Yen’s Cafe
43490 Yukon Dr,Ste 113, Ashburn, VA, 20147
Yen’s Cafe Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Ashburn for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
43490 Yukon Dr,Ste 113
Ashburn, VA, 20147 - Phone (703) 723-8811
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
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 : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
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.
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Jyoti Y.
To start with, it's probably the best Chinese food around. A small place in ashburn, I wasn't expecting the food to be this great. And the variety of teas is just mind blowing. Being a vegetarian I generally have very few choices, but this place has an amazing list of options. The king oyster mushrooms and tofu with Long chill is the blend of perfect spice and taste. I have been here a few times and have never been disappointed with the food. The service is amazing and people are very friendly. To top it all, they give these desert buns in the end which is a perfect end to the meal. :) Would definitely be coming back here and suggest this place to all my friends.
(5)Jess N.
I come here often with my co-workers for lunch - they have a great lunch special that comes with soup, side salad, egg roll, rice, and the entree of your choice.. all for ~$10. I'm can be picky when it comes to Chinese takeout, but I really enjoy their Hunan beef/pork/chicken. I also really like their complimentary sweet buns (filled with red bean or yellow custard). Service is always fast and attentive. We've also tried ordering "family style" for lunch - can be a little pricier, but the variety and quality of the dishes is better. Unfortunately I can't remember the dishes we ordered, but I remember them being more authentic and quite tasty.
(4)Mengyang T.
First time to come here, very good experience! Best Taiwan restaurant in DC! You guys should come here to try!!!
(5)Heather R.
Fantastic experience on a long awaited visit to have a taste of homestyle deliciousness from my Momma's motherland. I'll say it has the hospitality, specialty dishes, and ambiance that the Taiwanese can offer. It was a humid day and the staff was doing it's best to keep the air flowing through the place. The management was great at visiting tables and checking on their patrons. The food was fresh and appealing, served promptly to our table. The dishes were creative and bountiful. The tea was delicious! It was especially delightful when the staff sang, " Happy Birthday," to me and gave me a balloon animal and cupcake with maraschino cherry.
(5)Mike Y.
Food tasted ok, they claim no msg, no salt, but full of soy sauce, so still very salty American Chinese food. customers service is terrible. will never come back again.
(1)Wendy Z.
Terrible services. When my family arrived, only one table was taken, but we were told that we can't be seated. People came after us who did not make reservation got seats. They treat customers with double standards. Food is salty.
(1)Tsuru J.
Trapped in the outurbs and looking for some great Taiwanese food? Look no further than Yen's in Ashburn. While working in the area, I found this gem. We ordered take-out and the food was all really great so we did it again the next week. I really liked the beef and pan fried noodle dish (beef was in a nice sauce that was just the right amount of spicy), the Taiwanese wonton soup, two types of eggplant. There is also Yen's special fried rice which everyone loved even though I don't think it is really fried rice at all. It's white rice with fried onions and a gravy-ish sauce that is very, very good. We ordered online so when I went in to get the food, I was surprised that the menu is much more extensive than the online version. Luckily I grabbed a copy and will order from that the next time I go.
(5)Gene W.
We don't live in Ashburn but we work there. One of my co-workers, who is Taiwanese, highly recommended this place for authentic Taiwanese food. So we decided to have dinner here. I also heard it was a very small place and reservations were a must. NO KIDDING!!!! There were no more than 7 tables/seating areas. Most of the customers were take out orders. We were greeted and I asked for someone who could speak fluent Taiwanese. They were impressed with me speaking Taiwanese to them. I asked them what their specialties were and what they recommended. Not all items on the menu are available and some not menu items are available. Ask your server for details. For appetizers, my wife insisted spring rolls and dumplings as our toddler would definitely eat those items. I asked what " authentic Taiwanese" item was available. Our server recommended braised tofu skin cause it's not usually available on a daily basis. Other items he recommended but we didnt order this time around were the braised pork belly (they braised the sauce with tofu skin as well) & Taiwanese fried chicken. We received the braised tofu skin but I was the only one who ate it. Man it took me back to my youth. That's a sign of good AUTHENTIC home style cooking. It didnt have that restaurant flavor. It tasted like my mom cooked it for hours. The dumplings were the same. Delicious! As for the spring rolls, they were restaurant quality spring rolls. When the shrimp and scallops dish came out, the flavors were sweet and salty. My wife ordered non-spicy so it wasnt as good as I would have liked it. Plus the scallops and shrimp were way overcooked and were hard and flavorless. We let the server know and he apologized. He said he would let the ched know. Other than that, the food was wonderful. The service was great (maybe cause I was Taiwanese) and they took a liking to my son. They played with him, made him a balloon sword and gave him a lollipop! They dont take AMEX but take V/MC/DS. We'll be back to try other homestyle dishes! One last thing....not inexpensive....moderate in price! But you get what you pay for. In Taiwanese, "Ho-cha!"
(4)Mike R.
been here a few times, and while I really really want to like it, it's just okay. First, let me say that the staff is very friendly... everyone in the place greets you. It's like a big happy Taiwanese family in there.. even Grandma at the bar is all smiles. First time, I had the Taiwanese spaghetti noodles in the black bean sauce (jia jia ming, i think?) -- they were not for me. I think it's probably just a cultural taste barrier I couldn't overcome, since it seems like a lot of people like them. On the most recent visit I tried their lunch special; Bourbon chicken. It came with Wonton soup -- which was very salty, although they did use the thin wonton wrappers like I like, and there were extra things in it like those fried onion things you may put on top of your green bean casserole. All in all, it was okay, better than a lot of Wonton soup, but wow was it salty. It would have been really good if they could tone down the salt. In retrospect, I probably should have poured some of my water from my glass into the soup to cut the salt. The bourbon chicken was kind of a let down. It was just a single flattened out marinated boneless chicken thigh. I was hoping for something a little more I guess. Maybe some vegetables or something to make me feel like I'm getting more than a single chicken thigh... Call me crazy, but I prefer Bourbon chicken at the mall. I was hoping that at a restaurant it was going to be better than the mall's version, but sorry to say for me it was not. The lunch special salad has like a sweetish, mayonaissey, ketchupy tasting salad dressing. I'm not sure what it is, maybe like if you imagine French dressing mixed with Thousand Island or something? Anyhow. I really wish they would take a hint from a Japanese restaurant and use a dressing you would get at a place like that.... those dressings are awesome. The dressing they use -- not a fan. The egg roll was crispy on the outside, but kind of slimy in the middle, which was weird and unfortunate, since the outside was nice and crispy. Their spicy mustard was indeed spicy though, which put a smile on my face. The Mongolian beef was pretty tasty, tasted like beef and onions marinated in a mainly soy sauce sauce. It was simple tasting, but good. Unfortunately, again, this dish tasted very salty, but it was good and not too oily or swimming in sauce. The custard donuts they give you with the check were actually really good. I wasn't expecting it and it was a nice treat. Fried hot and ready, it was really a great donut. One thing that may or may not be related, so take it with a grain of salt... shortly after eating the lunch special, both my fiance and I had bad headaches that came about unusually at the same time. It seemed out of the ordinary, so I'm wondering if the combination of salty Mongolian beef combined with the souper salty Wonton soup gave us a one-two sodium punch in the head?? Makes me wonder if they use MSG (not sure if MSG causes headaches or not, just wondering) or if maybe it was just completely unrelated? It was weird and coincidental though... All that being said, I did go one time awhile back and got kung pao chicken and I recall it being retty good... so I'll be back to maybe try something else off the dinner menu because of the good reviews, and the staff really is inviting and I do really want to like this place. I give them credit for having a lot of options not available elsewhere. I think I'll try the Pipa tofu next time... crossing my fingers.
(3)BluntDCBabe F.
Terrific Taiwanese food with warm Taiwanese hospitality! If you miss Taiwan or want a taste of Taiwan, this is the place. The Taiwanese fried chicken is delish! Reminded me of good times at the Taipei night markets! The Taiwanese minced string bean and pork with buns was surprisingly good. Their smoothie and tea list is extensive. Definitely worth the trip from DC. We'll be back!
(5)Wendy C.
Best takeout around the area, with really fast delivery. We received our order in 20 min! Their lomein is more authentic than most places, too (they use a diff. kind of noodle) and portions are really big. They also have a huge array of fresh juices, really refreshing. I'm a big fan!
(5)Christopher W.
I was amazed to find authentic Taiwanese/Chinese dishes out here in Sterling. Things like fish maw soup, pipa tofu, pea tip greens, etc. I've tried those few items so far and liked them all. I haven't tried any of the traditional American-Chinese takeout dishes, but I'm sure they are great too. I give the food a 4.5 and the service a 5. This is definitely the go-to place for anyone staying at the Aloft less than 5 min away.
(5)Tomasina R.
I called to order delivery and was told I was 4.5 miles away. I checked on my GPS, Google Maps and Mapquest and saw that I was only 3 miles away. I called them back and told them the distance I had and they still refused to delver to me unless I order $45 dollars worth of food. Needless to say I did not and will not plan to in the future. It makes no sense to have good food with bad customer service.
(1)Thomas L.
Excellent food. The fried chicken is terrific. They use dark meat and the bread batter is good. A bit over seasoning but still great. The wonton had thin shells which is how it should be. We went on a Wednesday so no reservation necessary but i see some comments about calling ahead. I did just in case and they were nice and courteous.
(5)Jenny L.
Yen's Cafe deserves all of the awards. This is THE place for good Chinese food that tastes like it would if you visited Taiwan. I have lived in Hong Kong and Beijing for almost half of my life and would like to believe I still have a strong palette for distinguishing "real" Chinese food versus dishes that cater to the West's taste. But gosh....I knew immediately that from the pork jiao zi (steamed dumpling) that this place was legit. They taste just like the ones my Chinese international friends and I make at college....from scratch. They taste just like the ones we make and I wish they served more than just 10!! Delightful and attentive staff, generous portions, amazing food...what more can you ask for? Just note: it's quite small (since most of their business is driven by takeout orders), so if you want to dine in don't come during peak hours. Oh, and they are closed on Mondays to prep for the week!! :)
(5)Derek S.
Mongolian Shrimps Very generous portion ... so good !
(5)Sapna B.
While I feel this is as good as it's gunna get for Chinese food in Ashburn, this place def has it's flaws. Disappointments: The skin on the spring rolls is way too thick and it also has too much filling. They need to work on making it more proportional. Hot and Sour soup is very bland. I ordered online and made a note that I wanted extra hot sauce and they charged me $2 for it and didn't even tell me during the ordering process -- I found out from the receipt when it was delivered. That was absolutely not ok and one star gets deducted for that. If I were eating at the restaurant and ordered extra hot sauce they wouldn't charge me so they shouldn't for delivery either. Highlights: Potstickers -- I love how they leave them uncovered when delivering since they are pan fried and don't want them to get soggy. Even though the soup was bland, it became quite tasty after adding the $2 hot sauce and the fried noodles. The General Tso's Chicken and Kung Pao Chicken is delicious. Very flavorful and I love that the General Tso's Chicken wasn't overly sweet which happens often. I will continue to try other Chinese places but this is pretty good for the meantime.
(3)Chip D.
Yen's Cafe is very serious about making you happy, this is very evident when entering. They're so friendly and accommodating, and the food is authentic and amazing.! They have an entire menu of teas, another menu for fruit drinks of all kinds, with all the healthy properties of each listed. We ordered the avocado and pineapple drink and it was delicious, basically a super healthy smoothie, and not too sweet. The place is very small but it's also quaint and comfortable, with a nice little (tiny) bar area. Our appetizer was crab rangoon, best I've ever had, and our entree was the Taiwanese fried chicken with crispy basil. The crispy & crunchy basil leaves make the dish, wonderful presentation and generous portions. They also bring out a little free Asian "bun" type desert, mine had a lemon filling, it was a nice little ending to a great meal. I was most impressed by the service and ridiculously friendly staff. I've been ordering delivery since they opened, and was very happy to finally get in to the restaurant. If you don't feel like going in, the online ordering system for delivery is easy and user friendly. You can customize any dish, add a spice level, give specific instructions for items, and pay with ease. The driver usually shows up in about 25 minutes with hot food. They even take the tops off of crispy items so they don't go limp and soggy. I just can't say enough about this place. Do yourself a favor, try them out, I guarantee you'll be sold on Yen's Cafe from the first bite. Prices are exactly what they should be. We split the Taiwanese chicken, both ate quite a bit, and we have a large portion left over in the fridge for later, this dish costs $15.00, very reasonable if you ask me.
(5)Rob A.
This is a great hidden gem in Ashburn. We thought we'd try something other than our regular place and we might have found a new go-to. Far better than most other similar places we've tried and the only Taiwanese that I'm aware of in the area. Super friendly staff and everything tasted great. Hot and sour and wonton soups were really good. Crispy beef had a great crunch. We'll be back to explore the menu more.
(4)Anthony F.
Food is 5 star. Service is 5 star. Portion size/value is 5 star (LOTS of food for the price!). Taiwanese chicken lived up to the hype for sure. Then the Taiwanese donuts (free at the end)... so good. Go here JUST for the donuts. Seriously, you'll understand when you try them. I could write an entire 8 paragraph review on those alone.
(5)Christine F.
Annoyed. The first time I went- the food was pretty good. I had basil chicken. Second time I went-it was meh. I don't like going inside because of how small it is. But I kept ordering takeout or delivery because as far as authentic Asian food... It's the best non- Thai or viet this close to my house. I've given them a decent amount of business and referred other friends. Well.. Today I go to order and I decide on doing an online order. We all know how much of a pain in the ass that is, anyway. Well I go through and make an account. Order food and try to submit. It says it needs to be at least $25. Fine... I was a dollar off... I got a side of rice. Resubmit.... Alert comes up again. Needs to be a minimum of 25 BEFORE TAX. FINE. I add a side of plain lo mein. Finally... I place my order and another alert comes up and says if I'm more than 4 miles away they will add a 10 percent charge. Ok. Finish my order and receive confirmation email. A few minutes later I get a call from them telling me that my order has to be at least $40. So I said "online it says a minimum of $25" she's asked me to hold on and then talked to someone in the background and came back and said "but you live more than 4 mins away, so it has to be over $40" I live FIVE miles away. ....FIVE. So I cancelled my order because it's bad enough that I'm getting takeout... I'm not going to get $40 worth of food just for myself. #hangry #nomorebusinessorreferallsfromme
(2)Charles W.
Oh my lord, simply amazing! We just had dinner here after reading all the positive reviews on yelp and this place really exceed expectations. The service, the decor and food all top notch. Perfectly cooked and season and not greasy like you get in most Chinese restaurants. Me and my wife can't stop thinking about the "Taiwanese Fried chicken" you have to try it! Actually, everything we tried was good. The pork Dumplings, porkbelly mixed with mushrooms, and of course that famous fried chicken. Simply the best Chinese food I ever. The place also has a nice attentive staff which you normally don't get in many Asian restaurants if you know what I mean. There seems to be a lot of them too. Kind of caught me of off guard when we first walked in but we learned to appreciate it. (Same in Asia) The ambiance is complete with traditional Chinese designs plus other random cartoony Asian weirdness, which only adds to the overall experience. When we dined there I felt like i'm transported back in Asia where I live for a few years. Never order'd delivery or to go and why would you? Dining here is a treat, especially if you order some type of tea. This is now our only restaurant we will go for Chinese food. A must try!!!!
(5)Katt H.
Very nice, friendly and accommodating staff, and the food was very good. We went to this small place with a birthday party of 9 adults and they were all ready for us and made sure everyone was happy. Only complaint was my eggplant was rather bland and soggy, but everyone else's looked great and they loved it.
(4)Susan F.
Yum! I am pretty picky when it comes to Chinese food (generally don't really like it) and I just have to say it is delicious here. I have dined in and taken out. They are closed on Mondays currently says a sign on the door...but the other 6 days you should be good to go. So here is the low down on this place: Atmosphere: If you plan to dine in be warned that the restaurant is very tiny. Not many tables at all. Service: The experience eating in was fantastic. My friend ordered tea and it was served in a gorgeous teapot and when she was ready to leave they boxed it for her to go along with the tea bag while giving instruction how to make the most of the tea bag when she was home. We were ben served these little donut like dessert. So Yummy! Food: Delicious. Everything from the presentation to the ingredients. It is some of the better Chinese food I have had. Take Out: So you can order online and it lets you get very specific of how you want your meal if you want to leave an ingredient out, change it to white meat, add an ingredient in or specify the level of spiciness for a dish! I LOVE their online ordering system. You can even pay for your order online and then just walk in and pick up your order! Plan to return many times as this will be my go to Chinese place...I just wish my other half liked Chinese food.
(5)Peter B.
After seeing such high reviews and sifting through the occasional complainers and self-VIPs, I knew we definitely had to try this place, especially with 180+ yelp reviews and 4.5 stars. Went here on New Years Day and my wife and I shared the General Chicken and Kung Pao Shrimp - both were just incredible food dishes. Had to be the best Chinese food I've ever had. We also started with cups of hot and sour and wanton soups, both were amazing. Can't wait to go back - reservations appear to be a good idea for groups of 4+. They are closed on Monday's apparently. Thanks Wen!
(5)Winnie L.
Just moved to Ashburn from MD. I am so glad that I found a true Taiwanese restaurant! Friendly, clean and the food is great! I go at least 2x a month! Being from MD where Taiwanese restaurants are a plenty, Yen's can rival any in Rockville! Much less greasy than Mama Wok. Friendlier than Taipei Cafe. Pretty damn close to Bob's! ... And best part is they take credit card and have printed bills so you don't have to worry about shoddy math from the start staff. Only criticism is that I wish they had stinky tofu (i understand that its a tiny place so 1 plate would stink up the place, but still, one can wish!), pork blood cakes, stir fried rice cakes, soup dumplings and prices were a little cheaper like their MD counterparts... None of which would stop me from coming back! Must try: Taiwanese fried chicken with basil, Water Spinach, homemade dumplings, taiwanese beef noodle soup(of which you'll have to get on a list for. They sell out same day and only make it every once in a while because they make it the proper way which takes time).
(5)n l.
Service: excellent service and the first time we found a Chinese restaurant with this kind of service. Very pleased with the service. Food: too salty! Little less on salt then the food will be excellent (lost 1 star because of this) Atmosphere: very small cozy restaurant with cool tea set. Bonus: at the end of the meal we received their version of fried donut. Hot tasty and taste just right (did I said complimentary from Yen's Cafe)
(4)Yaofu Z.
It is a very small place, but the food is overall really good. We have 7 people and the waitress put two tables together for us. We ordered quite a few dishes and they are all delicious. I particularly like the bean curd with beef. The service we received were really good as well, attentive and friendly. I wish I live closer to this place.
(5)Tiffany T.
This place was great. We reserved a table for 730pm and we are glad we did because they were super busy. It is a very small place, maybe ten tables total so I can imagine there could be a wait during dinner time and the weekend. I would suggest getting menu items that have a heart next to it because that means it is genuine Taiwanese food. The rest of the food is Americanized Chinese food. Our table got the Mango/Passionfruit tea which was delicious and was enough for each of us to have at least two cups (party of six). We ordered a lot of different items for our table to share and all were great. Our server was awesome and helped us out so much and accommodated our vegetarian and pregnant friend very well. The food portions are rather large and can feed you well with extra to spare. As an appetizer I would suggest the Crab Rangoon. It comes with the normal sweet sauce and a spicy wasabi sauce. We are excited to come back soon to try more tea!
(5)Jay M.
Menu contains American Chinese food and Taiwanese Chinese food. The style can be light and less salty compared with other Chinese restaurants, good for health. The space is tight, only has 10 or so tables, some of them are fairly small. If you order Taiwanese dishes, it can be a little pricy. Average $30/person or more.
(4)Amber S.
Delicious food! Excellent service! Sweet staff & great prices! We love this place and will be going back.
(5)Nary S.
Delicious Taiwanese menu. I went with the Hubby, 2 year old and my parents whom all enjoyed their meals. It's a hidden gem in Ashburn. We ordered the crispy sesame beef, pipa tofu, white fish fillets in a non spicy sauce and pork belly with fried tofu. Everything was really good. The service was excellent and the owner came out to chat with us for a good 20 minutes. We'll definitely come again and try their dumplings as it's a family homemade recipe.
(5)Fatima L.
I'm not sure that it is possible to add anything to a list of 196 reviews that rate Yen's Cafe at 4.5 stars. All I can say is that I love love love the Pipa Tofu and Three Cups Chicken (my kids love this, too). Both are addictive. Fried Tofu with King Oyster Mushroom and Chinese Dry Chili is also a favorite---nice and spicy, and the king oyster mushrooms are so delicious. I also like the style of rice they use and the rice is always cooked perfectly. I've never actually been inside Yen's, as we have always ordered for delivery. We've had their food numerous times over the past year or so. The person on the phone and the delivery driver are always extremely friendly. We're so lucky to have Yen's Cafe serving up great Taiwanese food in Ashburn.
(5)Rachel W.
The food is outstanding. The service is great. But if you get nothing else, buy a pot of tea. We had the Mango/Passionfruit and it was the best freakin hot tea I've ever had. No, I'm not kidding. DRINK. THE. TEA!!!
(5)Cat P.
Yen's Cafe provides exotic and very delicious Taiwanese specialties. Unlike Bob's Noodle 66, they don't feature as many "night market" type dishes, but rather more home-style plates. As another reviewer has mentioned, look out for the little "flags" on their baby blue or baby pink menus if you want to try something more authentic. Per Yaka' H's review, we ordered the pipa tofu. Due to my love of eggs, I was intrigued by the string beans with salty duck egg, so I ordered that, too. To wash it all down, we shared a pot of rose tea. Pipa tofu: Football-shaped pouches that are fried golden on the outside and creamy on the inside. These nuggets are stuffed with minced scallop and shrimp. The custard-like tofu innards combined with the bites of seafood alone is already awesome, but they don't stop there. These little "purses" are then served on a bed of bok choy and lobster sauce, like shrimp with lobster sauce. The overall effect was nothing short of divine. String beans with salty duck egg: Skinny green beans tossed with hard-boiled salty duck egg. The richness of the egg really complemented the beans. This is quite an addictive dish, and I would highly recommend it if you want something salty and decadent. Rose tea: The rose tea served was very fragrant and soothing. (They have signs everywhere that if you break, you pay for their delicate tea pots. The compensation required could be up to $150! I had no idea those tea pots were so expensive.) Yen's Cafe and 88 China are probably my favorite eats for authentic Chinese in the Dulles area, and possibly even NOVA, Yen's specializing in Taiwanese cuisine and 88 focusing on Sichuan foods. Both restaurants offer really fresh, really flavorful food. Yen's Cafe also does something I've never seen in more "authentic" Chinese places--their presentation is really pretty. 88 China's presentation is very clean, too, but they don't do what Yen's does. Yen's embellishes serving plates with orchids and carved vegetables and uses Japanese-style plates. Their tea pots, as mentioned earlier, are really lovely, clear glass things (kinda remind me of the glass thing on the bottom of hookah pipes haha). While I don't go to these places for pretty, it certainly is a nice added touch. First and foremost, I come for the food and both Yen's and 88 are perfect 10s in that department. Service is mostly friendly, save for one gentleman who looked to be in his late 40s or early 50s. My hubby reminded me that every family has that weird uncle...he must be it. The ladies, including the granny seated at the bar, were very sweet. Northern Virginia keeps getting more and more authentic Chinese restaurants, and that's a great thing. I feel like I don't have to venture to Rockville anymore for some delicious Chinese cuisine.
(5)Christine L.
The Taiwan style fried chicken is so good! Very juicy and flavorful; highly recommended. Also tried the pineapple yogurt drink; nothing special or out of the ordinary. Just pineapple and yogurt blended together.
(4)Joce C.
Could not be happier with the food and the service! Wow. They always smile and greet us. They love kids too! We have had Chinese all over the country and in Canada, and this is the best! We especially love the fresh juices and smoothies- real fruit! This place is hands down #1! We have yet to eat something there that we don't like lol. Usually when you go to a restaurant you have one or two items you love, but, here, everything is AHmazing! :) We actually eat here way too much since discovering this gem. You don't just want to eat here, you need to eat here. ;)
(5)Saher J.
I was actually quite surprised at how great the food was. I ordered the shrimp lo-mein which was quite inexpensive and it was a good quantity of food for only $9. I did get to sample the Kung Pao chicken and General Tsos Chicken as well and I genuinely enjoyed the savory taste. This place definitely has my vote for when it comes to a quick Chinese food fix.
(4)Ava Z.
The best Taiwan food I have ever had! Taiwanese Fried chicken is awesome!! Rice noodle is also pretty good, the sauce tastes great!
(5)Mike B.
Five stars for it's location (within a stone's throw of the airport, though you'll have to drive a ways to get there due to the road layout). We stumbled on Yen's because it came up when we searched for "dim sum" near Dulles. Yelp's search mechanism is somewhat primitive--there is no dim sum. What there is is good standard Chinese dishes done well by a family that seems proud of their place. The rather severe lady that seemed to be supervising saw we'd ordered the pork and vegetable dumplings and told us that they were her favorite and a family recipe. And I think she was telling the truth. The most interesting dish we tried was the Sechuan (sp?) Crispy Pork. It was as crispy as a fried pork rind and had a sort of bacon overtone in a spicy sauce. Once we'd ground to a halt (because we had to go to work and wanted to be able to walk), they brought out these little baked buns filled with sweet orange/yellow custard. Even though one of our party cauterized his thumb when the lava-like custard flowed onto it, we all agreed it was wonderful.
(5)E. K.
The food, service and price was all great. The waiter was very helpful regarding vegan food options and suggested the eggplant basil, which we found quite tasty. We also ordered a beef soup and spring rolls. At the end, the waiter brought us complimentary dessert balls filled with red bean paste and custard. All in all, the food we ate was rich; the next time I come I will focus on ordering menu items with more greens and vegetables in to balance out the oil and starches. The bathroom toilet paper was very luxurious to touch, as was the sink and counter. I liked the paper cut outs on the wall, and the pastel pink and blue paper placemats that matched the cherry blossom menu covers.
(5)Bruce F.
Nice clean place and excellent service by the staff. However, I find some of their items to be outrageously expensive. I stopped by about a month ago for a quick lunch and order the Beef Noodle Soup, it was pretty good and reminded me of mom's flavor, but when I got the bill it was $16, add the tip and I paid about 20 dollars for this bowl of beef noodle soup, simply incredible.
(3)Kim M.
Very good. Selection of unusual teas and presentation excellent. Food presentation very good. But not any better than other good Chinese restaurants here and a good deal more expensive.
(3)Vicki C.
Thank you Yelp for finding this hidden gem! Food=Yum! Ordered: -Roast pork lo mien..delicious, non greasy. Their noodles are different then what I normally see. Yen's is flat and thinner.. doesn't matter because it went in my belly and it was awesome! -Crispy sesame beef...you can hear the crisp and crunch when you bite into it! Need I say more? -Mo Po Tofu.. not overly spicy (just the way we ordered because we have a baby spice at the table ;-) ) Yen's uses soft silken tofu and the sauce is on point and delicious with steamed white rice. -Steamed dumplings with shrimp and leek...I think the filling is homemade but the skin is not.. the filling had lots of flavor and filled with leek with a huge chunk of half a shrimp. Tasty with the sauce on the side -Taiwanese Style Potstickers with Pork Fillings..lightly fried.. sizes were a bit uneven some longer and smaller.. didn't care for these as much. -Complimentary dessert... so delicious... sweet bun filled with yellow custard. Money! Service=Very tentative, friendly, and makes great recommendations The place is small and cozy.. about six tables or so. Yen's got busy around dinner time but they do take reservations if you plan to eat in. Can't wait to try the different juries and tea's next time!
(4)John M.
Possibly the best Asian food in the Northern Virginia area always good hot portions for the money first-class service i've been there about six times never have I been dissatisfied with the owners always on the premises to make sure it runs great I just wish they were out in the front Royal or Winchester area always presented with fresh flowers or vegetable flowers they make themselves
(5)Kristopher S.
Best Chinese Loudoun County has to offer. We never get the stereotypical American/Chinese food, so if you ask you can find some great authentic options. Order the lionshead (meatballs), fantastic.
(5)Mary M.
This little place is a gem in Ashburn! The food is consistently tasty, the staff is very pleasant and welcoming, and the specialty teas are very unique. Try any of their teas with the dried honey (no sugar!) Presentation is always top notch too. Love this place!
(5)Stacy P.
This is hands down one of my favorite local spots. This is in my rotation for weekly take-out. From their orange chicken to hand-made steamed dumplings to their wide variety of teas, this is a must try. FYI: they're closed on Mondays. They have VERY limited seating so most of their business is take-out and delivery. Also be prepared to see the whole family working. Even though it's not uncommon in the Asian culture, it's not ordinary for the burbs.
(5)Kevin S.
We decided to go over and try Yen's based on friends' recommendations and the good Yelp reviews. We just did take-out, but I found the staff very friendly and eager to please. The food was delicious and there was a lot of it. The biggest plus for me was no MSG. I am wary about trying new Chinese and Thai restaurants because I will typically end up with a terrible migraine headache afterward. NOT HERE. I felt fine the next morning, which to me implies the food was all fresh and natural. I think my family found our new favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. Guarantee we'll be back.
(4)Brian S.
Very good. I ordered the lunch kung pao and it was delicious. The lo mein seemed like it may have been sitting a while though. I had chicken on a stick which was also pretty good, even though I meant to order steak. My only complaint was the egg drop soup..It was a little thick for my liking, and had corn in it which I wasn't a fan of at all.
(4)Antawn J.
Wife enjoyed the food. probably would have been bettedr at the restraunt
(3)Marcy M.
It was not the worst Chinese I have ever had but it most definitely was not the best. The general tso and sesame chicken tasted pretty good but the pork fried rice didn't have much flavor. The crab Rangoon was pretty good, but was a little too heavy on the cream cheese. Whatever you do DO NOT get the Shanghai Spring Rolls. I was really looking forward to them but they were bad. I couldn't taste anything but shrimp when I bit into them. Not even a hint of anything else. And it tasted like rotten shrimp at that. Took me forever to get the taste out of my mouth. Although they weren't completely terrible, I probably won't order from them again.
(2)Sudeep B.
Please do not waste opportunity by ordering American Chinese dishes. This place is the real deal. Get pips tofu or chicken with dy chilli, items you will not find st other places.the place is more of takeout.
(5)Jennifer K.
This place is simply the best Chinese restaurant I've ever visited. They are in their own league when it comes to the deep flavors on every dish I have tried. Even their plain fried noodle(just noodles, no meat nor veggies) will satisfy me over a full menu from another restaurant. No really, you should try their plain fried noodles. It is amazing. It tastes so fresh and so flavorful. Also their kung pao chicken and general tsaos chicken/beef/shrimp(I've tried all three, all good). I've heard they have this authentic Taiwanese menu but I haven't got to it yet. Their American menu still got more for me to try. I live in Herndon, but I would always drive 12 miles for this good Chinese restaurant every time.
(5)Camille R.
I didn't think we'd find Chinese food this fantastic in Virginia. Loved the pan fried noodles - they were beautiful and delicious. Hot and sour soup was also awesome!
(5)Mir A.
They have some great Taiwanese dishes on the menu. This place is a find in the middle of the vast residential community in Ashburn. It's a small and quiet place tucked behind the Giant shopping center but once you try their tasty and authentic Chinese cuisine, you'll be craving for their dishes. The owner and staff are very friendly and originally from Taiwan I guess. We enjoyed our visit to this restaurant. The meal was great! Nice service too and neat and cozy place.
(5)Sandra K.
Why isn't there 4.5 stars? I think this place almost deserves 5 stars. The food is great great great. The service is okay and the ambiance...well, we don't come for that. Try all their dishes on their Taiwainese menu which you have to ask for separately. They do not just give it to you. Chicken with chinese broccoli and crispy noodles, spicy beef salt and pepper shrimp seafood in birds nest taiwanese fried chicken(THIS IS A MUST ORDER) lo mein with pork mom's homemade dumplings
(5)Chris D.
Hands down, best Chinese food. Always quick take out, and always delicious. Love the kung pao chicken and low mein! Large portions give plenty for leftovers
(5)Vinicius M.
My favorite Chinese food place in the area. Food is delicious! You can tell it's fresh, we order once a week. Nicest people in the world work there, recognize you immediately, and deliver with a huge "Hello!" and smile on their face.
(5)Terence L.
No this wasn't good at all ...tough chicken ...soo expensive....and they take 50mins to get to you
(1)Linda P.
I'm so bad at writing reviews..... This was my first time here, it was pretty good kind of like a homely place to get some yummy food! We ordered some hot tea, it came in this nice glass tea pot with matching tea cups super cute! But just don't break it or you'll be forking out $150 bucks for it.
(5)Cheryl L.
This is one of my favorite restaurants. The smoothie selections are huge, teas are fragrant, tea sets are elegant, food is authentic Taiwanese, and service is wonderful. I love the warm cafe feel it gives off. Make sure to ask for their special menu with Taiwanese Fried Chicken, Noodles, and other yummy goodies. So good.
(5)Lauren R.
Good things come in small places...fantastic Asian fusion with all the classics and then some on the menu. Ownership is adorable and everyone is so friendly and upbeat. Food is fresh and won't disappoint.
(5)Carrie M.
This was an unplanned dinner but wow am I glad we went. Everything we ordered was great. We had Taiwan steamed dumplings, moo shu chicken and beef with onions. The pancakes for the chicken were the best I've ever had. There was also a complimentary dessert, I'd pay for this over and over again. I wish I lived in Ashburn so I could get delivery once a month!
(5)Dave C.
Great food with great people. This is one of the best Chinese places around if not the best.
(5)Jean G.
With my newfound Yelp app, I decided to try it in our old hometown of Ashburn, VA. We lived here for 7 years and yet have not tried this restaurant until tonight. I now understand why. Don't get me wrong. The food was great, the service was okay, the restaurant, however, was lacking. Why? You might ask? The place is just too darn small, and they know it. They actually reward you for carrying out (10% off). If I still lived here, I would go back for take out but not to eat there. I ordered the pork noodle soup. It was pretty good. A few too many vegetables for my taste. Next time I would order it without carrots, broccoli, or mushrooms. Don't worry. There's still cabbage. My husband ordered the Kung pao chicken. The chicken was very tender! My daughter ordered the chicken fried rice. That was very good as well. Can't say much more than that other than the wait staff was VERY attentive! A little too much. We had about 4 different waitresses who came by and asked us the same question the waitress before her just did. A little annoying but not necessarily annoying enough to be annoyed!
(3)Adam G.
In the area near the Dulles Airport, Yen's Cafe is the best Chinese/Taiwanese restaurant I've ever been to. The restaurant's location and size really don't help the business much. But, seeing how busy the place gets on any given day and weekend, one would know that it's the quality and service that win customers here. I have been coming to the place since 2009. Yet, I haven't seen any changes in quality and service, which is quite impressive. The only change noticeable is the staff. They have hired more Hispanic servers, which so far hasn't been a problem. They seem well-trained and have a decent understanding of Chinese food. Once a friend of mine asked for something special which confused a Hispanic server. The owner promptly jumped in to help out. Their food seems to cater to both American and Chinese palates. There are no surprises or exotic items on the menu. I have asked the owner to add something like stinky tofu on a few occasions. She stated that she didn't want to turn away non-Chinese customers with that smell. I particularly recommend their potstickers and dumplings. They are all hand-made in the restaurant with fresh ingredients.
(5)Chris M.
Yen's Cafe is, no joke, the best Chinese place in the area. We've tried most others and keep coming back. Their food is super fresh, flavorful, and not excessively salty. We mostly order delivery and they are FAST! We never stray for long without coming back and wondering why we ever left.
(5)Kristina H.
Yen's is amazing - and when I visited I was both sick with a head cold and very pregnant, so this 5-star review is hard-earned. My husband and I came for a late weekday lunch while on vacation. We were seated promptly in a comfy booth and attended to right away. I ordered General Tso's Chicken (my go-to dish) and hubs ordered the Sesame Chicken. Although his dish wasn't on the lunch menu, they made it into a combo anyway, without request (thanks!). The meals came out with soup, wonton strips, rice, salad and an eggroll, all fresh and at the ideal temperature. My General Tso's was perfectly spiced - enough to open up my sinuses but not too much that I couldn't handle the heat. Hubs remarked his was yummy as well. To top off the meal we were given fresh Chinese donuts and fortune cookies. Tons of food for a very reasonable price. Way, way better than P.F. Chang's... but is that much of a surprise? I wish we could take this place back to Boston with us!
(5)Albert L.
Going to be a little harsh on this one because of the high expectations drummed up by other reviews. Don't care so much for the location - it's out in the burbs of Ashburn, with ample parking and whatnot. Part of the suburban landscape and office/retail big boxes that surround it. Nothing special. The inside is kind of lost on me. The bar area is taken up by service staff, and there's a lot of trinket stuff everywhere in that area. It's definitely trying to be Chinese/Taiwanese, but the booths in the actual dining are not what I'd imagine for a cafe this small. The decor is Asian-ish I guess. Staff is definitely very friendly and decidedly Taiwanese (at least FOH), so that's all good. They've got a bunch of fruit smoothies and juices posted all over the walls to choose from, as well as a huge tea selection. These are decidedly Taiwanese, and we even discussed this with the owner/manager. Don't be afraid to order up a pot of specialty tea - they're from Taiwan (one of the premier tea-producing nations) and you'll have enough for your meal AND for cups to take back home. The serving sets are glass, and it's all somewhat delicate - another decidedly Taiwanese touch to service. Now, onto the dishes and plating. The menu itself is decently sized with lots of your typical Chinese takeout offerings, but that's not why you're here is it? Or maybe it is, given that this is the sole Chinese option in a decently wide radius. In any case, you should be here to try the Taiwanese-style food. I ordered a mainstay dish - Lu Rou Fan (Braised Ground Pork over Rice), while my friends ordered a Taiwanese vegetable, Xiang Gan Rou Si, and Zha Jiang Mian. First, the portions for all were pretty large, so you definitely get your value for money there in quantity. The plates themselves are large and kind of bulky, so they lend themselves to that - a point that I actually do not like. Given that it's a cafe and Taiwanese-style, the plate choices are too big for the tables and for the way that dishes are supposed to be served up. The Lu Rou Fan actually tasted good, if not a bit greasy. Lots of rice, and lots of Lu Rou. It came with broccoli instead of suan cai or some other vegetable that is more Chinese. Also missing was a tea egg. I didn't taste my friends' dishes, but the vegetable and Xiang Gan Rou Si looked well enough. The Zha Jiang Mian was an anomaly though. It looked like they used thin Chinese noodles (which is fine) or Italian pasta (which is not fine) - I couldn't tell just from looking. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say it was the former. Now, there were shaved vegetables and ground pork or beef also mixed into the noodles, so that was good as well. However, it looked a bit bland and dry-ish - this dish needs a deep, wet sauce to cling to the noodles. After all, that's what the name of the dish means. If the sauce was sorted out, it could definitely become a better dish here. We were treated to some nice, hot Nai You Bao (creme buns) as a dessert, so that was a kind gesture. Overall, I found the service to be attentive and friendly. The interior could be better spaced with small cafe tables rather than large booths. The menu has a large variety of items to satisfy everyone, but I think they should really focus on making their Taiwanese dishes just that much more authentic. I know they can do it. Maybe next time I'll even try their bubble tea.
(3)Malcolm R.
Ask for their special menu. They have some interesting options, but I would stay away from the pork belly. When I first say it, I was thinking more in the crispy pork belly region, unfortunately the dish is just globs of fat. Besides that, all of the other dishes were quite tasty. I got the crispy sesame beef and it was very flavorful. Also, the portions are huge so you definitely wont go hungry. Decor and real estate is minimal, but the good food makes up for it. Would definitely try again.
(4)Brittany T.
I absolutely love Yen's Cafe! Mom's dumplings are amazing and I love the spicy sauce. My dad and I always split the seafood soup for 2 when we go together, but when I'm by myself I get the egg drop soup with ham. My favorite dish is the shredded pork Beijing style because the meat and sauce are made to perfection. My boyfriend loves how large and meaty the General Tsos chicken is. The restaurant is small which provides an intimate dining experience and they always make you feel special when you go. make sure to get tea in the beautiful tea sets! The orange eucalyptus is the best on the menu and they will give you a cup to go at the end. When you dine in they bing you these little fried dough treats that are sweet and warm! I always leave full, happy, and feeling like part of the family :)
(5)William H.
Officially, my second favorite Chinese restaurant. Every time I have visited I have gotten a different plate, and each time I am happy with the quality. The pricing might seem expensive at first. But if you order two plates for two people, you will most likely have leftovers. Try the Mango beef (the beef is not breaded!) and the orange eucalyptus tea.
(5)Ariana G.
Finally authentic, delicious, Chinese food! My kids love it too! Can't wait to eat there again.
(5)Catherine C.
As some others mentioned in their reviews, it took 50 min for my order to arrive (we had it delivered and live just 5 mi away, so the wait was a bit longer than I would have liked). The food was pretty good but not nearly as tasty as the reviews had led me to believe so, yes, I was disappointed. Portions were decent but not bountiful and overall the food was a little plain. That said the steamed pork and shrimp dumplings were a standout.
(3)Jen L.
Foods quality was not verygood. Whatever we got was Americanized with too much sugar. Waitress didn't know anything when we inquired about the menu.
(2)Anne Z.
We cannot get enough of Yen's Cafe! The food is delicious and the service is prompt and friendly. They have the standard American dishes, but also have a myriad of more authentic Chinese cuisine as well. The staff are helpful in assisting with selection if you want suggestions. We love the dried chili chicken (add mushrooms- makes it even better!), many of the fish dishes, the Beijing style shredded pork, and the fried chicken. The soups are excellent! The dumplings are great as well. We have never had a bad dish and feel lucky to have such a gem close by. As others have stated, the seating is limited, but we have never had to wait a super long time for a table.
(5)Ruth C.
Yeah, this place took me some finding. My track record for decent food establishments in business complexes has been okay, though. Great reason to push my client meeting in Ashburn closer to midday. I question the point of having a dynamic "secret menu" that's readily offered to everyone. I get that you may not want to regularly stock ingredients for the less popular, more traditional dishes, but unless you're aiming for word-of-mouth hype, I feel like a whiteboard with daily specials would serve the same function. Semantics aside, their food has that rustic at-home feel to it. Interior is pretty basic, a smaller restaurant and bar style with clean bathroom and low-key decor. Origami cranes surrounding the Japan relief donation tub is a cute touch. Staff members are super nice, I didn't launch into Mandarin until after I'd heard them chatting amongst themselves for a bit, and they were friendly and polite at all times. They made sure that their leaving the door open for the breeze wasn't too chilly for me, and my glass of ice water rarely fell below half-full. I was disappointed to discover that the secret menu didn't have niu rou mian. They were quick to reassure me that the menu that day was offering beef hotpot with rice for two, which (paraphrasing into English) I could take the leftovers home, add water, noodles, and veg to make my own NRM. Sounds weird typing it out like that, as if they can't be bothered to do that themselves, but from an Asian standpoint, I appreciated it. And they were right. My food came out in good time, piping hot since they didn't remove the lid until tableside. The beef was a bit overcooked but the tendon was on the money, and the stew was definitely reduced to a level of saltiness that required the heavy garnish of cilantro and plenty of rice. Radish was a pleasantly neutral filler, though at home I probably would've opted for lotus root. Extra kudos for the pinch of black sesame seeds on the rice, both in bowl and in my takeout container. When I suddenly got called back to the office, they included an extra container of watery stock as per the earlier discussion, and a box of rice just in case. The seedless dou sa bao was acceptable in execution, and a lovely change of pace from an orange wedge cleanser. Props for bringing a good mix of Americanized and legit Chinese food to the suburban Caucasian professionals in the area. Had I continued my contractual role with those companies, I would've been happy to return to this dining establishment for a few more menu selections.
(4)Marissa F.
This is probably my favorite Chinese restaurant in Loudoun County. There is very limited seating so call ahead to make a reservation or you may want to opt for take-out. All of their food is incredible (eggplant with basil is probably my favorite) and the portions are huge so there will be plenty left over for lunch the next day!
(5)Jeff K.
Everything I have had here has been top notch Chinese take out. They are always very friendly and efficient. I plan my commute to take me past them as I live 40 minutes away. I have made a special trip a couple of times when craving Chinese. Well worth it!
(5)Ellie R.
Absolutely delicious and very friendly and attentive service. Authentic food - wonderful spot for Asian cuisine.
(4)Ningxi X.
Took my parents here during the Chinese New Year when they were visiting, and we were pleasantly surprised. I mean who would expect to find a place that instantly made you feel like home when you're in the middle of nowhere in Ashburn? We got fried shrimp, ribs, soup, and veggies. They have a separate menu for their Chinese customers (no, General Tsao's chicken and beef and broccoli are not authentic Chinese cuisine), and their wide tea selection is decent. Since it was the Spring Festival season, their interior was decorated in warm colors and had signs that said Happy New Year. Think my parents felt at home there :) The food was really good, and we were extremely grateful it wasn't the typical American Chinese food which is an insult on Chinese cuisine. I brought the leftovers to work for lunch the next day and my colleagues were jealous. We also chatted with the owner and his wife for a while. They were friendly and willing to share their experience of coming here and starting the business. Good food, good ambiance, good conversations. Thanks for a great night!
(5)Michael M.
If you want Chinese food in Loudoun County this is the place to go. Their normal menu is mostly "Americanized" Chinese food but of considerably higher quality than the typical places (i.e. - real white meat chicken sans breading, fresh vegetables, etc). If you're up for something different the authentic dishes off the Taiwanese menu are the real highlight. As other reviewers have mentioned, seating is limited and most of their business is take out or delivery.
(4)Six L.
Good food we ordered from the Taiwanese menu and got the sesame beef, salt pepper fish fillet and the chicken with cauliflower. Severs were nice and attentive to our young children.
(4)Dan S.
Everything was delicious. I got Singapore with rice noodle combo. It had curry which I like and my GF doesn't , the curry was very mild not overpowering like some places. She tried it and really liked it. This place is a keeper. She had mushu pork it was very cook and the pancakes were thin not thick and gooey.
(5)Sarah S.
Egg and tomato and tofu soup was OK. The pipa tofu was quite good though, would order it again for sure.
(3)Josh C.
great beef noodle soup! plenty of beef, tasty soup! three cup chicken good. free desert really good!
(5)Louis D.
Without question the best Chinese food in Loudoun, perhaps in Northern VA. Everything is good, the people are fantastic. We love their Wonton soup and Orange Chicken. If you like things that are sweet try the chef's specialty, Crispy Beef, you won't be sorry.
(5)Kenny Y.
Yen's Cafe is one my favor place. My family visit there once a week. Their Taiwan style Chinese food really brings comfort to my stomach. If you are looking for Hunan style or Sichuan style food, Yen's café properly is not your best choice. Their staff is very friendly and helpful. The only concern I have is that the restaurant is super small, yea super super small. It will be wise to call ahead for reservation for large part (6 people), otherwise you might have to wait at outside of the restaurant.
(4)Busa B.
When you're in unfamiliar territory and get hungry what do you do...you Yelp it! Since my sister didn't cook anything I was forced to eat out (need to talk to her about that one day). Pulled out my iPad and did a quick Yelp search and decided on Yen's Café. I arrived shortly after 3 and missed the lunch specials, no big deal so I decided to try something I'll do every so often. I was seated and asked what I would like to eat, I then handed the menu back to her (an older very polite lady, possibly owner or manager) and asked her to ask the chef to prepare for me whatever he wanted me to eat but I was very specific about NOT receiving a dish from the general menu, I wanted something more traditional. I immediately noticed her facial expression change to a look of slight confusion since I guess she wasn't accustomed to a request such as this. I basically told her that I'm not your General Tso's kind of guy when I dine out, not that I don't like GTC but you can get that anywhere. I guess places like Bob's Noodle 66 (Rockville) and Grace Garden (Odenton, MD) have cultured me into enjoying more traditional Chinese cuisine. Smile on her face now followed by many questions :) We chatted for a few minutes until my order came out then I was presented with braised pork belly and tofu with a subtle sweet brown sauce. The dish was light, clean and flavorful. The only gripe I have was the price at roughly $19 but I guess when you ask for something special you also receive a "special" price, lol. I can tell the chef cares about his art and making a good impression on a first time visitor. Yes I will be returning to Yen's Café.
(4)Anna H.
It was my first time at Yen's and I loved it. The food was very good and staff very friendly and hospitable. You must try the avocado cucumber salad! So refreshing and tasty. The jasmine tea is superb! And the main dish, both my husband's and mine were delicious. I am glad I found a new place for my Asian Cuisine cravings. I agree with other reviewers- the location does not do this place justice! Highly recommended!
(5)Chris D.
What kind of jerk writes three updates of the same restaurant? :: raises hand :: I really struggle with sharing this, because I want to keep it all to myself, but Yen's has a secret menu. I don't know if any ole person can order from it, but if you go there enough and struggle with what to order you might get asked if you want "something authentic." Uhhh... yeah, I do. Thanks for asking. I ended up with Chinese Pork and Oyster Mushrooms. The name is kinda misleading 'cause this ain't your momma's Chinese Pork. Imagine a tool that you could use to scoop out one inch cubes of pork; cubes that are the perfect mix of meat, fat and skin. Now use that tool to make patchwork of Porky and cook it until chopstick tender in a star anise based sauce. Thing is, the super-secret menu changes every week... so I'm not sure you'll ever have a chance to try it. If that is indeed the case, I weep for you. Hopefully whatever you do get is equally as tasty.
(5)Rizwan A.
Went there based on all the positive yelp reviews. The fish in spicy soy sauce was too salty. The crispy sesame beef was too sweet and oily. We both ended up not bring able to finish our meals. Boxed them up and they tasted worse when we got home. Not sure if we just ordered the wrong items. This also makes me wonder about the authenticity of yelp reviews.
(1)Andrew P.
If you are a foodie, then you must come here and try some of the dishes I highlight below. This is the best Chinese restaurant in the Ashburn/Leesburg/Sterling area.This coming from an Asian foodie. It is a hidden gem because their location is very bad leading to few people knowing about them! The owner Wen insists on using the best ingredients and often makes trips to suppliers over two hours away to get a certain ingredient that makes their food come out just right. Ask for the special menu to taste their best things. They are Taiwanese and their native dishes are something special. Start by ordering their 3 cups basil/ginger chicken which is Taiwan's national dish and a feast for your taste buds. I first tried this dish at Rose Tea Cafe in Pittsburgh which is famous for this dish in that area. But it is better at Yens! Wen told me that she insists on using free range organic chicken for this dish because regular chicken "doesn't taste right" due to higher water content. One thing I like about the owner Wen is that she believes in excellence and never ever skimps on ingredients. Also try their meatballs with noodles in broth. Outstanding. Very robust, savory flavors and handmade meatballs. Everyone I've introduced to this dish liked it. In addition to their Taiwanese specialties, there are some very good Hong Kong style dishes. The Hong Kong style crispy noodles is one of my favorite things in the menu. You can get it with your choice of meat (chicken, roast pork, seafood) but all variations are outstanding. If you like roast pork, try it here. It's as good as going down to Chinatown.The noodles are exceptionally tasty and crispy and the sauce is well executed. I haven't found a place that does this better. The "mom's dumplings" are also exceptionally good. If you like dumplings and have a taste for dim sum, then definitely order these. One time I got a big order and made it my lunch for the day! Great flavor and super fresh tasting. If you are a fan of bacon, you might want to try the Taiwan cabbage with bacon. Very simple dish but tasty. When I ordered a variety of takeout for my American friends I was shocked that this was the first thing to be gobbled up. It had wider appeal than I would have expected. They make outstanding smoothies with very fresh ingredients. Give that a try or order their iced matcha green tea. Very healthy and very good too. Some of our favorite appetizers are the avocado appetizer and the seaweed appetizer. Nice complement with the meal. In short, Yen's cafe is a great place if you desire quality Chinese and Taiwanese food rather than the cheap quick stuff that most Chinese restaurants put out. It's he only Chinese restaurant I've been to that has such a strong focus on excellence. I think it is because the owner Wen is a foodie herself. This place delivers on flavor, quality, and good service too. No MSG in any of their dishes too!
(5)Mallory M.
We love Yens, their food is consistently good. We normally order our food online for delivery and the service is fast. If you dine in, beware, the place only has a few tables but worth the wait. Their general's chicken and orange chicken are great! Not heavily breaded like most places. Crab wontons are good too! I always order either sweet and sour shrimp or the crispy seasame shrimp, I'm addicted!
(5)Candace C.
After wandering around the Smithsonian near the airport for a few hours, my dad and I worked up an appetite. I decided to give this place a go since I'd heard so much about it. I plopped myself in the booth and immediately asked for the special menu---and when you walk in, you should do the same. Don't worry, this special menu actually has English too! Let me just say, I've had dreams about that pork belly with tofu in special sauce since our visit. Too bad it's 3000 miles to go back to Yen's. You better believe, I'm asking friends to hand carry orders out here when they visit. Order it--you won't regret it. The Tawainese spaghetti was pretty good too. My mango grapefruit smoothie was also delicious, but a bit expensive. At the end of the day, we splurged a bit for lunch, but it was soo worth it. I'm adding Yen's to my list of must eats for all my future VA/DC visits.
(5)Jesny M.
Tried Chinese from Yen's Cafe this evening. After reading many reviews I had high expectations, but I was so disappointed. They were kind enough to deliver even though we were out of their delivery area. But the food was way too oily ,we didn't like it at all. :( Wouldn't recommend it at all!!!
(2)Lina T.
I ordered for pick up and I wanted a variety of food. I was going to my family's house and there's about 10 of us including kids. I was highly disappointed with everything. I ordered Combination Fried Rice, Beef Lo Mein, General Tso's Chicken, and Taiwan Style Beef w/Chinese Water Spinach in Sha-Cha Sauce. I placed the order online at 10:30 for pick up at 12:30. They open at 11:30 and they called me around 11:00 to tell me that they didn't have the Taiwan Style Beef. Seriously? You guys are just opening...how do you not have something that is on the menu? I could not understand the woman on the phone. She offered an alternative for the same price and I just said ok. I had already charged the order to my credit card and I didn't want to complicate things by trying to even get a credit back. I went there to pick up the food and the staff is really nice. The restaurant is extremely small. The place is kind of hidden because it's behind a huge shopping center (Giant, Chipotle, etc.) When I opened the food at my parents house, I saw that the portions were pretty small. I usually order chinese food from Oriental Express and their portions are HUGE. You get your money's worth from there but definitely not from Yen's. All the food was bland and the General Tso's Chicken looked nothing like how it should. I wanted to try this place out because of the really good reviews but it was extremely disappointing and I will never order from this place again. My mom couldn't even eat the food.
(2)Lisa M.
Crispy sesame beef was amazing. Ordered carry out and it comes with no lid (very smart to keep it crispy) fried rice was great generals chicken was yummy and the veggie Lo-mein + crab wantons were on point! This place is great, fresh, not too oily, and we will be back!
(5)Mike A.
Best chinese in Ashburn by a long shot. Be sure to ask for the Chinese Menu. Lots of treats there for the adventurous diner. Also, my pick, vegetarian daughter adores their Gen Tsos tofu. The staff could not be more welcoming. They are OUTSTANDING!
(5)Wai T.
Solid 4.5 star Came here to lunch, and was greeted with ecstatic friendly staffs. The unfortunate thing is that it's not too crowded, making me worry about its long term livelihood. Let's get over with all the "bad" stuff. If you are not ordering from the lunch special menu, it's not cheap. It's easy to compare this restaurants to regular China-King-type Chinese take out because, well, the store front isn't big and the inside isn't big either. Although it is a bad comparison but it's easy to do so and price at this restaurant would seem very high. The restaurant is on the small side, but it's very warm and cozy and it's definitely the style I like. This is a sit-down take-your-time-to-enjoy-your-food type restaurant. They paid so much attention to detail, the least we can do is to enjoy the food properly. Long story short, we came here and got a lunch special (pineapple fried rice with shrimp) and a mango beef. Both are amazing. Price of mango beef was a little on a high side especially considering it's just lunch (the item is not from lunch menu so it was dinner price). The food arrived reasonable quick, and while the fried rice was pretty good, the mango beef was amazing. It was adorned with a fresh orchid and other origami thingy cut from cucumber and carrot. The food temperature was great. The flavor was solid (albeit a tiny bit too salty for my taste), and ingredient was top notch. For the fried rice they used real pineapple (my pet-peeve). Mango was ripe and seasonal. I really enjoyed the level of detail they gave. The complimentary rice that came with the mango beef was perfectly cook. It was from pretty good japanese or korean short grain rice (cost more than those cheapo long grain with no texture that you get in pretty much any other restaurants). They even put a few pellets of fried black seasame seed on top to decorate the rice. When the last time you see a bowl of rice come with edible decoration? The small nik I had with them on the rice is that it was not new crop but that's really more of a personal preference. After the meal, together with your check they give these amazingly yummy "chinese boston creme donut". It's really lightly deep fried mantou type bun, with a coconut custard that's not too sweet but sweet enough to be satisfying. The bun was chewy, and it was scorching hot. I ate one and saved for for the afternoon snack and it was still perfect. They have these fancy fresh fruit juice concoction and fancy herb tea which I did not have a chance to try, but it's certainly sound promising. Highly recommended.
(5)Michael O.
This is a good, consistent, courteous business and you can feel confident in what you order. It's great for us locals, they offer 10% discount on takeout. If you're in or around Ashburn, make this your go-to place for those cravings.
(4)Eastie T.
Went there blindly based on Yelp reviews... It is a small, cozy and well decorated place. The owner is very sweet, a lot of people already mentioned it and I need not talk more about it. We had the Crab wontons for appetizer, delicious. I tried the Yen's special rice and my friend had the a Seafood dish, name ending with V2 or something like tht (but a 2 was there fr sure). Both of them were really good, will surely go back when am around in Ashburn....
(4)Jin J.
Great fruit smoothies and Taiwanese dishes but they are def on the pricey side.
(4)Ariel H.
One of my favorite Chinese restaurant in nova! We drive 30+ miles just to come here and I normally never come to Ashburn. Owners are from Taiwan and the food is authentic & really hits the spot. Ingredients are fresh and all dishes I tried range from good - amazing. Fav. dishes: braised pork belly with fried tofu (special menu), peking style pork with pancake, mushu vegetables, string beans, sha-cha beef, spicy fish fillet (special menu), kung pao chicken. I think their braised pork belly dish might've taste even better than my mom's (sorry mom... ). One thing that I really like about the place is that they always use good quality (sushi grade) rice. This is a pet peeve of mine --- good chinese food must come with good rice. I can't stand how most chinese restaurants in America serve you crapppy dry rice (you know, Miu Kee type cantonese places and every generic local chinese takeout). Smoothies are also amazing, and made to order using fresh fruits. I highly recommend it although being a bit pricey. 1/2 star off for the price though, as this is not exactly a "cheap" eat per se. Prices are a few dollars higher than you'd expect, which I'll live with since I think the flavor is also better. However, they'll charge you extra 1 dollar or so if you ask your food to be "extra spicy" (1 dollar to add chili, really???). =( If you customize your dish or don't see the price specifically listed, be sure to ask the price when you order so you're not "surprised" when the bill comes.
(5)Thomas B.
Horrid customer service. I ordered take-out because their minimum delivery charge is $30.00. The told me they'd provide Sweet and Sour sauce for crab rangoon, but only gave me duck sauce. When asking for a small side of Sweet and Sour sauce, they insisted on charging an extra $4.00. After an extremely rude, unhelpful, and confronting manager/owner came out, I was so displeased with her attitude that I told them to keep their food and left. Very, very nasty employees and management here!
(1)Felicia H.
Love the food and atmosphere of this place. If you like mainstream Chinese dining (Pei Wei, Panda Express) then most likely this place isn't for you. If you like traditional Chinese (Asian) style cooking then I highly recommend going here. The place is small, a little odd layout/seating, and the wait staff consists of family/friends. If you can get past those things, the experience will be great, memorable and authentic. Don't forget to order a pot of tea with your meal!
(5)Tina J.
Excellent service and the vegan options were very good.
(4)Al S.
The owners are from Taiwan and have some great Taiwanese dishes on the menu. Try the braised meatballs hot pot. Not your aveage Chinese menu, which is what I like about this place. Eat in or take out. Sit at the bar and have a drink or a great herbal tea and chat with the friendly owner/staff while you're waiting for take-out.
(4)Renata B.
I suppose this review might not receive much in the way of believability because I'm a white person writing about a Chinese restaurant, but OMG! I've been to China and Hong Kong and the food is traditional and once you read the reviews here about the "special" menu at Yen's Cafe and you see what is on there in person, you will know the truth about Chinese food! My boyfriend ordered something off the special menu (which I don't remember because it was spicy - and I don't eat spicy - and it has been a while) and I ordered the Crispy Sesame Beef. The last time I had Crispy Beef that actually fulfilled the expected crispiness was when I was in Australia. Every other time I have tried Crispy Beef in the States, it has been chewy or soggy and NOT crispy. The size of an order is plentiful (this is why I've gained 10 lbs ever since I "met" Yen). The slight sweetness is amazing and the flavor it adds to their fantastic white rice on the side is wonderful. One caveat: because the Crispy Beef is crispy (duh, I know), it might not be the same texture you expect if you put it in the fridge and eat it the next day. On to the rice! I have been to numerous Asian restaurants and I don't think I have ever had rice THIS good. I have a small stomach and often leave the rice in favor of the entree, but reheating the rice the following day requires no water to unstick the rice (even my Chinese ex-boyfriend's family had to add water to THEIR rice to reheat). I suppose I'm reviewing backwards, but on to the appetizer! I ordered the Avocado Salad w/Cucumber and I have not looked back! The freshness of the cucumber distracts a little from the sweetness of the dressing and the creaminess of the avocado (which I imagine is the point) and makes this salad one filling and healthy option (you might even need to wait on the entree - see caveat above - and rice). On to dessert (in my mind)! The fresh juices made here are more like smoothies and they are fantastically delicious! I LOVE the papaya coconut milk juice, the papaya milk drink, and my boyfriend sings praises for the avocado milk juice - once watermelon is in season (more in season?) I am trying that next! As far as the size of this place, it is TINY! I noted in the survey that it is good for groups and intimate (intimate in terms of you'll be close, alright)...you should probably make sure that you call ahead and tell them if you have more than 5 people because a lot of tables will have to be rearranged! Side note: I am VERY ill right now and all I can coherently think of through my nose-blowing and coughing fits is chicken noodle soup - so I called Yen's and they are making me chicken noodle soup because apparently I even SOUND sick! I will comment on the chicken noodle soup after I have tried it. Update: ...and EXACTLY a year after I posted this review, I will comment on the soup. (I procrastinate, what can I say?) This soup was delicious! Not your run-of-the-mill chicken noodle, but heftier with lots of noodles, but A LOT of vegetables, also. Not that veggies are bad when you're sick... ...so, check on the chicken noodle and I've been ordering from Yen's regularly ever since (and even before) the first review. I've even shown a friend the light when it comes to "Chinese food" and she LOVED this restaurant. As always, I'll be coming back and ordering online for delivery! :)
(5)nick t.
Awesome authentic Chinese meal. Unexpected in Ashburn va. Great salt pepper pork chop. Fish filet with tofu spicy sauce is yummy too. Get the water cress!
(4)Janet P.
I'm not sure what all the rave reviews are about because my date and I went here this week and their was a ton of corn in the egg drop soup (was more like corn drop, heh), and my seasame chicken was chewy/overcooked. We both agreed it wasn't that great, and the place was very small inside (like 6 booths upfront?) with leftover x-mas decor hanging around. On the plus side the wait staff was very attentive and super friendly. We did get a complimentary desert at the end of dinner which was like a hot round donut with dry looking custard in it.
(2)Grant H.
Shocked of the rating of this place. I ordered takeout based on yelp reviews and was not impressed. General tso's chicken lunch combo, my usual at any Chinese spot, tasted like mall food court Chinese mixed with lean cuisine. The salad dressing was too sweet, and the salad was not even necessary, would of much rather had more meat or rice. The egg drop soup tasted much more like miso soup from a Korean spot, very salty. I am definitely going back to my favorite Chinese spot in Ashburn, Asia Cafe. Oh well...
(2)John I.
Truly an outstanding little place! When I say "little," I mean it. There are maybe eight tables, so I assume the majority of their business is carry-out. My family and I have been there quite a few times and have found the food to be freshly prepared, full of flavor, and of high quality. I keep going back for the Kung Pao Tofu, and no, I'm not a vegetarian. It's just delicious! They have a fresh juice bar that's simply amazing. If you go to the gym next door, I can't think of a better way to recharge after a workout. The staff is very friendly and are happy to provide suggestions or recommendations. We live 45 minutes away but frequently make the trip just for the freshness and quality.
(5)Danielle R.
This place is phenomenal. They take their tea very seriously, and for good reason, the flavors in the rose tea are very delicate and layered, quite a pleasure to sip on. The steamed dumplings are also some of the best...ever. The flavors are just...whoa. The place is small, so I wouldn't advise showing up announced with big groups or crazy requests, but if you're looking for a laid back place to enjoy an afternoon with some excellent flavors and a good book, Yens is perfect.
(5)Eric H.
This is the best Taiwanese restaurant in the area. Everything was made fresh. The potstickers were sauted, not fried. The fish was light, not oily, and full of flavor. It is a small, cozy place. She makes everything from scratch, so that nothing has MSG. Also, she has nice tea sets with a variety of herbal teas, which we found refreshing. I highly recommend this restaurant.
(5)Pete C.
Not a local, here for work, and decided to use Yelp for my feeding needs. I took a chance and searched for Taiwanese. When I saw how close this place was, I knew I had to make some time to visit. It's a nice little restaurant with terrific service. The food is also wonderful! I found it a little funny that the hostess (owner) wasn't sure of my ethnicity, so only spoke in English at first. I slipped in a little Chinese, and she warmed up a little. Then I asked a question in Taiwanese, which surprised her. Good times!!! I had lunch there. It was cheap, and it was good! Presentation was also pretty nice. Will have to go back tomorrow and try something new!!
(4)Jesse C.
Hidden behind one of the Giant's in Ashburn and next to the Home Depot is this little Chinese restaurant. When I first say their ad, I said to myself. Here's another boring old hole in the wall. I was very surprised but what I found. I've been to all the Chinese restaurants in Ashburn and this one is by far the best of all of them. I'm sort of strange when it comes to my Chinese food. I grew up on the stuff, having been brought on my parents, aunts, uncles, friends, eating in China, Taiwan, and Hong Kong and so on. Three dishes I always tend to judge on are Hot and Sour soup, Kung Pao Chicken, and Ma Po Tofu. I'd also say Peking Duck, but that is in a totally different class on of its own. On our trip to Yen's, I was able to try the Kung Pao Chicken and the Hot and Sour soup. I couldn't convince anybody else for the tofu, I'll go back and try that myself next time. Of all other dishes we ordered I felt the Kung Pao was the star of the night. It's the 2nd best to get here in Loudon County. There are just the right amount of spices and I like how they don't throw in the celery and water chestnuts as others do. I like mine plane and simple. If you live in Ashburn, then go here if you like Kung Pao. The hot and sour soup was ok. I was a little disappointed. When it came out, it looked great. It wasn't too thick, wasn't loaded with corn starch like other places do. I was surprised to see that there was no pork in here. Maybe I just didn't get any in this bowl. Anyhow, like most places, it did have a watered down tasted. I can live with that because the Kung Pao more than made up for it =). Of the other dishes we had, they were fine. Nothing too fancy but not bad. The inside is small, there are 7 tables in all, but there is a bar you can sit at also. The décor is trying to be a little trendy but that is o.k.. The main thing is.....it's clean. The service is great, the people are nice. If you are in the mood for teas, they have a ton for you to try. While they are more expensive then the others in Ashburn. That's o.k. though, the service and the Kung Pao makes up for it. While I hate to be the one that ruins the perfect rating, I still cannot justify a perfect 5. Sorry, Yen....Just know this, you are my 2nd favorite Chinese joint in Loudoun County.
(4)Jess N.
We came to this place by chance and I was pleasantly surprised because it's in a strange office location. We ordered the garlic fried chicken which was cooked with basil-- Amazing! Boneless chicken with so much flavor I could eat it everyday. We also ordered the Szechuan crispy beef which was equally as delicious and the yen's special rice which was also good. Looking forward to my next time coming here!!
(5)Chris M.
Ok...60 great reviews already so I'll keep it brief: Our food: Shanghai Spring Rolls Homemade Steamed Dumplings Hunan Beef Shredded Pork "Beijing Style" w/homemade pancake (instead of rice) 5 stars: We ate a ton of food, it was perfectly prepared, service was attentive and fast, prices were reasonable, an incredible fresh juice menu, and they even threw in a free mini dessert of homemade doughnut holes filled with mildly sweet red bean paste. Eat here. Happy Dining!
(5)Baby L.
I went here based on the reviews. I ordered 2 entrees and 1 Appetizer. I ordered the "Chicken and Broccoli and Caulifower" and asked for no Cauliflower but got a few pieces. The quality was good. The thin sauce and flavor of the dish was so bland though. The most flavorful sauce was evident in the "Chicken Szechuan Style" dish. It was much better and very tasty. *BUT* there were wayyyy too many carrots and not much chicken. The chicken was shredded so thin, too, and hard to distinguish from the million thin stalks of carrots. The flavor was great, though. The Crab Rangoon was AWESOME. Super SMALL though. There was like 6 tiny folded pockets of Crab Rangoon in those tiny square cartons that McD used to package their Big Mac in. I could eat the whole box myself. But the taste was so out of this world and melt in your mouth that the $8(?) price was worth it, especially after tastying so many bad ones at other places. Not bad. Better then any other place I found around here so far. Wierd place inside. Definitely get it to go.
(4)Amy T.
This is it! True authentic Taiwanese food in northern Virginia. This is our first visit. We ordered Taiwanese cabbage with bacon, Taiwanese style fried chicken, Chunk Pork with bamboo string, and fish filet with spicy soy-bean sauce. These dishes were recommended by the owner and were all very good and good portion. What's more, these dishes were not greasy at all! The price is on the high side for the Chinese food but worth every penny. Staff are very friendly. This place is very small but well furnished and very clean. If you want good and healthy Chinese food I highly recommend this restaurant. I will be back to explore more dishes!!
(5)Yair L.
We are a couple from NY, VERY much into chinese/taiwanese food. We've been to dozens if not hundreds of such restaurants in NY area. We came for the weekend for a family visit and came for dinner at Yen's. We were shocked! extremely high quality food, extremely authentic, the owner who is very involved in taking care of all the customers is really motivated to make the best taiwanese food she can based on her mother's delicious recipes. the food is excellent. we were 16 people so I got to try many dishes- all good. I recommend the chicken dish (not on the menu)- chicken cooked in a pot with basil. Fantastic. Amazing experience. better than 99% of the places in chinatown, NY. Wow!!
(5)Jasen F.
CLOSED MONDAYS IN JULY! Very nice. Small joint, tucked away in exurb land behind buildings, off the beaten track in a place where sidewalks don't get used. Yen's is a family joint that features friendly staff very intent on you enjoying their food and experience. The tea service is top notch, with a nice presentation and a variety of unique choices. I got one of their specialties, the meatballs with thin rice noodles and cabbage, and can't wait to tuck into my leftover later. We started with spring rolls, shrimp rolls, and the steamed dumplings and all were top notch. Do it!
(5)David K.
Simple review to write. Just copy/paste from my Facebook check-in: David K. checked in at Yen's Cafe. EEB: always wondered if that place was any good. what do you think? David K.: I'm a big fan. Quite a few Taiwanese dishes, so not your generic menu. They put a lot of attention into presentation, service, and extras like homemade sweets at the end of the meal -- esp the owner, so it's not always the best choice if you're squeezing in a 60 minute office lunch. Take-out is pretty good, too, but you miss out on all the extra flair. DK: Best Chinese (Taiwanese) food in Ashburn/Dulles area
(5)Christina S.
Disappointed with so many good reviews. The food is just like most of the take out Chinese foods around these area.
(2)Mimi C.
OMG...ok I must say I gave up chinese food years ago because of all the "so-so" restaurants in the area. But I'm back in the chinese saddle now!!
(4)Shantanu S.
We ordered 2 dishes. the 4 stars is for the seafood special with vegetables. What really separates this restaurants from other Chinese restaurants in the area, and otherwise, is that the ingredients used seem to be of very high quality. The dish was delicious. It looked fresh and was very elegantly presented. The scallops, shrimp, calamari and crab meat was succulent and the sauce was sufficiently flavourful so as to not overpower the seafood. I have since been here 2 more times and the food was consistently good. The only negative is that the owner is always keen on a conversation with the guests and while amusing at first, her volume and perpetual conversation gets annoying pretty fast. We had to stop chatting with each other because the owner was at the adjoining table and more or less drowned us out. Go for the food.
(4)HanaDC T.
I was dying to try this restaurant since it is getting great view on Yelp. My office is very close to this restaurant. When I entered this restaurant, it is very small. I love tea. They have a huge selection of tea. I love it. It makes me keep coming back to try a new thing. I ordered General Tso's chicken from Lunch menu. I picked soup and salad as a side. I liked the sauce that they used for chicken. It was very tasty but it was not too spicy and too oily either. If you finish eating and ask them the check, they bring Chinese sweet (donuts), It was freshly fried. I love it. Also when I opened the check book, they gave me a chocolate. The waiters were very friendly and came by my table to see whether I was enjoying the food or not. This is one of my favorite Chinese restaurants.
(4)E M.
Food is good. Service can be obnoxious.
(2)Steven N.
It's hard to find a quality Chinese restaurant in the sea of as cheap and fast as possible Chinese places these days. This is one of the good ones, even one of the best. Just by eating the white rice you can tell the quality is amazing.
(5)Kevin L.
This little hidden gem is nestled in behind the Chipotle and Giant at the front of the plaza, and quite possibly the only people that know it exist are the folks that hit the new Fitness First right next door. Don't be fooled by the strip mall surroundings, this family owned restaurant is the real thing! My Chinese food authenticity pain scale is kind of like the medical pain scale that anyone in the medical profession is familiar with (y'know... "0 for absolutely no pain at all, 10 for the worst pain you've ever felt in your life): 0 -- Asian owner who greets you at the door, discusses the various traditional offerings available with you in Mandarin and laments with you about things that aren't on the menu because they would never end up being ordered by the general American populace. The business owner's 70+ year old mother-in-law is hanging out at the bar and hobbles outside to hand you a take-out menu when she sees you standing in front. 2 -- I don't know what the dish is called in the English language, and the only way I know that it's being served at the restaurant is because I've seen my parents order it, or because I confirm (in Mandarin) that said dish (which I don't know how to order in English) is offered. 5 -- Although there's "sweet and sour pork" and "sesame chicken" on the menu, the steamed rice is fresh and sticky, the staff understands me when I say "xie xie" and responds with "bu qe chi", and I can get away with speaking with the owner/manager directly as "lao ban" or "lao ban niang." 8 -- Asian fusion: I can get over this and enjoy myself. I just need to know what it is that I'm getting myself into so I can appropriately set my expectations for "this is not real Chinese food." 10 -- All of the dishes on the menu resemble something like General Tso's Chicken; if I have never ever heard the dish ordered in Chinese, I'm gonna have to go with "It's not really Chinese." This one? Case in point. Yen's (thusly named, because something like seven siblings in the family have the middle name Yen) Cafe is qualifies as a solid 0 on the Kevin's Chinese food authenticity pain scale. I walked in a stranger, and I walked out once as an acquaintance on a mission to respond to an EMS call, and walked out a second time (two hours later, after we dropped someone off at the hospital) an extended family member. For the adventurous diners unfamiliar with real Chinese food, try the dza jiang mian here. The owner's noodles are renowned in Taiwan. Make sure to ask for some chili oil to kick it up some. The serving size was enough for me to have half for dinner and half for breakfast the next morning. Interestingly, this is made with chicken instead of the traditional pork, and you can taste that it's lighter. Be sure to ask for a "Handsome Boy." Halfway through our meal (once we got back from the hospital, and our food was kindly reheated for us), the owner brought out these icky brown slushy things, at which point we asked what they were. Turns out, they're incredibly delectable and healthy fresh veggie/fruit juices. Ask for the story on why they're named such. It's a great tale! No sugar, no additives, just veggies and fruits, and in our case... some dried plum powder. Mmm. My ambulance crew is definitely coming back, on the promise of being treated to the owner's vaunted pudding for dessert! As always, bonus star awarded for supporting uniformed emergency response staff!
(5)Bridget B.
Love this place and go there all the time. I have to agree with another post though that the food is not very authentic (I lived in Taiwan for a bit), However, the quality of food is outstanding! My faves: Taiwanese fried chicken and steamed dumplings. Both are not on the menu, so ask for it.
(5)Michael S.
Best kept Secret. Really fresh, high quality ingredients. I can really taste the difference. I'm really impressed. Great presentation too. Both my 6-year old and 13-year old love it (to my surprise). Best Chinese/Taiwanese food around. I don't think they are getting a lot of traffic because they are hidden behind the Ryan Park Giant. I hope more people go there to keep them in business. There are so few really great restaurants in Ashburn/Broadlands. Naruto was a really good sushi place located near Yens but it closed some months ago because they weren't getting enough people.
(5)Masque X.
Today we stopped in for early dinner and as always, Yen's does not disappoint! I had the sizzling beef and pepper hot plate, wife had the sesame chicken and the kids shared chicken lo mein. Everything was delicious! After dinner, they treated the kids to popsicles and lollipops and gave us some sort of fried donut things. One had chocolate and the other had custard in it. Both were awesome! This continues to be our "go to" place for Chinese Food!
(5)William R.
I heard so much rave about Yen's Cafe so thought we'd give it a try... Service was 5 star. The restaurant is located in an office building, it has a small but inviting atmosphere. We both ordered the lunch specials which included soup, egg roll, salad, rice and entree. Our egg drop and won ton soups were just fabulous, the salad and egg rolls were also excellent. The down-side was the main entrees. I had Hunan Beef and it was mushy (fatty) in texture and beef was not of the quality I expected. Additionally, though Hunan Beef is a spicy dish, the particular entree required me to consume several glasses of water to complete the meal. It was smoking hot. I considered sending the plate back but didn't want to offend the chef. Next time, if there is one, I'll order one of the non-spicy entrees to be safe. Overall a great experience. Price was about $9 per meal plus applicable tip and tax. The price is a little on high side for lunch, but the portions are generous, so you won't go hungry!
(3)Ken C.
This place was a surprise. I didn't know what to expect, when visiting my friends in Ashburn. Good Taiwanese food isn't usually found in Loudoun County, to be honest. We started out w/"power tea", which was served in a glass teapot and warmed over a flower-shaped candle. My friend recommended that we ask for the "other" menu, and it was a good thing we did. We ordered: dumplings, tofu + brisket, Taiwanese fried chicken, and mapo tofu. The dumplings were fried to a delicious crisp, and was filled with delicious pork. The tofu & brisket was awesome. Nice, chewy, fatty chunks of brisket and fresh tofu really hit the spot. Taiwanese fried chicken: bit-sized, crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside -- perfect. Mapo tofu was average; I've had better at other restaurants. The service here was very good. The waitress was very attentive and always made sure we had a full teapot. She was very friendly and always made sure everything was to our satisfaction. The dessert was complimentary sesame paste filled buns. They were hot on the outside, and had a nice sweet crunch. Overall, I wouldn't mind coming back to this place. It's a nice hidden gem in Ashburn, a place where you don't expect to find authentic restaurants.
(3)Jeff W.
He may have had his asian card revoked a while ago, but Kevin L is spot on with this place! I came here recently and absolutely loved the entire experience. Many asian restaurants I find tend to look down on white patrons and I think get annoyed expecting us all to order general tso's chicken, say "eww" when we see meats other than beef or white meat chicken, and then bother them with requests for forks. But at Yen's, I felt like the proprietors were eager to share their culture and cuisine with us which I loved. Friendly as can be, attentive, and we even got a few unexpected freebees, like a sampler of their taiwanese style edamame, and complimentary chinese doughnuts after we had finished. The menu has an assortment of classic eastern dishes and western dishes. We started with the spring rolls which I'll say right now are the best I've ever had. Chocked full of substance and flavor with an abundance of mustard greens and other veggies. Perfectly crispy on the outside without a hint of oil. Absolute perfection. I'd come here just for the spring rolls. For entrees we had an order of ma po tofu (extra spicy), some sort of shrimp noodle dish, chicken and vegetables in white sauce, and sesame chicken. All of it was great and throughout the meal all my dining companions kept raving and sharing excitedly. And to top it all off, they also have an excellent tea selection. With such friendly service and wonderful food I will most definitely be back. If I lived or worked in Ashburn I'd be here on a weekly basis.
(5)Kathy S.
Our first time there and yummy good! We will definitely be back. Vegetarian recommendation was awesome.
(5)t.sa c.
This place is hidden, and small on the inside, but the owner and chef infused it with heart and soul in every way. From food (no MSG) to drinks to bathroom (when's the last time you've seen the thick 3-ply TP for customers? I don't even use that at home!) Food recommendations: The taste is Taiwanese, anything on the Yen's specialties list are authentic yet creative, it's a working oxymoron. Mongo Beef is one of my favorites, their "Lion's head" (meatballs in clay pot) is very traditional, thing we eat at home and you won't find it in many places since it's more labor intenstive. All things on the list is $16 but the quality is top notch, they'd use the jumbo shrimp, fresh and ripe fruits, portions big enough a table of 6 can take at least 2+ spoons each person. They also have Taiwanese equiv of spaghetti sauce on rice, something we eat at home as well. Drinks: ask for the fruit tea, it'll take 20 or so mins to make and they must have enough fresh fruits that day but it's worth the wait. No canned fruits, everything's fresh cut. Sooner or later other restaurants will mimic this, but here it's all about quality. Dessert: As in the photo, they currently offer home-made pudding, which I can only describe as ambrosiac. Not too sweet and just firm enough. This' not on the menu yet so it's a free sample if you ask for it. Even as a free sample they didn't slack on plating and garnish. All in all this is like being invited to dinner at someone's house who loves to entertain, encourages eating healthy, and really wants to inspire your taste buds.
(5)Rob P.
After meditating on the previous reviews since relocating to a new home in Broadlands, it seemed due time to make the pilgrimage to Yen's. Arriving at the restaurant we were not exactly expecting it to be so quaint (translation, smallish) but we were pleased by the warm and welcoming greetings from the front staff. I didn't recall anything recently from reviewers who dined at Yen's with kids in tow, so we decided to throw that into mix for the evening. The staff promptly arrived at the table with ice water and the two additional place settings needed to accommodate the four of us. A few minutes later they arrived with covered plastic bubble-top cups of ice water for the boys which was well received as they were 'different.' Kids love the novelty of the moment you know, I say anything that distracts for a moment is a good thing... We opted for family-style ordering, so, here we go... addressing the initial desires from our crew, we started with one Corn & Ham Egg Drop Soup, Edamame, and one order of Shanghai Spring Rolls. The appetizers arrived nicely presented and quite warm. The soup was a nice spin on the more basic egg drop soup as the corn and ham added a nice texture and together with a touch of cream, a much richer flavor. The edamame, in a word, were impressive. Unlike the basic, often wilted looking selection seen in countless restaurants, Yen's were a vibrant green with a sheen actually from what we guessed was from a light toss in sesame oil. They were also touched with salt and cracked pepper. The flavor was excellent. Lastly, the spring rolls were fresh from the fryer and had the appearance and texture of having been made in-house. All of the ingredients of the roll had a distinctly fresh taste. Though all starters hit the spot, the edamame was the big winner. Entrée time. Wanting to have a sampling we opted for Kung Pao Chicken, Shredded Pork Beijing Style w/pancakes, and the unexpected, Braised Meat Ball in Hot Pot. Starting with the meatballs, as they arrived first, after being freshly prepared, I'll say now that the complexity of the flavors and textures were just excellent and nicely balanced. For us, balanced (operative word) meant that by working to scoop a combination of meat, broth, cabbage, and bean noodle in one bite (which admittedly takes work) was exceptionally tasty. The order came with four, very large meatballs, so dish is absolutely wired for sharing. The shredded pork offered nuances of a traditional moo shu pork (minus the blatant egg central in moo shu), with the pork cut a bit thicker in noodle-like strips. The coating had, to us, hints of hoisin sauce and an overtone of sweetness, maybe plum. However, the dish that wowed us was the kung pao chicken. I know, I know, this dish along with Gen. Tao's chicken is the stuff of Chinese food hobbyists, but I have to say, this is no fast-food kung pao... This stuff was prepared and roasted with care... Yes, that sounds pretentious but, well it's just true in this case. The chicken was perfectly sized, the flavors sweet, smoky, with a subtle and balanced hint of spice (if you like it 'spicy' be sure and order it a notch or two up from the base preparation). The peanuts had a great charred coating, together with the fresh, slightly sticky side of white rice worked wonderfully. This was the only entree that ended the evening as a clean plate. We ordered at least one entree and one appetizer too much; I figured it was a necessary sacrifice to make for a better, more compelling review; we have nearly a full meal remaining of take-home for tomorrow (breakfast?). Our dinner was accompanied by a bottomless pot of fresh Oolong Tea. The presentation of the tea, like much throughout the evening was done with a considerable amount of thought, care, and constant attention. Yen's offers no less than 20 to 25 different teas or tea drink combinations so there's something for everyone and plenty that was new to us and worth exploring next visit. As other reviewers have mentioned, the staff showed up with a plate of freshly made Chinese donuts, which were stuffed with a honey sweet filling that I believe was a bean paste. They were exceptionally popular with the boys. In conclusion, we'll be back. Deciding between 4 or 5 stars was tough, but considering we were in the suburbs surrounded by very hit or miss food, combined with the quality of our dinner, and the attention and care of the staff, there was only one logical choice. Now, I will add that the boys, five and eight, reviewed the restaurant as just OK. I figured the combo of spring roll, soup, and meatballs would work for any kid, but that was not exactly the case here. The donuts, edamame, and steamed rice were the biggest hits for them, in order, with the meatballs coming a close fourth but not a hit out of the park... Crazy kids!
(5)Jennifer H.
Yen's is the best Asian food restaurant in the area. Great staff, amazing food. My favorites are the Moo Shu, Hot and sour soup, salad, general Tso.
(5)Ashley A.
We got take out from Yen's last night.. it was good! Not Sino's good, but really good! Nice quality meat, pretty sure the people who made it washed their hands... the inside of the cafe was tiny and adorable. My boyfriend wanted to "wrap the place up and put it in his pocket". He's weird.. but we got a really good vibe from this place. It's the little touches that matter sometimes; like the white rice came with little sesame seed thingys sprinkled on top of it. My chicken and broccoli was also sporting cauliflower; which is awesome. My boyfriend got the Kung Pao, also yummy, but could've been spicier... then again, we're gluttons for punishment. They had an interesting and eclectic menu, which is nice to see at a restaurant. Their dishes run a bit higher than most of your average run-of-the-mill chinese joints, but it's because you get the equivalent of a trough of food. And it's like 95% meat, no filler- who wants to sully their meat with vegetables, anyway?! Plus I'm pretty sure their Shanghai rolls (an egg roll with chicken, shrimp, etc.) were handmade- they had fresh mushrooms and the like inside, so that was a nice surprise. I'll be back to try the Ma Po Tofu-- if they can do tofu right, consider me a regular. I'm not a hippy... just like eating lighter when the mood strikes.
(4)Pamela W.
This is a great little Chinese cafe. The sweet and sour chicken was outstanding as was the Hunan beef. Great spring rolls. The hot and sour soup was excellent. Very fresh food. Good service too. We went on a Friday night and the restaurant was completely filled; only eight table in the place. We will definitely go again.
(4)George H.
"We serve family, not customers" - Yen. And so everything has heart and love, from the selection of quality ingredients, to the omission of MSG, to the use of family recipes, to the dependence on word of mouth, to frequent queries "do you like it", to chatting at the table throughout the meal, to lovely tea in a glass teapot warmed with a candle. I loved the steamed dumplings filled with pork and carefully prepared baby bok choy (not lettuce as another reviewer surmised). The salt and pepper shrimp was flavorful and nicely spiced with fragrant fresh chilies - not just hot oil or red pepper. The white rice was sushi-grade, a dish worth eating on it's own merit and not just an obligatory white snowball. Don't just order the safe dish you always order elsewhere. Life is too short and the food is too good. I'm going back tonight.
(5)Jay M.
Found this place on a quick trip to Home Depot. WOW. I was pretty amazed at such an awesome Chinese lunch place. Now can't wait to go back... again and again and again. Had the Hunan Beef lunch special for $8.95. The special starts with a soup which with my choice was some of the best Hot & Sour soup I've ever had. The lunch platter comes with the entree, a salad, and an egg roll. The egg roll was clearly house made and was stuffed with excellent fresh ingredients. The Hunan Beef was excellent, and the salad was an unexpected surprise. Speaking of unexpected surprises at the end there was a puff pastry filled with red bean paste... Mmmmmm. You should go!
(5)Dan S.
I would give this 4 or 5 stars but if I give it only 4, it will lower the average score and I thing Yen's deserves a great score. We went starving and left full. The food presentation was very nice and the service was 1st class. A nice meal for two people including tip was about $22 at lunchtime. At the end of the meal, the hostess brought us some kind of steamed creme dumpling that I'm pretty sure was complimentary. I like places that do that occasionally.
(5)Nat W.
I rarely ever enjoy Chinese food.... Why? Most Chinese food taste like they throw all the ingredients together in a wok, and wait until everything is cooked, then serve. Yen's cafe is different. I feel as if they put more thoughts into the food. The General Tso's Chicken is not just some greasy fried chicken with sauce. It is mostly chicken instead of breading like most other places. Kung Pao Chicken is just outstanding. I went back and order it two days in a row. Thanks Jesse C., your review was very helpful. As for the Braise Meatball, although I am not Chinese, but it reminds me of the cooking of my grandmother. It truly is a great dish. Overall, Yen's Cafe is so much more than what I had in mind. When I think Chinese food in Ashburn, I think of Yens' Cafe.
(5)Justin D.
What a great find! I'm always on the lookout for a good Chinese restaurant and was happy to find this one. Very tidy and clean, even the restrooms. Very small inside, not much seating. I knew it was a good sign when the few remaining tables quickly filled up with Chinese patrons :-) The food was good but we only ordered a few things so until I make a return trip, I'm only giving 4 stars. Much better Chinese food than ANY other restaurant on the area. After sampling a couple more dishes I'm pretty certain that my rating might jump to 5 stars. The service was great and prompt, definitely 5 star in that category (but that's not hard to do in a place that only has maybe 10 tables, lol). I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)Leonardo B.
Best Taiwanese/Chinese food in Ashburn. If you're into tea they have a huge selection of fancy teas served in glass tea pots as well.
(5)David G.
Absolutely outstanding. As some of the other reviewers have stated, this isn't your garden variety Chinese food - no excessive motor oil grease here. Super fresh, big portions, very inexpensive, very flavorful. Service was great (I think they had a 1:2 server-to-customer ratio). The ma po tofu we had was pretty unfamiliar to me, which I assumed meant that it was authentic. It was hot, spicy and delicious. Plus, you get a little dessert with your meal! Two of us were full for under $20. Highly, highly recommended.
(5)Packet W.
Just ordered delivery from these guys for the 5th time. As always it was great. Most Chinese places taste the same. However Yen's tastes much, much better, more authentic, fresh, etc. This is now our default Chinese take-out/delivery place. This place is awesome.
(5)Mrs. S.
The food was okay. For reading all these reviews I thought I'd be amazed and drooling with joy- I wasn't. It wasn't bad food, it just wasn't overly impressive. Also, the portions were okay as well. But when we eat Chinese food, we order a few dishes and share- so that's where I am coming from since I am used to receiving bigger portions from other places. But on the plus side- Yen's has good customer service. When I ordered over the phone I was impressed with how polite that lady was. Most of the time when I order Chinese food I don't get the feeling that they appreciate my business. That wasn't the case with Yen's so kudos for that.
(3)April M.
Just ran into this place off the side n yelp 4 1/2....it was small BUT the food was off the off the hook with HUGE taste :) - Great costumer service, the lady n her friends were so sweet they invited us to their home 4 Xmas!! HANDS DOWN Yummy 4 my tummy!!
(5)Mike G.
This tiny café opened a year ago, hoping to survive off the booming development in the Ashburn area. After a year they're trying to find a way to bring in business as it's dropped off significantly. One thing I know for sure, it's not the food that's driving people away. It's not the reputation. It has to be the economy. Their food is on point. I had the bourbon chicken lunch special and ended up with more food than I knew what to do with. The lunch special came with soup, salad, spring roll, chicken and rice. The presentation was really nice. It wasn't just shoved in a typical chinese to go box, but presented in a wide spread, showcasing each dish, while keeping them separate. I can't stress enough. The portions were huge and the meal was cheap, especially with the 20% off carry-out special. The bourbon chicken I got was grilled full-filet when I got there. It was definitely the best part, cooked perfectly. The soup was delicious (I had wonton) and seemed to be made from chicken stock and not bouillon cubes. The spring roll was crunchy and delicious, not old or refried. The sticky rice was cooked perfectly and was presented nicely. The only thing that threw me off was the salad. While the dressing was delicious and featured pine nuts and lots of ginger, the salad consisted of iceburg lettuce and slivers of onions (as well as a few tomatoes). It really didn't fit in with the rest of the meal. That being said, I enjoyed the rest of the meal enough to warrant this place 5 stars. Take out or delivery seems to be the way to go with this little café. Their dining room is small, but their presentation at the table seems elegantly modern and clean, including the kitchen. Great food and a friendly staff make for a delightful experience.
(5)Kristen N.
Delicious food and quick delivery. This was our first time ordering but I am sure with this great experience we will be back. All dishes were very fresh and the beef and cilantro soup was amazing.
(5)Paul B.
It is an absolute pleasure for me to give this friendly, delicious establishment five stars. When we showed up at this tiny place this evening, all the tables were full, but there were some open spots at the small bar, so we took a seat. We enjoyed our entire meal from right there. I could see that sort of thing bothering some people, but we had a blast! Firstly, the waitress/bartender/owner's daughter kept giving us samples of smoothies, which were tasty and refreshing. The food was great. We got pot-stickers, soup, and sweet and sour pork. It was only after we ate that we were informed that there is a menu of more traditional food, but I wasn't upset. I was happy with the food I had ordered. But I do intend on ordering from their other menu next time (especially the steamed dumplings) I can't wait! My wife and I had been looking for a good Chinese restaurant in the area for a long time, and for whatever reason we hadn't thought to look west (we live in Sterling). I am incredibly glad we did. The food is good, and the service is friendly. When we finished our dinner the waitress talked to us for a while about the other menu, and then gave us these little fried desserts. Anyway, check it out! You won't be disappointed.
(5)rosemarie t.
I called to try to get delivery. The woman on the phone was very difficult. First, she said several items on the menu could not be provided - no lobster or crab - very disappointing. then, when I reconsidered my order, she told me that we were not able to get the deal advertised. We didn't get a chance to deal with this place given the service issues
(1)Madhur K.
This place is awful. The food was not palatable and it is crammed and badly lit (it is not cozy, it is crammed). I am highly skeptical of the 4 1/2 rating this place has here on yelp. Avoid .
(1)Phil Z.
By such great reviews on here, I had to stop by for some lunch and I am glad I did! I figured this place was going to be a medium sized cafe with plenty of seating and perhap bar seating. Inside, it is very small. I think I only counted 4-6 tables (4 persons). I was alone so I decided to sit by the bar. I ordered the Mongolian Beef lunch special (only $8.95!!!!). It was a lot of food for that price. The rice was good and the spring roll was very tasty. The actual beef plate was subpar. To me, it was just a little too "sugary", but good nonetheless. I ordered the egg drop soup and that was just a little too salty, too much soy sauce. That was the only dish I did not finish. There was also some salad and wow, for not being a salad guy at all it was very delicious, especially the dressing. The staff was very courteous and always checking how my meal was. When I finished and my plates were taken away I received a little puff pastry. And just wow. The dough was very crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. I was puzzled on what the filling was. It really didn't have a sweet or bitter taste, I was stumped on figuring out what is was. I asked the staff was the filling was and it was a red-bean paste. Wow! Never would of guessed that. I am making Yen's Cafe my weekly Thursday lunch spot.
(4)Phila E.
Small place, friendly staff, excellent food
(4)Janet V.
Ok wow....what a find. We've only visited Yen's for carry-out. Three times in the past 3 weeks! Here's the thing: the bf doesn't dig Chinese food. So the fact that he craves this place says something big. So our experiences are strictly about the food, and the service when we picked up the food. Service: always friendly and gracious, appreciative of our business. Never rude or impatient or unfriendly. Food: very high quality food. The beef dish was so tender. Normally when one gets a beef dish from a Chinese place, the meat isn't so great and it's sort of tough and sometimes chewy. Not here. It was cut-with-a-fork tender. Chicken dishes have also been great- no gristle or chewy bits, very tender and moist. Tofu dish was well prepared- firm yet silky. We have sampled: Szechuan Beef, Orange Chicken, Tso's Chicken, Ma Po Tofu, Crispy Sesame Beef, Sweet and Sour Pork as well as the pot-stickers and the won ton soup. Some of those dishes pack some good heat....so if you don't like it spicy, ask them to dial it back a bit. We drive by 3 Chinese places to get to this one. Yes, it's more expensive than your typical Chinese restaurant, but the food quality is really worth it. Try the crispy beef. It is sooooooo good!!! My benchmark for that dish is Mei-Wah in DC and Peking Gourmet in Falls Church (Baileys Crossroads). And it is excellent at Yen's. Some day we'll dine in, but for now, it's a go-to for us when I'm not feeling like cooking after a long day at work....right off the Toll Road. Mmmmmm crispy beef.......
(5)htp s.
Just fabulous, and I can't add more to the previous reviews. We had our first visit there last night and we were so impressed. The food was outstanding. We loved the Spring Rolls and the soups as starters. We ventured into familiar territory with our Sesame Chicken and General Tso's. Okay, we weren't adventurous, but thought if they could appeal to our american palate then perhaps we will come back. The inside of the cafe is disapointingly small. About 10 minutes after we arrived there was a "wait" line forming outside. (call and make a reservation!!) We noticed that the folks around us were ordering more traditional Chinese fare, and all the dishes looked/smelled fabulous! We enjoyed our meal tremendously! And we promise to try the food from the other reviews next time, as they just looked too good to miss! I ordered a glass of wine, which came in the cleanest glass you have ever seen. Everything in this cafe was shiny, fresh and clean! If you don't go try the food here you are missing out. Be bold and try something off the beaten track, and then write about it here! I want to try all the dishes and the fabulous teas too!! This is now our favorite Chinese Place in Northern Virginia!
(5)Barbara C.
It's been a long time since we've had Chinese this good! All of the dishes we've eatten here have been flavorful and extremely high quality. Service is fantastic. Our favorite is the Mongolian Beef - it's got a smoked taste to it which brings the dish to a completely different level. The juices are fantastic, too!
(5)Marcia M.
Had to give this restaurant 5 stars - food was excellent; service was warm, friendly and timely; atmosphere was quaint; location has plenty of parking and convenient to other amenities. My husband and son went on a Sunday night at 6:30pm and there was only one other table occupied. By 7:15pm the place was near full (yes there is only about 7 tables). That's probably okay because imagine bulk of their business is probably takeout or deliver. We ordered too much but look forward to leftovers. We had Shanghai spring rolls, won ton soup and chicken skewers - traditional tastes with just the right balance of spices. The won ton was the best I have ever had - the broth was full bodied with sprinkle of green onions and something else (perhaps a bit of Ginger root?). We ordered 4 entrees - Kung Pao chicken (which was requested to be medium spicy which is was), crispy sesame beef (which was nicely crispy and slightly sweet), green beefs (excellent crispy, with slightly smoky flavor which we really enjoyed) and sesame chicken for my son which was good but a bit too sweet for my taste but he likes it that way. We got the sweet red bean dough balls as a complimentary dessert which is a nice touch. Remind me of Korean rice cakes. This is one of the best Chinese dinners I have had in a long time. We will definitely go back (although I think next time we will try it takeout) and I plan to try some of the other dishes not usually offered at other places.
(5)Sean A.
Like most Northern Virginia hamlets Ashburn is home to more Asian restaurants than gas stations but that shouldn't stop you from giving Yen's Cafe your undivided attention. Yen's Cafe is a true gem in the culinary wasteland that is Ashburn. I have not found a better or more authentic Chinese\Taiwanese restaurant in all of Loudoun County. The generous service is truly first class, and they have an incredibly diverse, fresh, and unique menu. They even make bitter gourd taste great! All of their drinks (teas and smoothies in particular) and deserts are amazing. On multiple occasions the chef has taken the time to allow us to try various deserts she's made free of charge. All of this comes at a fairly reasonable price. Try them today if you haven't already.
(5)Katie R.
The meat pot I got was huge and we enjoyed the leftovers! The General Tso's was also delicious. We will definitely be coming back.
(5)Deron K.
Got the chicken fried rice and I can say that its very very good... The folks here r cool and it looks like everyone here is loving their food.
(4)Edward Z.
3.5 star for me: I would say its food is authentic (Taiwanese food which is different from Cantonese and Szechuan food that most Americans are used to) and above average (no wow factor), their service was personal and warm, but I can not say I am a fan (4 star) yet. I will give it another try sometimes and adjust my review accordingly.
(3)Keeping It R.
I'm used to eating decent Chinese in DC but have yet to find a good place in Ashburn/Leesburg. The service is good but the food is just okay, sauces don't taste like anything I am accustomed to. I won't be going back to this place. The quest continues for really good Chinese in Ashburn/Leesburg.
(2)Paul O.
Fell in love with Yen's Cafe the first time I visited. I told some friends to give it a try, and they visited three times in one week! The food is great, so take-out won't dissappoint. However, you will be missing some of the friendliest service and great hot and cold beverages. Their tea list reads like a wine list. Fresh ingredients are obvious in the taste and texture. Portions are big enough to leave a snack's worth for a doggie bag. It's the only restaurant I've ever been to where I was inspired to photograph my meal before digging in.
(5)Daniel G.
Good Chinese - not a transcendental Asian dining experience, not fancy fusion, but good, reliable, tasty Chinese. Almost everything on the menu is good, from what I can tell. Be careful - if you say spicy, its going to be spicy. Owners are Taiwanese which impacts the menu and food, somewhat.
(4)brian b.
A good find for a well hidden, small Chinese joint. I had Egg Drop Soup and Sesame Chicken, both very good. Very reasonably priced and excellent service.
(4)Tuan N.
Its a small and cute little establishment with friendly and attentive staff, but not very well informed when we had questions. The food was pretty good, but I was a little let down after reading all the great reviews, maybe my expectations were a little too high. We ordered the Ketchup Prawns and Crispy Pork Chop with Special Sauce, the prawns were tasty, but the pork chops were average and the portions were a little on the small side. Overall still a great experience and we probably will be back.
(4)Meghan K.
We love Yen's cafe. We love the fresh food, intimate atmosphere, friendly service, juice menu and overall experience. It's like eating in a small parlor with a really knowledgeable wait staff. The food's really delicious - best in the area I think.
(4)donna k.
Always great food, small though.
(4)Patrick L.
The reviews are correct. The food was excellent and made without so much oil like most other places. The menu had some unusual dishes that reminded my wife and I of our visit to China. The service was very friendly and prompt; I could tell that they were proud of their restaurant. We will definitely return often!
(5)Ryan B.
Great food Great location overall very very good
(5)Donna T.
A family owned restaurant with some authentic taiwanese food! There is some dish call Lion Head something that is ohh so good. even typical americanized "orange beef" didnt taste the same it was light and very yummy. I came into the restaurant after work close to 9pm. the lady that worked there saw that i was very tired. she recommended some tea that tasted so good that i walked out of the restaurant with a smile. if you go there you have to try one of the smoothy or tea. have them recommend something for you! the surprise is worth it! :)
(5)Sneha P.
I think the people giving this place bad food are just cranky. The place is small, but cozy. The staff is friendly. We ordered of the regular menu, it was good food, not phenomenal, but better than the usual chinese take out. Also, they gave us free fried desserts, it was awesome. This place is super cute.
(4)Amy J.
FABULOUS! We've been looking for the perfect chinese restaurant in the area and we've definitely found it! Consistent, tasty, and the management is wonderful.
(5)Tom D.
Really disappointed. I was really looking forward to going after reading all the rave reviews on yelp. It was just okay. Service was good. Food was bland. Maybe got them on an off night. I will try again
(3)l m.
This is really a good Chinese restaurant. For some reason I try fried rice first in any Chinese restaurant. Yen's have the best fried rice and for sure I will be back to try rest of their menu. I got a complement dessert that was delicious and can not explain how much I liked it. Unfortunately they haven't named it yet.
(4)Angela L.
Found this place on yelp after wondering if there's a place where you can get Chinese food that isn't overloaded with MSG and is decently healthy. They NEVER cook with MSG, and the first time I tried it out months ago I was incredibly impressed with the service in restaurant. My family wanted to get take-out for Christmas, and the place we usually frequent for special occasions was closed. We ordered over $60 worth of food, and it was ready in 15 minutes! Also, as other yelpers have said, they don't make their General Tso's gristly pieces of chicken smothered in batter and drowned with sauce. Christmas lunch was a complete success and everyone was very pleased. Prices are very reasonable, and the staff is very friendly if you do decide to dine-in (although there isn't a lot of seating in the restaurant). I can easily say that this is probably my favorite Chinese restaurant I've ever been to in my entire LIFE (ha.), and I'm sure is probably the best in Northern Virginia
(5)EB W.
Found this gem from YELP reviews and so glad we tried it. We have only ordered delivery, which is super easy as you can create your order on the web and then they call to confirm. Delivery time is super quick too. As far as the food goes. AH-MAZ-ING! A dish as pedestrian as General Tso's Chicken is incredibly well made. It's fried perfectly. all white meat chicken the the sauce is aromatic and flavorful. The egg drop soup seems to be made to order as the egg never tastes rubbery or overcooked. The Spring rolls are light and crispy. The pancakes for the Mu-Shu pork looks like they are home made! I have never had a bad meal from them and we order a different dish every time. Love this place!
(5)Lindsey P.
Honestly, I can't believe how great this place is. I waited until I went 2 times, just to make sure the first wasn't a fluke. The staff is extremely friendly. Our waitress last night showed us how to properly roll a mu shu pancake (which were home made!). Smoothies were great, food tasted amazing. I will be here again, many times. I just wish it were closer to my house, so I could go more often :)
(5)Gennaro M.
Awesome Taiwanese potstickers!
(4)Jason G.
Amazing little gem tucked behind the Ashburn Home Depot. Family owned and the best Chinese food in the area by far! They take pride in their cooking and use only fresh ingredients. The staff is very friendly and will be happy to recommend one of their absolutely delicious fruit smoothies to go with your dinner. My only wish is that it was closer and/or offered delivery to my house!
(5)bo y.
If you are looking for authentic chinese food in Ashburn/Loundoun, this is the best place! I agree with all the 4/5 star reviews. We moved out to Ashburn about 3 years ago, this is the best food find by far. We either order out or dine in twice a month. The food and service is very consistant. I would recommend a few dishes. we pretty much order these items all the time. -Fried dumplings -Chen's special rice (just get it!) -Braised meatballs(this dish will serve 2-3)
(5)Chris G.
YELPED! The place is good, but nothing better than your local Asian place. Not worth driving out of your way for.
(2)Sean M.
You get a lot but you also pay out the nose. Flavors are good they use a lot of oil though. Deliver is insane at $25min. I feel we should boycott places with a min over $15 but that my personal opinion.
(3)k p.
After looking at reviews here, I decided to take my girls and their cousin there for lunch today. Excellent food with very friendly service. We had Spring Rolls, Ma Po Tofu and Lo Mein. Everything was good. Kids loved it (age 4 - 8 and 11). Even heard one of them say, Lo Mein was the best they had. Food had more oil than I am used to at Chinese places. But I will be going back there.
(4)Reed G.
Yen's rocks. Around the corner from my house, they are super-nice people, with excellent food. Try 'em.
(5)Sheena W.
This is a wonderful restaurant. Decided to try this out for mother's day and the food and service was truly excellent, and my family agrees. The food was very fresh and they give you plenty of it. I definitely recommend the mango-passionfruit tea, which was amazing. Fast service, didn't have to ask for much, they were great in catering to our needs. It was a wonderful experience and even the plate presentation of the food was above par. I give Yen's Cafe 4 1/2 stars. I love great dining and this is one of those places I would recommend for anyone else who loves great dining. A++ Yen's Cafe
(4)Dan T.
3.5 stars... 4 for the smoothies and 3 for the food. The place seemed very clean and the staff was very friendly. Its very cozy inside, I think there are 5 booths total. The menu is your standard Chinese. The food is good, but its not amazing. To me, the food is very similar in quality to Jasmine in Leesburg, the only other Chinese place in Loudoun that is worth visiting. It is a bit more reasonably priced than Jasmine. This is really as good as it gets around here. The surprise was the smoothies, very fresh and very tasty. We will probably be back, but it will be the smoothies that bring us back, no as much the food.
(4)I P.
Where to start. It's very cozy. It's clean. The people are very friendly. And the food, oh the food, is absolutely fantastic. I've spent years trying to find a place as good as this. The food was fresh (including the fantastic smoothies - try one, seriously) and delicious. When I was little, my Dad and I used to go to a local chinese restaurant in my hometown and have hot and sour soup together. It was spicy, but the broth and the goodies inside were so tasty that despite the tears running down our faces from the spices - we couldn't stop eating it! For the next twenty years I have searched for a place that didn't "over corn starch" their soup or "over soy sauce" it or under spice it for that matter. I have finally found the best rival to my favorite soup from "way back when" at Yen's Cafe, it was fantastic and it brought back so many wonderful memories. Fantastic soup aside, I also very much enjoyed my szechuan (sp) beef, my husband loved his chicken lo mein, and again, did I mention the awesome (and unexpectedly fantastic) smoothie??? Oh, and the pictures in the menu were great. Regarding reservations, as I said before, it's cozy, we've made reservations to go again, but on a Friday night this time - and we're taking friends!
(5)Denise C.
This place rocks. I was actually dragged here by my friend Ashley and I was skeptical. I mean Ashburn is great, but not known for upscale Asian cuisine. First off, the place is super small like 3 bar stools and 4 tables (I am not exaggerating)...the menu encompasses the typical chinese food menu but also has a juice bar...I love juice bars...I got one with grapes, pears, apple juice that was supposed to help all sorts of ailments. For lunch, I got Kung Pao Chicken...ummm it was amazing....even the plates were amazing....it was such a large serving that there was no way I could finish...and I would say the prices were of that of a restaurant not like takeout chinese...lunch was probably $20.00. The one sketchy part was at the end of the meal...the server brought fried donuts...and I didn't understand what she said when she described them...but they were filled with beans....yes, donuts with beans in the middle...they were not good...but since they were free...I guess this doesn't count against them...but they should change the donut filling to one that makes sense. Best Kept Secret...but no longer a secret...I guess
(4)Star H.
Hubby and I went to Yen's Cafe today and ordered a Lemonade that also had Orange Juice in it (the best lemonade we've ever had!!), the dumplings, Kung Pao Chicken, Taiwan Fried Chicken, and the String Beans. Everything was *WONDERFUL*, so we just kept on eating until we were very full and brought the rest of the goodness home with us for tomorrow's lunch! We were sooo thrilled to find a place that didn't do the food the same way as most of the other restaurants around Sterling. (I'm so very tired of celery in my Kung Pao--and Yen's had none! Yay!!) The servers were a delight, and the whole experience was exceptional. (Thank you, prior Yelp reviewers for helping us choose this restaurant!) For the ones who haven't been there yet...try Yen's Cafe, I'm sure you'll love it as much as we do!
(5)A R.
Great food, good value, presentation excellent, service outstanding.
(4)Sekar R.
After reviewing the comments, I tried this restaurant with my family. The food taste is awesome. One of the best Chinese food in the vicinity. They gave a doughnut kind of sweet at the end as a dessert and that was good. Anything fried in oil is good. It is a very small restaurant. Will try again.
(4)Ian W.
The very best! Astonishingly perfect everything.
(5)Jon M.
We've been looking for a truly good Chinese restaurant in northern Virginia since we moved from Atlanta seven years ago, and finally found it because of the Yelp reviews. The service was great, the food was excellent, and the servings with the lunch specials were huge. We'll be back soon!
(5)Frances P.
I can't say enough about this wonderful restaurant located inconspicuously in an Ashburn strip mall. Their food is top notch and something I think would be found in Asian culinary hot spots like Falls Church. I've had several dishes here including the dreaded bitter gourd which somehow managed to be pretty good. Everything else has been outstanding. The quality of the food is fresh and the serving size ample. To top this all off, they offer a wide selection of loose teas and homemade desserts. The desserts are the quality of fine bakeries. I was very surprised to eat the best peanut brittle I've ever had at this small place.
(5)Graeme D.
What a great local restaurant in a not-so-great location. Every time I have been here the food has been great!
(5)Jon H.
WOW, low expectations for a "Chinese" restaurant in Ashburn of all places, one of the best meals to date in the DC area. All the other reviews are spot on. Incredibly friendly to match the great food!
(5)J F.
I tried Yen's Cafe after reading the three five star reviews on Yelp! I ordered the Sesame Chicken and it was great! Huge pieces of chicken lightly breaded (unlike other chinese restaurants where it's all breading, no meat). The lunch special came with salad, egg roll, rice, and choice of soup. I had the steamed rice, it was perfectly cooked. The salad had a special dressing which I liked - sort of a tangy sesame type dressing. The egg roll was really good, though I picked out the mushrooms in it! The won ton soup was Taiwanese style, not sure what that means, but it had a different flavor than I'm used to. It was a lot of food for a great price! I did take out and the woman who took my order and then also gave me my order was very nice! I've already recommended it to friends and coworkers and will definitely be going back! I noticed they have a whole list of fruit juices, but I didn't try one this time. It was a very small restaurant. Possibly about 10 booths if I remember correctly. One of the questions below asks if it is good for groups, I don't want to put no, but if I remember correctly there were no tables that could sit more than maybe 5 people.
(5)M. V.
At lunchtime: Quick service (I ordered over the phone and it was ready 10 mins. later), presentation (really pretty plastic divided plate with fake gold leaf in the black plastic, all wrapped up in an attractive opaque and green-striped bag), and price ($8.95 for lunch combos with an additional 20% discount because I picked it up myself.) Only gave it four stars, as another commenter noted the food is pretty typical. It was very good, but typical. Got a boatload of food in the lunch combo - Sesame Chicken, white rice (could have had fried), hot and sour soup, salad, springroll.) I'll definitely go again.
(4)Russell L.
Freshly prepared food. Wonton Soup was awesome and tasty... and not from a big pot... you could tell it was made fresh. Had Bourbon Chicken and General's Chicken... loved them both. Highly recommended!
(5)L L.
Having dined there enjoyably with friends several times in 2009, we looked forward to dinner again. This time was so different and disappointing. Loud disco music pained our ears when we entered. We asked the waiter to change the music. He said that they could not. We asked him to lower the volume. He seemed so clueless and indifferent. The manager on duty then lowered the volume and after telling us, politely, that the subscription music service was fixed and couldn't be turned off. Two of our three dishes were tasty; the third was tasteless. The avocado-cucumber appetizer was delicious. The rose tea was good. Several times during our meal the bartender in this little restaurant used her blender, which puts out about the same level of sound as a Boeing 747. We could neither hear or talk as the machine's racket overwhelmed all other sounds. Too bad that this promising restaurant's ambience is unpleasant. We are unlikely to return. Not recommended unless you're wearing earplugs.
(1)Rousang C.
Excellent food! Best Taiwanese food I have ever had! Love the Pork Belly w Fried tofu! Highly recommend! Worth to have a stop and spend hours eating :) the waiters are soooooo nice.
(5)Stacy H.
Our first visit was kind of disappointing, however, the second visit turned out better. You need to know what's good to order. Having the staff recommend you their best dishes is the way to go. They care about services. I give it a 3-star for now, but I look forward to our next visit there.
(3)Kay M.
Ordered carry out and was quite pleased. It's not often that I get Chinese food, but I think I'll order from here when I do. My order today wasn't crazy, just spring rolls, the black bean fish filet, and shrimp fried rice. The restaurant itself was absolutely tiny, but warm and cozy. The staff was friendly - I got greeted by like 5 staff members who were sitting at the bar when I walked in and they all said "goodbye" when I was leaving. I checked the food when I got back in my car and noticed that the fish container was wrapped in a plastic bag... Like I said before, I don't get Chinese food a lot, but no other restaurant has ever included that, so I thought it was a nice touch. -- It also came in handy when some a-hole cut me off on the ride home, causing me to slam on my brakes and send the bag of food flying. (Don't worry, no food was lost). As for the food: Everything tasted great. The shrimp fried rice was good, as were the spring rolls. The fish was salty, and a little slimy to me, but I'm a huge texture person when it comes to food, and I'm sure I can just ask to substitute for crispy fish. It didn't affect the taste, so no real complaints there. I do wish that they had more options in their "seafood" section of the menu. It seemed like it was almost all shrimp, with one or two scallop/fish options. All in all it was a good experience. I'll probably be back to dine in.
(4)Yueh Yee W.
Delicious Chinese/Taiwanese food and excellent customer service! We ordered Taiwanese fried chicken with basil, A-Tsai, and a pot of Mango/Passionfruit tea. The tea came in a cute tea set and was kept warm throughout our meal with a tealight. The fried chicken and basil was savory and crunchy, and surprisingly less greasy than I thought it would be. It was a great pairing with our plate of A-Tsai vegetables. The staff was very friendly, checking in on us quite often to make sure we had everything we needed. The restaurant itself was small, but just as others have said, cozy. I will definitely be coming back here often and soon.
(5)Sakurai U.
Had dinner there with my family when we were traveling near Washington DC. Great service and delicious foods!
(5)Adrienne R.
This is seriously some of the best Chinese food I've had. Nothing like typical Americanized you get when you order carryout. Very authentic flavors. When you order or pick up and l get something such as crispy beef, the top of the container is open. May seem odd but it keeps the food crispy. Have you seen that elsewhere? I bet not but if so would like to hear where. I know of one other place that does this but they simply cut vents in the lids. Overall, great. Staff is super friendly. You can see the grandma eating something off menu while sitting at the bar. Give it a try!
(5)Jesse W.
This is the best place in Loudon County to get high quality, freshly cooked and authentic Taiwanese food. The king oyster mushrooms, fried tofu and free chilies are amazing. Moms meatballs are original recipe and a portion for two. Order off-menu salt and pepper squid. It is truly a pleasure. The wait staff are professional and you can tell they are having fun. Add tea service to the meal for a wonderful experience. They end the meal with a nice little dessert that is a perfect finish.
(5)Jason L.
Walked in to eat with my 6 year old daughter on a Saturday night and they told me it would be a 30 minute wait (nobody else was waiting). Then a couple chinese waitresses came over a started pointing at my daughter saying "kid....kid...kid?" WTF did that mean???? Did they want to cook her? Have they never seen a child before? That was it for me. I walked out.
(1)Brett W.
I cannot say enough good things about this restaurant. The food is awesome very good flavor more than enough portions. The entire staff are incredibly friendly and the place is very clean. The desert that is included with lunch specials is not just a fortune cookie. My new favorite Chinese restaurant. If you like hot & sour soup theirs is the best.
(5)Bert F.
I tried it. I did not like it. I did not like the food very much. Weird soggy General tso, stale tasting fried rice. All cream cheese crab Rangoon. Luke warm food. Lol...I feel I was charged a considerable amount for food that I could have gotten for significantly more reasonable price from other neighborhood restaurants that are tastier for American Chinese food. Not great despite positive reviews in my opinion. Sorry?
(3)Sarah D.
This restaurant always has amazing food, but I love the atmosphere. The walls are decorated, the teapots are beautiful, and even the plates are above standard. This is THE place to go for a cozy Taiwanese dinner. My bf is Taiwanese and he says the Vegetable spring rolls and chinese broccoli with oyster sauce is authentic. I can't tell, it all tastes fantastic to me! The vegetarian crispy pan-fried noodles are my favorite.
(5)M W.
Juices are excellent - so fresh and make you feel like you're doing something good for your body. The food... We lived in rockville for 6 years and know Taiwanese food, so we we super excited to try Yen's. We ordered eggplant basil, beef noodle soup, and head-on salt and pepper shrimp. Food was good but not great, and everything was overly greasy. Service was very very good - our waitress' English was limited but she was very attentive and kind, and overall everyone was super nice and accommodating, especially to our two young kids. We will probably be back to give them another try given that the service and juices were great, but we were disappointed with the food this first time around.
(3)Dee B.
Great Chinese food! Probably the best Chinese in the area. First time ordering tonight and was very pleased! Will be our go to! The egg rolls were great, and a pretty good size! Awesome beef and broccoli and Sesame Chicken!
(5)Ray N.
Best of the best!! Love this place and won't eat authentic Asian food anywhere else. The dining room is small but the food is amazing. If you can't get there early, get delivery or takeout. It is hard to call out individual items since everything is amazing, but the vegetable dumplings are always a go=to appetizer for us. On second thought, don't go here so I can still get a table. Lol
(5)Scott B.
Wow, what a wonderful, delightful little gem! I drive past this location all the time and had no idea it was hidden back here, behind the more obvious establishments in the adjacent shopping center. Yes, the place is kind of tiny. Really tiny, there are perhaps 5 tables and a bar? But, to us, it was elegant and intimate. It's a family run business, and they are friendly, very helpful, and engaging. We tried the 3 cup chicken, Yen's Special Taiwanese Noodles, and the dumplings. Really different and amazing, nothing like other "Chinese" places (had to had the stereotype quotes). We also gave the expensive tea in expensive teapot and cups a try. Had to emphasize the "expensive" thing--they literally have a sign on the table that warns you it will cost you like $100 or something if you break it. That actually put me off, but it was a nice experience, the pot stayed hot over a little flame, and they make a big deal about sending the big tea-ball home with you, as you can make tea again later. The tea was exquisite, by the way. Loved the place, will definitely go again!
(5)Jason V.
It's a nice little spot to grab lunch or dinner and I have a feeling you could ask about ordering "off the menu" and they'd hook you up. The portions are enormous. Tiny dining room which is decorated more like a sushi bar so it might be a better carry out option than for dining in. The location is a bit of a mess to find if you're not familiar so use a GPS!
(3)Koichi E.
Folks, you must ask for the Taiwanese menu in order to get the best this place offers. My buddy and I had the steamed Fluke with ginger, shallots and it was amazing. We also had the Vegetable Delight, potstickers and the hot and sour soup. One of the best soups in the DC area. The only issue with is place is that it's in a non-descript office building flanked by Subway and there are very few tables. What they lack in space, they certainly more than make up for in food and they have a very extensive tea menu. I have not had a bad dish in my many times I have visited and with the Taiwanese menu, it is that much better and I'll work way through the extensive menu if it kills me! My favored Chinese cuisine is still Schezuan but the execution is outstanding at Yen's and it is very, very good. People are very friendly as well. Finishing this review so I can go again for dinner now...
(5)Valentina P.
My husband and I have been here 3 or 4 times now, and it's always excellent. We always get the mu shu pork, it's the best. I've also had the crispy beef, chicken with snow peas, kung pao chicken, and (as I recall?) sweet and sour pork and mongolian beef. All were very good. This doesn't seem like the kind of place that SHOULD have a full bar, but it does. Always busy, and there's a good reason for that.
(5)Lisa B.
My favorite Chinese/Taiwanese Restaurant anywhere! I'm always hesitant to eat at Chinese restaurants bc I'm not sure of the quality of the meat/food. Yen's has amazing food and the quality is great. The food isn't as greasy as a lot of places and they use premium meats and vegetables. You don't expect a lot when looking at the outside as it's just in a strip mall, but it's quite quaint inside, though will fill up on busier nights. We have two little ones, so we usually just do take out or delivery now. I'd highly recommend the crispy beef, the orange chicken, the veggie spring rolls, and the rose tea.
(5)Joy L.
This place is small but is worth the wait! You know this place is good because it's always full of Chinese customers. Their food us so different and many to choose from. They also have teas and fruit smoothies.
(5)Moe B.
Some of the best Chinese food I've had anywhere. The 3 cup chicken with basil and ginger was the stuff of dreams. The fish and black beans was fresh and the beans were perfectly fermented. I've eaten a lot of Chinese food in a lot of places and this place is in the Hall of Fame. If I lived here I'd be here every week.
(5)Carson Y.
I'm no stranger to Taiwanese food but some dishes here are better than what I had back in Asia. It's very common that Chinese restaurants here compromise authenticity and change food flavor to accommodate american taste. I'm glad they still keep a few dishes that are authentic, and awesome. If you come here my friend, try not to order orange chicken or General Tsao or other American food. Ask the waiters for recommendation for authentic Taiwanese dishes.
(5)Foodie C.
The real deal here Order the authentic dishes which are marked on menu with a little flag. The tastes and the presentation of the dishes are amazing. Service was so friendly we didn't want to leave. The food was so tasty we surprised the waitress how fast we ate 6 dishes. There are only a few tables so come early or get take out. I don't leave 5 stars and this place deserves it.
(5)chiz g.
I would have never thought I could find a Taiwanese food place in this area. When I saw it on ylep I had to try it for my self. It's located behind the strip next to subway so drive around. First, I tried the sesame chicken to play it safe and compare. It was off the hook the flavors are there just like home. I then I asked something with tofu and she recommended a spicy one... loved it!!!! Going to try everything on the menu now while I'm still here visiting the east coast. This place is a must try!
(5)Caitlin B.
Great food. They seem to do good business so they should consider a larger store. Its also difficult to find if you aren't looking for it.
(5)Anush J.
Randomly came here for the second time. Excellent food. There are very few seats so either call ahead or be prepared to wait. Prompt service and plenty of selection. On both occasions, we enjoyed the food-authentic and savory - and the portions are large. They also have an on the house dessert bun. Will return!
(5)Wang J.
Really good Chinese food, traditional taste for Chinese food. Clean, nice, friendly. Try this, it worth this price!!!
(5)Teresa P.
The food here is great! We started with soup, sweet & sour - better than most I've had & won ton - also excellent. Then we had sizzling beef and crispy noodles with chicken - both were wonderful both in their flavor and presentation. I really can't say enough good things about my experience at this restaurant! I went for a late lunch with my son and his family including a baby, not only were the staff accommodating but they kept my granddaughter entertained. I can't wait to go back
(5)Ashton O.
The chicken was real! Hands down best Chinese food in Ashburn, just bring a heavy wallet 'cause the bill won't be pretty.
(5)David T.
Excellent food. I came here because of the good reviews and I was not disappointed. Finally a good Chinese Restaurant in Ashburn. My daughter loved the pan fried noodles. I had the crispy salted shrimp with rice. Both a must try!
(5)T S.
We went to Yen's cafe because of all the good reviews. We ordered a combo Lo Mein and a Pan Fried beef noodles. The food was ok but they were way over priced. The Lo Mein was $8 and was in very small portion, while the Pan Fried Noodles was a bit larger but it was $17! We can go to Good Fortune with same kind of food but is way cheaper. We will not be back!
(2)Claudia K.
I ordered delivery and the gentleman who took my order was very nice as well as the lady who delivered my food. The food is very tasty. I ordered chicken with black bean sauce which was great. Not too salty and the portion was huge. My friend ordered the General Tso's chicken and unlike other places, the chicken was lightly breaded. Highly satisfied and I will order from them again.
(5)charisse b.
Good Chinese food with great service. Asked for the salt and pepper calamari from a yelp review, it was not on the menu. The food was great. Really enjoyed the family owned restaurant.
(4)Mark J.
Friendly staff and greeting at the door. Restaurant is quaint and inviting. I ordered takeout which turned around quickly (ten minutes). The house special of pan fired noodles was delicious. I've never this cuisine in this style and it was terrific! Highly recommended!
(5)Lindsay L.
Best deliver Chinese food in Ashburn and I've tried them all. Food is always fresh, hot, and delicious. The quality is higher than other chinese delivery restaurants- for example, they use white breast meat in their General Tso's rather than cheaper dark meat. Very sweet staff and usually fast delivery.
(4)Macy W.
I really don't understand why people are fans, honestly. I ordered pork fried rice. My mother had spring rolls. She said hers were passable, but my pork fried race had barely any flavor. There were no salt shakers so I couldn't make it edible, either. The wonton soup wasn't bad though.
(2)P V.
I wish it was better. We went to Yen's in our search for great Chinese. I have to say, the dumplings were amazing. but that was it. orange chicken had too much breading and was bland and my seafood dish was just okay. Probably won't go there again but glad we tried it
(3)Kay T.
We have tried so many Chinese places in this area and this is the best yet. Great service and delivery is quick. Order online and revive a discount as well.
(4)Yaka H.
Given the location and the immediate availability of more traditional Chinese/Taiwanese food in the area, Yen's is a solid 4 star establishment. This little restaurant is tucked into the office building that is behind the plaza's anchor store, the Giant supermarket. It's right next to the Subway. This place has 2 menus! So, if you're looking for something that's more traditional, more of what Taiwanese families may eat, then firmly ask for the "Chinese" menu. These dishes are large and are meant to be eaten family style (shared with a group). We came in and asked to be seated in Mandarin, so we were automatically offered both menus and the server removed the silverware for chopsticks. We tried the Pipa tofu and the braised pork belly with tofu dish. Pipa is a type of fruit and the tofu is shaped to mimic the shape of the fruit; there's no fruit in this dish. It's soft tofu that has shrimp and scallop meat minced into it. The tofu is that fried into the pipa shape (kinda like an apricot shape) and served with sauce and steamed baby shanghai greens. The braised pork belly dish came with fried tofu triangles that hold up to the fragrant, star anise-studded braising liquid well. The flavors of each dish was quite spot on which made the meal quite enjoyable. In addition, I had a watermelon smoothie and SX had the papaya coconut milk smoothie. Watermelon smoothie is pretty much just blended watermelon. It's pretty much the norm in Taiwan to drink it because it can be extremely refreshing in the blistering tropical summer days. Papaya isn't an extremely sweet fruit, so the smoothie was definitely not as sweet; however, definitely more suited for the "Asian tastebud." End the meal with a complimentary sweet. On our visit, it was fried sweet egg custard buns. One major downside to Yen's is their price. I do believe Yen's to be on the pricey side, but their portion size is on the larger size. The charge for a pot of tea is quite high too. However, the food is quite good and there's not really any other restaurant offering such dishes. I do wish that they did offer more Taiwanese specialty dishes on their menu.
(4)Susan H.
4 1/2 Stars ********* So...once again we were lured into the wilds of Ashburn. This time it was the many great reviews for Yen's Cafe that did it. We got here around 5:30 p.m. on a Saturday. At that time, only one booth was occupied. Before we were seated, we were asked to wait a minute. We wondered why until we saw an elderly woman vacating a booth. I'm guessing that she either worked there or was related to a staff member. Part of me wanted to say, "Awww, let her sit there. You're not busy right now". After she moved, we were seated and apologized to for having to wait a minute. Before coming here, we looked at their website, which isn't the greatest. The menu is listed as being the take-out menu. If you click on a menu item, it immediately starts making a take out order form. Still, we were able to figure out what was on the menu, even though some items would do well to have a detailed description. When the server came to take our order, we were still looking at all the items on both the regular menu and the Taiwanese menu. I had my eye on the Taiwanese fried chicken and asked her if it had white meat. She said it only came with dark meat. So, scratch that for me! At this point, we knew that we wanted a pot of tea so I ordered a pot of mango passion fruit tea. A pot of tea costs $5.95 and says it's for two. In reality, it's more than enough for 4 people. After ordering the tea, I noticed the handwritten sign on the wall by our booth that said that the tea pot, cups and saucers were delicate (I'm paraphrasing here) and if we were to break anything, we would be charged $150! Oh my! While I appreciate their wanting to serve the tea in an authentic way, it was very nerve-wracking drinking and pouring it. That said, we really enjoyed the tea! The tea pot is put on a base that has a small lighted candle which keeps the tea hot. In addition, you are given a bowl of dried honey which adds just enough sweetness to the tea. After receiving the tea, we were ready to order. This time a male server came to take the food order. I started with a bowl of hot and sour soup while my husband had Taiwanese wonton soup. For my main course, I ordered Pork Belly with fried tofu in Mom's sauce. The server didn't understand what I wanted so I told him that I would point to it on the menu. After that, he understood. My husband ordered chicken in black bean sauce. The hot and sour soup came in a generous-sized cup and had plenty of stock in it. Thankfully, for me anyway, it only had 3 pieces of button mushrooms in it. Can you tell that I'm not a fan of button mushrooms? It wasn't very spicy which was good as the other flavorings came through, such as the fresh green onion pieces. My husband liked his wonton soup. His, too, came in a generous-sized cup and had a good number of wontons in it. He said the stock was flavorful and the wontons had pork in them. The pork belly was awesome! Not that I've eaten much pork belly in my life but this was the best! Properly prepared, it was very flavorful and just about melted in my mouth. My husband tried it and liked it so much, that he ate several pieces. The fried tofu was decent and offered a good counterbalance to the pork belly. "Mom's sauce" is a mildly flavored brown sauce that worked well with the dish. I tasted my husband's chicken dish. The black bean flavoring came through very clearly. At first glance, it appeared to not have much sauce but the way the food was mounded on the plate, most of the sauce was at the bottom. This dish also has onions and green peppers in it. My husband commented that he was impressed that the green pepper didn't overpower the dish. Needless to say, we were so full that we ended up taking some food home with us. My husband says it's his lunch tomorrow. We asked a woman who appeared to be either the manager or owner for the check. She said that our dessert wasn't ready. Dessert is complimentary and consists of 2 sweet buns with bean paste in them. They came to the table piping hot and were very tasty and unique. Before the tip, dinner cost just over $45. We found the people who work here to be very friendly. The woman who is either the manager or owner checked up on us a few times during the meal. She asked us how the food was and we told her we enjoyed it all. On the way out, the staff thanked us for coming and we told them that we would be back!
(4)