lao xi noodle house

600 Live Oak Ave, Arcadia, CA 91006, United States
+1 626-348-2290
$$$ Chinese noodle restaurant
(41 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

lao xi noodle house is a modest Chinese noodle restaurant tucked into a small storefront on Live Oak Avenue in Arcadia. It’s the kind of neighborhood spot where the focus is firmly on the food rather than frills or loud decor. With only a handful of small tables, the atmosphere is intimate and straightforward—an easygoing place where locals come mainly for a satisfying, no-nonsense meal.

The restaurant specializes in hand-pulled and home-style noodles, including notable dishes like the House Special Beef Noodle Soup and the Noodle with Soy Bean Paste. These noodles are praised for their springy texture and balance of flavors, often paired with rich, savory broths or sauces that avoid the common pitfalls of heavy oiliness or oversalting. Customers seem particularly drawn to the silky elasticity of the noodles and the care put into the beef braise and broth, which come across as deeply flavorful without overwhelming richness.

Beyond noodles, dishes like the Green Onion Pancake and cold noodle varieties with sesame sauce provide contrast and complement the main courses well. A small menu keeps choices focused, inviting visitors to really savor a few standout options rather than a sprawling list. Portions are generally hearty, suitable for sharing or a filling solo lunch or dinner.

This spot works best for anyone looking to dive into well-prepared northern Chinese noodle dishes without the fuss of a busy dining room or a flashy presentation. The modest size and limited seating suggest visiting during off-peak hours to avoid waiting, as tables are limited. The friendly, low-key service adds to the feeling of dropping in on a regularly frequented local hangout rather than a tourist destination.

In short, lao xi noodle house offers a straightforward, authentic noodle experience with an emphasis on quality and traditional flavors. It suits noodle lovers craving a comforting bowl paired with a crispy green onion pancake or a cold sesame noodle salad on a warm afternoon. If deeper exploration into Northern Chinese noodle dishes is the goal, this place provides a calmly focused environment to enjoy just that.

Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
What they serve
Serves comfort food
Serves healthy options
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Best for
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Tuesday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Wednesday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Thursday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Friday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Saturday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Sunday

11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

,

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

41 Reviews
Jeremy L

31 Dec 2025

5/20/2023 The Wife's Special Noodle with Fried Pork (He Lao Style) 老婆小炒肉河捞面 is the best needle with an elastic and silky taste (great sauce). The noodle is home made. No wonder it is mentioned at the Michelin 2019 and 2021 Guide.

Ken Tao

19 Dec 2025

SIt down, order the house noodle, eat. not much to pick from the menu the house noodle is all you'd need. there is a wet one and a dry one for like $20. those we ordered. excellent choices. the dumpling actually not as good as the noodle. skip those dumplings if budget constraint. the soup is great. didn't need a straw but did suck up all of it. the fried one i did leave the extra oil on the plate and nothing else. the food was hot, the way it should be. the decor does not exist. nothing to talk about. just plain tables, no arm rest chairs in a nearly empty shop. you'll find a vanilla fridge and a register on the counter, that's all. everything comes from behind the doorway of mystery. maybe mr. ping from kung fu panda is back there? good stuff are pricey. the cheap stuff i didn't order. not sure what are they...

Grace Wu

09 Nov 2025

Authentic Chinese food! Not oily, not too salty or heavy. I love these dishes.

A N

07 Nov 2025

Expect nothing from here other than a friendly smile and tasty food. Special Beef Noodle was delicious, the beef was perfectly braised and the broth was very well made. The dumplings and green onion pancake pair well with the soup.

Yuan

29 Oct 2025

Fantastic food, ordered the #4 and #14. House special beef noodle soup, amazing. Good portions too. Fried noodles also really good, liked the soup the most. Would recommend again Small, 6 or 7 total 4 seat tables.

Patrick Xu

14 Oct 2025

The signature wife's special was quite good, the pork was very tasteful. The signature beef noodles was very authentic, the broth was light and flavorful, the beef was tender and tasty. Good quality food, large portions and reasonablely preced. The service was excellent.

BW

12 Oct 2025

Hands down, one of the best Chinese restaurants in the SGV. My favorite dishes are the cat ear shaped noodle soup and pork meatballs, as well as the wife’s special noodles, but you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu! Highly recommend for anybody in the surrounding area to try

Ryan Spilo

15 Sep 2025

Service was attentive and extremely friendly. Our waiter answered all of our questions happily and gave good recommendations. The food was delicious and I’m convinced everything on the small menu will be delicious. The fried noodle special was probably the best Chinese noodle dish I’ve ever tried.

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