In a city where familiar comfort food typically rules the table, Noodlezip arrived in downtown Bismarck, North Dakota in 2017 and quietly flipped the script.
This compact, counter-seating Asian noodle bar may only seat about 20 people at a time, but what Chef Marty Lee plates up inside those four walls has locals — and travelers passing through — talking for years.
This is one of those rare spots that earns its reputation one steaming bowl at a time. 🔥
How Noodlezip Won Bismarck’s Hearts
When Chef and Owner Marty Lee opened Noodlezip’s doors on June 26, 2017, Bismarck wasn’t exactly known as a hotspot for authentic Pan-Asian cuisine.
But word travels fast when the food is truly extraordinary. 🍜
Marty Lee — proficient in Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Chinese, and Japanese cooking — built his menu from scratch using only fresh, seasonal ingredients that rotate with availability, meaning no two visits are ever quite the same.
That element of discovery kept curious diners coming back, again and again.
Featured on Prairie Plates, a regional food show, Chef Lee discussed his craft — from scratch-made broths to bold noodle dishes — bringing even wider attention to what Bismarck had been quietly keeping to itself.
The seasonal menu philosophy also turned first-timers into regulars. 🔄
Because the kitchen relies on fresh, locally available ingredients, dishes shift with the seasons — giving diners a reason to return every few months to see what’s new.
It’s a smart, soulful approach to running a restaurant that has kept Noodlezip not just relevant, but beloved in a region where authentic Asian noodle bars in North Dakota are exceedingly rare.
Food Highlights
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Beef Pho: The quintessential Noodlezip dish — a 12-hour slow-simmered clear beef broth with anise, clove, ginger, cinnamon, fresh noodles, slow-braised brisket, and a heap of fresh vegetables.
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Pad Thai: A crowd-pleaser executed with exceptional skill — portions are so generous that one reviewer ran out of noodles before running out of chicken.
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Drunken Noodles: This stir-fried noodle dish delivers bold, spicy, and savory flavor in every forkful.
- Shoyu Ramen: Tokyo-style dark soy broth with tender chashu pork, seaweed, and naruto. 🍜
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Pecking Pork Dumpling: Pan-seared to golden perfection, these pork-filled dumplings are a savory starter that disappears off the table fast. 🥟
- Spring Rolls: Crispy, fresh, and packed with vibrant vegetables, these rolls are a perennial favorite starter and served with a tangy dipping sauce.
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Dry Pho: Noodlezip’s original creation — all the classic pho flavors of rice noodles, shrimp, and beef, but served stir-fry style with crispy shallots and cilantro instead of broth. 🌟
- Bun Cha (Vietnamese Chilled Vermicelli Noodles): Fresh herbs, perfectly seasoned pork, and chilled rice noodles make this a refreshing and authentic Vietnamese classic.
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Pork Buns: Soft, fluffy, and filled with savory pork — these steamed buns have become a signature crowd favorite. 🥟
Atmosphere
Noodlezip is a compact, counter-style dining room with roughly 20 seats — intimate by design, electric in energy.
The vibe here is casual, warm, and communal, with the open layout naturally inviting conversation between diners and the chef himself.
The space is clean and unpretentious, with the focus placed entirely on the food and the experience of being fed extraordinarily well.
Expect a possible wait at peak hours — but as regulars will tell you, it is absolutely worth every minute. ⏳
Bottom Line
Noodlezip is the rare restaurant that earns every bit of its hype.
Fresh, seasonal ingredients, an impossibly skilled chef, dishes that span five Asian cuisines, and a warm, intimate atmosphere make this the most exciting dining experience in Bismarck, North Dakota. 🍜🔥
Address:
208 E Main Ave, Suite #2, Bismarck, ND 58501
📞 (701) 751-3624
🕐 Open Mon–Tue & Thu–Sat, 11:00 AM–2:30 PM and 5:00 PM–8:00 PM (closed Wednesday & Sunday)