Noodle Lab
Restaurant · Downtown ·

Noodle Lab

Restaurant · Downtown ·

Build your own Asian bowls, rich broths, diverse toppings

curry ramen
pork belly
rice bowl
tonkotsu ramen
soft boiled egg
spicy miso
boston public market
build your own bowl
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null
Noodle Lab by null

Information

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108 Get directions

$1–10

Order delivery
See Menu
Restroom
Accepts reservations
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining

Information

Static Map

100 Hanover St, Boston, MA 02108 Get directions

+1 617 816 4545
noodlelabboston.com

$1–10 · Menu

Features

•Restroom
•Accepts reservations
•Popular for lunch
•Popular for dinner
•Good for solo dining
•Vegetarian options
•Comfort food
•Credit card accepted

Last updated

Jan 14, 2026

Powered By

You might also like

Terms of Use • Privacy Policy • Cookie Policy
 © 2026 Postcard Technologies, Inc.
@eater
391,688 Postcards · 10,992 Cities

Boston’s Biggest Restaurant and Bar Openings to Know This Month | Eater Boston

"Back at Downtown Boston’s food hall, the Boston Public Market, after a five-year hiatus, Noodle Lab has chef Audrey Yap slinging bowls of ramen and japchae, plus rice bowls, gyoza, and more." - Erika Adams

https://boston.eater.com/openings/122208/boston-restaurant-bar-openings-july-2025
Noodle Lab

Jennifer C.

Google
We were skeptic to order at first then thought why not give a shot. We ordered a rice bowl Chicken Katsu Curry $8.99 to go. The quantity is more than enough for a single person. The curry is not overpowering and the potato and carrots just great to go with it. I wished they kept the chicken packed separately so we can enjoy the crispiness. All is all good to eat also they validated our parking ticket.

Gloria H.

Google
I was intrigued by the build your own bowl concept at Noodle Lab -- the broth, noodles, and scallions are $7.99, premium (meat and egg) toppings are $1.99, and vegan toppings are $1. The toppings honestly looked really good so I got the spicy tori paitan ramen with pork belly, egg, and picked mushrooms ($13.88 after taxes). This was unexpectedly really good! The only downside was the noodles -- they were gluey and stuck together. The broth was intensely savory and the spicy oil was very effective. The marinated egg was perfectly jammy and the mushrooms were yummy. The pork belly was well marinated and the fat was rendered. If it weren't for the noodles, I would've given it an unexpected 5/5. Hopefully the noodles are usually prepared better than this -- if so, I'd recommend it for a very customized ramen experience!

Lindsey N.

Google
Affordable prices for quality food. In the photo is chicken katsu curry with a soft boiled egg.

Fern T.

Google
I absolutely love the Noodle Lab's build-your-own bowl concept! The broth is always rich and flavorful, and the selection of toppings is diverse and delightful. It’s a perfect way to customize each meal especially if you are looking for a high protein option. Highly recommend the Malaysian bread/roti as an app!

Michael C.

Google
Underwhelming ramen. Ordered the torii paitan ramen and it was incredibly bland and one-note. Pork belly was tough and not braised long enough. Menu/slip to order is in an unclear area but easy to fill out. Very friendly staff. Very cheap so it’s nice to have somewhere that doesn’t break my wallet for a meal. Would be willing to try something else. Heard the curry is supposed to be better so I’ll get that next time.

T F

Google
We got the miso ramen. It's OK, didn't like having to manually add all the normal ingredients to our order.

Kehan P.

Google
Great affordable meals with great hospitality, would especially recommend trying the specials when available -- grandma's nonya lamb curry was amazing!

Jay V

Google
If you’re Malaysian, you’ll love their curry dishes! It has the Malaysian curry taste to it, which makes sense since the owner is Malaysian! Will definitely be back.
google avatar

Marynell K.

Yelp
Noodle lab is located in the Boston public market and has lots of seats available for enjoying your meal. We ordered the bao buns and miso ramen. The bao buns were fantastic. The meat was cooked perfectly wasn't chewy or hard and the sauce was delicious. The miso ramen was perfect to warm up after a night of walking around chilly Boston. Service was pretty quick.
google avatar

Wasyl D.

Yelp
If you're looking for a spot that brings flavor, creativity, and comfort all in one bowl, Noodle Lab is the place. The moment you walk in, the vibe is modern and inviting, and the staff is attentive without feeling rushed. The menu has a great variety, but everything feels thoughtfully made instead of just thrown together. I tried the ramen and it was outstanding--rich broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and the toppings were fresh and balanced. You can tell they care about ingredients and presentation. Portions are generous and worth the price. I also love that they have options for different spice levels and dietary preferences. Overall, Noodle Lab is one of those places you end up recommending to friends without even meaning to. Whether you want something cozy or you're just trying something new, it never disappoints. I'll definitely be back!
google avatar

Wasyl D.

Yelp
Absolutely love the food here. Wonderful recipes, lovely people and just a great place. I'd recommend it to anyone that loves rice bowls or ramen for around $8 it's worth it!! Best ramen noodles I've had.
google avatar

Christina R.

Yelp
Maybe I was expecting something different but Noodle Lab in Boston Public Market was super underwhelming. It started off wrong with ordering. Apparently you're supposed to fill out the paper and that's the only way you can order. Ok... However, the two people who ordered after me didn't have to turn in a paper, they just verbally ordered like I tried to do but got yelled at. The stall is clean and cute and modern. The menu is easy to read and understand. I ordered a chicken ramen bowl with pickled mushrooms and a shoyu egg. I also ordered roti. It took forever to get my meal because they burnt the roti twice before getting it right. However, I'm glad that I got it because it was the best part of my meal (and it wasn't made fresh, it was a purchased item that they just cook for you.) The ramen was edible. I wouldn't ever come here craving ramen. The broth was basically chicken stock. There weren't many noodles. The chicken was old and dry and hard. The mushroom were off. The shoyu egg was overcooked and also old. I ate it because I had to, not because I wanted to. The best part of the experience was the curry sauce for the roti and the cute lady working the food line (she was not the one who chastised me for trying to verbally order.)
google avatar

Savannah H.

Yelp
An incredible addition to the market here! They have dumplings ramen curry and a fab selection of toppings. I got the spicy ramen with pork belly and an egg and it is AMAZING. Every single person sitting at pine bar right now has a bowl! Fast and super reasonable price the meat was meltingly good and everything done to perfection. I'll definitely be back for lunch to try more!
google avatar

Karen S.

Yelp
Omg delicious! The creamy chicken broth has so much flavor, I'd get this everyday if it were for me.

Emma H.

Yelp
I was pretty sad when Perillas closed, but I'm even happier that the Noodle Lab took its place! The Noodle Lab is a great fast-casual location to pick up something quick during work. There is no dedicated seating, so if you order at peak times, you might not find a spot, but that's the nature of the public market. I love the pork belly rice bowl, plus a soft-boiled egg. Great flavor, very filling, and a good amount of meat. The egg is usually a little bit overcooked, but still not quite hard-boiled, and I think it's a worthwhile addition. They are a small but popular location, and relatively new, so I think they are still working some things out. This means that now and then, there are some hiccups. Sometimes they run out of items, especially towards the end of the day. Once they forgot an item. Anytime this happens, they are very apologetic and kind about it, and try to make up for it.
google avatar

Nhung N.

Yelp
Noodle Lab is a fast food noodle stand located inside of the Boston Public Market. This is my go to place during lunch to grab a quick bowl of noodle soup. While this is no spectacular noodle restaurant, it does serve up fast piping bowls of noodle soups that are both affordable and filling. It is definitely perfect cold weather food as all soups are piping hot. You gave different proteins as an add on option. I have tried a few. The pork belly is extremely fatty so some might not like this. The thinly sliced pork is more lean and also very thinly sliced. Surprisingly, the best protein in my opinion is the add on egg. I could order up and eat the soy egg all by itself. It's that good. Majority of the time the yolk is just how I like it, gooey on the inside. I only got a fully cooked egg once. Sometimes I think I order the noodle soup just so I can add the egg. I have tried four noodle soups and will list them in the order that I enjoyed the most. The tonkotsu and spicy tonkotsu are pretty flavorful but would pale in comparison with the real deal Japanese ramen shops. It is not rich in collagen. They ramen noodle is okay. I would definitely try this when I want a quick bite. The Tom Yum noodle soup had a nice balance of spicy and sour. This dish uses a thinner threadlike noodle. It's perfect for cold weather. The laksa is a spicy curry broth noodle soup served with clear flat noodles, chicken, tomato and cilantro. To my surprise, it was not spicy at all and was more sweet from the coconut milk than anything. I didn't enjoy this as much as I did with all of the others that I have tried. I want to emphasize again that this is a fast food noodle soup stall so don't go in with high expectations. In terms of flavors, none of the soup broths are authentic. It is just a quick take or faux version of the various noodle soup from different Asian countries. And there is nothing wrong with this if you work in the area and wanted to grab a quick lunch. I would only go here when there is no time to dine at a restaurant. And I would only have this when the weather is colder outside.
google avatar

Bob L.

Yelp
Came here in the early morning on a rather chilly fall day and saw that this place was open so I figured that I'd give it a go since a bowl of ramen sounded phenomenal on a cold day! Parking around here is an absolute headache since it's smack dab in the middle of the city. I'd recommend taking public transportation and have a nice walk around the area (unless you want to pay for parking at the garage). The shop is located inside the Boston Public Market and the first thing that struck me was the prices. Many of the rice bowls (if not all, can't recall) were under $5 and bowls of ramen start at just under $9 which is a bargain considering the area. I opted for the ramen combo that includes a rice bowl for ~$12.95. I got the pork belly rice bowl and the tonkotsu ramen with egg, white onion and pork belly. My partner got the tonkotsu spicy miso which she enjoyed though she wished it was spicier. Unfortunately the tofu rice bowl was disappointing as the tofu was cold and bland overall. Now is this the best ramen in Boston? Nope! Is it still delicious for what you pay for? To me the answer was yes. The broth was fresh and not overly oily. The pork belly while not as tender as the higher tier ramen shops had a lot of flavor and the sauce they tossed on the rice bowl was delicious! If I were in the area and needed a quick ramen fix I would definitely stop by. NOTE: Make sure to fill out the paper menu selecting what you want (it's required!). Service was prompt and speedy though to be fair it was around 10am on a Tuesday and there was no line for us.
google avatar

Anna X.

Yelp
*To preface, this is a review for the dining experiences I had before March 2020. :- ) Noodle Lab is a no frills grab-n-go shop situated in the Boston Public Market. There's almost always a line to place your order but it goes by quick. The wait for the food's usually the longer part! Their menu offers rice bowls, ramen noodles, and side dishes. I've tried their Curry Tofu Rice Bowl ($4.95 as a base price and $1 for each topping), Tonkotsu Miso Ramen ($8.99), and Tonkotsu Spicy Miso Ramen ($8.99). You can choose up to three toppings for their ramen bowls. I usually get the silken tofu cubes, enoki mushrooms, and sweet corn as toppings and they're always super fresh! Their portions (toppings-wise, too) aren't very big. Their wavy ramen noodles, however, are always well done with a perfect chew to 'em. :- ) I'd highly recommend the Tonkotsu Spicy Miso if you're looking for a quick, hearty bite because the broth they use is amazing and packs a good heat. The non-spicy version isn't too flavorful. I'd recommend skipping the Curry Tofu Rice Bowl- it just wasn't what I expected. The curry consistency was watery, which made the rice soggy and the overall flavor very bland and depleted.
google avatar

Bruce K.

Yelp
Before it gets too hot for soup (is it really ever too hot for soup?), I hit up Noodle Lab for a bowl of ramen. Nice and simple process here, they have order sheets and pens in front. Write your name, pick a few boxes with X'es and they put together your lunch to order. I chose the regular ramen, adding sweet corn, roast pork and enoki mushrooms. A few minutes later, my name was called. I grabbed a spoon and some chopsticks and it was ready to eat! Delicious rich broth, the pork was a little fatty but delicious. Overall, a very nice and filling meal!
google avatar

Mark T.

Yelp
The experience was solid, for sure, and I fully admit I might be overthinking this, but sorry kid, for me, there's a little more to Ramen than this. an egg, some pork belly, and tofu just didn't do the trick. There is something to be said for simplicity, and the menu was not too intimidating. I will say though regarding the toppings: I don't agree with how this is executed. Only three of these are free, however, diced onions and pork belly are not on the same plane. My advice: have veggies toppings be unlimited and free, and have limited toppings be pricier proteins; $9 is already pretty expensive. For me, as is the ramen lacks excitement! It would also be great to have an option to try little cups of the broths (though I didn't ask... if this is possible, lowkey advertise it, maybe?). Anyways: went for some Tonkotsu Miso and toppings of a soft boiled egg, pork belly, and some silken tofu. The broth was a little heavy on the salt, but otherwise alright. Though it wasn't quite as divine as the Spicy Tonkotsu I had at Shabu Zen. If you're asking why I didn't get spicy at Noodle Lab, heat is relative, and I wanted my taste buds intact that day. Leave me alone! Noodles were alright, but ramen is hard to get wrong, similarly, silken tofu and soft boiled egg were fine. I was a fan of the pork belly, and while they didn't skimp, a little more wouldn't have hurt, but extra protein is [almost] always welcome. So, in summary: a solid bowl of ramen, but expensive and with a price structure with proteins on the same plane as veggies. The broth was just alright.
google avatar

Allison C.

Yelp
While this restaurant describes itself as "fast casual," I've honestly had better ramen out of an instant noodle cup/package. The ramen here comes in two sizes: regular and large (+$1), with four different broth options: curry, tonkotsu, tonkotsu miso, and tonkotsu spicy miso. There's a variety of toppings for you to choose from ranging from pork loin, slow cooked pork belly, and pickled shiitake mushrooms to edamame, diced white onions, and kimchi. Your first three toppings are free, although you can add additional toppings for $1 each. For $4 more, you can also combo your ramen with either pork or veggie gyoza, wakame salad, or any rice bowl. I ordered the ramen and pork gyoza and selected the tonkotsu broth with slow cooked pork belly, enoki mushrooms, and a marinated soft boiled egg. First and foremost, the tonkotsu broth is incredibly bland, although the mouthfeel is creamy. The texture of the ramen noodles was actually really good (bouncy, not too soft). However, the slow cooked pork belly was dry and tough, and the marinated soft boiled egg (erred on almost hard boiled) was not at all marinated. The only redeeming part of my meal was the pork gyoza, which I actually really enjoyed! The gyoza skin was thin and the pork filling was both well seasoned and generously sized. Overall, I would not recommend ordering any combination of the tonkotsu broth, slow cooked pork belly, or marinated soft boiled egg.
google avatar

Maggie H.

Yelp
Got someone's order instead even though they called my name. Realized the mix up after arriving back to the office. To the person that ordered a ramen with chicken and only topped it with raw onion and edamame DO YOU HATE YOUR TASTE BUDS?
google avatar

Christine F.

Yelp
This review is purely for the rice bowl. Came on a rainy Saturday, and this place was the first thing I smelled when I walked into the Public Market. You order by filling out a short form and handing it to the cashier. Veryyy efficient. I got my Pork Belly Bowl with a soft boiled egg within 5 minutes of ordering. It hit the spot! The meat is nicely marinated and saucey, so your rice becomes very fragrant. They don't give very much meat (2-3 slices), and the soft boiled egg was a little overcooked. HOWEVER, considering this cost only $6 and was perfect on a gloomy rainy day, I'll let it pass. The portion was just big to satisfy me, so it might not be enough if you're hungry.
google avatar

David L.

Yelp
I love me some good Asian noodle soup, whether it's ramen, pho, or a good spicy Korean stew. This ramen was kind of meh. It wasn't bad, but nothing special. I'd much rather go to Chinatown or even Wagamama, for that matter.
google avatar

Amanda G.

Yelp
Decided to try this ramen place out because it was conveniently located and warm. Overall the broth was tasty in the soup, but I was expecting something different in comparison to ramens I'm So Cal. The noodles were more on the firm side and decently flavored, but the rice bowl had way too many onions and too large of pieces to honestly enjoy them. It took away from the flavor of the meat. For the price it wasn't bad, but overall will not return.
google avatar

Kristen K.

Yelp
My first ramen ever and a delightful experience! I had the curry ramen with bok choy, edamame and tofu. Just delicious and looking forward to going back for more, next time with pork and egg!!
google avatar

Jenny H.

Yelp
Came to Noodle Lab for lunch with friends. We were pretty hungry so got the large ramen noodles. Overall the food was alright if you are looking for a quick meal. Coming from Toronto, I have ramen on a regular basis. Comparing the ramen to what I'm used to it lacked a bit of flavour. This is okay if you are looking for something light. You are super limited to the number of toppings you can add because each additional topping is $1. I ended up paying almost $14 for a medium sized bowl of noodles. Seating is a pain too. I was here on a Sunday afternoon and had to wait over 15 minutes for a seat in the market. Not Noodle Lab's fault but just a warning to all visitors. Overall decent place for lunch but probably not a fancy place for a meal.
google avatar

Hannah S.

Yelp
I decided to get some ramen while I wait to order a lobster roll from Red's. I ordered the tonkatsu spicy miso broth & chose soft boiled egg, slow cooked pork belly, and spinach as my toppings. If you want to add more than the 3 allotted, it will be $1 each. Seems like a steep price if you want to add things like mushroom or vegetables. I would definitely add chili oil to make it even spicier as the broth isn't too spicy. The soft boiled egg would have looked nicer if it was cut in half, but they just plop it in. Which is fine, tastes the same, just for some aesthetic points, halved would have been more appealing lol. Overall, it was ok. The noodles were a little harder than I'd like, the egg was still a bit cold, understandable tho since it is a soft boil. Would I come back again? Probably not, but it did its job to fill me up in the morning.
google avatar

Brittany S.

Yelp
Absolutely the best wonton soup I have ever had. Made from scratch (assuming with love) by the Noodle Lab crew. I was sporting a vicious cold during our visit to Boston so I hopped on every opportunity to slurp down tasty teas and soup. The "$7.99 made from scratch wonton soup" sign at Noodle Lab hooked me in an instant. Fatima, who was working the booth, was so sweet. She graciously split our one serving of soup into two bowls so I would contaminate my mother's half. What made the soup extra-special? Freshly steamed bok choy and carrots that are prepared separately for every bowl (as fresh as it gets), soft and flavorful dumplings and bonus noodles mixed in to the soup. The flavor, texture, sinus drainage...it was exactly what I needed and for a brilliant price. Note: Noodle Lab is located in the new Boston Public Market.
google avatar

Barry L.

Yelp
The noodle lab caught my eyes when I walked into the Boston public market. Their ramen options look good but I wanted to get a quick bite. So I got the rick bowl with pull pork shoulder and a side of pork gyoza. The pull pork shoulder was flavorful but a bit dried. I love the sauce that they were in but it was a bit too little. Their gyoza was subpar and nothing special. They were a bit cold. Saw them took it out from a pre-package from the fridge and warmed them up from the broth. Definitely would not recommend the gyoza. However the soy vinaigrette that serve with the gyoza was pretty good. I used it on the rice bowl instead because it added the slight acidity that it needed to cut the richness of the pork. For $5, the rice bowl is a must get (simple and quick); however I would avoid the gyoza.
google avatar

Norma T.

Yelp
Great location inside the Boston Public Market and one of the only places where you can get food very quickly and sit down to eat within less than 10 mins. Tried their tonkotsu ramen and their spicy ramen, the customization of the ramen is great because you get to pick 3 toppings for no extra charge and $1 extra with additional toppings after that. Curious about their rice bowl offerings, specially with a combo deal of ramen and a rice bowl for about $12 which seemed like a great deal! The employees were super welcoming and eagerly described the sauce options by the counter. They offer weekly specials that rotate a lot and differ from their usual offerings, great option to keep checking back for tasty options. Would return when in the area!
google avatar

Joyce C.

Yelp
Noodle Lab is located within Boston Public Market and the line was cray cray when I went (lunchtime), so my expectations were high. Although I think they're build-your-own ramen style is different and they definitely have efficient service, the actual taste of the food was super average (if not below). I ordered their tonkatsu spicy miso broth with soft boiled egg, pork belly, and enoki mushrooms as my toppings. The broth flavor was honestly comparable to cup noodle soup flavors with the blandest of kicks for spice :/ It felt similar to making your own late night ramen and tossing a bunch of random ingredients on top. The toppings were average -- nothing to rave about. It pains me to give their food one star (I feel so mean), but I'm generously giving two as a nod to their quickness because it really was amazing how fast they took care of such a long line.
google avatar

Mike D.

Yelp
Noodle Lab wasn't the greatest, but I wasn't angry with it. It was a solid A-OK. The most important part of ramen is the broth. The tonkotsu miso didn't disappoint me; it was flavorful, salty, and a little spicy towards the end, when I didn't have anything else savory to balance it out. The noodles were tasty and solid enough where they didn't turn into mush. The toppings is where I have an issue with Noodle Lab. They taste great themselves... the problem is how the ordering is done. You can choose up to 3 toppings, with any additional toppings being +$1 each. Sounds normal, but there's a catch: they group the premium toppings in with the regular toppings. So a dash of diced onions is in the same category as a few slabs of pork belly. If you only get 3 toppings, you're not going to want to waste too many choices on smaller toppings like onions, spinach, and mushrooms... and it ultimately detracts from the ramen as a whole. You're not going to want to spend an extra $1 on some bean sprouts or a single bunch of enoki mushrooms. What they *should* do, is ask you to choose one protein (pork belly, chicken, or other main ingredient), then give you 3 additional toppings (enoki mushrooms, bean sprouts, corn, diced onions, ...). Fix the topping issue, and I'd give this place a 4/5.
google avatar

Lada R.

Yelp
Inside The Boston Market lies a very cheap but delicious rice bowl. For only $4.95 I had the option to chose from 6 different rice bowls, I chose the pulled pork. It was nice and tender full of flavor and my bowl was made in less than a minute. They also validate parking which is very convenient if you are next door at the RMV. I'll be back for sure, I'm just not sure what I'll eat next everything looks amazing!
google avatar

Ben B.

Yelp
Forrest Gump would have said this place is like life. Even when I'm not hungry I swing by to check out the dish of the day. I've seen some repeats, but a lot of the time it's something I haven't tried before, or now they're using pork when last time they used chicken, or now it's $1 more expensive than last time. It's a rollercoaster up in this place. I'll second what some other people have said, it's a bit pricey for not a huge amount of food. But that's essentially the motto of Public Market: "You're gonna pay a lot, but you're not gonna get much". Once you get past that, Noodle Lab is probably the best food stand there. It's always fresh-tasting, the broths are interesting and the noodles are legit different for every dish. It's definitely my go to when I'm too lazy to make it to Gene's.
google avatar

Lucreiza B.

Yelp
I'm so sad to find out the noodle lab had closed up shop at Boston market place. Audrey always been a warm welcoming face going miss her ramens especially her fresh made coconut curry soup base. Ugh it's going be hard to find a replacement for yummy curry ramen and chicken katsu.
google avatar

Astra G.

Yelp
This review is for their vegan ramen option which is deliciousss. Their curry ramen has vegan coconut curry broth and comes with tasty fried shallots, onions and choice of 3 toppings. The portobello mushrooms are really flavorful and well marinated. We got ours with tofu and another mushroom and kimchi. Extra toppings are $1 more. The noodles are perfectly al dente with a nice chew. I was nicely surprised as I thought this place would just be ok. Grab a seat by the window and slurp noods while people watching.
google avatar

Alex A.

Yelp
Very solid ramen, filling and good serving size. The Spicy Miso broth had just the right amount of heat. 3 toppings that are included is just the right amount.
google avatar

Nancy M.

Yelp
This place is fire I come here at least once a week on my lunch break. The curry flavor ramen is the best! I normally request bok choy, sweet corn and a boiled egg - bomb! If you want some more flavor add extra pepper sauce they have on the side by register. Beware, it gets packed during lunch time during weekdays. p.s. please don't hold up the line by asking the cashier 1000 questions, especially during lunch time! ask the person next to you while you in line...cuz you'll be there for a minute! kthanxbye!
google avatar

Casey D.

Yelp
It doesn't look like much when you walk past, but they have a pretty solid operation going on here. I've had a little bit of everything so I think it fair to say I can give this some honest commentary. $ - this place is a lot less pricey than most of the places in Haymarket, but for some dishes, you get what you pay for. Ramen - would probably never buy again. It tasted fine. If you're having a craving for ramen, this is not the way to satisfy it. I find that the portion isn't that great and the broth is "ok." Rice Bowls - if you want something cheap and possibly quickly filling, out the rice bowls are worth it. Curry - I think their curries are what they do best and are also where the portions are the best. I'm also ridiculously picky about curry as someone whose home and family cooking has always been made up of a lot of curry. The chicken Kutsu curry is a staple and is usually available every day as their ongoing special. It's $6.99 and for an extra dollar you can get extra chicken which I usually do. Sometimes the extra chicken is actually too much. There was another curry dish that they had in place of the Katsu but I don't remember the name of but I reluctantly tried it and it was also very good. When I go here for lunch this is usually what I buy. Environmental impact - The biggest gripe that I have with this place is their environmental impact which is pretty high. They use those plastic containers that some places do for takeout and for the volume of people they serve they have no recycling program in place. So I imagine despite the fact that the city is supposed to be fairly environmentally conscious those containers are getting shucked in the regular trash and they are problematic to recycle anyway. It would be nice if they had a wash And bring back program to get your bowl refilled and you get a discount off your food or you turn it back in and they can use it again and they can save money on their supplies.
google avatar

Jonathan L.

Yelp
Bros, these are the saddest rice bowls I've ever seen. We ordered two pork belly rice bowls and only received three tiny slivers of meat in each bowl. They even skimped on the rice - how cheap is that? At least throw in a vegetable for garnish, sheesh.

Jennifer K.

Yelp
I usually love Noodle Lab but was really disappointed by the Katsu Curry. This photo was taken after I confirmed that there was no sauce added to the curry. It seems like there was just some light broth added? And none of the veggies were cooked. I would not venture to call this katsu curry. Would still recommend the noodles.
google avatar

Tania G.

Yelp
My angels. I am so sick right now with a cold and I've purchased 5 soups in the last 36 hours. I'm also on a very stringent diet right now; no soy, dairy, sugar, or oils. The owner helped me through the entire ingredient list yesterday; he was so patient with me. I had full confidence that I would be eating something that aligned with my diet but would also make me feel better. I ordered spicy Tonkotsu broth with chicken, bok choy, spinach, onions. The broth is very solid, vegetables are fresh, and the chicken was mostly tender. Thank you for taking care of me! I'll be back.
google avatar

Debra B.

Yelp
I've had this for lunch at least 5 times in the past. I was in the area for a client meeting and thought to stop in for lunch this past Monday, and the line was long but went by pretty quick. They have a variety of options to make your Noodle Soup. I ordered a combo: Any Ramen & Pork Gyoza. I ordered the Tonkotsu Spicy Miso broth, Toppings: pulled pork, bok choy, bean sprouts and a soft boiled egg. You can choose up to 3 toppings, and add $1 for every additional toppings. When I received my food, I had to make sure they gave me the Gyoza I ordered, otherwise they wouldn't check to see if I received everything I ordered. The sauce that went with the Gyoza was in a separate small container rather than inside the same container as the Gyoza- so I asked for a bag, and the Cashier gave me an attitude saying it was .25 cents extra if I wanted a bag and asked "did you ask for a bag when you paid?".... ummm, No how am I supposed to know that if you didn't even offer me one? Anyway... this totally ruined my experience. I wish I didn't even tip 20%! When I sat down and was about to take my first bite of my ramen... I noticed I got 2 measly leaves of bok choy and a pinch of bean sprouts. For $15... it was NOT worth it! I get it- you're busy during lunch hour but don't be cheap on the toppings! I even got 4 toppings so I paid the extra $1 for 2 baby bok choy leaves!!! WTH. Yeah- I would not recommend coming during any busy hour of the day, especially lunch hour unless you're the first person to be served.
google avatar

Sarah A.

Yelp
5 stars for the curry ramen! Two things I really love. The flavor of the curry is more Southeast Asian than Japanese. I loved the fried garlic/shallots. I got the egg, pork belly and pickled mushroom for my 3 toppings and each was perfectly flavorful and tender. The line to order moves quickly but it takes a bit to get your food. Also, the broth is super hot which makes the plastic bowl they serve it in very hot to hold while you're looking for a seat -- just FYI.
google avatar

Tiffany J.

Yelp
I love the concept of Noodle Lab and have tried it twice at this point. They've got a couple house made ramens and everything is made from scratch. They also have a couple rice bowls. Tonight, I ordered the vegan curry ramen with bean sprouts, onions, and an egg. This came down to just over $9. Not bad, I thought, for a bowl of ramen that's completely house made. Unfortunately, it was just a OK. The soup was almost pure oil, or at least, tasted and looked like it. While the flavor wasn't bad, the few sips I had made me sneeze and cough because of the heavy spices. Too much oil and too much spice. The noodles were fine but had a doughy and undercooked texture to them. While I didn't dislike Noodle Lab, I also wasn't terribly impressed. I might be back to try something else, but as a vegetarian I hope the vegan noodle soup improves.
google avatar

Jess W.

Yelp
My go to lunch place. Perfect when you want a warm soup on a cold day in Boston. I often order extra noodles for only a dollar more. My usual order includes an egg, something green (either spinach or nori), and a pork option. Also, check out their specials!
google avatar

Cherlyn L.

Yelp
I was tired of waiting in lines forever to eat Santouka and decided to find other places to eat authentic ramen and domkatsu. My friend recommended Noodle Lab to me and I must say it's a surprise! The taste of chicken curry is not greasy like most curry does. Will definitely come back to try some more!
google avatar

Bea T.

Yelp
I tried the pork wonton soup and it was pretty good! The wontons were fresh and noodles were good along with the broth. I haven't tried anything else yet but I will consider. I just feel that it $8 is a little overpriced for what you are getting. I can justify the soup $7.00 because the bowl was bigger than the portion. I believe that they could generate more traffics with small and larger bowls. The noodle lab and the public market was dead. With the cold weather, there is nothing better than having soup! Get some snowy specials for a lower price and the place will be swarmed.
google avatar

Jimmy B.

Yelp
I was so excited for this place, and then my dreams and hopes were shattered as soon as I physically arrived at this.. well, words can't really describe. This place touts itself as a trendy noodles place, specializing in ramen and shanghai soup noodles when I first read about them during the buzz of the grand opening of the Boston Public Market. Well, that MAY be the case.. yet I never got to try the noodles they "specialize" in. The reason? Because this place, my friends, is literally a stall, and one of the SMALLEST in Boston Public Market. If you're selling food ready to eat... and you're smaller than the ice cream place, the donut place, hell, even the wine jelly stall right next to you, there's something wrong here. Because of the small capacity of this place, they can only offer one noodle dish at a time - and the day we came, they only had udon. Yes, you heard me. One. Dish. Hence, no menu, so don't bother looking. Now, I COULD be okay with this type of business strategy.. IF they utilized social media better. This place has no official website, and only an instagram account, which has been rarely used. That's it. Come on. If you're only able to offer one dish each day, then you need to use social media to tell everyone what is even being offered - that means create a facebook/twitter page! Second qualm - the actual food quality and time. It sucks. We of course got the udon, as we were starving by the time we arrived and was dead set on trying some ramen. I begrudgingly forgave them for not having ramen and got the udon, hoping at least it would be delicious. It wasn't. I make udon at home better than here, and that's saying something as I'm a horrid home cook. The udon they used was the dry-pack type, so it's more instant than the fresher ones where you have to freeze. The soup base was plain, and the toppings were sparse and underwhelming considering I paid $8 for a small bowl that I had to wait about 10 minutes for (again, small capacity, so they can't make too much at once). I think they have a few kinks to work out in terms of their strategy and menu, so until then, I'll be staying away from this place whenever I visit the Boston Public Market.
google avatar

Bex A.

Yelp
I came on their Shoyu Udon day and it was delicious. Super friendly, quick service. $8 for a decent portion. Yes, they only have one menu item per day, but they are a small shop, give em' a break, guys. It was hot and delicious. I will return.
google avatar

Robyn G.

Yelp
When you are seeking out vegan food in Boston, there are a lot of selections to choose from. I am glad Noodle Lab was one of ours on Monday! The employees made sure that our selections were appropriately selected to meet our dietary requests (rice noodles instead of Ramen; vegan friendly broths), and explained what was included with our orders. The broths we selected (curry and Tom Yum) were very obviously homemade and delicious. The vegetables were fresh and plentiful; my daughter and I selected the standard sizes and both of us were delightfully full without being weighed down. A perfect choice on a frigid January day!
google avatar

Yusa G.

Yelp
Authentic Japanese style ramen. It tastes good! A lot of choices for toppings. Food serving is very quick. I only waited for 5 minutes to get my food. Love it!

Jeff S.

Yelp
A good, solid noodle place, though it suffers in comparison with the nearby alternatives. However, if this were in the food court of a local mall, it would certainly be at the top of the lunch list. A nice feature: this is a "select a meal", so for a flat rate, you can choose a variety of inclusions in your bowl. What's nice is that they don't charge extra if you want to have two or three meats, so it's a good deal for carnivores.
google avatar

Sabrina S.

Yelp
I place an order to go. I ordered the tonkatse broth with soft boiled egg, mushrooms, and pork belly. I had the broth on the side. Once I open it I notice the pork belly is all fat. Seriously? You expect me to eat that? At least give me a slice with some meat on it. For the broth nothing special...
google avatar

L P.

Yelp
5 stars for their Malaysian curry ramen it is the best coconut style broth that I've ever had! I find myself craving it. Add the black garlic oil too. Wish there were cheaper parking near there but I will drive an hour for it!

Kathleen F.

Yelp
Flavorful. Aromatic. Addictive!!! By far the richest, most flavorful coconut curry broth in Boston. The tea eggs are prepared perfectly. I wish they delivered. Do yourself a favor and stop scouring Yelp for other ramen places and just go here. Curry Ramen