Lotus Test Kitchen — Restaurant in Boston

I went to the grocery store and there was a fire drill. You read that right, a fire alarm went off and everyone had to leave.

Hungry and frustrated I walked a couple blocks into this unassuming restaurant. It smelled good. Only a 6 hightop bar seating, but it was empty excluding one other couple who finished and left by the time I got my food.

Food came pretty quickly, but that is because I came in the quiet lull right before the dinner rush. People had the right idea to order ahead regarding this place. They get slammed pretty quickly.

Lemongrass Chicken Bowl: Chicken, marinated with fresh lemon grass seasonings in our House-Made Soy Dressing with (1) Base and topped with Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes, Purple Cabbage, Pickled Daikon and Carrot, topped with Scallions. Comes with a side of Kale Mix dressed with our Ginger Dressing and Purple Cabbage Slaw. VERDICT: EAT THIS! That pickled daikon and ginger dressing when this bowl is mixed together make this dish sing. It was so freaking good!

Chicken Teriyaki Bowl: Marinated Chicken in our house teriyaki sauce. Topped with cucumber, grape tomato, spiced corn, purple cabbage. While good, I think it would have been better if I DIDN'T get the sesame sauce with this one. Choose your sauces wisely in this place. I should have gone for the ginger dressing again. VERDICT: GOOD

Strawberry Oolong Tea: Good, but a little too sweet. I also ended up with some weird rock sugar in the bottom that was odd. Maybe it didn't dissolve? It also tasted different. It was also just too sweet at the bottom where the syrup and strawberry pieces mingled with the chunks of sugar. VERDICT: GOOD

VERDICT: GOOD. I didn't feel like I wasted my money. It is very much a choose your own adventure, with the sauces, so ask for their recommendations if you are unsure. I loved my Lemongrass...

The Lotus Test Kitchen is AMAZING! I have eaten several of their exquisitely fresh and mouth-watering dishes, including the bulgogi beef bowl, the curry chicken bowl, pot stickers, spring rolls, Pork Belly Bao Bao, and an array of bubble teas. All Fantastic!

The staff are always friendly and helpful. The bowls all look mouth-wateringly kaleidoscopic with color and pleasing to the eye.

So far, and it is hard to decide, my absolute favorite is the Bao Bao with pork belly! The pickled daikon, cool crispy cucumber, and spicy mayo perfectly complement the profoundly flavorful and melty pork belly. The bao itself is pillowy and fresh. Perfection on a plate.

The portions are enormous, which is excellent- lots of protein, not fillers! The unagi bowl was packed with fresh bbq unagi, tender rice and crisp corn, cucumbers, and seaweed salad. So good!

The Dragon Kiss bubble tea is the best fruit bubble tea I have ever had, and It is not too sweet and very delectable. Seriously, I would go there just for the Dragon kiss bubble tea although I can't imagine a situation where I would not also order the Bao Bao.

Lotus Kitchen also catered a big event for our family, which was fabulous! Tom, the owner, went above and beyond to make it a special occasion. Boston area food often disappoints me, but The Lotus Test Kitchen is genuinely one of the best places I have eaten since arriving in this city...

One of my new go-to spots for Asian-inspired healthy bowls.

I first found out about Lotus Test Kitchen last year while looking for a lunch spot in Downtown. Since then, I’ve been getting bowls from here at least once a month. They seamlessly meld Asian flavors into healthy bowls without a lot of compromises.

My favorite bowl is their signature Braised Pork Belly Bowl, which features three substantial chunks of tender pork belly. It also comes with cabbage slaw, and pickled daikons and carrots that helps tone down the greasiness with their tangy, refreshing crunch. And then there's the Spicy Gochujang sauce, an optional but highly recommended addition that weaves sweetness and a subtle kick to the bowl.

While certain dishes, like the Thai Curry Chicken and the Spicy BBQ Korean Pork Belly bowl, occasionally come with meat that errs on the drier side, their sauce and pickled vegetable toppings help elevate the central ingredients.

Overall, a great lunch spot that offers a quick, filling, and delicious bowls. If you’re looking for something healthy outside of your usual salad bowls, I highly recommend...