Northern Cafe

Very family style, large portion and authentic Chinese food featuring various Chinese food options. The cold dishes are good choices. You sit yourself, choose from the menu, and order from the front. They will deliver food for you. You may need to get your own utensils at very busy times. Portion size may be too large for 2 people, so expect to get a take out box (or get your own box).

Review based on our pick up/to-go experience. The food at this location is just okay, especially compared to other Northen Café that we’ve been to. Located at UTC near the back. Parking can be easy or difficult on time of day. The place is a bit dark, but kept clean. Food was ready on time and ready when we came and picked it up. Staff kind of just waits until you approach them rather than trying to be welcoming. It was a slow period too around 3PM. Can't say how the service would be if we ate there. Some foods were better than others Chongqing Crispy chicken was delicious. Good spice, and stay crispy through the drive home and was even great the next day. I’d get this dish again when I’m in the mood for that mala spicy flavor. Sautéed Bok Choi with garlic was fine for what it was. Nothing special, but a solid vegetable dish. The Zha Jiang Noodles were the most disappointing. The cucumbers really should’ve been put in a separate container for a to-go order, When it’s packaged with the noodles and meat, it just looks sad. The meat wasn’t well minced, I’ll get lumps of meat even after mixing. Some of my problems with this dish is that the meat was basically a salt bomb. Almost impossible to eat, especially when you’re getting huge lumps of overly salted meat. The dish itself has a very strong ginger flavor. It’s not well balanced so you feel like you’re eating Salty Ginger noodles some cucumber. Overall, this Northern Café is just okay. Some good and passable dishes, but a poorly executed dish soured our opinion of the place

This is a very busy Chinese restaurant near campus. If you want a tablecloth and a nice conversation, look elsewhere. But, if you want tasty Chinese food with good sized portions and don't mind the hubbub, this is your place. Sauces are rich and my favorite eggplant dish always comes out perfect. Takeout is a popular option here with kiosk ordering.

I had a disappointing experience during my visit, rating it a 1 out of 10. The staff seemed disengaged and inattentive, requiring me to get up three times just to ask for basic items like napkins, salt, and a spoon. Additionally, when I requested another item, they simply ignored me. This was my first visit, and it was far from enjoyable; I felt overlooked and unvalued. To make matters worse, I had to call for assistance twice just to place my order. Given the tipping culture, it’s frustrating to feel obligated to tip, especially after such a lackluster experience. I won’t be returning.

Average Chinese food joint - Thai fusion soup was good, the chicken wontons were juicy, but the stir fry rice cake dish was very average. Gets busy at lunch time

I visited this restaurant again today, but unfortunately, it was a disappointing experience that made me feel like I probably won’t return in the future. We ordered the Lao Gan Ma chicken fried noodles. The chicken tasted very off — not fresh at all and had a very strong unpleasant smell. When we brought it up, the staff explained it was because the chicken had just been defrosted, which was not a great excuse. We ended up asking them to just give us a veggie version instead. We also ordered the Beef Hot Pot #1, but the beef tasted exactly like lamb. I even asked if they gave us the wrong meat. The server tried it, then went to check with the kitchen. They confirmed it was beef, and told us that if we wanted the fatty sliced beef, we should’ve ordered a different item. Overall, the food quality and service were not up to standard this time. It’s a shame because I had a decent impression before, but this visit really changed my mind.

If you're looking for a flavor-packed adventure, look no further than Northern Cafe at UCI! I tried their spicy beef hot pot and sour vegetable noodle soup, and let’s just say: my taste buds went on a rollercoaster ride of excitement. The spicy beef hot pot? It’s like a warm hug with a little bit of sass. Tender beef swimming in a bubbling cauldron of spice— it’ll make you break a sweat in the best way possible. It’s fiery enough to make you feel like you’ve earned that second bowl of rice, but not so hot that you regret it immediately (looking at you, other spicy foods). And then there's the sour vegetable noodle soup. It's like the perfect mix of tang and zest that makes you feel like you've just won a flavor jackpot. The noodles were just the right amount of chewy, and the sourness of the broth had that "I can’t stop slurping" effect. Honestly, it felt like a rejuvenating spa day for my soul, except with more noodles and less cucumber water. All in all, Northern Cafe isn’t just a place to eat — it’s a spicy, sour, and soul-satisfying experience. You’ll leave with a smile on your face and a satisfied stomach... and maybe a slight craving for another round of that spicy beef hot pot.

One of the best Chinese food places around the uci campus, these shopping plaza is filled with great food but this spot is fast and convenient. Food quality is great and price is extremely affordable even to student. Been eating too much American fast food so this spot is great to change it up. The service is self serve once u finished ordering. Loved the place is spacious and vibe is great. You can either dine in or order to go.