CÀI Kitchen Berlin – Szechuan Vegan Bistro in Berlin

I regularly come to CAI for lunch. Delicious vegan Szechuan dishes and fast, friendly service. My favorites are the marinated udon noodles in extra-spicy peanut sauce (warning: really, really hot) and the cold marinated Sichuan-style noodles. Card payments only, no cash!

Tasty, reasonably priced and relatively quick service during lunch

I've eaten there several times now and have always been satisfied with the food; it's more of a snack bar than a restaurant. Unfortunately, the service was once again absolutely terrible today. What a shame.

Creative and tasty vegan dishes!

Only one vegetarian option for a meal. You couldn’t even choose pasta type with this one

The food was so good; I'm a meat lover and could barely think about that the meal was vegan

I never write reviews, but I really felt the need to warn others: The food (Dan Dan) was a bitter disappointment. It felt like half a kilo of far-dry, undercooked ready-made noodles, three strips of limp cabbage (indicated as vegetables on the menu) and tasteless soy mince. When I asked if the sauce had been forgotten and my dish could be taken back to the kitchen, I was handed soy sauce and chili without comment. Thanks for nothing. My stomach thanked me too. Even though I may have ordered the wrong dish, the quality of the food was so bad that I would have preferred to go to McDonald's (I never do)

Not recommended at all. Not only is it so loud there that you can hardly understand your own words, no, we also waited 50 minutes for our food. What came next can at best be described as a sad pile of instant noodles, whose excessive salt content is doubly noticeable due to the absolute dryness. Too bad!

Please avoid it! Waited 45 minutes for dry noodles with no veggies. Nobody apologized. This is something I could have prepared at home for much cheaper. We came here with friends upon recommendation and they were also dissatisfied. Maybe the chef changed? Deeply disappointed and won’t come back.

Delicious but spicyyyyy Look my friend 🤯

Deliciously creamy & super spicy vegan iron nuddles.

If you are craving for spicy and hot Chinese food, then this is the place for you! Especially if you’re a vegan or vegetarian 😄 Love the dumplings 😍

I had dinner there with my friend today. We both had the marinated noodles Dan Dan style. The food was lukewarm, too greasy and didn't taste particularly good. I really expected something different given the good reviews - in the end I had the feeling that it was more of a Tik-Tok/Instagram restaurant, which might look good visually, but unfortunately not in terms of taste. There are soooo much better stores in Berlin.

Tasty but not outstanding. Portions are a bit too small.

Simple and very tasty. Not overcrowded, nice!

It's not mine, I guess I have a problem with coriander. My colleagues were satisfied.

This restaurant staff is not good,,don’t good talking about for delivery people

The noodles are always not freshly made and lack elastic texture and umami flavor. In addition, the sauce was too salty, not spicy enough, and lacked Sichuan flavor. The store layout is monotonous but neat and hygienic. It is a vegetarian shop worth supporting.

Service bored and unfriendly. The food wasn't really warm and it wasn't tasty either. The atmosphere is uncomfortable and there is no wine either. I wouldn't come back

The food is OK. However, the portions are small, the prices are quite high, and the service (self service) is virtually non-existent, so the price-performance ratio is not right.

The food is tasty but quite expensive for the foods used. There is no real service. The ambience is cold - carelessly furnished, the light is super bright.

Quite nice but way too expensive for what you get. All simple, cheap ingredients and no service. Typical hipster middle bar.

This place is delicious and the staff are very sweet :) it can get a bit pricey but for the quality and flavor (not to mention the spice) it's totally worth it

Discover an impressive array of Szechuan dishes, from mildly spiced to thrillingly bold flavors. With fair portions and a convenient location, this cozy restaurant is perfect for a quick, satisfying meal to fuel your day.

As we all know, Chinese noodle places are one of the biggest food trends of the last few years (and that's great). Even though CAI Kitchen doesn't work with hand pulled noodles, in my opinion it plays at a really high level. Ambience? Unspectacular. Service? Efficient and with typical Berlin attitude. Eat? Damn delicious. The “extremely spicy” noodle dish with peanuts is not a real challenge for lovers of (Asian) spicy cuisine. It is really well balanced, with aromatic depth and full of umami. The fresh coriander goes perfectly with it. I'd love to come back!

You would think it would be IMPOSSIBLE to offer worse service than a Berliner but then that's because you've never been here. I thought counter personnel in restaurants had to do things like take orders, ferry food and maybe clean up a little. At CAI that job apparently entails squatting behind the already low counter and staring at your laptop NONSTOP. I wasn't sure of the etiquette and didn't want to bother her but she grunted something in my direction so I just took a leap and ordered. Imagine my surprise when she looked away from the laptop long enough to enter my order on the tablet and have me pay. No millisecond was wasted though because she went right back to the laptop as if this were a startup and not a restaurant. Guess the food was fine. Seemed about a third high for a small bowl of Udon tho. The food would have brought me back but the creative opening hours and the creature at the counter removing all the energy from the place will prevent me! 😅😅

It was our second time at Cai Kitchen and honestly our last one as well. Food was spicy but it lacked that spice flavour taste. It had no depth. I am an Indian and I can handle spicy food easily but this time not only food but even the staff was disappointing. They are rude for no reason, specially the lady at the counter is super rude and full of attitude. She makes faces if you request them to change the order because they only messed up in the first place. Won't recommend if you are looking for good chinese food.

really nice asian food. Basic and yummy. Highly reccomend the yuzu lemonade. No fancy atmosphere so maybe don't come here on your anniversary.

Tasty food! Not much atmosphere but efficient and solid menu.

Honestly I’m not sure why this restaurant has a high rating as the food has nth to do with Sichuan or Chinese. The food are spicy but no depth. The Dan Dan noodle is like a regular fried noodle can find in street stalls , no sesame paste or peanut sauce whatsoever. I’m not a food critique but as Asian / Chinese, I do know how a Dan Dan noodle should be like.

My favourite vegan spot in Berlin. Delicious. Always.

Overall a good vegan noodle place, had the dan dan dish it was delicious. There is no beer tho

Food tasted very artificial. A bit like nacho spice. Service is very bad. You have to order inside, pay immediately and are given the food without cutlery and told that you should get it inside.

The food is good but the service is an experience on its own. If you ever wanted to know what people mean when they say service in Berlin is bad, go to this place because it will make every bad experience you had so far feel like a 5-star luxury treatment. The girl behind the counter seemed offended to take on orders. I know girl, people wanting to have lunch while you’re on your phone - how dare they disturb you? The food was almost thrown on our table and if I wasn’t thar hungry, I would’ve thrown it right back at her. Do yourself a favor and go to Wen Cheng across the street - the food is better there anyway.

Super tasty, mildly spicy food. The potato dumplings so yummy and juicy and peanuty, so good! The other dumplings had a good heat to it. And both noodle dishes dan dan and yuxiang are big portions with tasty noodles and veggies. Soy meat was very crispy. Overall, way less spicy than expected, but worth visiting!

Nice, hot, worth a second visit

The food is fine, but this place has the wildest, most inconvenient opening hours. When you do manage to catch it open, it has some clothing sales event with loud music and a severely reduced menu that does not include any of the usual gluten-free options (which is the only reason why I ever went there in the first place). It desperately needs to improve its opening hours, and decide whether it wants to be a restaurant or a loud clothing store with 500 smokers in front of it.

I came tonight for dinner with a couple of friends, the food was very tasty but the peak of the evening was our server, she was super nice and she gave us some great suggestions which I greatly appreciated since I can't handle spicy food very well.

Super tasty and very cheap. Very suitable for vegans!

Excellent Vengia dishes for all tastes, a good welcome in a young and friendly environment. Well done Berry and Francesco👍🏻👏🏻

It's a shame, the Yuxiang noodles were really good (although not spicy at all!), but I have never encountered worse service than here. Girl at the register did not even look at us once, barely got a word out and was busy on her phone. Will definitely not come back again, and I wish we could get our tip back since she clearly doesn't deserve it. Also, 10€ for a small plate of Udon noodles without anything on it seems like a scam. (When asked if it included any veggies I was told yes, soy bean sprouts and coriander LOL) With so many amazing vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Berlin, you can easily skip this one.

the dumplings were deliciously HOT if you're looking for some spice and the noodles were amazing as well. sweet, savory and crunchy 10/10

Tip creep. You will be asked for a tip at the checkout before you have even ordered anything or been served. You also have to get the cutlery yourself. So this just squeezes more money out of the child. Food good but 30-40% more expensive than comparable food. Equipment rudimentary.

Unfortunately it has nothing to do with authentic Chinese cuisine. The Dan Dan Mian are noodles like you can find at any Asian snack bar, with some soy slices and vegetables on top. Unfortunately not recommended. The Chinese menu is misleading - you'd think there was authentic food.

Amazing szechuan food, with a very tasty and spicy udon meal avaialble. It is a self-service place, with indoor and outdoor seating. We got a dan-dan noodles, spicy udon, dumplings, and polenta. I would recommend all of these, but only the udon if you can really handle your spice!

The food was absolutely delicious! Every dish was vegetarian and bursting with amazing flavors and unique tastes. Just a heads up, some dishes are quite spicy. The only downside is that it's a bit pricey for only noodle place without any meat.

The food came super quickly. Is perfect for a quick lunch break! The Dan Dan style noodles were pleasantly spicy

Incredible food for a great price!! One for the spice lovers for sure but the best noodles I’ve ever had 😋

Got sweet potato noodles and potato dumplings. Both tasted great with a peppercorn flavor sweeter than I expected. I do think the portions are bit small for the price.

Unfortunately it wasn't that great for me. The taste was okay, portions were small.

Amazing place, amazing food, amazing customer service! Highly recommend checking it out. I’m not a spicy food eater, but I had yummy Dan Dan noodles and dumplings for starter and survived xd

Very-very tasty! The spicy dumplings are definitely recommended!

The food is ok, but below average compared to other Chinese noodle restaurants in Berlin. The dishes are very simple and the portions are relatively small. For self-service and the size of the portions the prices are not cheap. Unfortunately there are no toilets.

If you're on the hunt for seriously spicy delights🍜, Cài Kitchen is the place to be! For an authentic and affordable taste of vegan🥗Szechuan cuisine, Cài Kitchen in Berlin's Prenzlauer Berg district is a must-visit. With creative dishes and a laid-back vibe, it comes highly recommended for a flavorful dining experience. 🏠Ambience: While the space at Cài Kitchen is cozy and inviting, it's worth noting that seating is limited, especially during the colder months when indoor seating is preferred. However, the friendly staff and chill atmosphere make up for any potential crowding. Adding soft background music could enhance the overall dining experience, but even without it, the ambiance remains relaxed and welcoming. 🍝Food: The menu may be small, but each dish is packed with flavor and creativity. We opted for the mixed rice bowl, expecting a simple dish of veggies and rice, but were pleasantly surprised by the explosion of flavors in every bite. And if you're a fan of heat, the gemüse dumplings are a must-try; they're incredibly spicy and pair perfectly with the lighter spiciness of the mixed rice bowl. For those seeking a sweet-tangy spicy option, the marinated udon noodles in TianShui style sauce provide a satisfyingly spicy twist on a classic dish. 💰Price: With reasonable prices and a menu that won't break the bank, Cài Kitchen is the perfect spot for a delicious yet affordable meal.

I ordered some food to go and wow, was it good. I had both dumpling styles (veggie & potato) and also the polenta with fermented black beans. I'm eager to come back and dine in so I can try more, especially the noodle dishes.

Everything was fantastic, the only complaint is the size of appetisers is a tad too small for the price

Food was great! The indoor space was simple, a handful of tables, order and pay up front. Delicious noodle soup, two chilis meant it was a nice level of spicy for me - a mild heat but not unbearable.

Great place in a very good location. The only drawback in my opinion is the spiciness of most of the dishes. The prices are very affordable and it is worth visiting when visiting Berlin, even if you are not a vegetarian or vegan. I recommend

Good but not spectacular, and I wish it was a bit more cozy.

Boa comida chinesa, bem perto do que realmente se come na China. Apenas opções vegetarianas, o atendimento é muito bom.

Mega lecker und gute Auswahl! Fand die Portion für eine „große Portion“ leider etwas klein. Freundliches Personal.

Every dish surprised me! They are not just spicy in the same way, they got 20 different nuances of spicy. They are great

amazing vegan szechuan kitchen. staff is extremely nice, food is delicious and comes fast, toilets might not be my favorite but that doesn’t make this place less great. i’d recommend the noodles “nach dandan art”.

Ambiente semplice ed informale adatto per ogni tipo di clientela. Personale disponibile e cortese. La specialità prescelte erano abbonanti e ben realizzate. Consigliatissimo 👍👍👍

Viele authentische Gerichte, Bistro-Atmosphäre

Pessimo servizio e ambiente non pulito

Never have I ever got given so much attitude in a restaurant. It's like by walking inside we have already done an offensive thing to deserve all the rudeness. The service is all do-it-yourself. As for the food, the depth and balance are both not there.

We come here every time we're in Berlin! Really good and spicy comfort food - and the fact that it's all vegan makes it even better.

Very good casual Sichuanese vegan food with a modern twist. Good service and fair prices.

One of my favorite restaurants in town:)

Sehr lecker und super Snack für mittags

I like the concept (vegan regional Chinese food 😍), atmosphere and service.. but I do wish I liked the food more. I had the Dan Dan noodles and potato dumplings, both of which I think were fine, but not outstanding. Portions are pretty small, but the prices are reasonable for me given the location and specialty. For the Dan Dan noodles, I thought the noodles, vegetables and crispy bits were good, but there was a strange aftertaste I didn't enjoy that I think came from the soy "meat". The dumplings felt very fusion to me, almost more like perogis..? In my opinion, the sauce was not spicy enough for the richness (from the sesame sauce and not-so-hot chilli oil).

Essen ist super. Musik ein wenig anstrengend und Ambiente eben nach Imbiss-Style, also nicht besonders gemütlich. Aber sollte man auf jeden Fall mal ausprobieren, wenn man auf Sichuan-Essen steht!

Good Food, but not great Value for what you are paying, much better places in Berlin. As for the service, we went on Saturday and the worker showed no interest at all while being rude and on her phone while we tried to understand the menu / asking about ingredients. Just for the service we won’t go again, we were 9 people and none will return

Essen war super lecker und ging auch sehr schnell. Das Restaurant könnte etwas gemütlicher sein.

Not sure why other people are giving 5 for service. It was self service for us...

Very cool and inexpensive vegan food.

Very cool vegan place with great Taste. Quick healthy vegan bitte. Can't wait to return

Easily one of the best places for vegan food (if you like it spicy)! I love that you can get a refill of noodles for your broth at a small price. 🤤

I really love this restaurant, but somehow the taste changed in the past year a lot i dont know why.. the dishes used to be simple from the ingredients but so nice flavor and such a joy to eat.. now the food is still simple but also taste like that:( The polenta used to be so good Slightly crispy and the sauce really aromatic and good and the really precise flavor of the schezuan was just the best! Now every time i go im so excited and then im quite disappointed actually. Last time i ordered to eat at mine and ended up adding a bunch of rice vinegar and so other things 👀

richtig stabiles essen, tolle nudeln und tippitoppi dumplings. komme auf jeden fall wieder um mich in der schärfeskala nach oben zu arbeiten.

That was so freaking good!!!!! New regulars for sure ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Great authentic Szechuan cuisine.

Un buon piatto vegano, senza infamia e senza lodo. Un po’ troppo salato per mi miei gusti ma, appunto, sono gusti. Le ragazze alla cassa carine e gentili.

Barely edible pastiche of Sichuan ingredients and flavors. Yes, it's spicy and oily, but without any of the depth and balance that makes real Sichuan food taste good. If you enjoy authentic Chinese food, spare yourself and maybe check out a restaurant actually run by actual Chinese people. Tianfuzius does the vegan Sichuan concept quite well :)

Habe die marinierten Nudeln und die extrascharfen Dumplings gegessen. Sehr empfehlenswert.

Delicious vegan Chinese food! Great prices & portions, nice service. I recommend the Yuxiang nudels.

My most favourite vegan dandan noodle in town!

Small but cozy vegetarian restaurant. Good value for money. The Dan Dan and the yuxiang noodles were amazing! Very yummy!

The Mapo Tofu dish is un-edible! The dish had so many spices, not hot spices, but too many herbs. It felt like I was eating soap. Couldn't stomach more than a few bites.

Vegan + Szechuan = ❤️ Die Gerichte überzeugen mich. Das Bistro ist auf das wesentliche reduziert und bietet im Sommer Sitzgelegenheiten vor der Tür. Immer wieder gerne..

Das Essen war sehr lecker. Aber das Restaurant ist halt alles sehr einfach gehalten, was auch nicht schlimm ist. Nur der geräusch Pegel war sehr hoch. Man muss selber das Essen + Besteck holen, sowie wieder abräumen.

sorry as a chinese i can say that this is not chinese food at all

Sehr, sehr lecker! Allerdings ziemlich kleine Portionen.

mega leckeres Essen. Die veganen Dumplings mit Kartoffelfüllung in Soße waren mega. Nudeln nach Dan Dan Art und die Nudeln in Yuixang Soße waren auch voll lecker.

Sehr leckeres Essen - aber für ca. 10-12€/Gericht (“große“ Portion) nix zum Sattwerden. Preis-Leistung hinkt hier etwas bei den Portionsgrößen.

Sichuan kitchen is the new asiatic sensation in Berlin and it makes sense: it is so juicy! I found just for a case this little restaurant whose interior design looks like a traditional chinese tavern: few tables, essential forniture, free tee and hot water to drink. The service is super fast and the noodles are perfectly cooked. I loved their spicyness (be prepared) and how they were seasoned. A nice surprise!

Ich hab diese Sichuan Suppe genau so schon lange in Berlin gesucht und jetzt endlich gefunden! Mit den Süßkartoffel-Nudeln und tollem Sichuan Pfeffer, richtig lecker! Klar Preise könnten immer etwas günstiger sein oder die Portion grösser 😉

One of my favourite lunch places

Insanely tasty dishes in a very nice and understated atmosphere. The outside seating area is great for sunny days. Definitely consider the spicyness levels! The whole menu being vegan/vegetarian is a definite plus.