Noodles Plus - Cambridge

I noticed that this noodle and dumpling restaurant always has a long line whenever I pass by, so I decided to give it a try since it must be popular for a reason. The noodles have a great texture and the dumplings are delicious, especially considering it's outside of China. I wouldn't mind returning if the line was shorter or non-existent. The main issue seems to be that it's a small, family-run restaurant (presumably husband and wife) where everything is made from scratch, resulting in authentic and high-quality dishes. This also means that the seating is limited to 15 people, leading to long wait times. Even when we visited during off-peak hours for lunch, we still waited for an hour. If you're willing to wait and time is not an issue, this is a great spot to satisfy your craving for Chinese noodles and dumplings. Just keep in mind that they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, and I once visited on a closed day, avoiding the queue entirely.

During my recent stay across the street, I noticed that Noodles Plus on Mill Rd was the only restaurant with a line of people waiting outside, which is always a good sign. Having grown up in San Francisco, a city known for its noodle shops, I can confidently say that Noodles Plus did not disappoint. I highly recommend trying the Shanghai dumplings filled with soup, as well as anything else on the menu. My only complaint is that the restaurant only accepts cash, which seems to be a rarity in England where many places prefer cards. Thankfully, there is an ATM conveniently located down the street for those who need it.

The Xiao Long Bao and beef brisket noodles were superb, with excellent chicken and nice custard buns. The food was freshly made and steamed, and the price was good. However, be prepared for a long wait as there is usually a queue. Make sure you are not in a rush when dining here.

Abysmal service. We thought the queue was short (one person). Waited for one hour, having been told repeatedly ‘just a few minutes’. Then waited another hour for food to arrive. They serve the takeaways before in-restaurant customers. As for the food itself: noodles were OK, as expected for (frozen) hand-made noodles. Carrot completely undercooked. Similarly: broccoli painfully undercooked, rough and unpleasant to eat. Mediocre vegetable dumplings. Xiao lung bao: filling v nice, though thick skin.

Have been trying to come here for the last three days as we have heard good things but every time we make the 20 minute journey, they have been shut with no explanation, with the same sign saying they will be open the next day. We have tried to ring up to confirm if they are open or not so we don’t waste our time but no answer. Not going to bother anymore, there’s plenty of other noodle places in Cambridge with reliable hours!