Altho I have considered myself a Floridian for 28 years, I was a native New Yorker and lived in Manhattan for my entire adult life, until moving to Ft. Lauderdale. I mention this because one of the many advantages of living in NYC is that there is literally a whole new neighborhood every 6 to 8 blocks (that is a fact), and each neighborhood has its own array of ethnic cuisines, most essentially Chinese & Italian/pizza restaurants, and everyone has their favorite neighborhood-type Italian and Chinese eatery, each vying for the distinction of being the very best example found anywhere.
Once you move away, no matter where, you always look for a suitable substitute, not always finding one. I was lucky when it came to finding a "neighborhood" Chinese restaurant when, very shortly after moving here, I found Lotus Chinese Restaurant, located just east of the 5 Points intersection in Wilton Manors on NE 26th Street, in the same strip mall as what used to be the Brian C. Smith 26th Street Theater and the old Old Florida Seafood Restaurant.
What I just took so long to get to is that, IMO, Lotus is, by far and away, the best local, neighborhood-style Chinese restaurant in all of Ft. Lauderdale. The atmosphere is comfortably and predictably "neighborhood Chinese," but definitely bigger than the usual "hole-in-the-wall" type establishment. It is family-owned and operated, and the service is friendly and prompt, even more so when they get to recognize you as a regular.
But the real test is the food itself, and this is where they have consistently excelled for the 28 years I have been going there. There is literally not a single dish you can order, especially all the traditional Chinese-style dishes, from chow mein to General Tso's Chicken, to Egg Foo Young, to any of their in-house specials, that doesn't demonstrate how much they leave all competitors behind. Their egg rolls are superior, as are their soups, their fried wanton, shrimp in lobster sauce, sweet and sour dishes; you literally cannot go wrong. There's even a dish that is not on their menu, cold noodles with sesame sauce, that is a match to any found in Manhattan, where the dish is very commonly found on the menu. Anything that is deep-fried, you can count on it being perfectly light with just the right crunch. They also have an array of vegetarian dishes, and you can ask for "no MSG," and it will indeed be no MSG. They also have combination specials for both lunch and dinner. What's more, if it's not on the printed menu, you can order most any dish and ask them to make it a combination.
In other words, if you have not yet tried Lotus, you have been missing out and must try it. I can't imagine anyone being disappointed.
The prices are generally quite reasonable, and the portions often enough to have leftovers.
They do not deliver, but there is pick-up. I think they are open 7 days for lunch and dinner, but may be closed Mondays. Check to be sure. Also, reservations are accepted for larger parties only.
If I sound like "family," that's because I feel like, and am treated as, family. It is a very special place.
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