This is a good place for lunch if you're just in the mood for Chinese Taiwanese food but you don't know what to eat. you can do a pick two, pick three, pick four combo option, comes with rice. A lot of side dishes options. Soup is free. Water is free. Very casual place. I like it. Food's really good. read more

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You get to choose your side amounts and rice. Very affordable and friendly. Free soup also after purchase. I would recommend they do a 50% off sale nightly to sell off the leftover food instead of throwing it out. All the food was extremely flavorful. I like the Taiwanese pork the most read more

Hometown Cafe - Selection of chicken tofu bak choy and fish - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

If you are looking for cheap and tasty filling meals at the same time then this cafe is your go to option. You have good options to choose from. Free soup when you dine in. read more

Hometown Cafe - All this for $13. In the plate Kung pao chicken, Mapo Tofu, Taiwanese Fried Wings, Tomato&Egg along with Free Soup ( only when you dine in). - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Came here for the first time and intentionally came when they weren't busy-so they could explain what all the food was. The guy behind the counter was very helpful and informative. Food wasn't hot, which would have bothered me if I ate in the restaurant. A lot of food for the price! Will definitely come back with a group and try the soup! read more

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Hometown Cafe is one of my favorite spots to drop by for a casual, satisfying meal. It's cafeteria-style, so none of the dishes are labeled. You just point to what looks good and it's served on a metal tray. On my last visit, I got white rice with four sides: eggplant, Sichuan-style fish, black pepper chicken, and green beans. All delicious and comforting, like home cooked dishes. I also love that they offer complimentary soups! The hot & sour and the clear daikon with wood ear mushrooms are both delicious! read more

Hometown Cafe - Eggplant, black pepper chicken, spicy Sichuan fish, green beans. Served with complimentary soup and jalapeño peppers - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Moved to a updated facility. Food seems to be generally the same, though prices are higher now. Still a good option but no longer an outlier of a great deal for cafeteria style meal. read more

ok so i always come back and forth here cause the old chinese man and the old woman treat foods so right. Except the WOMAN WEARS GLASSES. she extremely rude, slamming the rice cooker when i asked extra rice (i usually ask for it at first). she ignoring until i repeated. when i asked for the box to go, she even gave it rudely again. they always give me the bigger box to go cause the food is a lot. THIS old Lady wears glasses asked "what size"? and speaking broken words. Rude and disrespectful. this is the picture i took but she looked away. I repeated " THE OLD WOMAN WEARS GLASSES. she chose violence today read more

Hometown Cafe - the rude woman wearing glasses - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Authentic food and decent service. 3 enterees, rice, and refill soup. A lot to choose from and miso or egg drop soup read more

Hometown Cafe - Three main, rice and ayce soup. Braised pork chops, spicy tofu and green beans. $12 - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

This is a place for a quick lunch/dinner or good comfort food. There are so many entrée options, and they are delicious! I got the 3 entrée with rice, and it is a lot of food! I always have some leftovers for later. The foods don't have labels on it, but they are happy to explain what is in it if you ask. The dining area is very clean and spacious! read more

Hometown Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Very cool, cafeteria style Chinese restaurant. I love that they had so many different options to see. It reminded me of a panda express, but more authentic. The service was fast and friendly. Has a very hometown feel. Would recommend checking it out at least once. read more

Hometown Cafe - Food selection - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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mmm comfort authentic Chinese food... I come for the home-cooked tastes whenever I am in town! Conveniently close to UTD campus and great hotspot for students, offering generous portions. Prices have gone up, but still great price at $12 for three dishes (with or without rice) as of November 2024. The variety of meat options is impressive; my go-to is the fish and green onion oil chicken. Limited just veggie/non-meat options. Unlimited soup perk if you're dining in! Sweet and sour or daikon seaweed soup, the latter so warm and my personal fave. Just remember to grab a fresh bowl for refills, as you'll definitely want seconds. Self clean up once you're done - stack trays, bowls, and cups in bins. A plus is reusable metal cups for water, but minus is plastic spoons for soup spoons. Nevertheless, plenty of parking spaces and tables to dine-in, whether solo quick on the go or with your family! read more

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I really enjoy how homey this place feels. They serve food cafeteria style where you pick your food and it is served on a metal tray. I love the soups they offer complimentary. It is a no frills and affordable spot with amazing food. Everything tastes fresh and comforting. Definitely a go to if you want a satisfying meal without any fuss. read more

Hometown Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

This Taiwanese food has been established for sometimes. It is great place for breakfast and lunch. This restaurant has a lot of regular customers. This is local well know Taiwanese restaurant. They carry typical Taiwanese street food. We got the Taiwanese Rice roll. It has fried pork floss a fried dough. It just like in Taiwan. We also got salty soy milk which my wife favorite. She likes it for breakfast. The last dish is the beef pancake. The slice beef shank is delicious for the in filling. Overall is good Taiwanese restaurant. Definitely come back for more especially for the deli lunch specials. read more

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Easy quick lunch place. Cafeteria style. Super cheap and they give so much food. I loved their pork belly!! And the staff were so kind--they stared at my box as they were packaging it up, jokingly scolded me for not having any veggies, and threw in some green beans. read more

Hometown Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Five stars for the value. Four stars for the food. Atmosphere is fine. Not date night material but fine. read more

Hometown Cafe - Exterior - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

A nice, local spot for quick Taiwanese food. First, the menu on the wall was somewhat outdated, they no longer offer noodle or rice plate dishes. Don't worry, the main lunch/dinner deal is still really good, $10 for pick three. They have all the usual dishes as well. The roasted pork definitely was the highlight, really tender and flavorful. Also tried their potstickers. The size was on the smaller side but fried really well, I also really liked the sauce on the side. Overall, a decent, no-frill lunch spot. Give it a try! read more

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My family's favorite place. My parents stop by every 2-3 weeks all the way from Ft. Worth. $10/tray (pick 3 items) plus 2 scoops of rice is a great deal. Then they have 2 soups to pick from next to the water and water cups. Plenty of parking in the shopping center and it's CASH only. They will ask you if it's for here or for carry out. We always eat there because you also end up getting to try the soups. read more

Hometown Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

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Home-style cafeteria Chinese food that is honestly one of our favorite spots in the whole metroplex. We have come here countless times and each time has never disappointed. I love the pork rib, lions head, roll wrapped with bean curd, and honestly disliked any dish here. You get to choose 3 dishes and there's free soup that's 2 out of the 3: hot and sour, egg drop soup, radish soup. Highly recommend they also accept credit card now!! read more

Hometown Cafe - Choose 3 - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Cozy and homely. The soups are tasty and the food is very comforting and filling. Not too salty for the most part. The spicy foods are also not spicy. The price is $10 cash. If you're very hungry and want something that is a good bang for buck, this place is a great value, although it's not my favorite. I recommend trying out once. :) read more

Hometown Cafe - Ambiance - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Oh Hometown Cafe! What a special place. It's like a meat and three mom and pop but with country style Chinese cuisine!! Everything was delicious. The staff are so welcoming and happy you dropped in. The barley tea and the soups come with the purchase of the pick 3 lunch special all served on an awesome school cafeteria style tray! A la carte is avaliable too and Chinese breakfast! The spicy fish was delicious and so was the pork stuffed tofu skin! Yummy MaPo! An adorable come as you are homerun lunch. Good Vibes! Thanks Aunties!! read more

Hometown Cafe - Mapo Tofu, Spicy Fish, Tofu Skin with Pork, Napa, Chicken Curry! 10$ a tray! - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Good Greasy Chinese when need of a quick Fix, this is the spot. Inexpensive steam table items that are good. This aint Panda so dont get it twisted. Legit Chinese Bruh well except the Orange Chicken but who cares its delicious go see for yourself and try it dammit! read more

This little hole in the wall is quite a gem. It really feels like home in this little place. You pay a set price for how many ever entrees you want ie 3 items for $10 and you get to choose any 3 from a whole selection. My favorites are the steamed egg and tomato, green beans and braised pork. If you dine in, there's free unlimited soup! They change the soup I believe because one time we had hot and sour and the next time we had a vegetable soup. BRING CASH BECAUSE ITS CASH ONLY. There is a language barrier so be nice and patient. Service is pretty fast. The only downfall is that some of the food is cold. read more

Save your money and do not waste it here. The ladies who work here are very rude. Food is just like cafeteria food not worth wasting your appetite. McDonald's has better service. read more

I can't believe that I haven't written a review for this place yet! I love cafeteria style, you point out what you want and if you dine in, you get unlimited soup. The variety of dishes you can choose from is vast. Each tray comes with two scoops of rice. We got two tray of 3 dish and rice so in a way we got to try 6 different dishes. Personally the pork belly and soy sauce egg dish and the mapo tofu were amazing the night we went. Mapo tofu was really authentic, like the mouth numbing not spicy kind of sauce. IMO spot on. Really can't go wrong with any of the dishes, the stir fry string beans, perfectly cooked, dried bean curd dish, stir fry sprouts, scrambled egg with tomato, broccoli... I would have to say it's homestyle Chinese cooking at its best! The evening we were there, there was two choice of soup, one was a light egg drop/corn soup and the other melon soup. Be sure to have cash!! This place is cash only! read more

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My friends and I decided to try this restaurant for the first time because we wanted to enjoy a good meal together and experience something new. Unfortunately, the visit turned out to be extremely disappointing. We had a few simple questions about the menu, but instead of helping us, the staff member began yelling at us and speaking in a very belittling way. All we asked for was to order two protein selections instead of three. We were told that the two-protein option doesn't come with rice, which we understood. We even offered to pay extra for a side of rice, but the staff member kept raising her voice and repeating that it couldn't be done. The way the situation was handled was unnecessary and very uncomfortable. Customer service like this is unacceptable. I have never experienced restaurant staff yelling at customers over something as small as asking for a side of rice. What was supposed to be a fun lunch out with friends turned into a very negative experience, and we ended up leaving feeling upset and unwelcome. Definitely not the experience we expected for our first visit. read more

A few friends and I stopped by this restaurant for the first time because we wanted to try something different and have a good meal together. Unfortunately, the experience turned out to be really unpleasant because of how the staff treated us. When we were ordering, we asked a few basic questions about the menu. Instead of helping us, the staff member became rude and started raising her voice at us. It felt like we were being talked down to the whole time. We only wanted to order two protein options instead of the three that normally come with the meal. She kept saying that if we chose two proteins, it wouldn't include rice. We understood that and even said we were willing to pay extra for a side of rice, but she kept repeating that it couldn't be done and continued speaking loudly. The whole interaction was uncomfortable and unnecessary. I've never experienced restaurant staff yelling at customers over something as simple as asking for a side of rice. What was supposed to be a fun outing with friends ended with us leaving feeling upset and unwelcome. Definitely not the kind of service anyone expects when trying a restaurant for the first time. read more

Yelp reviews stated that this cash-only establishment serves authentic Chinese cuisine. Well, besides dim sum, I guess I don't care for authentic nor Americanized Chinese dishes. Food was served cafeteria style and pork belly wasn't even available. I surveyed the offerings and wasn't interested. I wanted to walk out but the older gentleman behind the counter was so friendly and patiently waited for us to place an order. I decided to roll with it and placed an order ($10 for a 3 choice plate with 2 scoops of rice). I ate what I could so that I didn't waste food but honestly, I didn't care for my meal at all. read more

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The basic concept behind hometown cafe is that you pick 3 dishes and they'll give you some rice, all for $10. Since you queue up for your food, there isn't any service to speak of, but then you also don't need to tip. The ambiance is typical of a Chinese restaurant, but the food is awesome. Furthermore, you get unlimited free soups of your choice. There is usually a spicy soup and a non-spicy soup. As a Chinese, I would personally visit this place everyday if I stay near, as I love the food here. read more

Hometown Cafe - Pork belly, Pig's ear and napa cabbage. The hot and spicy soup is near the top of the photo. - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

Food: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 3/5 Value: 4/5 ----- CASH ONLY This is my go-to place when I am craving nostalgic "home-cooked" cafeteria-style Chinese food. $10 for rice and 3 dishes. I think everything is pretty good. I have no gripes. I'm so glad they exist. Are the fanciest and cleanest and most upscale place? No. But if you take away, it's delicious and fast, and usually lasts 2 meals or is enough for 2 people. If you sit there, you can also get free soup. Recommend to everyone who's been craving their mom's cooking. read more

Heard about this place from one of my friends claiming that they have the best fried rice in town. I went with him to check it out and it's very similar to Taiwan Cafe where you can order dishes, and they also have lunch specials. I'd say this is one of my favorite places for lunch since they do a cafeteria style option. You get rice and can pick 3 sides from the 20+ dishes that are out. These sides can also be ordered a la carte if you want larger portions to take home or for family meals. The lunch is $10 cash and also includes self serve unlimited soup. This place makes for a quick lunch with delicious home cooked dishes that you can also get to-go. Cash only. read more

Tasty comfort authentic Chinese food. I visit several time/week for the home-cooked tastes and generous servings. Part of the China Town center with lots of other choices. read more

Very good late lunch here! Cafeteria/buffet style ordering. Pick 3 entrees from a great variety. Vegetarian friendly. Food temp could've been warmer. Very similar to the Taiwan Cafe, not quite as good. Dining room was clean and service was pleasant. More than reasonable and food was tasty and authentic. Would definitely go again. Recommend! read more

back in May, price was $9 but now in July, it's already $10 cash. There were 4 of us, but we didn't want to eat a lot, so I ordered one tray, plus soymilk, chinese doughstick, green onion pancake totaling $22.50. The lady owner said something along the line, you didn't order enough, if this is all you order, we must charge you more. So I ordered another tray of $10, our total meal was $32.50. What threw me off, was her attitude which forced us to buy more. It's a self serve business, we get our own veggie soup and water then put all tray/bowls in the tray bins after the meal, but how could they force customers to buy more? The veggie soup and water was free-flowing but the soup aren't that good, only thin slices of radish in clear soup and tomato chunks/egg soup. I'm always the only person to eat their soup in my family. In the end, we took home one box of food because we couldn't finish 2 trays. I heard one of my friends got here and the lady wouldn't give her change, saying she already did but really didn't while my friend was distracted by her baby, so when I come here, I always say to the owners: "here's $50 or $100" while handing the money over to them. read more

Very good food menu selection of meats and vegetables! Taste all good and fresh! Very personable service!

Simple cafeteria-style authentic food. 3 entrees and rice, plus unlimited soup makes for a tasty, filling and cheap lunch.

I tried this place for lunch the other day and I loved it! Delicious food and great price! $8 (cash only) for 3 entrees, 2 scoops of rice, and unlimited soup! It's located in a shopping center with plenty of parking spaces. It's sort of a cafeteria style restaurant where you pick which 3 entrees you want and then they put it on a big tray for you and then add on 2 scoops of rice. You then sit down and there is a table at the back where you can help yourself to unlimited soup (egg soup and radish/mushroom soup) and some water. I didn't catch the name of the 3 entrees I ordered. But since it was my first time there, I took the recommendations of the server and they were all delicious. And both soups tasted great as well! I will definitely come back to try the different entrees they offer! read more

Hometown Cafe - $8 (cash only) for this big plate with 3 entrees, 2 rice scoops, & unlimited soup! - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

You won't find a better deal for yummy home-style cantonese food. It definitely hit the spot for me, a person living away from her family's home cooking. The food and soup was delicious and generously portioned. It's an amazing deal for the price. The owners are also so kind. Definitely will be coming back! read more

Hometown Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Richardson, Texas

One of the hidden gems for value. Best value for money Chinese restaurant. Variety is great and personally while this isn't some fine dining place it's homey Chinese like you'd find in Taiwan cafeteria style restaurants read more

Price is now $12. Dish variety is still great but could use more seafood items (fish for example)- understand that's gonna add to owner's expense but the customer is paying for the increased cost as well. Another suggestion - if you have a popular dish, try to have more of it (two trays) so if a crazy customer decides to get the whole tray there would still be some left for the other customers in line. I witnessed that and it wasn't pleasant. I do like how the restaurant is now taking credit cards. The new location is great. read more

Great food, good price, and a taste of home. Service and ambiance is better than what you'd expect of a Chinese restaurant run by an old Chinese couple, but that shouldn't be the reason you come here. read more