Lisa's Kitchen — Restaurant in Gothenburg

DON'T SKIP THIS PLACE. This is legitimate the best Chinese food I have had in the US after studying abroad in China over a decade ago.

At this restaurant, I was first greeted by an empty, dark room, while the only other human in view was out back watering plants. Ages-old 8x11 "PLEASE DON'T MOVE THE BOOTHS" signs clung desperately to the wall, and JUST before we walked out of what we thought was a closed restaurant, the woman in the back comes in through the door and asks us what we'd like to drink.

This is Lisa. She's from Hong Kong, she went to culinary school in China. She opened some restaurants on the west coast with great success, and eventually settled in this tiny town in Nebraska, and runs the entire restaurant herself.

How do I know this? From reading the nondescript newspaper cut-out pinned to the register counter, while Lisa cooked all of our food to order from scratch. And where did she get these ingredients? Out back, from her homegrown, just-watered garden.

What comes out on your plate looks like and costs what you'd find at any other Chinese restaurant, but don't be fooled - you're getting seriously authentic, farm-to-table Chinese food at a steep discount. We got the buns, Ma Po Tofu, Rangoons, and Curried Vegetables, and Lisa did NOT miss.

Just...

Do you have one of those friends who always wants to take you to hole-in-the-wall places because "they're better than any restaurant"? Well that friend is gone, and now you have Lisa (and there are no holes in her walls). Her Chinese reasturant is like a gift from whatever god may be. The setting is comfortable, like being in your own house only with picures of people you don't know hung up on the walls. The service is as you would expect for someone who cooks the food fresh for you, but you won't mind the wait, trust me. The food was the best Chinese food I've ever had (and that's coming from someone who's experienced a lot of hole-in-the-walls). It's not super salty like most Chinese food places and the portions are extrodinary. The flavors are inspired and it's the best home style cooking you could get at any restaurant ever. Great prices, and a great place to bring your friends or your favorite family members to share a couple of ëntreés and apps, it's definitely worth it to try a little of everything. I would definately stop here any time I find my self in or near town. And Shout out to Lisa, she's a...

I was so lucky to find Lisa’s Kitchen on my road trip. Lisa has the warmest heart and I felt so at home… like I was at an auntie’s house with family photos on each table. We were able to connect in Mandarin so that certainly helped bridged our connection.

Given her location in Nebraska, Lisa makes both Americanized Chinese and Traditional Chinese plus some American classics. I visited in early May so her garden only had chives ready, but she cut them fresh after I ordered and added them to my chicken and vegetable stir fry (which was like a dish my mom would make at home). Crab rangoon is a guilty pleasure I always get and Lisa’s were delicious.

She even offered me fresh mint from her garden when I ordered my hot water so I could make a fresh mint tea. 🥰

She’s 2 minutes off I-80 and after being on the road for 2 months, eating a home style Chinese meal soothed my soul.

This is a gem of a place and I hope more people visit! Lisa’s in her 70s and not monitoring this Google listing so call ahead to make sure she’s open as she sometimes travels to see family or buy...