North China Cafe — Restaurant in Merrifield

Chinese Food in our family was bottom of the preferred list - once we have gone through (in order) pizza, Lebanese, Thai, Mexican, Italian, Vietnamese, sushi, Indian ... Chinese! Our experience with local Chinese fast food establishments was always that their dishes were cheap, soggy/unappetizing, unhealthy and bland/tasteless.

Not any more!

We've discovered North China Cafe which is so different from the run-of-the-mill Chinese fast food locations. Their pan fried dumplings are just right, crisp on the outside and soft inside, beef in hot garlic sauce was delicious with water chestnuts and tree (wood?) mushrooms, szechuan string beans were neither oily nor over fried. The lady at the counter recommended combination vegetables in chef's "special" sauce which sounded suspicious, but was actually very good which we will remember to order again next time.

If you order online they include a free full portion of chicken lo-mien noodles when the order value is $30.

Strongly...

Please take my review here at face value - this is a stereotypical Chinese takeout restaurant. However, for a stereotypical Chinese takeout place, the food is quite, quite good. The chicken with cashews (my favorite dish) was fantastic. Other dishes have been hit and miss (peking pork was good with a little too many bean sprouts, honey chicken was a bit bland, sushi is good and served with REAL, tongue-burning wasabi, steamed dumplings are plump and fantastic, shrimp lo-mein was very good - they even properly cleaned the shrimp!). The "Decor" score of 1 is simply because I've never been there - I order food for delivery, and the service has impeccably been a consistent 30-45. Obviously, the food isn't quite the quality of nearby Four Sisters, but for delivery, this place rocks. My new favorite Chinese...

Placed an order to be delivered at 1:32 pm. I work at a call center and cannot just end a call on a survivor. Well the driver arrived before the delivery time. As soon as I was done with my call with a survivor, I headed down to the lobby and the driver left. Called and he stated that he would be back in 10 mins but he didn’t arrived back in time. The woman who answer med at the store was insulant and didn’t want to let me speak. She talked over me and quoted I was late to pick up my delivery, and according to my call logs I was in the lobby at 1:29 pm. Will never order from the place again due to their lack of customer service and understanding for people who are assisting people who have been affect by the hurricanes. They are looking to make a dollar instead of...