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    Northern Cafe

    4.1 (1.1k reviews)
    ModerateChinese, Noodles, Soup
    Open 11:00 am - 9:30 pm

    Order Northern Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Northern Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    NORTHERN CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Northern Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Spicy shrimp wontons
    Katelyn S.

    Was looking for a place to have late dinner on the 4th of July and ended up here. There was no wait and was seated right away, which was a total plus! Ended up bringing my husband and another couple. We ordered orange chicken, xiao long bao, beef rolls, spicy wonton, and stir fried noodles. Everything was exceptional! Everyone loved the food while service was decent. We had to waive our server down a couple of times for water refills and sauce plates. Nonetheless, would come back again! If you're looking for a din tai fung dupe, I would definitely recommend this place.

    Albert C.

    The food was pretty good. Got the lamb with cumin, soup dumplings, string beans, custard bun, and more. It was on the oilier side and my cousin thought some dishes too salty. But I was delighted by the food. The ramen was pretty good and al dente!

    D1. Juicy Pork Dumplings (XLB)!
    Eunhae H.

    This place has always satiated my cravings for all things Chinese cuisine: from dumplings to classic Chinese dishes like Orange Chicken--they got me covered! I always start with their beef roll. And love ordering their juicy pork dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, and mapo tofu. Even though their speciality is not dim sum, their juicy pork dumplings are one of the best that I've had. I've only ordered through the delivery apps but I'd love to dine in. They have a cute purple and black awning, which gives a warm and friendly vibe. They are located in the same plaza as the Gen Kbbq and 85 Degrees bakery so parking may be difficult but it's nice to know that there's a lot of foot traffic--signifying that there's great eateries in this plaza!

    IG: socalhkfoodies
    Fiona T.

    Back in our college days, whenever we craved classic Chinese food, we'd go to Northern Cafe. And honestly... it's still the same now Of course, we had to kick things off with noodles. Then lamb skewers,and square ribs with garlic because we wanted something not too spicy Veggies were definitely needed for our Asian tummy digestion. Can't forget the xiao long bao and dumplings. This is just a classic that never goes wrong. IG: socalhkfoodies

    Chives, pork and shrimp dumplings
    Daniela C.

    I finally tried this place out after seeing so many TikTok videos about it! As soon as we stepped inside the service was amazing. This amazing service followed throughout our entire dinner. We were always asked if we were doing ok or need anything. The food was amazing and felt like homemade food, which I always appreciate from any restaurant! Everything had lots of flavor and tasted fresh. I would definitely return to reorder everything plus more. 10/10 would recommended. At the end of our dinner, the waitress let us know about their new rewards program which we appreciated. We will definitely return!

    Desire N.

    Today I'm at Northern Cafe, and everything we tried was packed with flavor! The Juicy Pork Dumplings were exactly what you want--tender, savory, and filled with delicious broth. The Chinese Chive & Shrimp Dumplings were fresh and perfectly balanced, while the Wontons in Spicy Sauce brought just the right amount of heat. The Beef Roll Pancake was crispy, flaky, and loaded with flavor. For entrées, the Kung Pao Shrimp and Orange Chicken were both savory, slightly spicy, and fantastic with steamed rice. We also enjoyed the tender spare ribs, crispy spring rolls, and sweet steamed custard buns for dessert. To wash it all down, the Black Milk Tea and Jasmine Milk Tea were refreshing and delicious. If you're craving authentic Chinese comfort food, Northern Cafe in Cerritos is definitely worth a visit!

    beef roll
    Hayley C.

    I really like Northern Cafe for their beef rolls!! Compared to other restaurants, they ALWAYS pack the roll with beef. Many other places just put 90% cilantro and 10% beef which is ridiculous lol. The roll is always tasty and they give you sauce on the side. I can't speak for the restaurant experience itself because each time I have just ordered to-go, but the times I've walked in it seemed kind of dead, maybe it was just the times I've went. It looked pretty nice inside though, at least this location did. Maybe I'll sit down at Northern Cafe soon and try it out.

    Spicy Pork Wonton Dumplings- V good !
    Sushil P.

    Always wanted to try Northern Cafe but didn't get chance earlier. Recently, a friend in my pickleball group recommended this place so I stopped by for a quick lunch. Service was quick and efficient - I didn't have to wait in spite of dropping in during a busy lunch hour. Started off with Spicy Pork Wonton Dumplings which were very good. Also ordered Kung Pao Shrimp & steamed rice on our server's recommendation and it was awesome. Portions were too much for 1 person but good enough for 2 to share. This was a really good one for a quick lunch and I bet I will be back here a lot many times in future !

    Beef roll
    Crystal D.

    This place was on point with all their food. My favorites were the beef roll and pan fried dumplings. That beef roll is so tasty and who can resist the crispness of those dumplings. The fried rice was also very good and not greasy at all. And of course the dumplings were soft and flavorful. The restaurant itself is a good size and perfect for small or bigger parties. It's simple but clean, modern, and open. The service was efficient and it was easy to get someone's attention. I highly recommend trying this place. It's definitely going to be on my dumpling rotation.

    Dumplings
    Sophie D.

    Good for groups , excellent food and service! We went at 11am on a Wednesday and there was no wait. Our server was fantastic and super personable. Everything was good, but the beef roll, green beans, jasmine tea and sesame balls (in that order!) were my absolute favorite. Parking: shares a lot with lots of other great eateries nearby, so can get very busy during peak hours Ambiance: casual Value: great quality for the price. Friend says sue prefers it over din tai fung!!!

    Inside the store
    Lauren S.

    The last time I came here was a few months ago, as this is the closest authentic Chinese food near me. Came here on a Saturday lately and was surprised in a bad way. We ordered my usual braised beef noodle soup , but the soup base has got weaker and bland and there was much less beef cubes. The Dandan noodle was okay, although more peanuts than ground pork. The onion pancake is still tasty. It seems like to be under new chef and old staff? I'll probably not going back.

    Soup dumplings.
    Tina P.

    Food is always good. My brother ordered quite a few dishes. The chicken was delicious as well as the other dishes. Service was great. It can get really crowded from what it appears on Sundays. We go to the Rowland Heights location as we live closer to that location, this seems to have different varieties here. Great place!

    Cold cucumber
    Bry N.

    Yoooooooooooooooo! Whenever I'm not in the mood to deal with the ridiculous waitlist and long lines at Din Tai Fung, this is my go-to spot. It's closer to home, way more affordable, and honestly tastes very similar to what you'd get at DTF anyway--without the headache. Our order is pretty much locked in every time: juicy pork dumplings (Xiao Long Bao), cold cucumber, spicy wontons, dry-fried string beans, and the house special spicy beef noodle soup. The Xiao Long Bao doesn't always have as much soup inside compared to Din Tai Fung, but that happens at a lot of places. They make up for it by serving the dumplings with ginger and sauce on the side--add it to your spoon before biting in and it still hits the spot. The cold cucumber is super refreshing and I feel like they give you a more generous portion here. Spicy wontons are also very comparable--nice kick, great flavor, and always satisfying. As for the spicy beef noodle soup, pro tip: add tendon. I always ask for extra tendon and don't mind paying the difference since it's my favorite--loaded with collagen and makes the soup even richer. Prices are very fair for the quality and portions (hopefully they don't raise them ). Service is consistently friendly, the ambiance is chill and very family-friendly, and overall it's just a reliable spot that never disappoints. Definitely a place I'll keep coming back to again and again.

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    2 months ago

    The food here is slop and low quality. It used to be good. You might as well go eat at Panda Express and save yourself some money.

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    Northern Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Northern Cafe

    Do they have shrimp fried rice?

    Yes

    Can I make a reservation? Is it necessary on a Saturday night?

    No, you cannot make reservations. If there is a wait when you get there you can just give them your name and they'll call you when there's an available table. The night we went there was no wait so we were seated immediately.

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    Lunasia Dim Sum House

    Lunasia Dim Sum House

    3.6
    (1.3k reviews)
    0.1 mi
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    I've been eating at Lunasia since they only had a single location in San Gabriel. Since then,…read morethey've expanded all over southern California, and I think they are the best option for dim sum near Cerritos. Criticism that their dim sum dishes are expensive is valid, but I don't mind spending for their dishes because they generally serve giant, protein-filled dumplings and I enjoy that their dim sum is made to order. The other reasons that could yield a two- or three-star experience here are that service isn't great and some of their dim sum offerings, such as their xiao long bao (soup dumplings) aren't great. I also don't like that they charge you like $2 for a small container of chili oil. I do enjoy their fried offerings and their shiu mai and they're quite filling. This time, I got their mala spiced har gow and their chili won tons. Both were okay, but I don't think that I'd order them again. I understand why one could rate this as a three-star dining experience; however, it remains my local go-to option for dim sum because of their large dumpings, their made-to-order dishes, and because they're dumplings are pretty filled to the brim with meat.

    The best Chinese restaurant I had recently. Super flavorful dishes and great service…read more I had: 1. Abalone chicken soup 2. House special stir cucumber 3. Lobster 4. Roasted pecking duck 5. Vegetarian's delight 6. Stir fried water spinach with jalapeno 7. Rice noodle roll with shrimp 8. French-style sauteed beef cubes with basil 9. Fried rice with dried scallop 10. Macao style egg custard 11. Sakura egg yolk buns 12. Durian soy milk pudding

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    Lunasia Dim Sum House
    Lunasia Dim Sum House
    Lunasia Dim Sum House

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    Sam Woo Cafe

    Sam Woo Cafe

    4.3
    (970 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    This isn't your typical "roll around cart" dim sum spot but it sure was tasty! The interior was…read morevery bright, modern, and beautiful. Not to mention very clean! When you order, you'll check mark the menu they have ( with pictures might I add ! ) and they'll come pick it up and bring out your order fresh and pipin' hot. We came on a busy day with plenty of people ahead of us in line, but because of the fast service we got in surprisingly quick. Although they were busy, every time we needed something they would bring it out right away but this is not the place where they would come check on you every so often. They know what they're doing and they do it efficiently. Here is a few must try items that we all loved! - Egg Tart - Scallop w/ Shrimp Dumpling - Fish w/ Sausage Balls - Fried Golden Shrimp Balls Definitely check this place out if you're looking for a good dim sum spot !

    Strip mall dim sum…read more I guess don't judge this place into you step in and try it. When I walked in and saw the outside I was wondering why my friends choose this place, it looked from the outside like a small shop, but when I walked in it was way bigger and authentic. Jokes on me. Ordered a bunch of dim sum dishes, everything came out quickly. They even have dessert samples in the front. In San Francisco they would never have dessert samples at a dim sum place so that was a plus for our group. Tea is around $5 a pot. Potstickers were a hit and so was the beef chow fun. Those were 5/5 The beef jook is a skip, kind of tasted runny like powder and no real flavor with weird small bits of beef that looked like bacon bits. 2/10 Other than that the dim sum was solid amd came out hot and fresh. Same with the Chinese broccoli. Skip the lemon iced tea. Tasted like it was from a packet and it was horrible. 0/10 Would definitely come back for their dim sum though.

    Photos
    Modern ambience
    Modern ambience
    Bbq pork puffs
    Bbq pork puffs
    Menu2 feb 2026

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    Menu2 feb 2026
    M's Kitchen

    M's Kitchen

    4.4
    (231 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    * NOTE: I spent 3 weeks happily eating Taiwanese food at every meal in Taipei so I am a fervent fan…read moreof the cuisine. And prefer it over many other Asian cuisines.* The reason I chose M's Kitchen over two other Taiwanese restaurants in the area? So many more vegetable dishes! And wow, am I completely grateful I did! We arrived on a Saturday evening, and the server and chef were both in the kitchen. The server came over and gave us menus before getting our drink orders. She was prompt in a very caring manner without ever seeming rushed. She had lots of suggestions as we asked questions about the menu. At some point, the chef was sitting with us, and she asked him clarifying questions for us. She even went back into the kitchen to find out which vegetables were the freshest (which I appreciated)! We ordered a cup of ginseng and goji berry chicken soup, chicken cream corn soup (with egg), ong choy with garlic, walnut shrimp, crispy tofu, and green scallion pancake. As each dish came out, it felt like different instruments in an orchestra being highlighted as they wove into the tapestry of the music. The ong choy built onto the soup, the crispy tofu onto the ong choy and soup, and so on! Until there was this grand harmony of pulsating flavors and textures! I thoroughly enjoyed each dish! I only wish I had a bigger appetite so I could eat more and faster! The server helped us to pack the leftovers. We spoke about how traditional Chinese and Taiwanese food get lost in the mix of more modern and fusion recipes and restaurants. I am also a loving fan of mom and pop dining because it reminds me of the many meals I have been gifted by the parents of friends and friends who have opened their homes and hearths to feed and nourish me in my life. I love feeling like I am visiting someone's family and sharing a meal together. This is how M's Kitchen felt for me! I am planning how many meals I can have here and who I can invite to experience the deliciousness soon! Please consider visiting! Even if you haven't tried Taiwanese food yet, this is a wonderful spot to start with!

    When you want stir-fry items, you come to M's Kitchen. They have the best items. They have combo…read moreitems - where you can get dishes plus rice at a flat rate. We normally get the three plate combo, and upgrade to items we like. Fish, beef and veggies. I LOVE their satay beef. So good. with some rice? YUSSSSSSSSSSSS. They do take out as well, can call ahead. $$

    Photos
    Cozy homey dining area
    Cozy homey dining area
    109. Fried Calamari with Salt and Pepper
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    Northern Cafe - chinese - Updated July 2026

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