Issei Noodle

Japanese restaurant · Lancaster

Issei Noodle

Japanese restaurant · Lancaster

1

38 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603

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Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
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Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
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Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
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Issei Noodle by null
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Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
Issei Noodle by null
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Issei Noodle by null
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Highlights

Issei is a trendy Japanese-Vietnamese spot in downtown Lancaster, serving up delicious ramen, pho, and inventive cocktails in a stylish setting.  

Featured in Food & Wine
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38 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603 Get directions

isseinoodle.com
@isseicarlisle

$10–20

Reserve

Information

Static Map

38 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603 Get directions

+1 717 449 6800
isseinoodle.com
@isseicarlisle

$10–20

Reserve

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reservations
outdoor seating

Last updated

Jul 11, 2025

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"At Issei, find both pho and ramen that reflect the proprietors’ Vietnamese and Japanese heritages. The noodle bar recently moved to a bigger location where they’ve also opened Hi-Fi Izakaya, serving street food like beef gyoza and katsu sandos, as well as cocktails infused with ingredients like yuzu, plum wine, and shiso liqueur." - Regan Stephens

Taste Lancaster, Pennsylvania's Farm-to-Table Food Scene
View Postcard for Issei Noodle

Daniel Brocki

Google
This was a delicious first meal in Lancaster. Upon entering, the staff were super friendly, getting us a table right away. The menu was varied, the portions were well sized and the noodles in particular were house made, which i particularly enjoyed. Great place to have a drink and some noodles with friends for a decent price.

Victor “Bud” Nye

Google
My wife and I went here during our vacation. We are mostly spoiled by a great Asian food scene in Pittsburgh. I got the special guava yuzu lemonade, I had to order a second one it was so delicious and refreshing, not overly sweet, the lemonade was nice and tart and sour. I ordered the Mayu Tonkotsu ramen, with a spicy bomb on the side. The ramen by itself was ok, the broth was flavorful and savory, the noodles had a nice chew but not quite al dente enough for me. The pork was nice and flavorful as well. The spicy bomb added the extra missing piece I needed. It pulled the dish together a lot better and I enjoyed it. My wife originally ordered the yakisoba dish without thinking to ask, she has terrible acid reflux so dishes with tomato or acidic sauces can be pretty hard for her to enjoy. When she started eating it she tasted tomato’s pretty heavily and we found out the sauce had bbq, tomato’s, and ketchup in it so it wound up being a no go for her. Luckily we had the sweetest and most understanding server Cat, she helped my wife pick out her next dish, which was a chicken and rice dish with dark meat, she really liked this dish a lot more. Overall the food was solid, it wasn’t the best ever but again we are somewhat spoiled at home.

John Fesler

Google
Decor was good getting back to the bathrooms it was a little dark. Food was delicious we will definitely come again already have picked out what's next to eat. Service was good.

Anika Naneyshvili

Google
The Issei Noodle offers a very nice and cozy atmosphere with excellent service. The staff were highly attentive and friendly. The food, specifically the Tofu Tantan-men and Kyuri Sunomono, was pretty good. Tantan-men apparently the most popular and I can see why - the broth was quite flavorful and spicy. Though the noodles were just ok. I wish they had more veggies available to add. Overall, it was a positive experience, but not compelling enough for a repeat visit.

D B

Google
Came here after a restaurant flopped and glad I did! The food was delicious and fresh. The atmosphere was very modern and cozy and the staff was extremely friendly. Will be returning 🫶🏻

Anusha Balani

Google
The food was pretty good! The takoyaki had such nice flavor and texture, but just a little too salty. The ramen was just what you would expect.

Simi Odette

Google
I tried the Mayu Tonkotsu Ramen at Issei Noodles. The broth was flavorful, though a bit on the salty side. I really appreciated the thick cut chashu, much better than the thin slices some other places use. Prices are a little high, but the quality is there. Overall, I enjoyed it and might come back again.

andrew yakobitis

Google
The wait was alittle long but other than that !! Food was worth the wait!! :) Got the Tokyo tonkotsu ramen!! Added an egg!! egg was delicious! Porky broth and noodles I slurped!! :) The lady got kaargan chicken rice bowl!!! The chicken was delicious and huge!!?! We did some apps and the water was refilled fast !!

Alexandra S.

Yelp
The food here is soooooo good. My favorite order is the spicy brothless noodles. The service is fast & attentive as well. The vibe inside is chill/casual dinner vibes & has a nice energy.

Brittany C.

Yelp
Dropped in for lunch on a Friday afternoon. It was busy, but we were seated quickly. Loved the overall decor and liked that it wasn't too dark inside. The menu was fairly extensive with lots of choices. My husband got the winter ramen special. I can't remember what it was called but it was curry broth based. I tried some and it was amazing. I opted for the Oyako Don, which was delicious. I knew the eggs would be sweet from the mirin but didn't realize how sweet, but once my taste buds adjusted we were good! My Diet Coke was flat, but it wasn't a deal breaker. We'll be back to try out the cocktail bar soon!

Samantha H.

Yelp
My colleagues have been raving about it for months so I knew I had to try it. Forgot to make reservations in advance on a Friday night. I would recommend this as the seating space is pretty small. For couples you could probably make do with the ramen bar in the back, or even a solo eater but not for my family of 5. We had to wait about 20-40 minutes for a table of five 30 minutes prior to their closing time. I do think they forgot about us seeing as when we were seated there were 3 empty tables, staff kept comin out and asking us if we were waiting for a table. They have a buzzer system but Im not sure if it was working. The ambience is great, modern but old style ramen shop at the same time. There is a bar in the back where the space looks much larger. Definitely a group drink hang out space. Food was delicious! We enjoyed everything from the starters to the ramen! They also have a seasonal menu for those who wanna try something for the season. Also appreciated that they had sake choices as well as other Japanese inspired cocktails. For the desserts they had an adorable little flan/pudding and mochi ice cream. We didn't have any leftovers and devoured everything! Highly recommend this place! If you do plan on coming on a busier night like Friday or the weekend, definitely make reservations.

Lindsay L.

Yelp
Ambiance/Atmosphere: The new facility on Orange Street that Issei has moved to is quite nice. You can park in the Prince Street garage and walk out, then immediately it's right there across the street. The change of location was an excellent idea for attracting business. The inside is smaller than the previous place which was longer and dimmer. It felt like there were less tables/seating area. The vibe of the restaurant is semi-loud but brighter, awakening and more modern rather than dark & cozy like the previous location. Facility was clean and open; no complaints here. I believe they are expanding to include Korean BBQ next door or in the back at some point. Service: All the staff that attended to our table were kind and friendly. Really love the owner, she's very easy to talk to! We always had someone come and make sure we were good on our drinks and food. Although it was busy, we had great service. Food: Being that they were only doing a soft opening limited menu there was only so much you could choose from. They are doing this for the entire month of March then I believe they plan to expand their menu. As a group of 6 we wanted to try what we could on our visit. We tried...for appetizers: pork gyoza, agedashi tofu, spicy edamame, katsu pork. For entrees we tried...three orders of Haru Warm Ramen (a brothless ramen dish), House Abura-Soba (also brothless noodle dish) and two orders of Yasai Miso Ramen. The appetizers were delicious, flavorful and nothing to complain about. We most likely would order those all again. As for the entrees, the Haru Warm Ramen was good, the House Abura-Soba was good but the Yasai Miso Ramen...it was just OK. I hate to say that because I do feel like the owners (one is the chef) does put hardwork and love into the food but the noodles reminded me of thick spaghetti noodles and the taste was...a little bland and diluted tasting. The previous Issei menu used to have a lot more options of food which included Don Buri bowls (LOVED those!) and I didn't see many rice dishes (expected since it's a soft opening). But after speaking to the owner, the focus of the food moving forward will be a mixture of Japanese, Filipino and Korean. Just be mindful of that when you decide to come here thats what the type of food will be. Price: the price was OK, nothing that different from what it was in the past. I would like to return here with my family again to try more things and add to my review in the future.

Jae L.

Yelp
Been meaning to try this place as I love ramen and have been looking for an actual Japanese style ramen place in Lancaster. The location is nice; right across the parking lot where it's cheap or street parking that's abundant. The restaurant is booked and packed when we got there which was good sign. They waiters were very nice. The food was ok. I've tried many ramen places and this was kinda in the middle of the pack. The broth was descent but the noodles were fair. Portions were a bit smaller for the price as well. I was very sad that they were already out of kaarage chicken... it was a prime time Saturday lunch and they were out. This place is ok. Honestly would come here if I am super on the mood for it

Erin H.

Yelp
My favorite noodle joint has expanded and moved to a new, beautiful location on Orange Street -- just across the street from the Prince Street parking garage, still near Central Market. They've really turned the class up a notch with the new space -- even before you enter, the entry is inviting and I love the giant mural on the side of the building. There's lots of light from the wall of windows in front, long family-style tables and bar-height seating options along the windows, as well as counter seating that faces the kitchen. And the food is every bit as delicious as before. I went during their soft open, so the full menu wasn't available, but it was as satisfying as ever! Hubs and I both got the Spicy Tan-tan Ramen and fried pork gyoza. Our server was friendly and fast, keeping up with multiple tables in addition to our window seats. He was familiar with the menu and could speak well to all the options available. Can't wait to come back for the full menu AND to try the Korean BBQ that will be opening soon in the same space!

Hailey M.

Yelp
I love Issei noodle! I have been to the carlisle location a dozen times but this was my first time at the Lancaster location and it did not disappoint. The food was excellent! It feels very modern and energetic in the space up front. I'm excited to eventually try the hifi Izakaya in the other section of the restaurant. Service was good even if a little bit slow.

Davidson H.

Yelp
Great ambiance, cute little spot. So far the service has been nice. It's right across the from the parking garage.

Jackie A.

Yelp
2.5 stars This place missed the mark for me in a huge way and for a variety of reasons. Little did my husband I know, that yesterday was Music Friday. This event had an impact on my enjoyment of Issei. A small ensemble, parked themselves close to Issei's entrance. They were quite loud. There was the disco music in the kitchen, additional music in the restaurant itself and the trio, just outside - that, combined with the rising voices within (cause who can hear anything); was maddening and chaotic. I did ask the waitress to lower the kitchen music and that helped, somewhat. Additionally, where to enter and where to exit this restaurant, mystified several. I thought it was just me. The hubby pointed to the stationary sign; oh - I see, the entrance is too the side. While leaving, I bumped into the sign that was at the entrance/exit; I simply don't know. The restaurant's interior was lovely, lots of hardwood flooring, windows, warm lights - a very cool and hip vibe. The chairs were a bit uncomfortable, though; a kinda small seat. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable. My husband had many questions and she was quite informative and friendly. Now to the food: Chashu Yakisoba was a huge disappointment for me. I was looking forward to those homemade noodles and they were perfectly chewy, but that was the only positive. Assorted fresh veggies, says the menu description - not so. I spotted a few greens, small bits of chashu (I would have preferred it, in its whole form), drowning in an overly sweet, lacking any reminiscence of tang, sauce. To tone down the sweetness, I begged/asked for a spicy sauce. The waitress brought me some chili oil; it only helped a little. I, too, was disappointed that some ramen standards were considered extras and at an extra cost. Granted, the extra cost wasn't a fortune, but with entree prices at around $18.00, the bill could easily escalate and ours did. A chicken ramen, was in my mind, inedible. Too many of this and that, sounding intriguing on a menu, but taste wise - not for me. I've had broths taste so good, that I could actually determine all the different subtle components. This combination of ingredients, were too distracting and the flavor, lost, unidentifiable.

John N.

Yelp
Updated review. New location is updated, clean and inviting. Food is as great as I remember. glad to get a chance to stop by and review it again. Looking forward the the expansion in the back!

Kenneth D.

Yelp
After we were seated we were ignored for 20 minutes and had to request service. If not for my child liking the food so much we would have just left.

Robin C.

Yelp
We visited Issei for lunch during restaurant week in Lancaster and had their featured special. Ramen + Dessert. It was so good. Very authentic flavor. Enjoyed this so much! Highly recommend.

Michelle H.

Yelp
A decent ramen place in the heart of Lancaster. Price wise , it's a bit pricey around $15/$17 but if you haven't had ramen in a while, it is worth the splurge. I had a lot of ramens so I expect a little bit of a thicker consistency and porky-broth. This will give a more signature taste of ramen broth. However, if you like mild / thinner consistency, maybe this is for you ;) I also want to add that this broth is a little bit too salty for me. But I had a good experience here. There are a lot of sitting area so don't worry for not getting unseated. The service is fairly quick. One thing I like from this place is their noodle texture is perfect Again, this is personal preference :) Side note; if you don't like bamboo shoot, make sure to opt it out!

Joe V.

Yelp
Went there with the wife who declared "This is the best Pad Thai I have ever had" and she has sampled Pad Thai all over the country. I had a yummy bowl of Ramen that I was very happy with. Staff was very pleasant and just for the wife alone we will be back :)

Heather G.

Yelp
My husband and I have been going to Issei for years and have loved it ever since we found it. Issei recently moved to a new location in downtown Lancaster and we decided to give the new location a try. They currently have a soft-opening limited menu so we tried two of the currently available ramens. My husband got the spicy Tantan and I tried the Double OG Shoyu ramen. Unfortunately, we were disappointed in the quality of these new ramen dishes. The ramen noodles do not taste or look like the previous ramen noodles Issei made before the new location. The ramen noodles look like spaghetti noodles and were not very flavorful. The spicy Tantan ramen was decent, however the amount of pork decreased and so did the quality of the pork. My husband also noted the ramen was not as spicy as it used to be. The Double OG Shoyu ramen was one of the most bland and unappetizing ramen I've ever tried. The only reason I finished it was because the service was so slow compared to the service at Issei's previous location and I was starving. None of the ramens on the menu included egg anymore and egg now costs extra to add, which was very disappointing as the egg makes the ramen so much better. Overall, we are sad to see the quality go really downhill at our favorite local ramen restaurant. Unless the quality improves again or they go back to their old ramen recipes that were amazing, we may not be going back for a long time. The only positive I can say about the new Issei location is that the interior design looks really good. We are considering going to Ninja Ramen in Lancaster to get our good quality ramen fix from now on.

Hilda L.

Yelp
Issei is a new family restaurant in the heart of Lancaster, walking distance from Central Market. My husband and I were running errands in the City, and decided to have lunch and check them out. What a fabulous surprise! The food is absolutely delicious, I had a tofu ramen dish, my husband had chicken ramen. We lived in Okinawa and were anticipating a taste of the genuine Okinawa noodles, we were not disappointed! The atmosphere is Japanese, the staff is super friendly; we met Andre, the owner, who graciously shared with us plans for a Korean BBQ on the premises! We met Steven, also sharing wonderful future plans. One more thing, my husband asked about the flavorful tap water, and we learned they have their own system to filter the water, imagine that! They open at 12 noon, it will be nicer if they open a bit earlier. Enjoy!

Amanda K.

Yelp
I ordered yakisoba and it was phenomenal! I am ruined to dry yakisoba packs in the grocery market now. Friendly comfortable atmosphere and really enjoyed my visit.

Laura G.

Yelp
Allow time to find parking at night. Even though the hours listed are 10 pm on weekdays, they offer appetizers after dinner hour.

Rylan G.

Yelp
I am a HUGE fan of the Carlisle location and was excited to try out the Lancaster location. It's important to note that they have two very different vibes, as the Carlisle location feels a bit more intimate simply due to the size of the space. I got the Haru Ramen, which is my go-to dish at Issei. I thought it was good, but not amazing (like I'm used to). The shrimp were a bit overcooked and the flavors weren't as complex as I was used to. Based off food alone, I'd give it a 4/5, but I have to give it a 3/5 because upon checkout, their settings only let you leave a MINIMUM of 20% tip (no custom button). I even asked the guy, "so I can't customize my tip?" "No." Their service wasn't great and honestly, no, I didn't want to leave a 20% tip but I also didn't want to leave nothing. Plus, my work's policy allows for a maximum 18% tip (which I would have done). Please, for the love of god, allow patrons to choose different tip levels. I'm tired of a MINIMUM 20% tip as the new normal, when a tip is a reward for great service. I know this is minor, but it's not consumer-friendly.

Kianna A.

Yelp
Visited their new location on Orange, and what a cute spot! We were sat immediately and greeted by staff! Service was fast and good thing we arrived at 3 PM on a Saturday, by the time we left at 5pm there was a large line waiting to be seated. Their Thai tea is to die for if you enjoy very sweet teas!

Hunter F.

Yelp
Food tasted delicious the Thai green tea was also very good. The service was also top notch. The atmosphere of the restaurant was pleasant and welcoming, so overall 5 stars!

Ashok J.

Yelp
We went to this restaurant on a hot afternoon and were happy that we chose it. We got a Black Garlic Ramen, Pad Thai, Vegetarian Ramen, Don Buri and Spring Rolls. All of them were good, tasty, flavorful and big portions. The service was top notch. We enjoyed our time, had good food and left very happy. Special mention foe the spring roll that was so crispy.

Niv B.

Yelp
This was our first dine-in visit (we had ordered once before via takeout) and we were not disappointed! They were so accommodating when we showed up 15 minutes before closing time and still seated us. My husband and I ordered the Yuzu lemonade, Miso soup, Mabo Tofu Vegetarian (D4V), Okinawa Yakisoba (16). Everything was so delicious! The miso soup tasted better than many I've had. My husband loved his Yakisoba, although it was a little bit on the milder side for me (nothing some chili oil can't fix). The Mabo Tofu was so delicious and the vegetarian Tan Tan "pork" was packed with flavor. Service was great and our server seemed to know what was on the menu and what went into each dish (which is not always the case). Overall your experience was great, although the one thing I would change is the closing time! 8 pm on a Friday night is pretty early but something to plan around. We can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

Lorraine G.

Yelp
Tasty local ramen joint. I would recommend eating there over delivery though as the meals tend to get cold.

Brandy B.

Yelp
We've been here several times and have never had a bad experience. I am always looking for Pho and Issei does not disappoint. We originally could not find Issei, as it is in a building with a bead store, a gem store, and a tattoo parlor. It is on the second floor, I believe and we'll worth the struggle of getting there. We've always had great, fast service, with friendly staff members. I always get something vegetarian, without the mushrooms and they are very easy to accommodate this request. My spouse consistently gets something with chicken and has never had a complaint. If you are in Lancaster, this is absolutely worth the stop downtown.

Pushpam G.

Yelp
Loved the veggie Ramen. They made it spicy for us ... yumm Service was good on time. Quite Ambiance.

S T.

Yelp
Fun experience, excellent food, hidden location. Casual college atmosphere. Pay at the register, clean, fun. Worth the adventure.

Chris B.

Yelp
I would've given this restaurant three stars, had it not been for the fact that the hostess said that our wait time would be 25 minutes and it was actually an hour. The extra 35 minutes definitely takes it down a star. After all that, ramen was just "OK." The staff seem really hip and friendly. I'm sure there are certain dishes that will knock your socks off but I will not be returning. Too bad because it's a cute spot!

Lori S.

Yelp
Delicious food and wonderful service. Our waitress was really helpful, pleasant & provided prompt service! Loved the Thai Tea w/ Boba - enjoyed it B/c it wasn't overly sweet, creamy flavors & the boba are fun, large tapioca-like jellies. We had wontons (broth was tasty!) & Gyoza for apps which were great & our entrées were: #8 Pork Tan-Tan Noodles & broth - yummy, spicy & delicious! #D10 Red Curry with Avacado--fresh, bright, sweet & spicy! Yum! * We will be back! UPDATE: We keep coming back! Love the steamed Gyoza, Thai bubble tea, and my husband liked the Orion beer they now serve. Plus, this family is SO kind and sincerely friendly...great customer service!Tonight we really enjoyed: #D1 Asian Sesame with Don-Buri with Mongolian Beef and #20 Chow Fun with Spicy Dan-Dan

Alexis S.

Yelp
Everything about Issei is amazing. I love dining in person, but their takeout is also done very well. The portions are huge and always super tasty! Each time we try something a little different and love them more and more. This last time I think I found my fave order: Veggie Spicy Tan Tan with Shrimp (up charge). It was so flavorful and packed with shrimp.

Hannah W.

Yelp
I love this place! Constant flow of people. Always prompt and friendly customer service. I've never had a bad experience! We started with the shrimp tempura appetizer. The taste of the shrimp was overpowered by the tempura. It was oilier than I prefer, but still decent. I try something different with each visit and I continue to be impressed. Tonight was no exception - Spicy tofu. The right amount of heat and plenty of tofu and veggies. The size of the noodle bowls are large enough to satisfy any appetite. The udon noodles had a perfect balance of savory and sweet and the sauce was delightful. So delightful that my fiancé was ready to lick the plate! Not really a complaint, but I asked for a side of kimchi and was disappointed when our server said they don't normally carry any (especially since I've had it here before). I was also surprised when I over heard a neighboring diner ask for wasabi and also told they don't carry that. Again, not really a complaint, more of an observation, but would have been a wonderful addition to my noodles.

Carolyn M.

Yelp
We enjoyed our dinner at this unpretentious and friendly establishment. When we arrived on Friday night there was a line of people waiting to be served and we were told we'd have about a 10 minute wait which was fine by us. Our server showed us to our tables and we ordered two noodle bowls. I thoroughly enjoyed my noodle bowl with shrimp and my friend enjoyed hers a little less since she had accidentally added too much pepper which kicked up the heat index. The food and the laid-back vibe are appealing. The one area in need of improvement is the service. While the staff are very friendly and accommodating they seemed to be a bit scattered. But a lot of businesses are having to make do with less staffing levels so I didn't want to ding them on that, givien the challenges restaurants are facing these days.

Marisol D.

Yelp
Always delicious here. I wish there was something similar. The wait staff is always attentive and very friendly. Food comes out pretty fast and the flavor is always consistent. I miss coming here

Sarah D.

Yelp
I've only ordered take-out from here and the Carlisle location, but I have loved my meal every time. Their meals are large and flavorful. Everything is just so dang good!

O H.

Yelp
Tanking in a major way! We use to love this place and ordered from here once or twice each week when the pandemic set in. We decided to go back to an older fav and we're thoroughly disappointed. The namesake noodles were trash. The only thing that was tasty in our ~$87 order was the gyozas. Thinking it was a fluke I called the restaurant and the employee that answered the phone just apologized and wished me a goodnight. So to the management at Issei noodle "we will not be ordering from you again. have a goodnight and we wish you nothing but the best"

Tim R.

Yelp
We both got the black garlic ramen and it was awesome. Service was good as well. One issue though, we ordered carry out and when we got back to work to eat neither of our ramens had the soft boiled egg with it that it was supposed to. Wasn't gonna walk back to complain about missing egg. Will eat here again but will check order before leaving. Would be 4-5 stars if that wasn't missing.

Sandy T.

Yelp
Spent the day with the Amish and their heavy food to find this hidden gem in Lancaster! Their location is hidden within a building so you really have to know what to look for. We received a warm welcome throughout the meal and our server made many suggestions when I was choosing between some noodle dishes. My fiancé got the black garlic ramen and I had the Sakura dry ramen. We kept swapping dishes because we just couldn't get enough of all the different flavors that each dish offered. The Yuzu lemonade helped tremendously with the heat from the Sakura ramen, it was so light and refreshing! The best ending to the meal was the mochi donut that they make on site! We were so full but we couldn't pass up the opportunity and took it to go. We enjoyed it later that night and it was as fluffy and light as if they just made it from the oven! Will definitely make it a priority to go back if we are ever in the area again!

Michelle S.

Yelp
Sooo good! I got the wonton soup with the spicy beef on the side because I can't handle spicy food. By having the meat on the side I was able to control the spiciness level. The soup and the noodles were delicious! The service was also great. They were so busy but still managed to refill our water and ask us how we were doing. Wonderful food and service!

Shayla M.

Yelp
All the food was mushy and wet. Service was terrible. Our server spoke to us twice, once to take our order and once to hand us the bill. She also refused to take the meal off the bill because "we did not say anything" when we complained twice about the food and she never checked on us. She said she can't read our minds or keep asking (literally her job as a server) because she had other tables. (She may have had one other table). Do not come here.

Carissa K.

Yelp
I love me some ramen, so when I discovered Issei Noodle Lancaster (INL), well, my search was over. The young owners are André Pham and Donna Hranica. Pham is the son of the owners, Robert and Naomi Pham, at Issei Noodle Carlisle (INC)--the original store. INC opened back in 2007 with "Ramen, Vietnamese Pho and other Asian-infused style noodles from the Pacific Rim" (http://www.isseinoodle.com/). Robert is from Vietnam and Naomi from Japan so they decided to combine their Asian background into INC. "Issei" is a term in Japan that means first generation Japanese-American. Pham and Hranica started INL with a takeout window in November 2013 and then proceeded to open a table-service restaurant in May 2014. While I have yet to visit the Carlisle location, I've read that there are some similarities between the two. However, both serve the same delicious Asian-infused food. I've read through many of the reviews at both locations and all I can say is that I've been twice--once by myself and once with my son. I've received fantastic service, both the staff taking care of me and how quickly the food arrived to my table. I don't mind the restaurant being inside a mall although I do wish it wasn't located in downtown Lancaster. That's just my preference as I hate to park in the downtown area. #8 Spicy Tan-Tan Ramen: This is my favorite so far. Great depth of flavor with a perfect balance of heat. I love the ground pork! 5* #17A Sakura Warm Ramen: I tried this on Saturday and enjoyed it. It's like a Tan-Tan Ramen with a twist. It has much less broth and a balance of sweet and spicy from the sweet chili sauce. I loved the peanuts, cilantro and the avocado. 4* Fried Gyoza: These were good but definitely full-on fried. I prefer pan-fried or steamed as these were very crispy. Good flavor in the filling. 3.5* #6 Miso Ramen: My son had been dreaming of this bowl for months and it hit the spot. Perfect. 5* INL is definitely a go-to place for me now and I can't wait to try something else from their menu. If you're in downtown Lancaster, perhaps visiting the Central Market, stop by for lunch or dinner. Lancaster is full of wonderful cultural cuisine and I highly recommend you check out INL.

Bob W.

Yelp
We've been coming here for a couple years. Consistently good and fast food. #8 and #16 can't go wrong ! Spicy tan tan is fantastic ! Hardly ever crowded. A quiet gen in Lancaster!! Last week: came here for a quick business lunch (with sake!) and everything was fabulous as usual. I did want to report on the previous reviewer who said they don't give free water. I watched both our table and another table get free water and then I asked. There was a conference that weekend and that is the only time they need to control stuff like that. These are nice people and they serve great food Another great lunch at Issei! Seaweed salad and fresh rolls...picture of all the good stuff I did not get to eat this time!

Mary S.

Yelp
The reason it lost two stars because of the services and the waiter was no where to be found. Cute little ramen shop it was hard to find and hard to find parking as well I was impressed how it was decorated. I like the seating in the restaurant was and the menu was large; different things to choose from. A tad bit pricey from the ramen I had in the DMV area. I had the black garlic ramen, I was disappointed I barely tasted any garlic in the ramen, pork was plain, broth was okay. I was sad I did not get to try the bubble tea because of the time I was limited in Pennsylvania. This will be first and last time here.

Kyle S.

Yelp
Decor: personally was not a fan of the setup. It seemed dark and unfortunately due to the location it has no natural light. Service: the service was really good and everyone was very friendly. The food was generally well prices although the fried tofu seemed slightly pricy but for the flavor it was worth it. Food: the spring rolls were not the best I have had. The ratio of ingredients inside seemed slightly off myself and a friend. The fried tofu however was absolutely delicious and possibly the best friend tofu I have ever had. It's a must get. For the main meal I got the veggie yaki udon which was good at first but after awhile the taste seemed very reparative and needed a different flavor to spice it up. My friend got the veggie tofu ramen which she enjoyed but said it was not anything spectacular.

Grasielle C.

Yelp
Came to visit Lancaster and craved ramen one night so decided on Issei Noodle. We were t disappointed! The portion size is very generous especially for the price! The chasu pork in both soups were incredible! My only qualm would be that the wonton soup was on the saltier side, but besides that it was for sure a hearty meal. Packaging was perfect as well, no complaints there!

Thomas R.

Yelp
Clean Restaurant Fast service Great flavors Good drinks I would absolutely come back and try more of the food on the menu! I can't give it a perfect score just because it wasn't above and beyond my expectations... yet this could very well change depending how my second visit goes :)

Melissa K.

Yelp
For being a ramen noodle shop in Lancaster, this was surprisingly very good! I would come here again. I just wish their hours were better, but that's how I feel about all restaurants in Lancaster.

Lacey G.

Yelp
I wrote a review before, but I HAD to update! Tonight was the first time I ordered online because it's a little pricier than most places. It. Is. So. Worth it!!!! My pineapple teriyaki chicken is still steaming as I write this and tastes just as amazing as it does in the restaurant. The delivery guy was nice and cheerful and that's great to see half an hour before they close. I love Issei so much... I've eaten all over Lancaster and it's still my favorite. Ps: I promise they aren't paying me to write this!

Ryan E.

Yelp
The Thai iced tea was great. The salmon was great and so was the ramen. A real chill vibe.

Teresa N.

Yelp
I've been here multiple times and the food is always amazing. I always get shrimp dumplings for the appetizer and the 17A for the main entree. Their dishes can be a little too salty for people who aren't used to a lot of flavor but it's still very good and worth a try. It's definitely one of the best ramen places around this area. The waitresses are always super friendly and food does not take too long to come out.