A destination-worthy Kittery noodle restaurant with excellent broths, creative Asian dishes, strong vegetarian options, and a small, sometimes loud room where service and seasoning can occasionally falter.
Anju Noodle Bar stands out for exceptional food quality, with diners praising its broths, noodles, and generous portions, and a loyal following that keeps returning. Its open kitchen and sidewalk seating draw repeat visits and Kittery Foreside detours, though uneven seasoning and inconsistent attentiveness keep it from a higher standing.
Anju Noodle Bar is a small, lively Kittery Foreside destination where the open kitchen is part of the entertainment and the room can feel wonderfully buzzy—or simply too loud and close for some diners. The prevailing impression is warm and energetic: one guest described watching the cooks as seeing “the magic happen,” while others advise arriving early or reserving because this compact spot fills quickly. The cooking is creative, cross-cultural, and flavor-forward rather than narrowly traditional. Rich ramen broths, house-made kimchi, wings, buns, yakisoba, Lao coconut soup, and cumin lamb noodles give adventurous eaters plenty to explore, with excellent vegetarian and vegan choices that do not feel like afterthoughts. Most diners find the portions satisfying and the mains worth the spend, though isolated visits report oversalting, burnt flavors, or uneven balance. Families can make it work: the current menu includes vegetarian ramen, vegetarian yakisoba, cauliflower, rice cakes, and plain-ish noodle potential, and reviewers report clean high chairs and staff willing to adapt dishes. Still, picky children may find the kimchi, chili, miso, and strongly seasoned broths challenging, so ask about a plain bowl before ordering. For families, this is welcoming but not a conventional kids' restaurant. A toddler was reportedly accommodated with a high chair and plain noodles and broth, yet the current menu is built around spicy, fermented, and globally seasoned food; conservative young eaters may have fewer obvious choices than adventurous ones.
Area vibe: Quaint seaside village with historic buildings and a lively small-town dining scene.
Safety: Generally safe, well-lit in main strips, easy to walk around in evenings though some side streets are quieter.
What's nearby: Near Portsmouth NH across the river, close to Kittery Outlets, waterfront parks, and Route 1 commercial strip.
The best order depends on whether you want rich ramen, spicy cross-cultural noodles, or standout shareables like the $18 wings.
Expect a compact, energetic room and boldly seasoned food, with peak waits and portions that can feel modest for certain shareable items.
The open kitchen creates an engaging, lively atmosphere, although the small room can become crowded and loud.