China Cafe

Possibly the best Chinese since I have left NYC! Service is great on top of decent pricing and friendly service. Be careful though, sometimes around lunch time there could be a wait but it is worth waiting for any day. I always enjoy and I guarantee you will.

Definitely my go to place for Chinese food. Highly recommend. Never a bad meal in the 12 or more years I have been ordering from here.

Get dinner get once a week. Food is beyond good. I've yet to find a Chinese take out restaurant that makes the fried rice this good. Not the yellow rice actual fried rice.

The food is delicious, only down side is how busy they can be around dinner, but that's not worth taking a star it speaks to how good the food is.

This place is awesome. Food slaps – 10/10 We’ve been coming here for years. And I make the drive for pick up because it’s worth it. We went tonight and realized we never write any reviews for the places we really love. All their food is sooooo good but I’m partial to the dumplings. The wontons in chili oil are my favorite but the pork soup dumplings are bomb too. I literally crave the chili wontons all the time. I’ve never been steered wrong by this place! Ever. Everyone that works there is super kind and considerate.

mikki harris

This place is awesome. Food slaps – 10/10 We’ve been coming here for years. And I make the drive for pick up because it’s worth it. We went tonight and realized we never write any reviews for the places we really love. All their food is sooooo good but I’m partial to the dumplings. The wontons in chili oil are my favorite but the pork soup dumplings are bomb too. I literally crave the chili wontons all the time. I’ve never been steered wrong by this place! Ever. Everyone that works there is super kind and considerate.

Tony Rosina

Best lemon chicken I've ever has so far!

Best Chinese place in the area hands down. Been to almost every other one in the area. At one of those the entire staff wasn't wearing masks. Here the staff is very efficient and every one was wearing their masks properly. There's usually not much wait time. The food itself is always delicious. Prices are also very reasonable. Highly recommend.

Hands down the best Chinese food I have had outside of Chinatown in SF/NYC. Best in CNY by a mile. I have been coming here since they opened in 2005. They are never late with my order and my order is always correct. Can't say enough good things about them. Too bad they are closed on Tuesdays now. Kung Pao Chicken is my favorite dish.

Only for take out, but delicious. I ordered only one dish, tofu and eggplant. It was $10 and a huge portion that included rice. I'd like it to have been spicier and will ask for that next time. But the tofu was crispy on ther outside and the sauce very good. The seating area is sad and I don't recommend it. But there was a steady stream of people picking up food to go. I'll go back.

I order crab Rangoon and steamed dumplings large house lo mien and general chicken wow amazing everything the flavor is awesome and for the price all worth it

Absolutely loved my experience at China Cafe! The flavors were incredibly authentic—felt like a true taste of China right here in town. Prices were very reasonable, offering excellent value for such delicious food. Plus, the service was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend this place!

The food here is absolutely AMAZING!! Number one pick for Chinese food is Syracuse!

Ordered over the phone, the person who took my order was pleasant. I was told 20 minutes for my order, it was ready and waiting on me precisely 20 minutes later when I showed up. The atmosphere was clean and cozy with a clear view of their kitchen. There was a little condiment and utensil station that was very clean and well stocked with the usual variety of sauces, as well as disposable spoons, forks, and chopsticks. The food was packed extremely well! I'm impressed at how full they made the containers without spilling sauces all over them. The food is much better than we were anticipating! The vegetable mix in the lomein isn't just the boring, average assortment, and tastes as if it's fresh instead of frozen like many other places. The sesame chicken is very crisp under the thick sauce and has almost a smokey flavor. The curried chicken is fantastic and I'm not a huge curry person. The rangoons are filled well and shaped in an easy to eat triangle instead of the crazy flower shape. The pork fried rice was the only thing we got that could have been a little better, but it was still great, but overshadowed by how incredible everything else is. I regret not getting photos of the food before ripping into everything like feral animals.

Delicious Shrimp with Cashews. Everything tastes homemade.

Like any restaurant, you have to order what they are good at. Suppose you won't know till you try. The weirder and less conventional sounding, the better it usually is though. Sesame chicken is ok, but try some squid sometime! Or those crunchy noodles soaked in the sauce. Yum 😋 (pan fried noodles under chow mein) Yeah people usually cook the dishes they like the best. I'm sure those chefs aren't excited about the American dishes. I'm going to try the duck today!!!! Don't sit inside. The lighting is bad and the tables aren't in a warm atmosphere. They probably don't want to clean up after you. Why would they, you arent going to tip and the food is cheap for the quality. Eat it in the comfort of your home. If only they had delivery 🤔

They were very nice and fast. We didn't have to wait long for our food. The food was fresh and delicious. Will definately be coming back.

Everyone in the family eats their it's got great food always on time tasty delicious and fresh

Best fried rice and dumplings I've had in YEARS! 🫠 I'm traveling/working in NY from out of town but this place is a GEM! I drove 17 mins from Cazenovia to get here & found SUPERIOR customer service, very hot, fresh, QUALITY food, & DECENT prices for the service and quality! Will definitely return before leaving NY! 👍😁♥️

Extremely busy tonight. We ordered at 5 pm, were told food would be ready at 6, but still had to wait another 20 minutes with a dozen others to pick up the order. But I must say, the kitchen was fully staffed and working like a well oiled machine to fill all the orders. Food was good and freshly cooked. Still a great place for Chinese!

I have been coming here since they opened over 15 years ago. Wide range of Chinese dishes, from authentic to Americanized. It is easily the best Chinese restaurant in CNY, and probably the best I've had outside of Chinatown in San Francisco. They have never once made the slightest mistake with my order, and are always prompt getting my order out, even when they are very busy. Thank you China Cafe!

Brenda Lawrence

I order crab Rangoon and steamed dumplings large house lo mien and general chicken wow amazing everything the flavor is awesome and for the price all worth it

Lucie Wellner

Delicious Shrimp with Cashews. Everything tastes homemade.

Kay Johnson

The food here is absolutely AMAZING!! Number one pick for Chinese food is Syracuse!

Tommy F

Everyone in the family eats their it's got great food always on time tasty delicious and fresh

Keven Yao

Absolutely loved my experience at China Cafe! The flavors were incredibly authentic—felt like a true taste of China right here in town. Prices were very reasonable, offering excellent value for such delicious food. Plus, the service was friendly and welcoming. Highly recommend this place!

Ana Victoria

Their sesame tofu is the best ever. I hope they never change anything, because this is one of my favorite meals ever!

Jordan Jenkins

They were very nice and fast. We didn't have to wait long for our food. The food was fresh and delicious. Will definately be coming back.

Nancy

Like any restaurant, you have to order what they are good at. Suppose you won't know till you try. The weirder and less conventional sounding, the better it usually is though. Sesame chicken is ok, but try some squid sometime! Or those crunchy noodles soaked in the sauce. Yum 😋 (pan fried noodles under chow mein) Yeah people usually cook the dishes they like the best. I'm sure those chefs aren't excited about the American dishes. I'm going to try the duck today!!!! Don't sit inside. The lighting is bad and the tables aren't in a warm atmosphere. They probably don't want to clean up after you. Why would they, you arent going to tip and the food is cheap for the quality. Eat it in the comfort of your home. If only they had delivery 🤔

Kayla Cron

Ordered over the phone, the person who took my order was pleasant. I was told 20 minutes for my order, it was ready and waiting on me precisely 20 minutes later when I showed up. The atmosphere was clean and cozy with a clear view of their kitchen. There was a little condiment and utensil station that was very clean and well stocked with the usual variety of sauces, as well as disposable spoons, forks, and chopsticks. The food was packed extremely well! I'm impressed at how full they made the containers without spilling sauces all over them. The food is much better than we were anticipating! The vegetable mix in the lomein isn't just the boring, average assortment, and tastes as if it's fresh instead of frozen like many other places. The sesame chicken is very crisp under the thick sauce and has almost a smokey flavor. The curried chicken is fantastic and I'm not a huge curry person. The rangoons are filled well and shaped in an easy to eat triangle instead of the crazy flower shape. The pork fried rice was the only thing we got that could have been a little better, but it was still great, but overshadowed by how incredible everything else is. I regret not getting photos of the food before ripping into everything like feral animals.

Jennifer Albright

Best fried rice and dumplings I've had in YEARS! 🫠 I'm traveling/working in NY from out of town but this place is a GEM! I drove 17 mins from Cazenovia to get here & found SUPERIOR customer service, very hot, fresh, QUALITY food, & DECENT prices for the service and quality! Will definitely return before leaving NY! 👍😁♥️

Andrew Wood

I have been coming here since they opened over 15 years ago. Wide range of Chinese dishes, from authentic to Americanized. It is easily the best Chinese restaurant in CNY, and probably the best I've had outside of Chinatown in San Francisco. They have never once made the slightest mistake with my order, and are always prompt getting my order out, even when they are very busy. Thank you China Cafe!

Kim Urso

Extremely busy tonight. We ordered at 5 pm, were told food would be ready at 6, but still had to wait another 20 minutes with a dozen others to pick up the order. But I must say, the kitchen was fully staffed and working like a well oiled machine to fill all the orders. Food was good and freshly cooked. Still a great place for Chinese!

Rachel Pilcher

Best Chinese place in the area hands down. Been to almost every other one in the area. At one of those the entire staff wasn't wearing masks. Here the staff is very efficient and every one was wearing their masks properly. There's usually not much wait time. The food itself is always delicious. Prices are also very reasonable. Highly recommend.

My all-time fave Asian cuisine by the village. The food is good, the service is good, the only downside, because of covid they don't provide dine in option.

I liked it, they had quick service and you can see into the kitchen. Smells great just walking in the door. I had the dumplings and chicken and broccoli.

Hands down the best Chinese food place. They are always friendly and do gluten free dishes for my family. Never had an issue here.

Friendly service both for take put and dining in. I recommend calling in your order if taking out. It saves the wait on the weekend. The place is convenient to residences just outside the village of Manlius proper. It is one of 3 Chinese food restaurants all with similar menus all convenient to Manlius in general and specifically to residential areas closest to them.

I visited this place very randomly. . . Dint even know this place existed. . . I was surprised with the food I had. . . The fried rice tasted the way it taste back in india. . . I walked out of the restaurant with a great satisfaction. . . it really satisfied my taste bud. . . 😇 And it is an affordable place

Ajay Avinash

I visited this place very randomly. . . Dint even know this place existed. . . I was surprised with the food I had. . . The fried rice tasted the way it taste back in india. . . I walked out of the restaurant with a great satisfaction. . . it really satisfied my taste bud. . . 😇 And it is an affordable place

Food was good, but service was poor. They seemed more interested in getting take-out ready than serving me who was in the café. Also I noticed a lady waiting for a long time for her take-out because they got the order wrong. Then when she finally got her order, the soup was still wrong, but she took it any way.

The food is great. Sometimes, the service can be shotty because of the language differences, but overall, this is one of the best places to get Chinese food

A tad on the expensive side with not much taste. Their sesame chicken pieces are much bigger than anywhere else and more chicken than breading which is nice. I got sesame chix, generals tsos chix, and chix and broccoli with spring rolls. Disappointed overall but the spring rolls.

Nick Krenn

A tad on the expensive side with not much taste. Their sesame chicken pieces are much bigger than anywhere else and more chicken than breading which is nice. I got sesame chix, generals tsos chix, and chix and broccoli with spring rolls. Disappointed overall but the spring rolls.

China cafe has an interesting and seemingly good menu of classic Chinese fares. The menu does not have many options but offers a good choice of chicken, duck, beef, fish and sea food. I had the bitter melon starter which was good. I was disappointed by my spicy fish dish because it had way too much flavour enhancers. I could not taste the fish but the flavour additives. Further, the brown rice was a bit dry.

I’ve had good food from this China Cafe before unfortunately I just found out how inconsistent they can be. I got one of their lunch specials and the food I received was lacking flavor and far below the food quality that I have had in the past. I would have given zero stars if I hadn’t had good food from this place in the past, but I will not be ordering from this place again.

Just ordered dinner tonight was extremely disappointed with the quality of the food overcooked very little sauce on any of our entrees$30 for two meals that were on edible but good that's fine

Got shrimp with broccoli and it was all broccoli and the shrimp were tiny. Service was terrible, didn't provide napkins or cutlery. Would never come back.

45 mins for two over priced stringy chewy chicken dinners and BLAND pork fried rice. So very disappointed at how downhill this once fantastic Chinese restaurant has become

Way too expensive for mediocre. Also didn’t even get my order right. I liked the other Chinese takeout better.

I ordered online and got lost/forgot. Checked in at 20 min after ordering. Was asked to wait. Checked in at 35 min after ordering. Was asked to wait. At 45 minutes I asked how much longer. They discovered my ticket got lost and hadn't even begun cooking my food. Hangry so I left and ate a pbj. Won't be back.

I have been going to China Cafe for a very long time and will never go back. I called to place an order 2 combos and Crab Rangoon basic order nothing complicated. I placed my order to the rude woman who usually answers the phone. When I’m done ordering she just says ok thank you and hangs up with no time estimation. It usually takes 10-20 minutes and we arrive in 15 minutes. We get in and go right to the counter as usual and give my phone number and she says just sit down. I sit for 15 minutes before the lady yells at me across the restaurant “can I help you? What are you doing here?” So I walk up and say “yeah I’m here to pick up my order, you told me to just sit down” she asks my phone number and I give it to her she walks towards the back and talks to another girl and she says just a few more minutes. I sit back down with my daughter and wife. 15 more minutes go by and I go back up to the counter and she is clearly avoiding me and calls someone else’s number. The guy walks in front of me and takes his order. Most places would have at least acknowledged me and apologized for the wait. I ask her how much longer and reminded her of my phone number. She walks back and points down and says this is it. I stand at the counter for another couple of minutes while it bagged up. I WAS NEVER EVEN REMOTELY RUDE AT ANY POINT BY THE WAY. I reluctantly pay because my pregnant wife is starving. After I pay she says is this your first time here? I said no I have been coming here for years (10 years actually) she said oh next time tell us when you’re here. I was astonished at how rude she was not to mention it was my third time at the counter. The food is good here but this experience was so terrible I will never step foot in there again. *#€* this place.

Ordered online, said my order would be ready at 6:15, I get there, they ask for my phone number and they say they have my order they just need a few more minutes. Over 30 minutes pass of me waiting in the restaurant, then she lets me know "oh, we don't really have your order, it must be downtown"

Probably the worst Chinese food I've had in a long time. Usually go to the other place down the road and it's excellent. I ordered just basic general tsos and it was very over cooked and could not even finish half of it.

very very overcooked chicken, dry, stringy, tasteless. it's a shame, i drove 30 minutes out of my way to go here after hearing nothing but good things, spent nearly 20 dollars for a single item as well

I've been to this place before and the food was always excellent. Not sure what happened this time, maybe new owners but everything I ordered was not good at all from appetizers to spare ribs and beef with snow peas which was something I ordered all the time. Sorry but I won't be going back and I do not recommend this place at all!!

My husband ordered general tso and i ordered orange chicken to go. They made 2 general tso and just put orange peels in mine...as a pregnant person I am pissed #laziness P.s and yes I know the difference the only thing I ever order is orange chicken

Chad Cash

very very overcooked chicken, dry, stringy, tasteless. it's a shame, i drove 30 minutes out of my way to go here after hearing nothing but good things, spent nearly 20 dollars for a single item as well

Acnxo

My husband ordered general tso and i ordered orange chicken to go. They made 2 general tso and just put orange peels in mine...as a pregnant person I am pissed #laziness P.s and yes I know the difference the only thing I ever order is orange chicken

Patricia. Horn

I've been to this place before and the food was always excellent. Not sure what happened this time, maybe new owners but everything I ordered was not good at all from appetizers to spare ribs and beef with snow peas which was something I ordered all the time. Sorry but I won't be going back and I do not recommend this place at all!!