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    Chen's Cafe

    3.7 (26 reviews)
    InexpensiveJapanese, Thai, Chinese
    Open 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Chen's Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    CHEN'S CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Ordering counter.
    Fred B.

    Were excited when we came, but disappointed when we left. Was hoping maybe this would be a source for some fresh tasting Americanized Chinese fare, but little here was to our taste. This is a small place in the fairly new strip center where Lowes Food is located on University. There are a few tables, but most here seem to go for take out. The menu is broad, and rather like most such Chinese restaurants - house specialites, lunch and dinner combos, apps, and the regular entrees. Tried the Chicken Wing lunch special with Pork Fried Rice and an egg roll ($4.99), the lunch special of Kung Pao Shrimp with Fried Rice & Egg Drop Soup (also $4.99, plus 50 cents for the soup). Time out of the kitchen was a little on the slow side, over 15 minutes. The Egg Drop Soup was nice and rich, but the package of noodles served with it were stale. The Chicken Wings were overcooked, actually dark brown in color, and had none of the usual flavors associated with these items - just bland.The Egg Roll was well cooked, crispy on the outside, but almost entirely madeup of cabbage, with little flavor. The Kung Pao Shrimp was simply awful - full of all sorts of extraneous vegetables - water chestnuts, zucchini, etc - along with a few shrimp, and the whole thing smothered in a thick, dark sauce that was cloying, to say the least. There was a handful of tastless peanuts dump on top of the whole mess. Terrible version of a great dish. The Fried Rice was pretty good, once seasoned with some soy sauce and a little salt. All in all, just a bad lunch. The food here is inexpensive and well sized, but the again, it should be - but a lot of bad, inexpensive food is still bad food.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

    Absolutely incredible hibachi food here, it's awesome how Chinese food and some Japanese food here and it's all awesome

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    6 years ago

    Best Chinese in Alamance County. Very nice people. I've tried most all the Chinese restaurants in this area and this is by far the best.

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    6 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    12 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    12 years ago

    Rat poo. In the fried rice. That's all I have to say. Before that I guess the food was good

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    12 years ago

    It was ok. They over did it with the bell peppers. My Thai Basil chicken was supposed to be hot, but as usual in the South it was weak.

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    8 years ago

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    13 years ago

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    11 years ago

    There soup is amazing but my sister and I ate there egg rolls and some other stuff we went home and threw up

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    12 years ago

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    10 years ago

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    11 years ago

    Took my granddaughter, food was very good and hot! Been coming here for several years now. Never been disappointed, always friendly service.

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    Victorious Pho Bar - Fresh Shrimp Roll (1pc)

    Victorious Pho Bar

    4.1(23 reviews)
    1.1 mi

    Once again, I listened to my boyfriend where to get some delicious Vietnamese food…read more I came to Victorious Pho Bar. This time I didn't get the pho. While looking over the menu one side of the menu is Vietnamese food and the other Thai food. I made the decision to get a little of both options. My appetizer I ordered the shrimp spring rolls and for my meal I ordered the vegan Pad Thai with hot Jasmine tea. I receive my Tea and Spring rolls simultaneously. My tea is piping hot and my shrimp spring roll giant and looks so fresh. My service was great you walk in and the waitress will tell you to sit anywhere you like. The restaurant definitely gives sports bar vibe with the decor. My food was amazing. The shrimp spring roll was delicious the veggies super fresh and crispy and the shrimp cooked perfectly and they give sweet chili sauce as the dipping sauce. My vegan Pad Thai was equally as yummy. It's was so flavorful I did feel that my broccoli was way overcooked and hardly any cabbage either. The veggies you get it broccoli, cabbage, carrots, green onion and bean sprouts. Nevertheless the flavor was there noodle were cooked just right. My boyfriend got it right this time and I will definitely be back. I want to try their red curry next time.

    For the area, this is a good find. In a strip mall, it's kind of understated. Welcomed by…read morestaff, simple menu. We started with shrimp and veggie spring rolls. Very fresh ... nicely done. I had Beef Pho, they had several protein choices. Good sized bowl, steamy hot. All the extras you would want were provided. Zero complaints and was a welcome change to the regular options in the area. This was a lunch visit, but could tell it transforms to a bar at night. If you're looking for something other than the regular slapped between bread offerings... give it a shot. They also of other regular options like Pad Thai which I'll have to come back for

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    Village Grill - Shrimp stir fry

    Village Grill

    4.1(207 reviews)
    2.7 mi
    $$

    Village Grill has been my favorite restaurant in Burlington for over 30 years. The food is always…read moreconsistent and delicious! I highly recommend the Key West chicken, homemade salad dressings, and of course, the chocolate chess pie. Pro tip... You could take a whole pie home really cheap!

    This is at the brand newly opened location on church street, not the old one on Huffman mill…read more Waited a couple minutes to be seated. There was an employee there chit chatting with a customer while we waited. She then walked away and said someone would be with us shortly. The stand was unattended and we weren't even sure we were in the correct spot. The opposite lot was full so we parked on the south side and thankfully got it right. It would be helpful to mark the entrance in case we parked the opposite side. The turn in going south has one turn on the opposite end. Plenty of parking. The place looks brand new: nice decor. Server Chelsea was very nice and helpful. She got a chicken pasta Alfredo and I got a shrimp and crab cake sandwich. The pasta was way overdone and mushy. It was even very watery. The chicken was sweet. Sweet chicken and Alfredo was pretty terrible. They said all the chicken has the sweet marinade. They should have specified that on the menu because we would have never ordered sweet chicken especially not with Alfredo sauce. The dish in my opinion was pretty bad. I would give that a 1.5/5. Mine was decent. I liked the dill sauce. The bun was sweet and small for the patty but it was ok. The fries were over salted but they came out piping hot and fresh. Would I eat there again? Probably not. It's a small menu with a lot of chicken dishes. Their signature sweet chicken sauce was a turn off for both of us. It was reasonably priced and the server was nice. Overall I have to give the place a 3.5/5. The waiting when we went in and having ro listen to an employee chatting with her friend was off putting while we waited. Had she acknowledged and said someone was coming would have been fine but she completely ignored us until she finished her conversation before saying anything and that was a good 2-3 minutes. The food was a 2.5/5 and the service from Chelsea was excellent. I can't say the same for the lady that ignored us. I give it a 3/5 for that reason. Rounding it up to 4 only because it was so clean and Chelsea's attendance

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    Kalm Bistro - Banh mi dac biet

    Kalm Bistro

    4.4(9 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    I was on the way home from the Triangle, in need of lunch, and in possession of a banh mi craving,…read moreso geographic convenience more than anything led me to Kalm's door. Tucked inside a plaza shared with a Food Lion, it isn't much to look at inside or out. However, some of the best Vietnamese and Thai places are these too-easily ignored hole-in-the-wall joints, and Kalm proved to be no exception. In addition to a few banh mi options, Kalm's menu includes rice and noodle dishes, apps, boba tea, poke, and pho. There are several vegetarian selections as well as a kid's menu. If I didn't have a specific craving, I might have had a hard time choosing as several other dishes looked good. I went with a classic Banh Mi Dac Biet (roast pork, sausage, and veggies on a baguette). Kalm's preparation was different than I've had elsewhere: they serve the sandwich deconstructed with cilantro, cucumbers, carrot, daikon, and jalapeños on the side. This preempts patrons from picking out any toppings they don't like. At any rate, the banh mi definitely hit the spot. The bread was very warm and flaky, and the meats were flavorful. The cucumbers, daikon, and carrots offered a refreshing balance to their saltiness. Service here is also great. I got a greeting when I walked in, my order was taken and prepared quickly, and everyone was pleasant and polite throughout the meal. For those despairing about Burlington's food options, you needn't have to drive far to find some welcome variety. Support local, keep Kalm, and carry on.

    The Best Pho bowls around Alamance, Guilford and Orange County. You really have to go and get one…read more Many protein options available. You get one or multiple for your bowl and they are all the same price. Service is really good but it a small place with plenty of seating. Nothing fancy at all but the food is amazing. I go here weekly. The owner is very nice and will chit-chat with you some if they aren't too busy. I've only had the Pho bowls so I can't comment on the other items because I can't pull myself away from the Pho. They also sell the broth to go and we get it and do our own Pho at home sometimes.

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    Chen's Cafe - japanese - Updated May 2026

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