Just what we needed! Great comfort food. Funny and friendly server. Casual environment. read more

Village Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Barstow, California

I ordered the Pad See Ew, obviously one of my favorite dishes. I was staying in Barstow and drove across town to pick up my order. They are not on a food delivery service unfortunately. There was parking out front and on first look, I think the Restaurant could've used a good cleaning. The owner was very friendly. You can tell it's one of those family restaurants where he probably lives there most of the day. However, the food was pretty good. I would definitely order it again.. read more

I've been to village Cafe two times and both times I've walked in sat down and 30 minutes will go by and no one comes up to take my order. I've never been to a sit down Cafe won't come up to my table and take my order especially after 30 minutes there was no other customers besides me and one other person. The other person finished up their meal and was heading out. The worker was talking to that other customer the entire time and the worker was also talking to other people. I assume friends that were just walking in coming and going. I think instead of chatting with people you know that are coming and going. Maybe you should take your guest's order I had just gotten blood drawn and I was extremely hungry. I had to leave because of the rude service. I think that was just terrible read more

One of the best Chinese dishes I have had so far, even better than many Chinese restaurant in L.A. The restaurant ambiance is not glamorous at all , but the chef makes delicious authentic Chinese dishes and the staff are friendly, courteous and humorous. Very relaxing dining environment and feels eating at home. I highly recommend this family style restaurant especially if stopping at Barstow. read more

I love restaurants that have been around a long time. This one is an old style Chinese-American restaurant with authentic tasting Cantonese food and American food items. There is something for everyone. I came out here since I like to seek out the older restaurants and I was very curious about this one. Once the proprietor found out I spoke Cantonese, it was time to muster up whatever conversation skills I had left as a fifth-generation Chinese-American. Sometimes it is good to push comfort zones to be multilingual. The proprietor is definitely a local character. According to previous Yelp reviewers, he is a bit of a curmudgeon but I can understand that well. Coming from a family that had owned and operated a mid-century era Chinese restaurant before, I know the day to day business can make one fairly grumpy at times. I ordered Pork Egg Foo Young. This is a traditional Cantonese egg based dish with some vegetables for texture and a selected protein served with a gravy on top. Ingredients will vary. There is really no definitive way egg foo young is made as everyone will make it differently. It is a matter of personal taste and each restaurant will have their own version of it. I enjoy the unique variations. The Pork Egg Foo Young here tasted good. The meal came with some crispy fried shrimp and ham fried rice. I really like the battered shrimp. The shrimp were cut so they formed a circle while being fried. The exterior was crispy and not greasy at all. Ham fried rice was a good accompaniment. It is a typical preparation with bits of pork and egg, rice is slightly dark from the soy sauce. The Beef Chow Fun is exceptionally excellent. It is one of the best I have ever had. It is very fragrant from the wok caramelization flavor and there was a generous amount of beef. Definitely make the trip out here just for this! I ordered this on a whim as takeout to eat later and ended up eating some of it while still in the restaurant. The proprietor had encouraged me to sit awhile and eat while it was freshly made. It was good advice! Village Cafe is an adventure back into time. Don't let the well aged interior (and exterior) decor dissuade you from trying this place out. The food is traditional Cantonese, authentically Chinese-American, and very good. read more

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Got the Hong Kong noodles and wonton soup, but very delicious and we finished everything. The service was good as well, and ambiance remind me of a old Chinese diner read more

Ordered the beef chow fun. Probably one of the 3 beef chow fun I had anywhere. Will definitely come back again

The beef Chow fun and wonton shrimp soup were very delicious 5for food and service. Will come back no doubt

Stopped here on the way to Las Vegas. Delicious food, great prices, friendly service, and quite possibly the largest bowl of wonton soup I've ever been served! Definitely worth the short detour! read more

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The Village Cafe is a wonderful restaurant. Everything there is made to order and delicious. We frequent this restaurant often and Ed is always most accommodating and friendly. I highly recommend this for great dining and take out. Great service with a smile. read more

food was ass. don't come here, there's alot better places around the corner. the owner kept trying to make us spend more money read more

Food I'd great. Place is clean . A very good value for the money. Don't let the front of cafe fool you. Would recommend it! read more

Traveling last weekend we stopped in Barstow to check this place out. It was like going back in time when as a little girl my dad would take me to some small Chinese diner in Oakland for lunch. What they lacked in modern decor they more than made up with on the food and service. Ordered Beef with Chinese greens and Shrimp with Lobster sauce. It came with a generous portion or steamed rice. The food was excellent. The man and woman who served us were friendly and attentive. The back of the menu has all the authentic Chinese dishes and their specialties. They also serve American food (burgers, etc). Looking forward to our next trip to try more dishes. read more

Food is great! One of the best Chinese food! Server is very nice too! Will come again!!

I like this place It's weird and part of the community Barstow is a strange place and apparently the brothers are fixtures here The food is cheap but tastes good and you get a lot from the one and only waiter The other brother runs the kitchen They have traditional Chinese food a and American food that will appeal to people who like things to be predictable The coconut shrimp and orange chicken are awesome It's an old place hat must've been bust back in the day when Barstow was a stop on your way to LV Barstow is still an place to stop but it's got a little of of franchise and an outlet mall now The Cafe is more of a local stop now They offer fast service a flash back to a past you are probably not part of and a congenial atmosphere Oh tiaras and the family style so you can try a little of every thing read more

Food wasn't good at all! I wouldn't go back poor quality of chicken.Great customer service

We are first time customers we will definitely be coming back. Good food awesome customer service and there menu prices are pretty cheap

The man is so generous person, he lets this authentic old lady to sit in the cafe when it's too hot outside. You can have very authentic experience here, The food is great. I tried fried tofu with veggies and rice and i loved it! read more

They are authentic Chinese/Cantonese food but being the only Chinese family in the city, they included an American menu too. My son loved the American ground beef dinner. Quality of cooking is excellent - can taste the char from hot wok from the chow fun. The quantity of food is large and they tenderize beef, however they used dry & reconstituted noodles (fresh noodles don't last long in desert). It's a family run business full of history - 3rd generation, 70ish man's father opened the place. The owners are very personable. The restaurant is an icon of Chinese-American history and wall plastered with awards and recognitions of struggles of an immigrant from 1930's until present. Recently broken window shows that anti-Asian sentiment is so much more profound in smaller cities. Speak a few words of Chinese and you've made an instant friend. read more

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I'm a huge fan of history, and one of the more recent chapters in modern U.S. history is the migration of people affected by the dust bowl, of the 1930's into California. I've followed what's left of Route 66 from Santa Monica all the way east as far as Elk City, OK, and I find the history of the "Mother Road," and he events that led up the mass migration to be very fascinating. One of my favorite towns along the old road is Barstow, CA, and when you're finished with history, and you're ready enjoy a great meal, head over to Village Cafe, located on Main Street, historic Route 66, in Barstow. Village Cafe is located on Main Street - historic Route 66 - in Barstow, CA. You can definitely tell the building dates from the heyday of Route 66, and it looks like it was once named "The Village," according the stylized letters on the overhang. As you enter, you'll notice the restaurant sports classic "diner" style decor, complete with naugahyde upholstered booths, and 1980's style faux wood tables. I would imagine that "back in the day" there was a counter, rather the low partition. I did note the decor has been considerable updated, and definitely has a lot of Chinese influence, which is appropriate, as Village Cafe specializes in Chinese cuisine. I came in anticipating Chinese food, but after looking over the "American Food" section, and thinking about historic Route 66, I switched gears and ordered "Chicken Fried Steak and Brown Gravy" instead, as that's a classic "comfort food" standard, and one of my favorites. Also, I was interested to see what "American" cuisine would be like at a Chinese restaurant... From the "American Food" section of the "Dinner" menu, I ordered "Chicken Fried Steak" which came covered in brown gravy, and included mashed potatoes, corn, and a piece of toasted sourdough bread. The chicken fried steak was a decent size of meat - most likely 6 ounces - pounded flat, and tender. It was covered with delicious batter, deep fried to a golden brown, which definitely added to the taste of the meat, but didn't overpower it. The batter to meat ratio was perfect, and the steak was delicious. The thick, brown gravy had chunks of meat in it, and was delicious. I guess the chef was reading mind when I placed my order, and knew that I love gravy, and lots of it, as both the steak and the mashed potatoes were covered in his delicious gravy, and there was plenty of gravy left over for the corn. Speaking of mashed potatoes, the potatoes were whipped perfectly, creamy, and just plain delicious, but nothing really special. The corn came from a can... but when you added the gravy, who cares? This fine dinner reminded me of the type of dinner many Route 66 travelers enjoyed during the glory days of the "Mother Road," and to me, this was a perfect dinner. The price was right, the food was great, the atmosphere was nostalgic and the company was great! The building is run down and has seen better days, mostly from the Route 66 era, it's a dive restaurant, but it has character, charm, and lots of local flavor. The food is great, the prices are just the way you like them, and you'll be treated to the company of Ellis, who is quite a gentleman. When you're in the mood for great Chinese or American "comfort food," you can't go wrong with a visit to Village Cafe, located in Barstow, CA. How couldn't I rate this fine restaurant 4 stars? read more

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A hidden gem in Barstow! Who knew delicious Chinese food exists in this armpit of America?! Believe me, it's comparable to hole in the wall Chinese takeout places in NYC. This is the best Chinese in the west coast, according to my snobby palate. The hot & sour soup, wow, really flavorful and with the perfect amount of heat. Ask the sweaty boyfriend! Get the pork fried rice, you will not regret it! You can taste the seasoned wok it's fried in along with the tasty generous pork bits. We also got the Village special chop suey (shrimp, pork, beef). The sauce was light and the vegetables crunchy fresh. Yum-o! The boyfriend ordered the beef with Chinese vegetables (baby bok choy). The sauce is similar to the chop suey but even more kicked up and delicious! We're coming back to try all the food offerings! Update 6/10/19 Hours are actually 10:00am - 8:00pm They serve only American breakfast at 10:00am. Chinese food service starts at 11:00am which is a bummer because I've been waiting since 9:00am, thanks Yelp [eye roll]. Nothing special on the breakfast I ordered, sausage and French toast except the prices are way below any fast food chain. I am gonna sit here until I can order lunch. read more

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It's been years since my last visit to Vegas (not really a fan) but when an event called for it, I started searching for local places to grub in Barstow because I knew it was gonna be a stop on the way. I wanted to avoid all the local food chains (In n Out, Chipotle, Popeye's, Carls Jr. and the like.) One of the reasons I got attracted to Village Café is for the mere fact they served primarily Chinese food - and that they open at 9am! Got there about 5 minutes before 10pm. I got slightly peeved to learn that their opening hour isn't until 10am. No biggie, we were already there. Didn't take long for their CLOSED sign flipped to OPEN. My party walked in immediately. A couple of locals walked in behind us almost immediately. Just as we were prepping to sit, Mr. Wong (I recognized him from uploaded Yelp pictures) told us they were serving breakfast only. BOOOOOOO. There goes my plan of having cooked-to-order Chinese food first thing in the morning. We were getting too hungry, so we decided to just stay. I went for the two eggs with hamburger patty, served with hash browns and toast. Also decided on an iced tea. The rest of my party went for the two eggs with bacon (4) and Special B (French toast with 2 bacon) and a couple of cups of coffee. Got the chance to look around after putting in our orders. It really is a divey old-school type of diner. It was a bit chilly inside - cold enough to wear a poofy jacket. Bathroom was decent - a bit tight, but eh. It serves its purpose. I came out and there were a few more customers seated - a couple of them locals as they knew the staff by their first names. I even overheard one of them mention the restaurant used to be some kind of a hotel. Interesting. Then I noticed one of the locals who walked in behind us got served a bowl of noodle soup. Then I overheard the table of 5 (maybe 6) people next to our booth ordering... CHINESE FOOD?! But we were told not even 10 minutes prior they were only serving breakfast! The switch to my annoyance went on very quickly. Not only that - it took about a half hour for our food to get to our table. So I was just feeling disappointed at this point - enough to just want to grub and go. But the food was pretty decent - especially for the price. The hamburger patty wasn't overcooked and was seasoned right. The hash browns had a good crunch on the outside but cooked soft on the inside. The toast was a bit burnt, but I didn't care since I was already a bit discontented. I got to try a bite of the French toast, and not bad at all. Syrup wasn't too sweet. Their ketchup bottles need to be replaced - the first one we got was practically empty and its replacement has seen its refill-filled days. It had a lot of dents and got bent in a few spots. The label was practically faded. Seriously - that bottle really needs to go. I hope they didn't refill it back again. One of the staff checked to see how we were doing, so I took the opportunity to ask why we weren't given the option of ordering Chinese food. I also mentioned it was the SOLE reason I chose to have a meal here. He told me it's most likely because the cook hadn't arrived yet. So I pointed at the customer who came in with us getting a big bowl of noodle soup, and the table adjacent to us got that option only a few minutes after we put in our "breakfast only" order. His response was that they usually don't serve Chinese food until around 11am. I told him it isn't 11am yet. (He verified this by looking at the clock.) No response after that. Since I realized nothing else can be done at this point, I told him there wasn't much to worry about since we already got our food and it's satisfactory. But I'll give it to Mr. Wong. He was quite attentive. He had a very cheerful face. 2.5 to not-quite 3 stars for my overall experience. And with the rare occurrence I'm around this 'hood, it'll be quite some time for a return (if at all) to occur. read more

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Great local joint with reasonably priced dishes - hospitable staff and relaxed environment. Tasty too! read more

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I haven't seen my nephew in over 4 years. He lives in Los Angeles and I live in Las Vegas. We decided to meet halfway. Barstow was it. We wanted to eat Chinese food. So I saw this place on line and decided to have the lunch meeting at this place. We felt comfortable as soon as we walked in. The dining room was a one-man show but he did an excellent job. We enjoyed the food so much. It was so delicious. read more

So glad that we stopped here for lunch on a warm spring day. They couldn't serve us at 11:30 because they had a big catering order, so we drove around the city and surrounding area, then came back for a proper lunch. It was open for indoor dining, and we sat appropriately distanced, and the server, the grandson of the original owners, served us with a nice ironic, local sense of humor. The place had elements from its past, many honors from the local military, and from past patrons. It is clear that they were a beloved supporter of Barstow! The food... well, the egg foo young was nothing to write home about, but it was the first we've tried in decades. I had the chicken fried steak, pounded flat, like my mom used to make, with an adequate brown gravy and simply mashed potatoes. I was okay with the value, but you come for the ambience, and the story. Of course, I'm also thinking about the time this family has invested in Barstow... 72 years!!! This is a treasure of American history, and the role of immigrant Chinese in the making of the West!! read more

I mean, it's a dive, but we're in Barstow. What did you expect? If your expectations were for some decent Chinese American food, then this place will meet and maybe exceed your expectations. We felt weird when we sat down because it looks like a strange office space and was a bit desolate. We sat at a booth slightly too small for my larger dad, and the server handed us some shredded up menus. At this point, we were both a bit worried. But the server had a sardonic sense of humor and was super friendly, so we warmed up. We started with some hot tea. It was super floral, but I don't think it was jasmine. Kinda rosey. They were out of a lot of random items, so come with an open mind. They were out of wontons, so we did egg drop soup. Our entrees were the chicken with straw mushroom, pork fried rice, and veggie chop suey. They also gave us those crunchy wonton things with sweet and sour sauce. Winner: chicken with straw mushrooms. The chicken was cooked really well, the veggies were fresh. Same for the chop suey, though I didn't like that much. My dad ordered it. The fried rice was pretty plain, but still tasted good. We absolutely demolished the egg drop soup, so I'd say that was pretty good too. I added the crunchy things and some soy sauce to it. I don't know - it was good. And I liked seeing all the articles and items on the side. The server dude was funny and friendly, there were regular customers yelling to the staff in the back, a kind older man who I think is the owner boxed our leftovers for us. All around nice feel. I got tips on how to grow a lucky money tree too, which bumped them from 4 to 5 stars. read more

It's okay the booths are suppperrr creaky. Prices are decent 2 people to eat 14.00 so that's great. The fries were still raw . The atmosphere was awkward I have never walked in to see employees sitting there watching tv. Constantly asking b personal questions. Not only that but kept watching while we were eating read more

The area is not ideal and we were hesitant to try the food. my wife loves Chinese and I like chicken fried steak. the Chinese food was delicious and my wife could not stop talking about how good the rice was. The chicken fried steak was not best I ever had but for 8.75 it was great. The restaurant has been here forever so don't judge the outward appearance. The interior was clean and we looked hard to find flaws. the lights were clean and no dust, table was clean, forks and knives clean. two dinners for under 25 dollars. I will be going back. read more

Village Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Barstow, California

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I love the services rendered here... Great sense of hospitality and I would love to visit some more read more

Village Cafe - Dessert - Chinese Near Me - Barstow, California

The food is really good. My husband and I stopped for lunch and had a great time. The staff are very friendly! The restaurant has been around for 44 years. It's a nice family business. The restrooms were very clean. The cashew chicken had a great flavor. The egg rolls were delicious. The sweet and sour chicken was very tasty. read more

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Wasn't very welcoming. The man wasn't rude but acted like he didn't want any customers. There was another man that appeared to work there as well but had the same motivation as the first man. Just made it feel awkward. I will never return. read more

I couldn't tell you if the food was good or not. When I walked in, it was an hour before closing time. The waiter was sitting in a chair watching TV, he looked up at me said "God, I just wanna go home!" I said good night, turned around and drove to Canton Restaurant about 1 mile west on Main Street, they were way friendlier there. read more

Village Cafe - Chinese Near Me - Barstow, California

We stopped by on the way back from Las Vegas. Ordered vegetable fried rice and Kung Pav Tofu. Excellent service and delicious food. Highly recommend it. read more

Located on Route 66 in Barstow. I hate the location, otherwise I'd give it 5 Stars. Lol. Place inside needs updating but I kinda like the old/outdated feel. Makes the restaurant more authentic. Family owned, and probably some of the nicest people you'll ever meet! The son is funny and super interested in talking to everyone and always has a smile on his face. He jokes around with everyone. His dad makes the food and is super old and cute. Food is 5/5, appreciate family businesses like these. The family knew just about everyone who walked in, even memorized their orders and I even witnessed a customer helping him clean up because they said his dad works too hard. I love this place! Really just wish I could change the location to somewhere not too bad. Enjoy good food, good prices, and get to know them a little. Below is what we ordered: emperors meal for 2. read more

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Best Chinese Food in Town!! Henry, the Owner and Cook, is great at creating Mandarian Style cuisine that will truly satisfy. Plus the menu includes burgers and other American dishes just to please the variety of customers that come in. I grew up in Barstow and was raised on Henry's dishes and I must say I miss it living out here in Los Angeles. The LA Chinese food, even the ZAGAT rated establishments, do not compare to the original style Henry bring's to each delectable dish. Thank you Henry for all the great years of your Culinary Mastery. read more

Excellent spot run by a friendly family that's been in operation for 72 years. Wasn't sure what to expect since we are spoiled by great chinese food in the Bay Area. We got take-out but the beef with snow peas (that also had very tasty mushrooms and water chestnuts) and it magically stayed fresh and non-soggy even in the takeout box. Light seasoning, not greasy at all -- felt pretty healthy as well as delicious! Beef chow fun was also good. Hope to stop by again next time we are traveling cross country. read more

Not really the typical chinese food you see in many current chinese restaurants but I love it because it's reminiscent of the chinese restaurants back in the 70s. Mater of fact according to the grand son they opened in 1971. I try to stop every time I drive by on my way to Vegas. read more

Village Cafe - Egg foo young and moo goo gai pan - Chinese Near Me - Barstow, California

This place will fool you when you see it's size, sixties style and location. However the food makes up for all of that. It's all cooked right there. It's no wonder why it is one of Barstows earlier Icons. It's like eating in the early sixties of Barsow. read more

The ambience is homey in a way that you feel as if you've been going to eat there your whole life. Eating the ham fried rice and house made red chili paste makes all your stresses melt away. Every carrot, mushroom and piece of chicken are all cut with such care and cooked to perfection, nothing is ever overdone or mushy. The sauces prepared with love bring out flavors you'd only imagine of tasting on an Ugly Delicious episode. If I could eat here everyday I would. read more

In a word, sketchy. Downtown Barstow is super sketch. We parked by the Union Bank because there is a security guard that stands outside. We were very hungry though, and we like supporting the local economy, rather than eating at a chain fast food place. McD's may have been a better option. The food needed salt, and was greasy. The server was not clean. The cook was not clean. The bathrooms were not clean. They make and serve their own hot sauce, which I believe they do in their own kitchen and somehow that seems unsanitary, and again, sketchy. If I am ever in Barstow again, I am driving on by with no hesistation. read more