Friend dragged me to Northern Cafe on Figueroa and now I'm low‑key obsessed :) super fast service, literally in and out in like 10 minutes, total time‑saving spot and great for takeout. Dumplings were hot, chewy, juicy inside--perfect car food lol. Will definitely swing by again when I'm rushing between errands! read more

Northern Cafe - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing food and great service love coming here high recommend this place close to downtown cross from usc over all awesome place

Good food near usc Good service and space Always come here from usc Would recommend the beef role read more

Northern Cafe - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Fast service.. clean seatings clean bathroom... hot food for cold weather.... clean pkate...clean utensil... easy read menu.... excellebt service read more

Northern Cafe - Northern cafe #1 - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

They use cheap meats and ingredients and the food looks totally different from their display photo on the menu. I'm not a picky eater but it tasted so disgusting that I had to throw away the whole dish after having first bite they don't refund money or offer other options when asked why the quality is so different. They just said it's same meat! Saying "it's the same meat" is such an absurd excuse when the photos clearly show neat, thick slices of lean beef and what you actually got was low-grade, chewy scraps drowning in oily broth. Even if it were technically beef, quality, cut, and execution matter! read more

Northern Cafe - Sour Cabbage Soup - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My friends dragged me to Northern Cafe after work and wow. Fast service, super time-saving, great for takeout, but we stayed to chill. Noodles had that classic taste, food is always consistent and fresh! Good value, great vibe to bring friends and just hang :) read more

Northern Cafe's Shrimp & Yellow Chives Dumplings, Chongqing Crispy Chicken, Spicy Crispy Fish Fillet, Mapo Tofu with Pork, Cold Shredded Potato With Chili Oil And Vinegar, Cold Sliced Beef, Steamed Rice, Cold Sliced Chicken in Spicy Chili Oil, Juicy Pork Soup Dumplings, Cold Cucumber in Sesame Oil, and Stewed Spare Ribs with String Beans were delicious. Convenient to place order on kiosk. read more

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First time trying out Northern Cafe and I did it through Uber Eats. And was I in for a great surprise! I got the spicy shrimp Wonton: they were well made and had plenty shrimp. The sauce was garlicky and spicy , I loved this dish. I got the Mabo tofu with rice and I requested it spicy. They threw in some sautéed Serranos in it which I appreciated. Not spicy enough but nonetheless the dish was tasty. I was really happy with my order. Thank you guys! read more

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Filthy filthy toilet to greet us. Kinda turn off and gross out to eat here. We ordered 3 dishes anyway. read more

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I like Northern Cafe. At least I like the one closer to home. Not sure why but I wasn't as enamored by this location as though. Maybe because the other location is newer. Full table service. Not sure. Anyway, ran away from work and came here for lunch with a coworker. Walking in - ordered from electronically via the kiosk stand. Automation is popping up more and more ... grabbed my number and found a seat. My order came out at different times. Maybe that's something else that caught me off guard. Missing is a pic of Chicken. I had already polished off the appetizer and noodles that I didn't even think to grab the last shot. Food was ok. As usual, I enjoyed the mushrooms. The noodle dish was really greasy. I don't mind greasy but this serving was more than I'm accustomed to. The Chicken was standard. No service to speak of other than the order being brought to the table. Self service. Water. Utensils and even the to go containers. Well, I did interact with one staff member to get a bag to carry my to go - as I didn't finish it all. Can't speak for parking as I walked over. But this location is on Fig so unless there's a parking lot out back, you'll have to park on the side streets or in one of the other lots in the area. This location is close to work. But I'll probably stick to the location closer to home. read more

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October 29, 2025 | Downtown LA | It was fun meeting up w/my friend & his daughter for lunch! He discovered Northern Cafe Chinese Dumpling House while in the area today, as well as ordered for us! What a flavorful find! Shrimp Fried Rice | Shared by 3 | Absolutely delicious! I enjoyed every mouthwatering bite! Plump, juicy shrimp with flavorful rice! I highly recommend this dish! Huge portion as well! Sweet of my friend's daughter(Who calls me auntie) to volunteer to change from chicken fried rice in order to share w/me before I even arrived, because she knows that I like shrimp! Scallion Pancakes | Shared by 4 | Yes, please! Another dish that I highly recommend! Each one was crispy at the crust & flavorful with every bite! Delicious on its own, as well as with soy sauce and vinegar!! Veggie Dumplings | Shared by 3 | Yummy, filled with plenty of veggies and flavor! My friends also ordered the meat soup dumplings, which they enjoyed! Green Beans | Shared by 4 |Tasty with every garlicky & onion flavorful bite! Yum! Parking | Free, a few spaces behind the restaurant! Overall | Yes, I would easily try this restaurant again, as well as try other items on the menu! I would also order some of the same items, as they were definitely memorable! read more

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Hey... Sometimes you gotta drive waaaay South to get to the Northern Cafe...so that's what we did... In a few min and having left Los Angeles ... we were able to reach this place on a Saturday afternoon in less than 30 min...just shot straight down the 110 going South... straight south... It's not often we have a Chinese Co Production with American and Chinese filmmakers showing at the San Pedro Starlight Terrace Cinemas... That's right... Swallowtail and Dragonfly directed by Julia Jay Pierrepont is screening across the street from this wonderful Chinese Restaurant so we thought we'd stop here for a bit and gorge ourselves with some delicious dumplings... Boy are we glad we did... Now we're full and satisfied and ready to undergo some epic Shanghai history...the true story of artist and painter Xiao Lianxia... Hand made shrimp cabbage dumplings; scallion cakes; beef rolls; and pork won ton soup please... you can taste the freshness of the pasta... the ingredients are different yet delicious... more Northern.... Perhaps I hear a falcon squeaking in the distance ... or a yak mooing... ok maybe we're not THAT far North...but I can taste the art of this place.. the colors are all in my mouth... But if you don't come and see for yourself you won't know exactly how North we went! And how great an artist dumpling maker we have here in the heart of San Pedro! We'll be back ! And so should you..!! read more

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Easy self-service spot with pretty good Chinese food and plenty of seating inside. Tried the dandan noodles, spicy crispy fish, and spicy wontons. My favorite was definitely the wontons! The others were a bit heavy and oily but still tasty. read more

Northern Cafe - Dan Dan Noodles, Spicy Crispy Fish Fillet, Spicy Pork Wontons - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Friend dragged me to Northern Cafe after work and wow, Love the food here, fast and quick service :) Dumplings came out piping hot, super juicy, and the noodles were chewy in the best way. Staff is on it, no fuss, no long wait, just eat and go. Totally adding this to my regular spots! read more

Grabbed lunch at Northern Cafe after a friend hyped it up--fast service, food out in minutes, perfect for takeout when you're on the clock. Classic taste, good value, no frills, just solid flavor. Super time-saving spot, would totally swing by again :) read more

Friend dragged me to Northern Cafe after work and wow, fast service for real--ordered, blinked, food was there. Super time-saving, great for takeout too. 红烧牛肉面：大骨熬制，料香十足， broth is rich and comforting. 虾仁炒饭：米饭爱好者的最爱， shrimp plump, rice not greasy. Totally coming back :) read more

Terrible customer service, stood in line to order. All the workers just walked past everyone for 8 minutes without speaking or greeting. Then the one girl when she does finally speak she wouldn't even look at the customer literally turned her head mumbled 4 more minutes but just standing in front of the register read more

Northern Cafe is really a nice and decently priced Chinese restaurant, and I was looking forward to trying it. The limited parking was a drag but thankfully, I was able to find parking in the area after some time. I thought the food options were really yummy, mainly the fried rice and the orange chicken, and I would definitely try out others in the area! read more

Northern Cafe - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Clean and many tables, easy to find a seat. You order on a self service kiosk in English or Chinese with pictures, take a number, and they bring the food out to you. I ordered beef roll pancake, juicy pork dumplings, and spicy beef noodle soup for $43. read more

Northern Cafe - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Food: I order the orange chicken, beef noodles, and white rice. I love the orange chicken. It's zesty and flavorful. The noodles are also very tasty. White is ok. Food is consistent and l keep coming back. Service: quick and easy. You order on the electronic screen yourself. Ambiance: sometimes very busy and loud. Otherwise quiet and not a lot of people. Depends on when you come. Plus size friendly- the tables move at the booths. They also have chairs with tables that look sturdy. Parking: very bad. There is a small lot behind the restaurant but it is unlikely to find a spot there. I have parked across the street on the lot by pasta Roma and have not had my car towed. read more

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Love this location the best. Food always tastes fresh, the service is always quick, and this place is always packed with students. Great ambiance. read more

Northern Cafe - Orange chicken and pork chow mien. Yummy cucumbers . - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Service was amazing and very quick! Additionally the food tasted amazing!! A great go-to spot for a quick and filling meal. read more

Northern Cafe - Inside - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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It was a very heavy meal. It was good but felt like there was a lot of noodles and not enough broth.

The food was mostly delicious with only a few items that I did not like. The golden soup was sour and lacked flavor and the pork a s shrimp buns were mostly all bun. The shrimp fried rice was probably the best I have ever had. The beef roll is a MUST order. The flavor is amazing. The broccoli was also good. The restaurant is mostly self serve. You order from a screen and your food is brought to you when it's ready. All of your silverware, bowls, water etc are available for you to grab. The ambiance is family style and casual. Parking is seldom available on the street but is provided in the back of the restaurant. read more

Friend dragged me to Northern Cafe and wow, greatGreat foodfood, fastfast serviceservice, definitely recomrecommend! Dumplings so juicy, noodles super legit. theythey useuse AIAI toto changechange youryour reviewsreviews but still fire place :) read more

Friend dragged me here and wow, great food, super flavorful noodles, portions legit huge, totally coming back!

Friend dragged me here after work--fast service, big portions, good value, totally hit the spot :)

Shredded Chicken Fried Noodles - flavorful with an amazing aroma. Noodles are cooked to perfection! Serving is for 2-3 people. Beef and broccoli the best!!!! Flavorful, good amount of sauce, and the serving is for 2-4 people. A must try! read more

Northern Cafe - Shredded Chicken Fried Noodles - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Super yummy and the service was great :) def recommend! Also super nice inside and homey vibe. Loveee

I love the efficient service and love the ambient environment! would come back with friends :)

Friend dragged me here after work and wow, Northern Cafe did not disappoint. Fast service, food came out in minutes, great for takeout too. Portions are big, good value for what you pay. Always great service and clean atmosphere, super chill vibe :) read more

Friend dragged me to Northern Cafe before a game and wow, fast service and super time-saving. Ordered dumplings and noodles for takeout - classic taste, good value, big portions. Great for takeout, in and out in minutes. Honestly, the best place to eat great quality food for a great price :) read more

Food Quality: *** (Decent, filling, but not spectacular) Service: *** (Efficient, but minimal interaction) Setting: *** (Crowded, not ideal for dining in) Cost: *** (Fair for portion size) Overall: *** (A good option if you're in the area, but not exceptional)** Northern Cafe is a solid choice if you're looking for a filling meal near USC--nothing extraordinary, but it gets the job done. The dumplings and noodles are decent--fresh and satisfying, though lacking in bold flavors. Service is quick and efficient, but you don't get much interaction with the staff, as it's more of a self-serve, counter-order type of place. The atmosphere is small and often crowded, not ideal for a long sit-down meal, but it works for a quick stop if you're in a rush. Overall, a decent place but don't expect anything special. It's fine if you're hungry and close by, but not somewhere I'd go out of my way to visit. read more

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Wow, I am so disappointed to write this, as I frequently enjoy eating here. But I ordered from this restaurant yesterday for a delivery and ordered the wonton noodle soup. And there was not one... but TWO bugs in the dish. Absolutely unacceptable and disgusting. I don't even know how they can miss something like this. Do better. read more

Northern Cafe - Big bug 2, beetle or something - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Cozy spot, friendly vibe, Food it's good! I really enjoyed the hospitality and service.

You walk in-- no type of greeting. We ordered self service, we received our dishes. One was missing. We ended up getting that towards the end, and that was ONLY because I asked for it. Mid way through eating, I find this disgusting bug in the plate. I got told "it happens because of the outside" . Didn't even get offered a refund--just a re make. At that point we didn't even want to finish the food we just took it to go. There was even a plate that was just very off taste, I asked for a substitute of a same price dish and got told "sorry the manager said we can't do anything about it". Do not recommend this place at all, for what we ordered it was so not worth it. read more

Northern Cafe - Bug. - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food is spicy and authentic, very good for my taste. But the rice a bit hard. I will come again read more

Northern Cafe - Mapo Tofu, dumplings - Noodles Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Ultimate Chinese comfort food can be found at Northern Cafe in Los Angeles near USC They maintain a similar menu like other locations that offers a broad range of Chinese dishes, from well-known classics to regional specialties. variations might include a selection of small, bite-sized portions like dumplings, buns, and rolls, perfect for sharing. Dishes featuring a variety of meats, seafood, and vegetables, often cooked with soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and other aromatic. From fried rice to lo mein and chow mein, these staples are often customized with different ingredients. Our favorite has got to be the mapo tofu and the shrimp fried rice! This is self service concept so you order at the kiosk or with the cashier. Then you will grab your own utensil and plates and drinks. The prices are very affordable especially for students. The staff is personable and attentive. They really cares about your dinning experience. Overall, the restaurant offers a unique dining experience that combines the comfort and familiarity of a casual dinning with the rich, diverse flavors of Chinese cuisine. read more

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Ordered at 10:12 pm and by 11:15 our order wasn't ready. The guy expediting was sending out many orders that came in after us and kept saying "still not ready". He was not doing them in order. Terrible service. read more

Had the jalapeño beef with a milk tea. So good!! I like how they have their plates and utensils where you can grab what and how many you want. They also have lemon ice water and these nice metals cups you can drink it from. Overall a very good dining experience read more