Berkeley, California is one of the best-known communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, largely due to the University of California Berkeley. Having never been to the campus before, I decided to head to the city during a particularly warm summer afternoon. I had not eaten lunch, but I was pleased to find a number of different restaurants clustered downtown. On July 7, I checked out Toss Noodle Bar.

Toss is a quintessential Asian fusion lunch restaurant, centered on the construction of noodle-based dishes with a three step process. First, choose your base from a selection of steamed rice, fried rice, or noodles. Next, select your “flavor” from the categories of soup, wok-toss, or curry. Last, decide what meat, seafood, or tofu will be added. They then cook your customized dish!

While there was also a menu of side-dishes and chef specialties, I wanted to make my own concoction. I ordered Chinese Hokkien egg noodles, Thai wok-toss, with beef. A bit inauthentic perhaps, but the creation of unique dishes appeared to be the whole point. According to owner Thaweewat Tangsirikusolwong’s Instagram for the restaurant, they are the “only DIY Asian fusion spot in the East Bay.”

My order was ready in the time it took me to pour some water and sit down. I was very impressed with the speed. The dish itself looked delicious, so I dug right in. The salty flavor of the beef contrasted nicely with the sweetness of the Thai wok-toss. I’m not quite sure that the noodles exactly went with my dish as well as I thought it would, but I cannot fault the restaurant for that: I was the one who made this decision! I had fun experimenting nonetheless.

Toss Noodle Bar is a great small lunch restaurant in downtown Berkeley. I cannot picture having a full dinner here, although I would have definitely purchased side dishes for sharing if I had gone with other people. I also would have liked more Korean options on the menu, but that might be my personal bias. If I was in the area and looking for a quick lunch, I would definitely return.

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Rating:
Tasteless  |  Bad  |  Okay  |  >> Good <<  |  Tasty

Name: Toss Noodle Bar
Website http://www.tossnoodlebar.com
Phone +1 (510) 845-8677

Credit Cards? Yes
Apple Pay ^[?]? Yes
Bathroom? Yes
Reservations?  No
Take out? Yes
Delivery? Yes
Wifi? No
Outside seating? No
Wheelchair friendly? Yes
Alcohol? Yes
Dogs allowed? ??
Bike parking? Yes
Car parking? Yes

Date night? No
English-speaking staff? Yes
English menus? Yes
LGBTQ friendly ^[?]? Yes
Information updated on: August 5, 2018
Prices ^[?]: $ $ $ $

Hours:
Monday: 11:00 – 22:00
Tuesday: 11:00 – 22:00
Wednesday: 11:00 – 22:00
Thursday: 11:00 – 22:00
Friday: 11:00 – 23:00
Saturday: 11:00 – 23:00
Sunday: 11:00 – 22:00

Address (English) 2272 Shattuck Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94704-1431 U.S.A.