The food was okay. For reading all these reviews I thought I'd be amazed and drooling with joy- I wasn't. It wasn't bad food, it just wasn't overly impressive. Also, the portions were okay as well. But when we eat Chinese food, we order a few dishes and share- so that's where I am coming from since I am used to receiving bigger portions from other places. But on the plus side- Yen's has good customer service. When I ordered over the phone I was impressed with how polite that lady was. Most of the time when I order Chinese food I don't get the feeling that they appreciate my business. That wasn't the case with Yen's so kudos for that. read more

I heard so much rave about Yen's Cafe so thought we'd give it a try... Service was 5 star. The restaurant is located in an office building, it has a small but inviting atmosphere. We both ordered the lunch specials which included soup, egg roll, salad, rice and entree. Our egg drop and won ton soups were just fabulous, the salad and egg rolls were also excellent. The down-side was the main entrees. I had Hunan Beef and it was mushy (fatty) in texture and beef was not of the quality I expected. Additionally, though Hunan Beef is a spicy dish, the particular entree required me to consume several glasses of water to complete the meal. It was smoking hot. I considered sending the plate back but didn't want to offend the chef. Next time, if there is one, I'll order one of the non-spicy entrees to be safe. Overall a great experience. Price was about $9 per meal plus applicable tip and tax. The price is a little on high side for lunch, but the portions are generous, so you won't go hungry! read more

Their vast drink menu excites me. Especially because it specifies why exactly the ingredients inside the drink is good for you. It's VERY interesting to read! I ordered the minced pork and string bean with black bean (that came with buns). Personally I found it to be a bit too salty, but I prefer my food to be more on the bland side. Maybe to another person, eating the filling with the buns would be just right. Just not for me; but I still liked it! It's something different! You don't typically find this in Chinese restaurants. My friends chose the chicken noodle soup. It looked like typical chicken noodle soup, but instead, they used long noodles instead and had a lot more vegetables. Really basic, but good; light flavored. read more

Personally, not a fan of this restaurant. I used to order here because of the convenience to my home and job. 1st time was okay. 2nd time-meh. 3rd try-never again. The good thing about Yen's Cafe is you get a lot for your money. Downside is you will be waiting forever for delivery. Granted, I can see the restaurant from my house and could just walk there BUT if I can see them wouldn't you think the food would be here faster than an hour? Also, the last time I ordered my food tasted like someone literally put there cigarette out in my rice. Despite the convenience, this place is not worth the vivid thoughts of what is happening to my food before I get it. read more

After meditating on the previous reviews since relocating to a new home in Broadlands, it seemed due time to make the pilgrimage to Yen's. Arriving at the restaurant we were not exactly expecting it to be so quaint (translation, smallish) but we were pleased by the warm and welcoming greetings from the front staff. I didn't recall anything recently from reviewers who dined at Yen's with kids in tow, so we decided to throw that into mix for the evening. The staff promptly arrived at the table with ice water and the two additional place settings needed to accommodate the four of us. A few minutes later they arrived with covered plastic bubble-top cups of ice water for the boys which was well received as they were 'different.' Kids love the novelty of the moment you know, I say anything that distracts for a moment is a good thing... We opted for family-style ordering, so, here we go... addressing the initial desires from our crew, we started with one Corn & Ham Egg Drop Soup, Edamame, and one order of Shanghai Spring Rolls. The appetizers arrived nicely presented and quite warm. The soup was a nice spin on the more basic egg drop soup as the corn and ham added a nice texture and together with a touch of cream, a much richer flavor. The edamame, in a word, were impressive. Unlike the basic, often wilted looking selection seen in countless restaurants, Yen's were a vibrant green with a sheen actually from what we guessed was from a light toss in sesame oil. They were also touched with salt and cracked pepper. The flavor was excellent. Lastly, the spring rolls were fresh from the fryer and had the appearance and texture of having been made in-house. All of the ingredients of the roll had a distinctly fresh taste. Though all starters hit the spot, the edamame was the big winner. Entrée time. Wanting to have a sampling we opted for Kung Pao Chicken, Shredded Pork Beijing Style w/pancakes, and the unexpected, Braised Meat Ball in Hot Pot. Starting with the meatballs, as they arrived first, after being freshly prepared, I'll say now that the complexity of the flavors and textures were just excellent and nicely balanced. For us, balanced (operative word) meant that by working to scoop a combination of meat, broth, cabbage, and bean noodle in one bite (which admittedly takes work) was exceptionally tasty. The order came with four, very large meatballs, so dish is absolutely wired for sharing. The shredded pork offered nuances of a traditional moo shu pork (minus the blatant egg central in moo shu), with the pork cut a bit thicker in noodle-like strips. The coating had, to us, hints of hoisin sauce and an overtone of sweetness, maybe plum. However, the dish that wowed us was the kung pao chicken. I know, I know, this dish along with Gen. Tao's chicken is the stuff of Chinese food hobbyists, but I have to say, this is no fast-food kung pao... This stuff was prepared and roasted with care... Yes, that sounds pretentious but, well it's just true in this case. The chicken was perfectly sized, the flavors sweet, smoky, with a subtle and balanced hint of spice (if you like it 'spicy' be sure and order it a notch or two up from the base preparation). The peanuts had a great charred coating, together with the fresh, slightly sticky side of white rice worked wonderfully. This was the only entree that ended the evening as a clean plate. We ordered at least one entree and one appetizer too much; I figured it was a necessary sacrifice to make for a better, more compelling review; we have nearly a full meal remaining of take-home for tomorrow (breakfast?). Our dinner was accompanied by a bottomless pot of fresh Oolong Tea. The presentation of the tea, like much throughout the evening was done with a considerable amount of thought, care, and constant attention. Yen's offers no less than 20 to 25 different teas or tea drink combinations so there's something for everyone and plenty that was new to us and worth exploring next visit. As other reviewers have mentioned, the staff showed up with a plate of freshly made Chinese donuts, which were stuffed with a honey sweet filling that I believe was a bean paste. They were exceptionally popular with the boys. In conclusion, we'll be back. Deciding between 4 or 5 stars was tough, but considering we were in the suburbs surrounded by very hit or miss food, combined with the quality of our dinner, and the attention and care of the staff, there was only one logical choice. Now, I will add that the boys, five and eight, reviewed the restaurant as just OK. I figured the combo of spring roll, soup, and meatballs would work for any kid, but that was not exactly the case here. The donuts, edamame, and steamed rice were the biggest hits for them, in order, with the meatballs coming a close fourth but not a hit out of the park... Crazy kids! read more

Yen's Cafe - Yen's Cafe - Taiwanese Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

Simple review to write. Just copy/paste from my Facebook check-in: David K. checked in at Yen's Cafe. EEB: always wondered if that place was any good. what do you think? David K.: I'm a big fan. Quite a few Taiwanese dishes, so not your generic menu. They put a lot of attention into presentation, service, and extras like homemade sweets at the end of the meal -- esp the owner, so it's not always the best choice if you're squeezing in a 60 minute office lunch. Take-out is pretty good, too, but you miss out on all the extra flair. DK: Best Chinese (Taiwanese) food in Ashburn/Dulles area read more

Yen's is amazing - and when I visited I was both sick with a head cold and very pregnant, so this 5-star review is hard-earned. My husband and I came for a late weekday lunch while on vacation. We were seated promptly in a comfy booth and attended to right away. I ordered General Tso's Chicken (my go-to dish) and hubs ordered the Sesame Chicken. Although his dish wasn't on the lunch menu, they made it into a combo anyway, without request (thanks!). The meals came out with soup, wonton strips, rice, salad and an eggroll, all fresh and at the ideal temperature. My General Tso's was perfectly spiced - enough to open up my sinuses but not too much that I couldn't handle the heat. Hubs remarked his was yummy as well. To top off the meal we were given fresh Chinese donuts and fortune cookies. Tons of food for a very reasonable price. Way, way better than P.F. Chang's... but is that much of a surprise? I wish we could take this place back to Boston with us! read more

Yen's Cafe is very serious about making you happy, this is very evident when entering. They're so friendly and accommodating, and the food is authentic and amazing.! They have an entire menu of teas, another menu for fruit drinks of all kinds, with all the healthy properties of each listed. We ordered the avocado and pineapple drink and it was delicious, basically a super healthy smoothie, and not too sweet. The place is very small but it's also quaint and comfortable, with a nice little (tiny) bar area. Our appetizer was crab rangoon, best I've ever had, and our entree was the Taiwanese fried chicken with crispy basil. The crispy & crunchy basil leaves make the dish, wonderful presentation and generous portions. They also bring out a little free Asian "bun" type desert, mine had a lemon filling, it was a nice little ending to a great meal. I was most impressed by the service and ridiculously friendly staff. I've been ordering delivery since they opened, and was very happy to finally get in to the restaurant. If you don't feel like going in, the online ordering system for delivery is easy and user friendly. You can customize any dish, add a spice level, give specific instructions for items, and pay with ease. The driver usually shows up in about 25 minutes with hot food. They even take the tops off of crispy items so they don't go limp and soggy. I just can't say enough about this place. Do yourself a favor, try them out, I guarantee you'll be sold on Yen's Cafe from the first bite. Prices are exactly what they should be. We split the Taiwanese chicken, both ate quite a bit, and we have a large portion left over in the fridge for later, this dish costs $15.00, very reasonable if you ask me. read more

See all

Ordered carry out and was quite pleased. It's not often that I get Chinese food, but I think I'll order from here when I do. My order today wasn't crazy, just spring rolls, the black bean fish filet, and shrimp fried rice. The restaurant itself was absolutely tiny, but warm and cozy. The staff was friendly - I got greeted by like 5 staff members who were sitting at the bar when I walked in and they all said "goodbye" when I was leaving. I checked the food when I got back in my car and noticed that the fish container was wrapped in a plastic bag... Like I said before, I don't get Chinese food a lot, but no other restaurant has ever included that, so I thought it was a nice touch. -- It also came in handy when some a-hole cut me off on the ride home, causing me to slam on my brakes and send the bag of food flying. (Don't worry, no food was lost). As for the food: Everything tasted great. The shrimp fried rice was good, as were the spring rolls. The fish was salty, and a little slimy to me, but I'm a huge texture person when it comes to food, and I'm sure I can just ask to substitute for crispy fish. It didn't affect the taste, so no real complaints there. I do wish that they had more options in their "seafood" section of the menu. It seemed like it was almost all shrimp, with one or two scallop/fish options. All in all it was a good experience. I'll probably be back to dine in. read more

In the area near the Dulles Airport, Yen's Cafe is the best Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant I've ever been to. The restaurant's location and size really don't help the business much. But, seeing how busy the place gets on any given day and weekend, one would know that it's the quality and service that win customers here. I have been coming to the place since 2009. Yet, I haven't seen any changes in quality and service, which is quite impressive. The only change noticeable is the staff. They have hired more Hispanic servers, which so far hasn't been a problem. They seem well-trained and have a decent understanding of Chinese food. Once a friend of mine asked for something special which confused a Hispanic server. The owner promptly jumped in to help out. Their food seems to cater to both American and Chinese palates. There are no surprises or exotic items on the menu. I have asked the owner to add something like stinky tofu on a few occasions. She stated that she didn't want to turn away non-Chinese customers with that smell. I particularly recommend their potstickers and dumplings. They are all hand-made in the restaurant with fresh ingredients. read more

We decided to go over and try Yen's based on friends' recommendations and the good Yelp reviews. We just did take-out, but I found the staff very friendly and eager to please. The food was delicious and there was a lot of it. The biggest plus for me was no MSG. I am wary about trying new Chinese and Thai restaurants because I will typically end up with a terrible migraine headache afterward. NOT HERE. I felt fine the next morning, which to me implies the food was all fresh and natural. I think my family found our new favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. Guarantee we'll be back. read more

Love this place , so sad that we had to move away and now we cant use their delivery service. But its ok, it hasnt stopped us from driving there. Hahah Their taiwanese chicken is amaaazing. Always have to get it everytime we're here. Actually to be honest with you thats all i get from here and some vegetables. Always happy, saitsified and full when i leave here. read more

Just fabulous, and I can't add more to the previous reviews. We had our first visit there last night and we were so impressed. The food was outstanding. We loved the Spring Rolls and the soups as starters. We ventured into familiar territory with our Sesame Chicken and General Tso's. Okay, we weren't adventurous, but thought if they could appeal to our american palate then perhaps we will come back. The inside of the cafe is disapointingly small. About 10 minutes after we arrived there was a "wait" line forming outside. (call and make a reservation!!) We noticed that the folks around us were ordering more traditional Chinese fare, and all the dishes looked/smelled fabulous! We enjoyed our meal tremendously! And we promise to try the food from the other reviews next time, as they just looked too good to miss! I ordered a glass of wine, which came in the cleanest glass you have ever seen. Everything in this cafe was shiny, fresh and clean! If you don't go try the food here you are missing out. Be bold and try something off the beaten track, and then write about it here! I want to try all the dishes and the fabulous teas too!! This is now our favorite Chinese Place in Northern Virginia! read more

This tiny café opened a year ago, hoping to survive off the booming development in the Ashburn area. After a year they're trying to find a way to bring in business as it's dropped off significantly. One thing I know for sure, it's not the food that's driving people away. It's not the reputation. It has to be the economy. Their food is on point. I had the bourbon chicken lunch special and ended up with more food than I knew what to do with. The lunch special came with soup, salad, spring roll, chicken and rice. The presentation was really nice. It wasn't just shoved in a typical chinese to go box, but presented in a wide spread, showcasing each dish, while keeping them separate. I can't stress enough. The portions were huge and the meal was cheap, especially with the 20% off carry-out special. The bourbon chicken I got was grilled full-filet when I got there. It was definitely the best part, cooked perfectly. The soup was delicious (I had wonton) and seemed to be made from chicken stock and not bouillon cubes. The spring roll was crunchy and delicious, not old or refried. The sticky rice was cooked perfectly and was presented nicely. The only thing that threw me off was the salad. While the dressing was delicious and featured pine nuts and lots of ginger, the salad consisted of iceburg lettuce and slivers of onions (as well as a few tomatoes). It really didn't fit in with the rest of the meal. That being said, I enjoyed the rest of the meal enough to warrant this place 5 stars. Take out or delivery seems to be the way to go with this little café. Their dining room is small, but their presentation at the table seems elegantly modern and clean, including the kitchen. Great food and a friendly staff make for a delightful experience. read more

I absolutely love Yen's Cafe! Mom's dumplings are amazing and I love the spicy sauce. My dad and I always split the seafood soup for 2 when we go together, but when I'm by myself I get the egg drop soup with ham. My favorite dish is the shredded pork Beijing style because the meat and sauce are made to perfection. My boyfriend loves how large and meaty the General Tsos chicken is. The restaurant is small which provides an intimate dining experience and they always make you feel special when you go. make sure to get tea in the beautiful tea sets! The orange eucalyptus is the best on the menu and they will give you a cup to go at the end. When you dine in they bing you these little fried dough treats that are sweet and warm! I always leave full, happy, and feeling like part of the family :) read more

Just moved to Ashburn from MD. I am so glad that I found a true Taiwanese restaurant! Friendly, clean and the food is great! I go at least 2x a month! Being from MD where Taiwanese restaurants are a plenty, Yen's can rival any in Rockville! Much less greasy than Mama Wok. Friendlier than Taipei Cafe. Pretty damn close to Bob's! ... And best part is they take credit card and have printed bills so you don't have to worry about shoddy math from the start staff. Only criticism is that I wish they had stinky tofu (i understand that its a tiny place so 1 plate would stink up the place, but still, one can wish!), pork blood cakes, stir fried rice cakes, soup dumplings and prices were a little cheaper like their MD counterparts... None of which would stop me from coming back! Must try: Taiwanese fried chicken with basil, Water Spinach, homemade dumplings, taiwanese beef noodle soup(of which you'll have to get on a list for. They sell out same day and only make it every once in a while because they make it the proper way which takes time). read more

I come here often with my co-workers for lunch - they have a great lunch special that comes with soup, side salad, egg roll, rice, and the entree of your choice.. all for ~$10. I can be picky when it comes to Chinese takeout, but I really enjoy their Hunan beef/pork/chicken. I also really like their complimentary sweet buns (filled with red bean or yellow custard). Service is always fast and attentive. We've also tried ordering "family style" for lunch - can be a little pricier, but the variety and quality of the dishes is better. Unfortunately I can't remember the dishes we ordered, but I remember them being more authentic and quite tasty. read more

This is the best place in Loudon County to get high quality, freshly cooked and authentic Taiwanese food. The king oyster mushrooms, fried tofu and free chilies are amazing. Moms meatballs are original recipe and a portion for two. Order off-menu salt and pepper squid. It is truly a pleasure. The wait staff are professional and you can tell they are having fun. Add tea service to the meal for a wonderful experience. They end the meal with a nice little dessert that is a perfect finish. read more

Best Chinese food outside of Flushing! I tried the dishes recommended on Yelp -- the Three cup chicken is outstanding despite the strange name. The blend of chicken, garlic, ginger and basil makes my mouth water just thinking of it. I've been 3 times and gotten it each time along with other new dishes. The chopped string beans/Pork on fluffy buns was not what I expected, but was very tasty. Would definitely order again. I agree with others that the potstickers are full of meat, crispy & delicious. I tried the corn soup, but it was not that flavorful and I'm not crazy about corn off the cob, so I wouldn't order it again. The hot & sour soup wasn't really much of either and didn't have the wonderful layers of flavor good H&S has. I look forward to trying everything on the menu-- but how on earth do you keep track??? :-) read more

Solid 4.5 star Came here to lunch, and was greeted with ecstatic friendly staffs. The unfortunate thing is that it's not too crowded, making me worry about its long term livelihood. Let's get over with all the "bad" stuff. If you are not ordering from the lunch special menu, it's not cheap. It's easy to compare this restaurants to regular China-King-type Chinese take out because, well, the store front isn't big and the inside isn't big either. Although it is a bad comparison but it's easy to do so and price at this restaurant would seem very high. The restaurant is on the small side, but it's very warm and cozy and it's definitely the style I like. This is a sit-down take-your-time-to-enjoy-your-food type restaurant. They paid so much attention to detail, the least we can do is to enjoy the food properly. Long story short, we came here and got a lunch special (pineapple fried rice with shrimp) and a mango beef. Both are amazing. Price of mango beef was a little on a high side especially considering it's just lunch (the item is not from lunch menu so it was dinner price). The food arrived reasonable quick, and while the fried rice was pretty good, the mango beef was amazing. It was adorned with a fresh orchid and other origami thingy cut from cucumber and carrot. The food temperature was great. The flavor was solid (albeit a tiny bit too salty for my taste), and ingredient was top notch. For the fried rice they used real pineapple (my pet-peeve). Mango was ripe and seasonal. I really enjoyed the level of detail they gave. The complimentary rice that came with the mango beef was perfectly cook. It was from pretty good japanese or korean short grain rice (cost more than those cheapo long grain with no texture that you get in pretty much any other restaurants). They even put a few pellets of fried black seasame seed on top to decorate the rice. When the last time you see a bowl of rice come with edible decoration? The small nik I had with them on the rice is that it was not new crop but that's really more of a personal preference. After the meal, together with your check they give these amazingly yummy "chinese boston creme donut". It's really lightly deep fried mantou type bun, with a coconut custard that's not too sweet but sweet enough to be satisfying. The bun was chewy, and it was scorching hot. I ate one and saved for for the afternoon snack and it was still perfect. They have these fancy fresh fruit juice concoction and fancy herb tea which I did not have a chance to try, but it's certainly sound promising. Highly recommended. read more

Don't need to say a whole lot here. Best Chinese restaurant in the NOVA area - food is authentic, fresh and tasty! Must try: Fish and Tofu in Spicy Sauce, Pork w/ String Beans, Pork and Chive steamed dumplings, Taiwanese Fried Chicken. read more

Excellent Taiwanese food. It's easy to find the Americanized version of Chinese dishes but this restaurant has the authentic taste.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurant in nova! We drive 30+ miles just to come here and I normally never come to Ashburn. Owners are from Taiwan and the food is authentic & really hits the spot. Ingredients are fresh and all dishes I tried range from good - amazing. Fav. dishes: braised pork belly with fried tofu (special menu), peking style pork with pancake, mushu vegetables, string beans, sha-cha beef, spicy fish fillet (special menu), kung pao chicken. I think their braised pork belly dish might've taste even better than my mom's (sorry mom... ). One thing that I really like about the place is that they always use good quality (sushi grade) rice. This is a pet peeve of mine --- good chinese food must come with good rice. I can't stand how most chinese restaurants in America serve you crapppy dry rice (you know, Miu Kee type cantonese places and every generic local chinese takeout). Smoothies are also amazing, and made to order using fresh fruits. I highly recommend it although being a bit pricey. 1/2 star off for the price though, as this is not exactly a "cheap" eat per se. Prices are a few dollars higher than you'd expect, which I'll live with since I think the flavor is also better. However, they'll charge you extra 1 dollar or so if you ask your food to be "extra spicy" (1 dollar to add chili, really???). =( If you customize your dish or don't see the price specifically listed, be sure to ask the price when you order so you're not "surprised" when the bill comes. read more

This is hands down one of my favorite local spots. This is in my rotation for weekly take-out. From their orange chicken to hand-made steamed dumplings to their wide variety of teas, this is a must try. FYI: they're closed on Mondays. They have VERY limited seating so most of their business is take-out and delivery. Also be prepared to see the whole family working. Even though it's not uncommon in the Asian culture, it's not ordinary for the burbs. read more

I was actually quite surprised at how great the food was. I ordered the shrimp lo-mein which was quite inexpensive and it was a good quantity of food for only $9. I did get to sample the Kung Pao chicken and General Tsos Chicken as well and I genuinely enjoyed the savory taste. This place definitely has my vote for when it comes to a quick Chinese food fix. read more

The food was terrific ! One of the best take out in the Broadlands area. Unfortunately, the older man in charge of the cashier was extremely rude and so unpleasant to even try to get his attention. There was a lady working in the kitchen area that came out to help due to the register man unwillingness to help another customer and myself. I should've just done my order online... other than that the food still gets four stars. Amazing egg rolls and delicious shrimp and broccoli ! read more

Oh my lord, simply amazing! We just had dinner here after reading all the positive reviews on yelp and this place really exceed expectations. The service, the decor and food all top notch. Perfectly cooked and season and not greasy like you get in most Chinese restaurants. Me and my wife can't stop thinking about the "Taiwanese Fried chicken" you have to try it! Actually, everything we tried was good. The pork Dumplings, porkbelly mixed with mushrooms, and of course that famous fried chicken. Simply the best Chinese food I ever. The place also has a nice attentive staff which you normally don't get in many Asian restaurants if you know what I mean. There seems to be a lot of them too. Kind of caught me of off guard when we first walked in but we learned to appreciate it. (Same in Asia) The ambiance is complete with traditional Chinese designs plus other random cartoony Asian weirdness, which only adds to the overall experience. When we dined there I felt like i'm transported back in Asia where I live for a few years. Never order'd delivery or to go and why would you? Dining here is a treat, especially if you order some type of tea. This is now our only restaurant we will go for Chinese food. A must try!!!! read more

We went here because everyone seems to recommend this place so we thought we had to give it a try and we were really disappointed. We said maybe we ordered wrong so we got delivery a few weeks later and still bad. I think that is all hype at this point. If you like NY style Chinese carry out I prefer Asia Cafe or if you like a higher end Chinese try Opera. read more

Absolutely delicious and very friendly and attentive service. Authentic food - wonderful spot for Asian cuisine. read more

Best of the best!! Love this place and won't eat authentic Asian food anywhere else. The dining room is small but the food is amazing. If you can't get there early, get delivery or takeout. It is hard to call out individual items since everything is amazing, but the vegetable dumplings are always a go=to appetizer for us. On second thought, don't go here so I can still get a table. Lol read more

How have I lived here for 2 years & just now finding this authentic little place? I went in for carry out. I tried the P20, which is the spicy pork with beans & this amazing little poofy bread. I asked for extra hot sauce on the side. I got this real, spicy-seedy flavor bomb with a hint of Sesame seed oil. Delicious! I am super stoked about this food & can't wait to try the entire menu. read more

Clean, petite place with decent food. I would give 5 stars for the super clean environments, this is a nice place where you can have dinner with friends and chat. Just as most other Chinese places, Yens Cafe has some fantastic dishes (most of them) and some mediocre ones (I mean the noodles...). But I would only give 4 stars for the food, maybe it's just me, but 5 stars means perfect. And I cannot say the food is perfect. read more

It's a nice little spot to grab lunch or dinner and I have a feeling you could ask about ordering "off the menu" and they'd hook you up. The portions are enormous. Tiny dining room which is decorated more like a sushi bar so it might be a better carry out option than for dining in. The location is a bit of a mess to find if you're not familiar so use a GPS! read more

Found this place on a quick trip to Home Depot. WOW. I was pretty amazed at such an awesome Chinese lunch place. Now can't wait to go back... again and again and again. Had the Hunan Beef lunch special for $8.95. The special starts with a soup which with my choice was some of the best Hot & Sour soup I've ever had. The lunch platter comes with the entree, a salad, and an egg roll. The egg roll was clearly house made and was stuffed with excellent fresh ingredients. The Hunan Beef was excellent, and the salad was an unexpected surprise. Speaking of unexpected surprises at the end there was a puff pastry filled with red bean paste... Mmmmmm. You should go! read more

This place was a surprise. I didn't know what to expect, when visiting my friends in Ashburn. Good Taiwanese food isn't usually found in Loudoun County, to be honest. We started out w/"power tea", which was served in a glass teapot and warmed over a flower-shaped candle. My friend recommended that we ask for the "other" menu, and it was a good thing we did. We ordered: dumplings, tofu + brisket, Taiwanese fried chicken, and mapo tofu. The dumplings were fried to a delicious crisp, and was filled with delicious pork. The tofu & brisket was awesome. Nice, chewy, fatty chunks of brisket and fresh tofu really hit the spot. Taiwanese fried chicken: bit-sized, crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside -- perfect. Mapo tofu was average; I've had better at other restaurants. The service here was very good. The waitress was very attentive and always made sure we had a full teapot. She was very friendly and always made sure everything was to our satisfaction. The dessert was complimentary sesame paste filled buns. They were hot on the outside, and had a nice sweet crunch. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back to this place. It's a nice hidden gem in Ashburn, a place where you don't expect to find authentic restaurants. read more

Terrific Taiwanese food with warm Taiwanese hospitality! If you miss Taiwan or want a taste of Taiwan, this is the place. The Taiwanese fried chicken is delish! Reminded me of good times at the Taipei night markets! The Taiwanese minced string bean and pork with buns was surprisingly good. Their smoothie and tea list is extensive. Definitely worth the trip from DC. We'll be back! read more

See all

Had to give this restaurant 5 stars - food was excellent; service was warm, friendly and timely; atmosphere was quaint; location has plenty of parking and convenient to other amenities. My husband and son went on a Sunday night at 6:30pm and there was only one other table occupied. By 7:15pm the place was near full (yes there is only about 7 tables). That's probably okay because imagine bulk of their business is probably takeout or deliver. We ordered too much but look forward to leftovers. We had Shanghai spring rolls, won ton soup and chicken skewers - traditional tastes with just the right balance of spices. The won ton was the best I have ever had - the broth was full bodied with sprinkle of green onions and something else (perhaps a bit of Ginger root?). We ordered 4 entrees - Kung Pao chicken (which was requested to be medium spicy which is was), crispy sesame beef (which was nicely crispy and slightly sweet), green beefs (excellent crispy, with slightly smoky flavor which we really enjoyed) and sesame chicken for my son which was good but a bit too sweet for my taste but he likes it that way. We got the sweet red bean dough balls as a complimentary dessert which is a nice touch. Remind me of Korean rice cakes. This is one of the best Chinese dinners I have had in a long time. We will definitely go back (although I think next time we will try it takeout) and I plan to try some of the other dishes not usually offered at other places. read more

Ok wow....what a find. We've only visited Yen's for carry-out. Three times in the past 3 weeks! Here's the thing: the bf doesn't dig Chinese food. So the fact that he craves this place says something big. So our experiences are strictly about the food, and the service when we picked up the food. Service: always friendly and gracious, appreciative of our business. Never rude or impatient or unfriendly. Food: very high quality food. The beef dish was so tender. Normally when one gets a beef dish from a Chinese place, the meat isn't so great and it's sort of tough and sometimes chewy. Not here. It was cut-with-a-fork tender. Chicken dishes have also been great- no gristle or chewy bits, very tender and moist. Tofu dish was well prepared- firm yet silky. We have sampled: Szechuan Beef, Orange Chicken, Tso's Chicken, Ma Po Tofu, Crispy Sesame Beef, Sweet and Sour Pork as well as the pot-stickers and the won ton soup. Some of those dishes pack some good heat....so if you don't like it spicy, ask them to dial it back a bit. We drive by 3 Chinese places to get to this one. Yes, it's more expensive than your typical Chinese restaurant, but the food quality is really worth it. Try the crispy beef. It is sooooooo good!!! My benchmark for that dish is Mei-Wah in DC and Peking Gourmet in Falls Church (Baileys Crossroads). And it is excellent at Yen's. Some day we'll dine in, but for now, it's a go-to for us when I'm not feeling like cooking after a long day at work....right off the Toll Road. Mmmmmm crispy beef....... read more

Have been wanting to try here literally for years and tonight finally put in an order online at 5:30. Website said 30 min for food to be ready. Drove over and arrived right at 6:00. Big sign saying DO NOT ENTER and to call upon arrival. Easily 10 cars waiting and people outside the door. Finally got through on the phone line and was told my food would be out when it is ready. The food runner went in and out and up to cars with gloves on but no mask at all to be see. About 15 min later he came out and asked what I needed. I told him again I was waiting for food. He went back to check and told me it would be another 25 - 30 min for my food. My 30 min would be closer to 75. I asked him to cancel the order. No idea if he did or if I will see a refund. Though I'm glad they seem to have good business during these times I won't be back. read more

Good food and great service. Too bad they only have take out now. Yelp wants me to write more so all I have to say is check out Yen's website and place an order. read more