Joe's China Cafe

In all my time eating at restaurants, I've never heard a patron compliment the cook on the way out. Maybe that's because it's never done at Wendy's or McDonald's.

But because the restaurant I intended to patronize was closed, I stopped next door at a Chinese restaurant named Joe's. I wouldn't have noticed it in my famished state if the hostess hadn't come out and invited me in. I was hungry and armed with a credit card, so I went in.

Everything about Joe's China Cafe in Tarzana made for a pleasurable dining experience. Instead of the standard red walls and décor, the decorator opted for bright yellow walls with an orange lantern hanging outside.

The food was sublime. I ordered a fried tofu luncheon special for $5.95, not including drink, tax and a tip, and the food dance and pirouetted in my mouth. The vegetables were cooked al dente, which is an expression I picked up somewhere, and the sauces were delectable, not too heavy nor overly spicy.

"What spices did the cook put in here?" I asked the gracious hostess as she came by to check on me.

"Ginger and garlic," she said, "but mainly garlic."

"It's very good," I said.

"Thank you," she said smiling.

I told her I would give the place a shameless plug here, and she thanked me again. The prices are reasonable as well, and you get way more than you pay for at Joe's China Cafe, so I'd give it five stars food-wise, customer service wise and ambience-wise

Joe's China Café
19221 Ventura Blvd.
Tarzana, CA 91356

(818) 705-9999

Mon-Sat
11:00 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Sun.
12:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.