Yen's Cafe

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!

Fantastic. I have travelled to Taiwan many times since 1985 and was just there four weeks ago. I can tell you that the food here at Yen's Cafe is as authentic as you can get. Last evening we had three dishes that were as good as any I've had in the homes of friends in Taipei: Pork Belly with Tofu, Bitter Melon with Salt Egg, and Three Cup Chicken. This was traditional home cooking at its best. The restaurant is small, the staff friendly and the food the best Chinese I've had in a long time. I just spent the past six weeks in China and I cannot think of one meal that I had in Beijing that was as good as the meal I had last evening in Yen's. You cannot go wrong having a meal at Yen's.

Nice atmosphere. Good food. Friendly staff. Excellent oolong tea, served properly (whole leaf, repeated steepungs, as close to gongfu style as you'll likely find in a neighborhood place). Highly recommended.

Not aneasy place to find but very good. It's a bit different than most though as it's Taiwan Chinese food. Same but different in a good way. Price is average,quality is good.

Don't miss the Taiwanese fried chicken! Mongolian chicken, crab Rangoon, fried rice, lo mein, and Taiwanese fried chicken were great! Disappointed with the Kung Pao chicken, chicken was very dry and hard to chew. Complementary dessert was delicious! Yen's Cafe is always been in my top Chinese restaurants.

Came out from DC for Yen’s Cafe, and wow are we glad we made the trip. An absolute destination-worthy dinner! We split the potstickers, Mongolian beef, 3-cup chicken, and Yen’s Special rice. All dishes were made with great care (they even make their own crunchy noodles — who does that! — a nice touch), beautifully seasoned and flavorful, and with remarkably fresh ingredients. Each was a showstopper. Every member of our party had a different favorite, showing the versatility at play here. A pot of the rose tea also proved a nice accompaniment. Do yourself a favor and get out to Yen’s — absolutely delicious food at fair prices with nice ambience and friendly staff — a win on all fronts.

I went there with my friends and had wonderful Taiwanese food and customer service! I had Jasmine Tea, A-thai with Garlic, Pipa Tofu and Minced Pork & String Bean with Black bean with buns. They are all very tasty and fresh. The taste here is not too salty nor oily. I dont like heavy greasy Chinese with too much sugar. They were all mild and fine taste. I will come back and try more food here! Thank you for the great customer service too!

Rapid fire prep, clean environ, great online ordering service + updates, and kind professional service. Good hours, location, parking, and pricing. And of course, delicious! What more could one ask for?

Some of the best Asian cuisine we have ever had. Everything we have ever ordered here has been delicious.