Chow mein and a century of history share the same plate at a modest California restaurant. The building sits on a main street near an old courthouse, looking humble beside the sidewalk.
Inside, black swivel stools line a classic counter, and the walls are covered with old photos and yellowed newspaper clippings. One family has run this place for three generations, cooking egg foo young and fried rice long before anyone called it historic.
Then researchers dug through old records and found it might be the oldest Chinese restaurant still running in California, maybe even in the whole country. I left full, happy, and a little amazed that a lunch spot this modest holds a story this big.
Hours slipped away without notice. The past and the present share the same counter here.
Such a place rewards curiosity.
A Counter Seat Full of Old Stories
My first move was grabbing a spot at the counter, and that swivel stool instantly became my favorite seat in Woodland. The black stools line up in a neat row, just like they probably have for generations.
Spinning a little is optional but highly recommended.
Everywhere you look, the walls tell a story. Old pictures, faded newspaper clippings, and newer articles about the restaurant’s history cover almost every bare space.
Some guests have even spotted an old abacus and photos of Elvis Presley hanging near each other, which is about as charming a combination as you will ever find.
A few of the furnishings here are older than the current owners’ fifty years behind the stove. Private booths still sit along the room, and there is even a wooden walk-in refrigerator that dates back to an earlier era.
Very few restaurants keep pieces like that around anymore.
My advice is to arrive a few minutes early and take a slow lap with your eyes before ordering. Read a clipping or two while you wait for tea.
You will understand the place better, and your meal will feel more meaningful once you know how far back these walls go.
The Mystery of 1903
Here is a fun puzzle to chew on while you eat. The Fong family says the restaurant opened in 1903, but researchers can firmly prove it has been running since at least 1910.
So which is it?
The answer has to do with a sad piece of history. Back then, city directories often left out businesses owned by Chinese families.
That means early records of the Chicago Cafe may simply never have been written down, even if the doors were open.
A research team led by UC Davis law professor Gabriel “Jack” Chin worked with students and scholars to dig through local archives. They studied business directories, newspaper clippings, and old fire insurance maps.
Their work confirmed the cafe as the oldest Chinese restaurant in California and a strong contender for the national title.
I love that the Fongs spent decades serving meals without any big fanfare. They were just doing their jobs, feeding Woodland day after day.
Either date makes this place well over a century old. That alone is worth a road trip.
Ask yourself how many buildings in your own town have hosted lunch for that long, and the answer will probably surprise you.
Three Generations Behind the Stove
Family businesses rarely last three years, so lasting three generations is something special. The Chicago Cafe began with Paul Fong’s grandfather, passed to his father, and now belongs to Paul and his wife Nancy.
Together they have worked here for about half a century.
That kind of commitment shows up in small ways. The food comes out home cooked, the pace is relaxed, and the room has the calm feeling of a kitchen run by people who know every corner of it.
Nothing about the place feels rushed or corporate.
Paul is in his mid seventies, and Nancy is in her late sixties. Think about that for a second.
Many people their age are long retired, yet they still show up to cook chow mein and fried rice for their neighbors and curious travelers alike.
Local regulars talk about coming here as kids with their parents, then bringing their own children years later. I found that idea really sweet.
A restaurant becomes part of a town when families build traditions around the same booth.
If you visit, be patient during busy hours and leave a kind tip. Small teams work hard, and a friendly smile goes a long way in a place like this.
Plates That Taste Like the 1950s
Ordering here felt a bit like opening a family recipe box. The menu has barely changed since the 1950s, and honestly, that is the whole point.
You get classic American Chinese food the way many grandparents remember it.
The combination plate is the move for first timers. It usually brings egg foo young, chow mein, pork fried rice, pan fried noodles, and fried shrimp together on one generous plate for around twelve dollars.
Hot tea and a fortune cookie come with it, which feels like a tiny gift.
Flavors lean gentle rather than heavy. The chow mein comes piled with bean sprouts, the fried shrimp wears a puffy golden batter, and the pork fried rice gets plenty of fans.
Many guests also love the paper wrapped chicken and the hearty Dinner Deluxe with teriyaki steak.
Go in expecting comfort food from another era, not trendy fusion. That mindset makes everything taste even better.
One handy tip from regulars is to ask for double fried rice if chow mein is not your thing. The kitchen is friendly about simple requests, and a full belly is basically guaranteed either way.
Chop Suey Meets the American Diner
Breakfast at a Chinese restaurant? You bet, and it is one of the best surprises in town.
Alongside the chow mein, the Chicago Cafe serves American diner favorites like eggs, ham, hash browns, toast, and a much loved chicken fried steak.
That mix is not random. Old menus from 1917, 1933, and 1953 show Chinese dishes printed right next to American daily specials such as prime rib and filet of sole.
Back during the chop suey craze, Chinese restaurants across the country learned to serve both styles to win over hungry locals.
So when you see soup, saltine crackers, and egg rolls sharing the same table, you are seeing living history. It is a uniquely American blend that grew out of immigrant creativity and pure determination.
I found it kind of brilliant. One person in your group can order a teriyaki beef plate while another happily digs into hash browns, and nobody has to compromise.
This makes the cafe a great stop for picky eaters or mixed groups. Kids who want pancakes and grown ups craving fried rice can both walk out smiling, which is not always easy to pull off on a road trip.
Strolling Old Chinatown on Main Street
After lunch, I stepped outside and wandered down Main Street with a happy, slightly too full stomach. The cafe sits close to the grand Yolo County Courthouse, right in the heart of downtown Woodland.
Long ago, this block was part of Woodland’s Chinatown. Most of that neighborhood has faded away, which makes the Chicago Cafe even more precious.
It is one of the last living links to the Chinese families who helped build this farming town.
The restaurant has been called a symbol of survival, and that phrase really stuck with me. It made it through anti-Chinese laws, harsh public attitudes, multiple wars, and more than one pandemic.
Somehow, the doors stayed open and the woks stayed hot.
Knowing that changes how a simple stroll feels. Every old brick storefront nearby seems to hold its own quiet history.
Plan an extra hour to explore downtown on foot. The courthouse is lovely to admire, and the walk helps your lunch settle.
Bring a camera too, because the cafe’s sign against the old buildings makes a great photo for anyone who loves small town character and a little time travel.
Bring Cash and Visit Soon
A quick friendly warning before you hop in the car: leave your cards at home and bring cash. The Chicago Cafe is cash only, which fits its old school charm perfectly.
Hours can shift a little depending on the season. The cafe is typically closed on Thursdays, and closing time may move between early and later evening with daylight saving time.
Here is the bittersweet part. Paul Fong plans to retire, and the restaurant has been put up for sale.
His children chose other careers, so the family chapter may be coming to a close after more than a hundred years.
All the recent attention has brought in new crowds, which is wonderful for the history books but a lot of work for a small team. A calm weekday afternoon visit makes things easier for everyone.
I would not wait too long to go. Places like this do not come around twice, and sitting at that counter while it is still run by the family that kept it alive is something you will remember for years.
Address: 411 Main Street, Woodland, California
