Best takeout around the area, with really fast delivery. We received our order in 20 min! Their lomein is more authentic than most places, too (they use a diff. kind of noodle) and portions are really big. They also have a huge array of fresh juices, really refreshing. I'm a big fan! read more

Taiwanese fried chicken still very good, other dishes such as shrimp noodle soup is alright. Also kind of weird when you eat in and there are not a lot of customers, the servers kind of just stand around and watch you eat. A slightly uncomfortable environment. read more

Really good Chinese food. I am a Hot & Sour Soup snob and theirs is very good! I had their chopped pork and pepper with soft buns for lunch that was delicious. I am definitely a fan of Yen's! read more

I wish I had a -ve rating option, we went there yesterday around dinner time, the restaurant was not full, they had tables available. As we entered they asked for reservation we never made one so we apologized the guy at the front desk made a face and told us we can sit only if we are able to finish our meal in 60 mins. Well his attitude wasn't pleasant we still told him yes. He sat us down I ordered water for me and my daughter and tea for my husband. They served him tea but never served any water, I ordered hot and sour soup and tried ordering Yens special noodles they said they have it in the menu but they don't serve it. I asked for another kind of noodles in there menu they told me they don't have it either, I'm at this point annoyed and just ordered chicken fried rice from the menu glad they had that. We ate pretty quickly soup tasted good but fried rice were just ok. I asked server for water and he just walked by didn't even pay any attention. My husband asked another lady standing at the bar for a glass of water then I was served with a simple glass of water with my food. We were in and out within 30 mins I guess our order was pretty straight forward though the soup was good I'm never going to return again!! They also should correct there menu for the dishes they don't serve anymore!!! read more

Yen's Cafe - The low class Chinese tea set will cost you 180$ if you break lol!!! - Taiwanese Near Me - Ashburn, Virginia

After the rave reviews I decided to try out Yen's with my wife and was left kind of confused in regards to the high rating. Firstly, we ordered the oolong tea, as we often do at places like this. Fast-forward to the bill -- it was $6.50. Uh, what? We go to a ton of Chinese/Taiwanese restaurants in the area, and all of them provide free tea, or at least charge a nominal fee of a few bucks. I would have been completely fine with the latter, but the combination of not being warned and the fact that the tea wasn't even that great was a turnoff. $6.50? Who is ordering this tea, Chelsea Clinton? The restaurant also has a lot of odd tacky signage posted around. At every booth there's a "warning, if you break any tea sets, you could be charged up to $180 for them." Uh what again?! Why are you decking out costumers with ornamental sets that are priced at upwards of $200, and threatening action while I'm trying to enjoy my meal? The bathroom was the same way, with passive aggressive signage galore, haha. It was so weird. As for our food, it was fine -- standard Chinese fare, which salvaged the meal, hence the 3/5 rating. The service was below average but acceptable. Yet, I asked for fried rice as an entree, and it came out 15 minutes early before my wife's pork was finished. It was a cherry of sorts on top of this very odd, but ultimately mild experience. read more

Amazing little gem tucked behind the Ashburn Home Depot. Family owned and the best Chinese food in the area by far! They take pride in their cooking and use only fresh ingredients. The staff is very friendly and will be happy to recommend one of their absolutely delicious fruit smoothies to go with your dinner. My only wish is that it was closer and/or offered delivery to my house! read more

Really disappointed. I was really looking forward to going after reading all the rave reviews on yelp. It was just okay. Service was good. Food was bland. Maybe got them on an off night. I will try again read more

I am not sure why this place gets such great reviews...maybe it's lunch items? I have ordered a lunch Hunan chicken combo that was good, but just good, not great. So far, I have ordered shrimp with black bean sauce, chicken lomein, general tso's chicken, and asked if they could do a minced chicken lettuce wrap, instead of the shrimp, which they accommodated. They charged me for the same price as shrimp ($18.95), which I feel they shouldn't have, and this dish by far was the worst thing I have ever ordered from any Chinese/Asian restaurant. Lacked in flavor and there was no sauce accompaniments that should come with a lettuce wrap entree. The general tso's chicken was soooo dry and lacked flavor. It also didn't come with the broccoli as noted in the menu. The shrimp in the black bean sauce was so tough and did not taste fresh at all. You could tell it was frozen for a while. The lomein really lacked in flavor and the noodles were linguini noodles...not the typical egg noodles you get when you order lomein. With a $40 minimum to deliver, I would rather spend my money elsewhere. read more

Went for lunch. The hot and sour soup was a nice big portion. Everything was tasty, also got jasmine tea, the chicken lo mein, and crispy beef. Can't wait to go back! read more

"We serve family, not customers" - Yen. And so everything has heart and love, from the selection of quality ingredients, to the omission of MSG, to the use of family recipes, to the dependence on word of mouth, to frequent queries "do you like it", to chatting at the table throughout the meal, to lovely tea in a glass teapot warmed with a candle. I loved the steamed dumplings filled with pork and carefully prepared baby bok choy (not lettuce as another reviewer surmised). The salt and pepper shrimp was flavorful and nicely spiced with fragrant fresh chilies - not just hot oil or red pepper. The white rice was sushi-grade, a dish worth eating on it's own merit and not just an obligatory white snowball. Don't just order the safe dish you always order elsewhere. Life is too short and the food is too good. I'm going back tonight. read more

The pros outweigh the cons. If you are interested in authentic Chinese, this is the place. This is REAL Chinese food, this is not Panda Express. This is scrumptious and fresh Chinese. The dumplings are great (real dumplings), and the noodle dishes are refreshing. Go here for a midweek dinner or Sunday lunch. The food is fab and healthy. read more

I suppose this review might not receive much in the way of believability because I'm a white person writing about a Chinese restaurant, but OMG! I've been to China and Hong Kong and the food is traditional and once you read the reviews here about the "special" menu at Yen's Cafe and you see what is on there in person, you will know the truth about Chinese food! My boyfriend ordered something off the special menu (which I don't remember because it was spicy - and I don't eat spicy - and it has been a while) and I ordered the Crispy Sesame Beef. The last time I had Crispy Beef that actually fulfilled the expected crispiness was when I was in Australia. Every other time I have tried Crispy Beef in the States, it has been chewy or soggy and NOT crispy. The size of an order is plentiful (this is why I've gained 10 lbs ever since I "met" Yen). The slight sweetness is amazing and the flavor it adds to their fantastic white rice on the side is wonderful. One caveat: because the Crispy Beef is crispy (duh, I know), it might not be the same texture you expect if you put it in the fridge and eat it the next day. On to the rice! I have been to numerous Asian restaurants and I don't think I have ever had rice THIS good. I have a small stomach and often leave the rice in favor of the entree, but reheating the rice the following day requires no water to unstick the rice (even my Chinese ex-boyfriend's family had to add water to THEIR rice to reheat). I suppose I'm reviewing backwards, but on to the appetizer! I ordered the Avocado Salad w/Cucumber and I have not looked back! The freshness of the cucumber distracts a little from the sweetness of the dressing and the creaminess of the avocado (which I imagine is the point) and makes this salad one filling and healthy option (you might even need to wait on the entree - see caveat above - and rice). On to dessert (in my mind)! The fresh juices made here are more like smoothies and they are fantastically delicious! I LOVE the papaya coconut milk juice, the papaya milk drink, and my boyfriend sings praises for the avocado milk juice - once watermelon is in season (more in season?) I am trying that next! As far as the size of this place, it is TINY! I noted in the survey that it is good for groups and intimate (intimate in terms of you'll be close, alright)...you should probably make sure that you call ahead and tell them if you have more than 5 people because a lot of tables will have to be rearranged! Side note: I am VERY ill right now and all I can coherently think of through my nose-blowing and coughing fits is chicken noodle soup - so I called Yen's and they are making me chicken noodle soup because apparently I even SOUND sick! I will comment on the chicken noodle soup after I have tried it. Update: ...and EXACTLY a year after I posted this review, I will comment on the soup. (I procrastinate, what can I say?) This soup was delicious! Not your run-of-the-mill chicken noodle, but heftier with lots of noodles, but A LOT of vegetables, also. Not that veggies are bad when you're sick... ...so, check on the chicken noodle and I've been ordering from Yen's regularly ever since (and even before) the first review. I've even shown a friend the light when it comes to "Chinese food" and she LOVED this restaurant. As always, I'll be coming back and ordering online for delivery! :) read more

Definitely not the best Chinese food that we've had in The Ashburn area. Crispy beef was so crispy that it hurt to chew it and it came without a top on it? The Mongolian beef lacked flavor and had gray colored beef which was also kind of weird. With a 50 minute delivery time I don't think I will be giving them a second chance. They did get the order right so that's worth to stars by itself. read more

Ordered the hot and sour soup (nothing special about it, tastes like the ones from any take-out joint), the beef pan fried noodles (noodles is all wrong, no taste whatsoever), and the sesame chicken (also, noooo flavor!). When we ordered the sesame chicken, we had asked what the difference was between the regular and crispy sesame chicken (thin, overly fried strips) and decided to order the regular. The crispy version came out and the server tried to pass it off by offering to add sesame seeds to the crispy chicken which we did not order. We finally got our food but really, none of the stuff we ordered was worth it, especially for the price. Go to your usual hole in the wall, at least the prices are reasonable. read more

Yens is fantastic -- a really amazing food experience. With advice from the incredibly helpful staff, we ordered the hot and sour soup, P20 with bean curd instead of pork -- bean curd, string beans, dried black bean, and big fluffy bao -- and the three cup chicken. The flavors were complex and amazing, the service was thoughtful, and every dish completely surpassed expectations. I can't stop talking about this place, it is that good. Look forward to coming back, even though it is about a 45 min drive for us. Now we just need a DC location! read more

I thought the place was going to be nice. Decor wise and cleanliness was good. However the food was just all right. The prices seem high and doesn't seem to justify going here vs heading to Rockville. read more

Authentic, authentic, authentic as it gets for northern Virginia. They even have river spinach stir fried in garlic. Better for order out though as the place is pretty small with only about 6-7 tables. read more

Best Chinese food in Ashburn! Only complaint would be that ordering to-go isn't as efficient as other places.

I didn't think we'd find Chinese food this fantastic in Virginia. Loved the pan fried noodles - they were beautiful and delicious. Hot and sour soup was also awesome! read more

The reviews are correct. The food was excellent and made without so much oil like most other places. The menu had some unusual dishes that reminded my wife and I of our visit to China. The service was very friendly and prompt; I could tell that they were proud of their restaurant. We will definitely return often! read more

Our first time there and yummy good! We will definitely be back. Vegetarian recommendation was awesome.

This place is phenomenal. They take their tea very seriously, and for good reason, the flavors in the rose tea are very delicate and layered, quite a pleasure to sip on. The steamed dumplings are also some of the best...ever. The flavors are just...whoa. The place is small, so I wouldn't advise showing up announced with big groups or crazy requests, but if you're looking for a laid back place to enjoy an afternoon with some excellent flavors and a good book, Yens is perfect. read more

Some of the best Chinese food I've had anywhere. The 3 cup chicken with basil and ginger was the stuff of dreams. The fish and black beans was fresh and the beans were perfectly fermented. I've eaten a lot of Chinese food in a lot of places and this place is in the Hall of Fame. If I lived here I'd be here every week. read more

I love the sweet and sout soup a lot. Juices were awesome, too. Other dishes were quite enjoyable. We'll be back!

This is a good, consistent, courteous business and you can feel confident in what you order. It's great for us locals, they offer 10% discount on takeout. If you're in or around Ashburn, make this your go-to place for those cravings. read more

Yen's was even better on our second visit! We had the Vegetable Soup for two, it tasted freshfully made. We had the Sesame Beef, which hubby loved, a bit too sweet for me and the Spicey Green Beans which were done to perfection. They will make any dish as spicy and hot as you like it or with no spicy hot :) Once again having the "tea for two" complimneted the meal quite nicely! Going back for hubby's birthday next week, can't wait :) read more

All these other reviews are right, this place is a gem. The servings are good portions and they taste much much better then most anywhere else. The staff is friendly and the place looks pretty clean. They have a very big menu and once you get seated it doesn't take to long to be served. I would highly recommend calling ahead to reserve a table. read more

Very friendly staff that makes you feel like family. Everyone was pleased with their food. My only ding is their spicy dishes are not really spicy. We will try again and ask them to kick it up a bit. read more

Truly an outstanding little place! When I say "little," I mean it. There are maybe eight tables, so I assume the majority of their business is carry-out. My family and I have been there quite a few times and have found the food to be freshly prepared, full of flavor, and of high quality. I keep going back for the Kung Pao Tofu, and no, I'm not a vegetarian. It's just delicious! They have a fresh juice bar that's simply amazing. If you go to the gym next door, I can't think of a better way to recharge after a workout. The staff is very friendly and are happy to provide suggestions or recommendations. We live 45 minutes away but frequently make the trip just for the freshness and quality. read more

Very good food. Finally I found a place to replace Hong Kong with. It looks like they actually use chicken breast for their General Tso chicken, first place I see that. The dumplings r delicious only down thing is the dipping sauce that comes with it, too salty. read more

Came one day because i wanted chinese food and it was the closest to my house. They have real chinese food that doesn't taste like a bunch of salt. I would definitely recommend their chicken fried rice! read more

Love this place and go there all the time. I have to agree with another post though that the food is not very authentic (I lived in Taiwan for a bit), However, the quality of food is outstanding! My faves: Taiwanese fried chicken and steamed dumplings. Both are not on the menu, so ask for it. read more

Everything I have had here has been top notch Chinese take out. They are always very friendly and efficient. I plan my commute to take me past them as I live 40 minutes away. I have made a special trip a couple of times when craving Chinese. Well worth it! read more

Just ordered delivery from these guys for the 5th time. As always it was great. Most Chinese places taste the same. However Yen's tastes much, much better, more authentic, fresh, etc. This is now our default Chinese take-out/delivery place. This place is awesome. read more

Great food! Fresh with standard portions. Beware of delivery messages. Depending on who you get on the phone, your min delivery could be 25-50$. Best to just go in for pick up. read more

The food has been consistently delicious and my wife and I haven't been disappointed with anything we've eaten there. Only con I can think of is that the place is rather small and reservations should be made regularly. read more

Great fruit smoothies and Taiwanese dishes but they are def on the pricey side.

I'll give you this the Delivery Guy was so nice, so friendly! The online ordering is wonderful! We ordered for delivery Hot 'n' Sour Soup, Won Ton Soup, Mongolian Beef, Hunan Chicken and Pan Fried Noodles with Vegetables. Generally, the food was swimming in sauce, the vegetables were quite overcooked. Overall, the food was fairly bland. The soups' ingredients were cooked to almost a baby food consistency. There's not enough to give it a second chance despite their interesting menu items. It was too bad to be just a once in awhile bad night in the kitchen. Nope! Goodbye $$ :'( read more

I've been coming to this place for 7 years and have never had a phenomenal meal. Family atmosphere in an intimate setting.

Get the taiwanese style fried chicken! Minced pork buns and taiwanese noodles and sweet and sour soup!!