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    Purple Dot Cafe

    3.0 (883 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 1:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated over 3 months ago

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    PURPLE DOT CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Purple Dot Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos - Purple Dot Cafe

    Menu
    Timothy H.

    Good Chinese restaurant to try at a very late time! They open till 1am or 3am which is awesome! I had their Mongolian beef, house fried rice, egg drop soup and they were all great! I was pleasantly surprised with how good their Mongolian beef was. I was scared that it would be too salty or saucy, but it was delicious! The house fried rice was tasty! The service was good. The server answered any questions we had and the food didn't take long to make. [[HIGHLIGHT]]I enjoyed the ambiance. There's a decent amount of seating and there's nice decorations and lighting.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]]

    Holly Z.

    This restaurant is one of the oldest still operating in Chinatown. It's not terrible, but it's not particularly great either. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There's a noticeable, very unpleasant smell when you walk in, likely due to the age of the building and interior. The worn leather seating probably contributes to that lingering odor over time.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Some dishes are reasonably priced, while others feel overpriced for what you get. Service is also minimal, which seems consistent with what others have mentioned, you won't get much attention from the staff. We ordered congee, and it had a strong fishy taste. Typically, that means there wasn't enough ginger to balance or remove the odor. It also seemed like they skimped on the rice, resulting in a very watery texture. On the positive side, the coconut pudding was excellent. It had distinct layers, one coconut and one osmanthus, which kept the dessert light and not overly sweet. Would I come back? Probably only if other restaurants are closed or if there's a long wait elsewhere late at night.

    Mushroom with Season Vegetable Tofu ($17)
    Michael X.

    I have tried many Chinese places here in Seattle, and I am always down to try more, especially in the Chinatown area. It was a later rainy night on a Friday around 6:30pm, and Purple Dot was recommended by an acquaintance to check out. It wasn't very busy at the restaurant so we were able to quickly get a seat. As with everywhere in Chinatown, park can be very difficult during busy hours - there are lots nearby and cheaper streetside parking options. Service is decent, we were able to decide and get our order placed quickly. We were able to get our food in a prompt manner, as we only had to wait about 10-15 minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The ambiance is more of a casual dine in Chinese restaurant with tables and chairs spread throughout.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We ordered a couple of items, which I'll review down below: Honey Walnut Prawns ($20): A typical honey walnut prawn, a decent coating on the outside and the sauce is very creamy. The walnuts are candied and provide an additional crunch and sweetness to the creamy and also crunchy shrimp. I think the price usually gets me for walnut shrimp, I think it is definitely steep for maybe 12-15 shrimp. I personally would have preferred something in the $15 at most price, but that's just personal preference. Chicken Clay Pot ($20): Do note, the chicken chunks are bone in and you will have to be careful not to bite down on some bone fragments. The chicken itself is a little bit tougher and drier than I would have personally liked. Otherwise, there is a decent flavor and you can subtly taste the bean sauce used in this clay pot to give it extra flavor. Chinese Style Beef Steak ($20): The beef does have a slight peppery flavor which is nice, it gives the profile a more of a bite. I haven't seen zucchini in a dish of this style before, but I enjoyed it. You get fresh bites of zucchini with the meaty and hearty chunks of steak. The steak had decent tenderness, there were some pieces that had more sinew and were unchewable. Portion size is generous but it matches with the price. Mushroom and Season Veggie Tofu ($17): A pretty standard tofu stir fry. The tofu chunks have sauce coated on and the vegetables are sauteed/stir fried to a tender consistency. The flavors are nice and you can taste some oyster sauce in the the sauce. I think that price wise, it is very standard for a family-style Chinese restaurant here in Seattle. But the flavor, quality, and sometimes quantity leave more to be desired. I personally think that for Chinatown, this is lower on the tier of good places to eat. There are plenty of other locations in the area if you want to eat more flavorful and better prepared foods. If you are in a pinch and need somewhere that can accommodate a drop in with slightly larger party (4-5 people total), Purple Dot can fill that requirement, but I personally don't know if I would come back.

    Branden N.

    Unsure why this Seattle Gem that is open very late is rated so low! Not only do you get a hot, seated meal after 12 am daily, it's GOOD. This is typical American-Chinese (Cantonese) cuisine, specializing in various noodle, rice, and stir-fried dishes. Our party of 5 at 12 am on a Friday night indulged in Salt and Pepper Tofu, Szechuan Chicken, Honey Walnut Shrimp, Salted Chicken Fried Rice, and Beef Chow Fun. Our large appetites were fully sated, recognizing how fast the food was delivered from our table, minutes after ordering. This is a hometown Seattle favorite of ours, and I hope that this review of Purple Dot can sway you from choosing other popular establishments (right beside and across the street) Starting with the classics: Beef Chow Fun & Honey Walnut Shrimp These two dishes were generous in portion size, came out steaming and hot. The Beef Chow Fun had tender slices of beef accompanied with wide rice noodles with sprouts, onions, and garlic. The Honey Walnut Shrimp was covered in its special mayonnaise glaze: Sweet, Salty, crispy, with a light breading. Both dishes deserve to be ordered again. The Salted Fish and Chicken Fried Rice and Salt and Pepper Fried Tofu both impressed me. They were two items I have not tried from Purple Dot before and equally are recommendations to future patrons. The fried rice with the salted fish is an acquired taste, however balances the salty, savory, distinct dried fish taste with the umami soy sauce flavored rice. Each bite has you wanting more and more! The tofu was extremely crisp and firm on the outside, in contrast to how soft it was inside. Both dishes accompanied each other. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Usually busy after concerts, sport events, or nightlife festivities, we lucked out it was less than busy on a late Friday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Expect quick service with great food accompanied shortly after. Highly recommend to those who have ventured to nearby late night chinese restaurants and want to try an alternative.

    Thu and baked spaghetti
    Thanh D.

    Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambience: 10/10[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Looking for late night spot after getting wrecked at the club ? Look no further head over to purple dot. This is me and my friends go to spot to end the night whenever we go out. We have so much fun memories here . They have wide selection of dim sum and classic Chinese dishes. Everything is so delicious. We eat and breathe their baked spaghetti. Service is always so quick we never have to wait for a long time. I highly highly recommend

    27. Deep Fried Shrimp Dumpling
    Lynn L.

    We came to Purple Dot cafe because it was one of the few restaurants opened late in Chinatown. They have all-day dim-sum and so many more food options for dinner. I ordered the fried shrimp dumpling which came with 3ct. It was tasty and crispy but came with too much crispy flakes. The baked pork chop in tomato sauce over rice was also pretty good. The pork chop had a crispy batter coating (similar to katsu), diced tomatoes, and a sweet tomato sauce with cheese on top. It had fried rice and veggies at the bottom; I thought the rice was too hard. I tried my friend's wonton noodle soup and it was really good! Clean pork broth and had plenty of wontons and veggies. Service was quick and they're super friendly! I would recommend if you're looking for late night dining!

    shumai pork bun egg roll
    Hannah J.

    This was my second time coming here due to the Chinatown Food Walk and it was a hit! The staff were so sweet and made sure we got all our sides + extra napkins. My favorite of theirs is the shumai, such a delicious full dim sum bite. Egg roll I know would've been better hot, but we did get our food immediately. The pork bun was the highlight tho. So sweet and buttery on the outside, very flaking which was perfect. The pork inside had a gentle kick and was perfectly sauced. All in all, a delicious spot for a quick dim sum bite!

    HK style milk and coffee
    Vinh M.

    I've been visiting this place many times lately, and I came here on a regular Friday night around 11pm. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Not many tables were filled, and the restaurant was quiet for the most part except for a nearby TV blasting TVB news.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My party of 5 (including one infant) was seated quickly, and service was fast and prompt this time around. We decided to have some dishes be personal and others be family-style, like the Singaporean curry vermicelli noodle and French toast I got. From my last review, the French toast is always a hit, and it's even better when you add syrup onto it. The Singaporean vermicelli was a lot spicier than I remembered but I didn't mind that.

    Szechuan 167. Szechuan Style Black Pepper Chicken
    Nolan A.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]Great place to come after a night out.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] This was my first time eating here while I was sober and could actually appreciate the food. The waiter helping us was very helpful in our ordering process. Food came out quick and we're attentive and kept our water glasses full. I enjoyed everything but the three dishes that I would need to order again is the Honey Garlic Spareribs, Szechuan Pepper Chicken and Salt and pepper green beans. The honey garlic spareribs were caramelized, sticky and tender so great. The chicken wasn't spicy but it had a great flavor and was also well sauced and tender and juicy. The string beans were really good I'd compare it to DTF for half the price and double the quantity. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Restaurant was clean and rather busy for 1am on a Friday night.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My friends arrived just before me and was able to get seated before I arrived.

    Sammy C.

    Authentic dim sum spot with great service open until 3:00am--need I say more? They have a limited dim sum menu, but offer their whole regular menu for you to choose from. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Quick service, clean interior, piping hot dim sum.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Recs: Shrimp dumplings, shao mai, BBQ pork buns, sticky rice, soup dumplings, pan fried buns, fried pork buns

    117. Fried Noodle with Bean Sprout

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    Review Insights

    1 month ago

    This is my second time ordering from them and I really really love their food. And the people is really nice to you when I come to you.

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    4 months ago

    Good wonton noodle soup. Good amount of noodles at a reasonable price. Wontons had pork and shrimp.

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    9 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Friendly staff, always helpful with ordering and food is hot and fresh with great variety of options for veggies and meat lovers.

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    1 year ago

    They charge $6 for hot tea that we never order. Food is not that great but pricey. Never going back here again

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    Page 1 of 23

    Purple Dot Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Purple Dot Cafe

    Do you have any dim sum with shrimp but no pork?

    They have excellent shrimp balls at the Purple Dot.

    Are they open for dine in?

    No, take-out only

    How long do they serve dimsum?

    All day!

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    A+ Hong Kong Kitchen

    A+ Hong Kong Kitchen

    4.2
    (788 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    We came specifically to try the clay pot rice, and it did not disappoint. The spareribs were…read moremarinated with black bean paste and garlic, and the rice was cooked perfectly, with crispy, slightly charred edges and bottom. With just the right amount of their house-seasoned soy sauce, it was perfection. The restaurant is small, and the dining room was completely full and buzzing with conversation. The AC was also extremely weak--to the point that it felt almost nonexistent. There were basically only two staff members serving the entire room, so while they weren't overly attentive, our water was refilled promptly and empty plates were cleared quickly. It was so loud that the waitress misheard our shrimp order, so we ended up waiting a little longer for the correct dish. However, it still arrived before the clay pot rice. We had already been warned that the clay pot rice takes more than 20 minutes to prepare, so it wasn't a problem. Overall, I really enjoyed dining here and would absolutely recommend it to anyone looking for legitimate, fast-casual Cantonese food. Just look around the dining room--it was about 99% Chinese diners, so you know it's the real deal.

    Small, noisy restaurant. Was a little warm/ stuffy when we went (summer evening). It felt like we…read morewere in Hong Kong. My husband commented it's nice because we don't need to worry about our kids being loud since no one can hear them LOL Food is generous proportion, very delicious. We got 3 meals (2 rice plates, 1 baked spaghetti plate and a mango drink) for $61 before tips Our food did take a little longer than other tables but I think it was because what we ordered. We had about half a dish left over for each dish! One server was very kind, the other was ok but it was very busy so he's probably exhausted and it was late Restaurant is small but we sat comfortably. If you don't mind it being loud it's actually great and made me feel at home ... definitely will come again, food is delicious!!

    Photos
    Kitchen
    Kitchen
    Black bean sauce spare ribs in clay pot
    Black bean sauce spare ribs in clay pot
    Garlic bok choy

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    Garlic bok choy
    Fortune Garden

    Fortune Garden

    3.9
    (217 reviews)
    0.1 mi
    $$

    Ordered online to go and food was ready in a prompt manner. Seems like your typical Chinese…read morerestaurant in Chinatown, no frills but meets expectations. For most people, I feel that we find a Chinese restaurant and if we like it, we commit forever. I haven't had Fortune Garden and felt adventurous, was not disappointed in taste though I'd be interested in comparing value across the shops in Chinatown. They have some nice lunch combos, but sucks that they don't provide soup for takeout. Could substitute with a rice or something! Honey Walnuts Prawns - honey walnut shrimp is such a classic, easily one of my favorites from childhood and still near the top of my list. I don't know if it's the takeout container, but the quantity with respect the box was disappointing. Felt like there was less shrimp and walnuts compared to what I'm used to, but I think I also pay closer to $22-25 for the dish (the one here was $20). Minced Pork with Green Bean - now this was a hefty box, lots of green beans tossed with the classic XO sauce and a solid amount of pork. Honestly not much to comment on, this was a hearty dish and very comforting. Would recommend for green bean or string bean lovers.

    Really good food here. Market price on the seafood can vary and get pricey but they make it really…read morewell. The steamed oysters and crab was the way to go. Even the smaller crab they showed us was very large. Service here is really good. The food came out quick.

    Photos
    Fortune Garden
    Fortune Garden
    Dinner for the employees

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    Dinner for the employees
    Jufeng Noodle House

    Jufeng Noodle House

    4.2
    (74 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    I'm sad that it took me this long to finally try Jufeng Noodle House, but now that I have, believe…read morethat I'll be making up for lost time. This place is a true gem, serving satisfying, delicious food in a relaxed atmosphere at an affordable price. The restaurant looks small from the front, but space is used efficiently and they manage to fit quite a bit of seating into not that large of a dining room. Tables are mostly four tops, quite spacious at that, and surrounded by sturdy wooden chairs. I came for dinner on a Friday evening and there were a few other tables at any given time. Service was quick and our water never ran empty. We had the wontons in hot oil, topped with peanuts, I had the beef chow fun, and my dinner buddy had the pork with hot sauce noodles. The wontons are very very good, stuffed with flavorful pork and swimming in a sauce that sits in that perfect spot at the intersection of hot and sour. The peanuts and scallions add a delightful crunch. Their beef chow fun satisfies every bit of childhood nostalgia I have for this dish, with lots of wok hei, bouncy noodles, and the most tender of beef. I think my favorite beef chow fun in the city still lives at A+ Hong Kong Kitchen, but this is a close second. The portion here is also huge. I am a human vacuum and I actually brought leftovers home, which is rare for me. The pork with hot sauce noodles is seemingly a fusion of zha jiang mian and dan dan noodles. My friend really enjoyed it and actually finished the whole thing, which is saying something given that she doesn't usually eat that much. There are so many other items on the menu that I'm eager to try, so I will definitely be back.

    While the name says it is a noodle house, they are also known for their clay pot rice. We went here…read morefor an early dinner and actually it was quite busy, while the restaurant emptied out during the conventionally peak dinner period. We got the preserved meat clay pot rice, salt and pepper fried fish filet, and beef brisket and wonton noodle soup. The clay pot rice was okay - the pricing is fair but the execution could be a bit better. I felt like the rice was a bit lacking in flavor, and they only have the standard soy sauce, not the ones in a sauce tray that is usually a bit sweeter. The salt and pepper fried fish filet was good - definitely recommend that for the taste and value. The noodle soup was also good - the wontons were okay but I loved the beef brisket. Noodles seem to be handmade as the texture is a bit uneven, but I appreciate these types of noodles more. Service is standard for a Chinese restaurant - you just need to flag them down and requests are fulfilled in a timely manner

    Photos
    Preserved meat clay pot
    Preserved meat clay pot
    Pork rib clay pot and sweet and sour fish filet
    Pork rib clay pot and sweet and sour fish filet
    Sweet and sour fish filet

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    Sweet and sour fish filet

    Purple Dot Cafe - dimsum - Updated August 2026

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