The Mapo Tofu, y'all... I was lucky to visit mainland China in 2019, specifically visiting Chengdu in the Sichuan region. I had never had mapo tofo before so my first try was in the home of this dish. My travelling companions told me that it would be impossible to find it that good back in Austin. Well... I was BLOWN AWAY by how good this dish was. There's lots of great Asian-owned restaurants in this part of town, but none of them rock a mapo tofu like Asia Cafe. Order it! read more

Actually I feel this place has the best Chinese cuisine in Austin. We ordered Fish, pork liver and fried rice. All very good taste. It's just the fish is kinda small and expensive. The disappointing part is the service. The person who took the order was very cold read more

I live right next to that Asia Café, how come I have not submitted a review yet? I absolutely love this place for the sheer largeness and excitement and deliciousness of the food. Be prepared they give you huge huge generous portions. Almost everything on the menu is wonderful. I love the beef with the broccoli, or the General Tsao chicken. The menu has a lot of Chinese classics on it, and some other things I have never heard of. You can order a large steamed basket of vegetables, you will have so many leftovers, it might last you for days later. It is very healthy. The price is right, and the atmosphere is very typical for Austin. It is a weird atmosphere. When you enter the restaurant, you walk through the dining area and order at the back. They have the menu on a big video screen. After you pay, you wait and when they call out your number, you feel like you are the contestant of a game show going to claim your prize in front of an audience. This place is a charm to dine out during the lunch rush. Parking is a tad bit difficult but you will do it, if you were able to find this place, you will definitely enjoy it. read more

Asia Cafe - All steamed!!!!! - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

The food is great. Has a quick luncheonette setup. Best for carry out. Small area to dine in.

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in town. I love their Chicken with White Beech Mushroom. This is very delicious and umami-like. Also their Mapo tofu has really good flavor (though I wish it has more pork). Also they have a big dish called Pork Elbow. We buy that and bring it to parties, and it can feed a ton of people. Or we buy one and it lasts forever. It is rather fatty and comes with 2 sauces: regular or spicy. Normally I prefer spicy food but the regular tastes better in my opinion. They have a lot of different dishes on the menu and usually I'll get the first two dishes above and experiment with a new dish. I'm not a fan of the orange/garlic sauces. But it's fun to experiment! read more

Consistently Good and very Authentic. Customer Service is needing a bit of attention otherwise Enjoy. read more

Place is good!!!!!! It's fast casual - you order and pay up front, and then they give you a number. Some dishes we had to go up to pick up, some they brought to our table. Even tho it's fast casual, the restaurant still looks like an Asian restaurant with lots of round tables and lazy Susan spinning things. salt pepper fried fish: lots of pieces and cooked very well!! egg plant beef clay pot: very delicious! read more

The service is great. The portions are big and all of the employees are super kind. When we are craving Chinese style cuisine we come here

Don't let the ambiance or lack thereof fool you. This place is legit. Definitely some of the best Chinese food ive had outside of new york. Very authentic and a huge number of items to choose from. The jade chicken is wonderful and the spicy fish is excellent. read more

Our go to place for Asian food. A family restaurant that is consistently delicious. We've tried just about everything on the menu and haven't been disappointed. read more

We ordered chicken fried rice & Lo Mein Pork. HORRIBLE!!!! Chicken Fried Rice did not have any soy sauce & barely any chicken. Should have called it greasy white rice with bits of chicken. Lo Mein Pork had no flavor. I was so mad at my wife for ordering food at Asian Cafe. Sticking with China Cafe- way, way, way better. Akira 4.27.22 read more

Solid Chinese food. Real Chinese food. Menu is huge. It used to get crazy crowded before Covid, not there is a lot of take out orders. If you see something on the menu that sounds good, it probably will be. read more

Literally fastest meal of my life. The person who ordered before me ordered multiple meals for what I assume was a workplace. HELLA fast! The food was delicious too :) read more

Freakin overpriced for what you get and no flavor bro. Like way freakin overpriced. And they are super rude when you take the time to freakin show up. They want a freakin order numba they don't freakin give ya on the freakin call. Then they get freakin mad when you say I don't got it. What the frick? I'm the freakin customer. And then you get it and it's gabagool. Meh. read more

We love this place & have eaten here for years, but have noticed they've really started skimping lately. We ordered Thai curry chicken & it was 90% onions. I really dislike onions, so a major turn off for me. I can do them but not as a main dish. We ended up having to order another entree because there just wasn't enough chicken for 2 (or even 1, really). Major disappointment tonight. The food is great, but feel like they're trying to stretch & ultimately rip people off. Very sad to have to write this. read more

Asia Cafe - C'mon Asia Cafe...I ordered Thai Curry CHICKEN not Thai Curry Onion. - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Came here on a Saturday late afternoon (4 pm) with a party of 8 and no reservation. We were able to get one of their private rooms on the side. We ordered 8 dishes and all came out relatively quickly for the amount of food--all within 10/15 minutes, which is very impressive. Everything tasted fine, typical Chinese food, nothing spectacular, but it was authentic and nothing surprising. Come here for a genuine typical Chinese food experience--the only thing not authentic are the restrooms, which are surprisingly clean. read more

Asia Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

Great food! It's probably authentic. I don't know. But I know it's good. I usually bring my own "to go" containers and prep some lunches. The last time I was there I saw someone else doing the same. read more

Yeah, it's legit. You can get real Chinese food here, expect to get your own plates and your own water etc... but the food...the food is great. If you don't know what you want just stand and watch the food come out and ask what it is when you see something you like. We eat here like 3 times a month. I think it is one of the best Austin has to offer. read more

Always Fresh, always crowded, always a delightful meal. I have been going for years and I am always pleasantly surprised when I try something seasonal or different. The spicy fish is my favorite with a green side. Grean beans, bok choy, broccoli, snow peas etc. read more

This might be the best pure Chinese in Austin. Easy shopping plaza to get to up north and huge menu. This place is best if you come with a group since you wanna try everything on the menu. Had a few items including pork buns, green beans, chicken and veggies, and beef with thin noodles. Came out quick and portions dinner sized. Pork buns as good as it gets. Pretty good size and fresh meat and warm buns. As good as any shop in town I'd imagine. Chicken dish really was the best of the night with corn, asparagus, carrots, and other veggies to make it a full entree. Beef with noodle fine and fresh but no spice to eat so a bit bland, so definitely need a hit of chili oil. Asparagus as expected, which means heavy on that great Chinese pepper and garlic flavor. Really good addition to any family style meal. Asia cafe has no complaints. If you want great food come here. Don't think they have alcohol so if you're tying to drink order to go. Note the at there is a surcharge for to go boxes and not sure if they have phone ordering. But overall, loved the meal and just as good day 2! read more

The food is good but the service at least with the cashier is terrible, an important part of any business is the customer service, apparently Asia Cafe never heard of this. read more

I've been eating here for the past 15 years and never once had a bad dish. The Singapore noodles, all the dumplings, the Dan Dan noodles all hit the mark. The chicken and pork fried rice are both excellent, with no food coloring like you sometimes see in fried rice. I'm heading in today to get the maypo tofu and eggplant with ground pork. I've never had either of those dishes but I know how they are made and don't expect to be disappointed. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 is, they removed my favorite dish (Beef with bamboo shoots) from the menu. It was epic, and spicy. It's also not a dish that is easy to Google for, so I asked them a few years back how it was made. They have (had?) an Asian grocery right next door that I think they owned, and I got the correct fermented bean paste, so now I make a very close approximation of the dish whenever I want. But sometimes I just don't want to cook. PLEASE bring back the beef with bamboo and I will add the 5th star. read more

Not much on ambience, but consistent quality dishes, wide variety, and speedy service!

Best Chong-Chin chicken I've ever had. Eggplant with garlic sauce is also solid. The noodles in their beef noodle soup are not good. Food quality is consistent. read more

Spicy fish! Spicy fish! Delicious place, full of locals and people way cooler than me who know the names of things.

My dad (foodie, Taiwanese, refined palette) took a bite of the Gold Sand Ribs (direct Chinese translation) and immediately said they were the best ribs he has ever had. They are both fried and braised. My family eats here multiple times a month. Our faithful go to for authentic Chinese food in Austin. This restaurant has become a family tradition. Thank you, Asia Cafe! read more

Ordered pick up by phone. Food is extremely salty and very little in quantity. Togo boxes are half empty. Dramatic change from before. Also had to wait 15 minutes in the same line as all the dine in folks just to pay for my order. read more

Years ago my wife and I would come here on occasion because the food was great and you got a big portion. Then it became hit or miss on the taste and the amount of meat or veggies they'd put in. Yesterday it was so bad we both vowed to each other we would never return again. We paid their higher prices for bland noodles with very little meat or veggies. Like so many places, they think it's clever to cut corners and raise prices. I've never seen that last in the long run, but either way, it didn't work for us. read more

Austin Wired, but its Awesome and the food is Fantastic! The 133 is good and little Spivey! read more

Asia Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

This is probably the best Chinese place in Austin. I usually order the spicy fish filet, green bean with garlic and maybe something else. However I was browsing their menu and came across the Pan Fried Shrimp with crushed pepper. It was an amazing dish and spicy, so be warned. In order to appreciate this place you have to go outside the box( ie your panda express ordering or general tso or orange chicken). I usually order to-go because I don't have time, but the food is probably best enjoyed there and then to-go. read more

Whenever I go home to Austin, Asia Cafe is my parents and I's go to restaurant. I go here at least once every time I visit home, even if I'm there for only the weekend. While the restaurant itself has no decor and is very, very simply designed, it offers a ton of seating and has a great menu offering a wide variety of authentic Chinese dishes. While I don't eat meat or seafood, one of my favorite dishes is the spicy fish fillet. My family loves the fried fish fillet pieces on top, but I looove the vegetables underneath (they give a lot too!!) including bean sprouts, napa cabbage, and bok choy! The vegetables taste like they've been soaking in the spicy oil sauce for a while because it's packed with flavor! I can literally eat just the vegetables in the dish with a bowl of rice and be happy. My family and I usually order the spicy fish fillet, a tofu dish, a stir-fry vegetable dish, and another vegetable or meat dish. With four people and four dishes, it's more than enough food (the portions here are huge!!) and we always have leftovers for the next day (bonus!!). read more

I forget sometimes how good the food can be here. Maybe the trick is to take my previous reviews and spin them in a positive way. Could you all help me validate this reach by just saying "YES WE CAN!" along with me? 1. Can we possibly get good Chinese in the seediest strip mall of north Austin? "YES WE CAN!" 2. Can we simply forego impeccable table service and a warm, welcoming ambiance for just one outing? "YES WE CAN!" 3. Can we still chuckle at noobs who don't know they have to order at the counter? "YES WE CAN!" 4. Can we also chuckle when they never hear their number called & their food just sits there? "YES WE CAN!" 5. Can we feel faster, stronger, & better about ourselves because we take the time to bring only the cleanest bowls, glasses, & cutlery back to our table? "YES WE CAN!" 6. Can we order the Cold Noodles & any eggplant dish because they're really good here? "YES WE CAN!" 7. Well okay then, let's go check out Asia Café. Umm, how about for lunch? "YAY! COOL! OKAY!" read more

Asia Cafe - Minced chicken with Daikon/peanuts & buns $10.95, my fave cold noodles $5.95, Eggplant in garlic sauce $8.75 - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

I've been a patron & fan at Asia Cafe for just over a year now, but I can't seem to make my way around the gi-normous menu. I enjoy what I usually get so very much (spicy fish and bamboo-steamed veggies with brown sauce) that I haven't ventured out much. I have also tried and loved the eggplant with pork and the garlic green beans with pork -- you may have noticed that I'm quite fond of the swine. The new space is great, right next door to the grocery. Now the dining experience is much less noisy and hectic somehow. The ceilings are high, the lighting low, and there are about twice as many tables as before, with several private rooms off to the side for larger parties. I could do without the TVs tuned to news channels at lunch, but by the time the place really gets going at 12:15 or so, the hum in the room drowns out the distraction. Here are some tips for newbie to AC: - Proceed straight to the counter, grab a menu, peruse the specials board, order, and pay. If you arrive after noon, you probably will wait in line, but it moves fast. - You will take a number back to your table and you will be called to come pick up each dish as it emerges from the kitchen (unless it's a slow period, in which case some one may drop it off at your table). If you don't pay attention, you'll hear, "Ni hao, (insert your number)!!" from the kitchen barker; he doesn't want your food to get cold, and he needs the counter space to place more dishes as they're ready for pickup. - If you're lucky, you'll see several other dishes headed to their final destinations or being devoured at your neighbor's table, things that may look strange and smell delicious. Ask what it is and order it next time. Do not be deterred when one socially awkward guy replies, "Oh, I don't think you'd like bitter melon." How does he know what you might like? Hmph. - Come with a crowd and eat family-style. The portions are large and intended to be shared. - Steamed rice, cold water, and hot tea are included with every order. The drinks are "serve yourself", to the right of the counter. - If you pay with credit card, there is no space for a tip. Bring cash for that, or be sure to ask to add the tip before they ring you up. read more

I could sit here and say that this is the most authentic Szechuan food I've ever eaten, but the truth is, I don't know. I've never been to China, so I have nothing with which to compare this. Feeding me Chinese food is like feeding me the Mandarin language: I'll only adequately recognize bits and pieces. You could throw kung pao chicken into my catcher's mitt, and I still won't get it. BUT, I can recognize when something tastes delicious. I can tell when it contains incredible spices, varying flavors, and it leaves me wanting more, and that's exactly what Asia Cafe did for me the other day. I ordered the Shredded Chicken with Vegetables, and I couldn't even recognize most of what I was eying. I saw water chestnuts, broccoli, shredded chicken, of course, carrots, and mushrooms, but there were other veggies I couldn't identify. Some veggie that looked like an off-white mushroom. Whatever that was, if was good. I enjoyed the taste that rivaled nothing else on that plate. And that green spiky sorta looking veggie that may have either been bamboo or bok choy (see what I mean)? Superb! The spice factor on each veggie was completely different from each other veggie on my plate. I had such an adventure trying to guess what each subsequent thing would taste like. And the brown tofu and veggies soup? Wow. That was some spicy shit, folks! I loved it. Well, except for the tofu part. I just hate tofu. I don't understand why you vegetarians have any sort of culinary allegiance to this stuff. It tastes like what I imagine paper souffle would taste like. But whatever, I ate around the tofu in this soup, and the ultra spicy, earthy flavor was magnificent. And the soup came free with my shredded chicken and veggie plate (along with steamed white rice, which I ignored). Sheesh, I hope I named the soup correctly. Trust me, just get the #715 and enjoy whatever soup comes with it. You will, I guarantee it more than George Zimmer guarantees you'll like one of his overrated Men's Wearhouse suits. I had to punch myself in the gut thrice just now to keep from jogging up to Asia Cafe for more. I mean, Quani C, Pete N and I are going to Alamo Ritz tonight, so why would I want to ruin my appetite or spend more money at Asia Cafe in the meantime? And I know I'll be punching myself in the gut tomorrow, too, as I plan to eat at Reale's with other Yelpers, so why would I want to ruin my appetite again? Sunday, though, I'll go back on Sunday to try something different. Is it a good thing or a bad thing that Asia Cafe is within walking distance of my house? GOOD REASONS: (1) I can go almost anytime I want, and it's not an inconvenience. (2) I can jog or ride my bike over there, and burn off the calories no problem. BAD REASONS: (1) I'm constantly craving it, knowing how close it is to my house. (2) I know I'll get lazy about jogging or biking over there, so I'll have no way to exercise away the calories on my probably three-times-per-week trips over there. So it's a wash. I figure if I can convince myself to bike/jog over there on at least two weekly trips, I should be okay. Wo ài ni, Asia Cafe! Fuck it, I'm heading over there right after I finish this review... read more

Asia Cafe I will preface this review by saying that anyone who doesn't give this place 5 stars clearly hates food and has no taste buds for food that is worthy of commiting seppuko over. That being said, this place is fucking dressed to the nines, slap you on the ass and call you sally, best f-ing Chinese food in all of Austin. There, I said it. I could continue this review to tell you about how the pork is so moist and tender that poking it with your chopsticks might cause a temporal rift in your plate. I might sit here and reminisce about the delicious morsels of spicy fish with bok choy that make me all but ready to become a male host in Bangkok and solicite my sexual prowess to any passing foriegner. I could summarize by saying that I have gone to this place many times and have sampled the vast majority of the menu and have yet to find a dish that was not absolutly amazing. But I wont, instead I will simply tell you to get your ass up to Asia Cafe as soon as possible. Do not stop at go, do not waste time to collect 200 dollars, just flick off the guy in the top hat and park your ass in Austin's boonies ASAP. That is all Gabriel read more

Asia Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas

AUTHENTIC doesn't even begin to describe this great, unusual restaurant. He menu is huge, filled with dishes I have never heard of. .....I broke out of my comfort zone and ordered Salt & Pepper Shrimp and loved it. Very unusual though. .....The restaurant has huge portions & reasonable prices. They have low overhead because it is self serve: you stand in line to order and soon your order is called for pickup. It is always busy, with lots of tables for seating. There are even semi-private rooms for families & parties. I eat here weekly. .....This has some of the best Chinese food in Austin!! read more

I'm not exactly sure who Rihanna is referring to in her song "Where Have You Been?"... but I know when it comes to me and the fabulously authentic Chinese cuisine at Asia Cafe that I discovered only recently, this song should have been blaring loudly during the moment I took my first bite. Some male dancers shaking their booties to the thumping beats of the music would've been appreciated too, but that's for another time and place. Their website states simply: "There are two ways to experience an authentic Chinese restaurant. One is to hop on an airplane and fly to China; the other is to go to Asia Cafe inside of Asia Market at Austin, Texas." I can't think of a better way to put that. Not having been to this low-key-yet-amazing Austin locale, I was seriously unprepared for everything that would await me. First off, it seems completely ridiculous to me that I could have been to Asia Market several times, and yet I never stepped foot in their restaurant next door. I'll just chalk that one up to being one of those odd anomalies of life I can't explain, like my geeky "Star Wars" streak, or having never seen a single episode of "Modern Family". The space is large, and is pretty bare bones in that it sort of reminds me of what a small, military outpost cafeteria would look like...if I even had the slightest clue as to what a small, military outpost cafeteria even resembles.. I guess what I'm trying to say is: Aside from a few fans and lithographs on the tall, white walls, you won't find a plethora of trickling fishtanks, lush ferns, or Buddha statues in every corner. But it does not matter in the slightest. This place is ALL about the food. I stood in a lunch hour line that snaked almost back to the front door, surrounded by what seemed like a hundred people who were clearly in on the Asia Cafe thing long before me. The menu is vast and slightly overwhelming, so if you haven't been already, read it online before you go so you have an idea of what you want. This place has everything from staples such as General Tso's chicken, to the more exotic stir-fried pork intestines. Look--I've had the head cheese on the charcuterie platter at Péché; that's where it starts and ends for me on the bizarre food streak. You place your order at the counter; a man or woman will call out your order number in a voice you may or may not be able to hear/understand, so keep your ears perked up. If you want glasses of water or silverware, you get it yourself from the tubs along the back wall (See? Not dispelling the mess hall vibe.) Seating is either a regular four-top, or a large round "family style" table complete with a spinning Lazy Susan in the middle for efficient sharing. There are also private rooms available for larger parties. Where do I begin? Start with the #127. Homemade Pan Fried Dumplings; the #675. Stir Fried Salt & Pepper Squid ranks as one of my favorite appetizers of all time; and the savory #115. Wonton Soup was unlike any other I've had. The portions are huge and meant to be split. I adored the spicy and delicious #739. Hunan Style Beef; the #796. Sweet & Sour Pork Chop was tasty, although sightly difficult to eat with the bone still in. The popular and oft-mentioned #689. Spicy Fish Fillet received mixed reviews, as it's more hunks of fish, rather than a fillet. I thought it tasted great, though. The #725. Sesame Chicken is my favorite sesame chicken in the world, and in fact, I am so craving it, now I think I want to go get some later today. My God. I haven't even scratched the surface with this place yet. It was nice to see that after checking in, so many friends voiced their approval ("My husband loves that place!"; "I remember when it was still a part of Asia Market and you just had to point at what you wanted."; "Love it! When we get a group together, we'll all have to go there!"). I can say, even with only a few months left in the year, that Asia Cafe goes down as Nathan's Best Culinary Discovery of 2012. I am so grateful to have found this amazingly authentic (and completely affordable) gem of traditional Chinese food, and so close to me as well. And in case you were wondering for the future, no matter what the circumstance, time of year, or special or non-special occasion...I will always be down for a lunch at Asia Cafe. 4 Stars. read more

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I'm sort of echoing Alex L.'s statement of 'lack of Chinatown' but I'm applying it to Austin AND San Antonio. I heard of this place through a friend and was reluctant at first. Partly because I didn't want to just drive all the way up to Austin but I was really hard pressed to find something better than what I've already tried (not that any of what I found was mind blowing or anything). Well, my first visit to the Asia Cafe was about the summer of last year(?) - when the restaurant was still located in the back of the Asia market. I ordered the spicy fish and I just sat there with a blank look on my face for a few seconds. It was the absolute best Chinese dish I'd had in so long. The fish was still fresh, hot, spicy hot, firm and cooked to perfection. The bok choy underneath was just as yummy - swimming in absolute spicy fish sauce goodness.... if the world ended, I would've died in absolute happiness. WOW. The price was just right - about 8 bucks - includes rice and easily feed two people. My many visits that followed after included the sweet and sour fish and twice cooked pork (along with many other ones that I honestly can't remember the names of - and NOT because it was forgettable either - the menu is long. :D) Oh and on a side note, when my family came in to visit last year, I took them here and we fed a family of 10 for about 60 bucks believe it or not. Got a whole pot 'o rice and what have you to boot. This is one of my top picks for best places to eat in Austin. read more

When I moved to Austin, I was warned that Asian food will be nothing like what I grew up and loved in Los Angeles. Asia Cafe seemed to be the closest thing I can get that reminds me of food from Chinatown in downtown Los Angeles. Great place for large parties. All of it is family portion and you order and pay first. They give you a number, you take a seat, then pick up your food when it's called. - Asia Eggplant with Ground Pork was my favorite. The eggplant was nice and soft. It had a nice spicy kick to it as well. - Spicy Wontons were really great as well. Soft and flavorful - Stir Fried Noodles with Chicken, Pork, and Shrimp meh, stay away from it. It wasn't that good and just tasted like regular old noodles. There's still plenty of options to try next time, so I'm looking forward to it. read more

I was in a hurry and had to pick a Chinese restaurant STAT and thanks to Yelp, Asia Café was at the top of the list! I didn't have the chance to read reviews but went based on everyone's beautiful photos. I walked in and met my friend right on time but was quickly flustered and soon realized that I should have read the reviews before coming since it's a self service establishment. I picked up a menu from the cashier counter and went back to my table to study the extensive dishes. Then, I went back up and paid for my Mongolian beef dish, I was given a number and served my own drink. The silverware/chopsticks/to-go boxes are all located in the same drink area and you pick them up once you're finished ordering. They called my number out and I collected a steaming mound of Mongolian beef waiting to be ravished(All dishes are served with a bowl of white rice)! My plate consisted of sliced jalapenos, onions, green onions, and tender beef...yummy! I tried wolfing down most of it but there's just too much, I would suggest sharing. I sampled my friend's crispy tofu and spicy chicken dish, all were good but they weren't playin around in the spice department. LOVED everything about this place! Asia Café is a nice drive for me but well worth it! I'm desperate to get there ASAP and try their other dishes. Now that I'm familiar with how things work here, I'll walk up like a boss to order ;) read more

Asia Cafe - Mongolian beef ze best - Chinese Near Me - Austin, Texas