The Little Kitchen Asian Cafe

24831 Del Prado Ave, Dana Point, CA 92629, United States
+1 949-276-7799
$$$ Chinese restaurant
(419 Reviews)
Price Range $10–20

If you're wandering through Dana Point and have a craving for delicious Asian cuisine, look no further than The Little Kitchen Asian Cafe. Tucked away at 24831 Del Prado Ave, this charming Chinese restaurant is renowned for serving mouthwatering dishes that will leave you wanting more.

The moment you step inside, you're greeted by an inviting atmosphere with a sizzle in the air, coming from the open-style kitchen. This cozy eatery may be small, but it's bursting with flavor. The warm and friendly staff makes you feel right at home, offering attentive service that is often complimented by patrons, as noted by regulars who appreciate the personal touches from the owners.

When it comes to food, the menu is a treasure trove of authentic Chinese flavors. Their Moo Shoo and Foo Young dishes are particularly popular, with options like Moo Shoo Shrimp and Foo Young Combo taking center stage. If you’re in the mood for something classic, the Sweet & Sour Pork and Sichuan Pork are crowd-pleasers that deliver on flavor and generous portions - just as some customers have explicitly noted! You'll find a delightful balance of bold spices and fresh ingredients that truly bring the dishes to life.

Inspired by the real experiences of diners, you'll appreciate hearing that the kitchen’s philosophy revolves around freshness, as shared by one patron who praised the shrimp fried rice for its impeccable quality and taste. Sit down to a steaming plate of Kung Pao Chicken or indulge in the Garlic Sauce options, all thoughtfully prepared to highlight the rich, vibrant flavors of each ingredient.

And don’t forget to sip on something refreshing! The Thai Iced Tea is a perfect way to complement your meal, adding a sweet, creamy note to the savory dishes.

As you tuck into your meal, your senses will be delighted by the aroma wafting through the air—from the sizzling woks to the inviting smells of freshly cooked vegetables. The intimate setting enhances the experience, making it an ideal spot for a casual dinner or a cozy outing with loved ones. Many reviews sing praises for the generous portions, so be sure to arrive with an appetite!

In summary, The Little Kitchen Asian Cafe is more than just a dining option; it's a gratifying culinary journey that captures the essence of authentic Chinese cuisine. With great food, a welcoming atmosphere, and a reputation for quality that resonates with customers, this Dana Point gem is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike.

Accessibility
Has wheelchair-accessible car park
Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
Has wheelchair-accessible seating
Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Service options
Has outdoor seating
Has no-contact delivery
Offers delivery
Offers takeaway
Serves dine-in
Highlights
Has fast service
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for lunch
Popular for dinner
Good for solo dining
Offerings
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves coffee
Serves comfort food
Serves happy-hour drinks
Serves happy-hour food
Serves healthy options
Serves late-night food
Quick bite
Serves small plates
Serves vegetarian dishes
Serves wine
Dining options
Serves lunch
Serves dinner
Serves dessert
Has seating
Amenities
Has bar on site
Has toilet
Atmosphere
Casual
Cosy
Crowd
Good for groups
Popular with tourists
Planning
Accepts reservations
Payments
Accepts credit cards
Accepts debit cards
Accepts NFC mobile payments
Credit cards
Children
Good for kids
High chairs available
Parking
Free of charge street parking
Free parking lot
Plenty of parking
Openings Hours
Checking

Monday

12:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Tuesday

12:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Wednesday

12:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Thursday

12:00 AM - 9:30 PM

Friday

12:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Saturday

12:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Sunday

12:00 AM - 9:30 PM

419 Reviews
i a

15 Sep 2025

We had a wonderful dining experience! The atmosphere was great and the staff were courteous, friendly, and attentive. One thing to note for sure is that you need to bring your appetite because the portions are large, fresh, hot, and delicious! I forgot to take a picture of all the food we ordered coz I was busy eating. We ordered Kung Pao, Sesame Chicken, Egg Foo Young, Beef , Kitchen’s Beef, Mongolian Beef, Egg Rolls, Dumplings. You will NOT leave hungry! A definite gem! Thank you for the hospitality! :)

Chris Phillips

12 Sep 2025

The Little Kitchen Asian Cafe is a cozy establishment tucked away in Dana Point. The atmosphere has a sizzle in the air from the open style kitchen. The service was wonderful. My wife and I were greeted and felt welcome from the moment we walked in. You know the food is going to be excellent when you can smell it from the parking lot. I ordered the Orange chicken, and my wife ordered garlic shrimp. We shared a vegetable fried rice and had fried dumplings for our appetizer. If you're a fan of Asian cuisine, this restaurant is a must try. The proportions are quite large, so make sure you bring your appetite. We will definitely be coming back to taste more from the menu.

Dennis Martel

19 Aug 2025

This Cafe never fails to impress. I come here late afternoon. There are usually only two people working. I assume their the owners. Again the best Asian food in Dana point. Not my frist time here. Food is always hot!!! Very fresh and terrific. No where I have been makes better shrimp fried rice. Their ingredients including the meat is top notch. This Cafe is extremely clean. They serve quickly . Again we had a great dinner. Their priced with in reason. It's a winner 5 stars from me. Thank you again.

Mark Absher

28 Jul 2025

Very tasty Asian food. I am typically drawn to sweet and sour chicken and chicken fried rice, and their versions of these dishes did not disappoint. Yum! The interior of the restaurant is very clean and nice—among the nicest that I have seen for this type of food, and the staff was very friendly. Notwithstanding the excellent dining area, because you are so close to Dana Point Harbor, I recommend getting the food to go, and go eat outside with a view. The prices reflect the impact of our beloved inflation, but they are relatively fair. Check the photos for a better understanding of the view. It’ll make the experience even better.

The Reality Star

15 Jun 2025

At first I didn’t like how the lady in front (cashier) not even looking at u when she is talking and she is super serious also moving and doing multiple things while you talking to her however while I was waiting my food I saw her actually really busy doing bunch of things by her self and I respect her personality not everyone can fake a smile. It’s weird after all of this but you still somehow satisfied with the experience. Also, the food was really good

marad jahde

13 Jun 2025

Good Chinese food. Fast service. Only could choose from hot/sour or egg drop soup for a cup. The other soups were only offered in bowl size. Hot/sour and egg drop soups were good. The chicken fried rice was ok, could use a bit more flavor. The beef with vegetables was really delicious. The beef had amazing deep flavor and the vegetables were perfectly cooked adente. They were asparagus, broccoli and sweet peas. Good service and good food. Will return.

Wendy L

07 Jun 2025

The Little Asian Cafe in Dana Point serves up some tasty dishes. I called in and placed a take-out order over the phone. The young lady on the phone said it would only take about 15-20 minutes. Once I arrived, a gentleman greeted me at the door. I believe he was the business owner. They were still prepping my order when I checked in and I can see the older gentleman cooking the food. It smelled amazing in the restaurant! I paid for my order and, soon enough, my order was ready! When we brought our food back to our hotel, it was still steaming hot and the food was delicious! I’d happily come back to support this business when I’m in the area again!

Laurie Bridges

07 Jun 2025

Lovely sit-down Chinese restaurant with absolutely delicious entrees and generous portions. We'd been there on a previous trip to the area and looked forward to visiting again. This time, my husband and I shared three entrees: Szechuan Pork, Pork Egg Foo Young, and Mixed Vegetables. The vegetables in all three entrees were very fresh and crispy, and all had plenty of sauce to spoon over the rice (a light garlic sauce for the veggie dish and soy based sauce for the other two entrees). The Szechuan Pork had lots of delicious vegetables in addition to the thin, but plentiful, tender pork strips. The Egg Foo Young was different than we're used to, but yummy. We've always had lots of veggies, especially bean sprouts, and pieces of the meat we chose mixed into the egg mixture and fried up into patties and then covered in gravy. This restaurant had flatter, pancake-like patties, quaterered and in the sauce along with many slices of pork and plenty of vegetables. Different, but absolutely delicious! Our server was efficient, friendly and funny. The food was way too much, but of course we'd ordered three entrees for the the two of us, and so we ate probably more than we should have at the restaurant (but it was hard to stop!), took the leftovers back to our resort and enjoyed then for lunch the next couple of days. Since the restaurant is in a small shopping center, finding parking is easy.

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