The most authentic Chinese food around. I go to there every week. Though the service and the employees’ attitude is not that good sometimes.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Twice-Cooked Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, Hot Fish, Chengdu Spicy Chicken
Laura A.
Really best for dine-in. Food is good. Northern china cuisine. As a non-Chinese, I appreciate that the menu has color photographs of most every item. Favorites are the spicy fish, twice cooked pork, glass noodles w pork, and sweet and sour pork (mostly just sweet). Okay were house noodles, noodles w fermented cabbage, braised knuckles. Least favorite was the dumpling soup -- mainly because I'm not a fan of cilantro. Place is small, but cute and clean. Service is prompt and friendly.
Tim W.
Cate Zone is your ultimate destination for genuine Chinese cuisine. Here, you won't encounter the usual traditional Chinese dishes; instead, you'll discover an array of delectable options. I recently indulged in their flavorful pork meatball special, which was simply delightful. Equally impressive was my friend's crispy fish platter--a definite winner. Don't miss out on the opportunity to savor authentic Chinese flavors at Cate Zone; you won't regret it!
Eric M.
The food is good though often extremely spicy. The service is good. The dining area is in a former fast food place.
Sambhawana
Not a lot of chicken only options but great taste!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chengdu Spicy Chicken
Ben Zaman
Excellent food and atmosphere! We ordered Cilantro Lamb and Hot Crisp Fish. Both of them were delicious and it gave a such a great new taste. Really a gem of a place. I shall definitely come back for more. I felt they rushed us at the end with the bills when they noticed we were not eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Lucy Y.
Delicious food! The fried spicy fish is a must try!! Loved the stir fry (large portion that reheats well). Bok choy was tasty too. I believe it had a garlic sauce to it. We got there early on a weekday so had no issue parking or being sat in a timely manner. The restaurant is pretty small and did fill up quickly so that's something to keep in mind. The staff was attentive and everything came out quickly. Overall great experience and will be back!
CHRISTINE CONCEPCION
Small place, but food is great. This is my favorite Chinese food place to eat!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sweet and Sour Pork, Salt & Pepper Calamari, Fried Rice
Trony N
The place is too small. Service is always slow. Tried to order to go but got denied.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
LaTonya Bowens
Great food, good service, and friendly staff. Truly enjoyed everything.
The ratings are true -- Cate Zone has been the best Asian food I've had in the city so far. It's a small cafe-esque restaurant on Olive that can be easy to miss if you're just driving by. There's a decent amount of parking out front. There's a medium amount of seating, and service is very efficient. Food came out quickly, and my partner noticed that orders were perhaps brought out based on age instead of first-come-first-serve (we arrived/ordered ~10 minutes before some elders and they got their meal about 5 minutes before we did). I'm not even mad; it feels like a respectable tradition to me, if that was truly the case. Food is intended to be shared family style. You order entrees and such, and they bring out a large communal bowl of rice. We ordered the Hot crispy fish and Cumin lamb. Serving sizes of the protein dishes were very generous (we're anticipating leftovers for 3+ meals). The fish was perfectly crispy and seasoned, although reheating it has affirmed that it's more tempura than fish (would still order again). The cumin lamb felt surprisingly pretty lean and not very greasy/fatty. I love a good la spice but am sensitive about the ma; the ma-la spice combo was so mild and steady that I genuinely enjoyed the dish. They seemed to cut a lot of their skewer dishes toward the end of the menu, but it's still a pretty lengthy menu that's got all the Szechuan classics. Prices are so, so fair considering how much food there was. Cate Zone did not disappoint; I'll definitely be back!
Mary Lavetta
Hidden gem! Extremely busy, inside and out. There were lots of call-in orders waiting to be picked up. I finally got a chance to try the Hot Crispy Fish after hearing so much about it. Now, if you don't like spicy, then this dish may not be for you. Fish crispy, yet tender inside. It's definitely an explosion on the tastebuds!??? Delicious! Satisfying.
Malinda Spencer
I had the beef brisket soup. It had bok choi and noodles. Very good broth. A little messy to eat! A truly Asian enclave with a few English speakers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Noodle Soup
Candace B.
That gentleman there, whose elbow you can see in the picture on this review here... that's my husband's friend, F. This is the friend who knows all the best restaurants. When we all traveled together to Vegas for an esports convention, he had already made reservations for between events at one of the best buffets. One thing you need to know about F is that HE DOESNOTMISS!!! F is my husband's gaming friend, but he's my foodie friend. This restaurant was one of F's picks. If you know F, you know that I could end the review here. But because this restaurant was SUCH an experience, I will provide more detail. The restaurant itself is small, unassuming, warm and cozy. I should have known then that the food was going to be "bussin'", as the young people say. We walk in and immediately sit with our friend. I took a while to pick because there was just so many colorfully presented, amazing sounding options to admire and consider. Looking through the menu in the cozy restaurant filled with fragrant smells passing left and right was pleasant in and of itself. We settled on a few plates, and I quickly received my food. Three words you will never hear uttered in this restaurant, nor mentioned in any other reviews are "small" , "common" or "bland". Every dish we got were all very generous portions, uniquely and skillfully prepared, and vibrantly flavored. I cannot express the experience that this food was. From juiciness to texture to heat and flavor balance, not one dish missed the mark. Actually it was so good that I could picture the chef scoffing at my mark and flicking it dismissively into the atmosphere. Literally, the only thing that kept me grounded was the amount of focus I had to out in to be able to use the chopsticks, because I was eating too eagerly to want to slow down and ask for a fork (also because chopsticks look cool, let's be real). I kid you not, as I ate, I studied (and admittedly, tried to mimic) the many different techniques with which I saw other diners use their chopsticks. I was being that weirdo. Now, a word of warning. Many of the dishes have spice, but oh boy was it spicy in the right, warm and flavorful way! Still, if you're spice-averse, do yourself a favor and pay attention to the little pepper icons in the menu so you don't hurt yourself. I swear, there was this cute couple sitting next to us who didn't heed this warning, I guarantee it. The man was explaining what sounded like biblical history in the most engaging, relaxing, tenured professor type of way, but every sentence or so, he interrupted himself to let out a suppressed cough or attempted to smoothly clear his throat, clearly trying to not draw concern. After some time, he was able to rid his lungs of whatever piece of chili pepper was lodged in his esophagus, incinerating the poor soul's throat. Yeah, try to avoid fighting that battle unnecessarily. For a good five minutes, I tried to remember how to do the heimlich maneuver just in case (spoiler: I've never know how to do the heimlich maneuver). Told you, I'm a little weird. Just know that when you eat here, you'll find yourself saying "thank you, F!" too! Whew, if it weren't for my stubbornness with the chopsticks, I would probably have eaten myself unconscious. And we just can't have that, because if I did that, who would do the heimlich on the professor on his next unfortunate encounter with another chili pepper? Gotta stay ready!
Kevin Nahm
Been here a few times and everything has been amazing. It feels like you're eating at a cafe IN China. Very authentic. Favorite dish so far is the Cumin Lamb. OMFG.
The most authentic Chinese food around. I go to there every week. Though the service and the employees’ attitude is not that good sometimes.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Twice-Cooked Pork, Sweet and Sour Pork, Hot Fish, Chengdu Spicy Chicken
Really best for dine-in. Food is good. Northern china cuisine. As a non-Chinese, I appreciate that the menu has color photographs of most every item. Favorites are the spicy fish, twice cooked pork, glass noodles w pork, and sweet and sour pork (mostly just sweet). Okay were house noodles, noodles w fermented cabbage, braised knuckles. Least favorite was the dumpling soup -- mainly because I'm not a fan of cilantro. Place is small, but cute and clean. Service is prompt and friendly.
Cate Zone is your ultimate destination for genuine Chinese cuisine. Here, you won't encounter the usual traditional Chinese dishes; instead, you'll discover an array of delectable options. I recently indulged in their flavorful pork meatball special, which was simply delightful. Equally impressive was my friend's crispy fish platter--a definite winner. Don't miss out on the opportunity to savor authentic Chinese flavors at Cate Zone; you won't regret it!
The food is good though often extremely spicy. The service is good. The dining area is in a former fast food place.
Not a lot of chicken only options but great taste!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chengdu Spicy Chicken
Excellent food and atmosphere! We ordered Cilantro Lamb and Hot Crisp Fish. Both of them were delicious and it gave a such a great new taste. Really a gem of a place. I shall definitely come back for more. I felt they rushed us at the end with the bills when they noticed we were not eating.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Delicious food! The fried spicy fish is a must try!! Loved the stir fry (large portion that reheats well). Bok choy was tasty too. I believe it had a garlic sauce to it. We got there early on a weekday so had no issue parking or being sat in a timely manner. The restaurant is pretty small and did fill up quickly so that's something to keep in mind. The staff was attentive and everything came out quickly. Overall great experience and will be back!
Small place, but food is great. This is my favorite Chinese food place to eat!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sweet and Sour Pork, Salt & Pepper Calamari, Fried Rice
The place is too small. Service is always slow. Tried to order to go but got denied.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 3
Service: 1
Great food, good service, and friendly staff. Truly enjoyed everything.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
The ratings are true -- Cate Zone has been the best Asian food I've had in the city so far. It's a small cafe-esque restaurant on Olive that can be easy to miss if you're just driving by. There's a decent amount of parking out front. There's a medium amount of seating, and service is very efficient. Food came out quickly, and my partner noticed that orders were perhaps brought out based on age instead of first-come-first-serve (we arrived/ordered ~10 minutes before some elders and they got their meal about 5 minutes before we did). I'm not even mad; it feels like a respectable tradition to me, if that was truly the case. Food is intended to be shared family style. You order entrees and such, and they bring out a large communal bowl of rice. We ordered the Hot crispy fish and Cumin lamb. Serving sizes of the protein dishes were very generous (we're anticipating leftovers for 3+ meals). The fish was perfectly crispy and seasoned, although reheating it has affirmed that it's more tempura than fish (would still order again). The cumin lamb felt surprisingly pretty lean and not very greasy/fatty. I love a good la spice but am sensitive about the ma; the ma-la spice combo was so mild and steady that I genuinely enjoyed the dish. They seemed to cut a lot of their skewer dishes toward the end of the menu, but it's still a pretty lengthy menu that's got all the Szechuan classics. Prices are so, so fair considering how much food there was. Cate Zone did not disappoint; I'll definitely be back!
Hidden gem! Extremely busy, inside and out. There were lots of call-in orders waiting to be picked up. I finally got a chance to try the Hot Crispy Fish after hearing so much about it. Now, if you don't like spicy, then this dish may not be for you. Fish crispy, yet tender inside. It's definitely an explosion on the tastebuds!??? Delicious! Satisfying.
I had the beef brisket soup. It had bok choi and noodles. Very good broth. A little messy to eat! A truly Asian enclave with a few English speakers.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Beef Noodle Soup
That gentleman there, whose elbow you can see in the picture on this review here... that's my husband's friend, F. This is the friend who knows all the best restaurants. When we all traveled together to Vegas for an esports convention, he had already made reservations for between events at one of the best buffets. One thing you need to know about F is that HE DOESNOTMISS!!! F is my husband's gaming friend, but he's my foodie friend. This restaurant was one of F's picks. If you know F, you know that I could end the review here. But because this restaurant was SUCH an experience, I will provide more detail. The restaurant itself is small, unassuming, warm and cozy. I should have known then that the food was going to be "bussin'", as the young people say. We walk in and immediately sit with our friend. I took a while to pick because there was just so many colorfully presented, amazing sounding options to admire and consider. Looking through the menu in the cozy restaurant filled with fragrant smells passing left and right was pleasant in and of itself. We settled on a few plates, and I quickly received my food. Three words you will never hear uttered in this restaurant, nor mentioned in any other reviews are "small" , "common" or "bland". Every dish we got were all very generous portions, uniquely and skillfully prepared, and vibrantly flavored. I cannot express the experience that this food was. From juiciness to texture to heat and flavor balance, not one dish missed the mark. Actually it was so good that I could picture the chef scoffing at my mark and flicking it dismissively into the atmosphere. Literally, the only thing that kept me grounded was the amount of focus I had to out in to be able to use the chopsticks, because I was eating too eagerly to want to slow down and ask for a fork (also because chopsticks look cool, let's be real). I kid you not, as I ate, I studied (and admittedly, tried to mimic) the many different techniques with which I saw other diners use their chopsticks. I was being that weirdo. Now, a word of warning. Many of the dishes have spice, but oh boy was it spicy in the right, warm and flavorful way! Still, if you're spice-averse, do yourself a favor and pay attention to the little pepper icons in the menu so you don't hurt yourself. I swear, there was this cute couple sitting next to us who didn't heed this warning, I guarantee it. The man was explaining what sounded like biblical history in the most engaging, relaxing, tenured professor type of way, but every sentence or so, he interrupted himself to let out a suppressed cough or attempted to smoothly clear his throat, clearly trying to not draw concern. After some time, he was able to rid his lungs of whatever piece of chili pepper was lodged in his esophagus, incinerating the poor soul's throat. Yeah, try to avoid fighting that battle unnecessarily. For a good five minutes, I tried to remember how to do the heimlich maneuver just in case (spoiler: I've never know how to do the heimlich maneuver). Told you, I'm a little weird. Just know that when you eat here, you'll find yourself saying "thank you, F!" too! Whew, if it weren't for my stubbornness with the chopsticks, I would probably have eaten myself unconscious. And we just can't have that, because if I did that, who would do the heimlich on the professor on his next unfortunate encounter with another chili pepper? Gotta stay ready!
Been here a few times and everything has been amazing. It feels like you're eating at a cafe IN China. Very authentic. Favorite dish so far is the Cumin Lamb. OMFG.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5