I saw online that this was a historic Chinese American cafe from the 1900s that was shutting down so we wanted to give it a visit before. The food was miss all around. Some dishes were too salty, some were too bland, very greasy. The flavors had all one dimension so I quickly got bored of the taste. Many of us couldn't finish our food. It didn't feel worth $15. The service was also disappointing. It took us a half and hour to get seated and an hour to get our waters. There's apparently only one waitress ever who seemed very overwhelmed and unhappy to be at work. It also took a while to flag her down to ask for the check. The ambiance is also eerie. The taxidermy is outdated. There was no music. There seemed to be no good airflow in the restaurant. I don't mean to just write a review to be cruel. But I do understand why this restaurant is going out of business. And honestly the food, ambiance, and service all need a fresh restart. read more

Chicago Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

See all

We were very hopeful that the chow mien would live up to the hype of "old style". It is the closest we have had, but it lacked the variety of vegetables and the sauce was lacking "something". Don't get me wrong, it was good, just not what we were hoping for. Now the egg foo yong was excellent. The only thing I would ask for is more gravy. We really love the gravy and they just wasn't quite enough of it. All in all it was a good meal, large serving and the service was excellent. read more

Chicago Cafe - Lunch plate with pork chow mein, prawns, fried rice, and egg foo young. - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

Greatest place to eat with great service, friendly faces and some of the best authentic Chinese food you've ever had!! Please come support them! They're closing at the end of June and been in business 122 years!!!! Please come support!! read more

Chicago Cafe - Combination plate - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

We heard in the news that this quaint restaurant was in the process of closing. We needed to come to the oldest Chinese restaurant before it was no more. We came in on a Tuesday around 5:00pm Such an old time cafe. There is a "standard"lunch counter that you would find at a soda fountain shop. Loved the ambiance. Our server (maybe the owner) was very nice and friendly. She told us that they didn't know when they would close and we were determined to try it before we couldn't. The restaurant is cash only so come prepared. We didn't so we ordered the pork chow mein Chinese style and pork fried rice. Our meal came with some soup (maybe chicken). It was a standard lunch counter type. Added pepper and it tastes good. The pork fried rice and chow mein were served fresh off the grill-piping hot!! We asked for hot mustard and it was hot too. But delicious!! The food took me back to when I was young and we went to our neighborhood Chinese restaurant in downtown Sacramento. Would like to come again and try some of their other items. read more

See all

Literally, the best! Woodland's best kept "not so secret, secret?" If there is such a thing :P. Recently named the oldest Chinese food restaurant in California (https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/restaurants/article/oldest-chinese-restaurant-california-18643241.php) - it's my number one pick for pork fried rice & hot mustard! Sometimes (especially during lunch) it gets pretty busy and there's only one waitress - so you'll need to be patient, but she really does go out of her way to try to keep everyone satisfied. I don't think I've ever seen the woman sit down or rest lol. I would definitely go check it out if in the area. Can't go wrong with a deluxe dinner for one! read more

Chicago Cafe - Delicious dinner for one, double rice (in place of chow mein) - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

As always the Best Chinese food in the county! Now that the news showed/shared again the oldest Chinese run Restaurant - you will be lucky to get a table- which is so unfortunate for all us old timers, use to getting in and out in less then 45 minutes (including soup, main course/dish, and fortune cookie! Owners have the business for sale-so we hope someone can keep the traditional Chinese food flowing read more

Chicago Cafe - Chicago Deluxe dinner - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

See all

Came here for breakfast while car is being serviced next door. Food was great and service was excellent. Definitely 5 stars; however, lunch is a different story. They were super busy with only 1 waitress. We walked in after the lunch crowd and all the tables have not been cleaned. We sat at the bar patiently waiting to be served but couldn't wait any longer. The waitress apologized hence the 4 stars. Plenty of street parking. read more

My friend, originally from Hong Kong, asked if I had ever been to Chicago Cafe. I hadn't and warned her that it would be old school American Chinese and that she probably woudn't like it. She wanted to try it anyway so I was game. We had low expectations. We went on a Friday for lunch. On entering the restaurant you feel the small town old style restaurant vibe with the lunch counter and the bench seating. Based on how the waitress interacted with the other customers, one could tell that many were regulars. We had a lot of questions about the menu items. I asked what the difference was between Mein and Yuk. Mein contains bean sprouts and Yuk has bok choy. I then asked if the Chinese Green Chow Yuk was vegetarian and was informed that it contained beef. I ordered the Mushroom Chow Yuk and my friend ordered the Almond Chicken Chow Mein. The entrees came with a bowl of clam chowder. Since I had been asking about vegetarian items, the waitress asked if I could eat the clam chowder. I confirmed that it would be OK. The soup was fair, it was mainly potatoes and celery with a small number of tiny clam pieces. Then on to the entrees. Way way too salty. We both agreed that we would not become regulars. She might return because her husband, originally from mainland China, wants to try it. We both predict that he will not like it, though he might enjoy the ambiance. read more

Chicago Cafe - Prices as of August 2024 - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

I had read an article in the SF Chronicle describing this as one of the oldest Chinese restaurants in the US where traditional chow mein was served. Because the cafe will close permanently soon, my husband & I drove up from the East Bay (2 hours each way). There was nearby free street parking. Upon arrival we were greeted by a friendly female server who set us up in a booth with our 2 service dogs. Even mid-afternoon almost every table was occupied. We ordered 2 chow mein combo plates which included a cup of clam chowder. Although my husband was thrilled that the crispy noodles reminded him of his 1950s childhood outings with his mom & sister, I was less excited about my oily fried noodles. The portions were huge but the bean sprouts atop the chow mein were overcooked and bland and the pork slivers were modest in size & quantity. Our server was gracious & charming in spite of seeming to be the only one taking care of customers. From a nostalgic perspective, this was a unique slice of Americana and I wanted so much to give it high marks, yet I can't. The walls are covered with old newspaper clippings and curious artifacts are on display, yet the overall ambiance is worn & dated. The bill was amazingly low, but I'd only recommend for folks wanting to step back in time. I wish the staff well. read more

See all

Stopped in last Saturday after a Nextdoor post stated the 3rd generation family owner was putting the business up for sale. The breakfast of three soft boiled eggs, hash browns and toast was promptly served and delicious. We came back a few days later and tried the Chinese food by ordering the Chinese-style chow mein, pork fried rice and Egg Foo Young. All were quickly served to go, sizable in portions and equally tasty. The sauce on the Egg Foo Young was plentiful, mild and really complemented the sprouts and other veggies. I hope it continues as a Chinese restaurant after the sale. We also met Paul Fong, the owner and his wife and got a selfie with him in the kitchen. Last but not least, Diana, our server, was attentive, friendly and just super nice. Thank you all at the Chicago Cafe. read more

Drove up from the Bay Area to try the "suburban" Chinese food at the oldest Chinese restaurant in the country. Overall, I was surprised and enjoyed the historic authenticity of the early Chinese American cuisine, which was on par with Panda Express. I ordered the Chicago Combination plate which comprised BBQ Pork Fried Rice, Chow Mein with lots bean sprouts, Egg Foo Young, and Fried Shrimp. read more

Chicago Cafe - Chicago Combination - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

Recent newspaper articles that claim Chicago Cafe is the oldest contiguous Chinese restaurant in the US apparently has bumped up business, according to the charming silver-haired waitress. Checking the menu prices between those shown in 2021 and now, the prices have increased 25%+. Don't know if this is due to higher inflation or the owners capitalizing on the publicity. The most popular items seem to be the Chicago combination plate for one at $11+. It consists of some chow mein, fried rice, egg foo yong, fried shrimp, and soup. One of our party of 4 ordered that. Two ordered chow mein, and I ordered a ground beef patty American dinner. The food is not memorable and the chow mein is saturated with an overdose of bean sprouts. The best thing about the place is the iced tea and the wonderful service we received from our harried but efficient waitress who manages the whole place on her own. If you are visiting Woodland, I would spend more time walking through old town. However, making a long drive from the Bay Area to dine here is not worth it. 2 Stars for the food and 4+ stars for the service. read more

It claims to be the oldest restaurant in Northern California. Owned by the same family for 116 years. An odd hybrid place that serves its own brand of Chinese and American dishes. With a mishmash decor which includes taxidermy, Elvis posters, old-school diner with Chinese nick-nacks we were not sure what to expect. THE PROS: We ordered a wide variety just to see. Soup was American. A vegetable noodle. Good broth and fresh veggies. Delicate and flavorful. Definitely not canned. Home made sauces, including a spicy hot mustard. Chicken chow Mein was simple but also quite fresh. A bed of fried, chewy noodles with bean sprouts and topped with both white and dark meat chicken. All of the dishes were unique to themselves. None of the items were hidden behind sauces and seasonings. If you are a fan of places like Panda, this is not that at all. THE CONS: All the food came at once, including appetizers. None of the dishes taste like the Chinese food most people think of. ( In fact this is also a big plus, depending on your point of view. ) For example the sweet and sour was a tomato and plum (?) base, not at all the brightly colored sticky sweet syrup which is so common. Same for the house made teriyaki. Thin and light, not sweet. If you are a fan of places like Panda, this is not that at all. Only real con: Cash only. BOTTOM LINE: Definitely not the usual. And that's not a bad thing. After all, they offer an Egg Foo Young sandwich or a 32oz side of gravy! A 3 star hole in the wall that gets 4 stars just for being real food done different. Nothing institutional here. We'll be back. read more

See all

Read all of the reviews and it sums up my experience. Crispy noodles was "La Choy noodles you find in American grocery stores. Fried rice was the same rice you find at Mexican restaurants but with a dash of soy sauce for color. Go elsewhere. Maybe 20 or 30 years ago it was a good Chinese restaurant. Did not try the American food. They are better off closing the restaurant and have the memories of the golden years of the past read more

Unfortunately, this place has poor customer service as they refuse to serve all people and only cater to those with reservations... which was seemed like code for serving a certain "kind" read more

The atmosphere was very welcoming. The cooks and server were all very friendly and made great suggestions. The quality of the meal was excellent, with large portions, tasty and fast service. I had just enough cash to pay the bill, but I had not realized ONLY CASH was the policy, so I promised to return for a second meal with a generous tip. Go! Great restaurant! The owner knew my friend well and had been serving her since she had been a child eating there with her parents! Great place to eat in Woodland. Enjoy!! read more

A great experience at Chicago Cafe. Great opportunity to have old time Chinese food in an excellent restaurant. The egg foo young and chop suey were better than what I enjoyed in Chicago 60 years ago. I recommend that you try it asap. read more

My friends and I stopped by while visiting nearby Davis... Affordable, delicious food. We had the chow mein, chop suey, egg foo young, and sweet and sour pork. We also each had some hearty soup! The rice was steaming hot and everything went well with it. Also, the bathroom and kitchen (which you have to walk through to get to the bathroom) were really clean. Really enjoyed seeing the super old school wooden fridge! Thank you Chicago Cafe for a good time. read more

Really nice staff, great history (oldest Chinese restaurant in California) and ambiance like crazy. Unfortunately, that's all negated by the filthiest kitchen, most disgusting bathrooms and complete disregard for cleanliness I've ever encountered. Don't do it. The gastric distress I suffered for days afterward was assuredly not worth it. read more

This place is almost older than dirt. It's been here a long,long,long time. American Chinese @ its finest!!! Service is a little slow but it's worthy. Husband and wife cooking and washing dishes. One wonderful waitress Diana and the food is wonderful. It's nostalgically in a-bygone time. The walls have articles and bygone toys from long ago. Visit and enjoy!!! Cash only!!! read more

I'm just echoing my earlier reviews, there is no better restaurant. I keep coming back not because of the recent media coverage, but for the food. read more

My family has been going to Chicago Cafe for over 20 years. Our favorites are the chicken fried steak with brown gravy, and the chow mein with crispy noodles. read more

Chicago Cafe - Beef chow mein - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

First time I have ever been there and the service and people were wonderful. I ordered Sweet and Sour Pork and Pork Fried Rice to go. When I got home and sat down to eat, I discovered there was no pork in the rice and couple of very small pieces of port in the Sweet and Sour Pork order. There was no meat provided in the food!! The breading for the pork in the Sweet and Sour was missing the pork inside. It was just empty deep fried breading. When eating it combined on the plate it tasted bland with the consistency of mush. I was sorely disappointed. I don't know if they normally exclude the meat in the dishes. read more

Excellent service by experienced waitress. Food we ordered was delicious. Restaurant is the Taj Mahal, however the restaurant was a very clean. Crisp and genuine decor, not gaudy. Superior ambiance of a restaurant that been in business for many years. Definitely will patronize this restaurant . read more

we had a reservation for seven at 1 PM. We were seated, and our orders weren't taken until 2 PM. Food was served to half the table at 3, and the other half did not receive their food until 4. The chow mein was flavorful, but very oily, and the eggrolls were overcooked. on the good side, we had plenty of time to catch up with friends. read more

Food was American Chinese, and it's flavorful and in good value. I ordered the signature combo which was pretty big. I packed the leftover and it was a decent second meal. The waitress was really nice and friendly. It was a pleasant experience to dine here. read more

I'd give it a zero if I could. The food was despicable, watered down, and tasteless. The server was rude to me and other staff members. It's the first time ever that I could barely get myself to pay the bill. Probably the worst dining experience I have ever had. read more

Came with the highest of hopes and respect for what this restaurant signifies in CA history. However, I left supremely disappointed with the service and lack of respect for their customers. Admittedly, we arrived close to closing time but instead of being told that they were done serving, the staff kept us waiting until they decided to tell us to leave. Again, I understand that they were closing in 30 minutes but they could have had the ability to let us know sooner rather than make us feel unwanted for wanting to patronize their business. read more

The oldest Chinese restaurant in the US still in existence but maybe not for much longer. I went in with low expectations but was pleasantly surprised by the Chinese food. Experience it while you can read more

The only place I can get my pork noodles. The fried rice is the best and I love the family atmosphere.

Their food is delicious. Grew up eating this type of Chinese food. Yum !! Very clean and a very nice waitress.

Is the older man in a bad mood all the time or is he racist and/or homophobic? The service I received versus the white people ahead of me was quite interesting. Hard to support a local business when they act super rude. :( read more

We really enjoyed our dinner with old California style Chinese home cooking . It's what we remember as kids and never fails to be great. This is the oldest Chinese restaurant in the USA as verified by Univ of California Davis researchers and was started in 1903. Homestyle plates include Chow Main, Chop Suey, Egg Fu Yung and of course the famous West Coast deep fried prawns. Experience this restaurant while it is still there. You will not be let flown, read more

Best place for Chop Suey! Chow Mein! fried Rice! and the the owner and his wife are good people. read more

We love the fact it's old school, he can have chicken fried steak and I can have Chinese Food! Old style- bean sprouts, bbq pork, crispy noodles etc. don't forget the egg foo young! Prices are great too! Same family owned since early 1900,s! Love this place! read more

Chicago Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Woodland, California

Great authentic Chinese our favorite restaurant for over 60 years. Best pork fu young. And truly authentic chow main

Worst ever I ordered shrimp chow mein and pork fried rice to go the shrimp in the chow mein was the tiny caned shrimp and instead of Chow Mein noodles it was bean sprouts tasting awful in the servings for both the chow mein and rice was very small say the least and it was $20 unbelievable read more

Old school Chinese Food with a small town feel. You don't need to follow the latest trends when you have been open since 1903. My go to meal is Egg Foo Young with brown gravy. A cheap, delicious, filling lunch. If you are passing through Woodland and want to experience a bit of Americana stop in. You will not find the trendy Yelpers here, just locals. Just good food, service and a comfortable setting. read more

We were surprised how low quality the food their was, we ordered $60 of food and the shrimp was awful and the teriyaki beef was dry and no teriyaki sauce, we'll never eat here again, it was a good restaurant 7 -8 years ago , don't know what happened. read more

We just got home with an order of two so-called Chinese food dinners from this place. I have never in my life seen a poorer excuse for chinese food. It was supposed to be chicken Chowmein, Teriyaki beef, and pork fried rice with some fried shrimp (the dinner combo plate). Whatever this crap is, it is not anything like chinese food. The so-called chowmein was unlike anything any chowmein in any chinese restaurant I have ever seen. It was mostly a pile of those translucent rice noodles, piled on top of a few burnt chop suey noodles on the bottom. Absolutely awful, but more importantly , did not even resemble chowmein like I have ever had anywhere else. What's worse, the so-called teriyaki beef was obviously just some pieces of tough stew beef they tossed into the pan. It is literally so tough I cannot eat it. I would have to chew it for an hour. My wife asked if they had any sweet and sour sauce or traditional chinese sweet sauce (the pink stuff) because none was included. They said they were "out". Amazing. All they had was hot mustard. So all I got was some transparent rice noodles and cut-up celery with a few burnt chop suey noodles underneath, awful fried stew beef with some kind of so-called teriyaki sauce that was not even sweet at all, and 4 fried shrimp with hot mustard and some dried out fried rice. Two plates like that. It's definitely the last and only time for me at this place. I highly recommend others to avoid it. read more