Irvine’s Best Noodles

Noodles are top-tier carbs; it’s just a fact of life. From spaghetti and ramen to pho and chow mein, noodles come in a huge variety and can be cooked to match any palate desired. With so many restaurants specializing in noodle soups, Irvine is undoubtedly home to some of the best noodles out there.

A&J’s Noodles in Spicy Sesame Sauce Topped with Peanut Powder

If you’re a peanut butter fan, these noodles are a must! Peanuts and peanut butter are a popular ingredient in many Asian cuisines and these noodles from A&J are among the best peanut noodles in town. It’s technically a slightly spicy sesame noodle topped with peanut powder, but it’s got that nutty, thick texture that peanut butter has. Expert tip: Order it with thick noodles so that the sauce really sticks to each strand.

14805 Jeffrey Road, Irvine

AJ Restaurant (Audrey Fong)

Hi-House’s Tomato Noodle Soup with Beef Shank, Tendon and Tripe

Beef noodle soup is practically a national art in Taiwan and the tomato beef noodle soups at Hi-House are next level. It’s got the umami and spiciness that you love in a beef noodle soup countered by the sweetness of a tomato. The beef shank, tendon and tripe version is nice because of its variety of proteins, but they do offer a beef only version as well.

6638 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine

Fukada’s Hot Sansai Udon

Fukada is a favorite among Irvine locals for a reason. Their food is focused on the freshest and healthiest Japanese dishes and they always deliver. The hot sansai udon sticks out for its tender root vegetables, silky udon noodles and umami packed broth.

8683 Irvine Center Drive, Irvine

Lemonade’s Truffle Mac N’ Cheese

In the mood for something decadent? If so, Lemonade’s smooth and creamy truffle mac n’ cheese is just for you. Pair it with one of their fun lemonades for a delicious meal!

2967 Michelson Drive, Irvine

Pho Ba Co’s Pho with Rare Steak and Well Done Brisket

Pho Ba Co is a family-owned restaurant and has been dishing out piping hot bowls of pho for over two decades. Their pho is served with an umami-packed beef broth that has been cooking for hours with herbs and spices. You can choose from a wide range of toppings including tofu, tendon, meatballs, tripe, steak and more.

4250 Barranca Pkwy, Irvine

Santouka’s Shio Ramen

Santouka is an award-winning ramen chain from Japan with locations all over the globe. Irvine’s Santouka is tucked away in Mitsuwa’s food court. While all of their broths are packed with flavor, their shio ramen, or salt ramen, is especially delicious with its rich flavor that pairs well with the fatty pieces of chashu pork that comes on top of each bowl.

14230 Culver Drive, Irvine

Sup Noodle (Audrey Fong)

Sup Noodle Bar’s House Garlic Noodles with Ribeye Steak

Sup Noodle Bar is considered one of the best restaurants in Orange County by gourmands across Southern California. It’s famous for both its pho and garlic noodles, which are easily the best garlic noodles out there. What sets apart their garlic noodles is its strong garlic flavor, slightly chewy noodles, and super tender steak.

14370 Culver Drive, Unit 2H, Irvine

Tang Du Restaurant’s Cumin Lamb Knife Cut Noodles

If you like your noodles thick, these knife cut noodles from Tang Du Restaurant are not to be missed. While they offer multiple noodle dishes with the knife cut variation, the cumin lamb one is the most flavorful and comes topped with a healthy dose of crisp cilantro.

5406 Walnut Ave #A, Irvine