Noriega Cafe - Reviews

My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. While the food was not salty, which is good for seniors, I suspect there was a little MSG in the dish, as I felt thirsty afterward. Due to these concerns, I cannot recommend this place.

I finally tried the much-talked-about Pan-Fried Rice Noodle at Noriega Cafe, and it absolutely lived up to the hype! The dish featured perfectly crisped noodles on top and a perfect saucy meat-to-noodle ratio underneath. I ordered the savory pork & preserved pickle version, but they also offer this dish with chicken or seafood, which I’m definitely coming back for. The restaurant itself is a clean, and well-kept spot with a cozy vibe. Huge shoutout to Ann, the hostess—she was so friendly and made me feel welcome, even though I just came in for take-out. The menu is impressively extensive, packed with classic and delicious-sounding Cantonese dishes. As someone always on the hunt for great Cantonese food, I’m thrilled to have found this neighborhood gem. Just go—you won’t regret it!

Our family, a party of 7, had a wonderful dinner at Noriega Cafe this Saturday evening. Parking was manageable, and the restaurant wasn't overly crowded. The interior is very clean and intimate, featuring two large round tables and some smaller square ones. We ordered seven dishes: Westlake soup, mapo tofu, salt and pepper spareribs, pumpkin with salted egg, fried rice with salted fish, a clay pot tofu dish, chow fun, and greens with mushrooms. Everything was delicious and flavorful, and importantly, not too salty, though we did request low sodium. The prices were reasonable for the generous portion sizes. Our server, Christine, provided excellent service. My personal favorite was the pumpkin with salted egg, but all dishes were really good! Christine was incredibly friendly, making us feel like family. This experience definitely makes us want to return soon. I even left a reusable bag behind, and when I called, Christine remembered us and confirmed she had saved it for me to pick up. What a nice little restaurant! I’ll be recommending Noriega Cafe to anyone seeking great Chinese food and pleasant service!

I visited this restaurant for their lunch specials and noticed the prices seemed to have increased from $11 to $12. 99. My takeout order contained a substantial amount of rice. The salt and pepper ribs were more like batter-fried, lacking pepper and spice. The meat was paper-thin, heavily coated in batter, making me wonder about the cutting process. Despite being very hungry and eating everything, I left a lot of the rice behind.

During a recent food pick-up, I was asked by a staff member to tip them. I believe tipping should be a voluntary act, especially for pick-up orders. While the food itself was okay, I will not be returning to this establishment.

It was my first time here and it was pretty good! We got some tofu and beef, seafood chow mein, congee, and a rice cake stir fry. I really enjoyed the tofu and beef; it’s super simple but still really flavorful! The seafood chow mein always hits the spot, and it was also a lot too! The Sampan Congee was good; I normally enjoy the 1000-year-old egg with congee, but the Sampan congee is very nostalgic for me! The stir fry rice cake was more for my family, not me, as I’m not a huge fan of rice cake.

This was a great place for my family dinner/gathering. The atmosphere was casual and comfortable, and we had reserved a table for 10, which was well-arranged. The menu offered a wide variety of selections. I really enjoyed the sizzling dishes served on a hot iron platter or in a clay pot; they were perfect comfort food on a chilly San Francisco night. The scallion steam chicken was also good. The services were great, with the staff trying to meet all our needs. I will return soon for my own takeout or another family dinner.

My experience at this Chinese restaurant has been consistently positive over the past two years. I've been super happy with the consistency and quality of the food. As a Chinese person, I find it a good sign when many other middle-aged and older Chinese individuals are dining here. The woman serving everyone alone is amazing; she manages to provide great service with a great sense of humor, even during busy times.

My experience at this restaurant was overwhelmingly negative. The food was horrible and unpalatable, with a strange taste. Specifically, the pig's trotters were hairy and tasted bad. The rice was of very poor quality. In general, everything was extremely unpalatable.

My experience at this restaurant was centered around enjoying great standard fare Chinese food. The fried rice and chow mein were exactly what I expected from Chinese cuisine, and they were packed with flavor. The food quality was excellent, earning a 5 out of 5. Service was also good, rated at 4. It was a satisfying dinner experience with a price range of $10–20 per person.