Came for a late lunch on a weekday and they were surprisingly still pretty busy. We were seated right away and food came out quickly except the potstickers but perfection takes time lol. Reasonable prices and good portion sizes big enough to share! I would come back to try their other items. -Beef noodle soup (4/5): large portion, noodles were nicely chewy, broth was well seasoned and comforting -Potstickers (4.5/5): thick, perfectly crispy, filled with juicy meat, a little bit salty and oily but still delicious read more

Northern Cafe - Potstickers - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

Yummy Chinese food! We came for a late lunch on a weekday and they were surprisingly still pretty busy, but we were seated right away. Our server Joyce was friendly and efficient. Affordable prices and good portion sizes. I'd love to come back! Potstickers (4.5/5): a little oily and savory, but thick and perfectly crispy! Beef Noodle Soup (4/5): broth was well seasoned and portion was generous, lots of noodles and beef read more

Northern Cafe - Potstickers - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

A great option if you're craving Din Tai Fung-style dishes without breaking the bank. The portions are generous and best suited for sharing family-style. The dumplings were solid and lived up to expectations, but the standout for me was the dan dan noodles--they were especially flavorful and definitely worth ordering. The service was also phenomenal. Our server checked in with us several times throughout the meal and gave us great recommendations. Overall, a really enjoyable experience and a great value for the quality and portion sizes! read more

Northern Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

This gem has been in my backyard for a long time and I barely discovered it. The service is friendly, the place is super clean. And the food? Delicious! We tried the orange chicken, shrimp fried rice, house chow mein, the pork pan fried dumplings, and a ramen. This is not a ramen place but they pulled this one out. And the rest of the food was served hot, fresh, and flavorful. We will be back very soon. read more

See all

I've been here several times with family and the food has always been delicious and worth it for the price point and quantity. We've done both dine and take out from here before. Last weekend, I called for take out and was placed on hold; however, I waited for at least 5 minutes or more on the line and still nobody had got back to me. So eventually I hung up and tried calling back several more times but the line was always busy. Eventually I had to have a family member go in person to order since I'm at home with the baby. Apparently they were really busy that Saturday and so nobody was able to take care of the phone. Other than that, love the orange chicken and spicy wontons from here! The chow mein is also another favorite of mine as they use thicker noodles. read more

Northern Cafe - Spicy wonton, chicken chow mein, pan fried dumplings, orange chicken, & kung pao chicken - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

This was our first visit to the Cerritos location. I often choose restaurants based on reviews and enjoy trying new places, so I was curious to see how this one would compare. At first, I wasn't sure what to expect, but the overall experience was better than I anticipated. The seasoning was a little strong, and some dishes had a fairly familiar, standardized taste. Nothing was bad, and everything was prepared well, but I do feel a little disappointed when the authentic flavors of traditional Chinese food become less noticeable. There were four of us, and we ordered about eight or nine of their most popular dishes. My parents really enjoyed the food. I have worked in China before, so I may be a little more sensitive and particular when it comes to Chinese food. Overall, the restaurant has good reviews, the prices are reasonable, and it was a pretty good dining experience. read more

Northern Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

What I Ordered: Juicy Pork Dumplings ($11.99) Pan Fried Chinese Chives Pork Shrimp dumplings ($12.99) Wonton in Spicy Sauce ($11.50) Chicken Fried Rice ($12.99) Dry fried string bean ($13.50) Orange Chicken ($14.99) Kung Pao Shrimp ($18.99) Dan dan noodle ($13.99) Beef roll pancake ($12.99) Spring rolls ($3.50) Jasmine Milk Tea with Boba Food: The Pan Fried Chinese Chives Pork Shrimp Dumplings. I absolutely loved the crispy bottom layer because it added such a satisfying crunch to every bite. The inside stayed really juicy and flavorful with a good balance of pork, shrimp, and chives. The Juicy Pork Dumplings had soup inside, which was rich and savory. I've had soup dumplings before where the wrapper breaks apart too easily, but these held together nicely while still staying soft and delicate. The Wonton in Spicy Sauce was my personal favorite from the entire meal. The spicy sauce flavor was savory with a little sweetness. I'm typically not good with spice, so this is at a spice level that should be very manageable for everyone. I absolutely loved the spicy sauce, so I started putting it on everything. Definitely put the sauce on the chicken fried rice! The Chicken Fried Rice was a great dish to pair with everything else that we ordered. With several orders of entrees, a solid rice dish is a must order for any Chinese meal. The rice had a nice savory flavor that I enjoyed, and there was a generous amount of chicken mixed throughout the dish. I even asked the waitress if they do anything special with the fried rice because it tasted better than many other restaurants. It felt comforting and balanced compared to some of the heavier dishes. The Dry Fried String Beans were cooked perfectly with a slight crispness while still being tender. The garlic and seasoning gave them so much flavor that it honestly didn't even feel like I was eating vegetables. I do have to note that these were very much on the salty side, so if you don't like foods that are too salty, I would choose a different dish. The Orange Chicken was really crispy and juicy, which I appreciated because soggy orange chicken is always disappointing to me. The sauce had a nice citrus flavor while still keeping that classic sweet savory taste. The Spring Rolls were simple with vegetable filling on the inside with a crispy outside. I would try a different appetizer next time. The Kung Pao Shrimp was packed with flavor and had a really satisfying combination of textures. The shrimp were tender, and the peanuts added a great crunch to the dish. I thought the sauce had a really nice balance of spice and savoriness without becoming overwhelming. Another dish I really enjoyed was the Beef Roll Pancake. The pancake itself was nice and chewy throughout each bite. The sliced beef with green onions and sauce all wrapped together made every bite really flavorful and satisfying. For drinks, I ordered the Jasmine Milk Tea with Boba. I really liked that the jasmine tea flavor was noticeable instead of being overly sweet like some milk teas can be. The boba had a soft chewy texture, and the drink itself paired perfectly with the spicy and savory dishes from the meal. Staff: All of the staff members were quick and friendly Ambiance: Indoor seating only. A good amount of parking in the parking lot that is shared with other shops in the plaza. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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 read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

This place is great, with amazing food, and nice staff. The inside is a little small, so I can see that it would get busy during peak hours; I've only been during opening hour. In the opening hour (not sure if it's different for later hours) but I've noticed there is only one server. While I must give the one server her props for keeping up with all the orders and delivering the food, we don't get checked in on, which at minimum should be happening one time. That's the only thing I would ding this place for. But other than that, the food is great, service is fast, the waitress puts in work to handle all her tables alone. The prices are great for the amount of food and quality as well. Would definitely recommend this spot without breaking your wallet. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

The pork ribs were my favorite! The green beans were a hair salty, the spicy wonton had a lot of filling which I loved. I will say this I'm a fan of din tai fung so I was comparing everything. Their "Juicy wonton dumpling" was a miss for me, the wonton wrapper was too thick for my liking and once it got cold it was hard. I do appreciate our server, even tho it was a busy she checked on us at least 3 times! I'll give it 4 stars cause our server rocked! But 3 stars for food. read more

See all

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! read more

See all

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 ! read more

See all

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. read more

See all

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!!! read more

See all

My family has been coming to this spot for a little while already, and I have been able to try a a few different things on their menu. I have liked everything I've tried, but I mainly love coming for their noodle soups! The noodle soups are really yum, very filling, and you can choose what type of noodle you want!! I believe they have knife cut, flat noodle, and a round noodle (?). But I personally really like flat or knife cut for the soups! Most recently I tried the chicken chow mein and it was good! Only thing is we ordered it spicy, and in all honesty it's really not spicy at all! Lol I would have preferred more of a kick, but that's just me maybe! The plates are shareable here which is really nice cause we can always try different things! One main thing I recommend is definitely the beef roll pancake!!! It's so sooo good! One of my fav things on the menu! The inside is clean. Not a super huge place, but I never have felt crammed or uncomfortable. Last time I went the girl helping us was so nice and attentive even when they were really busy! read more

See all

Every northern cafe location taste different & this location has yet to be my favorite one by far. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, beef noodle soup, sweet & sour pork. Everything was flavorful, in generous portions and good pricing. Service was very tentative and welcoming. Fairly big restaurant, that gets packed quickly around dinner time. Parking lot is big, but very packed as well. read more

Northern Cafe - Dan Dan noodles, beef noodle soup - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

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! read more

See all

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. read more

Northern Cafe - Cold cucumber - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

Food tastes amazing. Me and my girlfriend make it a habit to go once a month. The prices are amazing as well for the quality of the food. Service is good as well the servers are very attentive. read more

Northern Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

The dumplings are not good. I was in Monterey park a couple days before I ate here & the difference was like night and day. The Dan Dan noodles are edible but nothing worth paying for. The beef rolls were interesting but overly sweet & the meat smelled really old. read more

Northern Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

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. read more

See all

My favorite Taiwanese noodle soup place in the city of Cerritos (maximum room capacity is 43 persons and has a gender neutral restroom available), especially for the A 6 which is the prime beef golden soup with standard round noodles...it is spicy, with the red chilies, but you can adjust the spice level, but I like to have it as is. I also love D.1, the 8 juicy pork dumplings as an appetizer and goes well with the soups, very much a soup dumpling that can be eaten as a side or even as a meal on its own. You can order extra prime beef or regular beef sliced or cubed for an additional price of $6-7, which is more than 4 pieces. Well worth trying this noodle soup if you are feeling under the weather, that spice can also kick those taste buds and make you feel golden with their prime beef golden soup! Enjoy! read more

I can't remember the name of the girl who was working but she was amazing. Amazing service and honestly, made the food + experience even better. I can't believe I've never heard of this place. Everything we got was fresh & pipping hot. I really like the beef rolls here! Tons of parking, tons of seating as well read more

Place: Northern Cafe Visit date: October, 2025 Rating: 5/5 What We Ordered: * Dry-Fried String Bean $13.50 -- Well cooked and bursting with flavor, these had a great snappy texture that made them really enjoyable. * Shrimp Fried Rice $12.99 -- A solid, well-executed classic. The rice was cooked nicely and not overly oily, though the flavors were on the lighter side. * Orange Chicken $14.99 -- Possibly my wife's new favorite! The chicken was crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, and coated in a sauce that leaned slightly more sweet than savory. Not spicy at all, just well balanced and delicious. The Experience: We stopped by for lunch on a Sunday, and as expected, parking in the plaza was a bit of a nightmare. Despite the crowd, we were greeted and seated immediately. The restaurant was clean, and while the seating is a bit close together, it didn't feel overly cramped or uncomfortable. Their menu is surprisingly extensive, so we took a few minutes to look it over before ordering. To our surprise, our food arrived in under 10 minutes! The staff were friendly, attentive, and impressively quick--definitely made for a smooth and enjoyable dining experience. Highs: * Very quick service * Quality cooking, great flavors * Large portions Lows: * Parking (Not their fault) * Somewhat tight seating Final Thoughts: This place came highly recommended by friends, and now I completely understand why. The food was flavorful, the service impressively fast, and the portions more than generous. Even though it was just the two of us, the menu and portion sizes make it perfect for family-style dining or sharing dishes with a group. We'll definitely be coming back soon to explore more of their extensive menu--there's clearly a lot more to enjoy here. read more

Northern Cafe - Dry-Fried String Bean - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

See all

This location is better than the one in Gardena what I didn't know some of these locations are corporate owned, and others are franchise. Apparently, this one in Cerritos along with the one in Eldon, though and downtown Los Angeles are all corporate owned, which means the consistency of the food will be the same. The ones that are owned by franchise they have their own twist to them and they could be some differences in the quality and the size and the service. I highly recommend this location. The ambience is terrific. Lots of seating lots of parking. read more

See all

Really amazing green beans, noodle soup and juicy pork dumplings. I have to agree with other reviewers that this is better than Din Tai Fung because it's easier to get into and tastes just as good. Everything we tried was amazing and the service was quick and helpful. For such a small space and staff they were very on top of things even with the place completely full. It was a little chilly in there that's about my only complaint but I'm sure working there they appreciate the cooler air because it has to be hot running around and covering all those tables. read more

Ordered many times and have a lot of favorite dishes. Dumplings, green beans, broccoli, fried rice, orange chicken, beef roll... you can't go wrong. The parking lot had me literally in tears on a Friday night. Very crowded with lots of cars circling waiting for spots. Transient folks pushing carts. Huge groups waiting in front of other restaurants, and folks wandering between cars. ROUGH navigating with kiddos. Will try to remeber not to attempt around busy times. read more

Pretty solid chinese spot in a busy Cerritos plaza (right next to Gen KBBQ), so parking can be tough on a weekend. Ordered their beef roll, diced chicken with chili, and shrimp chow mein. The chicken was nice and crispy, and the spice definitely gave it tons of flavor. The beef roll had a nice flavor and the pastry itself was flaky. The shrimp chow mein had a thicker sauce which elevated it from other chow meins. Service was also nice and friendly. read more

See all

First time here. Everything was good. The spicy wontons star of the show Soup dumplings good. Kung Pao shrimp real good. The beef rolls were good only think I didn't like was the meat was cold inside them. Other than that. I definitely recommend. Service is A1 they are on it. read more

3 1/2-4 stars Came here tonight as this is my bf's and my go-to place for orange chicken and garlic bok choy. Unfortunately, they were out of the orange chicken so we opted for the Kung Pao chicken since we had it for to-go last time and it was pretty good. I will have to say I was pretty disappointed at how OILY it was. Although the flavor was good it was drenched in oil and sauce that it overpowers. We were going to take the rest home but it was so oily at the bottom of the plate that we just decided to leave it. The bok choy was also over steamed so it was a bit on the soggy side, compared to the usual crisp. It was still good and they have always been consistent for the most part, but tonight felt as if it was a different chef. Definitely keep in mind if you order the kung pao it is heavy on the chili oil. read more

See all

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.

Solid, good green onion pancake! Not mindblowingly good that I repeat noodle wise but I like the more flavorful versions of beef noodle soup. Maybe Szechwan. The beef wrap role was a little crispier on the outside than I'm used to but not a bad thing. The green onion pancake is uncommon to find done the right way, they do it right here! Old review so I'm pretty sure this picture is from this experience... Aug 2024 read more

See all

Tried this place for the first time as I wanted to try their noodles and soup. The food was good and the serving size is really generous. The place was packed since it was a holiday so there's a little bit of wait time. The restaurant is not too big and pretty condensed inside. The booth where I was seated, the leather covers were all torn and cover with electrical tape. I am not impressed with the service that's why I am only giving it 3 stars. read more

Northern Cafe - Beef noodles with Meat and tendon - Chinese Near Me - Cerritos, California

Absolutely delicious!! We came in here and were promptly sat with our 4 kiddos (our 4 year old being the oldest) and we had a great experience. Service was good and food was really good also! Ordered their prime beef noodle golden soup and it was really good a bit sweet for my liking, like if it had pineapple juice but still really tasty. Their juicy pork dumplings and wonton in spicy sauce was my favorite even had to order another order of the juicy pork dumplings because our kiddos ate them all and didn't leave us any lol will definitely be back again soon! read more

See all

Northern Cafe is one of my go-to spots when I want something quick without sacrificing quality. The food always comes out fast, it's fresh, and everything I've tried has been full of flavor. Perfect for a quick lunch or an easy dinner when you're craving great Chinese food. Friendly service, generous portions, and consistently good food. I'll definitely keep coming back! read more