Garden Cafe

Hong Kong style fast food restaurant · Alhambra

Garden Cafe

Hong Kong style fast food restaurant · Alhambra

2

228 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801

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Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null
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Garden Cafe by null
Garden Cafe by null

Highlights

Hong Kong-style comfort fare, pork chops & sandwiches  

Featured in Eater
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228 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801 Get directions

gardencafeca.com

$10–20 · Menu

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228 W Valley Blvd, Alhambra, CA 91801 Get directions

+1 626 289 1833
gardencafeca.com

$10–20 · Menu

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Aug 19, 2025

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@eater

22 Landmark Cantonese Restaurants to Savor in Los Angeles | Eater LA

"Garden Cafe is another Hong Kong-style cafe with a menu as big as the Cheesecake Factory’s. Diners can order everything from Indonesian fried rice to wonton noodles, Singaporean-style vermicelli, and even mediocre steak specials. Garden Cafe’s best kept secret is its weekly to-go set dinners. Both locations offer special dishes each week that are advertised on paper menus that can only be obtained at the restaurant. There is a new dish everyday of the week that may include a Chiu Chow-style or five-spice duck, braised short ribs with red sauce, or a Western-style dinner. It’s important to note that both locations do not serve the same specials and the set dinner is only available for pick-up at 3 p.m." - Kristie Hang

https://la.eater.com/maps/best-cantonese-chinese-dim-sum-seafood-restaurants-los-angeles-san-gabriel
View Postcard for Garden Cafe
@eater

Parking Lot Dining, Sudden Closures Are New Normal for SGV Restaurants - Eater LA

"A worker who goes by Kay at Garden Cafe, a Hong Kong cafe that has been very popular for its outdoor dining." - Kristie Hang

https://la.eater.com/2020/9/21/21449516/san-gabriel-valley-closures-openings-outdoor-dining-coronavirus-pandemic
View Postcard for Garden Cafe

Chris Hu

Google
My favorite daily go to HK cafe style chain here in Greater LA area, three locations, this Alhambra branch has a storage parking for free, nice quality as always to all locations, original HK style iced milk tea is original, juicy crunchy spicy chicken wings. Tomato Spaghetti is very nice as always.

Jen Sandoval

Google
This is a traditional family style Chinese restaurant. We've been coming here for years especially during Lunar New Year celebration. Their food is so tasty. High quality ingredients and made fresh to order. Portions are large and shareable. We always end up taking leftovers home. I particularly love their yellow chicken curry and green shrimp curry. I've had their spaghetti too and it's also amazing. We like going after the lunch rush around 2pm or go in the evening after the dinner rush around 9pm because peak times are definitely busy.

Amy Y

Google
Came for a late dinner and the cafe was pretty empty. The dinner/all-day specials are really good! One of us got a grilled steak and chicken wings for $16, and the whole roasted chicken with tomato basil rice was $11.88. You can't beat the price on this, especially since everything tastes great too. We also got a seafood ramen, the dinner set A, and a hk French toast. Everything just hits the spot.

Sinh Ta

Google
Big varieties on the menu. There is so much selection to choose from. Great food, good service. Just don't understand why they automatically charge 18% tips on the bill. That was the downfall. If you order steak or pork or chicken steak, it's a wait time. Other dishes are quick. They also have a kids menu.

Samuel Sunarjo

Google
We love this place!!!!! I have been here since my childhood and they never disappoint. Such a cozy atmosphere for family dining. Their menu selection is HUGE and there's always something that will fit the taste of everyone in your party. On top of that, the price is so affordable wow! I highly recommend any of the fried rice (pick your favorite one but mine is the Fu-chow fried rice 😋). Veggies, soup, and all the classic Canto/Chinese dishes yum!

Justin Huang

Google
The restaurant was great, I went at 8:30pm in the evening and the atmosphere was great. Customers service was excellent, food came quick and tasted great, the lady at front made sure everyone was doing good. I ordered the N.Y. Steak and it was amazing, perfectly cooked to medium rare and their side of tomato soup was delicious. Price was worth it and highly recommend Garden Cafe. Definitely coming back!!

Louie Liu

Google
Food is good. But I don’t know why services are so slow. It’s not very busy but I waited over 10 minutes for my iced tea after reminding waitress. Then another 10 minutes to wait for CC to be processed.

Ken Wong

Google
11-27-21: Came here for lunch and ordered a bunch of noodles! Beef Chow fun was pretty good. Chinese pan fried chow mein was very tasty. Singapore noodles were also very good. Also ordered a few vegetable dishes that were cooked very well! Overall, the noodles are great. Traditional Cantonese style cooking. Would definitely come back again for more noodles!
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Connie C.

Yelp
Can't be picky when you're trying to find places that open at 8pm on Thanksgiving night, Garden Cafe fed me for sure. Is it giving me the same flavors I crave for in HK style cafes? Not really. My goal that night was to be fed and the food was okay. They had some turkey special but I really don't want to eat any turkey this Thanksgiving. Ending up finding their chef's special with the option of steak or lamb chops, pick your sauce between black pepper or mushroom sauce, comes with shrimp and abalone, and side of rice or spaghetti that tasted like Filipino spaghetti. For under 30 bucks, that dish also came with a cup of soup and creme brulee (unless they sold out). That is a steal, and it wasn't marked up for the holidays, hell yes! Downside of it is that you can tell the whole dish was just cooked separately and plated all together. I had imagined the spaghetti to be under my lamb chops and both smothered in black pepper sauce. I'm good with tomato sauce for spaghetti, but I'm not cool with this ketchup tasting spaghetti that's so soft, you can't even choke on it. The abalone and shrimp were good additions though, I honestly can't believe the price because the abalone were quite sizable. It's definitely a handy spot when you need a late night find or an odd day find.
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Taylor P.

Yelp
I dream about this grilled chicken steak with black pepper sauce. We now make it a point to stop here every time we visit family. I've yet to find this dish anywhere in the bay, so I like savor every last bite! We've typically come around the holiday, so it's usually always somewhat busy, but we've never had to wait a long time to get seated. Though, this time around, our food took forever and we found it hard to wave down a server for drink/water refills. The food was amazing and comforting, just like I remember, though my partner got a side of spaghetti and as I had one bite, I noticed it was a bit dry and lacking in sauce/flavor. Other than that, the restaurant itself seemed pretty poppin' for Thanksgiving day. Suitable for larger groups as the menu is vast. Can't wait to come back and hopefully try their prime rib dinner!
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Jamie C.

Yelp
-comforting Hong Kong style breakfast -great space for groups -friendly waiters that treat you like family when you come regularly -street and private parking lot
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Michael L.

Yelp
Visited the family for Xmas & the only place that came to mind for bfast is Garden Cafe. Ended up coming here 2 mornings in a row with 2 different siblings. So many chinese/western combo options that we don't have in the Bay & few dollars cheaper also free refills on drinks. Garden Inn will always be 1 of my fav spots in the SGV
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Karen K.

Yelp
I've been going to Garden for maybe 2 decades now, but it seems to be improving. I loved the presentation and flavor of the seafoid udon soup my daughter ordered. The broth was very good. It was loaded with seafood like clam, mussels, and shrimp. There was a Japanese ramen style egg and a sheet of seaweed. It came in a fancy wooden box. It was quite elevated compared to what I expected from an Asian cafe. The sea urchin udon was pretty good. Not the best I've had. The bread tasted freezer burnt, like the took it out of the freezer. The lamb, pork chop, chicken steak combo was generous is quantity, and typical for an Asian cafe in terms of quality. We also ordered a wontilon and udon soup with pork chop, with wonton broth (off menu), not featured. It wasn't as good as the seafood udon.
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Kathy M.

Yelp
It's a great place to get your Chinese comfort foods. The price is reasonable and their dishes are also plentiful. The ambiance is casual but the noise level can get very loud. Parking isn't too bad. There is a parking structure in the back but it's shared with other establishments and street parking. Adhere to all the street parking rules. Alhambra has some strange ones and they will give you a ticket. They don't speak English very well and the service isn't fine dining kind of service. They can often be categorized as rude. When I asked for a refill on my iced tea, they just said "hang on". They don't bring all your food at once, but they do bring it out as soon as an order is done so it comes out extremely hot. We sat next to a "supply" station so we grabbed our own containers to put our leftovers in. I couldn't find the correct size bag, but ththe staff did help me get that one. I don't mind coming again.
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Jonathan W.

Yelp
They take last call at 930pm, but are open later. Braised lamb shank w red wine sauce ($15.95)- if you like lamb, this is excellent. The meat was cooked well, meat was tender, was not game, and great flavor since you have the bone. Comes with bowl of rice. The wine sauce has its own Hong Kong flair Grilled Angus choice N.Y steak and deep fried chicken wings ($16.50)- Angus steak, super tender, cuts like butter. It's a thin slice but very large. Large portions, enough for 2 people. Chicken wings has some sugar added to it with that unique Hong Kong cafe flavor
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Linh Y.

Yelp
We came here for lunch with my Mom, my three younger brothers + their families, and my Mom's cousin + his family. It was a nice family gathering. It was supposed to be one of my brother's treat, but my Mom's cousin ended up paying for the bill without us knowing until after it happened. Thank you Cousin Uncle for the treat! Funny, I've been to other Garden Cafe restaurants, but never this one in the past. My first time here. It's located at the lower level of a two floor shopping center. It has good dining space inside. We were lucky to get the slightly enclosed room for a little bit more privacy. I ordered the Seafood Ramen with XO sauce. My Mom got the Dried Scallop Fried Rice. The rest of the family chose other dishes. My ramen was tasty... it had a good amount of seafood, but I thought it lacked some wok flavor. Towards the end of the lunch, I ordered two red bean drinks with ice cream... one for my Mom and one for me... now I would come back here just for the red bean drink... it was so yummy especially with the ice cream! Yum Yum! Staff was very attentive and they made sure we all got our orders in timely. Yes, we were a big party of 21! Service was decent. Prices range from $15 - $20 depending on the dish. For certain dishes, you could get a hot or cold drink for $2.95 extra. I think they are refillable once only though. Will I be back here? I really don't know. Maybe if and when my brothers decide to come here again. I probably wouldn't choose this location since I prefer to go to the Garden Cafe in Arcadia. Happy Dining!
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Katelyn K.

Yelp
It's been a long time since I've stopped by Garden Cafe. The interior is different from my last visit. I stopped by during early dinner for a table of two. Service was great. Not sure how service will be if they are busy though. I ordered: Wonton noodle soup Chinese donut Meatball porridge Lemon iced tea HK milk tea Sole filet baked pasta to go Chili oil condiment was really good though! Prices have gone up. It's an option for late night, but now they close at 9:30pm. I stopped by due to nostalgia. Street parking and parking lot in the back available.
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Nelson H.

Yelp
Haven't been Garden Cafe in Alhambra for a long time... they've been pretty consistently to have a very stable menu and pricing. Breakfast menu has been covering a width selections still... The chicken steak n eggs scrambled I've were pretty stable in quality, pretty tasty and good breakfast!!! Just it's getting a smaller portions... I guess inflation affecting everywhere... Services were right on, and it's still very clean and comfortable in seatings...
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Benjamin T.

Yelp
What better way than to have classic hong kong style meals at anytime you want. 2-3 stars on yelp with 1k+ reviews means the restaurant is authentic and the place to be Garden cafe is the place where ppl of all generations like to have breakfast, lunch, or dinner, or a late night meal. They have a vast menu for anytime of day and if you need your hong Kong style milk tea or coffee plug this is the place. Parking garage is in the back for 2 hr parking otherwise street parking is available (if u can find it) Just beware of your classic rude servers or waiters (thats just the culture lol)
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John T.

Yelp
One of the classic 626 cafes around with many options to choose from. Prime Rib 4/5 Comes with Caesar sals and opted for Chinese herbal style soup. Too bad no baked potatoe. Fried chicken Wings still hit as they're cooked in peanut oil. Overall , a good place to dine without having to worry about the waiting queue.
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Katherine S.

Yelp
Got here right before 8:30am on a Sunday and it's already semi packed! The menu has a lot of unique items and combinations that you don't really see elsewhere. We got two combos: (1) Zha Jiang Mein (HK style) + eggs, pineapple butter bun + sausage and (2) Minced beef, shrimp, and fish porridge + pan fried pork dumplings. Both combos come with hot milk tea or coffee. Everything is super delicious but the porridge and pineapple butter bun really stood out. Don't be fooled by the appearance but the porridge is packed with seafood and beef! For the pineapple butter bun, they actually put the piece of butter on top of ice so it stays cold! Love the huge variety on the menu and how tasty everything was! There is parking at the back!
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Kelvin C.

Yelp
My dad's favorite spot, so I take him whenever I'm in town. My dad's favorite dish is the baked spinach cod, it's hot, creamy, and comforting. I have tried many traditional noodle dishes like chicken chow mein, chow fun, but their American styles baked rice dishes are great too. I enjoy an iced coffee or fruit drink because it's so nostalgic. There is easy parking on the street or a multi-level garage in the back.
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Scarlett K.

Yelp
came on a Wednesday around 10am for brunch and the waitlist had 3 parties ahead of us. after a short wait we were seated by the emergency exit in the big room. after we got our menus, we see 3/4 waitresses running around delivering food but not really paying attentions to anyone else who's trying to get service. I had to waved them down several times to place our order. and someone else who sat down several min after us got her order bf the waitress came to take our orders. then Ive noticed another table, who also sat down after us got served their porridge and was ready to leave before our porridge was served. the udon came first, it was flavorful and good portion. the porridge came piping hot (bubbling) in a clay pot, also very flavorful. however, the minced beef were big clumps in the pot that I had to mesh them to loosen the pieces. the chicken steak and scrambled eggs breakfast meal G was also good flavor, as expected. but it didn't come until we're almost done with the udon and porridge. overall the food was flavorful and reasonably priced, but the service was slow and lacking.
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Jessica W.

Yelp
人生在世, 每個人有每個人的苦楚, 大家也都有大家的難處,與其不斷擔心, 倒不如學會自我安慰, 與其惹人笑話, 真的不如學著自我消化~ 說到物美價廉, 我覺得很多港式餐廳真的都該頒獎盃給他們了,這一餐是在中秋節時, 要送月餅給朋友, 約11點,朋友選的港式餐廳,香港朋友推薦,點早餐最划算, 果然從12.95~ 15.95 , 吃完就可以飽到天靈蓋, 午餐就可以免了, 晚餐再隨便填點肚子, 一天就可以這樣簡單,花少少錢,但也沒有虧待自己的度過了, 本來是我要請客, 結果帥哥突然去付掉了帳單,請了我們三位美女,所以我這餐沒法秀多少錢, 還好我有拍張菜單, 除了我點的香煎雞排加炒蛋跟薯餅那一盤, 其他都是兩樣加起來不到15 元, 我那盤更便宜才12.95,女生是金欸吃不完的啦,打包回去當晚餐都還綽綽有餘的, 東西好吃,價格又平易近人,難怪嘉頓可以在洛杉磯從我高中開到我都50 幾了,還屹立不搖, 生意永遠高朋滿座,不是沒有原因的啦!
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Benson L.

Yelp
Great classic hk San Gabriel cafe. Old school top quality. Great selection top graded. Great food love it for life.
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Kimberly T.

Yelp
Only rating this place 3 stars to stay true to the unspoken rule of Asian restaurants. If the place averages around 3 stars, you know the food will be bangin. Typical HK cafe restaurant. They used to open late but not anymore post pandemic. There's over 200 items on the menu, so there's plenty to choose from. Service is typical Asian customer service: order your food, eat, and get the hell out. Also very efficient. Food here is decent for the price point and amount. Not the fanciest place to be, but one of the best baked pork chop rice I've had. No unlimited drink refills here.
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Yan W.

Yelp
I haven't been to Garden Cafe for quite a while and I was craving for their afternoon tea specials. They now serve Special Afternoon Tea daily from 3-5:30 p.m. I cannot believe that their afternoon tea menu contains 47 items! Although their afternoon tea prices were not considered special (price range around $13-$16), unless you order sandwiches are slightly cheaper. However, they have great selections and the portions are decent. I ordered my favorite #37 fried fish cake & shrimp with vermicelli in tomato fish broth. (I always order this dish at Garden Cafe and it's like comfort food for me), and my mom ordered vermicelli in Singapore style (not spicy). I liked the presentation of my dish looked attractive and colorful. The tomato fish broth was creamy and smooth and tasted like a bit of cheese flavor to me. It was very addictive and I finished it all. (The portion wasn't small) The vermicelli in Singapore style was flavorful and it wasn't too wet or too dry either. Service was okay. I used to give this place 3.5 stars but I would give them 5 stars on this visit because we were satisfied after this meal.
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Tiffany T.

Yelp
The restaurant was quite empty at 6 PM on a Sunday night and for good reason. This cafe is horrible. This is my third recent visit, and breakfast is the only time I would consider coming here. I expect complimentary soup from all Chinese cafes I go to (EAT Bistro, JJ Cafe, U2 Cafe, HK Cafe, etc.), but for some reason, Garden now charges $2 if you want a bowl of soup. I also expect free refills, but now, you only get one free refill, then it's $1 for additional refills. If you want to take your drink to-go, it's another $1 for a to-go cup. Besides the technicalities, I ordered chicken wings and steak, no sauce, A1, rare. My steak came out late, medium, and seemingly unseasoned. Any good cook should be able to do a steak well, but this was one of the most tasteless steaks I have ever had. The food is bland and boring, they are nickel-and-dining everything, and the service doesn't make up for any of the above. Take your time and money elsewhere.

Taylor H.

Yelp
Pro: Food aight, Cheap, Pretty ok for the price. Con: server does not understand what medium rare is and try to argue with customer with a dry steak. Go if you speak Chinese
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Deborah V.

Yelp
Food: I ordered (1)Hk style Satay beef with instant noodle + Pineapple butter bun, Sausage and hashbrown + Hot milk tea with 1 time refill (2)Fried fish cake with vermicelli in tomato fish broth + Grilled tuna and cheese croissant + Hot milk tea with 1 time refill The main course was pretty average. I did enjoy the sides and milk tea though. Service: Not very friendly. The waitress rolled her eyes at us when we informed her we were ready to order. The food was cheap though considering each combo only cost $13.50. Ambiance: Casual, quite packed. Waited maybe 20minutes in line.
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Edmund W.

Yelp
Review for their takeout: Got the chicken and mushroom porridge while I got the beef and wonton lo mein for my dad. Ordered off Fantuan, and the turnaround took about half an hour to get the notification that it was ready. Pickup was easy and fast. Porridge was hot when I got back home, and portions were generous. Only complaint was that there were two chicken pieces that had a bone or two in it. My dad liked his beef and wonton lo mein overall. I also have dined here many times since it's close to home, and the quality has rarely failed me here. They serve good Hong Kong style cafe food with honestly decent service. Also prices are decent compared to their competitors.
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Bryan C.

Yelp
Been coming here since high school in the 90s... Where do I begin except the food her is honestly exceptional compare to other cafes nearby. Parking - there is street parking in front and in the back in a two story structure. Value - Prices have gone up but there are always affordable specials that are just a delicious. Food - honestly the quality of food here has gone up significantly. Their most recent specials including red wine ribs and New York steak with fish and chips are some of the best specials in the area. Service - Been coming here for a very long time and servers here lunch and dinner are like family to m3. It's understaffed at times and servers get frustrated but in a more perfect world we wouldn't have the issue where inflation is causing rise in food prices which in turn causes unpredictable waves of customers on random days. So yes there may be hits and misses but they are really overworked at times. Ambiance - I personally hate the remodel from 10-15 years ago. It used to be a more library look in here now it looks like a old Pinkberry but it was never one lol. I highly recommend this cafe for food quality and value. Their menu is huge.
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Vanna T.

Yelp
I've been coming to this Garden Cafe location for a very long time, mostly cuz it's the best one of the 3. However, I've noticed the food and service have gone downhill. It's not as good as it used to be. We ordered the sizzling mushroom, beef, & shrimp plate (which was mainly filled with mushrooms) and the beef & shrimp udon (which had nasty tasting beef). Despite the poor service and distasteful food, I would still wanna give this place another try (hence the 3 stars not any lower). They're located off Valley Blvd. and 2nd St in the same plaza as Lollicup & Tapioca Express. Parking is available in the back or on the streets.
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Dorothy K.

Yelp
We've been a regular, but I don't think we'll be coming back again. Breakfast ends at 11AM and that's great... The food is great, but I'm not coming back here again. But I'm not ok with how the manager treated my baby who just turned 1. We were here yesterday and the AC was broken, so it was very hot. We usually have bring baby food and our baby also eats restaurant food. After my baby was finished eating , we went to get a mango slush from another shop next door for him because it is HOT. When we brought the slush back the manager proceeds to tell me no outside food/drinks. I understand... but i see other people bringing bottled water from outside. Baby food that we brought was also outside food. The mango slush is baby food for my baby. It's a double standard. So fyi- Garden Cafe is not baby friendly. Go somewhere else, there are lots of Hong Kong Cafes here.
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Joanna L.

Yelp
3 stars means this is an authentic HK cafe lol! I came for an early dinner on Sunday around 5:30pm and there were plenty of open tables. I parked right out in front (free street parking) but they also have free parking in the parking garage in the back. My friend and I both ordered the century egg and pork congee (pidan congee) and it was very nice. Silky smooth, piping hot, and comes in a large clay pot. It's shareable size (probably between 2-3 people). There's a good amount of things inside the congee like meat, century egg, ginger, green onions, cilantro, and some pieces of youtiao. It's not too salty either, which is nice so you can salt it to your liking. We also got the HK milk tea - which wasn't as heavily caffeinated as I expected - I was still able to sleep last night which was nice. It comes with half and half and condensed milk on the side, so you can adjust it to your liking as well. Service here is subpar - they're really friendly and the food comes out fast but they must be understaffed because they didn't come around that often. We sat around for 3 hours to chat and they didn't kick us out which was nice. Most servers here speak Cantonese, but also understand Mandarin and English. The menu here looked crazy huge - it was like reading a novel. Hopefully, I will be back to try something else!
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Darren L.

Yelp
Service was short from average. With plenty of tables available, a line was what we faced when we walked in. They seemed quite disorganized as the staff had no obsolete duties. We were seated after 10 minutes waiting in line. During this time waiting, my father and I read the menu and decided already. The cafe was quite big and very loud filled with customers enjoying their time together. Our waitress came fairly quickly and took our order. Food: Grilled Rib-Eye and Two Eggs with Pasta - my first bite was the ribeye and it wasn't very good. The steak was quite chewy even though I ordered it medium rare. The sauce was a wine sauce that didn't taste very good at all. The vegetables were plain and the pasta was the worse I ever tasted. The pasta was very bland and tasted like the sauce that comes out of a can of tomatoes. To be fair, they have hundreds of items to select from, so I would come back and try something else.
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Josephine C.

Yelp
I haven't been to Garden Cafe in years, on a Sunday morning, my sister and I took my mother for breakfast. At 8am, there were few people already seated. I ordered won ton noodle soup and lemon tea. As we were waiting. more people arrived by 8:30am. All the dishes-egg congee and steak with eggs and chow fun arrived the dishes arrive except they forgot my won ton noodle soup. We had to flag the staff lady and finally got my bowl. The beef chow fun was good but it needs more wok hei. The congee was cooked just right with small pieces of century eggs and several sliced pieces of Chinese fried donuts. Lastly the won ton noodle soup was fine and it hit the spot. I was so full that I didn't have room for refill on my ice lemon tea. It got really busy by 8:30am till we were leaving. The staff ladies understand English. Best to raise your hand and eye contact to get service.
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Rong F.

Yelp
Food: price is the real attraction. Extensive menu from breakfasts to dinner...Food quality is not there. Service: Waving begging for cold faces waitstaffs. Dirty sauce platters, sauce ingredients not being filled nor cleaned.
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Mike N.

Yelp
It's been a while since I've been here. Today was especially disappointing. Don't get me wrong, the food is still good, prices are still reasonable compared to the OC pricing I've been paying these days. Anyway my issue today was getting a refill on the milk tea. Generally, cafe servers are pretty good and reading the tables and providing refills (unless they are one of THOSE bastards that stopped giving refills after covid days, I think a minimum of one refill is a must). This place does give refills, the the server came and took plates away, ignored the empty cup, so I nudged it to the edge of the table, and continued chatting, she walked by here and there and ignored it. I asked for a box, she promptly brought it over then removed the empty plates and came back with the check then grabbed around the empty cup to get the signed check. I finally asked for a refill and she gave me this look that I'm sure we all had/have when we got called on at school :) Not sure what her issue was but we could totally tell she was ignoring the task and hoping I didn't want another cup even with my not so subtle cup placements. But at $4.50, I'm getting at least two cups!
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Keiko M.

Yelp
I visited this Hong Kong café with the expectation of a quick meal, but it turned into a frustrating experience. I waited an entire hour for a simple dish, which is absolutely unacceptable. After repeatedly asking the waiter about the delay, I was informed that the chef responsible for Chinese dishes was running late. This kind of poor planning and lack of communication is ridiculous. The customer service was equally disappointing--no effort was made to address the issue, and I was simply told to keep waiting. I was starving and had planned to eat quickly so I could get on with my day, but instead, I was left waiting with no clear answers. I would not recommend this place, and I won't be returning.

S M.

Yelp
Been years, so tried it out, since I was in the area. It took 2 hours and 15 minutes from sitting to leaving and added a couple of Togo orders that took over 30 minutes. Service is absolutely tepid now. Literally was ignored for about 30 minutes until I asked for service. Food was ok, not the same from years back. Tried to relive an experience and was severely disappointed.
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Sompop C.

Yelp
Food: Though there are hundreds of Chinese restaurants from LA to OC, we don't mind driving for almost an hour to come here again for the second time, which will also be our last. The food itself is good, from porridge and Chinese donuts to pork chop and even American breakfast. I would have given 5 stars if an issue hadn't occurred today. Ambience: It's not too old classic style, but not modern either. It's typical for regular Chinese restaurants. We like the food, and the price is more reasonable than in OC. We happened to try this one first before others from Yelp on our initial visit, and we liked it enough to bring our friend with us today. Service at the parking: Exceptional, and this is the ONLY reason I provided two stars instead of one. Though the staff member couldn't speak English well (which we don't mind as we've been to many Chinese restaurants), he had a service-oriented mindset and tried his best to answer our questions and ensure we didn't have to worry about anything. With the few sentences we exchanged, he earned a $5 tip and helped this review avoid getting 1 star. Service from server(s) and/or cashier: This is where I have problems and decided that this is our second and last visit. The special menu today showed that the dish was served with pork and shrimp. When the food came, I didn't see shrimp on the plate. First, when a server was passing by and I raised my hand to ask a question, that server gave me a look and didn't say anything. I waited for a while, and I'm not sure if it was her or another server who came, but when I asked why there was no shrimp, the server said something in Chinese, didn't give any explanation, and left right away. To be frank, the absence of shrimp wouldn't have been a major issue if they had explained the situation politely. What truly infuriated me was their dismissive attitude and unprofessional behavior, coupled with their audacity to still expect a tip. Their blatant disregard for customer service, followed by their demand for gratuity, was particularly galling. This poor treatment led me to decide not to leave a tip. What's ironic is that when I walked out of the restaurant, another server or cashier came outside and asked in English why there was no tip. I was surprised they could suddenly speak English. I wanted to say something rude, but I didn't. I hope that non-Chinese visitors who read this comment are aware not to expect much if they want to come here. If they serve you poorly, you're expected to accept it. As for Chinese customers, you probably already know how this restaurant works and may accept it as part of the culture, as mentioned in another comment I read. However, tips are for good service, and I even give tips to okay servers, but not for poor service or treatment.
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Joann V.

Yelp
4 stars While my mom and I have our usual HK-style breakfast restaurants, we do like to come to Garden Cafe for something a little different. Garden cafe's menu is quite extensive for lunch/dinner and their breakfast menu have limited items, but it has the usual combos of congee with side and coffee/milk tea. What sets Garden Cafe's breakfast apart from other places is variety of the side dishes. They offer Singapore-style vermicelli, Beef Udon Stir-fry w/ X.O. sauce, and noodle soups with sides like bolo bao w/ eggs & Spam and more. My personal favorite is the Tomato Noodle Soup w/ Fried Fish cake. And they use real Spam! Not the other luncheon meat stuff that tries to be Spam. Overall, I'm a fan and will always come back brekkie when I want something that isn't the usual congee/cheung fun combo. Also, portions are pretty big and my mom and I always have leftovers for later.

T P.

Yelp
My family comes here often but what is unacceptable is the Manager's attitude. When taking orders he belittles you and rushes you. I'll still come and support because the workers are fantastic and the food is affordable and great. Unfortunately, I must put a 1 star so that they understand this is not acceptable. Just look further down in the reviews and you can see others saying the same, which I'm not surprised about. I've observed his behavior to even the staff as well when eating in. Its quite unfortunate..
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Magda N.

Yelp
This restaurant has been around for a very, very long time. It's a typical Asian cafe. Very good value food, especially the steak combo and comes with soup of the day. Menu is big and they can make pretty much anything. Taste ok, nothing is spectacular but everything is pretty affordable with big portion. I wouldn't go out of the way to come here, but it's a good option if you're in the area. Especially if you're eating late. Lemonade iced tea with free refill is a must, everytime we come here. We hadn't been back here in the past few years. This place looks modern and new now. You can see the kitchen operation thru the glass wall. They no longer serve souffle.
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Leo C.

Yelp
Alhambra Garden Cafe offers decent prices, but the food is just average. The biggest downside is the slow service--it can take quite a while for your meal to arrive. If you're not in a rush and just want a reasonably priced meal, it's a decent option, but don't expect anything too special in terms of flavor or efficiency.
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Sharon F.

Yelp
The preserve egg and pork congee was soo flavorful compared to other places, although it may be at the risk of having a higher sodium content/msg because i was thirsty after eating it ): but man it was so good so idc!! Worth it! The creamy pasta with spinach and fish fillet is also sooo yummy!! And ironically it feels healthier than the congee. I also like the corn chowder! All of the foods that i've tried here were super yummy. They open reaaally late so that's nice :)
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KJ S.

Yelp
location & parking: located in a lil plaza amongst other restaurants! theres a free parking structure thats pretty spacious (2 floors) & you can also park right in the street as well. food & drinks: they have a HUGE menu here! so many options of yummy asian food :D they have a huge range of your typical asian cafe food, drinks, appetizers, and desserts as well. my favorite item is the cream soup! my siblings are huge fans of the baked bolognese with pasta (noodles) service: my family and i are a regular here as they have so much delicious, affordable, and quality comfort food ~ the staff are super nice, fast, and speak both chinese and english! vibes: the ambiance is very comforting, clean, bright, and welcoming. they have tables, booths, and even a lil vip room. this restaurant is the epitome of chinese cafe for me! you can come here at any time of the day, breakfast, lunch, dinner, or even late night bites. overall: 5/5 star everytime :-) a go to spot for my family and i for a decade!
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Samantha W.

Yelp
Was really surprised by this place. We came late night and the food turned out to be a lot better than we expected. Had the chicken congee and it was very yummy. Nice consistency, good flavor. The seafood chow fun w/ gravy was surprisingly pretty good. It had some of the charred wok flavor that truly makes the dish. If majority of the noodles had that char sear on them, as well as a much less brown color "gravy" - it would be so much better.
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Mark L.

Yelp
I chose to eat lunch today at Garden Cafe because I hadn't been there in a while. There are many affordable lunch specials available. One thing I don't like about this restaurant is that they only refill Lemon Tea and Milk Tea once. How frequently you refill your drink is actually tracked by the staff. I prefer to visit other cafes where you can order as many refills as you like.
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Thomas K.

Yelp
I've been to Garden a few times in my life. I am honestly not sure why I've been bamboozed to coming back here. I guess my friends (non-yelp) enjoy this place. They have a large selection and the prices are alright (given the inflation we are in). This last visit was the worst - or maybe I ordered the wrong dish. I had the wonton noodle soup. I think that's pretty standard at a Hong Kong diner. I have to say it was the worst I've ever had. The noodles were overcooked and the broth was off. I don't think the right seasonings were used - or maybe it was the wrong porportion. The space is large and it's great at accomodating large parties. Though, I don't think you'll get exceptional service either (which is excusable, if you have great food). My friend has their chicken/pork chop combo. He seemed to enjoy it.
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Sunnie M.

Yelp
Their milk teas and coffees are mid. The condensed milk seems like it's never cleaned and always clogged. Food is ok. Sometimes their stir fry is not good. Their congees are consistently delicious. Ambiance is good, well lit and spacious enough. Feels cleaner than some other Hong Kong cafes.
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Ran C.

Yelp
I was craving something simple. Soup. Maybe noodles. Possibly something else. Ended up here for dinner this past weekend with friends. Got what I wanted. Wonton Noodle Soup. And Chicken Wings. Sunday. Just after five. Pulled up in front (on Valley). Lots of parking. I hear there's parking in the back. Don't have details though. Ask or find out when you go. Restaurant was somewhat empty. We beat the rush. By the time we left, it was filling up. I mention this because service was a little slow to start. Guess when the flow picked up, it kicked the staff into gear. Initially, we had to wave the servers down a few times just to get our order in. However, when it picked up, I didn't even have to ask for refills. That was on Thai Iced Tea. That's a first for me. Every where I've been, pay for each serving. As for the food - I wouldn't say it was excellent, but it definitely hit the spot. I wanted what I guess you'd consider comfort food - and Garden Cafe delivered. The broth, noodles, the wonton were just as I expected. The chicken wings were bland. However, I found out after the fact, it was ordered without seasoning (salt & pepper). I shared with a friend who has some food sensitivities. The chicken was also on the dry side. Not a dish I'd order again. Even with the seasoning. This place falls into my category of "standard". And I'd go back.

Johna L.

Yelp
Garden Cafe in Alhambra offers great value and quality food. It is our go-to place to celebrate Valentine's Day, X'mas and New Year because of their set dinners. We enjoyed the delicious Valentine's Day dinner and great services tonight. I had a seafood soup, an appetizer, an entrée with sea bass, huge scallops, and New Zealand lamb chop, and apple pie with ice cream for $46. It is a steal!

Ammie T.

Yelp
Came here for some Chinese breakfast. Feel like the food serving size for smaller and price went up compare to 6 months ago. Service is still quick and friendly. And the newly renovated place looks clean. The xo noodle we order was the best and most flavorful.

Carrie S.

Yelp
Delicious! Came here with my in-laws for lunch and I'm stuffed! Wontons are perfect, soup broth is spot on and the tastiest chicken I've had in a long time!
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Jos T.

Yelp
The food takes forever to come out. A big party (15+) came after us and somehow all their food came out before us. We ordered vegetable chow mein, Indonesian chow fun and grilled fillet min +grilled sole fish. The vegetable chow mein was okay (it was the crispy noodle version) , the grilled fillet min+grilled sole fish came out with hot fish (good) but cold fillet min--(only4 pieces). The Indonesian chow fun was good (spicy). The service was okay too. They were attentive enough. They did bring us a wrong dish (Indonesian fried rice) and asked if we want to settle for that dish instead of the chow fun