There's a special kind of old-school restaurant in the Chinese communities of Los Angeles--places that have been around long before the dining scene became as diverse as it is today, with a few signature dishes that keep people coming back for years. WeChat Cafe in El Monte is exactly that kind of place. Open for many years, it's a beloved spot for generations of immigrants and one of my favorite Hong Kong-style cafés in LA. Ever since I first moved here, it has been my comfort-food destination whenever I'm craving authentic Hong Kong flavors. From Hong Kong-style steaks and sizzling Western-Chinese fusion dishes to wok-fried noodles and rice, the portions are generous and the prices are incredibly reasonable. Recently, they introduced a selection of special-value rice plates, and after several visits with friends, I can honestly say the food still tastes just as good as I remembered--while the prices feel like they came from another era. Some standout dishes: Thai Basil Minced Pork Rice ($6.99) A milder version that suits Cantonese tastes perfectly. Packed with flavorful minced pork and incredibly satisfying with rice. Char Siu & Fried Egg Rice ($8.99) The char siu was surprisingly high quality despite the budget-friendly price. Crispy on the outside, tender inside, with a delicious honey-glazed flavor. A truly comforting dish. Scallion Oil Mixed Grill Platter ($14.99) WeChat Cafe is well known for its grilled pork chops, chicken chops, and steaks. The scallion oil adds a wonderful Hong Kong-style twist that makes this dish unforgettable. Slightly more expensive than the specials, but absolutely worth it. And of course, no visit is complete without their famous roasted pork knuckle. It remains just as impressive as ever--crispy, golden skin with juicy, flavorful meat inside. Honestly, it rivals some of the pork knuckles I've had in Germany. The menu is extensive and even includes traditional Hong Kong-style breakfast options. Despite being in Los Angeles, WeChat Cafe still captures the essence of a classic Hong Kong cha chaan teng: delicious food, generous portions, and amazing value. These days, $6.99 barely buys a trendy milk tea, yet here it can still get you a full meal. Restaurants like this are becoming rare. If you appreciate authentic Hong Kong comfort food and old-school hospitality, this is a place worth supporting and cherishing. read more

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Going there with a friend to try out the place I never had. Picked him up and went to the restaurant. It was close to 12 pm for lunch time. A guy waiter sat us down. He was talking cantonese with the other waitress. Then we called him for our order. We both ordered chicken steak with pork chop. There wasn't much customers there. Only 4 to 5. We waited like 10 minutes. I try get the waiter but there weren't anyone around. The female waitress is gone and so was the guy waiter. Only lunch time they should be busy and there aren't any waiter or waitress. I think the owner or manager came out and I told her what happened to out drink and meal. She went back to the kitchen and got my drink only and went back to get my friend's drink. Talk about bad service. Then we waited another minute only 1 dish was ready. I gave it to my friend 1st cause he was hungry. I waited and then flag the female manager and asked what happened to my order. She said the cook cooked the food 1 at the time. Another 3 to 5 minutes went by and they finally got my order. I asked my friend how was his food. He said it was to oily. I think it was because of the green onion with oil. They put a lot. I saw mine it was also the same. The spoon handle on mine was full of oil. I just put the fork on the small plate and used the fork and knife. I ate some of my food and took home the pork chop. I asked for the bill from the guy waiter. He came by with a tablet. My friend took out money and I told him it was my turn. The waiter took his money cause he took out $100 and I took out $50. Of course the waiter took the $100 instead of mine. Then he said he will take $8 dollar for tip. We did not hear him. When he came back he just gave $50 back to my friend. Then my friend told me about it. I was pissed. I was going to give him $5 for the service only. For the service we had. That place wasn't busy at lunch time. The cook could have cook 2 chicken steaks at the same time and 2 pork chop at the same time and it would be faster. Not one at a time. Forget about going back. Waste of time and bad service. I don't like business take tip with the customer's knowing it. read more

Everytime here, the veggies are cold when ordered, at least heat it up before serving it? I understand veggies probably cooked as a big bunch while in morning and in a pan waiting for it to be serviced. And when people ordered chicken or pork chop, you would just grab the veggies from the pre-cooked pan to put together to serve, but at least heat it up or something before servicing....? read more

I've been eating here more often recently because I've been busy moving, and by the time I finish for the day it's usually pretty late. One of the reasons I keep coming back is that they're open until 1am, which is a lifesaver when most places around the area are already closed. They mainly serve Cantonese cafe style food, and so far I've tried quite a few items including the pork chop and chicken steak with scallion oil, salt and pepper chicken wings, scrambled egg and beef rice, scrambled egg beef chow fun, beef stew noodles, curry dishes, bitter melon with beef, German pork knuckle, and of course the lemon tea. Overall, the food is pretty decent. The chicken wings are good, and I really enjoy the scrambled egg beef chow fun. The chicken steak is another favorite with crispy skin and juicy meat. I was also pleasantly surprised by the German pork knuckle. The only complaint I have is that some menu items seem to sell out fairly often. We went twice in a row looking for the same dish and it was unavailable both times. Other than that, everything we've had has been solid. It feels more like a local neighborhood spot than a trendy destination, but sometimes those are the places you end up returning to the most. I'll definitely be back. read more

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The place lacks maintenance. Water glasses are old and dirty. The food is ok and price reasonable. So this is one of those Chinese restaurants where you come for the food but not for the setting or atmosphere. Not a place to meet with friends. read more

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I haven't been to WeChat Cafe for a long time. Today I am back to try the afternoon tea. And I found out it has another special rice dish. For $8.99, the baked pork chop rice is delicious. The sauce has a balanced flavor, and they didn't skip on the pork chop. As you can see in the photo, there was a bunch of pork chop meat. Service is okay, and it is a great value. read more

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You absolutely get what you pay for and then some at this WeCafe. I don't understand the name but let's Chat about the food! Man that barbecue pork rice and the Thai basil minced pork was fire! I enjoyed every bite of both. The service was meh but that's exactly what I expected when I stepped into this restaurant. It's true to culture. Less words more food. lol if you're looking for a hardy delicious meal for a great price I suggest you stop by. We heard about this place from social media. When I stepped into the restaurant I felt like I was in another country. The smell, the decor, and patrons let me know I was about get some good eating! Stop by and get yours. You're losing money if you don't go. Lol read more

WeChat Cafe - Barbecue pork rice - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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The pork rice with eggs is so good. You can't get this somewhere else. They homemade it themselves with special recipes. It comes with two eggs too. Their price is so reasonable and very affordable. Their service is very nice and friendly. Alan is the best and very professional. The restaurant with TV and we just watched World Cup here. Thank you Alan! My daughter and grandma love it. You are the best! Highly recommended. read more

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When I say this is an authentic Chinese restaurant, I mean authentic. They still using plastic water cup. Which is not a dig. But also wouldn't be too bad if they upgraded a little bit to modern times? As far as their food goes, I saw that they had a little lunch special from my Facebook group that I am in- so I decided to stop by. Definitely did not disappoint. A fresh crispy fried egg on top of both dishes? 10/10. We didn't get to finish both dishes because the portion was big, and when we took it home and reheated it? It was even better. Not bad for $8 to $10. The customer service is very typical for your everyday Asian restaurant. Do not expect too much. I really do believe, that good food doesn't necessarily come with good service. Especially for Asian restaurants. The ambience itself is very Asian. They offer booth and chairs. I can tell they have loyal customers who come here to enjoy family style meals. read more

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WeChat Cafe has been promoting the special n it's very attractive ... the Char Siu roasted BBQ pork was delicious n tasty, half fat half lean!!! Mixed with sunny side up eggs n Choy sum vegetables... with rice!! Look good n delicious!!! However, the services level was still not up there n waiting time was too long due to their inventory control are fairly not consistently... hope they can improve... I was waiting 25mins for my foods... read more

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Came across someone's social media post about their $8.99 BBQ pork chop rice with egg special, and it looked really good. I've been to WeChat Cafe before, but since it's not close to me, I usually don't go out of my way to visit. I happened to be working in the area today and decided to check it out. Parking was not a problem since they have their own parking lot. The place was kind of empty during the early lunch hour. I had to order what I came for -- the BBQ pork chop rice with egg! The server didn't greet me with a smile, but he did come to take my order and bring out my food. What more could I ask for from this type of HK-style cafe? The portion size was perfect for one person, and the taste was good. The BBQ pork had the perfect balance of lean meat and fat, which I liked. I would come here again if I'm in the area, but I probably wouldn't go out of my way just to take advantage of the special. read more

This is actually the first time I've ever left a 1-star review for a restaurant. I normally don't leave negative reviews, but this experience was so disappointing that I felt I had to share it. We ordered the Scallion Oil Poached Chicken Leg over Rice and the Minced Pork Rice. The poached chicken had a strong unpleasant odor that made it very difficult to eat. It was extremely overcooked, falling apart, and the texture was nothing like good poached chicken. The scallion oil was overloaded with green onions and was surprisingly spicy, which completely overpowered the dish. The minced pork rice was just as disappointing. It was almost entirely fatty pork with barely any lean meat. The rice had almost no flavor except grease. Even my daughter couldn't finish it because it was so greasy. We ended up throwing most of the food away. I've eaten at many restaurants over the years, and this was honestly one of the worst meals I've ever had. I sincerely hope the restaurant pays more attention to its food quality, but unfortunately, we will not be returning. read more

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I can't believe the BBQ pork rice is only $8.99. The char siu was juicy and flavorful, especially mixed with the runny egg and rice. I also loved the steamed pork patty rice, super tender and comforting. The baked mussels and fermented tofu lettuce were delicious too. Great prices, generous portions, and everything tasted so satisfying. Definitely coming back! read more

WeChat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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so delicious！This is one of the best Hong Kong food restaurants . I really like it and the prize so friendly just $6.99. That is amazing! read more

WeChat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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Ambien is a hole on the wall. Service is friendly, price is very cheap and the food was great. We ordered everything from the special menu and it is served all day. Definitely will come back with friends. read more

WeChat Cafe - Their special promotions - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

It has been years that WeChat did not turn on the AC, and even when it's in the summer with over 90 degrees Fahrenheit, it literally felt like eating in an oven. Never again! read more

WeChat Cafe - AC is only a decoration - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

Don't come here. Service is slow, waiters and host are rude -- I can overlook rude (or unrefined) service if the food is good or comes out on time, but neither of these things happened... read more

Didn't know they serve breakfast. Pretty good food and service, and there was no wait. read more

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Don't come here for a to-go order. I waited more than 30 minutes for a single breakfast item while the restaurant was less than half full. The staff seemed uninterested in helping customers or keeping us informed about the delay. Very disappointing service and not worth the wait. read more

Stop by here for a late lunch so surprised by their afternoon tea menu the baked pork chop with spaghetti and their all day menu pork patties steam rice and the thai style minced pork on rice.Good food generous portion and reasonable price. read more

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We got 2 dishes for $39. The taste is just alright & the portion is not super crazy. That's pricey. Indonesian fried rice gives a lot. Comes with chicken and shrimp and fried egg on top. Taste alright. Beef with mixed mushroom is the disappointment. There is barely any beef. Taste just ok. Place looks kinda small from outside but inside is actually pretty big. read more

WeChat Cafe - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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Came here Sunday night for some authentic HK cafe food and they did not disappoint. Here's my order and score ratings: Porkchop fried rice 9/10 Preserved pickeld pork vermicelli 9/10 Salt and pepper chicken wings 9/10 $6.99 spicy ground pork rice 9/10 awesome value! $8.99 BBQ pork rice with egg 9/10 awesome value! read more

WeChat Cafe - BBQ pork chop rice with egg - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

I came here since it is open pretty late on a weekday. They sat us in the back and was pretty standard. A fly kept flying around which was a bit annoying but nothing too out of the norm. So food is on the pricier side for HK style type food IMO, a porridge went for $12 while a wonton soup went for like $14. I will say though the food tasted very good, solid 5 at least for what I ordered. Service was totally lacking at night especially since the servers started to eat around 9 pm so it took us awhile to get extra bowls. Overall come for the food, not the experience. I think I will stick to ordering via delivery from here. read more

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I order the filet mignon cubes with black pepper sauce and white rice. My boyfriend got the Grilled chicken steak with black pepper sauce and spaghetti. I got my filet medium rare and that was one of the best TENDER filets i've ever had. I did prefer the spaghetti and my side instead of the rice but overall so good. Our server was very attentive with refills. read more

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Came here back in November 2021 for a late lunch. Parking lot wasn't too full. Service was pretty fast. Ordered the Baked Chicken Steak With Curry Rice, Daikon Beef Stew, Wonton Noodle Soup, French Toast With Peanut Butter, and Hong Kong Milk Tea. Everything tasted amazing! read more

WeChat Cafe - Baked Chicken Steak with Curry Rice, Wonton Noodle Soup, French Toast With Peanut Butter, Daikon Beef Stew, hot and cold HK Milk Teas. - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

The chicken and pork chop with rice is so delicious and the price is very reasonable price read more

WeChat Cafe - Chicken steak and pork chop with rice - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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Place was quite run down and lots of mosquitoes when we got seated. There was only one lady who was the server + cashier at the time of our visit. Rice Beef Chow Fun was tasty however the Fish Ball Soup w/ Flat Noodle we ordered was tasteless. Cannot expect much from service, the lady hardly speak English, so my husband needs to order food in Mandarin (she speaks Mandarin & Canto, FYI). Price for the beverage, no other places can beat so far, $2.5 for Hong Kong milk tea - price includes refills. read more

WeChat Cafe - Beef with Scrambled Egg Chow Fun - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

Hidden Gem Hong Kong Style Cafe! Discovered WeChat Cafe during COVID and loved their baked pork chop. I finally remembered to come back to try this place in person last week and came again this week! While this place offers a very similar menu as all the HK cafes in the area, the food is much more flavorful than other cafes I've been to. Everything is seasoned well, the beef stew curry was tender, the pork chop was very flavored with the lemongrass and well seared, etc. The prices are reasonable, not exactly cheap, but they give huge portions. I grew up eating at HK cafes in the SGV my entire life and this is one of the first times I've felt impressed. I haven't been to Hong Kong yet but I brought my dad here and he was also impressed and said that it tastes much more authentic than other places. The food took about 15-20 minutes to come out which seems a little slow but practice having patience! Like most other Asian restaurants, the employees here are not going to check in on you. I see a lot of reviews complaining about the service in Asian restaurants and I hate to see people docking off stars because of it. "Good" service is not a priority to people in different cultures, this doesn't mean they're rude. Our servers on both occasions answered our questions kindly, made recommendations, and were happy to help. The restaurant was pretty empty both visits so I hope they're doing well and that others can give them a chance! read more

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Always good, some item price so friendly!service is so nice , feel like family! Food came out very fast ! Will be back again read more

WeChat Cafe - Beef Udon /BBQ pork / cauliflower - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

My friends and I were craving some hong kong Chinese food and we found wechat cafe. The menu had so many options and offered authentic hongkong dishes. Everything came out quickly and was so delicious! The service is standard just as you expect, and the ambiance is cozy. Parking is easy to find. I would highly recommend to come here if you're in the area! read more

Average and decent HK style cafe. I ordered the club sandwich, which had spam and ham, and heavy on the mayonnaise. The peanut butter French toast was fine. I ate half of everything and took the rest home. Foot traffic was slow and they were polite to let me linger for an hour plus, giving me free refills of their lemon iced tea which was generous. I would come back to try their Portuguese chicken rice as I don't see a lot of other HK cafe menus, and if I was in the area. read more

WeChat Cafe - Club Sandwich, French Toast with Peanut Butter, Lemon Tea / Jan 2025 - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

Super good food at a cheap price. There's a special between 3-5pm, that has its own menu. Lot of good options and drinks come at an additional cost. Service fast and ambiance quiet. Parking - a lot in parking lot read more

WeChat Cafe - Baked Pork Chop with Rice - $8.99 - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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The food are delicious. Especially, the baked pork chop rice. I tried in different places, and this restaurant is the best. I took out one star because not enough parking for weekend. read more

I highly recommend their Baked Pork Chop with tomato sauce. It's the best in town. They open till very late too.

Guy was rude. Didn't even give me my change and food was whatever. Not gonna go there again. read more

I was born in Hong Kong , ate at many HOng Kong cafe so I know what authentic HK cafe should taste like. This place is authentic because the family that owns it is from HK. Alan is awesome host, he goes and talk to customers at each table. We talked and got to know where we grew up in HK. Whenever I go to a new (to me) HK cafe, I always order wonton soup to see how it taste and see how authentic it taste. Well, their wonton is excellent. Their cold HK milk tea is also delicious. And of course , you'll have James Wang on the placemat to keep an eye on you while you eat. read more

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Authentic and yummy Hong Kong food! Whenever I have friends who want Hong Kong comfort food, I send them here. Food is superb. I ordered the baked pork chop rice, the beef chow flat noodles, porridge with century egg and meat (my fav!!) and steamed flour roll. The coffee here is sooooo yummy, I think they use condensed milk here for the Hong Kong vibes. They have Hong Kong desserts to go as well! Portions are LARGE! Came with my parents and had lots to take to go. Food was too good, took a few bites before snapping pics haha Parking lot out front and in the back. read more

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Ordered directly from their website. Was charged on my card but did not receive a confirmation email. Due to the charge still going through, I went inside and asked the woman at the front if my order was in their system or if they received it. I also explained to her that I was aware it wouldn't be ready, as I had just placed it. I just wanted confirmation the order was received as I didn't receive an email. The woman at the front desk was incredibly rude and immediately shut me down. Did not want to listen to anything I said. I even showed her that the order was directly from their website. Still she did not want to listen to me and told me to call customer service. I left because I was getting no where with this woman. I Was going to file a chargeback with my bank. As soon as I get home, I receive the confirmation email. Okay cool. I'm still hungry, it's confirmed now, so I'll have my husband pick it up. Nope! Then the restaurant IMMEDIATELY calls me after I get the confirmation email. They call me to tell me they canceled my order. But if I still want food to go ahead and place another order. What a terrible place. read more

My favorite weekend breakfast spot. The auntie server is very kind and friendly. Their food is authentic and delicious. read more

WeChat Cafe - Beef Macaroni With Chicken Soup - Cafes Near Me - El Monte, California

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good food; decent serving size -- a solid choice food wise if you're looking for authentic cantonese food downside is that they have a small parking lot so parking can be limited at times also, I came at a lunch rush and so the food came after about a half hour and only after we told them we'd be leaving (which then the food came out in about 2 minutes) staff is friendly for the most part and the place is clean. Really like the decor on the wall that feels like an old HK street style diner read more

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