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    Mela Cafe

    4.4 (9 reviews)
    Open 10:30 am - 8:00 pm

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    Recommended Reviews - Mela Cafe

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    Dan Dan noodles

    We wanted to try our new local spot. Wow!!! I wasn't expecting a trip to China in a strip mall. The food is authentic and the owner was very helpful so that we ordered a range of dishes we weren't familiar with. We tried the shrimp and the ribs, both in the House Spice sauce. The heat was adjustable, the flavors with depth and interest. We chose the cooler Dan Dan noodles and scallion pancake to offset the heat and House Crisp peanuts and pickled vegetables to give some crunch. Amazing experience. The decor is basic for a new restaurant, look past that and enjoy an Asian feast. I knew I'd be a happy girl when I ordered tea and received leaves not a bag. No generic place here.

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    Barbara I.

    Trust the process. As of yet it's not fully decorated or promoted but WOW the food is de-lic-ious !!!! We will be returning. The owners are super friendly and accommodating and take great pride in their food. You def need to give them a try

    Beef noodle soup (spicy or regular)

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    18 days ago

    Excellence best soup in Richmond followed by. Great staff Imy favorite place in Richmond

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    Cheng Du Chinese Restaurant - L16. Ma Po Tofu Lunch 37. Chong Qing Spicy Chicken 87 Crispy honey pork  Beef Chow Fun soup dumplings

    Cheng Du Chinese Restaurant

    3.7(297 reviews)
    13.2 mi
    $$

    I can't say what authentic Chinese food should taste like but of the Chinese cuisine that I enjoy,…read moreit checked all the check boxes for me. Smelled delicious, looked delicious, tasted delicious. I had chicken fried rice and the General Tso's chicken which are the standard dishes I have when searching for Chinese food and they were 10 out of 10. I can't wait to explore more of the menu. The server was a little "crunchy" but it could have been a language barrier, so I'll chalk that up to being lost in translation.

    We ordered egg rolls, wonton soup, Braised Beef Brisket in Casserole and Hot Spicy Pork ribs. We…read morehave never had the braised beef brisket in casserole before, but have had the hot spicy pork ribs before. We also ordered for delivery which we rarely have ever do. In the order instructions, I asked for the Chinese mustard and duck sauce for the eggrolls, and that was not included in the order. The wonton soup was greasy. The hot spicy pork ribs were tasty and tender. I would only wonder why it has to have so much of the seasoning spices on them to bury it. We were disappointed with the brisket dish. It was plentiful but the seasonings were not our favorite. Also got the fried rice this time where we usually get the white rice. Not a fan of their fried rice. The biggest difficulty I had with the order was that the delivery service which used DoorDash took over an hour to get to us after the order was picked up for delivery. As I'm watching the delivery online in the app, which is a nice service in DoorDash, it did not look like he was coming to us first, and probably dropped two or three orders before us. And then it didn't look like he knew where he was going. Later in the app, I saw that there was a comment that my address was a difficult one to find which I don't understand because it's an apartment in a very central place in town.

    Photos
    Cheng Du Chinese Restaurant - Interior

    Interior

    Cheng Du Chinese Restaurant - Tibetan lamb (Chinese New Year Special)

    Tibetan lamb (Chinese New Year Special)

    Cheng Du Chinese Restaurant - Patio

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    Patio

    Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar - Steamed chili dumplings

    Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar

    4.2(758 reviews)
    8.9 miScott's Addition
    $$

    As a self-proclaimed foodie and someone who runs their own food business, I'll admit my standards…read moreare high. To me, a great presentation and a beautiful atmosphere are wonderful, but at the end of the day? Nothing can replace pure, authentic flavor. ​Well, Fat Dragon in Virginia absolutely blew me away. ​From the second we walked in, the experience was seamless. We had a party of eight with no reservation, and they sat us immediately. The ambiance was great, the portions were incredibly generous, and the staff was friendly, attentive, and completely on top of their game. Drinks arrived fast, and the entire meal flowed beautifully without a single hitch. ​But let's get to the real highlight of the night: the Tsingtao beer-battered mushrooms. ​Oh my goodness, they were out of this world! Perfectly fried and crispy on the outside, incredibly juicy on the inside, and dusted with a spicy Sichuan cloud that made them completely irresistible. They were so good that even my father--who isn't a mushroom lover at all--couldn't stop eating them! ​For my main course, I had the Fei Lone steak, and it was absolutely sublime. Tender, perfectly prepared, and packed with flavor. ​If you appreciate amazing service, a great vibe, and food that actually delivers on taste, do yourself a favor and check out Fat Dragon. I'll definitely be thinking about those mushrooms for a long time!

    We arrived on a Thursday around 8 pm. The parking here is street parking, which is hit-or-miss. We…read moreparked within a half-block, so it was not a long trek. The entryway is interesting and provides some shelter from the rain, allowing you to manage your umbrella before entering. We were seated within seconds, and our server, Liza, came by very promptly with some water for our table. I felt slightly anxious at first, being that we were in a cozy two-top amongst the fray, but it subsided quickly because everyone was respectful and reasonably quiet. We ordered the veggie spring rolls to start, and I had the Chinatown Ramen, and my partner had the Chicken Fried Noodles. The appetizer was hot, savory, and spicy with the duck sauce and hot mustard mixture. If you like milder sauce, do not mix it. The entrees came out within five or so minutes of the appetizers, which seemed quick for a busy night. The ramen was spicy, hot, and filling. I was only able to finish about half. We will be enjoying those leftovers tonight. My partner said that her noodles and chicken were well-seasoned and delicious, too. Looking around the restaurant, it is clear that they support the local LGBTQ+ community, and it is even labeled as a Safe Space on the beautifully manicured, makeshift chalkboard/menu/posting board. The clientele and staff alike seemed warm and kind, based solely on limited interactions and observation on my part. If you are looking for a traditional American-Chinese food restaurant (think buffet-style items), this is likely not the place for you. There were no mishaps or snafus with our orders. Liza performed her duties well, and I can surely recommend this restaurant to anyone who doesn't mind a mix of Japanese and Chinese cuisine.

    Photos
    Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar - Ambiance and bar area

    Ambiance and bar area

    Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar - Crispy calamari

    Crispy calamari

    Fat Dragon Chinese Kitchen and Bar - Fat Dragon Tofu

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    Fat Dragon Tofu

    Mela Cafe - noodles - Updated September 2026

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