The authentic Chinese cuisine restaurant Northern Cafe has filed a liquor license for the address 9305 Reseda Blvd, which currently houses the Mandarin Deli. Co-owner Chuan Yong confirmed that Northern Cafe is taking the space at an undisclosed time in the future.
Northern Cafe has a keen focus on dumplings more than anything and lines of 25 plus are typical on any given Monday night, according to Eater LA. The Chinese restaurant is located in the heart of Westwood, within walking distance for UCLA students who can take advantage of Northern Cafe’s notably reasonable costs. Also, the student populace at UCLA is almost 40% Asian, which is one huge reason Yong’s partner Betty Ren chose that location to open up their flagship. The owners have even hired Mandarin-speaking workers to offer up a more comfortable atmosphere for those who are native to China.
Mandarin Deli has occupied the space in Northridge for over 30 years now, offering similar Mandarin Chinese fare: Stewed Beef Noodles, Scallion Pancakes, and Dumplings.
(Edited: an earlier version of this article stated Mandarin Deli has been around for 10 years when it’s actually been around for over 30)
Mandarin Deli has been my family’s favorite Chinese restaurant for over 30 years now and we are all very sad to see it close although the owners told us several years ago that they were thinking of retiring and that their children didn’t want to take over the reins. By the way, Mandarin Deli has been at the same location on Reseda Blvd. for at least 30 years, not 10 as you stated in your article. So sad to say goodbye to a friend with whom our children have grown up, we have had multiple birthday parties, and have spent every New Year’s Eve eating our last meal of the year there! Love you Mandarin Deli!
Northern Cafe in Westwood is the 3rd location, after Hacienda Heights and Cerritos, not the flagship location. Owners have other restaurants in the San Gabriel Valley as well, which started with Dumpling House in Arcadia. Mandarin Deli first opened in Chinatown back in 1982. The success there allowed them to expand into Northridge and Monterey Park (“Mandarin Noodle House” since there’s already another restaurant in Monterey Park called Mandarin Deli).
My favorite Northern Cafe locations are in Gardena and Monterey Park. They make handpulled noodles which I would say is the mainstay of the restaurant, not dumplings. They also have various cold plate entrees such as pigs ear and seaweed to select from. The Westwood does not serve hand-pulled noodles or have cold entrees. I wish they did.