Northern Cafe

We stumbled upon this spot while craving dumplings, and it did not disappoint! Ordering was super convenient--we just scanned a QR code, which made the process quick and seamless.We got the mala noodles, beef noodle soup, and pork dumplings, and everything was absolutely delicious. The beef noodle soup had a wonderfully clear, flavorful broth, and the noodles had the perfect chewy texture--so satisfying! My husband loved the mala noodles, and after taking a sip, I can confirm they pack a serious kick. If you enjoy spice, this dish is a must-try.The pork dumplings were a standout. The broth inside was rich and flavorful, so much so that I didn't even need any sauce--they were perfect on their own!On top of the great food, service was impressively fast. Everything came out quickly and fresh, which made the experience even better.Overall, an amazing meal, and we'll definitely be back. Highly recommend if you're looking for authentic and delicious flavors with quick and easy ordering!

I will say that I got the food to go and the picture is from the day after. I'm sure it would taste much better than five star if it was eaten right away. That's the overall flavor was good. I will say that the chicken and the noodles and the chicken that was given in the orange chicken seemed about the same just the other with the more breading and it was a little bit more of a tendon type taste rather than a more thick cut chicken that I would prefer. You have to get the spicy wontons and that said there flavors and variety of dishes are worth exploring . I also got the Chinese hamburger with pork and that was actually very oily. That was a major surprise.

A Must-Try! I was super impressed! Their skewers (lamb & pork belly) were grilled to perfection--crispy outside, juicy inside with just the right amount of spice. The cold appetizer platter was flavorful. The dumplings were bursting with juice. Can get busy during peak hours, so plan ahead.Definitely a go-to spot for Chinese BBQ and bold flavors in Irvine!

Death Stares from Old Chinese Couples at a Chinese restaurant when they are hangry cuts so deep but it's just reconfirms your taste in delicious Chinese food in Orange County is spot on and happy we dined at Northern Cafe in Irvine, CA. Add this OC Chinese Spot to your listNorthern Cafe: Chinese Kitchen 4175 Campus Dr, Irvine, CA 92617 3831 Alton Pkwy, Irvine, CA 92606What did we feast on? - Juicy Pork XLB- Pork Crispy Potstickers - Sautéed Green Beans- Popcorn Chicken- Salt & Pepper Pork Ribs- Orange Chicken- Sweet & Sour Pork Ribs- Bowls of RiceCome check out this spot for a delicious time in Irvine and I love how it's high tech and you simply order from a QR code.

Ok the pictures are a compilation of several visits. I did not eat all that in one sitting lol. Not pictured are soup dumplings which I'm always too excited to eat and forget to take pictures of. Food here is always yummy, consistent, and the prices are reasonable. Or can get quite busy so be prepared to wait. Service is fast. They have an area by the register with appetizer dishes you can order which I haven't tried but I've had everything else on the menu and have nothing bad to say. Definitely keeping this in my regular lunch rotation.

This place should be on everyone's radar. So far everything I've tried here was good!! The Garlic Bom Choy is the standout dish for me!!! I could have that plate all to myself

The wontons were big and juicy - the chili sauce was definitely on the sweeter side. We added vinegar to the wontons and that made it better. I loved the Chongqing Spicy Chicken! Super crispy, aromatic, and has a slight numbing spice. Dan Dan Noodles were good. Sauce was peanutty. The restaurant was busy at lunch and the servers are very nice! Bright and spacious place for lunch. Overall food was good but nothing I'd come back for.

Northern Cafe is in the HMart shopping center so there's plenty of parking. We came in on a Friday and was seated right away. The restaurant is clean and there's restrooms in the back. Ordering is self service by scanning the QR code and placing your order. Everything but the popcorn chicken came out in good timing. I asked to cancel the popcorn chicken because we were already done eating but it came out anyway. The rice, dumplings and the ribs were good. I wouldn't recommend the steamed buns. I would come back again and check out their other menu items.

We got a tip to come check this place out, so we did. I must say, I don't usually give Chinese restaurants this high a rating because either the food was really good, but the service was rude and unfriendly, or the food was good, but the place was a dump, etc. Gosh, this place got full marks for pretty much everythinig I'd always look out for......decor/cleanliness, quality of the food, friendliness/helfulness of the staff.....and you know what? This place had it all!To start off, we headed to the "salad bar" and selected a few of our favorite cold dish items.....pickled cucumber, lotus root, and tofu skin.....absolutely delicious, so refreshing, and a great way to start off our lunch.So, this place is one of those where you scan the QR code on the table where you'll be directed to their app, and this is where you place your order for whatever you want. Ok, This was our first time here, so we did miss an item or two using the app, but the server was nice enough to let us just tell her what we wanted, and she'd enter it manually......so nice, friendly, and so willing to help out....nice!Ok, I will admit that everything on the menu looked so yummy, and we so wanted to try as much as we could to get a better idea of the quality and taste of the food here. So, we went ahead and ordered the Scallion Pancake, Pan-fried Chicken Dumplings, Juicy Pork Dumplings...steamed, Chicken Wontons in a Spicy Sauce, Sauteed Green Beans, and half a Smoked Chicken. Everything came out pretty fast too....no long waits.I think one word pretty much sums up the quality, taste, and presentation of the food here....WOW! I mostly liked that the dumpling skins were neither too thick nor too thin...just right....the meat fillings were generous.....and they came out hot, fresh, and juicy.....and not too salty. Oh, and I loved the golden pan fried crisp at the bottom of the chicken dumplings...great combination of textures and flavors. Anyway, to sum up everything we'd ordered.....ingredients were all very fresh, dishes were skillfully prepared to perfection, and everything tasted absolutely delicious!.....perhaps the best dumplings I have ever eaten around these parts.This place is seriously good....and has now become one of my absolute favorite Chinese restaurants ever......nice and pleasant interior, excellent food, great and friendly service.....you really can't ask for anything more.

Great, quick Chinese food spot! Portions are huge, and servers bring it to you right away after ordering. When it came out we were so worried we ordered too much, but it was so good that we completely killed it. (Note: the beef roll is BIG)Best parts were the pork skewers HONESTLY, sauteed green beans. We couldn't stop talking about the green beans and how surprisingly amazing they were. They were super garlic and covered with all kinds of spices. Never had anything like that.The ambiance is super sit-down restaurant, where we were seated right away. Its pretty no frills, and a great apot to just eat some good Chinese food for a great price!