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We visited Northern Cafe near UC Irvine with a party of four and had a solid lunch experience overall. Ordering was straightforward, food came out quickly, and it was easy to share dishes family-style. What we ordered: * Cumin Lamb - Great Very tasty with bold cumin flavor and absolutely no lamb smell. One of the standout dishes. * Eggplant with Garlic Sauce - Great Well-cooked, rich, and flavorful. The sauce paired perfectly with the tender eggplant. * Sautéed Green Beans - Great Nicely blistered, savory, and addictive. Simple but done right. * Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs - OK Flavor was fine, but the meat leaned a bit chewy compared to the other dishes. * Popcorn Chicken - Great Juicy and tender on the inside with a crispy exterior. Easy crowd favorite. * Hot & Sour Soup - OK Comforting and warming, though nothing particularly memorable. * Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce - OK Decent with good heat, but not a standout compared to similar versions elsewhere. * Cold Dish (3 Veg Items) - OK Refreshing and light, a good balance to the heavier dishes. * Rice Standard and served hot--does its job. Overall: This was a solid 4-star experience. Portions are generous, prices and value are great for the area, and the food quality is solid with a few standout dishes. Conveniently located near UC Irvine on Campus Drive, Northern Cafe is a reliable spot for casual Chinese comfort food, especially when dining with a group.
So this place is kind of confusing. Self serve order at the cashier but you still pay for a tip there's another machine where to go people order. But I was pointed to the to go machine and ordered from wrong spot. If you dine in, you're supposed to order at the cashier. Get own water and leftover box etc So we came at 6 pm on of Sunday night and the wait time was about 10 minutes. Staff will yell your name. They won't text u. I realize this place is really busy compared to all the casual dining restaurants in the same plaza. So most people wait five minutes and they leave so even though we're in the fourth spot, we actually got in. Unless you're a big party of five or six, then you'll have to wait longer. So the confusion is in the beginning part. I wouldn't recommend to elderly Asian crowd because I know my mom would definitely be confused. After you get settled in, they will bring you what you ordered. There isn't any server to your table so if you're getting water, you have to get it by yourself if you need an extra bowl, you have to wait till the staff comes to deliver your food and use that time to tell them what you need. This place is really self-serving. The staff only comes to deliver your food and clean up your table. But we still tipped. Food was good. Soup dumplings hit the spot. Black vinegar was essential and available Come here when you need really good food and quick bite This is not recommended for a date night or business network setting I think we would come by if we're in the area. But considering that we're paying tip, I think we would go to the other location when they are full service.
A fully satisfied food coma after Northern Cafe Food: The golden soup beef is undoubtedly coziness in a bowl after a long work day. The spiciness from the chopped raw chilies and bok choy adds the extra heartiness to each bite of noodle and sliced beef. It's in limbo with Dan Dan noodles especially pork over beef kinda spicy noodle soup day. Next, their orange chicken is delicious (!!!) and the epitome of American Chinese palate but hey it's only a right of passage haha we get it every time as a group and for takeout! Let's talk fiber with veggies now: Sautéed garlic Bok choy and green beans. Need another carb with protein then add in some chicken fried rice. Finally the noodles, I prefer the fried noodle with chicken over the Lao Gan Ma fried noodle with chicken which was more greasy, too much sauce and had less whole fresh veggies. The egg rolls were subpar. Service: They are so FAST for in service and take out ordering. It's a continuous flow of customers and cleaning. Over the past years, always had positive experiences and consistent take out orders replicating sit down quality food. Ambiance: Spacious for many different parties so social groups or even individual self time! I appreciate the dimmer lighting for evening and outside patio for more privacy. Overall: will be back many MORE times with my family, friends and colleagues!
Northern Cafe is located at the University Town Center and serves up casual Chinese fare. Ordering is done at the front and then food is delievered to your table. I came with a group of co-workers and we decided to share some items. Chicken wontons - $12 - These were probably my favorite item here. The dumplings had good flavor and quite a bit of chicken. Scallion pancake ($8) - I've had much better elsewhere, and it wasn't as crispy and flaky as most other places. Beef roll ($13) - The beef rolls are wrapped in the same scallion pancakes so that part was disappointing and there was nothing special about the beef in the roll. Fried beef skewers ($6.50) - These skewers were so flavorful with a strong cumin flavor and I would recommend getting these if I revisited. Steamed custard buns ($6) - The buns were a little hard and didn't have as much custard as I had hoped for. Sesame balls ($6) - The sesame balls were a little doughy and had red bean paste. There weren't bad. Chinese herbal tea ($3.50) - Unfortunately this herbal team was served in a can and was extremely sweet. I didn't expect that and would pass on this altogether. Overall the food was just ok. Nothing really stood out and there were some disappointing dishes. There is plenty of seating as well as patio seating.
Food is great. It hits the spot for classic Northern Chinese food (dumplings, XLB, beef rolls/green onion pancakes, and my favorite rice cake) Price is reasonable ($13-$16 for most dishes). You order via an app so no waiting for a waiter. It was hard to get their attention for water/napkins though. The biggest frustration eating here is the mini fruit flies in the restaurant. I've eaten here a number of times, and always notice 1 or so fruit flies at the table!
Szechuan Mala Pot is my go-to here, especially on cold days. I like that it's served in a boiling pot, nice and hot, and with lots of toppings. Generous portions of beef, way more than what Boiling Point would give you. I do wish it weren't so salty. I find myself pouring some cold water into it to lessen the saltiness. Also wish they had dipping sauces for the meats and veggies. But other than that, it's pretty delicious. I also like the pig ear. It's sliced real thin and spicy. A perfect side dish to the hot pot. This is a casual dining environment. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Easy peasy.
Our night out in Irvine landed us here for dinner, the very first lot we pulled into after leaving the Barclay Theater. And that was originally to find better WiFi reception. But why dillydally around? Northern Cafe seemed just right for dinner. A very busy Sunday night and with a mostly Asian clientele at an Asian eatery, always a great barometer for me. Apparently also quite popular with students from the nearby UC campus. But we were immediately seated after stepping inside. This is an order at the counter establishment, then take your number back to your table, they will bring to you when ready. So we looked over our menus first, the print a bit small, then settled on the Big Big Chicken Plate With Noodles and the Lamb Hot Pot. I guess I just assumed that the order of lamb would be simply that. But my bad, several items included in this dish were things we never eat; crab, shrimp, pork. So on its arrival, the Mrs noticed what I mistakenly had overlooked. I did however, manage to salvage most of the lamb and several quail eggs (a first time trying them for me). The chicken dish we thought was just okay, even less so as a leftover. My wife was totally dissatisfied. But the steamed rice was rather well cooked and we both enjoyed the Thai iced tea. Northern Cafe has locations throughout Southern California. We would return but with totally different menu options chosen next time. Somewhat neutral service but they keep things moving along like a production line.
Came here after seeing this spot recommended in a video. First impression was that we were not greeted at the entrance but every guest after us was, it felt a little unwelcoming. I didn't dwell on that, and still gave the food a shot. The food was alright, it's decently priced, but it upset my stomach really badly. I wasn't sure if it was the old condiments that they had out or the food itself. Please note that the place had just opened but it felt like the tables hadn't been fully cleaned and the condiments not replaced from the day before. Would love to see this place improve to come back and give it another shot.
Northern Cafe is a solid, middle-of-the-road spot that gets the job done. I ordered the soup dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, wontons with chili, orange chicken, and sesame balls for dessert. Everything was decent across the board, nothing that really stood out, but nothing that disappointed either. It's the kind of place you can rely on when you're craving something quick and satisfying without overthinking it. Not exceptional, but consistent enough to come back to. 4 stars.
We visited Northern Cafe in Irvine last weekend during lunch, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish! Ordering was super easy--we ordered at the cashier and picked any table we wanted. In just about 5 minutes, every dish arrived at our table, which was impressively fast. The Cumin Lamb ($17.99) was very flavorful and one of our favorites. The Eggplant with Garlic Sauce ($14.99) was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the Sautéed Green Beans ($15.99) were very satisfying. The Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs ($16.99) were decent, though the meat was a little chewy. The real standouts were the Popcorn Chicken ($9.99)--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside--and the Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce ($11.99), which were absolutely amazing! The Hot & Sour Soup ($11.99) was comforting and full of flavor. They also have a nice selection of cold dishes you can pick right at the cashier station. Overall, the food was delicious, the prices were very reasonable, and the service was fast and efficient. We loved the smooth dining experience and will definitely be back to try more dishes--especially their noodles next time!
Service: typical small Chinese restaurant style. You put your name in the electronic tablet. You get seated and you can order using a QR code. Embiance: feels new, clean and nice. Food: The braised beef rib soup: the noodles were really salty. The broth had too much cinnamon or star anise. Taste was not balanced. I've had better at Din tai fung and A and J's. Beef rolls: good. The scallion pancakes weren't greasy. Very generous with the cilantro and onions just fyi. The beef slices were extra thin. Bok choy was perfect Soup dumplings were good. The dough part wasn't too thick except at the top where it's bunched up. Also had the chicken cartilage skewers from their grill menu. They were a bit over grilled. A little crunchy snd too much spices shaken on them. Overall not bad for the food here. The servers were nice and the bathrooms and floors were clean so that was good. I would eat here again but I'll try one of their hot pot meals.
Parking is super easy since it's in Irvine's UTC plaza. You order and pay at the counter -- food comes out fairly fast. 7/10 Spicy Beef Pot ($17). I prefer Boiling Point since they have more variety and I like what they put inside their hotpots more. Wasn't a really big fan of sausages inside. The broth wasn't bland and had some flavor, so I would say it's worth a try.
12 days ago
NORTHERN CAFE @ UNIVERSITY CENTER The food was so yummy and it was so convenient to get, love that there was plenty of spots to sit too! The food came out in about 5 minutes and everything was pretty good. Overall 5/5 would get again read more
Went here for lunch, and it could get packed during lunch time but the service is fast. We ordered Dandan Noodles, egg plant with garlic sauce, yangzhou fried rice, sweet and sour ribs and pork and shrimp dumplings. Dandan noodles is okay, nothing special. Egg plant with garlic sauce is too greasy probably because of they fry the eggplants first. Yangzhou fried rice is okay, lots of shrimp. Sweet and sour ribs is too sweet for me and too saucy that it feels overwhelming already and lastly the pork and shrimp dumplings is just okay, you need to put their dumpling sauce to make it taste better. They do have outdoor seating and we have our dog with us and the tables are clean despite being in a busy street. Overall, the food is just okay, service is fast and place is clean. read more
1 day ago
6 months ago
We visited Northern Cafe near UC Irvine with a party of four and had a solid lunch experience overall. Ordering was straightforward, food came out quickly, and it was easy to share dishes family-style. What we ordered: * Cumin Lamb - Great Very tasty with bold cumin flavor and absolutely no lamb smell. One of the standout dishes. * Eggplant with Garlic Sauce - Great Well-cooked, rich, and flavorful. The sauce paired perfectly with the tender eggplant. * Sautéed Green Beans - Great Nicely blistered, savory, and addictive. Simple but done right. * Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs - OK Flavor was fine, but the meat leaned a bit chewy compared to the other dishes. * Popcorn Chicken - Great Juicy and tender on the inside with a crispy exterior. Easy crowd favorite. * Hot & Sour Soup - OK Comforting and warming, though nothing particularly memorable. * Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce - OK Decent with good heat, but not a standout compared to similar versions elsewhere. * Cold Dish (3 Veg Items) - OK Refreshing and light, a good balance to the heavier dishes. * Rice Standard and served hot--does its job. Overall: This was a solid 4-star experience. Portions are generous, prices and value are great for the area, and the food quality is solid with a few standout dishes. Conveniently located near UC Irvine on Campus Drive, Northern Cafe is a reliable spot for casual Chinese comfort food, especially when dining with a group. read more
So this place is kind of confusing. Self serve order at the cashier but you still pay for a tip there's another machine where to go people order. But I was pointed to the to go machine and ordered from wrong spot. If you dine in, you're supposed to order at the cashier. Get own water and leftover box etc So we came at 6 pm on of Sunday night and the wait time was about 10 minutes. Staff will yell your name. They won't text u. I realize this place is really busy compared to all the casual dining restaurants in the same plaza. So most people wait five minutes and they leave so even though we're in the fourth spot, we actually got in. Unless you're a big party of five or six, then you'll have to wait longer. So the confusion is in the beginning part. I wouldn't recommend to elderly Asian crowd because I know my mom would definitely be confused. After you get settled in, they will bring you what you ordered. There isn't any server to your table so if you're getting water, you have to get it by yourself if you need an extra bowl, you have to wait till the staff comes to deliver your food and use that time to tell them what you need. This place is really self-serving. The staff only comes to deliver your food and clean up your table. But we still tipped. Food was good. Soup dumplings hit the spot. Black vinegar was essential and available Come here when you need really good food and quick bite This is not recommended for a date night or business network setting I think we would come by if we're in the area. But considering that we're paying tip, I think we would go to the other location when they are full service. read more
5 months ago
A fully satisfied food coma after Northern Cafe Food: The golden soup beef is undoubtedly coziness in a bowl after a long work day. The spiciness from the chopped raw chilies and bok choy adds the extra heartiness to each bite of noodle and sliced beef. It's in limbo with Dan Dan noodles especially pork over beef kinda spicy noodle soup day. Next, their orange chicken is delicious (!!!) and the epitome of American Chinese palate but hey it's only a right of passage haha we get it every time as a group and for takeout! Let's talk fiber with veggies now: Sautéed garlic Bok choy and green beans. Need another carb with protein then add in some chicken fried rice. Finally the noodles, I prefer the fried noodle with chicken over the Lao Gan Ma fried noodle with chicken which was more greasy, too much sauce and had less whole fresh veggies. The egg rolls were subpar. Service: They are so FAST for in service and take out ordering. It's a continuous flow of customers and cleaning. Over the past years, always had positive experiences and consistent take out orders replicating sit down quality food. Ambiance: Spacious for many different parties so social groups or even individual self time! I appreciate the dimmer lighting for evening and outside patio for more privacy. Overall: will be back many MORE times with my family, friends and colleagues! read more
Northern Cafe is located at the University Town Center and serves up casual Chinese fare. Ordering is done at the front and then food is delievered to your table. I came with a group of co-workers and we decided to share some items. Chicken wontons - $12 - These were probably my favorite item here. The dumplings had good flavor and quite a bit of chicken. Scallion pancake ($8) - I've had much better elsewhere, and it wasn't as crispy and flaky as most other places. Beef roll ($13) - The beef rolls are wrapped in the same scallion pancakes so that part was disappointing and there was nothing special about the beef in the roll. Fried beef skewers ($6.50) - These skewers were so flavorful with a strong cumin flavor and I would recommend getting these if I revisited. Steamed custard buns ($6) - The buns were a little hard and didn't have as much custard as I had hoped for. Sesame balls ($6) - The sesame balls were a little doughy and had red bean paste. There weren't bad. Chinese herbal tea ($3.50) - Unfortunately this herbal team was served in a can and was extremely sweet. I didn't expect that and would pass on this altogether. Overall the food was just ok. Nothing really stood out and there were some disappointing dishes. There is plenty of seating as well as patio seating. read more
6 months ago
Food is great. It hits the spot for classic Northern Chinese food (dumplings, XLB, beef rolls/green onion pancakes, and my favorite rice cake) Price is reasonable ($13-$16 for most dishes). You order via an app so no waiting for a waiter. It was hard to get their attention for water/napkins though. The biggest frustration eating here is the mini fruit flies in the restaurant. I've eaten here a number of times, and always notice 1 or so fruit flies at the table! read more
6 months ago
Szechuan Mala Pot is my go-to here, especially on cold days. I like that it's served in a boiling pot, nice and hot, and with lots of toppings. Generous portions of beef, way more than what Boiling Point would give you. I do wish it weren't so salty. I find myself pouring some cold water into it to lessen the saltiness. Also wish they had dipping sauces for the meats and veggies. But other than that, it's pretty delicious. I also like the pig ear. It's sliced real thin and spicy. A perfect side dish to the hot pot. This is a casual dining environment. You order at the counter and they bring it out to you. Easy peasy. read more
Our night out in Irvine landed us here for dinner, the very first lot we pulled into after leaving the Barclay Theater. And that was originally to find better WiFi reception. But why dillydally around? Northern Cafe seemed just right for dinner. A very busy Sunday night and with a mostly Asian clientele at an Asian eatery, always a great barometer for me. Apparently also quite popular with students from the nearby UC campus. But we were immediately seated after stepping inside. This is an order at the counter establishment, then take your number back to your table, they will bring to you when ready. So we looked over our menus first, the print a bit small, then settled on the Big Big Chicken Plate With Noodles and the Lamb Hot Pot. I guess I just assumed that the order of lamb would be simply that. But my bad, several items included in this dish were things we never eat; crab, shrimp, pork. So on its arrival, the Mrs noticed what I mistakenly had overlooked. I did however, manage to salvage most of the lamb and several quail eggs (a first time trying them for me). The chicken dish we thought was just okay, even less so as a leftover. My wife was totally dissatisfied. But the steamed rice was rather well cooked and we both enjoyed the Thai iced tea. Northern Cafe has locations throughout Southern California. We would return but with totally different menu options chosen next time. Somewhat neutral service but they keep things moving along like a production line. read more
26 days ago
The Juicy Pork Dumplings, Bean Curd Salad, Chicken in Spicy Chili Sauce, and Lotus Root were great. Ordering at the counter was quick and efficient. The two self-service water with lemon stations made it easy to grab a refill. read more
29 days ago
24 hours ago
1 month ago
Came here after seeing this spot recommended in a video. First impression was that we were not greeted at the entrance but every guest after us was, it felt a little unwelcoming. I didn't dwell on that, and still gave the food a shot. The food was alright, it's decently priced, but it upset my stomach really badly. I wasn't sure if it was the old condiments that they had out or the food itself. Please note that the place had just opened but it felt like the tables hadn't been fully cleaned and the condiments not replaced from the day before. Would love to see this place improve to come back and give it another shot. read more
3 months ago
Northern Cafe is a solid, middle-of-the-road spot that gets the job done. I ordered the soup dumplings, pan-fried dumplings, wontons with chili, orange chicken, and sesame balls for dessert. Everything was decent across the board, nothing that really stood out, but nothing that disappointed either. It's the kind of place you can rely on when you're craving something quick and satisfying without overthinking it. Not exceptional, but consistent enough to come back to. 4 stars. read more
7 months ago
We visited Northern Cafe in Irvine last weekend during lunch, and it was a fantastic experience from start to finish! Ordering was super easy--we ordered at the cashier and picked any table we wanted. In just about 5 minutes, every dish arrived at our table, which was impressively fast. The Cumin Lamb ($17.99) was very flavorful and one of our favorites. The Eggplant with Garlic Sauce ($14.99) was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the Sautéed Green Beans ($15.99) were very satisfying. The Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs ($16.99) were decent, though the meat was a little chewy. The real standouts were the Popcorn Chicken ($9.99)--crispy on the outside, tender on the inside--and the Pork Wontons in Spicy Sauce ($11.99), which were absolutely amazing! The Hot & Sour Soup ($11.99) was comforting and full of flavor. They also have a nice selection of cold dishes you can pick right at the cashier station. Overall, the food was delicious, the prices were very reasonable, and the service was fast and efficient. We loved the smooth dining experience and will definitely be back to try more dishes--especially their noodles next time! read more
5 months ago
Service: typical small Chinese restaurant style. You put your name in the electronic tablet. You get seated and you can order using a QR code. Embiance: feels new, clean and nice. Food: The braised beef rib soup: the noodles were really salty. The broth had too much cinnamon or star anise. Taste was not balanced. I've had better at Din tai fung and A and J's. Beef rolls: good. The scallion pancakes weren't greasy. Very generous with the cilantro and onions just fyi. The beef slices were extra thin. Bok choy was perfect Soup dumplings were good. The dough part wasn't too thick except at the top where it's bunched up. Also had the chicken cartilage skewers from their grill menu. They were a bit over grilled. A little crunchy snd too much spices shaken on them. Overall not bad for the food here. The servers were nice and the bathrooms and floors were clean so that was good. I would eat here again but I'll try one of their hot pot meals. read more
Parking is super easy since it's in Irvine's UTC plaza. You order and pay at the counter -- food comes out fairly fast. 7/10 Spicy Beef Pot ($17). I prefer Boiling Point since they have more variety and I like what they put inside their hotpots more. Wasn't a really big fan of sausages inside. The broth wasn't bland and had some flavor, so I would say it's worth a try. read more
4 months ago
As a Chinese restaurant next to UCI, I can only give this place two stars. Two stars means it's edible, but it's not what anyone who actually understands Chinese food would expect--especially for dishes like braised beef noodle soup, roujiamo, and hot-and-sour soup. I've been here many times and have ordered big plate chicken, braised chicken, fatty beef hot pot in golden broth, dry-fried beef chow fun, roujiamo, hot-and-sour soup, chicken noodle soup, char siu bao, and more. The braised chicken comes in a large portion and is filling, and the big plate chicken is decent too. But the braised beef noodle soup I tried had an overwhelmingly strong soy sauce flavor. Seriously, who taught you to make beef noodle soup like that? The char siu bao is honestly fine, but it tastes like a premade frozen product from Costco or 99 Ranch. And since there are plenty of Chinese staff here, I really have to ask again: who is making the beef noodle soup like this? The chicken noodle soup is also very greasy. It's drinkable, but I definitely wouldn't recommend it. I've only come here a handful of times this quarter, and with food like this, a place like this is very easy to stop coming back to. 这作为uci旁边的中餐馆。我只能给到两颗星。即代表能吃，但非正常人类对中餐的理解（对于部分菜品 尤其是红烧牛肉面；肉夹馍；酸辣汤） 来过这家店很多次。点过大盘鸡，黄焖鸡，金汤肥牛锅，干炒牛河，肉夹馍，酸辣汤，鸡肉面，叉烧包等。 黄焖鸡量大管饱，大盘鸡也不错。我尝试过的红烧牛肉面酱油味非常重，谁教你们这么做牛肉面的？ 叉烧包这种直接Costco或者大华买的预制菜味道确实还不错。但我看你们店员也有很多中国人，谁特么教你们这么做牛肉面的？鸡汤面也很腻 能喝但肯定不推荐。 这个quarter去这家店的次数屈指可数，这种店的出品极其容易被淘汰。 read more
7 months ago
I hadn't been here in quite some time but was craving Spicy Beef Noodle Soup. I ended up ordering take out on their website which was super easy to use. It says expect 20 minutes but when I arrived in 10 minutes, it was already ready which was nice. The staff wasn't personable and didn't really greet me unfortunately. They just asked for my ordered number and handed me the bag. As for the food itself, this hit the spot! I loved that it came in a quality Tupperware that wouldn't leak or get soggy. The way the lid was set up allowed for the noodles and bok choy to stay untouched from the broth which was great! read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Heather，Thank you for your feedback on our food , and we look…
i haven't been here in years but this place still hits !! you order at the register or kiosk and grab a number and they bring out your food to wherever you're sitting i ordered orange chicken, spicy beef hot pot, chicken fried rice, dan dan noodles, stir fried bok choy w garlic, and the juicy pork xlb the orange chicken was FIRE Spicy beef hotpot was absolutely amazing, i loved the broth and the quality of beef was sooo good chicken fried rice was dank dandan noodles were okay, not my favorite stir fried bok choy w garlic was DANK juicy pork xlb was good, the xlb skin is slightly on the thicker side everything was amazing! server was helpful when we had questions it's self serve water & you can grab plates, napkins and to go containers yourself too great spot for small or big group dining, highly reccomend! read more
2 months ago
Don't underestimate this spot! I went in with low expectations and came out pleasantly surprised. We love coming here before or after seeing a movie! The mapo tofu is an INSANELY GOOD dish. One of those dishes you think about from time to time and miss it. The tofu is soft and soaks up that delicious spicy pork sauce. They have killer green beans that are cooked perfectly - still have a good snap but a little wilty on the outside and loads of garlic the way it should be. read more
The Beef Roll is excellent and has enough sauce inside. Normally I expect Hoisin sauce, but the staff told me they use Oyster sauce for this. It's delicious! read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Simon , Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
10 months ago
Been here twice and live the popcorn chicken lol. Tried the golden beef noodle soup, beef rolls, and cold noodles. Love that the cold noodles are chewy and seem handmade. We usually order and find a table. Food comes out fast and fresh. Would definitely come back as they have a lot to choose from - dumplings, soups, rice dishes and they also have a quick service food area to go. A great option for meals on the go. read more
Northern cafe is a tiny chain in the OC. They have I believe to be 2 locations. This location is near UCI and has a more relaxed feel to it. There are water stations and to go boxes at your convenience. You order upfront and they bring it to your table. You pay before you eat. It's more casual than their other location but both a respectfully good in their own ways. Why go to din tai fung for tiny portions and higher prices when you can go here?!?! It's a no brainer for me. read more
Solid Northern Chinese fare here- noodles, dumplings, even small hotpots a' la Boiling Point. You order at the counter and they bring the dishes to your table. Beef noodle soup - good beef and broth but the noodle is undercooked (firmer than al dente), hot wings and mini sesame balls are both winners -- Get them! read more
Always in the mood for Shanghainese food & since there was only 2 of us, we ordered 2 dishes. Orders: Shanghai Stir Fry Rice Cake w.Chicken-a perfectly chewy texture that requires some teeth work, it's so worth it. Nice chunks of chicken incorporated with sauce. I also enjoyed all the cabbage that was in almost every bite. Spicy Wonton-surprisingly I was expecting a real spicy heat to it, but it was sweet, so for that, I wasn't as excited about this dish, but the wonton was great. Another wonderful dining experience that keeps me coming back. read more
Business owner information
Madison V.
Dear Sherri，Thanks for the 5-star review! We're delighted you had a…
1 year ago
Awesome balance of service, food quality, and price! For only $16, I got the Spicy Beef Pot: depending on how hungry you are, this could feed 2 people! The broth and the flavors are authentic, and the meat is good quality. It comes with rice, making it a perfectly filling meal especially as a college student! The restaurant is self-seating and you order at the counter, and the food was served fast, making the restaurant very efficient to eat out if you're on a time crunch. The tables were clean and the restaurant was spacious. Other than the Spicy Beef Pot, I have ordered these items on previous visits: House Special Beef Noodle Soup: amazing! Lots of beef in the soup, and it was very tender and flavorful. Broth is tasty and noodles were well cooked. Beef Roll: staple dish done very well! The beef was tender and the beef roll was tasty. This was also a perfect shareable. Orange Chicken: delicious! Large serving that could feed 2-3 people. The skin was nicely crispy and the chicken was flavorful. Overall, would recommend, especially for university students! read more
Came here on a rainy night for a quick dinner. The restaurant is brightly lit and clean. You order your food with a QR code on the table. Food came quickly piping hot and fresh. You can tell the soup dumplings are made to order. The food was all delicious. The soup dumplings are so juicy and the soup was full of flavor. The chicken noodle soup was so good. The broth had a deep umami chicken flavor with some bok choy and slices of chicken. Def a solid place to have a quick meal. read more
I had lunch here with my daughter and friend. We ordered the following to share: Beef noodle soup Dan Dan noodles Beef roll Juicy pork dumpling Pork potstickers Steamed red bean paste buns Overall, we enjoyed the food here. The Dan Dan noodles were a bit too salty, but everything else was great. Our favorite were the steamed red bean paste buns. I could've eaten a basket full of those and be really happy! The restaurant is pretty casual, you order at the counter and food is delivered to the table. There is a water station with cups that is self serve. The food was tasty, reasonably priced, prepared quickly, and the portions were large. read more
1 month ago
This place is lowkey my bar for all chinese stores i go to. If ur store is not better than Northern in some way I don't want u. I'd say this place is a solid 7/10 in everything maybe 7.5/10? Can't go wrong with their soups, especially when u are sickly and dying. Their beef rolls are also good, lowkey hard to beat in the area. Don't get the hotpot tho u will be disappointed. Ambiance and service are both good, once again my idea of an average chinese restaurant read more
i tried the crispy chicken, beef pie, wontons and scallion pancake. my favorite was the scallion pancake. it had the perfect amount of texture and taste. the beef pie and wontons were good but nothing special. crispy chicken was very crunchy but soft. the seasoning of it was good but not special either. service was quick. the place is spacious with lots of seating. overall, not bad but would only come here again for the scallion pancakes. read more
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4175 Campus Dr
Irvine, CA 92617
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(949) 418-7309
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http://www.northerncafeirvine.com
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Do they take reservations?
When I went a few months ago, they did not take reservations. It wasn't hard to find a table though on the various occasions that I have gone.
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Northern Cafe - chinese - Updated July 2026
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