I recently had the pleasure of visiting Yu Zhou Cafe Chinese restaurant to celebrate my godson's college graduation, and it turned out to be a truly wonderful experience. The food was absolutely delicious, and I savored every bite--something I don't often get to say because I usually find Chinese food too salty, which can cause me to swell up. The service was outstanding, and the warm ambiance created a perfect setting for our celebration. I wholeheartedly recommend this charming Chinese restaurant for anyone looking for a memorable and delightful dining experience. read more

The place is nearby the strip mall and very convenient. They have spacious parking space. The restaurant itself is huge and can accommodate big to small parties. The service was good and direct, didn't wait that long for how much people they have to cater. The food was savory. I ordered the Eggplant with Basil and added chicken as my protein for ($2 or $3) and comes with rice. Then I had a to go of the General Tsao Chicken which based form my partner was really good and savory. Expect a welcome tea like the real chinese/malaysian style restaurant in Asia. Overall I enjoyed the food and the experience. read more

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Feels like you're stepping back in time into a 90's diner. The place is cozy and serves up homey Chinese comfort food. Everything we had was great and portions are pretty big, definitely have leftovers. The clientele is diverse and fun. The dining room has one side for larger parties with lazy Susan round tables, and the other side has tables and booth for parties of 1-4. The wait staff are great also and service is pretty quick. read more

Tasty traditional Chinese food, just a bit on the saltier side and they made a major downgraded substitution without asking or telling us. This review is for the dinner dishes, takeout. Dishes included: - Sichuan spicy beef and tripe - Minced tofu w shrimp and crab - Chicken with yellow chives - Pig intestine with pork blood - this was the dish they substituted tofu for the pork blood without asking or a heads up. Still tasty, but takes away from one of the major components of the dish. - Chili pepper beef (spicy) All of the dishes were packed with flavor and had a good ratio of protein to veggies. The spice was at a great level for me (someone who likes spice) and still enjoyable for my family members that have a more mild palette. We were just reaching for the water all night to offset the sodium. read more

This place used to be good and the waiter and waitresses are good but the people in front and owners are horrible they don't know how to cook anything you ask them and they've gotten my order wrong at least five times i only suggest going here if your dining in as the waiters actually know what there doing but don't even think about coming here for takeout or order out. And horrible service in their parts as they always get mad for some bs reason read more

They recently changed ownership &seem undecided on a few things, like lunch options. They've gone back and forth between the traditional lunch special ($9-$10) and a 2-item combo from precooked dishes ($11). It's frustrating when you get there expecting one and getting the other. The food leans salty & while they say the chef hasn't changed, the dishes taste a bit different. They used to offer a special Chinese breakfast/dim sum on weekends with a pick-and-choose menu, but I'm not sure if that's still available. Overall, I'm not impressed with the new direction or quality, but given the history and past reputation, I'm giving it 3 stars. read more

The shrimp with chives was the best out of what was ordered since the shrimp was cooked well and chives was tasty. The chicken dish was soft but too salty and might of used fish sauce since it had a bit of stinky flavor that our guest was not used to tasting. The eggplant and pork dish was also too salty and pork did not taste as fresh. The crispy duck dish was unique since it was the first time I had duck cooked like this. However I wished the duck tasted more fresh and it was more chewy than I like. The sticky rice dessert was decent. It was a good portion size with red bean filling inside and sesame seeds. The dried fruit on top was a bit too sweet. read more

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Plenty of parking available. Good service. Meal comes with water and tea. Reasonable price and quality food. read more

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I'll start off by saying the servers are very attentive and professional. They run a tight ship. The food from this location is always hot, always tasty and is perfect for dinner or a quick lunch. The inside is spacious with the full tables but I will say that the booth area is a little cramped. Depending on occupancy. I got the Tea Smoked Duck and honestly it was cooked nicely. Very nice presentation too. This is my go to Chinese food spot for dining in! read more

Yu Zhou Cafe - C26. Tea Smoked Duck - Szechuan Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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First time try this place and kind of disappointed not the service but the food funny thing is not a bad food but it looks like American style Szechuan food and I just walked into the wrong Chinese restaurant compared to other Chinese style restaurant out there I think I would never go back there sorry about the restaurant read more

They seem change management recently. The dishes from the register counter have changed as well. Not many Chinese appetizer dishes available now. My wife can only picked seaweed salad from the selection. The menu is different from last time. Ordered some regular items as shown below. Like the rice pepper beef as it's tender, although beef dice changed to beef slices. I'm fine with that. The tofu dish was very tasty. but the beef tripe appetizer was disappointing it no longer has its unique flavor, but salty taste only. The servers are using iPad for checking now. The price of the two dishes tofu and beef both were $20 of each. read more

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I got recommended this place as a good option for authentic Chinese food and made the trek up to Gaithersburg to try it Spicy beef tendon: very little meat, mostly green onions. Flavor was good, but where's the beef?? Fei teng fish: underwhelming and underseasoned. I was expecting good flavors from this dish, but the chunks of fish were unseasoned and the entire dish needed salt Szechuan string beans: decent, not the best. The beans were clearly not the best quality, as they were very wrinkled after cooking Chili pepper fish w/ okra: looked really good in photos + when it arrived at our table, but again there was a problem with seasoning. Looked better than it tasted Service: poor. Waiters are inattentive + don't speak Chinese, so there's a major disconnect when you're trying to order off of the Chinese menu With all the great Chinese food options in the Rockville + surrounding area, I find it hard to find a reason to go back to Yu Zhou Cafe. read more

There are lots of options for this type of cuisine in the area. Because of that, you normally would get some authentic tasting dishes that are above average. Well this place does not disappoint. Let's go over some main aspects: It is under New management and ownership. No more grumpy guy at the register and his spouse that might be female. The Interior is refreshed. No more sticky tables of the previous owner. Same wait staff, and they look like time has stood still for over 20 years. Amazing! Prices are still inflation level. The main dishes range from $15 to $30+ Main dishes come out one at a time about 8 minutes apart. Some dishes here are smaller portion sizes than comparable and nearby restaurants . For example, I simple chicken stir fry dish was like lunch portion sizes at a Kenny's (ironically located down the street). They seem nice and are probably feeling the affects of inflation too. Trying to stay in business is hard. While there can be some improvement, I hope they make it. I'll be back but will be avoiding some dishes I ordered but we're small for the price. I'll also won't come here regularly if I ever want to retire. Beware of the tip options because they are only 18, 24, and 30% options. read more

We have not eaten at the restaurant but carried out several times. The food is absolutely delicious!

I had a great meal here. The space could use a little updating, but my servers were courteous and attentive. Spring rolls, spicy noodles, and Spicy Shrimp & Okra. The entree was probably one of the best Chinese dishes I have ever had; spicy, fragrant, and flavorful. A great option for real Chinese food in MoCo. read more

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If the food wasn't so good we would have stopped going here years ago. The service at the front where you order your food is so abysmal. Sadly after this outing, it will be our last. The owner is so rude both to her customers and to the staff (who are wonderful). She openly berates you while ordering and is downright nasty. She needs to take some remedial classes in niceness. I usually do not write reviews like this but after the last encounter and to hopefully get the owner to improve her attitude. read more

Yu Zhou Cafe - Fried Red Snapper- Our go to dish. It never disappoints - Szechuan Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

I have not been here since I was a kid. When I was a kid, it was called Fu Shing Cafe. When entering, you get this whiff of bleach and a musky smell. I knew I was entering an older establishment. The doors and windows are filled with tape residue. They have this water fountain in the front - most likely the same one that I loved looking at when I was little. It's an old place. It's a hole in the wall. The place isn't where you would go to impress anyone. But, the food was good. Parking is plenty and it's never super packed. You can guarantee that you'll get your food pretty quickly here. Perfect for a quick take out place. It fits this purpose and I needed it when a place nearby was packed and the wait time was 40 mins. I came here and got food, got home, and the food was still warm. The food here isn't too Americanized so I do see it on the more authentic side and no additional cost for flashiness. read more

Ate dinner hear after a doctor's visit with my mother. A nice quiet place in Gaithersburg. Serves solid family style Chinese Szechuan food. This place can be crowded weekend afternoons and is popular with locals read more

Wow the dishes here were amazing. Be adventurous and try some things that you won't find at Panda Express. The hot pot with beef was amazing with lots of flavor and interesting ingredients. The duck with garlic sauce was moist and savory. Try the spinach too; it was a fresh option with no meat. The service was very good. The waiters were attentive. The dining area is nicely adorned with Chinese decorations and the tables were simple with plastic cups and disposable chopsticks. The restaurant is easy to find with plenty of parking. FYI, the don't take American Express. I really liked the food here and will definitely return. read more

Yu Zhou Cafe - Hot pot with beef. - Szechuan Near Me - Gaithersburg, Maryland

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Amazing food, good prices, customer service is always 10/10, i always get the wonton soup and the seafood noodle soup which is nice and hearty read more

As y'all can see from the pictures below, I've gotten Yu Zhou Cafe's Lamb w/Skin and Tofu many times. The reason why I always go back to this awesome dish is because it's price is reasonable and it's flavor is abundant! While the price has gone up by 20% during the pandemic, I still think $24 for this dish is super worth it! You get a quite good amount of lamb and tofu! My favorite thing to do with the sauce is to cook noodles with it! The sauce is simply too tasty!! p.s. The restaurant is also good for its Chinese 小吃/dimsum on the weekends! read more

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We got the tofu balls with shrimp and crabmeat. It was terrible- tasted sour and most likely spoiled.

Love this place/ wish they have the buffet for lunch instead of having to order from Menu. Before covid they have on the counter and you just pick what you want/ I also wish they have the sjcezhuan beef jerky. They only have it on weekends once a while. Bummer read more

Service is always excellent and the staff is very attentive. The atmosphere is very casual. The dishes ordered were all very good. The fried whole fish was crispy with a sweet and spicy sauce. read more

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No flavor in the shrimp with lobster sauce which has always been a favorite Lo mein noodles were light in color...funny Love the waiters read more

Its kinda sad to see an icon sliding. Been going here for years, but something seemed off for the last 6-9 months or so. Food (especially the chefs special menu dishes) was getting inconsistent in taste, and didnt quite pack the punch they did before. Then the prices went up quite a bit. So I suspected the chef or the owner changed, and it turns out that I was right. New ownership. I used to go here once a week, sometimes more, so I have seen the inconsistency over time now. I really hope they will go back to the quality that made them a local gem, but for now its headed the other way. read more

Excellent dishes: Started with steamed chicken dumplings unique and tasted so home made! I got double cooked Pork Hubby got Crispy Shrimp and Mushrooms. Pork dish was well thought out and very spicy. Hubby said Shrimp was excellent with fresh perfectly cooked vegetables. Vegetarians: I saw a customer eating a stir-fried tofu and vegetables dish that looked so delicious. Oh huge portions We got a nice pot of tea and I saw they put in for a liquor license starting May 1 2025 It wasnt cheap chinese food but so worth it! Good job chef! We will be back! read more

Good food, loved the eggplant dish as well as the pig blood and intestines Fast service read more

The numbing sensation is an experience itself! This is a hot spot that I only heard from other foodies nearby. I visited this place with two of my work colleagues for lunch and it was pretty spacey and clean and not as busy as expected for lunch time. We all shared three entrees and after our meal, we were very pleased and would've definitely regretted if we had not ordered the spicy fei teng fish (spicy flounder fish soup). This was not only spicy but the Sichuan peppers in the soup gives you a numbing sensation (take a sip of cold water to feel the numbness even more). The other two dishes went really well with one another. Especially the shredded pork with yellow leek to help lower the heat from the two spicy dishes. read more

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The restaurant has great authentic flavors! I got takeout, but I could tell the food was plentiful and fresh. Pork with bean curd and leeks - very crispy and good combination of ingredients. I really loved how everything came together. Shrimp fried rice - I know this is typical food and may think it's a standard dish, but I really enjoyed it. I usually don't eat a lot of rice, yet I was digging and stuffing myself. Something about it was very addictive! Sautéed snow pea shoots - my favorite go-to vegetable dish at Chinese restaurants. It was slightly on the salty side, but it didn't bother me too much. Mapo tofu - also one of my favorite dishes to try. Loved it! It wasn't very spicy but still flavorful. The dish is less complex and very simple. Beef hot pot - this dish knocked my star out. None of my parties enjoyed this dish very well. The beef cut was too thick and overwhelming. read more

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Yu Zhou Cafe used to be good before it changed ownership. I ordered three cup chicken, kung pao chicken, seasame beef, rice noodles, scallion pancakes, dumplings, and chicken egg rolls... I am very very disappointed, especially for the price of each dish... food was bland and tasteless... taste like the sauces used for each dish was watered down & chicken was chewy & dry. The rice noodles were very bland. The scallion pancakes taste like dough (again tasteless)... fried dumplings were actually pretty good though. For my next chinese outing - I'll pass on Yu Zhou Cafe. read more

My family has been coming to this restaurant for 10/15 years, so I have eaten here since I was a small child. This restaurant has served as our destination for many many special occasions and we have always thoroughly enjoyed the food. With that being said, there is a distinct decline in the flavors of some of our favorite dishes, which is assumed to be due to the change in ownership/chefs. The dumplings and spicy wontons were always must-orders, but now the meat filling is bland and the spicy sauce has some sweetener or hoisin sauce in it, diluting the previously delicious savory and spicy chilli oil-focused sauce. The dumplings also aren't wrapped well. The chicken and tofu dish was still pretty good and I tried a new dish, the tea-smoked duck, that was decent. The service was excellent, the waiters are the same and the food came out super fast. I give it 3 stars because the food wasn't bad, but a bit disappointing, as our favorite appetizers that we always looked forward to just aren't as good. read more

We happened to come across Yu Zhou after a trip to Sam's. This is clearly a family owned restaurant. On our visit I noticed the owner giving the staff iced teas from a local boba spot. Major kudos, more restaurants could learn from his leadership. Take care of your people and they'll take care of your customers. Staff was awesome and attentive, it's really an all hands on deck operation! Now the food.... Generous portions, American and authentic Chinese options and something for most everyone to enjoy. All in all a fantastic option for when you crave Chinese food! read more

No problems here- we were very happy trying this place out. The staff was amazing- multilingual. Food was fresh and hot. The shrimp was overcooked but other than that everything was great. The dessert was hot and they bought it out after we were done eating meaning the staff was paying attention and didnt rush us to eat dessert or have it sitting in the back getting cold. That is level of true service at a sit down place. read more

The food was really good the decorations where kinda different from each other but other then that all went well

Six of us met there to have lunch per recommendation of a friend's wife who is Chinese. Everyone was very pleased with their lunch. Prices very reasonable, particularly the lunch menu. I ordered their Szechuan Shrimp which has medium size shrimp, mildly spicy sauce and included steamed rice and a spring roll. They also gave us complimentary tea. Most of the others ordered chicken dishes and another a deep fried shrimp entree with zucchini and other vegetables. Restaurant tables and seating are well laid out, comfortable seating and is clean. Lots of parking but it is tricky to locate it the first time. Service was excellent. We all agreed we would return again. read more

Been looking at other options for authentic Sichuan food since the Clarksville KF12 closed. Pepper house is decent, but menu is limited. A friend of a friend mentioned this place and of course I had to seek it out. No dine in yet. I tested the waters with: -Spicy Wonton in Red Sauce ($4.99) these were just okay. -Dan Dan noodle ($4.99) This was okay. Very peanut buttery in nature. Not spicy. Okay portion for the price. -Spicy Crispy Chicken ($12.99) - note this was on their special menu under chef special (see their website) Description - Small crispy chicken cubes with sesame seeds and Szechuan red peppers My take - This is basically their Chongqing chicken. Pretty dang good. -Chicken Chili Pepper Special ($14.99) - note this was on their special menu under chef special (see their website) Szechuan chili peppers, spicy green peppers, Szechuan peppercorns, and okra This was the dish that intrigued me the most. Never had okra in a Sichuan dish before. It was rather tasty, but wasn't very mala. I added my own flavoring to take it up a notch. Very generous portion size. -Spicy Tofu (no this isnt mapo tofu) ($12.99) This dish was the highlight of my meal. Super duper good. Closest to good mala and flavor that I had here. I'd come back just for this dish. -String Beans Szechuan with Chicken ($10.99) Good smoked flavor. I'd get it again. -Yu-Shiang Eggplant ($10.99) This was very sweet. The thick sauce tasted exactly like the crispy eggplant that I used to get in Columbia MD at a place called noodles corner. I'd definitely be back for pretty much every entree I got above. I wish they could make it a bit more ma and la. She definitely knew what I asked for. I guess the chef held back. I'd pay extra for it. read more

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My new favorite Chinese food establishment! The flavor is just right--not too salty or bland. Come here if you like a little heat in your food because they have GREAT spicy options. What I order...every time : Spicy tendon and tripe (fu qi fei pian) Spicy stew with pork intestine and congealed pork blood (Wu geng Chang Wang) Chili pepper special - beef Worth a try: Beef tendon dry hot pot Spicy fish filet in Sichuan sauce (fei Teng Yu) read more

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We came here for Christmas dinner. The food was great the service was average. We order a few dishes, they mainly serve Ching Qing cuisine. The spicy chicken was crispy and beef tendon was tender and not too much numbing . The pan fry crispy noodle was also good. Overall I would come back hopefully the service is better next time. read more

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The food at this restaurant is amazing. My only complaint is that not everything is on their delivery menus. I sometimes need to use a different delivery service to get what I want. For example Fantuan delivery doesn't have Dan Dan noodles on the menu. The delivery menu from another doesn't have the Thai tea and Cheers doesn't have my absolute favorite Sansho Fungus or the tea I also love their garlic spinach. Still the food is worth the hassle. Try it you won't be disappointed, unless you want "Americanized" food. read more