1. The smell is putrid when you walk in, red flag #1 BUT I still ordered because I've been there before. 2. The customer service was horrible! 3. The egg foo Yung took 25 minutes and it was burnt and nasty. 4. The cost + the time + the horrible taste = negative 5 stars read more

Little China Cafe - Burnt Shrimp Egg Foo Young= NASTY - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I've been going here for over 15 years. I've always been pleased with my orders. The food is hot and fresh and reasonably priced. No frills place and heavy on the takeout side, but if you're looking for decent American Chinese food then give it a try. read more

It's always interesting to visit a place in person to see how they treat customers and also if the quality of food is the same. This place failed its in-person service as the woman behind the counter was rude and nasty upon walk in and didn't allow me any time to finish my sentence. Although I was a little annoyed, I decided not to let her ruin my wonderful evening. Well, the evening went downhill after they gave us stale rice which was hard as rocks and the most disgusting, dry, and tasteless crispy sesame beef. The funny thing is, whenever I order this through mobile delivery, I've never had this problem. But, to walk in person and order the same thing, only for it to be terrible makes me question whether this establishment is biased towards customers and would provide food of lesser quality. It's safe to say that I will no longer be supporting them on mobile nor in person as I rather take my money elsewhere and research on how customers are treated and whether good quality is different without a face. What an absolute waste of money. read more

This has been a local carry out favorite of mine for years. The food is delicious, the delivery is speedy, and the staff is really nice.

The carry out itself was kept well and it was empty and quiet. I was not nervous to place an order there which was exciting. The gentleman at the register was pleasant and allowed me time to check out the menu and place my order which took about 10-15 minutes for Kung pao shrimp and crab rangoons. The food left much to be desired there were so many vegetables to the shrimp portion it was outrageous and the crab rangoons we're very sweet. I wouldn't return. read more

Little China Cafe - Bowl of veggies... Only a few shrimp, this was overkill... - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We have ordered from this shop a few times over the past 20 plus years, and had generally been satisfied with the food and service. Unfortunately, last night I received an order of meat, seafood, vegetables, and noodles that had to be returned because half of the noodles were uncooked. The manager told us that is how the dish is normally prepared. We returned the food and received a refund, thankfully. We won't be ordering from this shop again. read more

So I've been ordering here for the past couple of years because it's not to far from my workplace and yesterday will be my very last. The delivery guy decided to bully and berate me because I didn't give him a tip and accuse me that every time I order from them I never tip, which is not true. I tip them when I can, but I'm not obligated to tip. I felt humiliated and embarrassed because it was in front of staff members. It's not mandatory to tip at all. I called the restaurant back and they said they'll look into it, but I doubt it. So I just took it upon myself to let that be my last time ordering from them. read more

I always get the fried meat dumplings and general tso's chicken and they never disappoint! Delivery is also usually super fast.

This was my go to place for years (amazing wonton soup) but the past two times I've ordered from them my food has taken over an hour. Tonight when I called an asked they just said "it was delivered to the wrong door" ?? No real apology no update on when I would get my food no refund or anything. Going to start ordering from Mr Chens again read more

I had not tried this place for several years - used to be a family favorite. I tried it last night, and it was the absolute worst Chinese food I've ever had. The wonton soup had ultra-thick wontons with little filling, and it went right down the disposal (and the container was greasy when I went to wash it). The steamed meat dumplings were terrible - one bite, and they went to the trash. The 4 shrimp appetizer had small and totally overcooked shrimp. All in all a terrible dinner, and I will never try the place again. Sad. read more

Ordered via Uber eats I do not recommend. Not tasty barely any flavor in the veggies the chicken was also super mildly flavored. This was my first time having mildly flavored Chinese take out and it was horrible it was hot though just not worth the money and letting your taste buds down. The spring rolls were decent though. read more

A "hole in the wall" kind of place. Dejected, dirty, disorganized, no smile. A very sad place in an otherwise beautiful neighborhood. They seem to focus on take out an delivery. We came here because Momo Cafe next door was too full and we couldn't wait that long. No one was here. After we sat down, a few people also arrived, clearly coming from Momo Cafe next door (same fate). We ordered the safest dishes (dishes they couldn't mess up): pork fried rice (not bad, standard American Chinese fare) and shrimps in black bean sauce (nice bamboo shoots, nice green beans, shrimps are not fresh though). There was a guy (buzz cut, very typically mainland Chinese) and a boy (again buzz cut) at the counter. No smile. Giving the whole place a gangster den vibe. Short words. No full sentences. When they brought out the food to our table, not a single word, no smile. Just like that. read more

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I was impressed by the size of the dumplings but they seemed a little old, not fresh. The crispy tofu was great, I would definitely get it again. read more

Little China Cafe - Fried Vegetable Dumplings - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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We just ordered some Sunday evening delight from Little China. We ordered the sweet and sour chicken. The chicken was breaded and fried very lightly on point. It was nice that they kept the sauce and chicken separate so that you can combine on your own and not let it get soggy. Also ordered the crispy sesame chicken. It was very nice. Loved the pan fried noodle. Once again the crispy noodle came separate from the main roach so that the noodles don't go soggy. Egg rolls and spring roles were on point. Combo Lo mein was good. We ordered all the way from Mclean and everything was piping hot. We have a new Chinese delivery joint! read more

Good Chinese comfort food at good prices!! The Crispy Tofu is my favorite!! Super nice staff- even when busy always give kind "hello" and remember you. Clean dinning area- small but nice. read more

The sesame chicken is hard as rocks. Throwing them away. The worst dumplings that we've ever had. Throwing them away. Flavorless egg rolls. The seafood delight was filled with overcooked seafood and had no flavor whatsoever. Throwing them away. If the restaurant was close to our home, we would've gone back and demanded a refund. Such a disappointment and total waste of money! read more

Little China Cafe - Sesame Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

We ordered little China cafe through Uber eats and it was delicious! Everything came very hot and I definitely recommend the crab Rangoon. 10/10! read more

They make great Fried Chicken wings. I'll say that for them. But the fried rice is greasy and I ordered Kung Pao tofu and it was very dry. Called up told them they were kind enough to ask if I wanted another delivered I said yes. However, the guy who arrived with the delivery was extremely nasty and rude. I asked him to just leave it at the door he didn't he was walking away I had to call him back and he was nasty! He said here you try this now . I said don't take this out on me it wasn't my mistake. So I give three stars because that was horrible service it has stayed with me for the entire weekend I doubt that I will ever call them again for anything other than the fried chicken wings if I even do that. read more

I really wanted to like this place, and honestly not bad tasting takeout. The problems are everything else, we could see the staff in the back not wearing masks as they prepared our food, which is still required in dc because of covid precautions. Also the food did not sit well and made us feel sick for a few hours. read more

They're pretty good! It's nice to have a local neighborhood Chinese takeout as eating options that are fairly cheap can be thin to none in this part of DC. Takeout is good and they're quick! Would recommend! read more

The last couple of times I've ordered from here the food has not been very good. It's been flavorless and old tasting. Tbh I completely regret ordering it tonight. Idk if the chef changed or what but tonight was the last time we will be ordering from here. read more

I found Canal through Grubhub. They have a pretty extensive menu which is good for me and my vegetarian fiance. I went to pick up the food on a Thursday evening, and it took about 45 minutes to prepare. Usually, take out is much faster than that from Chinese Takeout restaurants. I ordered the Chicken wings and shrimp fried rice. The wings were pretty good. The rice wasn't as flavorful as I would like. Personally I prefer fried rice with egg. My fiance said her veggie lo mein was ok but didn't have much flavor either. Honestly, I would go back because it is close to home, and the prices are pretty good. read more

Good place. Nice people, good selection of Chinese food and ice cream. Always a quick delivery too

Today My colleges and requested Fried Dumplings, Sweet and Sour chicken and Shrimp egg foo young. The delivery was 40 minutes and the order was incorrect. Instead of the fried dumplings they gave us fried wontons. When I called to advised them of the mistake, The manager advised us we need to pay for the difference of 90 cents and he will not charge us a delivery fee. The worst customer service ever. They make a mistake and now they want the customer to pick up the difference. They order should have been free. read more

Little China Cafe is hands down the best Chinese takeout spot in Northwest DC. The meat fried dumplings are always ordered as they are the best dumplings outside of Shanghai. For my entree, I switch between ordering the sesame chicken combo w/ pork fried rice and the lo mein combo. read more

No longer on the Georgetown canal - no longer deliver to me. So no Canal and no Express. On the plus side - my GI tract is 42% improved since they moved away. Bitter silver lining on a sad sad cloud. read more

great orange chicken and crab rangoons. sometimes delivery can be a little slow, but I don't really mind for the price I'm paying. i'm a little china cafe regular! read more

Takeout order. Not too good - ordered a couple of Szechuan style dishes (Kung Pao, Green beans). Neither had much spice. Kung Pao had no real sauce, decently breaded/fried chicken bits, and a lot of celery and carrots. Almost no peanuts; beans had mild spice and no garlic/ginger. Felt like szechuan from a cantonese restaurant. Duck was decent, but served with basically tortillas. Dumplings way overstuffed at tough skin. Maybe a bad order, but really 0.5/4. read more

Even as a little hole in the middle of the street this place is fantastic! Fresh food, great tea and very friendly service. Only after being in China I can confirm that most of the dishes are authentic. I am coming back for sure! Congratulations! read more

food was not very good. Was missing a fried rice and no silverware as requested. No answer when Called the shop

I love this Chinese food, the most delicious that I've had taste in DC, every single plate worth.

Best shrimp egg fu young and shrimp fried rice I have ever had! Four stars only due to the fact everything else I have ordered was okay

Oh my this place has probably the worst shrimp fried rice that I have ever tasted. The shrimp was completely mushy. The rice itself was bland with absolutely no taste. The egg roll had no veggies or anything. It was just a big roll of dough. The same thing with the spring rolls. I ordered from here through DoorDash which made the experience worst because the order arrived late and it was lukewarm read more

Had a frustrating and confusing experience with this restaurant last night. I ordered at 5pm to have it delivered at 7pm on their company website. At 7:30 and still no food I called and first I was asked my name, number and address by an employee, then was transferred to the "manager" and asked the same questions again. The manager said the "owner" would call me back because they didn't know where it was. The "owner" called me and I said "hi how are you?" She said "fine how are you?" I respond "I'm okay thanks" and she literally responds ".......... *silence* oh you're ok?! Good have a nice day then bye" AND TRIES TO HANG UP ON ME. Like WHAT???? You are the owner and my prepaid food is missing and that is how you treat a customer? She then was beyond rude for no reason. When I asked why the food was late and what happened-- she paused and responses in a rude tone "we busy". 1. It's Thursday 2. I ordered 3 hours ago. She never once apologized. My food eventually came at 8pm. Obviously this wouldn't have been the end of the world if she just kindly and politely answered my questions and worked to find a solution instead I was met with the worst service I've ever experienced. I used to recommend this place to all my friends over other places in the area..... not anymore. read more

Good "American" style Chinese food. Good sized portions. Good taste. My go to for Chinese take out.

I ordered 2 spring rolls, combination fried rice (chicken, shrimp, pork), chicken broccoli, and a general tso chicken (which came with a side of rice and a wonton soup). I had been craving fried rice for a few days and this rice was just what I needed. The rest of the food was perfection. I almost ordered via uber eats but I saved a few bucks ordering from their actual site. The food arrived right on time, if not a bit earlier than expected, and was still warm and fresh. My boyfriend and I are looking forward to ordering from here again. read more

Still the best Chinese takeout that I've had in DC after 5 years. Their food has always been very enjoyable, and their portions have always been generous for the price. Their delivery service is some of the friendliest out there. This isn't a blanket rebuttal against every negative review on this website, but if you're going to complain about a small restaurant that charges less than $15 for a large 3-course meal, recognize that you're not paying top dollar at a gourmet establishment. If you want to eat the best egg roll that you've ever had in your life, you might just have to pay more than $1.75 for it. If you recognize this establish for what is, you'll more likely than not be very pleased with it. Thank you and be well! read more

Perfectly good Americanized Chinese food. Standard options, some more unusual choices, requisite amounts of grease, lunch combos, carry-out or delivery. Portions are huge. Prices are affordable. Delivery is quick. And the people who work here are really friendly. It's OK to order shrimp, you won't spend the next two days regretting it. Noodle dishes are cooked nicely. Vegetables stay crunchy. The seafood spring rolls are delicious -- very crisp and not at all oily. Even the white rice is done really well, retaining its shape and al dente texture. Lots of selection for veg-heads and meat-lovers alike. Nothing's going to make you do cartwheels of joy, but nothing's going to make you do a spit-take, either. If you live or work near here, Little China/Canal & China Café is a good choice for lunch or dinner. This isn't a destination restaurant, but it's a great little spot for the Palisades 'hood. read more

Another reviewer wrote "Little China Cafe is hands down the best Chinese takeout spot in Northwest DC." I think that's a very accurate and fair statement. You can't beat the quality, flavor, timeliness, and price that Little China Cafe offers above their competitors in NW. I have been ordering different menu items each time and all have been delicious and crowd-pleasing. I'm truly thankful to have this place as an option and I know I can drive there if I need food quicker, on the way home, etc. Parking is generally available in the surrounding residential area. read more

I believe that this place has changed names and management. formerly "little china cafe", their new carryout menus indicate they are now: "Canal & China Cafe". I went there today for some carryout and i must say that the "new management" is a good thing. what was formerly a pretty mediocre place is now probably the best overall value (combination of price and quality) in the palisades neighborhood of DC. cheaper than Bambu down the street and with food just as good or better, this ranks for me as one of the better neighborhood "americanized chinese" restaurants i have run across (better even than most of the LA chinese places i've sampled that aren't located in chinatown, alhambra and monterey park). singapore syle rice noodles: huge portion, flavorful, and spicy combo fried rice: see above (minus the spicy) bbq spare ribs: well made, not overly salty and not overdone and dry honey mustard chicken wings: not their finest offering. probably wouldn't order this again, but it was passable. if you live in Northwest DC (or visit) and have a chinese food jones. this place is well worth a try. read more