Chloe’s Kitchen

The Kung Pao dumplings were juicy but leaned more sweet than spicy; I personally would’ve preferred less mayo. The Thai chili dumplings were just perfect- tangy, savory, and full of flavor. The Thai peanut noodle soup had the perfect balance of sweetness, with soft veggies. We added tofu and chicken and opted for rice noodles to keep it gluten-free, which worked great. The noise level was moderate, the staff was friendly, and Ian was especially sweet. We drove up from San Diego so we made a reservation, though it didn’t seem required. Definitely worth a stop if you’re in Santa Cruz.

My first impression of this place was excellent. It’s lunch time and we’re craving soup. Food was very flavorful. The pork soup dumplings, chicken dumplings soup, spicy pork dumpling was our favorites. Soup tastes like a home cooked meal, not oily just right. Thank you to the friendly team! Customer service was great!

We came here because the reviews were good, but overall the food was just okay. We ordered the soup dumplings, which were their specialty, but they were only fair. The combo chow fun ($16.95) lacked any wok flavor and was also just average. We also ordered one of the chef’s specials—Steamed Garlic Eggplant with Vermicelli—and it was too salty for us. The price for this vegetarian dish was quite steep at $18.95, considering it was mainly eggplant and vermicelli, while other vegetarian noodle dishes were priced at $14.95. Service was also lacking at the start. We were waiting by the “please wait to be seated” sign near the door but were not acknowledged. We were finally helped only after I walked up to the register.

Fresh ingredients, perfect serving temperature, and a lovely array of flavors. I ordered the pan-seared chicken dumplings and the sesame balls. And WOW. I cannot recommend it enough! Will be dreaming about these chicken dumplings for the rest of my life😍

We decided to venture out from our usual noodle spot to Chloe's Kitchen and weren't disappointed! The Spicy Beef Noodle Soup was delicious, with a flavorful, savory broth and tender shank meat. Would prefer a bit spicier though, or some Szechuan peppercorn. We also tried the vegetable dumplings in chili oil, which were also very tasty! Only downside is the price is pretty steep ($18 noodles, $13 dumplings) compared to noodle and dumpling places in SF ($13-$15 noodles, $7-$10 dumplings). Kind of takes the fun out of dumplings when they are so pricey.