Lotus Court Restaurant Woodvale — Restaurant in Woodvale

Nestled in a cozy corner, it transports diners straight to the vibrant streets of Hong Kong with its retro interior and authentic Cantonese dishes. The owner’s decision to preserve the original decor from the first owner pays off, creating a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of the iconic Hong Kong setting in Bruce Lee’s The Way of the Dragon. The vintage wallpaper, and dim lighting evoke a traditional Hong Kong diner, offering a warm, unpretentious vibe that feels like stepping into a time capsule.

Dish by Dish

Vinegar Chicken – This dish is a standout. The tangy vinegar flavour is perfectly balanced, giving the chicken a unique, appetising kick that you don’t often find elsewhere.

Special Fried Rice – Absolutely nailed it. Unlike many places where fried rice comes out oily or damp, this one is cooked the proper Chinese way—dry, fluffy, and full of flavour.

Salt & Pepper Squid – Lightly battered with just the right amount of crunch, seasoned perfectly with salt, pepper, and a hint of spice. Tender on the inside and not greasy at all. A real crowd-pleaser.

Fried Wonton – Crispy golden parcels with a satisfying crunch, paired with a tasty dipping sauce. Simple but addictive.

Sweet & Sour Pork – Classic comfort food done right. The pork is crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and coated in a well-balanced sauce that’s not overly sweet.

Fried Ice Cream – A nostalgic treat! I haven’t had this vintage dessert since moving from Hong Kong, and it brought back memories. The hot, crispy shell with cold, creamy ice cream inside is pure happiness.

Unfortunately, I forgot to take a photo of the Fried Wonton, and the Salt & Pepper Squid photo shows a smaller portion because I couldn’t resist eating a few pieces before remembering to snap a shot!

Overall

A satisfying meal from start to finish. The highlight for me was the Vinegar Chicken, Salt & Pepper Squidand Special Fried Rice, but every dish had its own charm. Portions are generous, flavours are authentic, and the quality is consistent. Definitely worth a...

Shocking experience a few days ago at Lotus Court Woodvale. Wife and I and our daughter decided to give this restaurant a try based on the great reviews on Facebook local groups pages. We booked an early table and the minute we walked in the door the tension in the place was evident. The playlist running through Spotify and their Bluetooth speaker was Led Zep followed by Black Sabbath (I love this music , but it is not appropriate in a Chinese restaurant that’s supposed to be a warm and welcoming atmosphere), and playing it loud only made it worse. Worse part of all, was the owner was being rude and bossy to a poor 15-16 year old Aussie girl who was on her first night on the job. Worst still, she was telling the girl off in front of us and another couple (customers) and then trying to justify her aggressive approach by mocking the young girl whilst talking to these other customers. A customer came into the restaurant to pick up some take away and accidentally knocked a bag off the counter, and the grumpy owner started telling the young worker off like she was at fault, yet she was nowhere near the front counter. We were so uncomfortable and I could see the whole situation was making my 10 year old very sad and anxious, so we cancelled our order with the kitchen with the other waitress who was very professional and lovely to talk to, but visibly embarrassed by the owners rudeness. We will be sticking to our tried and true Chinese from now on and regret not just heading there in the first place. I can’t add a rating for the food as we didn’t get to try it. I hope the poor teenage girl finds a better employer and...

Worst dinning experience EVER. Music blearing so loud we couldn't hear ourselves talking. Asked for music to be turned down which was done, then turned up again. Country and western, duck sounds the whole farmyard bit coming through a scratchy sound system. To top this off the phone ( which was so loud !!! So they could hear it in kitchen?) went off every minute. Obviously they do loads of takeaway. Only one other table occupied in whole restaurant. After 20 mins waitress asked if we would like glasses for our wine. YES 20 MINS. Which she bought with an ice bucket full of water and 4 yes 4 ice cubes..which made wine loss all its coldness. After 30 mins no one came for our order, Our ears were buzzing from all the noise. I poured our glasses wine back into bottle, and we left. Unbelievable.( Close the Restaurant and stick to takeaway only.)We then drove around corner and had best Thia ever. If it wasn't so ridiculous it would...