Zao Noodle Bar

I don’t know what it is, but I really like Zao. I guess judging by the lack of stars, I’ve been lucky that the few dishes I’ve tried have been really good.
I love their Shanghai beef and chicken noodle dish. Anything with mushrooms and noodles is a plus for me. Their chicken with lemongrass and coconut broth is satisfying on a cold San Francisco evening.
If we’re really hungry, we may add on the chicken dumplings as an appetizer. You have to dip into the ginger sauce it comes with though.

Though it was a while ago, I’ve been to this Zao before — back when I was a bloodthirsty fucking asshole meat-​eater instead of the quasi-​veg bitch with an identity crisis I am now. Change is good. OF COURSE, it was the Ex’s idea since he had a fondness for Zao oh I should also mention he’s so white he thinks Asia is a country on the continent of Poland.***
The crazy things we did for the ones we used to love, eh?
While the location was perfect for Upper Fillmore/​Pacific Heights bitchery, and in retrospect I can appreciate the veg/​vegan selections, I thought the Dan Dan Noodles with Chicken were Bad Bad: almost every possible «Asian» ingredient appeared in that fucking bowl — a mess of peanut sauce, overcooked Shanghai noodles, shoyu, squash, et. al. — with no respect for the distinctive flavors. And the end result? A dish where all difference was obliterated and a bland homogeneity achieved — basically, it tasted like culinary assimilation with a subtle hint of racism, kind of like living in the US. I mean, France. Or like the Ex’s ass which, coincidentally enough, a lot of different Asians have occupied too.
Oh dear.
ANYWAY, the bottom line is I haven’t been so disappointed since I signed up for Two-​For-​One vasectomies at the City Clinic and had a lobotomy instead.
Will someone wipe the drool from my mouth?
***I AM KIDDING. Everyone knows Asia is a country on the AFRICAN continent. And I cast no aspersions at Poland. How could I hate Poland when I love Basia? Also, my imaginary best friend is Polish.

Talking about a hoodrat.
For 1^st timers, practice with a hoodrat is important.
But,…
Why don’t we just go to Suzu in J-​town.
Katana-​Ya in Downtown, SF.
Halu on Clement.
There are plenty good Chinese and Korean noodle, Phở places too.
I think you don’t need a hoodrat when you come to a noodle in Bay Area.
Well, Sapporo-​Ya and Tanpopo are still even better than THIS LAME PSEUDO Noodle place!
Or, you’ll be very appreciated to have noodle at the other places.
The broth is taste less.
The noodle is over cooked.
What a amateur!
Instant Ramen is better than Zao!
Also, my friends got sick really bad eating here before.
It’s like a hoodrat with HPV or something.
Seriously!
Not worth going!
HELL NO!
Btw, as Ken K says, «Yuppies who don’t know better!»
Check it out his review about the other Zao.
Yeah!
Yuppies can’t make noodle!
and …White men can’t jump… similar thing!

This was an Americanized-​asian noodle place. The food was usually just average.
Mostly for people who don’t feel as comfortable going to authentic asian restaurants and hole in the wall places in SF.
This place is now CLOSED. They still have locations in Emeryville and Palo Alto.

My bf used to work in Palo Alto where he developed a deep, abiding love for the Pad Thai at the Zao there.
You definitely get a great deal for the money here on Americanized Pan Asian food. Last night I had the Kung Pao chicken which had a delciously flavored sauce that was much better than the crap I paid 8x more for the night before at Roy’s.
And, the waitress kept the Diet Coke flowing for me for which I was most grateful.

Food = okay. More Pan-​Asian than anything else really. As everyone is saying, somewhat fast-​food-​ish.
Prices = moderate
Service = okay
Not sure if it’s a good place or not… guess it’s up to you to try it.

Bleh. I ate here once. I wanted to forget it. I succeeded, thankfully.
If you must have nasty starch in salt sauce, just buy a package of ramen and save yourself the money and the trouble of eating here.

Went there fore lunch today. We were seated outside and after about 10 minutes decided that we weren’t going to get any service unless we moved inside. There were two servers working the entire place including take outs.
The food is decent for what it is… I’d stick with the noodles soups and not the salad dishes.

Zao Noodle Bar is the Pasta Pomodoro or Hahn’s Hibachi for Asian noodles. You expect a non-​authentic, mediocre meal at slightly higher prices. To be honest, it really wasn’t half bad. You actually get a good portion for your noodle dishes along with a spic-​and-​span location. Our server was friendly and pretty helpful up until the point we discovered she was barely 20 with no knowledge about the Zao beer.
For the food, there were definitely hits and misses. I’d pass on the overpriced spring rolls ($ 6.99÷6) since the wrappings were way too thick and my own homemade ones taste 10x fresher. We enjoyed the Ginger-​Garlic-​Chili Chicken & Prawns Noodles ($ 11.29) and the Dan Dan Noodles ($ 9.99) which had tender chicken pieces and fresh vegetables. The Pad Thai ($ 10.49) wasn’t bad and actually not greasy. Their Banana Spring Roll dessert accompanied with coconut ice cream ($ 4.99) was supposed to be popular. I spent the majority of the time pounding into the rock hard ice cream. It looks like everything on the menu is standardized as I saw the non-​Asian cooks pouring ingredients from pre-​packaged bags.
Overall, good service and decent food. If anything, the highlight of the meal was being «mystified» by the «Mystic Fish» we got in our bill. For the curious minds, it’s a paper thin fish whose movements determine your personality when placed in your lovely palm.

My friend worked here before she moved to Germany so I used to eat for free… a lot, but for some reason always the same thing. I couldn’t tell you the name of it but it has noodles with beef and chicken and veggies. It was good, for free non-​Asian Asian food. It was made better by the massive amounts of free sake I received upon taking a seat and the green tea ice cream that finished up each meal.
It’s not the best Asian food, but I have had much much worse in other places. For a chain it’s pretty good.

The food here isn’t great, but some dishes are good. I wouldn’t say authentic Asian food, more like an almost-​fast food noodle place.
On the upside, there’s easy parking within half block and they can prepare to-​go orders in about 10 minutes. So, when I’m starving on my way home from the gym late at night, i sometimes stop here for takeout instead of being a good girl and making something healthy at home!