Loved the Golden Soup Beef Noodle here ！the soup was flavorful and the noodles were perfectly chewy. The Juicy Lamb Dumplings were a highlight too, really juicy and packed with flavor.
The sautéed bok choy with garlic was simple but super fresh and slightly sweet. Great balance with the richer dishes. Definitely a solid spot for noodles and dumplings in Irvine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ZHENHAO PAN
Absolutely amazing experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish we ordered exceeded expectations, and you can really tell they care about quality and detail.
The service was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome from the moment we walked in. The atmosphere was clean, cozy, and perfect for both family dinners and date nights.
Highly recommend this place — I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Michael
How do these obvious rice dishes not include rice? Absurd.
Jack Styskal
I love this place. My wife and I stumbled upon the UCI one and fell in love with their food. It is really tasty and has an amazing spicy soup (Golden Beef Soup). It is very well priced as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Skewers, Golden Soup Beef Pot
AS
This was my first time going to this Northern Cafe location. Although I am relatively familiar with the concept of the establishment, I feel like this location is better than the other ones I've been to. While the general service is pretty mild, especially regarding general communication on the menu, the food easily makes up for it. I can easily recommend this place to anyone looking for northern Chinese food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Aiden Talis
Ate the beef rolls… it was fine until I started getting an allergic reaction to peanuts (in which the rolls said they didn’t contain peanuts and clearly there were some in there.) I was throwing up the rest of the night, thank god I wasn’t deathly allergic. If you have allergies I would 100% recommend avoiding this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
John Addington
Alright guys this places food is FIRE!!! I got the Chingqing Crispy Chicken ( asked for extra spicy and it was and it was great!!) and the Yangzhou fried rice. I can only tell you this combo was fantastic. You gotta give them a try. A little expensive, $33 for both but tasty, enough for 2 meals so not to bad for 2 meals. If you haven't been, you gotta give them a try. My wife us Chinese so I eat a lot of Chinese food (home cooked) and this was really tasty. Happy eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Shuang Li
Great spot for family dinners or group gatherings. The menu offers homestyle Chinese dishes, hot pot, and BBQ, so there’s something for everyone.
The Golden Soup Beef Hot Pot was fragrant and slightly sour, very appetizing, with generous beef and a good mix of vegetables. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs were well balanced and not greasy, perfect with rice. We also enjoyed the Beef Wrap, which had a thin, crispy flatbread and savory filling.
BBQ skewers, especially the lamb, were flavorful with good cumin and chili seasoning. Overall, a solid, reliable Chinese restaurant that works well for sharing dishes with friends and family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Lynn K
The environment here is beautiful, clean, and comfortable, the service is friendly, the prices are affordable, the food is served quickly, and it tastes delicious. I highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rafael Gonzalez
Everything I have tried was amazing. Definitely give this place a chance
This has become my go-to canteen-style Chinese restaurant in Irvine — I literally know the menu by heart at this point! My coworkers and I often come here for dinner after work, and everything always hits the spot.
⭐ Grilled Skewers: Don’t underestimate their BBQ! It’s hard to find good skewers in Irvine, but these are legit — juicy, smoky, sizzling when they arrive. Must-tries: lamb skewers, chicken cartilage, and wings. I also love their nostalgic Chinese-style sausage (淀粉肠) — so good!
⭐ Stir-Fried Dishes: I’ve pretty much tried them all and none disappoint. Every dish has real wok hei (that smoky “breath of the wok”). Favorites: scallion beef, fish-flavored eggplant, and sweet & sour ribs (tastes like Hong Kong-style “sweet-sour pork”). Perfect with a bowl of rice.
⭐ Mini Hot Pot: No explanation needed — go for the spicy beef or golden soup beef pot. Big portions, packed with flavor, and super satisfying.
⭐ Chicken Soup Noodles: I order this every single time. The broth is rich and flavorful, with tender poached chicken and plenty of veggies. Comforting and delicious!
⭐ Dessert Discovery: Tried their Mango Sago Lava Bun for the first time — so good! Warm, creamy mango-coconut filling with chewy coconut bits. Not too sweet, just perfect (but be careful, it’s hot inside!).
The menu is huge — from northern to southern Chinese dishes — and everything we’ve tried has been great. The cold appetizers are also worth exploring. We came with five people, ordered a full table, and still had leftovers. Around $25 per person — definitely qualifies as an “Irvine Canteen” spot in my book!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Robert Trinidad
I had one of the worst dining experiences. Upon entering, I was told to sit anywhere, which initially felt welcoming. However, after receiving my menu, it seemed like the staff forgot I existed. They appeared miserable and uninterested in providing any assistance.
After waiting about ten minutes, I finally decided what to order. Unfortunately, I found myself getting up repeatedly to get basic items like a straw and napkins, as no one was there to help. Each time I needed something, I had to confront the inconvenience of getting up and asking.
The only time I received attention from the staff was when the bill was served, and they stood there expecting a tip for this lackluster service. Overall, I left feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. I won't be returning anytime soon.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Olivia
I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The service was great and super fast, making the visit really enjoyable. The portions were incredibly generous, and I was thrilled to see so many vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. The paper menu was much clearer and easier to read than the online menu, which was a nice touch. Plus, the prices were very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Heesang “Scott” Ryu
The fatty beef was way too salty. and you will throw them away as I did after a single bite (I love salty food tho). Rice? I don't know when they made it but it's all stoned.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Sean R
Ordered beef hotpot that had many other ingredients not listed in the menu. Server did not understand I was looking for a beef broth based soup
Loved the Golden Soup Beef Noodle here ！the soup was flavorful and the noodles were perfectly chewy. The Juicy Lamb Dumplings were a highlight too, really juicy and packed with flavor.
The sautéed bok choy with garlic was simple but super fresh and slightly sweet. Great balance with the richer dishes. Definitely a solid spot for noodles and dumplings in Irvine.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Absolutely amazing experience! The food was fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. Every dish we ordered exceeded expectations, and you can really tell they care about quality and detail.
The service was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome from the moment we walked in. The atmosphere was clean, cozy, and perfect for both family dinners and date nights.
Highly recommend this place — I’ll definitely be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
How do these obvious rice dishes not include rice? Absurd.
I love this place. My wife and I stumbled upon the UCI one and fell in love with their food. It is really tasty and has an amazing spicy soup (Golden Beef Soup). It is very well priced as well.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Skewers, Golden Soup Beef Pot
This was my first time going to this Northern Cafe location. Although I am relatively familiar with the concept of the establishment, I feel like this location is better than the other ones I've been to. While the general service is pretty mild, especially regarding general communication on the menu, the food easily makes up for it. I can easily recommend this place to anyone looking for northern Chinese food.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ate the beef rolls… it was fine until I started getting an allergic reaction to peanuts (in which the rolls said they didn’t contain peanuts and clearly there were some in there.) I was throwing up the rest of the night, thank god I wasn’t deathly allergic. If you have allergies I would 100% recommend avoiding this place.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Alright guys this places food is FIRE!!! I got the Chingqing Crispy Chicken ( asked for extra spicy and it was and it was great!!) and the Yangzhou fried rice. I can only tell you this combo was fantastic. You gotta give them a try. A little expensive, $33 for both but tasty, enough for 2 meals so not to bad for 2 meals. If you haven't been, you gotta give them a try. My wife us Chinese so I eat a lot of Chinese food (home cooked) and this was really tasty. Happy eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great spot for family dinners or group gatherings. The menu offers homestyle Chinese dishes, hot pot, and BBQ, so there’s something for everyone.
The Golden Soup Beef Hot Pot was fragrant and slightly sour, very appetizing, with generous beef and a good mix of vegetables. Sweet and Sour Pork Ribs were well balanced and not greasy, perfect with rice. We also enjoyed the Beef Wrap, which had a thin, crispy flatbread and savory filling.
BBQ skewers, especially the lamb, were flavorful with good cumin and chili seasoning. Overall, a solid, reliable Chinese restaurant that works well for sharing dishes with friends and family.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The environment here is beautiful, clean, and comfortable, the service is friendly, the prices are affordable, the food is served quickly, and it tastes delicious. I highly
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything I have tried was amazing. Definitely give this place a chance
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
This has become my go-to canteen-style Chinese restaurant in Irvine — I literally know the menu by heart at this point! My coworkers and I often come here for dinner after work, and everything always hits the spot.
⭐ Grilled Skewers: Don’t underestimate their BBQ! It’s hard to find good skewers in Irvine, but these are legit — juicy, smoky, sizzling when they arrive. Must-tries: lamb skewers, chicken cartilage, and wings. I also love their nostalgic Chinese-style sausage (淀粉肠) — so good!
⭐ Stir-Fried Dishes: I’ve pretty much tried them all and none disappoint. Every dish has real wok hei (that smoky “breath of the wok”). Favorites: scallion beef, fish-flavored eggplant, and sweet & sour ribs (tastes like Hong Kong-style “sweet-sour pork”). Perfect with a bowl of rice.
⭐ Mini Hot Pot: No explanation needed — go for the spicy beef or golden soup beef pot. Big portions, packed with flavor, and super satisfying.
⭐ Chicken Soup Noodles: I order this every single time. The broth is rich and flavorful, with tender poached chicken and plenty of veggies. Comforting and delicious!
⭐ Dessert Discovery: Tried their Mango Sago Lava Bun for the first time — so good! Warm, creamy mango-coconut filling with chewy coconut bits. Not too sweet, just perfect (but be careful, it’s hot inside!).
The menu is huge — from northern to southern Chinese dishes — and everything we’ve tried has been great. The cold appetizers are also worth exploring. We came with five people, ordered a full table, and still had leftovers. Around $25 per person — definitely qualifies as an “Irvine Canteen” spot in my book!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I had one of the worst dining experiences.
Upon entering, I was told to sit anywhere, which initially felt welcoming. However, after receiving my menu, it seemed like the staff forgot I existed. They appeared miserable and uninterested in providing any assistance.
After waiting about ten minutes, I finally decided what to order. Unfortunately, I found myself getting up repeatedly to get basic items like a straw and napkins, as no one was there to help. Each time I needed something, I had to confront the inconvenience of getting up and asking.
The only time I received attention from the staff was when the bill was served, and they stood there expecting a tip for this lackluster service. Overall, I left feeling dissatisfied and frustrated. I won't be returning anytime soon.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The service was great and super fast, making the visit really enjoyable. The portions were incredibly generous, and I was thrilled to see so many vegetarian and vegan options on the menu. The paper menu was much clearer and easier to read than the online menu, which was a nice touch. Plus, the prices were very reasonable for the quality and quantity of food. Highly recommend and will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The fatty beef was way too salty. and you will throw them away as I did after a single bite (I love salty food tho). Rice? I don't know when they made it but it's all stoned.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Ordered beef hotpot that had many other ingredients not listed in the menu. Server did not understand I was looking for a beef broth based soup
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
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