La Mei Zi Doraville — Restaurant in Doraville

Recently, I started patronizing this restaurant that is tucked away in the rear corner of Asian Square shopping center with ample parking spaces. The restaurant has been there for many years and has had several changes in ownership during its existence. The reviews over the years reflect on the restaurant for that particular ownership for that particular time-period.

Although not extensive, the menu has adequate selections to cater to almost any diet. The style of cooking is predominantly Taiwanese. The food is good - though not the best, is above average. Their Honey-Walnut Shrimp definitely needed more walnuts beyond just a mere light sprinkling of small bits of walnuts.

Comparatively - prices are moderate to high. Service is adequate and I wished for the wait-staff to be more attentive especially towards the end of diners' meals.

However, THE MOST ANNOYING aspect happened recently 2 separate visits in a row. Unsolicited, a waitress came over to me in the middle of my meal on both occasions to 'advise' me to eat less rice because according to her... other patrons are eating less rice due to health-blood sugar levels concern. Therefore, she suggested that I should follow suit. This type of intrusive behavior is unprecedented. I have NEVER experienced such intrusive behavior by a restaurant staff at any restaurant in my life. I already have a qualified trained certified professional primary care physician and do not appreciate any random stranger to 'advise' me about my health nor dietary needs. It is NOT the responsibility nor job of a wait-staff at ANY restaurant to offer unsolicited medical advice-suggestions; to dictate to diners on diet/consumption behavior/portions of consumption/etc.; and definitely to not intrude unnecessarily on their customers who are there only to eat a meal. Both times I had to stop eating - packed up my unfinished food - paid my bill and left in disgust.

Once might be a fluke, twice is no longer a coincidence. The aforementioned unprovoked intrusive rude behavior was unnecessary. I will not continue going to ANY restaurant to only be told to not eat nor to have the staff give me unsolicited medical-dietary-health advise. There are plenty of other welcoming restaurants who are happy to have their customers EAT their food there.

Addendum 6 hours ago on Sunday March 23 2025, the owner-operator-management of this restaurant responded with a string of emojis instead of a proper proactive response.

PROOF that they do not care about their customers nor customer service.

Addendum Sunday June 1 2025. I decide to give them another go to see if there have been any improvements. So, the intrusive wait-person went out of their way to AVOID me - no acknowledgement, no service, nothing. Might as well.

However, instead of freshly-cooked rice..... they served me partially dried-out overnight rice (the kind usually reserved for making fried rice). Seriously, they actually think that a customer isn't going to know the difference between freshly-cooked rice VS stale rice? Did they attempt to retaliate against a customer who has not done anything wrong and who dared to speak up regarding the above-mentioned situations?

If they keep going on like this, I predict there will be YET ANOTHER change in ownership in the near future. Or, several surprise visits from the health and...

La Mei Zi has a very authentic feel and many of the dishes we had were fantastic. There were some that I enjoyed less, but overall it was more tasty than your typical chinese restaurant. We sat at a table with a lazy susan, which is really required at a Chinese restaurant. It turns your meal into a small buffet of sorts. It's really the best way to eat.

First, the good stuff: The Taiwanese Salt & Pepper Chicken, Calamari Ball was very good. They are heavily fried with a unique batter that is slightly more salty yet still not overwhelming. They even through in some scallops.

The Braised Beef & Scallion with Hosing Sauce in Roll may be the best egg rolls you'll ever eat. Not sure they are technically egg rolls, but that's it's closest relative. Amazing flavor.

The Hot & Sour soup was probably the best I've ever had. Most restaurants come close but never quite get the flavor and consistence right. They do.

The Walnut Honey Shrimp are fried and come in a heavy sauce, a bit thick for me, but I still could have eaten the whole plate by myself.

Basil Beef was probably my least favorite dish. It was a pepper steak with very heavy basil flavor. I didn't think they quite got the taste right, but others at the table really enjoyed it.

Fried Crispy Stink Tofu. Proceed cautiously. They will try to talk you out of it and chances are you'll smell it coming and that's not a good thing. I won't say it tastes worst than it smells (I'm not sure that's possible, think VERY smelly cheese), but it has a very complex set of flavors ranging from acrid vinegar to some sort of expired cheese to kimchi to dog excrement. I'm still glad I tried it.

Plum juice was very tasty and went down easy, but I was the only one who enjoyed it. It's tasted like a smoked, braised plum was ground up into juice.

The Vegetable Lomein was very good. One of the best I've had.

The Kung Pao chicken may have had the best sauce of the night. It was bursting with flavor. I've never been a peanuts-in-my-meal guy, but I was willing to over look that just to get more of that flavor in my mouth.

Overall, I highly recommend trying it. They have dishes I've never heard of and I'm a bit scared to try (i.e. Crispy Pork Intestines), but they also have many of the standards. It's a great place to expand horizons without completely abandoning...

Casual, absolutely delicious and authentic Taiwanese/Chinese food with warm service. I've been all over Buford Hwy and this is by far the best experience for those who like to adventure a bit as well as those who prefer to keep their menu options safer or are less experienced with authentic foods & restaurants. I like to take people here for their first Buford Hwy experience because the food is outstanding and you feel like you are giving them an authentic Buford Hwy experience but the atmosphere is clean and casual and there are menu options for everyone. The fried foods like the Tangerine Chicken, etc, are battered and fried perfectly so as to not be too heavy or dried out. The amount of sauce is always perfect. Never too soupy or dry, just perfect.

Maggie, who I think is the owner, is a truly kind soul who loves her customers and will strike up a conversation if you are open to it. She is the best!

Can't-miss dishes:

Apps: 1: Spring Rolls (basic, but trust me) 2: Hot and Sour Soup 3: Wonton in Hot Sichuan Sauce (basically dumpling purses in a very authentic spicy sichuan sauce) 4: Chicken Dumplings 5: Salt & Pepper Chicken (dry dish, recommend one order for 2-3 people) Very authentic and perfect

Mains: 1: Tangerine Chicken (one of the best dishes in ATL) 2: Spicy Sliced Beef Sichuan Style (numbing sauce dish, not for everyone, but I love it) 3: Beef with Cilantro & Leeks (incredible) 4: House Fried Rice 5: House Lo Mein 6: Taiwanese Stir Fried Rice Noodle 7: Walnut Honey Shrimp (rich flavor, but great)

Grab a friend and head here for lunch. Best meal in Atlanta for two (family style) is a a couple of diet cokes, an order of spring rolls, hot & sour soup, Tangerine Chicken, and Beef with Cilantro and Leeks. If you're extra hungry, do the wonton in hot sichuan sauce as a third app. Cheers! Hope you love LMZ as...