text: Noodles & Co offers quick service and reasonably priced, competently prepared noodle dishes. Good option for someone who wants a meal of decent quality with not enough time or money for a casual restaurant (unless you're craving Asian noodles, but more on that later).\n\nThe noodles taste fairly fresh and are all cooked to a nice al dente, a rarity in Oakland's mass of mushy noodles. The Italian and American offerings are all fairly satisfying, albeit lackluster. The dishes don't knock you away with bold, exciting flavors, but it's decent comfort food.\n\nSteer clear of the Asian noodle plates. Seriously. Not only is this section of the menu awkward, but a quick stroll to similarly priced Taiwan Cafe, Szechuan Express, Burma Tokyo, or Spice Island Tea House will get you far superior Asian noodles (be they Thai, Indonesian, Chinese, or what have you).