Northern Cafe El Segundo — Restaurant in El Segundo

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Northern Cafe in El Segundo, and let me tell you, it was an incredible experience from start to finish. The moment we walked in, we were greeted with a warm and inviting atmosphere that set the stage for a delightful meal.

The ordering process was incredibly convenient and efficient. Each of us at the table simply scanned the QR code, and it seamlessly placed our order for the entire table. This not only saved us time but also ensured that our selections were accurately recorded. Kudos to Northern Cafe for embracing technology in such a user-friendly manner.

Now, let's talk about the food. We started with the Sautéed Green Beans (photo attached), and they were simply outstanding. The beans were cooked to perfection, tender yet crisp, and bursting with flavor. It was a great way to whet our appetites for the feast to come.

Next up was the Beef Roll (photo attached), and let me just say, it was a work of art. The tender slices of beef were enveloped in a delicate, flaky pancake, creating a harmonious blend of textures and tastes. It was a true delight to bite into, and the accompanying sauce elevated the dish to another level.

The Szechuan Dan Dan Noodles (photo attached) were a definite highlight of the meal. The noodles had the perfect chewiness, and the slightly spicy sauce packed a flavorful punch that had us reaching for more. It was a dish that satisfied both our cravings for heat and our love for well-balanced flavors.

The Crab and Pork Dumplings were a hit at our table. Each dumpling was meticulously crafted, with a thin, delicate wrapper encasing a delectable filling. The combination of crab and pork resulted in a delightful blend of sweetness and savory notes that left us wanting another round.

The Chongqing Crispy Chicken (photo attached) was another winner. The chicken was expertly fried to a crispy perfection, with a tantalizingly spicy coating that kept us coming back for more. The dish had a wonderful depth of flavor and was a definite crowd-pleaser.

Lastly, we indulged in the BBQ Pork Buns, and they did not disappoint. The fluffy buns were filled with succulent barbecue pork that was both tender and flavorful. Each bite was a heavenly combination of textures and tastes, making it a perfect ending to our meal.

One minor suggestion I have is to consider providing larger tables to accommodate the generous portions and various sharing options. While the food came out at lightning speed, we found ourselves struggling to fit everything on the table. Having a bit more elbow room would enhance the overall dining experience.

If you're in El Segundo and looking for a dining experience that combines convenience, speed, and above all, incredible flavors, I highly recommend Northern Cafe. Trust me, you won't be...

What an unexpected feast! We went here for a lunch and left fully satisfied! For a "chain" Chinese restaurant, Northern Cafe serves very authentic and delicious Northern Chinese cuisine, and when you come during happy hour, the food was surprisingly pretty darn affordable!

The service was also great!

We first started with the humble Chicken Noodle Soup and it was a strong first dish with its refreshing clear broth, yummy noodles, and chicken. The chili oil at our table works well to add even more interest to this already delicious noodles, and we completely finished this bowl of goodness.

Next, we had the green onion pancake, and it came with a very delicious dipping sauce that has a tangy, earthy flavor that added some depth to the pancake. The pancake itself can use a little more thickness and filling, but the crispiness was perfect.

After that, we had both the Pork & Cabbage Pan-fried Dumplings and the Juicy Pork Dumplings. Boy, it was hard to choose which one is better because they're both delicious, but I think the Pork & Cabbage won out because it was ALSO a juicy soup dumpling, so when you add the combination of the pan-fried exterior, it was such a perfect dumpling. Both also paired well with the chili oil as well as the soy sauce.

Next on our list was the Lao Gan Ma Fried Noodle with Chicken, and this dry noodle dish was it very savory in flavor, with a hint of spiciness and sweet soy. I like the subtle complexity of this noodle dish because you have opposing and adjacent flavor profiles working well together.

Last and unfortunately least, the Hot & Sour Soup was the only dish that didn't quite work for us. The taste seemed a little odd, like it wasn't what we expected from hot & sour soup. It's not bad, but it was clearly our least favorite dish.

All in all, we could have easily chosen at least 8-10 more menu items from Northern Cafe, so you can expect us to...

There aren't that many authentic (Panda Express doesn't count, but they are still pretty good) Chinese restaurant within 4 miles from where I live until I saw Northern Cafe had just opened a new branch in El Segundo, I didn't think about it and just decided to have my dinner there.

The place has pleasant lighting, it is spacious and also very cozy. Customer service are great! Bathroom was also clean. Now, let's get started with what you all came here to read, the food (duh~!) 😁

Chicken Wings 🍗: These are great, crispy, juicy, seasoning was spot on, I wish I had ordered more of this. Honestly, I would be content with just a bowl of white rice and 2 orders of these awesome wings!

Szechuan Dan Dan Noodle🍜: It can be a little spicy (think Killer noodle) for some of you. But I promise, if you persevere long enough with Chinese spicy food, it would open your world to endless variations of Chinese dishes (Yes, I am bribing you!) 😶.

Boiling point-ish: Not bad, but nothing to rave about. Not to mention they don't actually give you fire for this, so your food would get cold very quickly.

Spicy Beef🌶️🐄: This is probably my favorite dish of the day. Juicy, tender chewy and has that authentic Szechuan spice flavor to it! I highly recommend this if you can take spice!

White Garlic Broccoli 🥦🧄: The broccoli are really fresh but I think they are a little too salty for my taste.

The pricing was reasonable and they are open till 9, which is great. Overall I would recommend this restaurant if you live near El Segundo and don't want to drive to Gardena for...