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NORTHERN CAFE @ UNIVERSITY CENTER The food was so yummy and it was so convenient to get, love that there was plenty of spots to sit too! The food came out in about 5 minutes and everything was pretty good. Overall 5/5 would get again
Went here for lunch, and it could get packed during lunch time but the service is fast. We ordered Dandan Noodles, egg plant with garlic sauce, yangzhou fried rice, sweet and sour ribs and pork and shrimp dumplings. Dandan noodles is okay, nothing special. Egg plant with garlic sauce is too greasy probably because of they fry the eggplants first. Yangzhou fried rice is okay, lots of shrimp. Sweet and sour ribs is too sweet for me and too saucy that it feels overwhelming already and lastly the pork and shrimp dumplings is just okay, you need to put their dumpling sauce to make it taste better. They do have outdoor seating and we have our dog with us and the tables are clean despite being in a busy street. Overall, the food is just okay, service is fast and place is clean.
I was craving Chinese and since I'm super indecisive, I "Eenie Meenie Miney Mo'd" it and landed on Northern Cafe. The reviews were good, but these days I don't solely bank on them. IYKYK. ;) Ordered the orange chicken, Lao Gan Ma fried noodles, and the beef roll. The orange chicken was really good, but I fell in love with the beef roll. The bread was flaky, the beef was incredibly tender, and it was packed with flavor. I'd order that every single time. The noodles were good, just not my favorite of the three dishes. That's not a knock on them. The other two were just that much better. Folks, this was takeout! I figured it wouldn't be nearly as good at home as it would be fresh at the restaurant. Wrong!. By the time we got home, everything still tasted fresh and tasted *chef's kiss*. AND the leftovers were just as good the next day. The orange chicken crisped right back up in the air fryer, the noodles reheated well on the stovetop, and nothing tasted like it had spent the night in the fridge. I'll definitely be dining in next time. Northern Cafe: 10/10!
We visited Northern Cafe near UC Irvine with a party of four and had a solid lunch experience overall. Ordering was straightforward, food came out quickly, and it was easy to share dishes family-style. What we ordered: * Cumin Lamb - Great Very tasty with bold cumin flavor and absolutely no lamb smell. One of the standout dishes. * Eggplant with Garlic Sauce - Great Well-cooked, rich, and flavorful. The sauce paired perfectly with the tender eggplant. * Sautéed Green Beans - Great Nicely blistered, savory, and addictive. Simple but done right. * Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs - OK Flavor was fine, but the meat leaned a bit chewy compared to the other dishes. * Popcorn Chicken - Great Juicy and tender on the inside with a crispy exterior. Easy crowd favorite. * Hot & Sour Soup - OK Comforting and warming, though nothing particularly memorable. * Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce - OK Decent with good heat, but not a standout compared to similar versions elsewhere. * Cold Dish (3 Veg Items) - OK Refreshing and light, a good balance to the heavier dishes. * Rice Standard and served hot--does its job. Overall: This was a solid 4-star experience. Portions are generous, prices and value are great for the area, and the food quality is solid with a few standout dishes. Conveniently located near UC Irvine on Campus Drive, Northern Cafe is a reliable spot for casual Chinese comfort food, especially when dining with a group.
Northern Cafe is located at the University Town Center and serves up casual Chinese fare. Ordering is done at the front and then food is delievered to your table. I came with a group of co-workers and we decided to share some items. Chicken wontons - $12 - These were probably my favorite item here. The dumplings had good flavor and quite a bit of chicken. Scallion pancake ($8) - I've had much better elsewhere, and it wasn't as crispy and flaky as most other places. Beef roll ($13) - The beef rolls are wrapped in the same scallion pancakes so that part was disappointing and there was nothing special about the beef in the roll. Fried beef skewers ($6.50) - These skewers were so flavorful with a strong cumin flavor and I would recommend getting these if I revisited. Steamed custard buns ($6) - The buns were a little hard and didn't have as much custard as I had hoped for. Sesame balls ($6) - The sesame balls were a little doughy and had red bean paste. There weren't bad. Chinese herbal tea ($3.50) - Unfortunately this herbal team was served in a can and was extremely sweet. I didn't expect that and would pass on this altogether. Overall the food was just ok. Nothing really stood out and there were some disappointing dishes. There is plenty of seating as well as patio seating.
So this place is kind of confusing. Self serve order at the cashier but you still pay for a tip there's another machine where to go people order. But I was pointed to the to go machine and ordered from wrong spot. If you dine in, you're supposed to order at the cashier. Get own water and leftover box etc So we came at 6 pm on of Sunday night and the wait time was about 10 minutes. Staff will yell your name. They won't text u. I realize this place is really busy compared to all the casual dining restaurants in the same plaza. So most people wait five minutes and they leave so even though we're in the fourth spot, we actually got in. Unless you're a big party of five or six, then you'll have to wait longer. So the confusion is in the beginning part. I wouldn't recommend to elderly Asian crowd because I know my mom would definitely be confused. After you get settled in, they will bring you what you ordered. There isn't any server to your table so if you're getting water, you have to get it by yourself if you need an extra bowl, you have to wait till the staff comes to deliver your food and use that time to tell them what you need. This place is really self-serving. The staff only comes to deliver your food and clean up your table. But we still tipped. Food was good. Soup dumplings hit the spot. Black vinegar was essential and available Come here when you need really good food and quick bite This is not recommended for a date night or business network setting I think we would come by if we're in the area. But considering that we're paying tip, I think we would go to the other location when they are full service.
A fully satisfied food coma after Northern Cafe Food: The golden soup beef is undoubtedly coziness in a bowl after a long work day. The spiciness from the chopped raw chilies and bok choy adds the extra heartiness to each bite of noodle and sliced beef. It's in limbo with Dan Dan noodles especially pork over beef kinda spicy noodle soup day. Next, their orange chicken is delicious (!!!) and the epitome of American Chinese palate but hey it's only a right of passage haha we get it every time as a group and for takeout! Let's talk fiber with veggies now: Sautéed garlic Bok choy and green beans. Need another carb with protein then add in some chicken fried rice. Finally the noodles, I prefer the fried noodle with chicken over the Lao Gan Ma fried noodle with chicken which was more greasy, too much sauce and had less whole fresh veggies. The egg rolls were subpar. Service: They are so FAST for in service and take out ordering. It's a continuous flow of customers and cleaning. Over the past years, always had positive experiences and consistent take out orders replicating sit down quality food. Ambiance: Spacious for many different parties so social groups or even individual self time! I appreciate the dimmer lighting for evening and outside patio for more privacy. Overall: will be back many MORE times with my family, friends and colleagues!
Food is great. It hits the spot for classic Northern Chinese food (dumplings, XLB, beef rolls/green onion pancakes, and my favorite rice cake) Price is reasonable ($13-$16 for most dishes). You order via an app so no waiting for a waiter. It was hard to get their attention for water/napkins though. The biggest frustration eating here is the mini fruit flies in the restaurant. I've eaten here a number of times, and always notice 1 or so fruit flies at the table!
Szechuan Mala Pot is my go-to here, especially on cold days. I like that it's served in a boiling pot, nice and hot, and with lots of toppings. Generous portions of beef, way more than what Boiling Point would give you. I do wish it weren't so salty. I find myself pouring some cold water into it to lessen the saltiness. Also wish they had dipping sauces for the meats and veggies. But other than that, it's pretty delicious. I also like the pig ear. It's sliced real thin and spicy. A perfect side dish to the hot pot. This is a casual dining environment. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Easy peasy.
Our night out in Irvine landed us here for dinner, the very first lot we pulled into after leaving the Barclay Theater. And that was originally to find better WiFi reception. But why dillydally around? Northern Cafe seemed just right for dinner. A very busy Sunday night and with a mostly Asian clientele at an Asian eatery, always a great barometer for me. Apparently also quite popular with students from the nearby UC campus. But we were immediately seated after stepping inside. This is an order at the counter establishment, then take your number back to your table, they will bring to you when ready. So we looked over our menus first, the print a bit small, then settled on the Big Big Chicken Plate With Noodles and the Lamb Hot Pot. I guess I just assumed that the order of lamb would be simply that. But my bad, several items included in this dish were things we never eat; crab, shrimp, pork. So on its arrival, the Mrs noticed what I mistakenly had overlooked. I did however, manage to salvage most of the lamb and several quail eggs (a first time trying them for me). The chicken dish we thought was just okay, even less so as a leftover. My wife was totally dissatisfied. But the steamed rice was rather well cooked and we both enjoyed the Thai iced tea. Northern Cafe has locations throughout Southern California. We would return but with totally different menu options chosen next time. Somewhat neutral service but they keep things moving along like a production line.
We visited Northern Cafe in Irvine last weekend during lunch, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish! Ordering was super easy--we ordered at the cashier and picked any table we wanted. In just about 5 minutes, every dish arrived at our table, which was impressively fast. The Cumin Lamb ($17.99) was very flavorful and one of our favorites. The Eggplant with Garlic Sauce ($14.99) was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the Sautéed Green Beans ($15.99) were very satisfying. The Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs ($16.99) were decent, though the meat was a little chewy. The real standouts were the Popcorn Chicken ($9.99)--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside--and the Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce ($11.99), which were absolutely amazing! The Hot & Sour Soup ($11.99) was comforting and full of flavor. They also have a nice selection of cold dishes you can pick right at the cashier station. Overall, the food was delicious, the prices were very reasonable, and the service was fast and efficient. We loved the smooth dining experience and will definitely be back to try more dishes--especially their noodles next time!
Parking is super easy since it's in Irvine's UTC plaza. You order and pay at the counter -- food comes out fairly fast. 7/10 Spicy Beef Pot ($17). I prefer Boiling Point since they have more variety and I like what they put inside their hotpots more. Wasn't a really big fan of sausages inside. The broth wasn't bland and had some flavor, so I would say it's worth a try.
I hadn't been here in quite some time but was craving Spicy Beef Noodle Soup. I ended up ordering take out on their website which was super easy to use. It says expect 20 minutes but when I arrived in 10 minutes, it was already ready which was nice. The staff wasn't personable and didn't really greet me unfortunately. They just asked for my ordered number and handed me the bag. As for the food itself, this hit the spot! I loved that it came in a quality Tupperware that wouldn't leak or get soggy. The way the lid was set up allowed for the noodles and bok choy to stay untouched from the broth which was great!
I was so busy eating good food tonight that I forgot to take pictures! I'm so glad to have found a Northern Chinese restaurant in the area. I'm not a spicy person so this review will be mostly on the non-spicy food options. The food items you must get are the beef roll, the potstickers, and the garlic pork ribs. The other items that are pretty decent are the soup dumplings, broccoli and sesame bread. My friends got the spicy beef pot and the golden soup beef pot and were pleasantly surprised by both. The only dish I was not satisfied with was the pork rib green bean pot. The ribs were very tough and I was expecting them to be fall-off-the bone tender. You need to wait to be seated and once seated, you can go up to the register to order your food and they'll give you a number to place on the table so the servers know where to deliver the food. The doggy bags are self service. As this restaurant is located near the university, service is quick and parking is plentiful. I would definitely return to try the other menu items. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Thank you for your patronage! We hope to see you again at our…
2 years ago
This restaurant is in a plaza right by UCI. Therefore, ample parking and walkable to other stores. This restaurant is one where you order at the counter and then you sit down. I went for dinner so there was a "put your name on the list and wait for a table to clear out" kind of situation. (Wait on Friday for dinner was about 15-20 mins, though if you got a table outside, it was essentially no wait. The host emphasized that it is cold though due to no heat lamps.) Once we got a table, then we went to the counter to order and grab cups of water (there's like 3 big carafes around the restaurant). Then they gave us a number for the table and they brought our order to us. Price point is pretty good, especially for college students population (most about $10-15 each). We got Sliced Beef in Chili (which was good but not as mouth numbing as other items), Scallion pancake with pork I think (good, no bad comments), and Mala Noodles (coming out scalding hot, which I love, and was numbing and LOVED the thick noodles). I am not Chinese so I can't comment on authenticity. It appears from other tables that if you wanted extra sauces like vinegar or soy sauce, that they could bring out a little tray. Overall, really tasty, servers and staff were very friendly and helpful, and I definitely want to come back to try other items. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Anh , Thanks for the 5-star review! Thank you for your love of…
As a UCI student, I think that this is one of the best options in the UTC plaza. I like that this place offers dumplings, hot pot, and other Chinese food dishes. Usually when I come I get the eggplant and a side of rice. The eggplant is absolutely amazing. Its flavorful, slightly crispy, but mainly saucy. I love getting this dish at Chinese restaurants and considering that it's so close to campus I think that this is a win. There were some days on days where I was too busy to cook and I would come here get an order of the eggplant and rice and just eat it for dinner. My boyfriend loves the Szechuan mala hot pot and the spicy cold beef. I would pass on the golden hot pot. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Kayla , Thank you for your love and appreciation of our food,…
3 years ago
What a great place! Love the atmosphere and the service! We ordered the Golden Soup Beef hotpot and the Chinese Pork Pancake. Everything in the hotpot had a very nice taste and soaked up the flavor from the soup. The beef was thin and very tender. The pancake tasted great as well. The outside was crispy but the pork was very tender and moist. Definitely will be coming back to try their other menu items! read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Michelle , Thanks for the 5-star review! Thank you for your…
2 years ago
LOVE this place and it's our new go-to when we visit my in-laws in the Irvine area. You go in, grab your own table (though usually someone will greet you and help you find one), order at the counter when you're ready, get a # to bring back to your table & then get ready to eat because the food comes out FAST. Everything is piping hot and fresh and decent portions as well for the price you're paying. Great deal for the students nearby. I wish this place was open when my cousin attended UCI so we could eat here when we visited. Our fav dishes are the cucumber salad, pork ears in chili oil (sliced sooo thin and best I've ever had), pork XLB, and pork & cabbage boiled dumplings. Shanghai rice cakes were good too if that's your thing. We've seen other tables order hot pots and they look delicious as well. Highly recommend! :) read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
This is such a fantastic traditional Chinese restaurant. They not only serve mouthwatering xiaolongbao but also offer handmade noodle soup, hot pot, appetizers like beef pancake, and stir-fried dishes like sweet & sour pork ribs. The portions are generous. I love their Xia long Hao, so juicy and flavorful. Sweet sour pork ribs are super tasty and tender, handmade noodles are super fresh and have a good texture, and the beef pancake has so much meat and green onions in it. Love it! Can't forget their sauteed green beans, so crunchy and flavorful. A great spot for gatherings with friends and family. The interior design is charming & traditional, and the service is excellent. Located in a busy Plaza near UCI, with plenty of parking spots. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Thanks for your love, we would love to have you back
1 year ago
amazing local Chinese flavor feels like home Yet customer have to do all the things themselves. read more
2 years ago
8 months ago
since im a college student at uci, going to places like northern cafe is kind of a go-to when i'm craving something filling, affordable, and close to campus. i got the beef tomato noodle soups and it was super warm and hearty. it had a combination of tomatos, bokchoy, beef slices, noodles, and a pan-fried egg, making this dish a well-balanced meal. the service here is self-ordering which means that you'll have to go up to the counter to make your order before dining in. the ambiance also felt spacious, which made it great for big parties or individual dine-ins. highly recommend this place if you want something filling and fast. read more
4 months ago
Love Northern Cafe, at really any location, and this one is no exception! They get a big lunch rush every day and handle it incredibly well. Normally I get the classic beef roll and Dan Dan mien, but this time went with a friend who is gluten free so we stuck with Mapo Tofu, Green Beans, and Kung Pao Chicken. Every dish was delicious and the ambiance brought back memories of restaurants in Asia! Will definitely be back! read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Thanks for your feedback
Northern Cafe has evolved. You know this is not the kind of place that reads reviews or listens to customer feedback. Let's just be honest. I remember the place being a lot better. Here is an example of the conversation I had with the manager: C = customer M = manager C = our chicken is too sweet! It's like candy! Ugh M = that's the way we make it, we can't change it C = our chicken and beef is too fatty, chewy, use a better quality.. M = that's the way we do it or have it, I'm not the owner C = the tofu is too spicy, my mouth is numb, on fire! M = so sorry, we can't adjust the sauce I'm trying to be positive. The potential is there. The fried vegetables are fantastic. The beef roll is wonderful. The dumplings are great. It could have been better. I just wish they would listen to their customers.. read more
10 months ago
Came for weekday lunch! It gets really crowded at noon but then empties out. This is across from UCI with ample parking, 2hrs limit free but didn't notice any security; I would assume they would be marking tires. Food is great, but more pricey for this type of food. Speed may vary; order at counter for table side delivery. I ordered D5 shanghai stir fry rice cake with chicken and arrived about ten minutes. My colleague ordered B2 kung pao chicken and a rice dish but took a little longer (perhaps because it was take out). Bathrooms are clean and available. Free water cups serve yourself. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Thanks for your appreciation
It has been a while (over a year) since I last visited this place. I'm glad I gave them a try today because they are still delicious and prices haven't gone up. I phoned in for an order of Beef Rolls ($12.99) to-go. It was perfectly packaged and ready for pickup in 10 minutes on a Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. I always reheat this in the toaster oven when I get home because the wrap does not stay crispy. There is still a good amount of ingredients in the Beef Rolls, and for Irvine, it's not a bad price. I forget how nice the restaurant looks on the inside, and it always makes me want to eat here. But I'm too much of an introvert and prefer to take it home. However, if you like dining out, this is a spacious and nicely decorated place to go! read more
4 months ago
Went to Northern Cafe, and it didn't disappoint. You go in, pick a table, check out the menu, and order at the front. We ordered the Green Beans, Kung Pao Chicken, Spicy Wontons, Beef Roll, and Sesame Balls. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and delicious. The dishes are shareable, similar to Mamà Lu's. The wait time was quick; we didn't wait long for our order to come out. My only complaint is that it was really hot inside, but we did go during the hottest weekend of the year, lol. The AC wasn't working that well. Other than that service was great, will be coming back soon read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Flor Thank you for your feedback to our restaurant, your…
2 years ago
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Jenning L. Thank you for your feedback on our food , and we…
Located across the street from U.C. Irvine (campus and bridges) in the same center as In and Out and Chik Fil a are found Ordering - Find a table and scan the menu. When ready go up to the counter and order. You will a number to take back to the table Service - items come out via a cart and fast. Not everything at one time but quickly Food - so yummy and satisfying. The dumplings are stellar. You could make that a great meal with a bowl of rice Dan Dan - has that peanut butter base you need. I prefer it spicier and more fragrant but these are good Chicken - crispy bites of goodness. If you want crunch then this is the one for you. Overall - a great food option that should be in your rotation. Great flavors and large portions. Enjoy! read more
Tucked away in the outside back corner of the UTC is this great restaurant. The food is so good and they introduced me to a new dish, the Beef Roll. It's like a roast beef sandwich with a bunch of cilantro. You have to give that a try. All of the dishes we ordered were very good. The service was quick and friendly. Another thing I really liked was the to go containers were out for us to grab ourselves. You don't need to go to the counter and ask for a to go box. You will want to take your left overs home if you have any. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Joe， Thank you for your feedback on our food , and we look…
Was craving Chinese food, so I came back to Northern Cafe since I was in the area. Make sure you tell them you're ready to order when you go up to the cash register. I was standing there for a minute, and the workers didn't think I was trying to order. Not sure why? Hahaha. I ordered the orange chicken, garlic green beans, fried chicken noodles with extra veggies, and sesame balls. Everything was a 4/5. Kind of on the oily side. :( Regardless, it fulfilled my craving, and it was conveniently nearby. It got pretty crowded. read more
My sister and I were craving hotpot and decided to dine here for lunch, and it really satisfied our cravings! This restaurant is located in the University Town Center (UTC) plaza next to UCI. While there is plenty of parking, because there are so many restaurants and fast food places, parking can get pretty rough during peak dining hours. I would say that the restaurant is semi-casual. Upon entering, you order at the counter, get your water cups, utensils, and napkins at the self-served station, and sit down at an empty table. The staff later brings out the food, and at the end, they clean up the table. I got the Spicy Beefpot ($16) and she got the Golden Soup Beefpot ($16). Pricing for both was average, although I thought the portion was a little small. We were both able to finish the entire thing AND eat some rice as well; at other places, we could barely finish the hotpot itself. There are two things I wish that they would implement: choice of spice level and choice of vermicelli or rice. I thought it was not spicy enough and my sister thought it was too spicy, and we both prefer vermicelli over rice. Overall though, both hotpots were delicious in terms of broth and all of the items in it. Mine had more lean beef and hers more fatty meats. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Thanh, Thank you for your feedback on our food , and we look…
FAVORITE CHINESE FOOD PLACE ik its a chain but it's actually authentic. love the mala premium beef noodles i used to get them at least twice a month, only complaint i have is the regular isnt that spicy so i typically for extra spicy and everytime its a different level of spice (sometimes good sometimes burns stomach) but i still love it so much its addicting. also really like the chonqing crispy chicken its very light and crispy and warm so good w rice. my bf loves the spicy wontons (not spicy btw), we also like the green onion pancake, golden noodle soup, tomato egg noodle soup, jiajiang noodles (i add medium spicy it makes it soo good), imo the hotpot's, dumplings, fried rice are just normal but would definitely recommend the items mentioned above. service is normal, food comes out really quickly, and the atmosphere is good for casual lunch or dinner read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Jamie , Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
1 year ago
One of my favorite go to lunch spots in Irvine and we are trying to eventually try out their menu. Service is fast here where you order and pay at the register then they bring the food to you. The inside is nice and open with it being decently so it's not a hole of the wall Chinese. The dishes we had below: -Beef hotpot: good but I think BP has it better -Golden beef hotpot: amazing, very flavorful and unique somewhat spicy with a little tangy from the pickled radish, would always get this here -Beef roll: didn't care for, the beef lacks of flavor and sauce, skin not as flaky as Seven grams rolls -Garlic pork: yummy and crispy I ordered this a few times already: - Sweet and sour pork ribs: delicious coils stop eating it with my rice - xlb: filling was good but skin a little too thick for my liking -spicy wontons: not bad but had better - Green beans: very tasty here one of our top choices - eggplant: very flavorful but can be oily - stir fried noodles with chicken: decent -crispy chicken: good but I'd rather get the pork dishes - dry hot pot: not bad but not our favorite, didn't stand out in flavor The hotpot comes with a side of rice, the entrees do not come with rice have to get it for an additional dollar per rice bowl. Better to come with a group so you can order different dishes to try. read more
1 year ago
I've been here for multiple times but I have to say this time with the Szechuan mala pot is the most disappointing time. the bean sprouts are overflowing in the hotpot and it's literally the BASE of the pot. The rest of the ingredients are only tiny portion. Looking through the list of food in the hot pot on menu, I realized there is no enoki mushrooms, imitation crab, baby corn, woodear, and seaweed. It is indeed very different from the picture that was shown. It is basically a bean sprouts hot pot if that's what you're looking for:( It's like you order a bean sprout dish and it happens to be in a hotpot. I would not come back here anymore :( Also, this reminded me of the other time that I was here for beef noodle soup and I was also very disappointed with the beef. It was so hard to chew and I still remember it after so long. read more
A self service restaurant, Northern Cafe offers solid quick bites without breaking the wallet. They have a lot of items on the menu, and we went several times to try various items, both take out and indoor dining. Some were a hit, and some not so great. First order at the register, then find a table to sit. The staff will bring out the food as they're ready. Interior was spacious and fairly clean. Recommend: * Beef Roll 牛肉捲餅: whether hot or cold, it's quite tasty * Golden Soup Beef Pot 金湯肥牛鍋: served with bowl of rice, and the broth was delicious and NOT spicy although there was a chili icon on the menu. This was a good competitor with Boiling Point's beef pot. For the hot pots, the portion was generous, and most of the ingredients come in pairs, so they're good to split with someone or take half home for another meal. Average: tasted ok but wasn't impressed: - Lao Gan Ma Fried Noodle with chicken 老乾媽炒麵: a bit salty - Pork Dumpling 小籠包 - Shrimp, Pork & Chive Dumpling 三鮮水餃 - Garlic Pork Ribs 蒜香排骨: deep fried and tasted dry - Eggplant with Garlic Sauce 魚香茄子 - Popcorn Chicken 鹽酥雞: good the first few bites, then lost its appeal TIP: most of the stir fry dishes do not come with rice, so order a bowl of rice to pair it Would not recommend: - Big Plate Chicken with Noodle 風味大盤雞: the noodles were overcooked, and the potato and chicken were bland; we ended up packing most of this home and added kimchi to spice it up. - Spicy Beef Pot 香辣牛肉鍋: served with bowl of rice, the broth was quite spicy and flavored with lots of herbs. I didn't like this pot as it was a bit too pungent for me. - Chongqing Crispy Chicken 辣子雞: essentially popcorn chicken sprinkle with chili powder, not a fan as it was spicy and dried out texture; the popcorn chicken was better with the basil leaves read more
1 year ago
Came here for dinner on monday evening, parking is pretty big and available since it is summer and most college students are out. The place had a decent amount of people when we went but we got seated right away. You're supposed to look at the menu then order at the counter. I ordered the Golden Spicy Beef Soup and it came pretty quickly actually. They bring it to you a little hot but after they serve it then they light the mini stove for it to fully warm up. My fire was like extra big lol so i asked to put it out pretty quickly, but the flavor of the broth was pretty good. Had good flavor and wasnt spicy imo except maybe just the chilis they cut and added but i didnt eat those. I realllly like the sauce they gave on the side tho so i ate that with like everything lol. The portion of the soup doesnt seem to big but it has A LOT of stuff plus rice so it was plenty of food. Overall the place is pretty good, my soup was 16$ and i think they gave good portions. But if you want good service this place is not it lol. Theres not really any service unless you ask but like theyre not rude or anything just not like a normal restaurant yk?... so i recommend not tipping. But a good place but not amazing read more
One of the best Chinese food places around the uci campus, these shopping plaza is filled with great food but this spot is fast and convenient. Food quality is great and price is extremely affordable even to student. Been eating too much American fast food so this spot is great to change it up. The service is self serve once u finished ordering. Loved the place is spacious and vibe is great. You can either dine in or order to go. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Feng, Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
4 years ago
I've had my eye on this spot ever since they opened up in UTC! Always looked very promising with a crowd of people inside. There's absolutely no shortage of delicious Chinese eats in the area and I'm sorry to say that I was a bit underwhelmed during my visit here. We ordered the Beef Roll, Juicy Pork Dumplings, and Pork Wontons In Spicy Chili Sauce. The Beef Roll was the collective favorite! Filling, flavorful, and absolutely stuffed. The Pork Dumplings were just alright. Very juicy, but the dumpling skin was a tad too thick for my personal taste. The Pork Wontons were probably the biggest let down for me. I tend to compare every rendition of this dish to the one from Din Tai Fung and this one just couldn't deliver. The flavors just weren't there. No spice or depth. Overall, it wasn't a bad experience, but there are definitely better spots out there if you're looking for quality Chinese eats. read more
One of my go to Chinese food spots in Irvine! Convenient location within UTC and the food here never misses. My favorites are the Chongqing crispy chicken, beef roll and Mabo tofu. Service is usually quick and I always enjoy my experience here. Will definitely be back for more! read more
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Madison V.
Dear Jeremy ， Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
Food was super yummy! Beef in the beef pancake roll was a little sweet, and pancake was crispy. Hotpot came with rice and dipping sauce, and portions were pretty sizeable. You order at the counter and they bring you your food, service was quick and pleasant. Really recommend! They have a really expansive menu and I wanted to try a lot of things, so I'll definitely be back. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Grace H. Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
There is now legit Northern Chinese food in Irvine! Those college students don't understand how they've been incredibly blessed with Northern Cafe opening up in UTC. You order your food at the counter, pick up a number, then proceed to any available table. Water and utensils are self-service, just like a traditional cafeteria in China. They'll still deliver the food to your table. We really love the hot pot and golden beef soups here! They are so legit. The broth tastes like home. Perfectly the right amount of sour and spicy. There's some random meats like luncheon sausages and spam in the hot pot which I wouldn't mind being replaced with more actual meat. Definitely my go-to spot now to get Chinese food in Irvine! I hope they open more locations in Irvine that aren't in UTC read more
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4175 Campus Dr
Irvine, CA 92617
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(949) 418-7309
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http://www.northerncafeirvine.com
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Ask the Community - Northern Cafe
Do they take reservations?
When I went a few months ago, they did not take reservations. It wasn't hard to find a table though on the various occasions that I have gone.
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Northern Cafe - chinese - Updated September 2026
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