Noodle 501

Reviews

• AP

  Anish Pinnamaraju

  4 days ago
  5.0
  The perfect restaurant. Great spice, tasty noods, and minimal social interaction. My drunken noodles with veggies were perfectly cooked. And that is not even mentioning the incredible 2010s radio hits that blessed my ears. I would like to personally meet the owner of this restaurant so I can thank them for their contribution to the Durham community. I’m glad to have been born.
• DR

  Derrick Robertson

  Dec 31, 2025
  3.0
  Since the owner seems to respond to “negative” criticism, maybe they respond to a neutral one. If I understand correctly, one bowl of tonkatsu ramen and a can of soda will cost about $27.75? Food+12% service fee+ tax+ socially acceptable tip amount. Just doing my research as you have suggested people “learn” how things work before stepping in your restaurant. Thanks in advance. Love and light.
• CC

  Celeste

  Dec 30, 2025
  1.0
  I've been here many times and really love their spicy tonkotsu. However I've noticed recently that there is a 12% mandatory fee ON TOP of a tip that they request. Mind you, there is no one up front when you walk in, just a machine to order from and instructions to scan a QR code at any table. The waiter only brings out your food and refills drink. I gave it a try after I noticed anyway bc I love their food so much but after we had to stand up front waiting for someone to look at us for several minutes so we could get a take out container, I decided I won't go here anymore. Looking at the rude comments that the owner has posted in response to customers here, defending it just because other restaurants do the same thing (that doesn't mean it's a good thing btw), obviously the owner doesn't think to give any thought to customer feedback. Kudos for caring enough about your employees to stop orders 20 min before closing and these fees which I assume is for paying employees, but these mandatory fees and tips without a server to sit and help make the process of ordering and paying more accessible for all customers is not the way.
• BH

  Bradston Henry

  Dec 29, 2025
  3.0
  Noodle 501 has been a favorite spot for me and my wife since we discovered it a few years ago. Unfortunately, I have to leave this not so stellar review because our latest visit was somewhat of a bummer. As expected, the food was great but the new in-dining experience was a true disappointment. The seat yourself process was chaos and the order from the table via QR code was just not a great experience. We came at a somewhat busy time with some people picking up orders, some people placing to-go orders from the kiosk and a mix of people waiting to be self-seated and it was rough. There was no one at the front to check-in or seat us so it wasn't clear who was waiting to pick up, waiting on their to-go order, or waiting for a a table. Because of that we had to ask around amongst the people standing around to determine who was waiting on what. After a somewhat confusing moment of trying to get seated, we had to order off the website via QR. And though it worked in general, I really didn't enjoy having to pull my card out and type all my info in at the table. That would have been bearable but because when you order as a table, you have to pay before the order is placed, if someone wants to order after the order is placed, you have to re-input all the info again if you want to order anything extra. I just want to note, the food was just as AMAZING as it normally is but the new ordering and self-seating arrangement is not something I enjoyed at all. Hoping the next time we come those elements are better streamlined or changed.
• JE

  Jacob Eaves

  Dec 19, 2025
  3.0
  The food is amazing. We’ve been here 3-4 times before this and it is one of our favorite Thai places. The pad see ew is excellent. However, our most recent visit we discovered they no longer have wait staff. The only dine in option is ordering off a QR code menu and they tack on a mandatory 12% service charge. For dine in with no waiters. Someone brings your food out and then that’s it. The tables are also awful. I’m 5’8 170 lbs, so not huge, and my legs can’t fit under the 2 person tables. If you are a large human you will hate the tables. When we were leaving we noticed people arriving trying to find somewhere to sit because 4 tables had not been cleaned off and there were no clean tables available. They also put a sign over the WiFi password that used to be that now reads “ask host for password”..well after you sit down there is no host, so that was funny Management has made some “questionable” decisions and seem to be trying to make as much money as possible with no regard for customer experience with these recent changes.

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