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    China Cafe

    3.8 (57 reviews)
    ModerateChinese

    China Cafe Photos

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    CHINA CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - China Cafe

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    a bowl of soup and crackers

    I mean I think I would have enjoyed my food a lot more if when we were ordering the lady wouldn't have kept saying are you sure that's a lot of food 3 to 4 times. For one your response should be "what else may I get you" never telling a customer they shouldn't order food because what we order supports your business and then she kept saying "to go " no we are eating here ! And then brought it to our table and said " see lots of food" so what? Did that food we order not support your business and pay some bills ? How do you expect people to want to come back when you don't even let them order what they want ? And the egg drop soup was horrible it was so thick and sticky

    Honey walnut shrimp!!
    David D.

    Special historical location with the best homemade Chinese cuisine Buy local come often newly refreshed inside You won't be sorry!!

    Combo
    Michelle G.

    I will say they work hard in here. The wife? Works the front and the man is in the back. Food came out quick+. Found parking on the street +. Ordered combo. Lots of food+. Unfortunately the fried rice had a burnt taste. Orange chicken was chewy. Broccoli beef was good. If you are looking for old school americanized Chinese (sometimes that is what you crave) then pop in. There are stacks of flooring in the restaurant so maybe they are remodeling? Dont let the outside scare you off.

    Looking at the outside, I suspect this restaurant started out as a diner, probably in the 1950's.
    Eric R.

    There's nothing that I love more than an "old school" diner, located in an older, shabby part of a neglected downtown, as much of the time, you'll be enjoying a "diamond in the rough." When you find such a restaurant, especially when it serves delicious Chinese food, along with a smattering of American "comfort food," you know you've found a "keeper" of a restaurant. Such is the case with China Cafe, located in downtown Porterville, CA. By the looks of the outside of the restaurant, China Cafe started out as a diner, many years ago, and the somewhat shabby building is located in a run down part of downtown, which adds to the charm of the restaurant. As I entered the restaurant, I was immediately transported back in time to the early 1960's, as the interior is definitely "1960's diner-esque" and hasn't been updated since. Yes, you have a large counter, complete with leather-covered stools, and booths covered in leather as well. There's even an antique cash register, which I suspect isn't used, as there is a 1980's electronic cash register next to it. The window to the kitchen can be seen in the center of the photo. Yes, I love the decor! A portion of the menu, featuring lunch and dinner combination plates, family dinner, "Chef Specials," along with a small section of American, "comfort food." The other side features all of your Chinese favorites, and practically every Chinese dish you can imagine. After carefully looking over the menu, I went with the "Asia Platter," which could be described as a "sampler plate." My delicious dinner really got started with the appetizers of "Cantonese Cream Corn Soup," deep fried "Won Tons," along with a bowl of "Sweet and Sour" sauce. The Tsingtao beer certainly made a fine companion for my meal too. The menu didn't mention anything about an appetizer, so when Mi brought it out, I was pleasantly surprised. From the "Combination Plates For Lunch or Dinner" section of the menu, I ordered the "Asia Platter," which is shown, along with my bowl of "Cantonese Cream Corn Soup," which my server brought as an appetizer. The "Asia Platter" could be described as a "sampler" of the fine food that China Cafe has to offer, and makes an absolutely perfect dinner for one person, especially when you add the soup and the deep fried won ton appetizer. "Asia Platter" includes fried won ton, fried shrimp, egg roll, chicken wings, BBQ spareribs and a helping of pork fried rice. If you love fried Chinese food as much as I do, this platter is for you! Every item on this platter was fried, or in the case of the spareribs, barbecued to absolute perfection, and melted in my mouth. If the chef ever decided he wanted to switch over to southern cooking, he'd be right at home, as the deep fried, crispy battered chicken drumsticks reminded me of fried chicken you'd enjoy in Memphis, and would have made Elvis proud. With each bite, I was transported into Cantonese heaven... and a savored my amazing meal. If you love outstanding Cantonese cuisine, you'll absolutely adore the "Asia Platter" and the fine food served at China Cafe. Perhaps the dining room is a little shabby, dated, and "old school" in every way, and my server played the "duck and cover" drill every time I brought out my camera, but the food was amazing, the beer was cold, and I enjoyed an absolutely wonderful meal, and dining experience. I loved the "old school" atmosphere, as this diner reminded me in many ways of restaurants I used to visit when I was a kid. For great Cantonese cuisine, and a trip into downtown Porterville's past glory, visit China Cafe. You'll love this fine restaurant! My "camera shy" server pleasant enough, but when it came to photos, she preferred to run and hide, even after I explained to her what I was doing. Whatever... as it didn't detract from the "old school" charm, and delicious food of this fine restaurant. All in all, I give China Cafe a solid 4 stars.

    Shrimp with mixed veggies (including taxes. It was $13.06)

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    Photo of Tom G.
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    6 days ago

    This place is NOT closed. I went on 5/11/26 and it was delicious as always. The food was ready really fast and the service was amazing.

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    10 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    Photo of Dora C.
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    7 months ago

    Always Great food. Favorite is the honey walnut shrimp. Service is pretty fast, but they are que busy most of the time with to- go orders.

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    3 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Hole in the wall, but great, made to order dishes! Very affordable and friendly and efficient service.

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    1 year ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Great flavors. Each item had its own distinct flavor. Everything is always hot and fresh . They take pride in each dish served !

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Absolute Best Chinese Food in Porterville. You have to try it. Authentic, fresh, and tasty. So happy to have found this place!

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    3 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Food delicious, pleasant people, just not enough parking. Take out is best. Fried shrimp thee bomb and my favorite house chow mein

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food needs more flavor, and the soup was sticky and thick. And the gravy needed more flavor.

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    3 years ago

    Their food is good but they just NEVERRRRR answer the phone for take out literally never I'll call 10x & just end up going in person.

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    3 years ago

    Not going again ! All not regular size on some items. They forget gravy it's no flavor.

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    5 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

    Best chow mein in Porterville, great prices, very hard working people the put lots of love in there food

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    5 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    6 years ago

    We ordered through Grub Hub and the order was completely wrong and what we did get was so bad I just threw it away

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    7 years ago

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    8 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Page 1 of 2

    Ask the Community - China Cafe

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    I think it is tricky when you try a new restaurant. You have to order the right dish on your first…read moretry so you keep coming back again to try other items on the menu. While I have had some dishes here that did not meet the mark, I keep coming back here for those that have had an impact on me. Their lunch special of Sichuan Spicy Beef, is one of them. It is seasoned beef, snow peas, broccoli, onions, carrots, aromatic chilis, garlic and bean sauce. The menu says it is very spicy. For me it is not, but perfect balance of heat, spice and flavor. The lunch special comes with pork noodles (soft or crisp) and pork fried rice. No substitutions on the rice or noodles. This is a delicious dish. Very unique in taste. Portion is big so I get at least 2-3 meals out of it. I have also had their Kung Pao King. This dish comes with seasoned shrimp, chicken, beef, broccoli, celery, onions, bell pepper, peanuts in a delicious kung pao sauce. This is also a memorable choice. There is ample parking. The service is good. And they have been around for a long time.

    Dinner number two has always been a go to for us seems like it never really changes as far as…read moreflavor. Dinner includes almond diced chicken, sweet and sour pork, chow mein, fried rice, chicken wings, fried shrimp, and egg foo young. Today the sweet-and-sour pork was really good it was definitely fresh and it was pretty noticeable that it was. Kind of made me think back to other times when I've ordered this and it was not nearly as flavorful or the sauce was a different texture. The chicken wings were quite hard and unlike the sweet-and-sour pork they seem to be on the older side but everything else was good.

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