I can't decide whether I kind of like or detest this place. I'm a huge fan of dim sum and feel a little empty when I don't get my cravings satisfied about once a week. Sometimes I can't make it to dim sum since most legitimate places close around 2-3pm, so I resort to Yum Cha Cafe for a quick late afternoon-evening bite. I've only ordered take out here, since the ambiance is a bit unpleasant - loud, dirty, and ugly.Yum Cha Cafe is a cafeteria style restaurant, and the food here is dirt cheap It's kind of like the McDonalds of dim sum. I actually think it's worse than McDonalds because the food at Yum Cha Cafe is sometimes soggy, old, and stale since it could have been sitting out for hours. Fortunately, you can usually see the items before you order so you're not stuck with something that does not even look appetizing, let alone taste good. The later you get here, the worse the food. That's obvious since you can't expect them to keep making fresh dim sum as they approach closing time, so you just get the leftovers.At best, coming here leaves my dim sum cravings about 50% satisfied, which I'm not complaining about because it gets me through the week. However, sometimes it just leaves a bad taste in my mouth (both literal and figurative) when I realize how low I have stooped to buy dim sum that I very well know was prepared hours ago and has been sitting on display since. The last time I was there I got some stuff that should've been tossed out because it tasted like it'd gone bad.I wish they'd open more legitimate all day dim sum places around here.To revisit whether I kind of like or detest this place... I think I have decided that I like the idea of this place, but hate the reality of it.
Reviewed by:
Dorothy X. on:
3/13/2013 5:05:00 PM
If I worked in Monterey Park this would be my go-to spot for lunch. It's super cheap and there's a lot of variety. Craving noodle soup? Add a little cha siu, roasted duck, or chicken and you have lunch for $4. There's hainan chicken rice, wonton noodles, and so much more. I'm drooling just thinking about it.You can buy dimsum items as well, which aren't the best but are super cheap. But if you just want that hargow or shumai now, you got it. You can also take a whole roasted duck or chicken to go.There are tables for you if you want to dine in, but everything is self serve, so service is pretty non-existent here. Consider it a cafeteria style restaurant. Don't come here for a luxurious experience; come here for the Hong Kong style food.
Reviewed by:
Lisa P. on:
3/9/2013 3:52:00 AM
I ate here about a week ago with my hubby, and it was meh... We ordered a pork bao and the pork was good but there was way to much bread, the other dim sum was just ok nothing special. The iced milk tea had almost not flavor and we also got some BBQ pork and duck and it was not good at all. I got so dessert bao and the bum was huge and the filling was only in one spot at least make the bun the size of the filling. The tables were not clean. The food was boring and we will not be coming back.
Reviewed by:
Davoud Z. on:
3/5/2013 10:17:00 AM
The price was definitely right ($6.39 total for 9 char siu bao and 3 crystal shrimp dumplings), and the taste was ok. The drawbacks were: the bao were too doughy without enough BBQ pork filling and the shrimp dumplings were both greasier and stickier than the great ones I've had elsewhere. I wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but it's definitely worth stopping in for breakfast or a snack if you're in the area.
Reviewed by:
Jaccee C. on:
12/30/2012 11:33:00 AM
my mom occasionally orders food from here for her work parties and the food is mediocre. i guess its kinda like you get what you pay for.the service is okay now i guess, ive never really experienced any problems...until today.so my dad orders a duck noodle soup and a wonton noodle soup. the lady taking the order asks 2 times if its for here or to go. we say to go.later, the order comes and it does not come in to go boxes but their 'for here' bowls and tray. uhhh wtf?my dad says he said to go and the lady instead blames it on us and says that she asked us but we didnt tell her....i told her the receipt says WAI MAI, WHICH MEANS TAKEOUT and she says that its not written on the receipt and quickly snatches the receipt away from me.... lool... i dont know what to say.we had no choice but to eat there, which i must state is disgusting. their tables did not look clean and was STICKY.their wonton noodles were okay...not good but not bad either. didnt like how their wonton was just shrimp and no meat inside.they gave a lot of noodles though.i also have to mention that i found HAIR in my soup....nasty.
Reviewed by:
Lissy B. on:
12/6/2012 2:37:00 PM
The congee (rice porridge soup) practically cured my nausea and the "Big D"... actually, I was j/k about the latter... =D Luckily this stomach virus was mild this time around.http://www.yelp.com/biz_…http://www.yelp.com/biz_…Seriously, it was the only thing I was able to keep down on Sunday (after catching one cuckoo virus). Dinner went down nice & smooth... It was my first and only meal that day.The congee here is as good as the ones I've had in LA Chinatown or better ~ actually it has a little more flavor here (most porridge soups are on the bland side).Did I mention that I have a thing for porridge ever since I read the story about Goldilocks and the three bears when I was a kid. Yeap! I know it sounds silly, but these things tend to surface later =P Comfort food!They have hanging BBQ ducks.They also have decent dim sum here (my hubby tried it). Lechon meat w/ the crispy skin attached is available here, and it is OK (according to my spouse). My spouse is Filipino, and has been all over Asia, so he knows Asian food inside & out.The food here is cheap. Congee is $3.59 for a huge bowl, and they give you a choice of shrimp, beef, pork & preserved eggs, or fish. Dim Sum is around $1 each. They have various other soups, but the congee is my favorite.The Asian ladies who work here are nice but do not speak much English, so it was like point to this and point to that. You will see mostly Asians dining here ~ a good sign. This is located in a predominantly Asian community anyway.You know what's funny? I have called most of the Chinese restaurants in my area and nobody knows what a congee is. I had to explain to them that it is a rice porridge soup... and they were like ahhh! They actually learned something.So whenever I'm in the area and in the mood for a nice hot bowl and some decent Chinese grub, I'll make sure to drop by here with or without an intestinal virus.Oh yes! And I just happen to have friends and family not too far from here, but I don't think they would have appreciated a visit from my contagious little friend.They have other locations (Chinatown and San Gabriel), but this is the only Yum Cha Cafe I've been to. Cash only!
Reviewed by:
John B. on:
8/12/2012 3:20:00 PM
As Alen L stated in his review Yum Cha Cafe has one of the signs that o use to know that the food is good. Old Chinese women giving you the Evil Eye while trying to cut in line. Having spent some time in the San Gabriel Valley this is a key to find good fast Chinese food.This is good fast food Dim Sum for those in a hurry. It is fresh, and hot along with the basics. The Sticky Rice is one of my Daughter's favorites, the Pan Fried Dumplings, that look like hockey pucks are very good. The Spring Rolls are not very greasy and Otis cheap.For grabbing Dim Sum on the go you can not go too wrong. Otis not King Hua but it does not cost as much as King Hua.Go therefor quick bites early in the morning and you will be happy.
Reviewed by:
Clement H. on:
7/18/2012 5:10:00 AM
Came here early morning to get dim sum and chicken rice to go for my great aunty.The service and food are good and the portion is better.You can make 2 meals out if it.Recommended.
Reviewed by:
Lily S. on:
6/11/2012 12:17:00 PM
Used to be better but still a very affordable, quick, and standard (taste wise) dim sum takeout place. Good variety (also offers noodle soups, rice plates, and whole roasted ducks!) If only the food can be served warmer... (can't expect too much from a counter style restaurant, it's a compromise you gotta pay if you want run-in and run-out service)
Reviewed by:
Binh T. on:
6/11/2012 8:14:00 AM
I come here in the morning from time to time to get Dim Sum. It is located in the plaza where the Shun Fat Supermarket is so park in the plaza and walk around downstairs and you should see it.My usual order includes the har gow and Chinese donuts with rice flour rolls around it. Sometimes there's a lot of people, sometimes its empty. They also have the sugar cane wrapped in shrimp paste that I normally order in bulk for potlucks at work. My coworkers love it and its about $30 for like 50? Not too bad. They also have $1.00 Chrysanthemum tea here. It's the legit kind that isn't sweetened.My only complaint about this place is that if you don't speak Chinese, you're pretty screwed. You'll have a hard time trying to tell them what you want. But aside from that, they have a good selection of Dim Sum and also serve Wonton Noodle Soup and Porridge. There are also tables for dine-in but perfect choice for take-out.
Reviewed by:
Monica L. on:
5/30/2012 11:01:00 AM
2.5 stars...almost at a 3, but not quite. Fast food dim sum filled with rude old asian customers...oh boy. But when the craving strikes, what else are you to do? I ventured in and looked at all the dim sum lying around behind the counter...most of it was swimming in oil...But alas, the craving was too great! I succumbed and bought:Chive and shrimp dumpling: Overly soft/over steamed skin...fell apart really quickly and tasted soggy. The shrimp and chives were very salty and obviously filled with msg. Surprisingly it was not as greasy as I thought it would be, but still had a slight film over my mouth.Turnip cake: Sweet taste of msg...but texture and taste was not bad. Also not as greasy as I thought...I'd prefer this over the dumpling though.Overall, you get what you pay for. It is okay for the days you REALLY REALLY MUST HAVE/NEED/REQUIRE dim sum to fulfill your day.
Reviewed by:
Christina T. on:
2/12/2012 9:53:00 AM
This place does the job when you need a quick fix for dim sum, especially if you're on the run. I think the best thing about this place is that it's cheap, quick (if there's no line) and accessible. Everything I've tried here is not too bad, and even though the individual dumplings and such are smaller than what you imagine, they give you more than the four pieces you are probably used to seeing at other places. OHh, and the magic leaf rice? it comes in THREE. :)Pretty much, it's a to-go place. You order, your food comes in individual styrofoam containers in a plastic bag, and you have the option of sitting in the cafeteria-style room, or taking it home to eat. Not a bad deal.Again, it's one of those places I probably wouldn't go to without my translator/roommate, but I guess it's not too hard to point-and-pay, right?
Reviewed by:
Alen L. on:
1/15/2012 5:02:00 AM
This location is so much better than the one in Chinatown.The breakdown:Pork Shu Mai: 4/5Har Gow (Shrimp Dumplings): 3.5/5Cha Shao Bao (Pork Buns): 4/5Turnip Cake: 4/5Pearl Sticky Rice w/ Chicken Wrapped in Lotus Leaves: 5/5Hainan Chicken Rice: 4/5Wonton Noodles: 3.5/5Beef Noodles Soup: 3.5/5My Food Rating = A-Ambience: 2.5/5Service: 2/5Clean: 3/5My Experience Rating: B-Location: 3.5/5Wait: 3.5/5Hours: 4/5Parking: 5/5My Convenience Rating: A-Pros:- Cheap no-fuss dim sum to go.- Dishes range from $0.99-$1.50- Pearl Sticky Rice w/ Chicken Wrapped in Lotus Leaves at $1.50 for 3 is a steal.- Opens early at 6:30AM- Always well stocked.Cons:- Chinese old ladies cutting in front of you in line and then giving you the death stare.- If you want the highest quality dim sum, this is probably not your place.- If you don't speak Chinese, you will have a hard time ordering.Tip: If someone cuts in front of you, speak up or make peace with it, don't let it ruin your day.Tip: It's located right next door from two Chinese supermarkets, Sun Fa and 99 Ranch.Tip: Candy Hair Salon upstairs cuts mens hair for $7. Candy does a pretty good job.Bottom Line: This is a great place to eat dim sum on the go. It doesn't get any cheaper. This location is much better than all their other locations.
MONTEREY PARK, CA, 91754-1027
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