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    Purple Dot Cafe

    3.0 (876 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?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids
    Dogs allowed

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    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. The ambiance is more of a casual dine in Chinese restaurant with tables and chairs spread throughout. 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. Usually busy after concerts, sport events, or nightlife festivities, we lucked out it was less than busy on a late Friday night. 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.

    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. Not many tables were filled, and the restaurant was quiet for the most part except for a nearby TV blasting TVB news. 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.

    Great place to come after a night out. 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. Restaurant was clean and rather busy for 1am on a Friday night. 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. Quick service, clean interior, piping hot dim sum. Recs: Shrimp dumplings, shao mai, BBQ pork buns, sticky rice, soup dumplings, pan fried buns, fried pork buns

    117. Fried Noodle with Bean Sprout
    Carolina L.

    Tasty place to go to after a Mariners game! We came in craving duck, which was delicious. If your favorite part of the duck is the skin, then you are in luck as the skin was nice and crispy. We decided to try some noodles and potstickers, both were great dishes to supplement. Service was great and were extremely attentive. Hope to come back again!

    Thu and baked spaghetti
    Thanh D.

    Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 10/10 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

    93. Wonton and Beef Brisket Noodle Soup
    Juz C.

    This location did not disappoint my evening craving for dimsum. Thank you! We were initially at Honey Court and asked they had dimsum (midnight) but they suggested to go here instead since honey court didn't have evening dimsum but Purple Dot had dimsum which is so nice. I had some extra to go ordered as well. Loved their food.

    Shrimp and Pork Shu Mai
    Christopher L.

    A great place in the International District that is worth a try! The restaurant is large and clean with friendly staff. The food tastes fresh and was flavorful. My favorite was the soup dumplings as the broth was rich and they were steamed perfectly. The shu mai was a large portion full of pork and shrimp. The rice noodle shrimp rolls were great as well and very filling. Overall, it was great and there are a lot of dishes I still would like to try on my next visit.

    Pea shoots with garlic, black bean clams, Singapore noodles and turnip cake.

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    1 month ago

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

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    4 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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    10 months 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 22

    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 - S3. Portuguese Style Beef Brisket in Stone Pot

    A+ Hong Kong Kitchen

    (774 reviews)

    $$

    Chinatown, Chinatown International District

    One of my OG, long-time favorite Hong Kong spots in Seattle. It's a little restaurant tucked away…read morein Chinatown, easy to miss unless you already know it's there -- but absolutely worth seeking out. Their rice bakes are incredible, the beef brisket dishes are consistently tender and flavorful, and their chow fun is hands-down my favorite in the entire city. They nail the Hong Kong-style classics every time, with that nostalgic, home-cooked feel you just don't find often anymore. Right now they're running a borscht soup special, and it tastes exactly like the versions I grew up with -- comforting, rich, and perfectly balanced. If you're craving real Hong Kong comfort food, this is it. Service is quick and friendly enough for a HK place.

    Parking in ID can be difficult on the weekends, so try to come on weekdays if possible! Help out…read moreall the restaurants in this area! Quick service, free hot tea in plastic cups (a classic), and chili oil at the table. Ask for white pepper btw! Depending on your taste, I like adding white pepper to my fried rice, chow fun, and soup. Wonton soup: the wontons are huge and filled with pork and shrimp. The soup however was kind of sour? Not sure what they added in, but the flavor of the broth was not my favorite. There's so much good wonton soup in the area! I wish this broth was better and more savory. Beef chow fun: pretty tasty and the beef was pretty tender. There was no work hei, so didn't have that distinct flavor Half chicken bone in: this was surprisingly our favorite dish! Steamed chicken with a ginger oil. The ginger made this dish and the chicken was very tender. The chicken comes cold so eat it with some rice and it's the perfect combo

    Fortune Garden - 28. Beef Chow Fun Dry Style

    Fortune Garden

    (214 reviews)

    $$

    Chinatown, Chinatown International District

    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.

    Jufeng Noodle House - Cured meat clay pot rice

    Jufeng Noodle House

    (68 reviews)

    Chinatown International District, Chinatown

    Food was authentic and the ambiance you felt like you were in APAC region dinning with the locals.read more

    My wife and son highly recommended this place as a tasty place they found…read more.. After my son's fencing tournament where he stabs his friends... we went on the adventure. The start of the journey began with the requisite parking fiasco and issues that are perpetual in the Seattle ID...but that should never, and I mean never, stop an important mission like finding a truly delicious noodle restaurant. When we went in, it was pretty empty. We were immediately sat, and ordered. The hot jasmine tea quickly followed. Our Calamari came out quick and was delicious to the point I nearly had to fight my son for the last piece. I quickly surrendered as he does stab people...see above...he parried my fork and stabbed the last piece before quickly finishing the move. Our mains came out shortly after we finished the calamari. The 14yo ordered beef brisket noodle soup. He said it was delicious, but too spicy after he added too much chili oil. The wife scoffed at the idea that there's such a thing as too much chili oil and ate some of his soup. This was after she dug into her hot pot. I did get a chance to sample the delicate pork pieces and the flavorful rice. The slightly crispy rice at the bottom of the pot were so delicious. I had the Singapore style fried noodles. Really tasty. The noodles had so many flavors from the vegetables to the meats (shrimp, chicken meat & egg, and pork) and the sauce. I enjoyed the meal, and look forward to discovering more dishes to try on our adventures trying to find parking. JuFeng, thank you for the delicious meal!

    H Bistro - Salt and pepper cod :D

    H Bistro

    (127 reviews)

    $$

    Chinatown, Chinatown International District

    Their eggplant and cod fish clay pot was delicious. Decent portion for eggplant. Quick service. In…read morecontrast, bathroom is extremely dirty, run down, and needs remodeling.

    I have a problem with Chinatown. Almost none of the restaurants have websites and those that do…read moretend to be outdated or even have dead links. Also, when did we start calling it, "The International District". If we had Mexican, Italian and other ethnic restaurants in the neighborhood, I'd get on board, but not only do San Francisco, New York and L. A. have the biggest Chinatowns, cities also have Barrio's and Little Italy's, so clearly cultures are ok with us specifying. A friend brought up Scallion Beef, so I did a search, Scallion Beef is sometimes called Ginger Beef, so H Bistro came up in my results. Initially, I wondered if H Bistro was Hong Kong Bistro and they rebranded, but HKB is still in business and around the corner and not very good mind you. Reviews for H Bistro are strong and the photo's convinced me that this should be a better than average meal. People talked about the lunch special and since I had a meeting downtown in the afternoon, I thought I could pop in here before my meeting. Once there I was sat. I didn't see lunch on the menu, so I asked and was told, lunch was no longer offered. Again, with no website, I had to rely on Yelp so despite reviews from 2024 talking about lunch, it's not longer offered. I got the Ginger Beef and asked if they did soup by the cup and was also told no. That is why Chinese Lunch is so popular, you typically get soup, rice, entrée and even an appetizer. That is a full meal. I just had my entrée and rice. I asked for chili oil and was brought a very small portion, It had good flavor, but no heat. The entree was good, but without soup and appetizer it just wasn't well rounded. Also, the food would have benefited from being served on a hot iron plate. Not only does it add sear, but it keeps the dish hot. Post meal, I had hoped for a cookie and despite being a block from the fortune cookie factory, no cookie was served. Would I return, sure, with a large group, that would be the only way to truly experience the menu. With 2 people I could have added soup and appetizer as the entrée is also large enough for 2. That said, this was one the cleaner places in Chinatown. That is not to say Chinatown is dirty, but many restaurants need paint, have old furniture or have water stains. This place was fairly nice inside and could be classy with a few more bucks invested. This place really shot itself in the foot by discontinuing lunch, despite being decent, there was just too much disappointment today.

    Hong Kong Bistro - Salt and Pepper Pork Chop

    Hong Kong Bistro

    (1k reviews)

    $$

    Chinatown, Chinatown International District

    I probably eat here at least once every couple of weeks, and the friendly, fast service is always…read moreconsistent. Most importantly, the food is also consistently good, which is hard to find in an Asian restaurant. The interior is clean and comfortable, making it a perfect spot to bring large groups of friends or family to socialize and eat. Where this place shines is the the dim sum. My favorite go to is always: - Shrimp Hacao (huge pieces!) - Pork Shu Mai (tasty and huge as well) - Beef or BBQ rice roll - Pan fried Taro Cake - Pan fried Radish Cake - Radish Cake with XO Sauce (this is a big portion and recommended if you have a larger group) All their dishes always comes out piping hot! My favorite tea to wash this all down is Buddha tea. I like the buddha tea because it's less bitter than others and has a golden taste to it. Honestly with the exception of the spare ribs, everything on the dim sum menu is pretty good, I just need to bring a bigger group of people so we can just try everything on the menu!

    This is very traditional Chinese restaurant. It has very unique dish. I am here for the pigeon…read moredish. The restaurant has a lot of customers. We started with the whole young pigeon. The preparation is different than the Egyptian style. The pigeon is deep fried with marinated sauce. It was delicious. Price is high for single pigeon. We also got the intestines kidney noodle soup. I think it is just ok. We also got a crispy fried noodle pancake. This is a special dish recommended by my kid. I like it. Overall is good. I like most of the flavor. Price is a bit high.

    Purple Dot Cafe - dimsum - Updated May 2026

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