Tanpopo Noodle Shop

I absolutely adore this restaurant. In the winter, nothing hits the spot better than the Nabayaki Udon. I recommend this place to everyone I know. Food is always fresh and is consistently delicious. Also has the best tempura green tea ice cream in the Twin Cities. Pros: Quality and taste Cons: if you have a party less than 6, go early or late for dinner on Saturday to get a table more

After all these years of living in the Metro I finally ate at Tanpopo Noodle shop. Let me tell you, it is such a great little space. Who could ask for more! Simple sophisticated dishes that after ward you don't feel like your endangering your health. I can't exactly say one thing to try because everything I sampled was delicious. There was a bunch of us all trying everything. If only St. Paul could get a few more little gems like this in the Downtown/ Lowertown area. Pros: The very relaxing atmosphere and seemingly healthy cuisine more

I went to this restaurant two Fridays in a row because of the wonderful Kitsune Soba. The broth is extremely flavorful - so much so that I had to ask the server if it was made with beef or chicken broth (she assured me that it's a traditional dashi - seaweed and fish - broth). The tofu tastes amazing the way it's prepared; it's not what you think of when you think of tofu (even though I do like the bland white cubes). It's cut really thin and perfectly seasoned. My bowl also had three big shiitake mushrooms, which were mouth-watering. The noodles themselves are tender and delicious. Overall, my new favorite food! Pros: Vegetarian friendly (can subsititue mushroom broth for dashi), cute space Cons: Parking more

We went to Tanpopo Noodle for the first time about a month ago and were very pleasantly surprised. The ambiance is bland and there are only about 12 tables, so we were apprehensive walking in, but as soon as the food came we knew we had made an excellent choice. Everything was delicious and the prices were terrific. Tanpopo is definitely a hidden jem. Take in some jazz after dinner at the Artist's Quarter and you'll have a terrific night! Pros: Great prices, Great food Cons: Not many tables, so make reservations more

The owner and chef knows what it needs to be a noodle shop. They (she) is not afraid to try new ingredients and ideas. They can be noticed in the specials and the desserts. Good service. I would have to say I prefer their old location when the chef and owner is also the waitress (who has now retreated to the kitchen) but nevertheless it is still a great little noodle shop. Pros: Great food, Service , Ambience Cons: Parking, hours (close aft lun) more

...you'll love tanpopo. I went there for the first time and I was impressed. The broth for the udon was tasty and steaming hot, noodles were cooked perfectly, the prices are really great and large portions. I will definetely be back. Pros: great food, cheap, great atmosph more

Just what a neighborhood place should be--great food, good service, and a lovely setting. Don't just try the noodles, though, check out the daily teishoku, a great combo of rice, miso, salad, and entree. Very affordable and a great date place. Pros: great space, affordable more

The space is great, the servers friendly, and the prices are unbelievably low for what tastes and feels like the freshest food outside your own garden. Pros: Inexpensive, Ambience, Parking more

I've been back to Tanpopo 4 times since it has reopened. The food is still great and affordable. The waitstaff is friendly and down to earth. On our first visit after the reopening, our favorite server from the old location rushed over to greet us and see how we had been doing since the Selby Ave. closing. Pros: friendly, inexpensive Cons: parking difficult more

Being loyal customers to Tanpopo at its old location on Selby, we waited eagerly for the opening of the new location. We assumed the new location would be as welcoming as the old location with great service, hassle-free seating and excellent food, but we were surprisingly mistaken. On our first visit to the new Tanpopo it took about 40 minutes to get seated, 45 minutes to an hour to get our food and our appetizer was served with our dinner. Our waitress was scattered if not disoriented. On our second visit, we were told it would take about 15 minutes for a table only to be seated 50 minutes later. The hostess at one point during the meal had the nerve to come to our table to critique our eating. It was very rude and uncalled for. People do not go out to eat to be corrected. Pros: 1 excellent waitress, great food Cons: rude hostess, not enough seating, slow!!!! more

Incredible food, excellent quality, great price. Highly recommend. Has become a new favorite!! Pros: Great Food, Good Price, Excellent quality Cons: Not very intimate, Tables very close more

I wouldn't recommend this little -- and I mean LITTLE -- restaurant. The soup was basically a bowl full of onions, which was unedible. The staff, when not ignoring us, took down our order incorrectly. Save yourself the trouble and go next door to Moscow on the Hill or across the street, anywhere else! more