I feel like Austin has a lot of restaurants that kind of serve the same things, but Chen's noodle house doesn't fall between the cracks. They're still able to deliver good quality food while keeping costs pretty cheap! Some standouts for me were the green onion pancake which was super crispy and chewy and flavorful. As well as the black bean noodles with minced pork. It was so savory and rich and delicious. The broth of the lamb noodle soup was really good. But I expected larger lamb chunks. Rather than the small minced lamb pieces that actually came with it. And the chive pancake was good, but nothing too special to me. I really love how they package the noodles separately for takeout. One reason being so that they don't get soggy. But another reason being you can mix and match the different soups and sauces to different noodles.

Very savoury beef noodle soup with fresh hand cut noodles and a light beef broth. With black vinegar and chili oil this is one of the best in town.

Small mom and pop's type of restaurant! Delicious food! Great service! Will definitely go back when I'm in Austin! Highly recommend.

I stumbled upon Chen's Noodle House randomly looking for places to eat along McNeil and Parmer. Inside the small, no-frills store is a counter, eight tables, and two glowing reviews of the restaurant from Austin publications. Clearly, this place has received its flowers, and for very good reason too. While my stomach was not in good-enough condition to go for the spicy/oil noodles (though I will be returning shortly for them), it was in shape for the Wonton Soup, which was nothing short of masterful. Beyond the delicate, yet firmly-packed dumplings I'm told are handmade by the eponymous Chen, the broth was the component that caught me the most off-guard. What looks to be a very simple dish is elevated to divine standards by the perfect balance between the wontons and the incredible broth, which probably has more going on under the hood than I could even fathom. I'm sure many years of experience and operation have gone into making these dishes and the restaurant itself, and it has clearly paid off. Rarely does a dish that does not even appear to be the restaurant's signature dish come to represent the restaurant itself, and in this case it does.

I think the beef noodles are really great! The black bean noodle was too salty-too much sauce probably. I was a bit skeptical coming in since the place was so small. I do like how there are pictures posted alongside the menu on top making it easier to decide what to order. It's really hot in here. They have ceiling fans on but it's not cool enough. The water also isn't cold, nor does it have ice. The fridge isn't plugged in, so those soda cans are also not cold, which is a bummer.

If you need a quick, reasonably priced bite to eat for lunch or dinner, this is a great option. Very laid back environment so if you're wanting an experience with a server, fancy drinks, a bit more ambience, this isn't it. You order under the menu, I got the spicy lamb noodle (N1). Food was ready in less than 10 minutes. I've never had noodles this texture and consistency but I enjoyed the flavors of the sauce, lamb, and vegetables all mixed in with the noodles. Didn't see any napkins readily available though but I'm just a messy eater. Im coming back to try the soup next time!

I have been going to this little beat-up strip mall for years. As usual, I was making a run to Gandhi Bazaar around lunch and wanted to try something new. Then I spotted Chen's Noodle House. I have read and heard about them but never went. I walk in and no surprise filled with Asians so I knew it would be good. I went to the counter and stared up at the pictures. The older gentleman came up and asked what I wanted. I order, green onion pancakes, Spicy Lamb skewers, and pork leek noodles. So the last item was an Oops as I thought it said lamb leek, but I went with it anyway. It was a little over 5 minutes and they brought me my food. Grabbed my bag and headed home. Once home I found the food still hot which is good. The onion pancake was crispy and needed no sauce. Next to be tried is the spicy lamb skewers. I was wary they may be too spicy but no. It was warming with a slight kick. I devoured three skewers immediately. Onto my Oops dish, which was the best surprise yet. The noodles so good, topped with minced pork and green onions (Leeks?) but the sauce OMG so delicious. I am not a big eater so these items lasted me for 3 meals. Guarantee I will be coming back for more

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Ambiance: 5/5 Come here for the food! Favorite spot in the Austin area for hand pulled beef noodle soup. The soup is flavorful even without the spicy. The meat is tender and doesn't stick in your teeth.

This spot was ROTD on Saturday and I was craving noodles. We must have gotten there at a perfect time since it was 3:15pm and no line. There was only one patron eating there. As our food started to come out, it got packed inside. This is a casual spot where you order at the counter and the dining area is pretty cramped if it gets crowded. The owner was doing great as a one man show. I was wanting to try a spicy noodle soup so I went with the Mala Noodle Soup. I was pleasantly surprised with the flavor and thick hand pulled noodles. The noodles were perfect and right amount of chew. The broth and meat were delectable. We also ordered the dumplings to try, green onion pancakes and pork leek noodles. The dumplings were fair. The green onion pancake was flaky and tasty. The pork leek noodles were delicious. Noodles were also perfectly cooked. My little one approved and loved the noodles. I will definitely be back for the noodles.

A no nonsense place that's way underrated. Most of everyone in Austin knows Julie's, while Chen's is just 10 minutes up the street and is definitely lesser-known. Chen's focus is on noodles, as the name suggests. But our go-tos also include scallion/green onion pancakes and lamb skewers, both I'm craving as I type up this review. The inside is small with maybe two four-person tables and four two-person. There are a couple of tables outside, but that's about it. You come, you order, you sit, you eat, done. The menu is on the wall above the cash register when you walk in, with pictures so you don't have to wonder how everything looks. An underrated staple that's been around for a while, you should de Chen's a try!