Anju Noodle Bar
7 Wallingford Sq,Unit 102, Kittery, ME, 03904
Anju Noodle Bar Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Kittery for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
7 Wallingford Sq,Unit 102
Kittery, ME, 03904 - Phone (207) 703-4298
- Website https://www.anjunoodlebar.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Accepts Bitcoin : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : No
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Brandon W.
This place has amazing favors! I had the short rib rendang. This was braised short rib without the bone immersed in Indonesian beef stew sauce and layered in coconut faoro. The contrast of the sweet coconut and dried coconut strips and the mildly spiced beef and Indonesian beef stew was simply amazing. Each bite has the same contrast of sweet and salty. Unfortunately since I was at then end of my trip it would be a while until I return Check out the amazing menu!
(5)Joyce Z.
Our last full day in New England was filled with 5 star eats and we definitely saved the best for last. Our first dinner on this trip was in Kittery and our last was as well. Aside from the lobster rolls, Anju was the memorable meal of this trip that I have already been raving to all my East Coast friends and fam about it. We started with the Native strawberry and mango salad that also had sliced papaya and Maine blueberry to accompany the stars. Light and refreshing and a perfect start to the meal. I continued my shellfish extravaganza and went with the brown buttered seared scallops over carrot harissa hummus so tasty I was wishing for more. The creatively presented ginger golden beats diced small enough, made to look like a creamy risotto kept this dish clean and me satisfied without feeling stuffed. The flavors melded together beautifully and the open kitchen allows you to see first hand the flawless execution of the dishes.
(5)Annice C.
SO GOOD! Favorite dish of the night was mushroom & cabbage. Everything was excellent.
(5)Larry H.
Anju is da bomb, period. We felt thoroughly nourished after leaving this cute little place. The care, the quality is so very evident. Worth a trip for the kimchi alone. Although we massively enjoyed the scallops, the pork ramen, and some pretty incredible broccoli rabe. Too full for dessert but looking forward to trying the tea cake next time. Can't go wrong here IF you love this type of food.
(5)Leah H.
So I was stuck between a 3* and 4* review. I'll err on the side of generosity and go 4* but with reservations... The restaurant is a really nice space, simple wooden tables, little counter at the window to people watch or space at the bar. We ate at noon on a Saturday and didn't have to wait. Our waitress was prompt, helpful and friendly. Good selection of beers and wines and local cider. The pork bun was good. Not historic but good. I saw other reviews saying it seemed pricey but I though the price was fair - I had a generous serving of tasty pork with sauce and delicious thinly slice pickled cucumbers. The underside of the pork bun was very soggy. Mr H ordered the seared tuna appetizer, it was super spicy hot (which he can't deal with). The tuna was OK, not as tender as I would have liked it. Entree - he had the seared scallops which he said were excellent. I ordered the chicken ramen. I was super excited to get it but alas, it was kind of average, I felt like it was missing something - that almost unctuous richness that you get with really good ramen just wasn't there. The chicken thigh was delicious and fell apart (in a good way). We'll maybe go back - if only so I can figure out if I should update to 3 or 4 stars ;) - but if I'm really craving good ramen I'll head south to The Shops at Porter Sq , MA or north to Pai Men Miyake in Portland, ME. If you go, make sure to stop by the MEat market next door for the best meat you can buy in the area!
(4)Kedar S.
Taste the fresh. We started with the mango strawberry salad...yummy highly recommended. I ordered the chicken noodle, wife ordered pork. Both of us were really happy, throw some hot sauce on it while you are at it. Got a pancake to go, smells great , a quick bite indicated I was going to like it...excellent experience, friendly staff and sat at bar, got to chat with both the chefs....source local produce...highly recommended...
(5)Tom S.
Funky, Fun and Fabulous! We had been wanting to try Anju out and finally made time for a date night. This place is great with a very creative and eclectic menu, warm and friendly staff, and a very vibrant atmosphere. The wine and beer list is not to darn bad either. We sat at the bar with the owner/chef directly in front of us. We enjoyed the show, the staff interactions (they were all incredibly friendly and happy to talk), and watching the very creative fare being assembled and plated right in front of us. We sampled extensively from the smaller plates and found every offering to be full of flavor, texture and aromas. Kittery has developed quite the reputation as a foodie heaven and Anju raises the bar one more notch.
(4)Ray B.
Superb food. {period} My friends and I went for dinner on Friday. Parking was a little tough to come by. Got to the restaurant just after 6 and it was busy but not packed. To start we had cucumber kimchi, pork buns, okonomiyaki, and rice balls. All of which were very tasty. To me, the winner was the rice balls though. They cover the rice balls with duck confit and veggies and set them in something called dragon sauce. I don't know what's in the dragon sauce, but I think I might eat someone's old shoe if it was dragged through that sauce. Our mains included two chicken ramens, a beef ramen, and a duck yaki-soba. I really enjoyed the duck yaki-soba. The duck was very tender and made me love duck after many years of fearing it. The beef broth was roasted and rich tasting without being fatty. The chicken broth was delightful and bright tasting. My friends and I are definitely adding this place to our rotation of restaurants. It's a touch expensive, but to be fair we did order a lot of food and had some alcohol on the tab also. Speaking of which, they do have quite a selection of alcohols to choose from and have a handful of taps that they appear to reserve for local brews and ciders. The only thing that detracted from the place was how noisy it got as it filled up. There was background music and the place itself doesn't have any sound dampening materials (wood floors, brick, etc) so everyone was talking over each other. Also, the A/C was working it's little heart out, but it was just barely tolerable to me. Neither of these things would stop me from returning though. It sounds like their menu rotates periodically, make sure you check their Facebook page.
(5)Samantha W.
The care and creativity that go into a bowl of ramen here are outstanding. Chewy noodles this time, authentic beautiful broth, and every other ingredient so individually delicious they would be perfect side dishes in and of themselves.
(5)Libby R.
I this place! Everything we had was delish, our food & waitress were awesome. We will be back soon!!!
(5)R U.
Expensive for what you get. Noodles are not home made!!!.. How can you call yourself a noodle bar with store bought noodles. Kim chi.. Lacked flavor. Bought jar next door and it was old. If you are expecting authentic Korean.. This is not it folks. Buy tour jim chi at an Asian store.. You will pay a lot less and get better quality.
(1)Danna-Lea S.
Best pork buns ever. The Thai coconut-lemongrass soup is delicious & they always are a fun bunch of guys & gals to watch create their magic. If you don't go here, you'll be sorry.
(5)Lynn B.
Finally went in for dinner with my friend Janat. The pork bun (one bun per serving for 6.00. The waitress cut it in half so we could share it) was so delicious. Very flavorful, crunchy and fresh. Loved it. But one little pork bun for 6.00?? It shouldn't be called an appetizer. One pork bun is a 'side.' If they made veggie buns and sold 2 for 6.00 they would still make money and everyone would be happier. Service was kind of slow. We inhaled the pork bun in 10 seconds and waited at least 10 minutes for the ramen bowls. The pork ramen soup was good. We wondered why the corn was in there but it was fine. It didn't really add anything to the dish. The hot sauce was great. The egg was a little unappetizing but I ate it anyway. When in Rome ... The waitress wasn't memorable. She was adequate. It seemed that the kitchen staff were overwhelmed and couldn't keep up or something - even though the place was only half full. This is a trendy place - a few hipsters scattered about - swinging their heads toward the door whenever it opened. The ambience is very airy, clean and with lots of light. The pitchers of water with cilantro and lemon were a nice touch and the waitress kept ours filled. I didn't love the place. It's not a warm and cozy place to go to relax. I loved having dinner with my friend Janat and we had a good time but $46.00 (not including tip) for a pork bun, 2 bowls of soup and a glass of Chardonnay was a bit over the top. It's a shame too because we were really looking forward to it. And from reading the other reviews, I see this noodle restaurant doesn't even make their own noodles. Next time I want noodle soup I'll go back to Saigon Tokyo for some Shrimp Pho. That's another problem. The soup choices were lemongrass, pork or spicy eggplant. No chicken or shrimp.
(3)Andrea H.
Small restaurant with limited seating. The service is very attentive and friendly. The menu may seem pricey at first but you definitely get what you pay for both portion wise and taste wise. Definitely worth checking out! I tried their pork bun as my appetizer, cold egg chinese noodles with asparagus, carrots and chick peas as my main and a grapefruit soda for a beverage. It was delicious-- Almost licked my plate clean!
(5)Rosy R.
Outstanding and refreshing. Great setting and service. Just off 295, and after pounding down 295 it is a quick exit and boom! Nirvana. Amazing wine list and menu Just go
(5)Edward J.
Awesome atmosphere, chill music and of course delicious food. I hade the anju rice cakes for an appetizer and that hit the spot. Dinner was the shoyu ramen. Good amount of noodles to meat to soup ratio. Will come here again for sure.
(5)Anthea M.
I have Korean blood flowing through my veins. I went with native Koreans. This was the most expensive and least enjoyable "Korean" dish I've had in years. We left completely unsatisfied and we paid more than 20 bucks eaçh, for lunch. If you are not familiar with Korean cuisine, please don't judge it by this place.
(1)Bob C.
Food was good. The service people were very nice and professional. The beer was a bit pricey, $7 a draft. Should be $5-$6 tops. The restaurant was busy, so it took forever to get our food. We liked the atmosphere, but the kitchen is open, so you will probably come out of there smelling like the kitchen help.
(3)Amanda R.
Thank you Anju for broadening the culinary scene! So tired of the the standard, boring, to be expected, restaurant options of Portsmouth tourist trap spots. Kittery has come SO far with great spots like the Black Birch, When Pigs Fly Pizzeria, and now Anju. These guys are all raising the bar and creating some exciting options. Just made my third visit to Anju! Can't get enough! Always awesome! Service was attentive. Atmosphere is casual and comfortable with options to sit at a table, the kitchen bar, or window bar. Great place for a date or friends. Love the beer and wine selection- nice local brews. Super fresh and flavorful dishes with a lot of careful preparation. Definitely recommend trying!
(5)Meg S.
My husband and I had dinner here the other night and everything about the experience was outstanding. The moment we walked in the host was very friendly and welcoming. He and our waitress were very knowledgable of the menu and made awesome recommendations. The food and drinks were beyond excellent. We will definitely be returning frequently.
(5)Gail K.
Friendly staff, small but super tasty menu. Went with my husband for a dinner date. A small but light airy open feel. Casual. Everything was light, delicious with an interesting mix of flavors. We ordered the special dessert to share and it was amazing. We will definitely go back.
(5)Grant G.
Dined at Anju last night. It was an incredible snow storm and I spied Anju as I driving by it. I walked into a warm and cozy little space that immediately steamed my glasses with the heat and stimulated my nose with the smell of the food. Staff was very accommodating and seated me and took my order quickly. The pork dumpling appetizer was fantastic. My noodle bowl featured a meat bone broth and it delicious. It was very earthy and woodsy and so satisfying on a cold snowy February evening.
(4)Picca M.
Hands down sensational! From atmosphere, to service, to food Anju Noodle Bar is by far my new favorite spot in Kittery! Bri our waitress was attentive and so helpful in making recommendations on the menu. We ordered the shrimp toast, without any exaggeration, melts in your mouth, the smelt dish, and pork buns (our absolute fav)! These were all items on the small/med plates menu, and we left feeling like we just had a full course meal. The portions are generous, the quality of the food is so fresh, and the presentation is like artwork on a plate. You will not be disappointed with anything on the menu. We've spent 3X's more at other restaurants, and there is no comparison to our experience at Anju. Gary, one of the owners is a master mind and genius! My next visit there will be for their Kimchi Bloody!
(5)Sarah N.
Eat the pork bun and you'll be craving it nearly daily. Don't worry if, like me, you don't know what most of the items on the menu are; the staff is patient and accommodating, makes great recommendations, and I've never been disappointed!
(5)Travis K.
I like this place cause every time I go in I can try something new. The menu's not huge but the choices are great. Very good atmosphere with a great staff.
(4)Opinionatedchef 1.
We have just returned from a fun adventure up north. Aside from the Rt. 1 shopping area, Kittery is across the bridge just northeast of Portsmouth. Pretty little town center with Greek Revival and Victorian commercial buildings. Anju is all clean and shiny like Danish Moderne: front window walls with light streaming in and quaint view of downtown, warm wood everywhere, white interior,open kitchen. Two smiling chef/owners working away and a fun and gracious waitress.Small and every seat taken at 1:30 Sat. Hours have changed so that 12Noon-10PM is common now, allowing for late eaters like us. We ordered extensively off the Lunch menu. We had no losers and everything was fresh; technique was on point (crunchy veggies, al dente noodles etc.)robustly seasoned, and nicely presented. Prices were very reasonable. Favs/ Got extra orders for take away: ----Okonomoyaki with Shrimp and Pork Belly pitch perfect imo; very successful combo of textures and flavors.And even though it looks a bit like a jumble, every component stood out on its own. --- Pork Buns- I've had these soft white steamed and folded-over sandwiches at Myers+Chang and DooWee's(?), neither of which won me. But THESE... after one bite I grinned the big grin and said, "Now, THESE were worth driving for"! Generous flavorful moist braised pork and lots of crunchy veggies, and neat sauces. Very Good: --Ground chicken thai basil ramen -- Thai coconut milk soup w/ chicken, tofu etc. --Shoyu Ramen w/ pork, pickled daikon, kale. Two friends really liked this, and it was certainly generous and hearty, but i just didn't care for the pork broth, even though it was rich. Good for rounding out the experience: --Sauteed oyster mushrooms and cabbage, w/ oyster sauce -- Rice cakes with chicken and veggies. Misleading- not fried cake/patties but white rice formed in tea cups. Afterwards, we picked up some wonderful things at the local meats market- MEat. Then we drove around exploring this pretty coastal area, and stopped at the charming Beach Pea Bakery (charming but not v impressive baked goods.) Anju is pretty brand new but certainly a treat that will grow. Made for a really nice short trip away from the city.
(4)Sophie W.
I could write this review with a simple "What Andy P. Said". If you want a completely authentic Korean meal then this probably isn't the restaurant you are looking for. HOWEVER, if you like great, creative, obviously well thought out dishes and Korean tastes then you will absolutely LOVE it here. The staff was friendly and helpful. I love sake and was quite happy to try a couple new one while there. We got the Pork Bun and Rice Cakes (I have a deep love of onigiri). Both were extremely flavorful and cooked perfectly. For dinner we got the Shoyu Ramen and I loved it so much I managed to eat the entire bowl....and there was a LOT....and I am a light eater. Bottom line: If you've been curious of eating here, try it out. Don't go in with preconceived notions and you will have a wonderful experience.
(5)Christine R.
I was in Kittery for an event and on a whim decided to grab something to eat beforehand. I had heard of this place, but this was my first introduction and I was pleasantly surprised. The food menu was small with options for appetizers, small bites, and noodle bowls. Despite the small menu, I still had a difficult time deciding on what to order because it all sounded good. In the end, I ordered the steamed pork bun appetizer and the tantanmen noodle bowl. The pork bun was melt in your mouth tender with a delicious sauce that made me want to lick my plate clean (I did manage to show some restraint though). My noodle bowl was perfection to my taste buds, which is to say that it was exactly what I was hoping for. Spicy without being over the top and a great presentation of vegetables, meat, egg, and ramen. They do offer vegetarian options as well as an extensive beer & wine menu. The staff were friendly and attentive despite how busy it was and as a single diner I never felt rushed by my server (as is sometimes the case when I dine out alone). When I told my friends at the event of my dinner experience they all decided they had to try it out next time.
(5)Rich E.
Great addition to Kittery's foodie scene. Good service, clean and the ramen was excellent. This is an authentic noodle bar! I can not wait to go back and try some of the other dishes I saw come out of the very open kitchen. I might avoid on a hot evening because the space is very small for the amount of chairs but they might have a great ac unit, who knows?
(4)Kirkpatrick V.
Twice I have been to Anju. Je love it. Sometimes they have a special scallion pancake pork belly sandwich. I bout lost my mind. They are doing really good things in a really thoughtful manner. Anju makes me want to live in Kittery.
(5)Jessica M.
Food was so fresh and I love that you can watch Chef Gary prepare all of the meals. I was super impressed at the beer list. This place is a must visit! Thank you!
(5)Andy P.
Sometimes Yelp just sucks. Short version: Ignore all reviews but this one and go to Anju. Have the insane pork & pancake appetizer and the ramen or the meatball entrée. I'm sure everything is great, but these three things are what we had had they are outstanding. So is the service. Boom, done. Full version: See first line again...Yelp itself doesn't suck, it's the people who write reviews. People will sit there and smile and tell you everything is great and then run off to the internet to make themselves feel relevant by writing a bad review. It's the same phenomenon we see in traffic; someone who would otherwise say nothing will be happy to flip you off going 40mph in the opposite direction. I am *absolutely shocked* at some of the reviews I see about Anju on Yelp. I looked at the reviews before going to Anju, decided against going, but then happened to have a conversation with my Mom about the place. She told me Anju is great and that I should absolutely go. As it turns out, my Mom, who will not flip you off in traffic, is walking wisdom. This is not news to me, which is why I went. Anju is fabulous. It's fabulous. It's the kind of place you go to and, upon first taste, instantly know - KNOW - that whoever is in the kitchen gives a crap about the food they are putting out. You can't taste the sweat, but you can feel it in the food. Someone cares. In fairness, I will tell you that I am no Korean cuisine expert. However, also in fairness, I will tell you I was a chef for many years and have eaten at several dozen Korean establishments. Whether or not something is exactly authentic is not so important to me. What matters to me is that the food is fantastic. People who cook need to know how to cook. The egg in the ramen at Anju, for example, was so delicately soft boiled that the yoke was still slightly runny, which is tremendously difficult to do when presenting an egg in hot soup. You can't do that without caring. You have to screw that up dozens of times before you get it right. It is a matter of seconds between overcooked and undercooked and to get it right you have to care about what you are doing. Also important to me is the quality of service. Misty, a transplant from Napa, was our server and she was fun and funny and free with her laughter. More importantly, she expertly directed us through sake, appetizer, and entrée selections. She was as warm as the ramen. Lastly, I read several complaints about the prices. Acronyms that come to mind regarding people's price complaints are inappropriate and involve W's and T's and other letters. My girlfriend and I each had an entree and we both brought food home. How is a $14 bowl of goodness that is portioned at a size that leaves leftovers over priced? We are both big eaters, me especially. In particular, I will eat you out of house and home. I'll eat your pets. Anju is not the Korean place where you go get a small pile of salted fried minnows that were alive as they entered 400* oil. You will not be presented with 35 small plates of different things. Anju is the place where you go and have insano pork and pancake tacos and lovely gingered meatballs and laugh with friends. Does this make the place inauthentic? I don't know. If someone opened an American food restaurant in Korea that specialized in hamburgers and then claimed the "American food" was not authentic because it didn't have corndogs on the menu would it be unAmerican? Again, I don't know, but I do know people would definitely go home to their basements, talk some trash on KoreanYelp, and then bask in their impact on the world. Of course, what sucks about that is that some people will miss out on something that they would have enjoyed greatly because they won't realize the person writing the negative review is really just bolstering his or her flaccid ego. Everything I have written above is fact. The following is theory. I think that, in addition to being subjected to the 40mph phenomenon mentioned above, Anju is also subject (victimized?) to people who want to be so cool as to claim they are either "Korean experts" or are otherwise consider themselves "artsy" or really can't do much other than criticize. Art is not appreciated by all people. I, for example, find the Mona Lisa rather uninspiring. Maybe I should go home and write a review about France and tell everyone how lame France is. Don't go to France, everyone. It's so lame. Look at me. Blah blah blah puke. Is Anju super-duper authentic? I don't know. Delicious? Yes, and I unequivocally do know about that. Over priced? Not unless you want to eat in the dark or want the chefs to prepare soup without bowls. I didn't read any garbage about bad service, but it's probably lurking there someplace, somehow enriching the life of some tool author who fancies himself a foodie. Go to Anju. You will love it.
(5)Jessica H.
Ramen heaven! The rice cakes were to die for. Brought my father in law and we all left saying we'd be back within a week.
(5)Jen H.
This is delightful eatery. The food is fresh and full of flavor. The owner and chef take great pride in preparing incredible dishes. We love the Kung poa Brussels sprouts, green papaya salad and the red curry. They even have kumbucha. We can't wait to go back.
(5)J M.
Great fresh food and broths..nice and cozy room/ambiance. Steamed pork and chicken thigh buns are the highlight of the proteins..so good and addicting. Wanted to try everything..the smells coming out of the small open kitchen are great. Ramen bowl was delish..savory mushrooms...rich broth...cold day = perfection. Aces all around and will be back soon.. Don't forget the homemade kimchi and hot sauce..so good. This is one of my favorite spots.
(5)Kaley S.
Anju's name and logo represents the pear of the same name (also called D'Anjou). With a small, simple but strong menu and an equally tiny, yet open dining space, Anju serves Asian-inspired classic and modern noodle bowls, meat, tofu, and veggie dishes in a classy but unpretentious atmosphere. The Good: Anju's ever-changing Asian-inspired menu uses local veggies when possible, as well as local meats from butcher shop next door MEat. Their modern, open, induction-heat kitchen is right behind the bar, which feels honest and intimate, and you can watch all the action as you sip your sake/local beer/hard cider/pear wine. The Bad: Despite the name "Noodle Bar," Anju doesn't make their own noodles, though they source quality ramen from Sun Noodle. The Food: Tasty!! Our tofu coconut soup was balanced, bright, and warming but not spicy, with lemongrass and ginger. "Cabbage and mushrooms" (both veggies sourced locally) with oyster sauce was prefectly simple, letting the quality of the local ingredients shine, Asian-style. The Service: Has room for improvement. Overall: A unique and welcome addition to the burgeoning food scene in downtown Kittery, Anju is the place to quench your ramen craving and explore Asian flavors with local ingredients --- more than a step above your average noodle house.
(4)Ryan S.
We found this place accidentally on a Sunday afternoon. The kimchi bloody marys could not have been better! I can't wait to go back to try the ramen and other delicious-looking plates that the staff was preparing.
(5)Cassie T.
I ate lunch at the bar. The food was delicious, but the service was seriously lacking. I sat there for quite awhile in front of the workers there before anyone even acknowledged me, and I was sitting right in front of someone's station. It seemed like they were getting ready for the dinner service. I felt like I was an inconvenience. Not sure if the noodles were worth the poor treatment. Maybe I'll try takeout next time.
(2)Dan S.
I must say I was quite disappointed. Forget any expectations you have of a high end Korean restaurant. I ordered three dishes and all were less than mediocre despite a high price tag. Be prepared to be nickel and dimed on all the side dishes. Portions were tiny! Almost $30 for our food for two and we left hungry. I'm no stranger to Korean food and love fermented and stinky kim chi but my ramen and jjigae were totally sub par. I didn't mind the steamed pork bun but it was so tiny! The ramen was especially off. They have a custom anju sauce that pales in comparison to sriracha. Perhaps they need some maturation time? But for now I'll stick with the hole in the wall Korean joints that know what they're doing. Another issue I have is the design of the bar. It is barely more than a foot deep. There are cooking ingredients and materials in the extreme vicinity of the bar and it is inevitable that customers' saliva is being spread as they converse.
(2)Mark H.
I have had excellent Korean food ... It is one of my favorite cuisines. Anju is sparsely decorated with standard furniture ... The menu is similarly limited. I went with my two sons and future daughter in law. They had a full bar and several options. Appetizers were chicken satay which lacked char and flavor, and extremely good pork buns. We had 2 rice bowls and 2 noodle soups ... Average at best ... They were only good with plenty of hot sauce. Overall the meal lacked anything memorable. I was very disappointed.
(3)Ben M.
Nice design, layout, atmosphere. The service was attentive and sufficient. The food is nothing to write home about. The nickel and dime comment from another is appropriate. $6 for one pork bun is hilariously overpriced. The portions are small and the prices aren't justified. The ramen entrees ratio of noodle to actual non-filler is lopsided too, too much filler, not enough of the worthwhile stuff. Especially since the ramen is bought not made on-site. I commend the attempt, but am disappointed at the execution.
(2)Ace M.
We were traveling through, found this place on Yelp, and stopped for dinner. We had an AMAZING meal. Beautiful view of slice of the harbor from the bar, the food was incredibly creative, freshly made, well flavored, and the service prompt. We had the pork bun & rice cakes for apps, & the ramen & redfish dish for main. Highly recommended!
(5)Gerrit B.
Went on a rainy, cold sunday in November, ordered the regular ramen, the rice cake appetizer, and an order of kimchi. Each item was awesome. The Kimchi was flavorful and spicy, just how it should be. The soup broth is very meaty and hearty. The rice cakes were a real treat. Three maki-roll sized rice balls rolled up and seared on the outside to make the rice crunchy and a little bit sweet; sauce, cabbage, mushrooms, and chicken completed the combo and it made for a great light meal. Interior is pretty cool, too. Very clean, neat, & modern. We've been on a ramen kick for a while, and tried 3-4 in the last month. This was the best so far. Oh -- don't forget to try their house hot sauce. If you loved it, like I did, you can buy a bottle at MEat two doors down (which is where they get some of their meats!).
(5)Richard B.
I'm saddened to report that the meal I had at Anju was most unenjoyable. I've been following their progress on facebook and love their story. But not one person at my table liked anything that was served. I describe the taste as peculiar. We were all shocked to see our bill! I work across the street and have yet to hear positive reviews. They aren't open for lunch (as of yet) Almost 4000 Shipyard employees are within walking distance. Parking sucks! The bank lot is now a municipal lot but now, with all of the new development in Wallingford Square, you might have to park a few blocks away.
(2)Erika S.
As a chef I'm hardly impressed.. Everything blew me away!!! From the fresh fluffy pork bun to the creative and delicious Shoyu ramen...layered with different flavors, both tangy and sweet and beyond all expectations. So good were returning for a second day in a row....
(5)Ali T.
This place is different, but not in the way that I'd call revolutionary or even necessary. We were not happy with the high prices and small portions. It's oddly layed out, too. Other spots in Wallingford Sq are small but manage to not feel cramped (AJs, Lil's). The service was friendly, though.
(2)George K.
A couple of thoughts here. PROs ------------ - Classic ramen noodles, - Friendly staff, - Steamed pork buns (must have!), CONs ------------ Keep in mind that these are very and highly subjective! - In typical Korean settings, banchan (appetizers) are both plentiful (you can ask for more of different types and usually they are free) and many. The closest thing that they had was the tri-banchan with three varying degree's of heat pickled cabbage and cucumbers. When you finish one or all you have to pay for more. In my case, we went through 2 orders of the tri-banchan. - The cucumber banchan was tasty on the outside. It was explained that this flavor is the medium flavor between the white cabbage and nappa cabbage kimchee-style pickled banchan. What was disappointing was how by the time you get to the center of the cucumber it tastes like a cucumber. Either it hasn't fermented long enough or the pieces were too thick to absorb the flavors during the pickling process. Generally speaking when I make Dikon kimchee even with larger cuts of radish, the pickling stands up through the entire piece and you get the texture and crunch of the radish. Probably the most surprising banchan was the white cabbage banchan. I would approximate this as very similar in style and flavor to Italian Giardiniera and was very flavorful with different textures than the other two banchan. - The nappa kimchee was a bit disappointing. As I mentioned above, we got two orders of the banchan at two different times times in the meal. The first batch of kimchee lacked both the heat as well as the tang that I typically associate with Korean kimchee. This may have been by design by the cook, but the second batch had more of a tang (still about the same heat so I'm assuming that is the intended heat of the recipe) which makes me think that the second batch had been allowed to ferment longer or the temperature controls on the second batch were better. Still good, and much better than other kimchee's I've had, but lacking the crunch, tang, and heat makes for just better than average kimchee. - Corn, I'm not sure if this was by design, but there was a lot of corn in many of the dishes. From the XOCorn to the Ramen, corn was definitely on the menu. Growing up in the midwest, we don't have a shortage of corn; however, in asian dishes, corn has a very powerful flavoring. Generally speaking with any Ramen, I look for the texture and ability of the noodles to take the flavors, the addon ingredients, and first and foremost the broth. When I taste the broth, I want to taste the complexity of the seasonings and what was used to make the broth itself (meats or vegetables). But what I found was an overpowering flavor of corn. Really I think the broth was quite good, but because every taste of it had a strong corn taste, it detracted from the broth itself. I think the ramen could have been fantastic on it's own without the corn and if you were thinking about going to Anju and ordering the Ramen, ask for it without the corn if you are interested in the flavor of the broth and the other toppings. everything about it was wonderful--except the corn flavoring. Again very subjective to individual tastes so if you like the corn flavoring, you'll love this dish. It won't make my con list, but a few other things to note. First, they don't serve any hot teas. Green tea, brown rice tea, any tea. It's typically something that helps with the pallet and is a nice contrast to the other dishes. Second, when you order the pork bun, you only get 1. Not necessarily a con, but just something to be aware of (especially since they are so damn tasty!). All in all, better than average.
(3)Jacquelyn W.
Short: Large portions, very low prices for the quality/quantity, fresh ingredients, perfectly seasoned but unique, high quality thick ramen noodles, house made crunchy kimchi and daikon kimchi, and pork buns that melt in your mouth: to die for. Fast friendly service, clean, modern and comfortably warm environment, fun interactive Kitchen, amazing rice wine, If youre into really healthy food, the poached shrimp salad is phenom and HUGE. Long: I looked at the other reviews and was confused because I have been to this restaurant many times and was always overjoyed: Korean cravings satisfied, and completely full with leftovers. I live in Boston and travel a lot around the world (Korea included) and I always make a point to seek out many amazing boutique restaurants (I'm a total foodie), and I'm also certainly a Korean cuisine connoisseur. I never leave yelp reviews seriously. But being 100% Korean, this restaurant deserved a review from me. What I love about this place is that they are doing something different than the traditional Korean menu, and in a predominantly white area like Kittery, ME and Portsmouth, NH... how can you blame them? My mother lives in Kittery and I have spent a lot of time in Portsmouth as well, and I can assure you that most people there have never even heard of Korean food. Many, in fact, fear anything different. This place is exactly what the area needed. Not only is it bringing in deliciously unique, beautifully presented, large portioned, and perfectly flavored food with a very affordable menu, but it is doing it in a way where the people of the area can relate to it and not be afraid by it. Whoever leaves these reviews on Yelp saying this place is subpar because it's not traditional Korean need to realize that it never claimed to be, nor did it ever intend to be: it clearly states it is Asian Fusion. And there is something for everyone on the menu. Any buffalo chicken eating bro who fears asian food will LOVE the pork buns and be totally filled up by the Ramen for sure. And any Korean food lovers that exist will find so many delicious Korean items on the menu. I, for one, am very pleased and my craving for Korean is totally satisfied every time I go there (if you love Korean food you know what I mean- there is a void only Korean food can fill). It was very trailblazing of them to even venture so far out of the norm. So many times year after year I visited my mom and I was like, why is there NO Korean food anywhere??? I feel lucky to have a place so forward-thinking and unique be a part of this community...FINALLY, and I don't have to travel hours away to get it. Staff is attentive and nice, but not overbearing which is awesome. Head chef is passionate about food and it shows thru his work- I saw him behind the counter. In an area like that especially, this place is awesome, necessary, and definitely worth going to again and again. Even if it was in Boston I'd go on the regs. (hint hint.. why don't you trailblaze a new location in the North End?)
(5)Robin B.
I thought this place was terrible! I had Shrimp toast. It had shrimp pate. VERY strong! Spicey, over powering! It was so unappealing to me! I was tasting it for hours! My husband had the Lamb Stew. It was so spicey hot that his nose was running, He couldn't taste anything but the spiciness of the food! He stated that he wasn't sure if there was any lamb in the stew. We also had a broccoli starter. It was more like long stalks. We were given chop sticks to eat it. My husband also got a craft beer. $7.00 for the beer and it was in a 10 oz glass. Staff appeared bored instead of excited to be on the band wagon of a new restaurant venture. We will not go back! Too many other great restaurants in the area that surpass this place!
(1)Jonathan W.
The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food was delicious. I definitely will return if I can.
(4)Matthew G.
I was anxious to try this place out as I live in the area and have watched the progress of the place before opening. I went and the place was packed but someone came to the entry and took my drink order immediately. So, although I had to wait for a seat, I had a drink. It gave me time to review the menu. I was pleased to see kimchi all over the menu. I have a lot of Korean friends from grad school in Boston who would love that. After being seated, I ordered the Dirt Noodles. It wasn't like any Korean food I've had before, so I thought I'd try it. It was very good and the anju sauce was a good addition. I asked for water and got a whole artsy pitcher with lemon and water in it and a glass. My waitress was nice even though busy and was attentive. I like the decor of the place and the music gives it a hipster feel to an extent. That's not a bad thing. Note: From what I've heard from others, you either love it or hate it. I feel many who don't like it aren't as familiar with the style of food but for Kittery Foreside, rural New England, it's a welcome addition. They may have a few things to work out in the beginning but they just opened, they'll get it worked out. Give them a try and practice those chopstick skills.
(5)Lisa A.
My husband and I loved this place when we finally went for the first time. The atmosphere is fun, hip, comfortable and friendly. And the food...devine! I had a tofu and rice bowl that was extremely delicious, just the right amount of spice, and like nothing i had ever experienced. My husband could not stop raving about the pork bun...obviously popular since I saw several people eating them. The murmurs about high prices are unwarranted. It was no more than any other hip and trendy place around. We HIGHLY recommend that you at least try it!
(5)Patrick S.
Excellent ramen and KimChi. Fast service, and super reasonable prices. Definitely a must try!
(5)Jenni W.
We had a GREAT dinner here at Anju! We had the pork bun, spicy kimchi, scallop entree and Anju ramen. All we're very tasty with a flavor depth that you really want in quality Asian food. The atmosphere is very bright and inviting. We will definitely be returning!
(5)Steve M.
Underwhelmed. Overpriced and oddly the attention to detail was all on the wrong things. Was not a warm and friendly staff and for a tiny place that's a huge mistake! Probably won't go back as there are too many wonderful dining options in this area.
(2)Tom S.
Anju is only enhacing the already established culinary phenomenon of the seacoast area, while providing a food experience foreign to most. I went there a few nights ago with two of my friends and we were more than satisfied. We had the kim chi, marinated tofu, and two of the noodle bowls, the added house made hot sauce was the clincher. I cannot wait to return.
(5)Katherine H.
one of the only noodle places in town. This place is new, cozy, delicious, and fun.
(5)Garrett M.
Are you kidding me! I love it so much I'm eating it right now and have to yelp about it. Grabbed the pork ramen and Napa kimchi to go and it is amazing.
(5)Karen J.
If I hadn't been seated at the bar overlooking the kitchen, I would give Anjou 4 stars for their wonderful food and service. Unfortunately I got a very clear view of the chef/owner engaging in some very poor food handling practices. I watched as he touched with his bare hands multiple food items (partially raw chicken, raw fish, ramen noodles) along with his iPad keyboard, and various kitchen surfaces ALL without washing his hands once! In addition he was wiping his hands repeatedly on 2 cloths that he also used several times to wipe up splatters near the cooking pans, and then (horrors) actually used one of these dirty cloths to wipe around the edge of a plate to improve the presentation! Now I'm no chef but I know damn well that is food contamination. I considered walking out but didn't want to ruin my oblivious dining companion's evening. I love the food but will probably never eat there again after watching that performance. Inexcusable.
(1)Peter R.
everyone in the restaurant seems clueless, starting with the name of the restaurant. some dishes, ratatouille for instance, should not be on the menu. Rice bowl is somewhat interesting but at $14.00 way overpriced. Brisket, well, if I made it myself I would throw it away and start again. I don't think they will survive next six months.
(2)Robert G.
Straight ballin'. Service was attentive and enjoyable. The menu was small and focused. Had the ramen and duck rice patties topped with a bbb substinance pint. The food was carefully prepared. Some sort of ginger and spicy stuff flinked atop the ramen and complemented the dish well. The rice cakes were amazing but were hard to eat with the chopstick utensils provided. I suggest they place a garnish under the cake so they do not stick to the plate. Unless you can catch a fly with chopsticks like Miyagi Son, ask for a fork and knife with this dish.
(5)Todd R.
Pork bun and ramen. Both were excellent. I'm not very experienced with Korean food but am big fan of everything Asian typically. It's a funky interior and the staff was good and friendly. I'm only doing 4 stars but I have pretty high expectations - I've only been to a few restaurants that I would give 5 stars to and I'm a relative foodie. I live in the area so am very excited to have yet another great option for dining out. I have done take out with them in the past - I'd recommend wait until you can dine in. Food is just better fresh and hot. Oh forgot to mention - had a salad - not sure what kind it was but that I would have given 5 and half stars. Wow.
(4)Brenna J.
We went for the first time last night and everything we ate -- pork buns, ramen, rice bowl -- was excellent. Salmon was cooked perfectly. Only lacking a 5th star for absence of tea!
(4)Lyn R.
I have been waiting for Anju to get its growing pains out of the way and it was worth the wait. Steamed pork bun, clams with udon and rice cakes were outstanding. The spicing and textures were spot on. The rice bowl was okay but not as good as the other dishes. Definitely coming back for more!!
(4)Caitlynn R.
So delicious. Spicy but in a good way and great service and a nice wine/beer list. We had the cold noodles with chicken and the ramen and kimchi side and delicious salad!
(5)J P.
As soon as I heard there was a noodle bar in our area I got excited. Haven't actually been there yet but we did get takeout. I was in for knee surgery and by day 4 of rehab needed something better. I had SHOYU RAMEN $13, 14-hour Meat broth. spicy miso garlic tare. slow-roasted pork shoulder. ajitama soy egg. nori. And my wife had MISO-GAI PAD KRAPOW RAMEN $13, 14-hour Meat broth. hot-basil minced chicken thigh. miso tare. bean sprout salad. We also had the $6 pork bun and ANJU RICE CAKES $11 onigiri. 5-spice duck confit. dragon sauce. Ok I read the critical reviews. First it was all delicious! Second, maybe the noodles are store bought or not but Chef David Chang has expended a lot of energy telling people good quality noodles bought in a store are great. Ours were great. Third, the criticism of $6 for one pork bun is unfounded. It's incredibly good and more like a well built taco. Two would be a complete meal. The broths were outstanding. And this was Takeout! Can't wait to drag my new knee in there. Great addition to the ever expanding Kittery food row.
(4)DA W.
What happened to all the vegetarian options? This has been our go-to place for a few months now, skipping Portsmouth to enjoy the fresh flavors here, but this time I was so disappointed that there was NO vegetarian entree/bowl! Was so sad to find that my favorite veggie bun was gone, and in its place there was a cod one. Almost every other dish that looked interesting had pork, duck or another meat. We ordered some side veggies. The baby carrots were tasty as was the cucumber kimchee but the green beans were covered in a heavy pasty brown sauce that was just too heavy and overpowered the beans. I would love to see more light and flavorful vegetarian dishes, especially for summer. There are a lot of vegetarian and vegan diners out there who shouldn't have to ask for a "special" meal or have to "settle" on the one or two dishes on a menu, especially here with such creative chefs. We'll be back...hoping the menu changes again. Service was friendly but our food took a lot longer this time.
(4)Alain A.
How anyone could give this place fewer than five stars I will never know. Nice people, good beer and lusty, tasty food. Despite comments, prices not high
(5)Lauren S.
Wow! Stopped in here for lunch with a friend and was very pleasantly surprised. We started with the pork buns and pickled tofu. The pork buns were delicious. The meat was perfectly cooked and practically melted in your mouth. All of the flavors-- cucumbers, pickled radish, etc were delightfully complementary (and definitely use the sauce on the counter!). The pickled tofu had a nice, refreshing taste. For the main meal, we had the ramen. I don't know how I finished the bowl, but I did. The bowl was huge, but the contents were so good I couldn't [wouldn't?] stop myself. I had vague regrets later (because I felt like a house), while my dining companion wisely brought the rest of hers home, but seriously, it's good. The broth was different from any I've had in ramen-- a thick, dark stock. Lots of vegetables, lots of roasted pork, ramen egg-- mmm... and the noodles had a good texture. While I wouldn't call this a "traditional" Korean place, I was pleased with my experience. I have not found many Asian places in the area that I'm eager to go back to. I would call Anju delightful for the area and good for lunch. Generally, when I go to Korean places for dinner I expect to be camped out at a table for about 2-3 hours, eating about 20 different things (I'm Korean). Here, the meal is not so "involved"; you get your meal, can order your sides, and be done with it in under an hour. I like having that option. Space-wise, the place is decorated in a lovely, airy way. Lots of natural light comes in, and the space just feels nice to be in. Will definitely be back!
(4)Travis L.
Awesome food. Its cool that you can watch them cook.
(5)Steven S.
I really wanted to like my meal here. Having been here twice now it seems as though it may just not be that incredible. First off, I will say that the staff and ambience are very nice and the menu reads well. Beyond that though there isn't too much to rave about. Both times our food was over salted and lacking complex flavors. Maybe being a vegetarian is to blame. On our first visit they had vegetarian dishes listed, this time they just made omissions to the dish to make it veggie. The tofu buns were taken off the menu which was a huge disappoint as I remember enjoying them the first visit. I was also bummed that there were no tea or coffee options. Kittery has some awesome places and the surrounding areas too, unfortunately I don't think I'll rush back here. It's too bad because I love the idea of a killer noodle spot in this area.
(2)