had dinner last night here from all the reviews. Let me tell you with all the buzz going on i think its just okay. The service and staff are great they’re attentive and nice. The establishment is very small so there will be a wait but, i like the intimate vibe going on. There are outdoor seating and on a cold rainy night (like last night) they bring out the heaters so you can enjoy your meal in warmth while outside. Now, to the food. We ordered the pomegranate plum baby back ribs as an appetizer and it was really good. It kind of had a duck flavor to it and the meat was pretty soft and the korean style soy bean sprout tasted amazing and was a nice touch with the ribs. Next, the entrees Vietnamese caramlized pork miso soup ramen. This was my least favorite as the bamboo shoots totally overpowered everything. Every bite i had tasted like bamboo and unlike many other restaurants this dish didnt come with an egg and the extra things it normally comes with.
Spicy Sichuan braised beef noodle soup for me was just okay for me it was just a little on the salty side. The braised beef with the chinese broccoli were cooked perfectly and full of flavor and it actually had a little kick to it i just wished the broth wasnt as salty as it was.
The hitachino nest weizen beer was light and flavorful and if they have it i recommend you try it.

The restaurant is small so there was a bit of a wait, but not too long. Definitely can see all the Asian fusion creativity in their dishes. We ordered the ribs for an appetizer and the beef udon in coconut lime curry sauce and the garlic noodles with sea bass. The ribs were honestly the highlight of the meal. They were very flavorful and fell off the bone. The noodle were okay. the udon dish was a bit overpowering with sourness and I didn’t really taste anything more than that. and the garlic noodles were more like chow mien, but the sea bass did not disappoint and was tasty.

Oodles of noodles! I got the pan seared duck over red Thai curry noodles and I was sold! There was a generous portion of duck and it was so deliciously tender! The noodles were just the kind I like, sort of like thick Chinese stir fry noodles. It was perfectly chewy and al dente. The red Thai curry sauce sure packed a punch of flavor, and it was spicy, rich, yet still sweet and coconutty. I’ve also tried the Fulton chicken over ginger noodles and crushed peanuts, and it was just as good! The chicken was moist and tender and the peanuts added great flavor and crunch! The noodles were a soy sauce flavor and great too!
The wait always tends to be quite long so make sure you’re prepared to wait! It’s also a bit pricey but I think the quality and flavors are worth it!

It was a Monday night so I wasn’t expecting this place to be «the place to eat» but apparently is was. This place has about 5 tables and a bartop that seats 4 inside and about 5 tables outside so it can fill up pretty quickly.
After ordering the Neimann pork loin in cilantro broth with ramen noodles, I could see why. Their dishes range from $ 10-​$ 15 and their servings are perfect. I also ordered the Chinese broccoli with oyster sauce and it was delicious.
I was a little disappointed in how long our food took. We got our order taken 10 min after being sat and we received our food 20 min after we ordered. I assume it was because all the food orders got places at the same time. Anyways, our server was nice and our food was delicious. Honestly, anything you order will taste like nothing you’ve ever had before.

My theory on noodles is that it’s the sexiest of the staple foods. It’s more versatile than rice. Not boring like a potato or taro or any of those root vegetables. Just think the Italians put a marinara sauce or simply olive oil and Parmesan. Even a white sauce like Alfredo is added to noodles.
But Noodle Theory has taken the versatile staple food and created a restaurant that they can pretty much make noodles to a person’s preference. Everything from noodles in soup, stir-​fried in garlic, Thai-​curry sauce, a peanut based sauce, etc. we ordered:
Beef with garlic noodles $ 12: this dish was awesome. Very garlicky and the most tender beef imaginable in a generous portion is served.
Thai curry noodles with duck $ 12: there was just a small hint of spice, next time I will ask for it hotter. But a tasty dish, along with nice slices of duck.
Grilled Niman Ranch Beef Udon
in a Coconut Lime Curry Broth: this was the one disappointment. I had high hopes because I heard this is a popular dish but to me it was an extremely lime flavored soup. Too much for my tastes. I would not order it again.
The big plus is customers don’t have to stick to the menu. If you want garlic noodles for example with fried chicken on top, they can do that. Or beef and duck in Thai noodles, they will do that as well. So any combination of protein and flavor of noodles is possible.
The service is fine. The restaurant is small but clean. Noodle Theory has come up with a great idea in serving up this staple.