ABC Cafe
10001 W 87th St, Overland Park, KS, 66212
ABC Cafe Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Overland Park for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant blood pressure menu details.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
10001 W 87th St
Overland Park, KS, 66212 - Phone (913) 859-0089
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :12:00 pm - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Ami T.
Yum! Finally a Chinese restaurant that serves authentic Chinese food and none of that "orange chicken" and "crab rangoon" stuff. Their noodle soups are delicious and I love the salt and pepper tofu. If you want a small refreshing appetizer, grab the cucumber salad. There can be a wait at times because it is a small and popular restaurant. Keep in mind that they are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
(5)Vicky T.
Authentic? I suppose it is the closest thing there is, here in Kansas City. The flavors are almost spot-on, but my pointed pitch to them is this: reduce the oil. Yet, that is my pitch to all Asian restaurants out here.. reduce the oil! I suppose this review only reflects my intense distaste for saucy, oily foods -- which is rather common of all Chinese I've had out here. I may have been spoiled, but I have tasted authentic Chinese that do not require half the oil and sauce to gather crowds to their doorsteps. Complaint aside, I recommend their porridge -- seafood or pork w/ preserved eggs -- both are delicious. The way they prepare their meats: chicken, beef tendon, or fish.. the texture is done well. Again, reduce the oil, and I would highly recommend their ginger & onion salty chicken! The salt and pepper flounder: meat lightly crisp on the outside; soft and tender on the inside. Lightly salted and peppered to taste! Last two cents: I was told to avoid their regular turnip cake (i had a terrible experience) and order their special "XO Sauce Turnip Cake" instead. Judging the way they prepared their porridge today, I am curious and would love to try all their other soup items. If I stand correct, their soups should be delicious! p.s. link to their menu: menupix.com/menudirector…
(3)Teague P.
I've posted about this wonderful restaurant before, but gotta update you about the fantastic steamed red snapper. Oh my god, delicious. (Edit: this fish is $12!! At least a pound of delight.) Firm, tender, meaty, steamed with ginger and scallions. It's not on the menu, it's on the wall with the other fish options and the sauteed greens. We had dinner here not long ago with friends from Lawrence KS, they were in heaven! As I promised them. Of course we had the appetizer turnip cake cubes with the fabulous XO "sauce" (crispy shallots and diced fresh jalapeno). AND because it was a party, some dim sum to start, we liked the shrimp/cheese rolls inside some kind of fried shredded noodle. And the fish rolls, also fried goodness. Then we returned to health, sort of, with a big platter of the water spinach wilted with some garlic and a light sauce (ong choy) and the aforementioned snapper. That was amazing and led to some hoarding, one of my pals immediately grabbed the head. We also had a dish of peking style pork, which was very good little pieces of pork lightly crumbed and fried in a sweet-sour dressing, not too sweet and not heavy. And the shrimp with candied walnuts in mayonnaise, which was weird but my sweetie ate it all. I love this place. I sort of liked the candied walnuts, but I recommend the snapper.
(5)Nel P.
It was just OK. I ordered thePork & egg Congee, bbq pork buns and the turnip cakes. Nothing to really write home about. The place is small but clean.
(3)Teresa ..
Four months later and I still love this place! Quality of the food is consistent, and service is still great. I was able to dine in today and had a lovely dinner. Ordered the seafood chow mein, salt and pepper squid, and the stir fried ong choy. The salt and pepper squid came with jasmine rice, and you are given a hot pot of tea upon arrival! I also ordered the Hong Kong milk tea, which was delicious and had a stronger tea flavor. Everytime I'm in Kansas City, I make it a point to come here! Definitely worth the stop :)
(5)Simon K.
Come here if you want real Chinese food. The curry beef stew is tendon and beef slow simmered to piping hot-really great. Dim sum is always available. Don't miss the salt and pepper soft shelled crab-there are people who eat here just for that. Also great-the little TV's at the tables along the wall...a nice Asian restaurant touch.
(4)Veronica W.
Definitely authentic Chinese is an acquired taste. Nothing we ordered was awful, but nothing was good enough to bring us back unfortunately. Tried Peking pork chops and shrimp chow fun. The chow fun was ok, as was the pork but tasted like fried pork pieces with ketchup. The potstickers were the best thing. The chicken feet about made me...well you know. TOO authentic for me. Like eating fatty chicken skin with bones.
(2)Nola L.
We eat here every time we visit KC. I can't stop raving about it and it never disappoints. The service, price and food quality is unmatchable. Must haves are the barbecue pork bun and the pork belly and preserved vegetable hot pot. Plus everything else on the menu....
(5)Caroline L.
OMG this is one of the most amazing Chinese places I've been to so far in my almost 3 years of KC. My boyfriend and I joined our friends for a dinner here a few weeks ago based on their recommendation. It's got some amazing flavors and a variety of dim sum (no where close the the amount found in LA but that's expected). I decided to order the beef chow fun and fried tofu. Wow, what an amazing choice! The fried tofu was fresh and delicious! They were cut into lovely squares that made it easy to loose track of how much I had eaten. And the chow fun was delicious. Our friends ordered the salty fish fried rice...and another dish that I can't remember. We also ordered a dim sum - I think it was a fried bbq pork bun, which was excellent. Service was phenomenal, even though the restaurant was quite busy while we were there (Monday evening at 7?) I think it might have helped that our friends knew the owner and were regulars, but I'll probably bring my parents back when they are in town to see what they think. My mother is really picky about where to go for Chinese food so that'll be the true test. I seriously recommend this place if you've got a mad Chinese food craving. Definitely the place to go! ...now if they delivered...
(5)Joseph P.
Heard this place is an authentic Hong Kong style Chinese cuisine. Having a Cantonese girlfriend does means that it is required of me to venture into the danger zone. Therefore, off I went~ A little test that I always like to run in a Chinese place is to speak Mandarin to the waiter, so as to test its authenticity. Ya, I know, language does not correlate to the number of food, but statistics does show that if they can converse you in your mother tongue, chances are, they will serve you more authentic cuisine :P Lucky for us, gentlemen and ladies, I can guarantee you the authenticity of this place. How? Well, I tasted it myself. And yes,they conversed with me in Mandarin. We quickly ordered 2-3 dishes that the owner said are their chef's specialty. So we got a dish of vegetables, a dish of duck, and a dish of fish. I don't know how tolerable you all are with exotic Asian food, but I sure do love the taste and the aroma of those "exotic" dishes that reminds me of motherland. Though they belong to a different region of Chinese speaking country than me, I can still tell that this place is the real deal. Definitely worth your time if you are looking for Canto-style dining. On a side note, they also have a karoake place that, to my knowledge, is owned by the same owners. I have not have the chance to visit it yet, but I do plan on it in the future.
(4)Mina A.
Very authentic Cantonese food（I am a Cantonese so I can say that）. They serve dim sum all day long, however they do not have too many variety as other dim sum place. The place is small and pack, sometimes you may have to share table with others. We ordered beef stew, fried eggplant, fatty pork with veggie hot pot and water spinach, it was all very favourful. I think they are the closest taste to the food in Hong Kong in the KC area!
(4)STEPHEN H.
Good food. Friendly service. Big menu. Good value gor your money. What's not to like. We had dim sum, crab meat fish maw soup, shrimp mayonnaise, beef hot pot, steamed red snapper, beef chow mein for 7 people. All delicious.
(5)Vy O.
So far this is definitely the most authentic Cantonese cuisine in KC. They serve DIM SUM all day (not as many varieties as Bo LINGS ). But I recommend this place for the price and authenticity . We live 45 minutes away but we always take the opportunity to go to this place.By the way they 're always busy .
(4)Zhengyu L.
I recommend this restaurant to everyone. I am so happy to find out about this place, they have an authentic chinese menu I have looked for a long time. I like the way how their menu is design, it has a lot of pictures so the customers could see what the food look like. I LOVE their wonton soup the most, it is very tasty. However, I do not like the milk tea very much, it doesn't taste like one. Also, the chicken feet need to have a little more flavor. But everything else is good, this restaurant is very affordable for people who don't want to spend to much money. Definitely will go there again.
(5)Leah F.
My boyfriend and I arrived on a busy Thursday evening. When they say cafe they mean there is limited seating. It was hustling and bustling. They gave us water and hot tea which was replaced throughout the meal. We ordered chicken feet and vegetable dumplings for our appetizers. The chicken feet were like nothing I'd imagine. They were soft, cold, spicy and delicious! I highly recommend them. This is a type of platter to share though there is so much! The dumpling were delicious as well. For our entrees we got wonton soup and vietnamese style noodles. The wonton soup was succulent and the wontons were satisfying. It was a big bowl and very filling. The vietnamese style noodles tasted of spices, veggies, pork, scrambled egg and shrimp. It was by far my favorite and also a huge portion! Be prepared to take home leftovers. Overall highly recommend! Reasonable prices, great for sharing and a wonderful experience. I shall return!
(5)Greg M.
I don't know much about Chinese food, but I've been told by people that know that this is authentic Cantonese. Best Chinese food I've had in KC.
(5)Michelle N.
This place is delicious, I love it. This is sort of my friend's and my spot to eat Asian food. Every time we come, the food is always delicious and we are pleased. Usually we order dim sun and last time we got walnut shrimp, porridge, and deep fried intestines. It was my first time trying the intestines and I was hesitant but it was really yummy. I think the walnut shrimp will also soon be a favorite of mine. The reason why I gave it a four star is because I order to go once and it was a very large order so I did not check the containers to make sure everything was correct. They had messed up half of my order and I was too lazy to drive back to pick up the correct dishes and return the mistaken ones. But other than that, no complaints.
(4)Cindy B.
I don't like giving bad reviews, but I have to share my experience at this place. I've eaten at a lot of good Chinese restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area and even a few in the Kansas City area, but this place was very disappointing. My congee was so watery, tasted like tap water, with a small amount of duck egg pieces. If not for my friend dropping some broth from his noodle soup in there, I absolutely couldn't have eaten it., and the tap water taste makes me question how healthy it even was. The eggplant dim sum was extremely greasy. The meal was nearly $40 for a bowl of duck egg congee, a bowl of beef noodle soup, two teas and one small plate of dim sum. My friend was also very disappointed in the meal. Also, the staff would just stand there and stare at us with a blank look for no reason while we ate. I have nothing good to say about this experience. I would recommend Iron Horse in Olathe. I've eaten their many times, and their food is always delicious, fresh and reasonably priced. Great value and quality food.
(1)alex m.
Poor quality red meat and chicken , inedible . It's like you are chewing a piece of leather .only appetizers are kinda ok.
(2)Maggie C.
Authentic Chinese food, decent prices, and homey. As an immigrant, originally from Hong Kong, I can say that every time I step into this small, cozy restaurant, I instantly feel as if I've travelled 8,000 miles home. From the native speakers, dishes, and decor, they look fairly identical to that of a restaurant you would find in Kowloon or Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong. I love that they serve iced milk tea-- it's a staple to any Hong Kong restaurant, and all day dim sum--which is a Cantonese cuisine. Some of my favorites include dim sum chicken feet, sticky rice wrapped in lotus leaf, and BBQ pork buns. My only wish was that they made normal size BBQ pork buns, as that is how they are suppose to be eaten-- large mouthfuls of BBQ pork filling and fluffy white, sweetened bread. The BBQ pork buns here are literally the size of a half dollar, when they should be the size of the entire dim sum steamer. My favorite dishes include the stir fried ong choy (water spinach, which I cannot find in any of the asian markets to cook myself), salt and pepper pork chop or shrimp with heads attached, black bean dishes, and hot pot dishes. The food always comes out fresh, and flavorful. There is that special Cantonese taste, that I really cannot describe in words, which just oozes out of each ordered dish. The majority of the dishes are made clean, with little oils, which is a much healthier option than standardized American Chinese. As I had mentioned prior, the diner is small, so be prepared to either wait for 20+ minutes, or be seated at a large, round table with complete strangers. Dishes are served home style, so order several dishes and share with your party. Wait staff are very quick, and always come by to check up on you--probably a little too much as the Chinese are hospitable and 'in your face'.
(4)meli l.
THIS PLACE IS SO WEIRD AND GREAT! I mean, who serves dim sum all day?! Just the ABC Cafe, man. And it is GOOD, reasonably priced, delicious dim sum. My favorites are the stuffed tofu (stuffed with what? I have no idea. Fairy dust and unicorn meat, I guess), the rice in lotus leaf and the cheesey shrimp roll things. Go with a big group of friends and share so that you can try everything. Enjoy your bucket of soda or tasty hot tea. And be sure to save room for dessert. They're ALL wonderful.
(5)John K.
The I am no expert but it seems the only authentic Asian food in the entire KC area. Great hours too, open late. A perfect ending to a night out with a special someone. Have eaten there three times and each one was a hit with my family...the Fish stuffed Eggplant was new to us and for me to swoon over an eggplant dish of any kind is rare. Definitely worth a try.
(5)Joanna M.
ABC Cafe is, by far, the most authentic Chinese food that I have ever had in Kansas City. It's Southern Chinese in style and has a variety of dim sum (small tasty appetizers similar to tapas) to choose from. When I found chicken feet on the menu, I knew I was in for the real deal. My friends and I did family style and ordered chicken and eggplant, shrimp and veggies, squid in black bean sauce, and the ABC chicken. Everything was well seasoned and not at all overly sweet and sauced in that typical Americanized Chinese food way. My only complaint was over the ABC Chicken which was this sweet and sour fried chicken combo that was reminiscent of General Tso's, Panda Express orange chicken, etc. etc. Definitely not my cup of tea, and I will probably never order that again. We came late on a Saturday night, at around 9:30pm, and had to wait about 25 minutes to get a party of 4 seated. After ordering, our food took about 20 minutes. It was a long time to wait for food certainly, but very very much worth it. I know no other restaurants in KC that are even on par with ABC.. I will patiently wait every time, stare at the patrons in the window and drool over their food, because it's seriously just that good, dangit.
(4)Wasula K.
Recently moved into KC. I would not give this 5 stars, if the place was in Houston. The place has pretty good Chinese food.
(5)Kerry P.
Oh how I love ABC Cafe. Don't be discouraged by the exterior as 'ABC Café' doesn't necessarily scream Authentic Chinese food...but trust me on this - this place is delicious and very authentic! As you walk in, it's fairly small with 3 large round tables in the center and tables lined up against the perimeters of the restaurant with mini TV's that play foreign Chinese shows. Once you get seated, they welcome you with a complimentary pot of hot Chinese tea - so if you like tea, definitely try it. This place offers a menu of dim sum items all day for $2.88, soups from 4.88-5.88 and dishes range from 8.88-15.88. It's all fairly priced for what you get. Some of my favorites are: Chicken feet with black bean sauce Steamed pig feet Beef short ribs with black pepper sauce Siu Mai Fried tofu with black sauce Fatty pork with preserved vegetable hot pot Salt and pepper shrimp Ginger and onion salty chicken Salt and pepper soft shell crab Porridge with salty fritter stick Overall, this place is awesome. I've had great service every time and the food is very tasty. If you want to sample a variety of the dishes, I'd recommend coming with a big group of people - that way you can just split the bill evenly and it doesn't hurt the wallet! Just a note: This place is closed on Tuesdays!
(5)Kent Jacob S.
Having lived in Southern California for more than 17 years of my life, I have grown accustomed to authentic Chinese restaurants. I have to say that ABC café is one of the few in the Kansas City area that can be labeled as an authentic Chinese Restaurant. To be specific, ABC Café serves Cantonese cuisine so don't expect Panda Express type dishes. The menu is not separated into meats, rice, noodles, or starters. Instead, it is structured into different price ranges. You have dim sum that ranges from $2.88 per dish to $5.88 per dish. The main entrees (or labeled as Specialties) are broken down into $7.88 to $10.88 price ranges. Notice that the prices end in the number 8, a lucky number in Chinese culture. Their dim sum is served all day but not via traditional carts. It is made to order like other dishes. The dim sum is quite good. I prefer it much more than Bo Ling's, which is the only other restaurant that I know of that serves dim sum. The siu mai (steamed dumplings) is my favorite. I have heard that the chicken feet is also good. There are other typical dim sum dishes such as BBQ pork buns, scallion pancakes, egg tarts, etc. Other dishes worth mentioning: -ABC chicken: kind of a mix of orange chicken and sweet & sour chicken. Pretty good -Salted fish hot pot: delicious flavor and served in a hot pot so be careful. -chow fun: a very good blend of noodles and soy sauce based seasoning. -Salt & pepper tofu: my favorite as it is hard to season tofu well in my opinion. -shrimp & egg fried rice: good amount of garlic and seasoning but I wish the shrimp was de-veined. As with most Chinese foods, you will be consuming a hefty amount of oil. That is why they serve you Jasmine tea instead of water, a must in Chinese cuisine. Of course, you can request water or order pop products. The service is pretty good. I overheard a party complaining at a table in front of me about a mistake in their to-go order and the owner came by and was very apologetic and even offered them free dishes. Chinese hospitality! ABC Café is a restaurant that I can frequent as I crave authentic Chinese food on a regular bases. The only negative I find is the very small location. I wish they would expand to a larger space as it is difficult to find a seat during high peak service.
(4)Ryan H.
The quality of food has gone down over the years. Fish isn't as good as it has been in the past, beef chow fun isn't that good either with very bland taste,price increased, portion decreased. the chicken feet just taste like rubber... Disappointed.
(2)Bobbi T.
Everyone I know loves this place. I just can't seem to get into it. I keep trying other items on the menu but I still haven't found anything worth coming back for. I'm not giving up on the restaurant yet though.
(2)Zac A.
Anything with the XO sauce is fantastic! My personal favorite was the XO sauce turnip cake. Highly recommend this authentic Chinese restaurant. And very reasonably priced.
(4)Jeff B.
Sorry. Did not like it. Chicken with random sized bones, mystery meat, bland flavors. Cannot see what everyone else is raving about. Maybe the dim sum is better, but we ordered from their main courses. Immediately felt sick after leaving. Can't recommend to anyone.
(1)Matt E.
At least as far as this white-boy can tell, ABC is pretty dang authentic Chinese food. I mean, by no means am I an expert (after all, I'm quite the fan of Hy-Vee's Chinese Kitchen, which doesn't bode well for my authority) but it definitely at least FEELS more real than some of my standards (Bo Ling's, Red Dragon, whomever will deliver to my house at any given moment. Either way, authentic or not, I really enjoy ABC Cafe and look forward to returning. Bucking trends and expectations, we opted for ABC Cafe on Valentine's Day, which turned out to be a great idea. They were busy as expected, and we were sat at a communal table, which we were fine with. 3 other couples in various stages of their meals said hello, we made quick pleasantries and then dove into the menu. It was unlike anything I've seen. First of all, I'm a dim sum virgin, and ABC Cafe does has it whenever they're open. We were excited to sample a few new things that (to us at least) were more exotic. I can't even recall the name of the majority of options we tried, all at $2.95 or $3.95 per order. I'm a big fan of buns, and their pork variety were delicious. I also really enjoyed the singapore noodles, which they say are spicy, but I wouldn't agree. Flavorful, to be sure, but minimal heat. We didn't go so brave as to try things like the chicken feet, but they're there if you're interested. Service was efficient and for an authentic Asian restaurant, quite polite. It wasn't nearly as no-nonsense as I've experienced in other establishments, and they are always on top of water and tea (which comes free, btw) refills. We didn't wait too long, and they tiered our order so that we always had something to munch on. I wish this was my neighborhood Chinese spot, as it'd be ideal for easy carry out. You win this round, Overland Park...
(4)Tim T.
We came today and foods wasn't the same...we ordered 10 things and everything were either not fully marinated and no taste or too oily...idk if it was the same chef but very disappointed..!!!
(2)Susan R.
Like Teresa from Des Moines, I am so happy to have found ABC Cafe! I couldn't quit saying that last night -- "I'm so happy!" -- after my husband took me there. He's been raving about it since he went there a few weeks ago. I've been to Mexican restaurants where the clientele speaks only Spanish, and everyone knows everyone in the restaurant. That's a sign of delicious and authentic Mexican food. ABC Cafe is the first Chinese restaurant I've been to where I've seen this dynamic. I felt like I was in a Chinese home, with many friends stopping by. A lot of the conversations I overheard were in Chinese, with the occasional English of something like "fried beef intestines." Yes, this is authentic Chinese food, complete with chicken feet on the dim sum menu. I'm not too adventurous so I stuck with egg drop soup (enough for 4 or 5 people!) and steamed pork dumplings. My husband had chicken fried rice (another huge portion, enough for leftovers) and red bean puffs, a delicious sweet pastry that served as dessert. The dumplings were the fattest I've ever had, and delicious. The chicken-fried rice was somehow much lighter and more flavorful than any other fried rice I've ever had. And the food is pretty cheap. I think our four dishes cost less than $20, and we took a lot of food home. ABC also serves free hot tea. A little watery, but free -- and you can pretend to read your husband's tea leaves when he's done.
(5)Julius C.
The food here is a favorite for my entire family. The authentic Chinese menu complete with Cantonese dishes and dim sum (served all hours and everyday) is awesome. Any of the salt and pepper dishes (pork, fried tofu, and shrimp with heads on) are great with a blend of crunch and spice with diced jalapeno peppers. The reason this place doesn't get full stars is because this place is too small, too popular, has an odd layout and is closed on Tuesday/Wednesday (who does that?). This little hole in the wall occupies the eastern corner of a strip mall dominated by a liquor store next door. When you step in, there's a line of 4 and 2 seat tables lining the western wall, there's about 2 or 3 4 seat tables next to the window. Then there's two huge circular tables that probably seat 10 people each and they take up most of the middle of the room. Now, if your party is about four to five people and all the tables along the wall and the window are all taken, it's likely that you'll have to sit on one of those two big circular tables and likely share that table with another party. I would think that this place would be better served with 4 or 5 more smaller tables in place of the two circular tables, but that's just me. Anyway to solve the popularity and smallness of the place, we now usually order take out. But you should dine at this place at least once. You can look around, eat your non-Americanized chinese food, watch the Food Network with Chinese subtitles on the 7 flat screen t.v.s, and feel like you're not eating in America.
(4)Alena L.
Love love the owners. The staff knows the usual of what my family orders when we come -"chicken feet" "fatty braised pork" "beef tendon" to name a few. Their cuisine is authentic Cantonese and more than satisfying to foreigners trying new things! This is where we go to get a fix of homeland's meals.
(5)Hailey B.
My family and I are regulars here! Awesome food and very nice owners. It is a small restaurant but well worth it. You are served hot tea automatically which I love! I've loved everything I have tried. My favorite is the Mapo Tofu ! Awesome awesome food. Definitely recommend this place. On my way there now for dinner actually :) PS: the Mexican man who helps fill up your drinks and takes your items away is super nice and friendly! Sorry I forgot his name :/
(5)Kev L.
I went to Hong Kong in 2012 and had the time of my life eating authentic Cantonese food. After experiencing the real thing, and having visited ABC Cafe another 50 times since, I can say this is truly authentic 100% Cantonese food. The only thing that can make this place more authentic is Victoria Harbor sitting in the parking lot and taking the Star Ferry to Quik Trip when done stuffing yourself endlessly. Try everything. Eat everything. even the chicken feet, Nothing here taste bad. NOTHING.
(5)Lilly B.
Love, love the food, XO chicken wings are my favorite. Chicken feet are good too. Beef chow fun - delicious. Chicken fried rice - great. Have not tried any of their fish dishes but they look promising as well. Do not like that the place is tiny.
(4)Meghan M.
Oof. What a sadly disappointing experience. Let me preface this with...I was so stinking excited to eat at this place. I had heard about it on the local food radio show. I read the raving reviews. I bookmarked it, and when I realized it was in my new neck of the woods I was soooooo excited. When I arrived and saw mostly Asian families, I was even more excited. When I read the menu and saw all the authentic items, I almost peed myself with more excitement. I thought it was going to be the most amazing new gem I found in the 'burbs. I'm so sad to say it was not. :( A few contingencies of the review--- It was 12:30 on a Saturday. ABC was full. We expected a wait, but I did not expect to wait AN HOUR for 3 dim sum and a hot pot. It was entirely too long. We saw other people served within 20 minutes or less of ordering. So I'm guessing that either the kitchen was ludicrously backed up OR our order was forgotten, but nobody wanted to admit that to us. The service (besides food service) was fine. Not a lot of communication, and no one seemed to realize we had been waiting way too long for our food. However, they did tend to our table, drinks, and initial order very quickly. With amazing food, I could've overlooked a lot of this stuff, but the food was just okay. We enjoyed the eggplant dim sum (simple but good) and curry beef puff. The eggplant chicken hot pot was surprisingly flavorless (especially compared to Vietnam Cafe hot pot---I know, different country, different cuisine, but still way too bland). The stuffed tofu was also disappointing. The pros of this place: Authenticity, offer of Dim Sum, Inexpensive Dim Sum!!, Delicious eggplant dishes, refreshing diversity for OP, preferred over BoLings dim sum in price & authenticity. I'm hoping this was a fluke. I'm hoping I'm able to get my hubs back here again for a re-do, but I'm not sure if that will happen. Next time, I would choose my dining time wisely, and I may even opt for call ahead-carry out (but even those ppl were waiting for their dishes).
(3)Mai H.
Nice find. Authentic Chinese food. Had fish proidge, chinese donuts, spare ribs, sui mai and beef stew noodles. Good flavors, fresh food. Lemon ice tea was okay, skip the milk tea, it looked and tasted watered down. Owners were friendly.
(4)Steve C.
Ok...having grown up with DimSum I was excited to try the ABC Cafe. The portions are small compared to what I am used to. That's too bad considering they make things fresh here. The Fatty pork in preserved veg had great flavor, although the pork was a little tough. The place is packed with Asians so the authenticity is obviously good for the local Chinese community . But coming from Toronto and now LA I think I've been spoilt for Chinese cuisine.
(3)Shawn B.
Did I order the wrong thing? I had the chicken with chinese vegetables. I got some pieces of chicken with lots of bok choy, a few carrot slices, and a few mushrooms. That's it, nothing else, and I mean nothing. There was no spices or sauces in it. It was absolutely devoid of any flavor. I put it atop the white rice and tried flavoring it with the soy sauce and the hot sauce on the table. I could do that anywhere! Jeesh, a little salt and pepper on it would have been something. It would figure that I go to a place that is supposed to be authentic and I order THE lamest thing on the menu. And yes, I have had authentic before. I've eaten the chicken feet and had the beef tendons, donkey, and probably some things I don't want to know about. Very disappointed after reading the reviews. Not sure I'll go back.
(2)Jennifer L.
When I first moved to KC, I asked every person I met where is a good authentic Chinese food place. Mutliple people reccomended ABC cafe so I tried a couple of times but I just don't seem to love it. I like it but....every trip, there are always issues with some dishes. I will go in details below. 1) The atmosphere: there are limited sitting, I think it is awkwardly arranged. They did the best with the space they had. If you are a party of 2 (which is always my husband and I), you may get the 2 great tables by the window or you get a seat close to the bathroom or right by the door. This is frustrating for me, I love people watching. I cannot concentrate on dinner conversations if I am examining every person coming into the door!! Okay maybe it is just my issue. 2) The service: normal, nothing to complain about. Nice and informative on the menu. They deliver the food fast and down to a science. 3) The food: Here comes the problem. There is always something wrong with the food! This review will get too long if I review every dish I ordered. I will just review them in categories. -Dimsum: this option is available all day long (which i lovvve!). 85% of the dishes tastes great but always 15% have issues. For example, I ordered the BBQ pork buns. It is clearly frozen from a package cause I have the same package at my house. Not even that, it is not evenly heated thru. You really served me that? -Fresh seafood: I love all the steam fish, they are so great. Please don't get intimtated by the whole fish, it is so tastey! I love the soy sauce base flavor, yummmm. The steam oysters are amazing too! -Noodles/fried rice: they taste amazing and not overly oily. Cantonese cooking can have that issue but it is all flavorful and great texture. Great portion! -Veggie stir fry: another reason why I am giving a low rating, it is always overcooked. I always order the water spinach the leaves are easily overcooked. It happens everytime, I really should order something else. -Meat dishes: all great flavors and great portion sizes. My favorite dish is the garlic and ginger steam chicken. You can taste the chicken flavor with a great sharp sauce. Also Beijing beef, omg so yummy! Conclusion, I like this place but not love it. I will go there for my craving due to the great prices and portions. This place is a little bit far from my house so I will not go out of my way to go there. However, I will reccomended to go try the place. It is worth a visit to try some authentic Asian dishes.
(3)Jason G.
This is truly one of my favorite places. Don't be fooled by the strip center ambiance. This is the way Chinese food (Cantonese specifically) should be. ABC is to KC Chinese food as Bonita Michoacan is to Mexican. Authentic. Too many great things to list. This is not your overtly salty MSG laden Americanized Chinese restaurant thus some visitors may be initially "put off". Put on your adventurous hat and give this place a whirl (if you can get a table). Dim sum is available always and selection is wonderful. Entree's are superb. I love to get a side of Chinese Broccoli with my orders. I can't say enough about this great place. This is complicated food done simply. If I had my way...I'd eat here weekly.
(5)Ci C.
Great food all around. If you want a mom and pop dine in experience this is the place to be.
(5)Christopher O.
Recently my husband and I moved to OP. We decided that we were going to try to local restaurants because when in Rome... One day whilst fighting a craving for Chinese food, I came across this restaurant and knew that it would need to go on the list of places to try. It did not disappoint. I am not, nor do I speak Chinese. I don't know what dim sum means, but if i had to wager a guess, I would say that it probably means "this food is delicious and you're going to think about it for days after and crave it and through this delicious food, we just made you our bitch". It's been four days and I'm still thinking about the shrimp shu mai and how I would like just one more to hold me over until my next visit. Besides that we had the pot stickers, prawns and walnuts in mayonnaise sauce, scallion pancakes and curry beef puffs. It was all very good. I wanted to order more, but after all that, we were so full we couldn't handle anymore. If I had to give two complaints, they would be as follows: -prawns and walnuts in mayonnaise sauce was a little mayonnaise-y for my tastes. That's not their fault, it my tongue's fault. -The tea. I am not a fan of any form of tea, but felt obligated to try it since it was offered. Yup, it tasted like tea. Again, it's my tongue's fault, not theirs. This place is great, but please don't go there too often, because I don't want you taking a seat that I could have sat in when I go there for dinner. Just check with me first and I'll let you know if you're allowed to dine there at that time. Thanks!
(4)C L.
Got my dim sum on last night. Everything I tried was good: pork bun, coconut bun, shrimp dumpling, stuffed eggplant. The pork bun and eggplant were excellent. I also had steamed red snapper, which was cheap and good, but nothing special. The minced beef & cilantro soup was good, and the beef fried rice was great. There was a bit of a wait and seating was cramped, but the food makes it worth the trouble. Plus, everything was so darn cheap. Two thumbs up.
(4)Sriharsha P.
This place is constantly packed. The dim sum Is fantastic and never gets old. They do need to institute a special dish but there are several options to make your favorite.
(4)Bebo A.
So we ended up going here on Thanksgiving Day when everything was pretty much closed. We were seated promptly and offered hot tea which is complimentary. We ordered egg drop soup and vege spring roll for appetizer. Soup was 10/10 and spring roll 7/10. Then, entree we ordered shrimp and egg with fried rice and peking fried shrimp with white rice. Completely disappointed with both dishes. The fried rice dish was not at all fried rice. The rice were overcooked. The crispy shrimp were no way crispy and just did not live up to our expectations. Our total came out to $33.04. We ended up giving the food to homeless people. Excellent service though which makes me give it 2 star.
(2)Mark H.
Too much MSG is what I feel after eating there. We ordered seafood hot pot with little seafood but some chicken meat. What's chicken meat doing there, since it's a seafood hot pot? The other things we ordered are fish wrapped in tofu, chicken feet, and fried shrimp roll with cheese. There was no fish in the fish wrap but meat, also there's hardly any shrimp in the shrimp roll. Why did they put meat in everything?
(3)Scott T.
Those people on Yelp in my friend list? I'm starting to doubt they truly care for me because THEY KEPT THIS A SECRET FROM ME. My problem? Just returned from two weeks in NYC and got spoiled by all of the good food in Chinatown, but even more so, in Flushing (Queens) at the end of the 7 subway stop, the premier place in the U.S. for Chinese food in my opinion (L.A. and San Francisco diners roll their eyes). I happen to be driving by on Sunday, see the sign and think, "oh, I've never noticed that restaurant." Check Yelp. STOP. What's this, people on my friend list RAVING about them. 24 hours later my family is seated here for dinner. The heavens open, angelic voices are heard, the choir strikes up... sorry, that's the muzak from the Beer Cave next door. Out comes a feast of far too much for three: House hot tea Dim Sum selections of Dumplings, Chicken Feet in black bean sauce (tastes like... chicken) and chicken wings (guessing here) marinated in fish sauce, sugar and garlic, sprinkled with hot peppers (jalapeno), cilantro, green onions and lettuce. All to die for. Large bowl of egg drop soup Large bowl white rice Entrees: Chicken and Eggplant hot pot comes out bubbling from the heat, Salt and Pepper Shrimp, and Chicken ABC. Chinese beers There was not a single miss in this meal, agreed upon by three experienced diners. So good I'm not even going to attempt to tell you because I just don't care. Pictures? Forget it. The head was down working on the food and too busy. I just know I will be back to try everything on the menu. Total tab before tip for three with eyes bigger than our stomachs: $55. A steal for this much food, but it'll happily serve as lunch today. See ya soon, ABC. Tip: bring a large group. They can seat tables of 6-8 and the dishes are so good (and large) that it makes for a festive time.
(5)Diana L.
Since I'm from California, there's plenty of Chinese restaurants around and I can say that their food is pretty authentic. I tried their wontons with soup and it was pretty delicious. It has shrimp inside and a generous portion of meat so those wontons aren't the cheapy kind. The peas with pork something I really like and the pork is very tender. Whenever I'm out eating with my family, I always get the fatty pork with preserved vegetables, and I tried it out here, it's just as good as the ones in LA. Not the healthiest thing, but I'd say it's worth trying. The place isn't very big, but it's kept pretty clean. I went at an off time but I heard that this place gets packed during lunch and dinner. Aside from me ranting how good (and affordable!) the food is, their food is a little salty for my taste so if you're like me, maybe tell the ahead of time to add less sodium. Overall, nice place and friendly staff and highly recommended for some good Chinese food.
(4)Judy L.
I had to come here after seeing all these great reviews from fellow Yelpers. I got there before the crowd, so good timing for me. It is a small mom and pop place, total of 11 tables, and super friendly staff. I ordered the ice milk-tea. The flavors are all there, but it was warm and melted the ice down so it became watered down. =( I ordered the Chicken Chow Mein and Pork Pot Stickers. Both were great! The food is authentic Cantonese food.
(4)Ginger A.
I really don't even want to review this place because pretty much everyone else who has reviewed it seems to be an expert and/or knows 1,000 times more about it than I do! BUT...it was so delicious and a great lunch experience, I have to put my Yelping two cents in with a five star review. My husband recommended it after a previous visit. He loves their squid in XO sauce. I went for the shrimp in mayo-sauce with walnuts and it was weirdly fantastic. The sauce was pretty much straight mayo, which I did not expect...but on a bed of lettuce, with perfect rice and huge delicious shrimp and a few amazing candied walnuts...divine. I'll crave it again in the future and would also love to try some of their dim dum offerings. Very small and cozy, but clean and efficient. Great place!!
(5)Tony B.
1400 on Saturday Dimsum Siu mai was good 5/5 Chicken pot sticker 4/5 Bbq pork bun 4/5 Black bean beef knuckle 5/5 Entree Salt and pepper pork chop 5/5 Service Fast and efficient 5/5 This place is good! Will definitely be coming back!
(5)Tuff C.
The best authentic Chinese food in KC. Ambient is good and clean. The highlight is of course the food. Will definitely come back again!
(5)Pam T.
My fiancé and I were a little disappointed. Although the customer service was right on point, I was expecting the food to taste much better based on the reviews. After reviewing the menu, I ordered the shrimp fried rice to play it safe and he ordered the sweet and sour chicken. Both dishes surprisingly lacked flavor. We wasted most of it. We also ordered the stuff eggplant and pot stickers. Those were both great! I couldn't finish the eggplant due to the texture, but I wouldn't mind ordering them again as a dish to share. Speaking of sharing, the portions are pretty big so, if you don't have much of an appetite, consider sharing an entree. Also, the dining room is really small! I can't imagine how packed it is on a busy day. We went on a Wednesday night, so it wasn't too bad.
(3)mark d.
Really good authentic Chinese food, have read the poo-poo-ers reviews and maybe Dim Sum is not for them......
(5)Stephanie C.
This place is the real deal. Just moved from NY and it beats Chinatown restaurant readily in the flavor, quality and service dept. The salt and pepper shrimp is to die for, love the mango pudding, and the free hot tea is great. The cucumber salad is pretty great to add something healthy and light to a meal of fried goodness:)
(5)Daniel H.
This place had pretty good authentic Chinese food. There wasn't a lot of tables and it was pretty busy when I came here around 7pm to meet a bunch of other people. The menu had pictures for most of the pages and I thought it was really helpful to see a picture of what should be coming out. We ordered a lot so I don't remember what was what except the really obvious ones like Beef Chow Fun. They served dim sum all day and there was 18 dishes to choose from at $2.88 per dish. Everything else on the menu was inexpensive for the amount given. If you want authentic Chinese food, then come here to ABC Cafe. Their hours: Monday - Sunday: 12pm to 12am Tuesday: Closed
(4)Adam B.
Kansas City has a fairly good selection of restaurants that serve Dim Sum ... but few offer it everyday (well, almost everyday!) and serving till midnight!!!!! ABC Cafe is the exception to the rule. And for those of us in the know? That's a totally good thing! I have no pictures for this review; I'll do that on future visits. Needless to say, I've visited this restaurant on a few occasions, & have yet to find a dish that I don't love (well, the fatty pork is a bit challenging to eat, but it DOES taste good!) Tip right up front: next door, is a store called Beer Cave. Please note: ABC Cafe (I think) serves a few beers, but they DO allow you to bring in beer or wine (possibly other alcohol?) to have with your dinner. That's sooooo awesome! I was thinking of bringing sake next time (although Shawn gave me a funny look, but I like pairing different drinks with different cuisines!) There's no corkage fee (that I'm aware of), so it's a good way to try a new wine with your Dim Sum (they provide glasses too.) Dishes come out as they're prepared, & even on busy nights, the dishes seem to come out very quickly. The staff are always helpful & polite (although at time direct with you -- don't let that upset you, they're busy, you can't blame them!) The only downside is, it's a very small space, so if it's full, be prepared to get very friendly with the table right inside the door, cause that's how close you're standing to them. But wait for this kind of food? Oh yeah, it's worth it!!!!!
(5)Lisa Y.
So good. This place reminds me of home. Great food just like the ones you get in Alhambra and Monterey Park in California....,yummy, so yummy in my tummy.
(5)B M.
Loved it!!! It's been a while, and quite some distance from NY, for me to say that the food was as authentic as the old 'hood. Though not as big as some other patrons would like, it can accommodate about 10 tables of diners. Unfortunately, for folks unfamiliar with the Chinese dim sum style of seating, you'll have to share a large round table with total strangers. But hey - that's as authentic as it gets. So all the reviews complaining about lack of tables, are probably due to the table sharing, and let's be honest, maybe the larger sized American diet physique. The food, however, is on point, unparalleled, and absolutely delish! If you're expecting sweet and sour shrimp, General Tso's or moo shu pork pancakes, maybe they'll have it (didn't look for them), but you'd be missing the best part of the menu. The steamed choy (greens), and various chicken and fish in green onion/ginger sauce, garlic bean sauce, and any sauce other than "brown" sauce is worthwhile. Try the Beef Chow Fun (wet gravy), which is the kids' favorite, and contains the requisite Chinese broccoli. Their dim sum is good too; char siu, shrimp dumplings, turnip cakes, scallion pancakes. I think they have rice congee (jook or Filipino lugaw) which have preserved duck eggs and scallions. I was just happy to have real Chinese food this side of the Mississippi, and not have to travel into TX. They have table side TVs on one wall that were playing some Taiwanese TV (I think), so that was funny - even though I don't usually like TV distractions when we dine. Total tab for the 5 of us, several dim sum plates, beef chow fun, won ton soup, shrimp and walnut in cream sauce, and ong choy - $50ish. I could have 2 meals here and still come in under the pricing of Bo Lings at the Plaza location. Definitely not as swanky, but a must go-to for authentic and authentically priced Chinese food.
(5)Zach G.
Closed Tuesday? Who the heck closes Tuesday?!?! Aside from that, this place is awesome. If you like authentic Chinese food, this is the best I have had in Kansas City. It even beats my all-so-great Szechwan Dynasty in Olathe. I have been to China many times, and the food here is very, very similar in taste and smell. For lunch, I had a noodle soup with brisket and a dim sum of scallion pancakes. The noodle soup had such a great flavor and a bunch of meat (but it's meat full of fat and tendon, which is just like it is in China, but may not be your thing if you don't like true Chinese food). The scallion pancake wasn't quite like what I have had in China, but very similar (and is of course a regional thing, so the scallion pancake I've had in China is regionally different than this scallion pancake, but nonetheless authentic). Service was fine - not friendly, but not rude, and done efficiently and quickly. Everything came out quick. The noodle soup and dim sum was just over $8 with tax, and I was stuffed. The restaurant is small and kind of cramped, but clean. It's filled with many Chinese, which is always a good sign!
(5)Kay L.
Not sure why I haven't reviewed this place yet... This is simply the best Chinese food in JoCo, and possibly KC. Freshest, most authentic, best prepared, the full monty. The restaurant itself is the opposite of hole-in-the-wall, despite being a smallish storefront, with its cheerful peachy decor and its friendly staff. Other reviewers have already vouched for the authenticity of the menu, so let me just add my voice to the chorus of folks crying, "Great dim sum!" The thinly-sliced beef tendon is particularly delicious. In short, get yourself down here in the 'burbs. It's cheaper than flying to Chinatown.
(5)Chia Wei C.
The dishes are really good! Also, the service is awesome too! Especially the little boy who always delivers the dishes with a charming smile.
(5)H C.
Not your typical Chinese restaurant in America! This place is great. And worthy of some experimentation to try new things. My boyfriend and I had some things we loved, some things we didn't (they were cooked well, just wasn't my thing). The only drawback - too many tvs.
(4)Steve W.
My wife and I were introduced to the ABC Cafe last evening. Some friends put us on to this restaurant with high recommendations. We were not disappointed. Having only experienced Americanized Chinese restaurants before we found this authentic Chinese restaurant exciting and exotic. We loved the variety of choices on the menu and the service was right on. It is was very busy but the wait staff easily handled the pace and the prices are reasonable. We can't wait to go back. Keep in mind that the restaurant is small so it is possible to have a wait but any wait will be worth it.
(5)t w.
Darn it! The first two times I ate here it was very, very good. The third time may have just been an 'off' night for the chef, because the dim sum wasn't up to its usual delishness. Grease overload. I do love the atmosphere though, and the wait staff is super sharp and attentive. Also, the TV's are a great gimmick. Will definitely return, as well as recommend.
(4)Brandon C.
In town on business, this place sounded amazing. I walked in, and was immediately told it's be 10-15 minutes for a table for one. Never mind the fact that there were 4 open tables. Granted, they were bigger tables, and I get it. I worked in the restaurant industry for a number of years and you want to save those for larger parties. Larger parties = bigger checks. However, when a party of two walks in and you're solution is to seat us all together, I'm going to have to decline. I'm sorry. No, I don't want to have my dinner with two kids I've never met. You have no idea how much food, I may or may not eat and how big my check may or may not eat. Don't be so picky about your customers. So, guess I won't be trying ABC this trip. Maybe next time, but somehow I doubt my meager party of one would ever get a table.
(1)Ashery G.
Authentic food, great service, and great prices. Had the salt and pepper pork chop entree and several dim sum. Food is fresh and flavorful. Definitely worth stopping here if you are craving good Chinese food.
(5)Kim U.
LOVE IT! You might have to wait if you go on a busy Friday or Saturday night but it is worth the wait. Great authentic food! Love the oysters with black bean sauce, Shanghai noodles, and the appetizers for $2.00!
(5)Alex T.
ABC Cafe easily has the best Chinese food I've ever tasted. I've been to some pretty darn good and authentic chinese restaurants in my time, as well. The flavors just blow my mind. Every single thing I've had here has been outstanding. The shrimp wontons in chili sauce, though "only" an appetizer, is probably one of my favorite dishes on the reasonably long list of foods I've had. The balance of the savory green onion and chili sauce, freshness of the cilantro, and briny flavor of the shrimp is about the best thing ever. My personal favorites on the menu so far are the Singapore noodles, the sticky rice, and the spare ribs in black bean sauce, but I still have about half the menu to try. I don't really care about service when the food is this good, but it is excellent, as well. You'll seldom find your glass empty, and the servers are attentive, despite how busy the place usually is. FInally, a warning: wimpy eaters beware. If you don't like (delicious!) mystery meat parts, order carefully. Some of the dishes contain what you may not consider "meat," strictly speaking, like chunks of fat and intestines and blood vessels and whatnot. You're eating at an authentic restaurant, after all. On the other hand, you could opt to dig in with blissful ignorance and enjoy the party in your mouth. By the way, the food here is also fairly inexpensive and is open until midnight every day except Tuesday. You really can't go wrong.
(5)Melissa B.
Every time that we have came here we've been with a big group. Excellent service the food comes out really fast! The employees are really nice. Even though they are busy they make sure to come refill out waters and check up on us. We start off with the Crab meat fish moe soup and that is amazing!! Abc chicken is very popular here. Their food all taste really good you'll have to go in and try yourself.
(5)Munro R.
I only recently discovered ABC Cafe when a friend introduced me for lunch. I tend to stick to restaurants in the core of KC--City Market, Downtown, Westport, 39th Street, Brookside, etc.) ABC has convinced me that I can't forget about our friends on the other side of the state line and in the suburbs. What a gem! Like other Yelpers, I agree that the name of the restaurant and physical exterior belie the great Chinese culinary delights to be found inside. The food here is as authentic as anything I've had in NYC, San Francisco, Taipei, and Shanghai. My friend, who used to live in Southern China for a spell, told me it was very authentic Cantonese cuisine. My friend and I split three dishes: Singapore noodles (vegetarian), Salt and Pepper Tofu, and Chinese spinach (kong qing cai). All three dishes were really excellent. The flavor of each dish was very authentic; I couldn't wait for the next bite. There are so many other yummy dishes on the menu that I want to try. I'm looking forward to returning already.
(4)Ann W.
Dim sum, anyone? ABC Cafe has some tasty inexpensive dim sum which is one of my favorite fun meals. The service is friendly and the atmosphere is strange. Every exterior table has a small television on the wall at it showing Chinese television. That's a bit kitschy and fun the first couple of times, but it can also be a bit distracting. Otherwise, the place is pretty spare in terms of decor aside from pictures of food offerings on the walls. The biggest challenge with this place is timing. It can be difficult to get a table at dinner rush and there's really nowhere to wait, so people tend to crowd just inside the doorway, so you really don't want to be at the table just inside the door. The food here is really pretty tasty, though. It's not my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area, but it's definitely in my top three.
(4)Mambo G.
This place ain't BoLings. It Ain't P.F.Changs on the Plaza, either. It ain't even those chain style Chinese restaurants with the backlit photos of the entree you wish to not have to properly pronounce in Chinese, but merely point and say "I want a number 4!" It is none of these places. And looking at it, you would likely just drive right past it unless you were stopping at the liquor store next to it.... And if you drove past it, you might as well have driven past the BEST Chinese restaurant ever!!!!..... (& i do not say that lightly....having been to Sanfrancisco, NY, and lived in major East coast cities. If you are a foodie over everything else.....eat here! They will do MSG free upon request also. It is AMAZING. Period!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Ben L.
Went for the first time with some friends who treated us for dinner on 6/13/14. All I can say is, the food was really good. I havent had authentic Chinese food in a while especially living in Kansas City. We ate family style and ordered about 10 dishes (I think). I dont remember the names of the dishes because someone else ordered the food. Food came out on time and the waiter always checked up on us and always filled our water. At the end, we had a lot of leftovers and they were able to pack it to go. I would come back again.
(4)Amy E.
Love this place! And I will have a slightly difficult time explaining why. I've only particularly liked about half the dishes that Sweetie and I've ordered. (We've visited 5 times, and have tried at least 15 different items, including the dim sum.) The rest, for us, weren't that great. But I'm still very glad that we ordered them. Confused? Hmmm... I will attempt to explain. First, the menu is interesting. Truly interesting. Not the same ol' choices that you find in most "Chinese" or "Asian" restaurants. I love reading through the multi-page menu, looking at the (slightly out-of-focus) photos, and trying to decide, from among the many choices, what to order. I've seldom been so intrigued by a menu. Second, and I must STRESS this clearly, while many American palates (even those accustomed to eating various types of ethnic food) are not suited to some of ABC's dishes, the food is very well prepared. Fresh and good. So, it isn't the food that is the problem, but simply an unfamiliarity with it. For instance, we tried a pork and fish hot pot. Turns out, it didn't contains chunks of fish, but rather was flavored with a rancid (yes, that's correct) fish paste. I love all sorts of strange and odd flavors, but that rancid fish didn't taste particularly good to me. But the hot pot was well-prepared. To someone accustomed to consuming such a flavor, it would have been quite good. (To be clear, when I say rancid fish, I'm not talking about a regular old fish sauce flavor, like nuoc mam. I'm talking rancid.) Other dishes, while not off-putting, seemed bland, or odd. A salty ginger chicken consisted of an entire boiled chicken (boiled to moist perfection) that was hacked crosswise into bony slices, and served with a little bowl of oil mixed with freshly grated ginger and shredded scallions. Not particularly good, not particularly bad. The chicken had no flavoring of any kind, not even a hint of salt, while the dipping (ladling?) sauce was harsh with ginger and way too salty. But, again, the dish was very well prepared. My palate simply isn't accustomed to such a thing. One more example (though I could give more). The minced fish wrapped in tofu skins was fine, but the elastic quality of the skins wasn't particularly appetizing. But again, you know what's coming, we simply aren't used to such a thing. Some dishes that we didn't expect to be good were quite tasty. For example, fried shrimp mixed with mayonnaise and candied walnuts. We ordered it simply because we couldn't resist such an oddity. But there was no chance that it could be good, right? Mayonnaise? With shrimp? And candied nuts? Really? You've got to be kidding. And yet, it was shockingly addictive. We scarfed up every last bit, and wiped the plate clean with a little rice. Other dishes that we expected to be good were indeed delicious. We could eat a couple dozen curried beef puffs in one sitting. So, my review seems very mixed, yet I highly would recommend the place. Why? Even when I didn't particularly like a dish, I was still very glad that I ordered it. This place is one of the only restaurants I've ever experienced that serves authentic and unique flavors and textures. I feel as if I am getting a culinary education. Despite the dishes that we haven't particularly liked, I always eagerly anticipate the next visit. If you want a culinary adventure, most certainly give ABC a try. But if your idea of eating good Chinese food is visiting the local strip mall buffet, or Panda Express, then you might want to stick with the buffet and avoid this place. As for me, I can't wait to see what strange, funky foods await me on the ABC menu.
(4)Jose G.
Best fried rice I've had in KC. The Peking ribs are very good, the XO Wings also. If you like Chinese food you have to give this place a try. This is not your typical Chinese food place that has been Americanized.
(4)Julio M.
Best spot in my neighborhood. And best authentic Chinese in the KC Metro. Authentic flavors, great cost, good service. I recommend the chicken feet in black bean sauce, siu mai, stuffed tofu, beef tendon- all from the dim sum menu. Oh and the chicken wings, executed perfectly.
(5)Coralyn M.
This is my new favorite restaurant, ever. It's crazy affordable, perfect for big sit-and-chat groups (you can just order 10 things of dim sum and share all around). The tea is FREE and delicious. I still can't eat the chicken feet, but there are so many options that it doesn't matter if you don't like half the things on the menu. For me, the tofu, the red bean bun, the XO turnip cakes (spicy!!) and anything of theirs with shrimp is absolutely fantastic. Plus they're open til midnight. What non-fast-food restaurant boasts that? Aren't we all getting a little sick of IHOP? For my friends and I, the answer was a resounding yes. We go here every Friday night now, and as I'm writing this review, it's Thursday. Which means I am stoked for tomorrow.
(5)Jimmy N.
ABC Cafe is authentic, cheap, and efficient. Have dim sum cravings at 11pm? No problem, they open until 12a. I find it cheaper to order out of ABC, than trying to cook at home. P.S. If you think PF Chang is good Chinese, this might not be a place for you. =P
(5)K P K.
After three attempts to have lunch here (closed due to vacation), we finally got to eat here and in a nutshell it's great! This is not a big dining hall where the trolleys come around and serve you dim sum which can be sometimes cold due to the amount of time the food has been on the trolley. Here you order dim sum just like the other items in the menu and you wait for piping hot dim sum (yes, there is such a thing). Now I have had the best of the best (think Joy Tsin Lau in Philly), and the taste and quality of the dim sum really stacks up here. The only down side is that they dont have the selection of a large dim sum hall, but by no means is that an issue. There is still plenty of variety. I recommend all the dim sum we had, and also the beef and cilantro soup. So glad to have found this gem
(5)Stephen H.
ABC Cafe was the reason I started Yelping. I often got takeout (disclosure, I've probably ordered takeout over 20 times from ABC Cafe) and I couldn't find my menu or phone number so I googled. I came upon the Yelp listing where I read some ignorant wretch lecture about how the food was no good. Um, no homey. Go back to Panda Express or wherever you think "good" Chinese food is. ABC has probably the best, most authentic Chinese (read: Hong Kong Cantonese) food in the city. And the five-star rating this place has attests to that. Oddly enough, only recently did I have my first sit-down experience (600 some reviews later, lol). The sit-down experience was just as good as all my take-out experiences: fast, clean, delicious, and not that expensive. Walking distance from my place. Yesssssss.
(5)Andrew W.
AS ALWAYS, CHECK TO MAKE SURE THEY'RE OPEN. They're closed on Tuesday and Wednesday at this point. There are some tidbits here that you certainly can't find everywhere, for sure. THe Chicken WIngs in XO Sauce really isn't a sauce it's like a spicy condiment with scallion, garlic, ginger and five-spice powder. Ordinarily I love this, but here, I merely like it a lot. There was a tiny hint of something like fermented fish paste that I didn't like but it wouldn't keep me from ordering it again. I'd ask them if that was an ingredient and have them hold it out. The "pork chop" in peking sauce was a little sticky and sweet but I like that too, a hint of curry powder or something in the coating but I didn't mind. It's nice to be able to get the dim sum items anytime and they are pretty good. Bo Lings better but it's only on the weekend/Sunday. Look out for the spring rolls that have seaweed, that's a flavor note that isn't a minor component. I didn't like it. There will be some wild flavors and textures but if you're adventurous or go with a Chinese/Asian friend who knows what you'll like, it's worth the trip. Service isn't awesome, but it's really a Chinese greasy spoon/diner; that should shape your expectations; they're pretty efficient and not rude. There are more things I want to try and what I've had was good enough to go back for more
(4)Tony X.
Inexpensive, family style portions and seating arrangement. Love the food! Its small space, but worth waiting for. You have to get the XOXO turnip cake, Sui Mai, Rice soup with beef, wonton soup, fried shrimp, cucumber salad, . If you aren't chinese, stick to the favorites because it is pretty authentic, some foods are only tasteful to those who know what to expect in flavor. If you are open-minded try a new dish, and if you don't like it move on to the next order. Bring a friend who knows what to order so you don't waste food.
(5)Igor C.
We ordered four dim sum and two main dishes for three people and this turned out to be just the right amount. Everything was very good. Especially noteworthy is the turnip cakes.
(5)Susan C.
Yum. I can't decide if I like ABC or Jen Jen's more. I brought my coworkers here and I suggested we do family style. I ordered the salt & peppered pork, chinese broccoli, walnut shrimp with mayo, fried rice and beef chow fun. There were six of us and these five dishes was just the right amount. Total came to $48. Win! Service was your typical Chinese restaurant...minimal talking and minimal attention. Ha. However, the bus boy was extremely attentive with filling our hot tea. I'm actually looking forward to trying the dim sum here...
(4)Kittie D.
This place is amazing. It is truly authentic. We were sat in a quick manner and I believe the owner is the one who took our order. He was very helpful and our food came out quick. We got the squid with XO sauce and seafood chow fun. It was so delicious, my boyfriend and I barely talked because we couldn't stop stuffing our mouths! If that doesn't tell you how delicious this place is, we ordered take out from here the next day and a few days later. This is a must try!
(5)Yessy G.
I can't believe someone can give this place a 1 star rating! This is the best Chinese restaurant in KC hands down. I've introduced several friends to this hidden gem and they have become ABC cafe snobs who will not go back to eating regular Chinese. If you are scared of trying the "weird" items in the menu, you will never go wrong by trying their beef or chicken fried rice, Peking pork chops, beef chow fun, XO wings, pork pot stickers etc. I live far away but I come at least once a week to get my ABC cafe fix.
(5)Cou P.
WE give this restaurant a 5 Stars rating!!! Know this place through a restaurant owner friend, he said he LOVES to eat at there once a while (how often? I don't know). I think, Hmm... it must be GOOD (even great), or he won't spend his money there, right? So we decide to give ABC a try ~ Have been here twice, first time we went for Dim Sum, it was an OK to me. Sorry to say this ABC, I have my own preference, and I still prefer Bo Ling's. Today is our 2nd time here, we ordered from Menu to try/see if they are better? We ordered: (I always ask restaurant "Do Not put MSG in my orders") 1) a Singapore stir fried rice noodle for hubby (a little bit spicy to me), not their fault, because I have acid reflux so I can't have spicy food. Don't be discourage by my own opinion, hubby enjoy this dish very much, so this dish is good!! 2) a Beef stir fired Fen for me. Fen is a kind of flat rice noodle, and it tastes great!! 3) an order of Scallion Ginger Chicken (whole chicken) which is marvelously amazing and tasty!! Suggest you try this, the sauce is fantastic, it makes chicken tastes like you are in heaven ~ (for me) Server and service are both polite, friendly and efficient. They bag leftover for you instead of just give you box(es) to pack you own food home. Overall: Great experience, good services, reasonable price. We definitely will come back for more.
(5)Michael J.
This is by far the most authentic Chinese restaurant in Kansas City. If you're into Hong Kong-style Cantonese food, this is it ladies and gentleman. Look no further. The prices are very reasonable and the taste is right out from streets of Hong Kong. I myself have lived in Hong Kong in the past and have tasted Cantonese dishes within the best restaurants in US and Canada. So my standards are set high to begin with. When my parents took me to this restaurant at first, I was bit doubtful. How can Kansas City have something this authentic and this good? Is this even possible? Bo Ling may probably be as good as it gets in terms of Cantonese cooking...WRONG!! ABC Cafe is IT!! It hits the spot and nailed the taste! Forget their puny dim sum menu. Go to Bo Ling if you like dim sum. If you want Cantonese, look no where else but ABC Cafe. Their mango pudding is a great touch for those looking for a dessert to finish up the meal. Ask them to put some condensed milk on it rather than the standard whip cream. It's worth it!! With 888 Super Market and now this restaurant, KC can surely run with the best of them. No need to drive to Chicago or Houston. We have a winner!
(5)Jane S.
Love their dim sum! The dim sum is great, and at a good price. You have to try the Red Bean Puffs, they're delicious! I always get spring rolls, too. The egg drop soup is good, and very plentiful. Enough for 4+ servings, I think for about $3.99. A great place to go and share the little plates with dining partners. The tea is free and refilled as much as you want. Let it sit to steep for a bit, it usually comes to the table right after the leaves are inserted. I tried a tofu entree once (I'm vegetarian), and I disliked it so much I couldn't eat it...therefore 4 stars. I have learned to stick with what I know and like, and then it's a great experience. There are TVs all over the restaurant. Not really my cup of tea, but they're quiet enough that they aren't really problematic. The place is often busy, but you can usually get a seat within 5 minutes or so. They also do take-out.
(4)Rob M.
Oh, my! I stepped through the doors of ABC Cafe and I felt transported back to the Richmond District in San Francisco -- a real Chinese restaurant with no decor to speak of but serving authentic, non-Americanized Cantonese food! This small restaurant was packed when we arrived, almost entirely by Chinese families sitting at the big round tables where food is served "family style," as is customary. The friendly owner greeted us and led us to a smaller table (there were only two of us). I was going to ask her to translate the specials posted on the wall, in Chinese only, but there were so many interesting things on the menu that I decided to save that for another visit, when they weren't so busy. We ordered some deep fried shrimp wonton for starters, which came to the table piping hot from the wok. Quite yummy! My friend ordered a chicken and vegetable dish and I ordered the salt and pepper squid. The chicken dish was delicious, lightly sauced but very flavorful and full of chicken and baby bok choy. The salt and pepper squid was very good, too -- it was breaded and very peppery, and also very well seasoned with garlic (the fumes are still with me and about to peel the letters off my computer keyboard as I type this -- be prepared to be garlicky if you order this!). Definitely a find, thanks to other Yelpers reviewing the ABC Cafe. It's on 87th St., just west of the Johnson County Central Library, on the south side of the street in a little strip mall. The space used to house the Tarahumara Mexican restaurant.
(5)Azile Y.
Yesterday I had the braised duck with mushrooms and the sauteed ong choy... DELICIOUS and perfect meal for a cold rainy day.
(5)Chris T.
ABC Cafe is easily one of the best "real" Chinese restaurants in the KC Metro. Eating here is like eating in San Francisco's Chinatown. While the menu is not as comprehensive as I'd like, the food offered is 100% awesome. If you are an avid Chinese food lover (read: real Chinese food) and you know what you like, chances are this place has it: Oysters w/ Black Bean Sauce, Beef Brisket Noodle Soup, etc. One thing to note is this restaurant is small so seating can be an issue. They are open from 12PM-12AM every day except Tuesday so try to get here before or after the typical meal time rush. Put down that fork at Panda Express and pick up some chopsticks at ABC Cafe. You won't be disappointed.
(5)Darrell L.
There are a lot of Chinese Restaurant, but not a lot of them serve real authentic Chinese food. The opening of the restaurant is definitely a good news to all Asian food lover, especially cantonese style Chinese food. Other than ABC Cafe, based on my experience, only Jen Jen and Lucky Wok serve the same type of Chinese food in town. Menu: if you are looking for general tso chicken or lo mein, I think panda express is a few blocks down the way, because you will not find any of this on the menu. I have to say the design or content of the menu could take some improvement-all the dishes on the menu are very authentic but some of the english translation could stop a non-typical asian food diner from ordering. More pictures+brief description of each dish could definitely help. All dishes come family style, this is definitely very "Chinese", I will not order a dish and eat only that dish for my meal, sharing is a virtue and is a typical way of dining among Chinese :) unless I was there myself ( I would then order fried rice or noodle soup) my friends and I usually order several dishes, usually a soup, two dishes with meat, one with vegetable and one with seafood. Recommendation: personally I love all the clay pot dishes on the menu. I love the beef tendon clay pot and lamb tendon clay pot, as well as the eggplant clay pot. 'jing du' ribs is another good options if you like deep-fried ribs tasted sweet and sour. We always get the Chinese broccoli stir fry with "preserved bean curd", yummy. The steamed, salted chicken with ginger and green onion is also extraordinary (hey we are in KC!). They do have very small selection of dim sum as appetizers. The restaurant: the restaurant is not big, there are not more than 12 tables in it I guess. Bright and clean, nothing fancy. Walking into ABC cafe makes me feeling walking into any authentic Chinese restaurants in LA, where I have to fly there every year just to satisfy my craving for real Chinese food. the restaurant also open pretty late which is good for us who always looking for a place for supper and who are not a big fan of IHOP. Summary: this restaurant is definitely worth a try, especially if you are looking for real Cantonese style Chinese food. The service is good, average compared to American restaurant, but I guess for this restaurant, the quality of the food that matters.
(5)Grant H.
First time I've felt Yelp has let me down. I am pretty adventurous and will try anything at least once. I had not had authentic Cantonese food before, but was excited to try it. Based on the recommendations I stuck to the dim sum menu for my first time. Ordered about 6 different dishes and only felt two of them were flavorful. Most of the were low on the featured protein highlighted in the menu and high on dough/wrap/bean curd. I would get the Beef Curry Puff again and the shrimp wontons again. Would even say those were just average compared to my expectations. Might go back to try one of the entrees sometime as many looked good, but was disappointed with the dim sum.
(2)John K.
I didn't know the ABC cafe served Chinese food until I read the Yelp reviews today. I went there for lunch and had dim sum - fried shrimp wantons, a coconut roll and bbq pork buns. Fantastic, and all under $10! The name is funny. The place there before (Taramuhara, as I recall) was shut down by the Kansas Department of Revenue for not paying their taxes. The subdivision of that agency that serves tax warrants is the division of Alcohol Beverage Control (ABC) - but I'm sure the state isn't running this place. The food was too good and the service too attentive. Now that I know it is there, I will go back again, and again, and again.
(4)Sheila W.
Wonderfully authentic. Chinese comfort food at its best. My friends and I dine here several times a month, and ABC Cafe never fails to disappoint. There aren't many places I've found in KC to get dim sum, let alone all day- so i always make sure to get a plate or two when I go. The beef stew hotpot is our personal favorite, I'd highly recommend it to newcomers!
(5)C Jude S.
Delicious! I had the Peking Pork and slathered it with Sriracha. The rice was awesome. I'll be back.
(4)Michelle B.
I won't talk about the authenticity of ABC Cafe, because it seems that's been covered. What you NEED to know: the place is a tiny little storefront, it's insanely cheap with huge family-style portions, and they have some of the best (and biggest) pork pot stickers I've ever had. They serve dim sum all day, though I have yet to try most of those small plates. As an example of the cheapness, I have to steer myself away from constantly ordering the ginger and onion salty chicken. It's $8.88 for a huge chicken with a delectable flavor that reminds me a lot of Hainanese chicken rice, a Singaporean/Malaysian dish. If you like ginger, scallions and garlic, this is a great dish at a great price. So many other great things here, from simple stuff like chow fun or wonton soup to the more adventurous (to some) seafood congee and beef tendon stew, and all for a great price. I'd venture to say this is the best Chinese restaurant I've been to in the KC area, for authenticity, selection, quality, and price. I'll probably never go back to Bo Ling's again... sorry.
(5)Lin L.
It is one of the best chinese restaurants in KC area, quite authentics. Used to draw more asian crowds and since gettings more populars has been drawing more non asian crowds. Sadly the food also slightly changes. Pancakes used to be better, porridge are more watery, tastes still bit lil too salty though. It would be good if they serve live lobsters or crabs too. This place serve free hot chinese tea which is a big plus. Chinese vegetables are always good to orders. Fried intestines is very good, but sometimes too fried and dry. Overall very recommended place to eat. Hopefully they can keep same standard as when they first open. What other thing will be great addition? Free dessert like most other chinese place, or just plain fruits will works!
(4)Grace S.
The FOOD! This is hands down my favorite Chinese place to eat. Even my parents approve and being Chinese my parents are picky! We always get the same dishes when we come here. Kong Xin Tsai, Steamed Flounder, and the beef and cilantro soup. The value is amazing! Yes, the dining area is small and usually crowded but the food is so good that I did not take away a star.
(5)Marcus R.
This place was amazing. The Dim Sum and entrees were both delicious, and very well priced. For $8, I got a plate of awesome rice noodles the size of my face.
(5)Mad C.
I have only two words for this place: take-out, maybe.
(3)Payton H.
We were on a hunt. I had heard of this place, and have a real love for Cantonese food, so my partner in crime and I headed south. We land in a strip mall with a familiar site: The Beer Cave. When I lived in Johnson County, I would frequent the Beer Cave for awesome deals on beer, but I had never even wondered, let alone cared what was in ABC Cafe. We sit down at the last table: a small two-top by the door. There is a TV at our table playing absurd Asian television. We're greeted with a huge pot of loose-leaf green tea. Then come the menus. I can't remember when I was so excited about a menu. There were infinitely many options that truly excited me. Usually I can either choose on the fly, or decided within two or three minutes, but this was going to be a task. We decided that we wouldn't go past the first two pages. Dim Sum it was, and it was glorious. First thing to come out was the spicy beef tendon salad. I have seriously not had a dish that was so perfectly seasoned in quite some time; spice was perfect, salt was perfect. The tendon themselves were delightfully cooked, and sliced thinly, then chilled. Next out were the shrimp wantons. Again: perfect. Extra crispy, but not over fried, super light wanton wrappers around great shrimp. After that, the barnyard came to our table. We ordered both chicken feet in black bean sauce, and steamed pig feet. Both were delightful. The black bean sauce was drinkable, and the pork feet were spot on. If you could put the whole thing in your mouth, after a minute or two you could just spit out bones. However, beware. Pork feet contain a lot of collagen, so your hands will become horrendously sticky. Then something special came out: fish stuffed bean curd skin. It was truly something that I had never had before, and it was great. The sauce was again delicious. The fish was firm and delicious, and the bean curd skin gave it a great texture. Finally, our respective puffs came out: Curry Beef and Pork BBQ. Firstly, the filo dough was perfect. Like, make a French Pastry Chef jealous perfect. The fillings were delectable. I couldn't believe that each of these dishes, save the beef tendon, were sub $3. We spent such little money and were stuffed to the brim by the end, however, we contemplated returning later that night, since the are open till midnight every day but Tuesday, when they're closed. the whole time we were there, groups of two to 8 kept coming in, waiting for a spot. I can't wait to go back.
(5)Sherman B.
Clean and friendly. Reasonably priced. The kids loved it. It is NOT vegetarian friendly with nothing on the menu marked as vegetarian or vegan and only one dinner item stated as vegetarian when asked. I found the food to be salty and bland.
(2)Marie G.
First time there. It was very good. Even better because we went with someone who knows what meals to order.
(4)Kate V.
Pleasant surprise! ABC boasts flavorful Chinese food, including dim sum. The salt & pepper squid was an entree portion of some of the flakiest, nicest calamari I've had. The pork dumplings were not fabulous, but quite serviceable. Shrimp dumplings were great. The mango pudding was not my favorite Chinese dessert, but my friend loves it. I will definitely return!
(4)Sean L.
Great menu which a variety of options. Chow mien dishes and dim sum, delicious. Will definitely coming back. Love all the TV's in the booths.
(4)Ryan A.
If you ever patronized the restaurant that previously occupied this space, the first thing you notice is that it has somehow shrunk. It seems as though Beer Cave next door expanded, and the result is a much smaller room and a more intimate dining experience. The second thing I noticed is that the place smelled awesome. This was followed immediately by the reassuring realization that every table appeared to be occupied by Chinese families speaking what I presume to be Cantonese, as they served themselves family-style from a variety of delicious-looking plates. Despite the place looking pretty busy, we were seated immediately and given a few minutes to peruse the menu. Everything looked pretty good, and the menu featured several pictures of dishes. I like most guts well enough, but I normally only consume intestines as sausage casing. The picture of the fried intestine in the menu had me rethinking this strategy, but ultimately I decided to save that adventure for another day. Since there were only two of us, we decided to share some pork pot stickers and each get a bowl of soup rather than opt for sharing one of the huge entrees. The pot stickers were a bit overlarge, making them somewhat difficult to manage with chopsticks, but they were delicious. Rich porkiness surrounded by an alternatingly crispy and pillowy wrapper. The beef noodle soup was similarly sublime, with a somewhat pho-like anise scented broth and velvety beef tendon. The egg noodles made it clear, however, that this was something entirely different and, dare I say, better. I didn't try my friend's wonton noodle soup, but it looked amazing. Capping off this immensely enjoyable experience was a bill that was barely $17 with tax, for an appetizer and two sufficiently large bowls of soup. A most welcome way to end an excellent meal!
(5)Michaela B.
First the review of the food: The beef cilantro soup was delish and based on another's review, I tried the pork pot stickers. The were succulent and cooked to perfection. I also had the flounder but found it exceedingly bland. This wasn't really a taste test for me b/c I didn't venture out of my comfort zone. It wasn't the food that turned me off... I can't say much about the service. I went in as a single person and was pretty much ignored after the customary, "just one?" question. (If you're reading this and you own a retaurant, please ask your server/host(ess) to lose the word "just" when they inquire about the number of guests in the party.) I digress. The owner walked around, checking people's orders. She did not ask me about my mine. Maybe it was my seat near the "alley" hallway by the service door and dirty dishes that put us both off. I had to ask for water as well. I might go back with a friend in tow, but it's not likely. I don't like feeling invisible in an establishment where I pay for service.
(3)Robert G.
Just returned from Guangzhou and Hong Kong. This rest. Was outstanding, broth, cold dishes, vegetarian, shrimp, whole snapper all perfect.
(5)Bridgette M.
very authentic Chinese food. I thought I was back in Taiwan.
(5)Phon W.
Yum good food! Great Rice, I hate getting chinese food and the rice is like cardboard. I've ordered take out and I've eaten in. The service is great.
(5)Brent K.
I've driven past this place a few times and even stopped to eat once on a tuesday (they are closed) but today I finally got in and it was an amazing experience. I got the beef noodle soup, which as noted before, came with beef and beef parts, which was fine to me, the broth was to die for, and the beef/parts was excellent. i also got shrimp dumplings and ribs with black bean sauce from the dim sum menu. the ribs were cut small and very boney, but delicious and the shrimp dumplings were quite tasty. to top the whole meal off a giant pot of hot tea was put on the table, free of charge, which was nice. i did notice the lady in charge was going from table to table asking if we liked it, which i did. i also noticed the signs on the wall in chinese, i guess those were the specials, which I did not think to ask about, but next time i go i will. it would definitely serve the restauraunt better to have those specials in english as well. i can't wait to go back and take some friends so i can try some of the other exotic dishes. i give 4 stars for food and 3 stars for specials being in chinese. **Update** good news, the daily specials are now in English and with pictures as well! My second visit to ABC Cafe was just as enjoyable as the first trip, though my next trip I will definitely take a friend or two. This trip I got the shrimp dumplings (delicious), the fried fish with bean sauce (awesome) and the dumpling soup, which though not as good as the beef noodle soup was quite tasty.
(4)Janet C.
I've been wanting to check this place out ever since I saw the advertisement posted on 888 super market door. We finally made it there last weekend. The place is clean and small. There's only 1 table that could seat 10+ people, most are 2 or 4 people tables. There are couple that could seat 6 or so. The food is pretty good from a Chinese standpoint. Their dim sum is ok, I still prefer Pine & Bamboo's dim sum. But their traditional dishes were pretty good. We ordered Ong Choi, 8 treasures tofu bowl, Jing Do Pai Guo (pork rib with sweet sauce), Salted fish fried rice, and some dim sum. I have to say that the pork rib was my favorite out of all restaurants in OP area. That particular dish is way better than pine & bamboo's. The salted fish chicken fried rice is pretty good too and not overly salted. I'll definitely return to there soon but if you do have a big group, remember to go in right before the door open or you may have to wait awhile.
(4)Kevin C.
You know this place serves authentic Cantonese food when they're playing TVB Pearl on the flat screens. I think most of my fellow reviewers have got it right on the "real" and "authentic" Chinese food, so I'll try and limit my use of those adjectives here. Bottom line, if you're familiar with good ole Hong Kong cooking and are yearning for some semblance of it around Kansas City, come here. If you like Chinese food in general, come here- it's like the Southwest Blvd of Chinese. If you're not crazy about Chinese cuisine, this place might change your mind.
(5)Liqun W.
I went to ABC many times. Usually one or two times for one month. I like the Chinese style dessert or appetizers such as red bean cake and shrimp cheese roll. I am Chinese, and this is my favorite place for really Chinese food, coz it is almost real Chinese.
(5)Jason J.
This is definitely a type of authenic Chinese food, though with China being so big there are a hundred different takes on each Chinese dish depending on where you live. The foods good, the best I've probably had in Kansas City, but the dumplings are disappointing to me. If you're looking for an authenic morning/lunch Chinese meal then order one of the "soup noodles". I lived in China for a year so it's hard to get to excited about Chinese food, but if you can't make it there then I think this is your best bet in KC. Also I love how the food is served the same way it served in most Chinese restaurants. Also "ABC" stand for American Born Chinese, which describes a person that is really Chinese at heart, but was born as an American. You can tell whoever made the food really wanted to represent this.
(4)Joe H.
Ok, I really don't know how to rate this place. I must say I was excited to see an authentic Chinese restaurant opening, but this is authentic to the extreme. I think there might be a failure in the menu descriptions. I got the "Beef Stew Noodle Soup" unfortunately the soup was light on beef and heavy on beef parts. We're talking tendon and fat here. I know that that can be standard at any authentic Asian restaurant, but, in general, tendon is listed in the item description. Now, I am not saying tendon is bad. Frankly, it is, opposed to what the uninitiated may think, quite tender and sort of gelatinous. There really isn't much taste in either the tendon or the soup. I gave three stars because, while I love authentic places, I found the blandness of the food along with the poor menu descriptions (FYI prawns w/ peacock in mayonnaise sauce = prawns/shrimp with walnuts in some sort of mayo sauce) to be a negative. I'll be glad to try the place again, but I'd love to see better menu item descriptions, and, frankly, more flavor.
(3)Todoroki S.
Honorable dim sum at inexpensive prices.
(5)Hannie D.
Love this place. This is not Bo Lings, and you need to be willing to try new things. My favorites are the fish soup and the turnip cakes.
(5)Mark S.
I must say for the first time checking this place out I was impressed. The facility is very clean and has a warm feeling to the atmosphere. All of the tables along the wall had flat screen tvs at them. When I went with my friends is wasn't busy at the time so service was fast and prompt. Their menu had a wide selection and another perk to this restaurant is that they serve dim sum everyday which most places like bo lings only do that for weekends since it takes awhile to prepare. We ordered a wide variety of food and I must say it was delicious and very fresh. Nothing about this place was bad at all. Also when I go to chinese restaurants and order salt & pepper pork sometimes other places lack a sense of spices and heat to this dish but at this restaurant it was spot on with both. I would definitely go back to this restaurant and also recommend this place to any of my family, friends & coworkers. Great job to the owner and workers at this place. Keep up the awesome work.
(5)Rodeo G.
Salt and Pepper TOFU (fried) is 5 stars boys.. Bean curd and seafood hotpot is straight legit per chinese au apair. Do you self a favor, and hit up that creamy shrimp and walnut dish.. SAHHH GOOOD
(4)Joe R.
You know its a good sign when you walk into a Chinese restaurant and your the only one there that isn't Asian. ABC is a small family run business that's packed every night with family's enjoying great authentic Cantonese dishes. Chinese beef curry is"my favorite" item on the menu.They have cool family style tables with the spinning table top which makes it easy to share food with a large group.The service is quick and efficient.The food is stellar. The dinning room is small but comfortable. There is Chinese TV playing which you don't see at most Asian restaurants. You should go here if your looking to find a hidden gem and a unique Chinese experience. Definitively going back soon!
(4)Steph S.
Large portions and food was fantastic. The wait is a bit long but I am presuming it's due to the authenticity of the dishes. Will become a regular.
(4)Felix S.
one of the best authentic chinese food in KC. Try all the dishes and will satisfy u. Love the salty fish fried rice.
(5)Meredith S.
I kept seeing ABC Cafe reviews on Yelp. Decided I was missing out on something good...Oh No! Can't have that happen. My friend recognized the location as one where an old favorite restaurant was...now gone. Luckily, we arrived early and were seated immediately. The crowd started arriving shortly thereafter and continued until we left. This place is popular and many Asian families were enjoying the tasteful food. That told me this place was going to be good. I don't recall all the selections we ordered Dim Sum but they were all delicious. I don't like eggplant but my friend loves it. I tried it and LOVED it! I will go back for that alone. Well, that and the beef cilantro soup. Yummy! Pricing is very reasonable and service was excellent. The place was also very clean.
(5)Trecia M.
Yeah, another white girl who grew up in the Midwest writing about something she doesn't know anything about...authentic Chinese food. I cannot vouch for the authenticity of this place, but if the food is good, does it really matter? I say not. On my most recent visit we had the salt and pepper fish (Yum!) and a shrimp dish with quail egg mayo (I grew a second stomach to finish this!) Only two of us had lunch, but this was enough for four adults. The food was really good; the service attentive and; the store was clean. The menu is in English and I believe Cantonese. The specials posted on the wall are in Cantonese only. Although ABC café is in the middle of Caucasian County...uh-hem, I mean Johnson County, every time I have eaten here, there have been a number of Asians eating here too, which is a good sign to me.
(4)Anush J.
The beef was flavorful. The Singapore noodles were very good. Almost everything we have ordered here has been really really good. (We have never attempted the intestine etc kinda stuff) The mango dessert was served in bigger plates and were excellent. The ambience was fun and lively. However, there are at least 4 tables too less - which means that you will be waiting for a while before you get a seat. Also, we have gone several times only to find that they are closed.
(4)Will S.
I could start with how good the food was or how warm the service felt. Either way it would make a positive opening for this write-up, so I'm going to tell the tale from start to finish. The yellow and red letters of the ABC Cafe signage might not be enough to advertise that a Chinese restaurant exists here. However, if you know what you are looking for, the letters are big and bright and unmistakable. We pulled into the lot of a small strip mall with a Subway on the other end. While the name doesn't explain much about the food, I knew I landed at the right spot when I saw groups of Asians coming in and out of the entrance. Inside are maybe 12 tables of different sizes to accommodate parties of few and up to 8 or 10 on their large round table with the Lazy Suzy. The lighting is fluorescent-ly bright but afterall they named it a cafe, not The French Laundry. To be optimistic is to believe that all the efforts were focused into the food and forget about the decor for now. Optimistic or not, the food does not disappoint. When the food comes out, you quickly forget about trying to understand the Chinese soap operas on their two flat panel TVs unless of course you speak the language. Among the three of us, we shared the Beef Chow Fun, Salt and Pepper Spare Ribs, Pork Belly with Preserved Vegetables, Siu Mai, Sticky Rice in Lotus Leaf, and some Bud Lights. They brought us hot tea and ice water when we sat which was nice. The hot tea was piping hot and the beer was freezing cold which are major pointers in my book. The beef in the chow fun was tender and juicy and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The fried spare ribs were crispy and well seasoned. Sticky rice was the way sticky rice should be: moistly soft and sticky with subtle added flavors. The Siu Mai pieces were plump and juicy but a little bland. My only real complaint was the pork belly dish. They have it listed on the menu as Fatty Pork Meat with Preserved Vegetables which sounds amazingly delicious to me but why not just call it pork belly? That's not the complaint though. The issue was the meat. The meat was very tough and chewy. Ever wondered about the lifespan of a wooden toothpick? I could put one to this test and it would probably fail after the 6th gap. The preserved vegetables are generally mui choy but they've added fresh baby bok choy which I was excited to see. The flavor in the sauce was very delicious and I would order this again in hopes the pork will be more tender. With food aside, I really want to praise their service during our first and only visit so far. One of our servers ends up being Mrs. Owner and her husband is the Chef and Owner in the kitchen. She showed genuine interest in knowing about us and our visit and sharing a little about her. It's warmness like this that will lure anyone another visit back. At the end of the meal with our plates cleaned off, we were already stuffed half way through lunch. Mr. Owner came out from the kitchen and immediately took notice of our first time visit. Few kind words later and I found out his brother runs Jen Jen's on Metcalf. Very similar flavors but this place beats Jen Jen's with value. Bigger portions and a dollar or two saved per dish. AND they are open for lunch! I'm a fan. .. but I'm still not sure what ABC stands for..
(4)Diane L.
Great, unique Chinese food. This place does not have the same generic menu that every other Chinese restaurant seems to have. Our waitress explained that it is traditional Cantonese style. They had lots of shrimp and seafood dishes. The waitress was very friendly and asked if we had questions with the menu. She explained some of the dishes and pointed out recommendations so we knew what to expect from each dish we ordered. My husband loves egg drop soup, and says this is the best. I had the wonton soup and it was fabulous as well. As the waitress explained, the wontons had a much thinner wrapper and were stuffed with shrimp instead of pork. Note that we ordered two soups expecting to each receive a small individual bowl. Not so. One bowl would easily have been enough for both of us. I had the Peking style shrimp and my husband had shrimp satay. Both were very good. All of the food came out hot out of the pan. We could hear the cook in the kitchen cooking each dish, and they were brought out one-by-one piping hot. It wasn't a problem though, because we had the soups to finish in the meantime. Overall, I'm thrilled to know about this place. We live nearby and I had never realized it was a Chinese restaurant. We picked up a take-out menu and will certainly be coming back.
(5)Joy T.
Good authentic Chinese comfort food. Wish they would have more of a brunch menu. Would love a warm bowl of fresh soy milk and some green onion cakes
(4)Cuong T.
This was pretty damn good. It is authentic like a lot of viewers stated. I especially enjoy their beef chow fun. It is not too salty like some of the other places, however it is still greasy...lol. Anyway, I'm about to get on my way to trying their dim sum so I shall update my review after doing so. As far as I can tell...so far so good.
(4)Danny I.
Really love this place! Food is deLicious and authentic for sure and my tummy is not compLaining.
(5)Robert A.
Good stuff, much better than Po's on 39th. Everything we had was good - Spicy Beef appetizer, Eggplant and Fish in Tofu Skin from DimSum menu, Pork Belly Hot Pot. I'd give 4.5 if I could. I doubt you'll find better authentic food in KC.
(4)Mister K.
For a tiny restaurant (almost a hole-in-the-wall but not dirty or anything), I was rather impressed with ABC Cafe. As small as it is and with the laughable name, most people probably would brush this place off and pass on it without even giving it a try. That's too bad. The restaurant is nice inside and the menu is a pleasant surprise. You won't find the "Americanized" Chinese usuals like General Tso's or Kung Pao anything. As others have said, this is probably as authentic as Chinese food can get here in the heartland of America. If you're adventurous, like to try something new, or want more authentic Chinese food, this is an excellent place to start. The prices are good and the restaurant is open late. They are closed on Tuesdays I believe.
(4)