Rainbow Cafe

Food was good but not as much on the plate as I expected. Hey, I was just in the area, was very hungry and this was the closest place. Menu has a lot to choose from.

Call me strange, but I think this is a great date night spot.
Helen of Troy’s face might have launched a thousand ships, but the décor here provides for some ice-​breaking chuckles as you point out your favorite things and/​or try to wrap your head around a theme. Don’t have a clue what I’m talking about? I guess you’ll have to stop by and check it out.
Anyway, it’s also an a-​ok lunch spot, too. The waitress I met on a Thursday was super friendly and attentive. Rainbow Café wasn’t busy and I picked a table for four near the right wall. She spotted me and came over with menus, hot tea and a bowl of egg flower-​type soup. I had been craving chow fun allll week and decided on that with some HK style milk tea and boba —
dry beef chow fun — 6.95
hk style milk tea w/​boba — 2.75
It didn’t take very long for my order to arrive. The milk tea was strong, and the boba was what one would expect from a tiny restaurant like this that has bubble tea on the menu as an afterthought rather than a specialty. Oh well.
The chow fun was exactly what I wanted… and more. Their portions are really generous and I had to take most of it back to the office with me.
All in all, I think I’ll probably be back. It’s a cute neighborhood spot and not noisy at all. I brought a book with me and found it easy to read a couple of chapters before heading back to work.

Good service for lunch decent selection of lunch specials. Food served piping hot. Had beef with tender greens w/​steamed rice, small soup and hot tea included. I like their watermelon drink, refreshing (when available $ 1 with lunch special).

Complete horrible service… Didn’t do anything at all until we had ask a few time for a refill on water. When they bring out the food. It was thrown in the table. Like wtf… Best part… It’s a mandatory tip even for horrible service… That’s the first. If you go here prepare yourself.

Got the delicious chicken leg& thigh and fried rice for $ 3, medium size was easily lunch & dinner

I walked in with my family with a nice welcoming hello and was seated to a table. When we were ready to order it took a while for the waitress to come to our table and the place wasn’t busy at all. Just my family and another family not too far from our table. The waitress seemed impatient with us. The food was okay, but there was so many flies in the restaurant that it was uncomfortable to eat. The experience was okay and the chicken chow mien was tasty, but it’s not enough for me to go back.

My special person ordered me some soup late at night to nurse a flu I had. The hot and sour soup was OK; could have used more acid/​vinegar but it had some diced peppers, which was a nice touch. The wonton soup was simple but GOOD– clear broth and wontons with chives floating on top. The wontons were hearty with big chunks of pork and shrimp inside. The to-​go package was nicely packed with a cardboard base in the bag to prevent spillage. I love when restaurants do little things to make my life easier! Overall, I’d go there again for the wonton soup! Have to try other goodies next time!

This restaurant service is like a hell. I ordered seafood with bittermelon, but she who is server gave me salt and pepper shrimp. When the food came, I told her that was not the one that I ordered. Instead of saying sorry, she got mad at me. Than I left. Never going back to have dinner here even they give me free food.
So guys if you come to this restaurant, don’t expect to hear a nice words from the server. You guys gonna hear a stupid voices. They deserve zero star, but I give a star.

Spacious, clean, attractively decorated. Offers a set meal of three dishes plus tea and soup for $ 21. More than enough for two people and a to-​go box.
Rainbow is a neighborhood café, but because this neighborhood rolls up its rugs rather early, it can be almost empty at 8pm. Don’t let that scare you off. The fare is tasty and there are three TV’s softly streaming chinese language shows so you do not feel lonely.
Nice place for quiet unwinding or a gathering of friends. Serves beer and wine. Live fish available.

One of the few restaurants that opens late in the Town. Also, one of the few restaurants that will make you say, «Yee boy, this place is smacking! Let’s go again!» Yes, I was invited by some friends to this place for a late dinner. Being in the outskirts of the «hood», not many people are attracted by the exterior. However, their bright lit sign that proudly announced the name of the restaurant, the OGs that stared through the windows while sipping tea, and the crackie on the sidewalk screaming to himself, mysteriously attracted me to this wonderful Chinese restaurant.
We were quickly sat and we ordered the Peking Spareribs, Green Beans with Pork, Mabo Tofu, and Fried Cod. While we waited on the food, tea and delicious soup was served. All of the dishes came out fast! We were rubbing our hands as we indulged in the Chinese goodness. The Peking Spareribs were delicious from the first bite. An overwhelming sweetness and the rich taste of swine meat danced in my mouth. Their Green Beans with Pork were stir-​fried, oily, yet satisfying. Their Fried Cod was exquisite! Even the bones were edible because they broke off into light crispy flakes as you chewed them and their house sauce was an outstanding compliment. I was kind of disappointed with the Mabo Tofu. Even with all of the ingredients that went into the dish, it was still kind of bland and did not have the «kick» I expected from it. Overall, three people finished all four generously large dishes! Talk about satisfaction! I will definitely be coming here more often with small to large parties. You will most definitely be leaving full and satisfied!
CAUTION: The ladies at this restaurant will chase you if you don’t tip them well! LOL.

This place haven’t failed me after so many years, I think they closed early now? Menu have’t change and yes they still have the 3 item for $ 20 special.

Three items fir $ 20, you can’t eat that, especially with the extensive menu, surely you can find something. AND you get soup of the day… FREE!
I’ve had their Peking spareribs, salt and pepper fish, walnut shrimp (I hate most places skimp on the shrimp, here included) chicken & green beans, garlic fried rice just to name a few. Check it out!

Just went here… they give you an itemized copy of the receipt but it’s written in Cantonese/​mandarin. They tried to charge me for 6 bowls of rice when we only had 1. We also only had 4 people in our table… why would we need 6 bowls of rice for?
I don’t know if they tried to pull a fast one on us but… yeah check your receipts!
Also, the chow fun is flavorless :(

This place was interesting lol
Service was decent not friendly but did their job
Food is ok for late night after the Warriors Game it wouldn’t of been my first choice but id go back for the princess prawns and to try something else.

I have eaten here many times during the course of my childhood. I am now 14 years of age, and times have changed here at Rainbow Café…for the worst, that is.
Just a month, I ate here with family members. Ordered the usual 3-​course meal, and fulfilled me, as always. We payed, got our to-​go boxes, and left. Service then — not great, but not as bad as I thought.
I just finished eating here, same as usual… until I got the check. Apparently, rice isn’t included with the 3-​course meal, so you have to ask for it. And they’ll charge — hefty already. The food was fulfilling, as always. The check then showed «5 box — $ 1.25» and I thought, «WOAH! HOLD IT! THEY CHARGE FOR TO-​GO BOXES NOW?» We complained, they tried to get out of it by saying, «oh, it’s required under the plastic bag law ban thing.» And I, for one, know that’s a load of crap.
But, since life isn’t fair, we just paid and left.
To summarize: decent food, but crap service plus a new owner created these to-​go box charges. Eat here — but at your own risk.

Just finished lunch with two colleagues who are married to vegetarians, so we had to order meat and rice plates! The lunch menu is amazing, and may be the best deal anywhere for lunch in a restaurant (e.g., sit down, service, and chinese television)
We had: bitter melon and beef; kung pao chicken; and my favorite, braised pork over veggies (actually pork belly). The food was quickly served, super hot and fresh, and so flavorful. Plenty of rice and veggies, but the meats were the star! Bitter melon too, well done, with not too much bitterness, perfectly balanced against the black beans and the beef. It comes with flavorful soup, and we ordered honeydew iced drink, made with real fruit. Under $ 10 a person, including tax and a tip… how can you do better?
Oh, and friendly!!! and free parking.

Good food. Opens late. Friendly and attentive waitresses.
My must have dishes are the honey-​walnut prawns, salt and pepper pork chops and the fried fish with soy sauce. I come here for the awesome 3 dishes for $ 20.97 deal. Comes out to about $ 26 with a side of rice. I mean how can you beat that?

I love how this place opens late & they have a separate menu for their daily special (3 dish for $ 20.97 + soup).
I always get their honey walnut shrimp every time I come here. All their dishes have tons of flavors! Pretty sure they use msg.
Food comes out really fast! Not sure if it’s a good or bad thing, but the time I come here it’s always slow.

This place has only been around for 11 – 12 years. I remember when it opened I was so excited to see a Chinese café open in the neighborhood AND they opened late (until 1am).
Much has changed over the years. They have gotten a bit busier, the chef has changed quite a few hands (for the good) and yet the prostitutes still make their occasional run in here to hide from the police only to find tons of police already sitting in here mugging at them.
Food:
Your typical Chinese Hong Kong café foods ie: Baked Pork Chop, pan fried noodles, crab in whatever sauce you like, fried flounder, salt and pepper pork chops and the list goes on and on (you know the drill).
The food quality have gone up significantly my last 2 – 3 trips here. Everything was a bit smaller and prices have gone up, but the flavor is out of this world. The dishes come out more appealing than its counterpart 11 – 12 years ago. Heck my dad who is the pickiest son of a gun when it comes to Chinese food even gave it a thumbs up.
Service:
It’s not a hussle and bussle Chinese joint so the service is quite nice. Hook the waitresses out and don’t skimp on the tip.
I like the occasional up sell at night in which they’ll let you know the special (typically seafood).
Environment:
Well if you’re not from the neighborhood the area looks questionable, but I assure you the area is much sketchier than it looks at night. I know because I grew up here. So before you get all giddy to come here at 12am in the morning make sure you watch your back and your walk your way here. Once you’re in here you actually feel quite safe. 50% of the time (at night) I’d see a couple of cops catching their meals.
Price:
I complain about the price but hey… this foods still pretty damn cheap.
Food: 4
Service: 4
Environment: 3
Price: 4

I have been wanting to try out Rainbow Café for a while. So I went today after work. I drove my Whip Mr Majestic to Oak town. I rolled up to Rainbow Café and the Street was full of Cars. I parked my Whip and rolled in to Rainbow Café
There was quite a few people there eating. I was greeted and seated. My Server presented me with a Glass of Water, And a Menu .
‘
I perused my Menu and ordered Black Bean Fish and a Rice Clay pot with Chinese Sausage and Bock Choy.
My Server brought me a Bowl of House Soup. It was packed full of flavor. It was a Yummy treat.
My Black Bean Fish came next. It was presented nicely, The Fish was out standing firm but Flavorful.
Last but not least was the Rice Clay pot. The Chinese Sausage was Yummy .
Décor is quite nice. Bathroom was Clean. LCD TVs for Entertainment.
I saw the Wait staff deal with a FEW DIFFICULT customers and they handled the situation well.
I paid by Visa Card and rolled out.
I’m a Fan, especially of Late Night Joints In The Hood.