Wen's Yunnan Noodle & Ramen 云南米线

Was hesitant to try this because of the reviews and options and their AI-generated menu, but these dishes were fire. 🔥 The mala beef noodle soup is just so numbingly tasty and is probably the only restaurant where you can get it in Back Bay. It's spicy but addictive and well-made, as it didn't feel too greasy. The noodles were alright, but the soup was definitely the highlight of this dish. The spicy shredded chicken with peanuts was chilled and refreshing, definitely a plus for additional protein. Didn't get to try the Mala Beef over rice, but I'm sure it was tasty as well. I dropped the star because of the AI generated menu, it took me a really long time to figure out what I wanted to eat because the pictures didn't really give the food justice. I would suggest using AI only for menu items that don't have real photos in them because it really messed up my appetite haha. But glad the Mala dishes pulled through!

Went to Wen's for the first time on a rainy, humid day with a group of friends. The staff were quick to combine tables for adequate seating and explained their newest menu can be accessed via QR code. This was actually super helpful as the QR code is linked to your location. Just a few minutes after I made my own tab for their Miso Ramen & Crab Rangoon it was right in front of me, delicious and piping hot. Onto the taste - the Miso Ramen had a golden, savory and creamy broth, the meat, vegetables, and noodles soaked this in which made each bite even better. Their crab rangoons had a nice and crispy texture which i enjoyed. The flavor complimented the duck sauce. I'll note here that the staff were attentive and friendly, refilling our waters and being close by to answer any questions we had. Our tab prices varied as we opted for independent tabs via Toast rather than using one phone as a group. Overall it was exactly what we were looking for. If I'm ever craving ramen on Newbury again, I'll be sure to come back to Wen's!

The noodles had a nice texture, and the flavors of the tomato soup were strong although they weren’t my personal preference. The gyoza and scallion pancakes were crunchy and tasted good :)

Our food was delicious and came so quickly! The atmosphere was very casual and quiet. Went in a rainy Sunday afternoon, nothing better!

You need to be tech savy and know how to scan a code and order your food online. The $0.05 ice is for a cold soda not a glass of ice lol. The food came out quickly and was cleared when done. Not a place to have a relaxing talkative time with friends...please order quickly, eat quickly and leave so we can fill tables...was the feeling we got while there. Would go back if I want a quick ramen lunch.

It was easy to order, the waitress was nice and attentive, and the ramen was great. The price was ok.

The perfect getaway from the busy newbury st. Food is so flavorful and affordable considering where we are. The speed was so QUICK, only took 5mins!! Music was also trendy and the atmosphere is definitely date friendly. Service is great and kept helping to refill our water

Wen's Yunnan Noodle & Ramen is definitely a good place to try Asian cuisine. I tried the Tofu noodles and it was delicious. The add on of Corn Pepper sauce made it more mouthwatering 🤤. My friends from Thailand and Vietnam liked this place too stating, the food served is very close to the native. Definitely recommended!

I stopped by on a super cold night which is the perfect time to have some soup. I ordered the tomato beef rice noodle soup. It was delicious and just the thing I needed. There was plenty of noodles and beef in the soup so I felt that it was worth the price. The soup itself was really flavorful. They even packed up my leftover soup for me after I was done. The restaurant is quite small so I can only imagine coming here with a small group.

Had to go around quite a few restaurants to find something Vegan and more solid than a salad , this place had those options. Settled for edamame, veg dumpling and rice with tofu curry. The Veg dumpling was oily and the tofu curry was bitter'ish. Apparently vegetarian food is not very popular in Newbury. This tiny packed restaurant was swarming with people, mostly students, so one of the two things ( or both) is possible- 1- good on wallet, 2. Food, besides vegetarian is good. Service was fast though.

My friendly randomly chose this restaurant a while back and I wasn't sure wen I wanted to/if write a review. I wasn't enjoying anything except the takoyaki. I ordered the tonkatsu with extra noodles and eggs. It was very bland and the only seasonings that was available on our table was vinegar? (I forgot) and chili sauce. Was hoping for some soy sauce, but oh wells.

I stopped by on a weekday lunch and was seated instantly because I was their only customer. Right when I was seated, more customers came in. Ordering is done by scanning the QR code on the table and ordering in the webpage. Make sure to choose either ordering for one or as a group. Right after I ordered, my ramen came out almost instantly. It was crazy how fast my food came out! The ramen was okay, nothing too special, but serving size was generous. Overall, it's not a fancy place but if you want fast service, this is the place to go!

Authentic mixian but pricy. Service is good and fast. The restaurant is a little small and crowded but overall it's good.

Quite an unforgettable meal, Ice cold frozen Gyoza appetizer and a rat that ran across the floor. The ramen and noodles that we ordered were almost without any salt, and had a smell reminiscent of old food and dish water. The toppings were paltry and dont match the photos on their website. The overall presentation was really quite poor considering this place is on Newbury street. After a barely touching our entrees we demanded to have one of them taken off our bill, which then the manager only gave a 20% discount on the entree which maybe had one bite or less taken from it because it was so bad and inedible. THEN! ! ! ... While waiting for the final bill, we spotted a mouse that ran across the floor in front of several employees which acted surprised when we told them that we spotted it. "were going to call animal control" our server said, however I dont really believe that, otherwise we would have not spotted a mouse in the first place. Rather disgusting imagining that there are rodents in this place, possibly in the kitchen and interacting with the very food they serve to you with a smile. utterly disturbing and yucky, I do not recommend. There are better noodle places on newbury.

Ordering is done via QR code directly to the kitchen, but you pay at the end via the server. Our food came out extremely fast - maybe in 2-3 minutes after ordering. We had the Beef Rice Noodle and the Beef Flank Rice Noodle. Portion sizes were very large. I loved the rich flavour of the broth - definitely much better than some other rice noodle restaurants I've been to in the area. The beef slices (shreds?) were very well-cooked - juicy and not too chewy - and the beef flank, too, had a wonderful rich flavour. I really liked the veggies in the soup as well - generous helpings and paired very nicely with the broth and noodles. Overall a very good lunch and I would love to come again soon! They have a lot of different noodle options and I'd love to try something else next time.

I visited for a weekend lunch and was really excited to try this spot as I've passed by it countless times before. I've tried many ramen restaurants in the Boston area and this one was a pretty average experience - nothing spectacular but not bad at all. This restaurant highly suggests you to place your order online (although you can order with your server if you'd rather), which can make for a pretty hands-off experience. They have all the usual menu items for a ramen/noodle restaurant, so I went with ordering the Tonkatsu ramen which is typically one of my favorites. The noodles and toppings were good but the broth was lacking in flavor for me. Luckily the tables have some chili oil which I added to the broth which made it a lot more tasty. I'm not sure if I'd rush to come back here, but it's nice to have another ramen place in the heart of Back Bay.

10/10 fast, convenient. Just go in, scan the code, put your order in, the food is good and comes out fast, the staff keep an eye out if you need anything, you can just pay on the same app at the end. I got the Chicken Curry Ramen, was a good portion and tasted nice.

Delicious rice noodles, but very slow service. The outdoor seating right on the street was nice, but it was a little crowded.

Stopped by for a quick lunch on a chilly winter day. It's an unassuming store front on Newbury Street, but I'd heard good things about the noodles here and that's just what we wanted / needed to warm up. The ordering process was very easy -- you scan a QR code and submit your order online. The food came out within 5 minutes of us placing the order! I got the classic Yunnan Beef Noodle Soup, which came out piping hot with a large portion of noodles, beef, and veggies. The broth was nice and light, which complemented the smooth rice noodles. My partner got the Tonkatsu Ramen, which was also delicious -- I think I actually preferred the texture of the ramen noodles to the rice noodles, but the ramen broth was much saltier than the beef noodle soup. Price-wise, this is also a pretty good deal on Newbury Street, though not too far off from the other ramen spots nearby (Santouka, Red White). Food: 1. Beef Noodle Soup (3.5/5) 2. Tonkatsu Ramen (4/5) Drink: 1. Taro Bubble Tea (4/5)

Ordered door dash from here. I thought the food was just okay, but a bit cold when it arrived, which probably affected the taste a little bit. The crab rangoon and squid was a bit bland. We also tried the scallion noodles and ramen. I thought the ramen broth was pretty good and the eggs were solid in both the noodle dishes.

It could be that we had the tonkotsu ramen on a nearly empty stomach and -5 degree weather, but it was easily one of the most satisfying bowls I've had in a long time. Nothing special about the noodles themselves, but the broth was rich and hearty. The meat and egg were slightly over cooked, but overall the flavor was spot on. Taro bubble tea on the side was to die for although not enough boba for me. Drinks: 1. Dark Bubble Tea - 4/5 Main: 1. Tonkotsu Ramen - 4/5

I can't speak for their ramen, but if you're going to dine at a Yunnan Noodle place, you have to try their Yunnan-style noodle soups!! I was bedridden with COVID, and the only thing I wanted was chicken noodle soup. I could not have been more ecstatic that Wen's was still open at 9pm on a Sunday. I ordered on an app and less than 30 min later, was slurping down their Chicken Yunnan Rice Noodle Soup! The rice noodles were supple and slippery. The bowl was packed with thinly sliced chicken, scallions, marinated shiitake mushrooms, and salted bamboo. I opted for extra bean curd skin as my add-on. My favorite part though had to be the broth. It was soo rich and flavorful. I was surprised that the broth continued to be piping hot despite the travel time from restaurant to apartment. For someone who was heavily congested, that broth tasted like liquid gold. I can only imagine how it might taste when I'm not sick. Thanks so much, Wen's, for soothing my soul and helping me perk up if only for just a meal.

Quiet, fast ramen. Food was good, hot, served quickly using an app for ordering and paying. Not the best pork or spicy ramen I've had, but it was good and quick on a rainy day. Would definitely go back.

I went to Wen's yesterday after the line for Santouka in Back Bay was too long. I have been to Wen's once before maybe a year or two ago and it was good so I decided to try it again (but did not know they only had 3.2 yelp stars). It was not super crowded but I thought it would still be okay. I got the shumai, salted fried chicken, and tonkotsu ramen, and my friend got the mala ramen. The shumai came out cold in the center which was kind of gross and I asked them to be heated up a little more and they were better but clearly tasted frozen and not fresh. The salted fried chicken was surprisingly really good and was like Taiwanese popcorn chicken. Tonkotsu ramen was not great at all, broth was not flavorful and had a weird aftertaste. The noodles were thinner than I would like and were overcooked. Mala ramen broth was more flavorful but nothing special. Overall, this spot was highly disappointing. Below average ramen and I would not go here again. (I accidentally deleted my photo of the ramen but it was nothing special anyways).

good stuff! fair priced and lowkey for a place on newbury street. such sweet employees made it a very homey experience we loved it

Fine - average taste beef flank, raw onions (dislike) Fine - tomato soup base, average. Rice noodle in the soup is terrible. With so many other options on Newbury, don't choose here ! AUTO tip 20%. This is the reason for 1 star.

Looking for a quick work lunch this Friday noon, I stopped by Wen's. Entering the establishment, receiving a table, ordering, and receiving my order took a grand total of 5 minutes, an impressively fast pace of service. My order consisted of the following: - 葱油饼 Scallion pancake 6.78 - 正宗牛腩拉面 Beef Flank Ramen 14.89 The scallion pancake, a savory crepe-like appetizer, seemed a bit uneven with its scallion distribution. Bites with tasted incredibly fragrant, while those without made do with the flavor of the pan-fried dough, which admittedly still tasted delectable. The pancake's texture seemed on the softer side, which may put off those who want them extra-crispy. Nonetheless, this seemed solid. The Beef Flank Ramen, with baby bok choy, marinated beef flank, and (in my case) additional spiciness, tasted like a savory, home cooked meal. The broth carried hints of star anise and other aromatics, but still seemed relatively clean and light on the palate. The marinade had seeped into the depths of the flank, complementing the lighter broth with a richer burst of soy sauce, along with aromatics, most notably star anise (hey, it's basically ingredient #2 in Chinese soy sauce marinades, with #1 being the soy sauce). For a quick lunch, this is exactly what I want. The price point seems on par for the cuisine, but thankfully not the area (Newbury's expensive zzz).

Gyoza was firm on the edges... as if it was previously cooked and warmed up later. They appeared steamed, but no pan fry marks. Soup was basic. The broth seemed more like shoyu soup paste and hot water. I didn't get the impression that this shoyu had been cooking for 8hrs. Chasu average, noodles average. Toppings just seemed in the spirit of fast food ramen instead of artfully crafted.

We went in as we were passing by because it was cold outside and wanted some hot noodle soup (Ramen). Growing up on the west coast I have been exposed to a lot of great Ramen. This is my only ramen experience in Boston and I am not really sure what the standard is, but this place was just okay. The Highlights - the soup came out quickly and was nice and hot. I think the broth was pretty decent as well. Otherwise, the ramen noodles and additions in the soup were just okay and the side of gyoza was okay as well. I would not go out of my way for the Ramen, but if I was back in the same predicament, passing by on a cold day and hungry, I would stop in.

Wen's deserves more than its current 3-star review. I think people on Newbury Street may just be unfamiliar with Yunnan noodles and the nature of service at more authentic Chinese restaurants. Personally, I probably wouldn't come here for ramen, but if I wanted a hearty bowl of Chinese noodle soup, there's no comparable place in Back Bay. As of June 2022, you scan a QR code to see Wen's menu on Toast. I placed my order on a Saturday night around 5:30pm and the food was out within 10 minutes which was very impressive. My friend ordered ramen and it took slightly longer, but still less than 20 minutes. There's a good amount of seating outdoors with some room indoors as well.

Very fast service (they brought us our food within 5 minutes of ordering), very kind employees, but very mediocre ramen. I ordered the Tonkatsu Ramen. The broth wasn't as flavorful, and the egg was a little overcooked (my favorite part is the egg). The pork meat was also overcooked, so the chewiness of it worsened the ramen experience. Overall, the vibe and atmosphere of restaurant is clean and nice, but the food and price was not the best.

Easy spot to go to downtown if you're in a rush and need to pop in for a bite. The ramen is around $15 so fairly affordable for the area and was a solid bowl of food. We went on a Friday evening and didn't have to wait at all and the food came out really quickly. We got the shoyu and the tonkotsu, but both broths were pretty salty. Overall, not a bad experience but definitely not the best ramen I've had in Boston.

A PRIME EXAMPLE of toxic tipping culture! I ordered a bowl of ramen and nothing else which is 16 dollars. I then go to take a bite and the BROTH is so salty i might as well be drinking ocean water. (I was left with an irritated throat. Also. the ham had undercooked parts and was far too chewy. I felt the food was sub par especially for ramen which i have at any ramen place available. So i tipped one dollar for my 16 dollar meal because i felt such a place had not earned a 20% tip! (Which i am always happy to give). When i go to leave i accidently forget my glasses on the table. (Which is my fault completley.) I call the resturant to ask if my glasses are there and he agrily says YES then hangs up in my face. I arrive to take my glasses and the staff doesnt even give them to me. He points to them on the counter for me to get myself, at this point i was just soooo happy I found my glasses, so i told him god bless him and thank you so much..... What does he say in response. He looks at me with the most aggresive face ever and says "Thanks for the dollar tip". Im a grown man and ive never felt so uncomfortable and threatened in a public resturant. I sprinted away and ran never looked back. Maybe be less angry at me for tipping a dollar and be mad at your BOSS... who lets a kitchen put out subpar ramen in such a popular area of boston, and a BOSS who defineltley pays his workers far too little for the work they do. For Christs sake, even the dunkin donuts right next door serve a higher and more consistent quality of product. In conclussion the BOSS of the buisness should make sure his resturant is putting out food deserving of being in such a great location. Never thought Id write a YELP review of all things. But people should know that if your running low on funds or are not satisfied with your food. RUN after signing the check. YOU WILL FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE!

Okay. Got the miso ramen bowl. Nothing special. The pork was very fatty. The gyoza was a little bland. I'm old school and would rather order from a person so I can ask questions. At this place you have to use the QR code to order. Service was fast.

Horrid place, automatically asked for 20% tip even though ordering was online and didn't even remove the tax when I payed cash

Scrumptious and delicious!! Highly rated in Boston and not a mistake!! Indoor and outdoor seating available fir a delicious bowl of ramen!

I love going to Wen's for a delicious bowl of ramen coupled with the BEST scallion pancakes. The last time I went, my boyfriend got the tonkatsu ramen and I got the miso. BOTH were delicious. The inside is a bit tight, but we enjoyed dining next to other patrons who had a similar appreciation for the meal. Would definitely go again and have recommended to many!

I think this was really good ramen! I had the curry veggie ramen with tofu extra spicy - which was a great combination between ramen and their Japanese curries. It's a very unique combination that everyone should try!

Stumbled across this small gem on Newbury street and decided to give it a try. We had the Vegetarian Miso Ramen and loved it! The broth was packed with flavor, even without any add-ons the dish came with plenty of toppings (tofu, egg, ect.), the portion was huge for only $12 and the service was super fast. Would come here again in a heartbeat!

Wait I got so confused when I saw this place only had 3 stars....ITS FIRE!! I got the tonkostu ramen w tofu instead of pork and it was so good. It was creamy, savory and with some spice, hit the spot. It was perfect for the fall day with 60 degree weather in Boston. The veggie dumplings could be passed on... The prices are relatively good and it's a hidden little spot on newbury.

This place is a disappointment! It has nice ambience when you walk in, but ... they force you to order on-line, which doesn't allow you to interact with the waitstaff, who are reduced to the status of food runners for the robot overlords. How about encouraging some nice human interaction? And the BIG disappointment is the food, which is not great if you are talking about a restaurant. We came here in the mood for a hearty comforting bowl of ramen. We ordered four bowls of tonkatsu ramen, and also the fried dumplings. The broth was absolutely flavorless. It was if they were running out of broth and watered it down using a 2 to 1 ratio (water to broth, that is). It is ... not ramen. I'd rather have had Campbell's Soup, honestly. Oh well. We really wanted this place to be as good and fun as it looks from the outside! Update: you might be confused about how much to tip at a restaurant where the servers don't talk to you about the menu or things like that, but just bring out the food you ordered on your phone and maybe refill your water. Don't worry, they add the tip for you, no matter the size of your party, and it's 20%! I'm glad they're getting paid, as they might not otherwise with this alienating set up. But, alas, overall an unpleasant experience.

Very authentic Chinese rice noodle! Like it very much. The overall service is quite nice, nothing extremely good or bad. The restaurant itself has a good environment.

10/14/21 Service - 4 / Ambiance - 4 / Food - 3 / Price - 3 Reservations - Yes Outdoor Seating - Yes COVID - All employees wore masks throughout my dining experience. A cozy, unpretentious noodle shop run by, I think, Cantonese owners. They also speak Mandarin and English. This seems like a solid spot to frequent for college students nearby, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here when visiting unless I am really craving noodle soup. Extra noodles are $1.25 for rice noodles and $1.50 for ramen noodles. Most of the regulars went for the ramen and spicy options. They also opted for extra toppings for an additional price. I like rice noodles so I am glad there is a place that offers them, however, if i was looking for ramen, I would go to a standard Japanese chain like Santouka. They offer vegetarian options. Food Beef Yunnan Rice Noodle Soup 3/5 The flavors were authentic and portion sizes were generous. I was more than full without the extra toppings or noodles. 5/5 for just the beef itself. It was tender, phenomenally seasoned and perfectly cooked. I only wish they put more beef and vegetables in each portion. Although I did taste the umami seasoning they added to boost the flavors and was a bit thirsty afterwards, there was enough vegetable and beef flavor to deepen the flavor of the broth. The noodles were okay but weren't as chewy as I would have liked. I recommend going for the spicy options and trying the ramen as that was what everyone was ordering. *All ratings are out of 5

Ordered two tonkotsu ramens and a classic boba for $30. Came out fast and ramens were super filling, has a creamy soup, and has many toppings. Good quality and price!

This neighborhood noodle and rice eatery on Newbury Street is average. The small dining room with low ceilings is decorated with a few paintings, a fish tank in the window (clean), and small 2-4 tops. There's a window in the back so the kitchen can look out which is kind of odd. There are old show tunes and oldies playing over the overhead speakers. The music and ambience is to be desired. Now to the food and service. Two of us came in at 4pm on a Thursday. There were two other tables. The service was super speedy! The food came out nice and hot! The edamame was cooked perfectly with just the right amount of sea salt. The curry chicken was piping hot and very tasty! Generous portion of rice and chicken which I would expect for $13. We didn't try the ramen so I can't speak to that. The food was tasty. Nothing special here though. Decent neighborhood spot but not a lot of character.

It's hard to find a cheaper place at Newbury. Overall my experience was good. Nothing spectacular but a nice calm place to have dinner. Got the tonkotsu and miso ramen which were pretty good. Liked the tonkotsu ramen better though. Total for dinner for was ~$34 Final verdict: Would come here again!

I went here recently with my friend for a quick lunch. Instead of the yunnan noodles, I decided to try the curry chicken rice plate. The portion was a bit small and the curry only had onions. There was neither any carrots or potatoes in the curry. The curry itself was too spicy for my taste. The fried chicken was also not very crispy. It was a disappointing lunch.

The food was very good, however, I will NEVER return here. The staff is pushy and rude. At first we made idle chit chat, "where you from, what do you do" etc. then the bill came...I offered my credit card, to which she asked me if I had cash so they could take it home! I told her I did not have cash, credit was my only option. she brought back my receipt (tip at 18% was 7.78) I left an even 7 because even ordering was QR code, she gave me back my signed copy and asked for a bigger tip because "Boston is expensive" and told me she was only telling me this because "I am your friend" (no I have never met this woman before in my 49 years of life) She also told me (when mentioning where I was from etc. I had told her I was nurse) That I make good money and have paid holidays that I should leave a little bit more. I told her perhaps she should go to school then so she too could make better money and have paid holidays, she told me that this was her second job and she only works one day a week! I would have gone back here as the food was good, but the shake down for extra money part was NOT IT.

This is my second time dining at this place. This time I came with more friends because the staff were extremely friendly and helpful. It was a fun experience since my two of my friends are first-time chopstick users. Though they dropped one chopstick onto the floor, the waiter replaced it immediately. The service is great, and the food is amazing as well. My friend (the same ones) were shocked at how rich and multifaceted the flavors were.

Excellent ramen! I recommend this place highly, and I've eaten a lot of good ramen in my life.

Ordered the Mala Bf over rice it was pretty good, spicy enough for me. Service was quick on a busy night. Some of the beef pieces were a little tough which is why I am giving 4 stars.

I first ate here while attending a convention at the Hynes back in 2019. I was looking forward to eating here again but then COVID hit and the yearly convention was canceled. This year 2022 the convention at Hynes returned and I was excited to eating here again. I'm glad they have some outdoor tables this year and awning so customers are not roasted under the sun. I'm glad that the quality of the food has not gone down and was still very flavorful. The Mala beef with chili (extra spicy) was yummy but my sister said it wasn't spicy enough but she's a spicy freak so she had a very high tolerance. I thought it was plenty spicy and was suffering from it. The broth for the chashu ramen was very strong and I loved it. I came for an early lunch on a Friday so it was a bit quiet. Sitting outside the service was pretty good. There was someone always coming out to check if we needed anything. I hope I can get out there again to eat and not wait another year for the convention.

Since it's been a while, just reiterating how satisfying I find this restaurant! Great texture of bouncy noodles (both the wheat and rice ones) and tasty savory soups... Their spicy broths are good, but I think the sour seafood is nice because it's pretty rare to find in restaurants. Okay they definitely use MSG a little heavily, and their standard bowl is perhaps too much soup for the noodle (you can add extra noodles for a small fee), but it's a good amount of food for one person-- I'd only get extra noodles if I was splitting with someone. At 15$ for most of their soup noodles (before any extra toppings), they've definitely had price increases, but well, it /is/ Newbury, so I guess that's only to be expected.

Really good food. The food came out really fast. I got the ramen and the scallion pancakes.

COLD SOUP! Veggie is icy inside! Add-ons in noddles cost me almost $4 but it's non existence! WORST EXPERIENCE on marathon Sunday. Potentially set up to scam tourists! I am so disappointed. I go to Wen's next to Boston Common often. Today I took my friend to the Newbury store and it is not the same Wen's noodle. It feels like a tourist trap. I will never go again. The ambience is bad but I didn't have high expectations. Dear owner, this is bad practice! Bad business!

Honestly don't rely on the average rating for this place because it seems it might be dragged down by service or price related reviews. The food is what we're here for and the noodle soups are pretty good given it's unassuming storefront. My advice is to skip the starters and go straight for the various soups (and maybe consider holding out on the ramen).

OK so it's not fancy, but the venue had some great vegan options, and I got a quick, delicious meal, for a reasonable price. Also the bathroom was very clean, And service was awesome.