Mee Heng Low | Noodle House

This is a hidden gem. Purportedly this is the oldest Chinese restaurant in the United States. You’ll find classic old style American Chinese, like chow mein and chop suey alongside bao and dumplings. Everything we had was really well prepared and delicious. The decor is kitsch and has a throw back charm with red lacquer walls sand vintage lighting. We loved the whole experience.

A small hole in the wall restaurant beside the Palm Theater is a good lunch experience. We shared the pot stickers for appetizer which was perfect. My Sai Fun salad was fresh and delicious. I had a side of chicken which was thinly sliced, warm, and slightly crispy. Yummy dish. My friends both had Lo Mein. One had the spicy peanut sauce the other tried the ginger soy. Both dishes were nice portion and deemed very good. The iced tea was very nice.

Food is decent. I’ve had better noodles and presentation needs improvement. If you truly want to be a good noodle place - you have to have that flair for having the right balance of flavor and consistency. For me portions were good but I can understand why others feel it’s small. The ambiance is cute - it’s more of Hole in the wall feel. I gave it a 3 star because service is not up to par and food could be more authentic. We had to ask and waved our hands to get the servers attention. The male server you can tell he wasn’t happy to be there. He was short and I felt rushed when I was ordering and if you want to make a good tip. In this business, you got to show you care.

From web information then come here today. Stay besides window to feel the east culture in a guilt country town. Pork dumpling is the first show up, I am so surprised the soft dumpling skin which mix chili oil, it makes me feel I'm in paradise. Noodle is the second after I finished dumpling for a while. The taste is perfectly bouncy. Pretty similar feeling with Axia.. I will come back again next time.

Visited SLO, enjoyed dinner at Mee Heng Low Noodle House in Historic China Town. Ordered the Chicken Potstickers and Twice Cooked Pork and washed it down with a Firestone Premium Lager. Did not need to add soy sauce to the pork. Seating is limited, friendly courteous staff, worth a visit.

95 year old Chinese noodle house was fun to visit. Hole in the Wall place with some authentic Cantonese style offerings. Historic place.

I’ve been wanting to try this Chinese spot for a while, and I finally went in today and ordered the lo mein. Unfortunately, it was burnt and not really edible. I might give another dish a try next time, but for now, this lo mein is definitely a pass.

The absolute best place to get fresh bao and dumplings. Everything on the menu is fresh and reasonably priced. And the staff are some of the sweetest people! Hands down favorite restaurant in SLO.

I had the lo mein noodles with chicken. Savory and very satisfying. I happened to be hungry walking around San Luis Obispo and saw this cool looking place. I was not disappointed. I tried the peanut and chili and the plum sauce. Both outstanding. I hope to get back to San Luis Obispo sometime in the future. This noodle house will be on my to do list. And the prices and people are very good.

Chow Mei. With chicken and shrimp plus peanut chili sauce, can't go wrong with this combination.

My wife and I weren't exactly sure what to expect at Mee Hung Low Noodle House but we wanted to try it. It's a small place with interesting artwork on the walls. The food was to our liking and the service was great. We had Bao, chicken pot stickers, chow mein and lo mein. All were good and presented nicely. We will be back as we enjoyed our meal and found the food to be pleasantly satisfying.

OMG. What a find. A small place, very funky, old school. They say it evolved from the oldest Chinese restaurant in SLO. They serve noodles! Chow mein, Lo mein, Chop Suey and noodle soup. There are a few appetizers in addition to this. My husband had the twice cooked pork, I had Chop Suey with tofu; both were absolutely perfect. We got here at the first of a rush of 6-8 tables and the service was excellent. Drew, our server, even had time to chat with us. This place is a great value, especially for the neighborhood. We got out for just under 50 bucks (so just under 60 with tip) 2 entrees and 2 beers. We were fat and happy.

I've been coming here for almost 10 years and it never disappoints. This staple is one of the best parts of downtown SLO. Great food and great service, really a one of a kind spot.

My very aged mother and I had just gotten off six hours of driving, and wanted something warm and nourishing. Sadly, we were very disappointed with our choice of eateries. Ordered the soup bowl for my mother. Awful. Very strange flavor. Seemed like maybe something was off. I ordered the chop Suey with pork . Again, not very good. Noodles were very non-traditional and very al dente... We paid for our dinner and left. The service person was surprised, but took our money anyway. I did insist on paying, but there might've been some consideration given. We did say that we were not pleased with the food.

This is, truly, the best restaurant in SLO. There is no better evening spent than a dinner at Mee Heng Low followed by a movie at the Palm. I believe there is a discount given by the movie theater for having dined here, but I've never properly investigated this. You should! On occasion, rather than a pork bao bun, they have a mushroom bao; I strongly, adamantly recommend that this be made a permanent menu item. Additionally, I recommend the Lo Mein, with peanut chili sauce if you can handle spice, and black bean sauce if you cannot. If the upstairs is open when you arrive, sit up there. If it's closed, you can't go wrong with downstairs. I could go on forever singing their praises, so I will stop here. Go, dine, and sing your own!

My partner and I were on our way back to LA when we decided to stop in SLO for a hike and then grab dinner afterwards. We parked in the street opposite of this restaurant and were intrigued. We discovered it's one of the oldest Chinese restaurants and so we decided to have dinner here. Upon reviewing some of the photos and the small menu my expectations weren't high. I'm from the SGV and I wasn't expecting anything similar to what I'd find there. I ordered chicken low mein and my partner ordered the pan fried chow mein with red pork. They got our proteins mixed up but no biggie. The food wasn't bad but I can't say it was all that great either. I wouldn't call it authentic Chinese. We both had the black bean sauce and it settled towards the bottom, making the remaining noodles pretty salty. Service was good. We went in and were seated pretty quickly. It was a bit of a wait for our food but it seemed like they have a limited staff. Overall it's definitely just okay.

I've eaten there a few times while passing through town and the food is always really good!!

What a cute little spot. The food was absolutely delicious and affordable. Instantly greeted when we walked in and sat in a booth. The menu is small - but sometimes that's a good thing! Quality over quantity! Our server was so kind and attentive, answered our questions. I got the twice cooked pork which was phenomenal. My boyfriend got beef chow mein and he loved it. Next time I would love to try out the bao buns. Definitely a place to check out!

We dine here quite frequently, we enjoy the soup and potstickers. The waiters and waitresses are super friendly and kind. They had it decorated super for the Chinese New Year.

Our waiter Drew was amazing! Very attentive and kind! I have a million allergies so I usually avoid eating at restaurants, especially Chinese food, but Drew helped adjust a meal for me super easily without me having to ask my usual 20 questions. I am so very appreciative and grateful to have such a simple, non stressful eating experience!

Once my partner and I found out that this is the oldest Chinese restaurant in the Central Valley, we knew we had to come! This place has been up and running for 95 yrs now, they are certainly doing something right! We had the chow mein with pork and it was awesome! My fiancé said it was the BEST chow mein he has ever had. The service was quick. The atmosphere is cute, simple etc but the food is what they really specialize in so we were impressed. The noodles were somewhat a bit too crunchy for my taste but it was still absolutely delicious! My fiancé loved the "crunchy" parts. It is probably more traditional that way. Anyway, totally recommend this place!!

Decided to go here for date night! The ambience was just right; we were seated upstairs and it provided a more intimate aura between me and my partner. We only ordered one dish which was the chop suey with tofu! It was enough to fill us up and was very delicious. The service was not up to par as the waitress was not the friendliest but we did not let that ruin our night. Check it out once you have free time!

I visited San Luis Obispo recently with my wife as we stayed in Morro bay for a week. We tried this quaint little place, cute but not impressed. Food was old salty and the gyoza tasted store bought.. ambiance was nice, the guys working there were also pleasant and service was okay. That's all I got.

Love eating at Mee Heng Low. Great comfort food. It never disappoints. Have always had great service when we eat there.

Noodles sucked. Tasted like they just put soy sauce in a supposed to be complex dish. DO NOT RECOMMEND. I can make better food than this

Soooo good! Highly recommend when you are in the mood for some noodles! I had the chop suey with the spicy peanut sauce and it was perfect!

Food is good but its $30 for 6 dumplings (they only gave 5 and some salad at the bottom) and low mein with added beef, but you do NOT get hooked up at all, at least if you do takeout. I'm straight up still so hungry lol this was a waste of money cuz the portion doesn't even feed u

I've eaten here a couple more times since my review. I had the twice-cooked pork (2nd time now) & tonight I had the chop suey. Both dishes were on the salty side, just like my previous visits, and as other reviewers hav mentioned. Accordingly I won't be ordering any noodle dishes here going forward. If anything I'll keep it limited to the bao, potstickers, dumplings etc. as I've not had the saltiness issue with them.

Our server Drew was awesome! I can't believe it took so long to finally come in and try this place. The food was delicious! I love the small menu, they know what they do well and that's what you get! Will definitely be coming back regularly :)

Dry and old tasting, pot stickers were delicious. Pork and noodles went in the trash, the noodles were hard and pork Chow Mein was extremely dry

Extremely disappointed. Supposedly a SLO staple . Been around for decades. I'm not sure how. Food was like a salt lick for horses. Bau was Bout the size of a peppermint patty candy and the noodles were inetable. Wife also got sick from what we believe is food poisoning from shrimp that were old. Plain old nasty dirty place. Wtf SLO county dept of health.

The chow mein had no taste. It was definitely different than anything we've ever eaten. We had to smother the chow mein with soy sauce just so we could taste it. Pop stickers were good. Will not be returning.

A lovely dining experience! The upstairs is too cute and the downstairs is nice and roomy. Sweet staff and absolutely delicious noodles. Great vibe every time (:

Finally tried this place with my boyfriend. He was so anxious to try it out as it has that old chinese tavern appearance. The food was decent but they are a little skimpy on the meat portions. Will try again because the service was great.

Food was barely passable. So salty. I really have nothing good to say! Old place not very clean. One server running around trying hard. Food was just not good. Low mein very salty.

The appetizers and main entrees were delicious, and the service was excellent. I would highly recommend.

Just set your expectations low and you might enjoy this noodle joint. This is definitely not a delicious, authentic Chinese restaurant unfortunately. Maybe a good quick place to eat if you're starving. I ordered the chicken lo mein with soy ginger sauce and it tasted like a friend from college invited me over to his dorm room and stir fried some noodles, slices of chicken breast, and some vegetables on an electric skillet and then dumped a bunch of soy sauce on top of it and charged me $18 for a small bowl of it. It was so salty. No other flavors besides the saltiness of the soy sauce haha. I was sadly disappointed by the taste and quality of the food and the fact that I needed to chug a bunch of water the rest of the day because I was so thirsty from all the salt. Just have low expectations and you might enjoy eating here. Otherwise, I recommend walking down the block and eating at Piadina for a similar price range.

Food was terrible. Looked good, but noodles were dry, hard, and almost uncooked. Pork was also dry and hard. Chow main noodles were burnt and the sauce wasn't distributed evenly at all. The bao buns were still doughey, but they were decent. Was looking forward to eating here based on what we have heard, but we won't be returning. Very disappointed.

Located in SLO's Historic Chinatown District, this is a small, casual restaurant with limited seating on the first floor. There is additional seating upstairs with live jazz music on Saturday evenings from 7:30 - 9:30. It is mostly a 'noodle house', but there are other options available besides noodles. The service is friendly, the premises is clean, and the food comes from the kitchen quickly.

I was super excited to eat here after reading the reviews, but was sadly disappointed. The noodles were dry and not super flavorful. For the price it felt like it should have been better. The food also took quite a while to come out which wasn't a big deal but when the food wasn't up to par it was disappointing. I'm not sure i'll be back.

Tiny little noodle shop, though never too crowded. Their red pork lo mein is a favorite on cold, rainy days.

The portions are small. The food is over priced, and other than the taste of salt, flavorless. Our waitress was easily one of the rudest waitresses I've have ever had the misfortune of encountering. Dining here is something that never needs to happen to me again.

Really weird hours. Back in May 2022, we tried three times and finally made it on a Wednesday at 2pm or something. The food menu is pretty unique but it's very salty. It's better than Golden Gong.

I wanted to like this place so bad but it was just that, bad. The noodles were super salty, uncooked and the meat was tough :( I wish it was good but I paid $20 for a basically inedible meal.

We stepped out tonight to celebrate US17 Years ago My hubby asked me to go steady for the rest of his life Mee Heng Lows is an amazing restaurant! The atmosphere comfortable and relaxingOur server Katie was outstanding. Her attention to detail was impressive!! The food is amazing, great flavor and reasonably priced! We enjoyed Potstickers, chicken Chow Mein, Twice Cooked Pork, Firestone Lager Thank You for making our night even more special

As if trying to influence my thoughts about the meal just consumed I cracked open my fortune cookie to find this: "Keep your expectations reasonable". Is that a fortune? My expectations grew high when my son's order came out. Twice-cooked Pork was on the chalkboard, a "specials" menu, and it was highly special. Delicious in fact. I was ready to steal his bowlful away before the other two orders arrived at the table. My expectations had now grown high and I was rewarded with disappointment. Perhaps I should've cracked open that fortune cookie sooner. Low Mein (with chicken) was almost flavorless. Same for Chow Mein (also with chicken). The two of us consuming these orders stared longingly at the bowl of twice-cooked pork wishing we'd ordered nothing with this flavorless chicken. Pork Bao, also on the specials chalkboard, was worthy of attention. Mee Heng Low Noodle House is a cute, casual, tiny place for simple Chinese noodle dishes. I liked the place itself very much but would limit future selections only to those specials appearing on the chalkboard, avoiding anything with chicken. If you find twice-cooked pork listed, act fast. Stray from this recommendation and, well, as the fortune cookie instructs, "keep your expectations reasonable".

Wifey and I went here before a movie at the Palm. Our experience was so so. When we entered the person downstairs was frank and borderline rude when we inquired about the establishment. Guess we were supposed to study up before we dined there. Anyways the part downstairs is dine-in with no alcoholic drinks. If you go upstairs, that is the restaurant where they offer table service and beer and wine. We decided to avoid the sailor downstairs which was a good thing as the server upstairs was much better. Their menu is fairly limited which can sometimes work when they can focus on being really good at their small menu. In this case it was ok. We ordered the chicken potstickers which were good. I ordered the tofu noodle soup which was good and wifey ordered the pork chow menu which was meh. The portions were big but the flavors weren't. All in all it was ok. Service downstairs is a miss but gets better when you go to the restaurant upstairs.

I've been a regular here for years and always have a fantastic time! The staff is incredibly sweet and fun to be around. I feel compelled to write this because of a negative review I saw posted from a situation I witnessed a few nights ago. The server approached a couple near me to confirm their night had gone well as their tip was unusually low. It wasn't combative, just inquisitive. They were not chased out, and instead threw their leftovers at the building. It's the only weird event I've ever witnessed at this top notch local establishment, and I was not surprised to see an alternative account of things here on Yelp. If you are a kind soul in need of some tasty food, this is totally the spot! If you're the type to be rotten to service workers, perhaps try eating at home.

I love coming here for the noodles and the lovely jazz upstairs! If you're craving something yummy and filling, this is the spot. Portions are great and I am always very pleased with the food and the service, especially the kind host. The atmosphere is nice as well, casual and cozy. I always get tea and the low Mein with tofu because it's vegan and never disappoints. I've tried most of the the sauces, the peanut chili isn't very spicy at all and the taste isn't as strong as I'd like it to be. The ginger/soy is very good and was my favorite for a long time but now I'm hooked on the Low Mein with the black bean sauce, I highly recommend this one. It's not the taste you expect when you think of black bean, it's very garlicky and savory, which I absolutely love! Can't wait to come again. Thank you Paul and Mee Heng Low!

Food: Pork chow mein & beef soup bowl were not great; portions were small and severely overpriced. Service: Lacking. They need to hire some folks with customer service skills and/or less attitude. Atmosphere: small/quaint; not so clean. Online resources: when you search for this business you find it online in several spots. All listing different prices. Your staff said "it's not our problem". Unfortunately, I've been coming here for years and this will be my last visit. I'm a little bummed about it. Peace

Overpriced and bad customer service. Be warned! Ridiculously super salty lo mein, Chow mein bland with super salty toppings, chicken pot stickers tasted store bought, Customer service lacking- borderline rude!, Restroom in disarray- dirty,no paper towels, toilet wouldn't flush. Dinner for 2- $98 while listening to loud heavy goth metal coming from the kitchen and flies circling our meal. Severe disappointment. Will not step foot in this place again!

I finally came back after a disappointing experience two years ago. I love the idea of what the place is... but the food, service and vibe do not lend to a positive experience. The Lo Mein was tasteless before before the bath of soy sauce and chili paste I drenched it in to resemble some sort of Asian cuisine. The "special" dumplings came half broken or smashed and the server said "some of these are broken but they all taste the same".. lol. Flavor was good minus the the look of a plate of dog food. Both dishes were $14 each and should have been $8 or under in any other city and I'm sure they would have tasted better coming off a dirty street cart in LA. $26 for lunch for one before tip?! I REALLY WANT TO LIKE THIS PLACE!! but with underwhelming flavor, overpriced food and non-existent service I cant help but leave this adorable building a 1 Star. **I would love to be proven wrong / give this place a third chance if anyone can let me know why I should. *** Bathroom was a mess with no paper Towels in sight.

Recently tried them for the first time. I ordered the tofu noodles with chili peanut sauce, and it tasted like nothing. The tofu was raw and the dish had literally no taste. Bummer.

Twice Cooked Pork is awesome. Very friendly service. Nice to have a good Chinese restaurant in slo.

I am conflicted about my feelings for MHL... allow me to explain: I appreciate & enjoy their chicken potstickers, but it seems like at least half the times we go there we are sorely disappointed; either they're randomly closed, the pork is cold & hard, someone who works there is a jerk, or we have to wait a looooong time. Then the other half of the time everything is great... it's weird, unpredictable, and makes me not want to bother including this place in my food plans (which are pivotal to my everyday life). So, I guess, roll the dice, if you want, I hope you get lucky!

Dim YUM! Best food in SLO county. I got the twice fried pork and it was spectacular. Very crispy and well balanced. I was driving back to San Francisco after a trip to Los Angeles to see my family and remembered reading about this little hole in the wall in SF Gate and the New York Times. I told my partner we HAVE to try this out and we are very glad we did.

SUPER nice staff! FAST too. Today I had the chicken low mien with Ginger Soy sauce. I am PICKY and I have to say this is very well done. The chicken is tender and the noodles are cooked just right...not mushy and not hard. The ginger soy has a nice flavor not too much not too little. An added plus the to go container made back to work with NO leaks! Great job I will be going back!