In an unassuming strip mall, 101 Noodle Express serves crave-worthy hand-stretched noodles, crispy beef rolls, and homestyle Sichuan dishes in a casual, bustling spot.
"The xiao long bao at 101 Noodle Express, a classic Chinese restaurant in Alhambra, aren’t fancy. In fact, they’re a bit plain; the wrapper is more on the starchy side, the filling, slightly sweet. It’s essential to dunk them in the provided sauce, mixed with a few scoops of their tableside chili oil to create a more well-rounded bite (one that’s both spicy and extremely slick). Mostly, this is a great option when you’re looking for a quick, easy meal involving some solid XLB." - kat hong
"As the name suggests, a meal at 101 Noodle Express isn’t a long affair. Despite being full service, you can easily get in and out of this Alhambra strip mall spot in under a half hour. The essential order here is the beef roll, which 101 Noodle Express first popularized many years ago (possibly even invented?), and still makes as well as anyone in town. It's essentially a fried scallion pancake wrapped around slices of braised beef, cilantro, and a sweet, hoisin-like bean sauce. And if this sounds like a little thing that won’t fill you up, know that two people might struggle to take one down. If you want to round out your meal, add the bouncy dan dan noodles with cucumber and an order of the pan-fried pork dumplings—the rest of the menu is fine but unremarkable." - Garrett Snyder
"Don’t be fooled by the fast food franchise–like name and exterior — this family-run find excels at homestyle Sichuan fare. In addition to staples like dan dan noodles, ma po tofu, and Chongqing chicken, best bets include the fluffy pan-fried omelet filled with saucy pork; the tangy sour taste potatoes; and the pungent, numbing spicy boiled fish." - Ruth Tobias, Eater Staff
"As its name suggests, a meal at Noodles 101 Express isn’t a long affair. Despite being full service, you can easily get in and out of this strip mall spot in under 30 minutes. Your order here should be the beef roll, which is essentially a fried pancake wrapped burrito-style around slices of beef, cilantro, and a salty bean paste. And if this sounds like a little thing that won’t fill you up, know that two people might struggle to take this down. Cash only." - brant cox, sylvio martins
"Though best known for its beef rolls, 101 Noodle Express also makes memorable thick-skinned potstickers filled with pork and a piping-hot stock. The dumplings travel and reheat well at home, just be careful of the innards splattering at first bite." - Mona Holmes, Eater Staff
