Gene's Flatbread Cafe

Ying Xiao★★★★★★★★★★4.03 weeks ago

I woke up craving Shaanxi hand-pulled noodles and roujiamo肉夾饃 (Flatbread Sandwich), found this old-established restaurant, and grabbed my friend—it was time to go! Hand-pulled Noodles, extra pork: The noodles were authentic Xi'an belt-shape hand-pulled noodles, wide and thick, very chewy. The first bite was enough to make me feel like I'd come to the right place. A serving had about 4-5 noodles; it was so satisfying to wolf them down. I can't handle spice well, so I cautiously chose half spicy, but it wasn't very spicy at all; it was mostly just the aroma of the chili powder and oil. If the vinegar could be reduced a little, the flavor would be even milder. The portion of $2.50 pork was surprisingly generous. The color didn't look very appetizing, but the half-fat, half-lean cut was actually quite flavorful! My friend chose lamb, which was more minced than the pork and had a bit of a gamey taste. Pork Flatbread Sandwich: It's rare to find roujiamo made with a baiji bun白吉饃 in the US, and the meat portion was very generous. However, the bun was very oily, soaking through two layers of oil paper; the meat was very lean, dry and tough, leading to be not flavorful enough. My friend said it tasted like pork floss, which was quite amusingly accurate. Although the people working in the kitchen weren't Chinese, the food was enough to satisfy my cravings; you can't expect too much in the US. It's worth noting that the restaurant's official opening hours are 11 AM to 6:30 PM, but it actually closes at 6 PM. We arrived at 5:40 PM and were only allowed to-go. I don't know why, but make sure you go earlier! I brought my friends here this time, and the quality control seemed inconsistent. Cumin Lamb Hand-pulled Noodle孜然羊肉拌麵: The portion was really generous, especially the lamb—they were really lavish with it, and it was very fragrant. However, the noodles, soaked in the sauce, became a bit sticky, and they were too thick, as if they were just quickly stretched and cooked. Chilled Noodles涼皮: A weekend limited edition, icy cold, which was nice for summer. But the garlic flavor was too strong, extremely spicy, almost masking all the other seasonings. The presentation was just a box lid, which was a bit too perfunctory. Lamb Skewers羊肉串: Completely cold, and with an extremely strong gamey smell. I really don't understand how they dare to sell this?

A2C★★★★★★★★★★3.09 months ago

Waiting: 0min at lunch First dish: 7min The restaurant is called Flatbread, but don’t get it confused—it’s actually a flat noodle house, not a pizza spot. Prices are fantastic, with the basic noodle dishes starting under $9 and offering generous portions. I tried the Hot & Sour Hand-Pulled Noodle Soup, and it didn’t disappoint. The portion was solid, with plenty of flavorful marinated tender pork. The noodles themselves were thick, wide, and had an almost gummy chewiness that kept me hooked with every bite. The broth could use a bit more punch—maybe more saltiness and garlic for depth—but overall, it was still very enjoyable, especially at this price point. It’s set up more like an express-style restaurant, but you can still dine in comfortably. I can definitely see myself coming back here when the weather gets cold!

Nan Li★★★★★★★★★★1.05 months ago

Terrible experience, from the taste of food to the environment and the service. It’s no surprise they close around 6 p.m.—a time when most restaurants are busy—because there’s no reason to stay open. But they do benefit the milk tea stores nearby. The food is too dry and salty, so I had to order some drinks to finish my food. Even though I still couldn’t finish my food, and when I ask for a to go box to avoid the waste, they refuse to provide a to go box! That’s totally unacceptable!

Jason J. Won★★★★★★★★★★1.04 months ago

Found a piece of METAL POT SCRUBBER in the noodles (see picture). Do not go here for the love of all things holy. They have sold the restaurant to non-Chinese. Food quality is terrible. Felt stupid for even ordering. I predict they will close down within a year.

Sarah Nekoufar★★★★★★★★★★5.0a year ago

This place was so delicious! Especially great If you love hand pulled noodles and don’t eat/like pork, this is definitely the place for you! The lamb is cooked to perfection and the flavors are amazing. The hot sour noodle soup was my favorite. For a lighter option the cumin lamb noodles were great as well.