Mao's Kitchen Venice — Restaurant in Los Angeles

EDIT AFTER COVID: I went to this restaurant today. I well not be returning to this restaurant because they gave me a big issue with my change. My meal cost and advertise $8 + $2 because of an added egg. I handed the cashier Chris a $20 bill and afterwards that is when he told me that it had to be cash only and that their card reader was unavailable. So after taxes the mail came out to $12.05. That is when he told me that they had to round up and I thought he meant round up to the nearest ten cents. Instead he rounded up to the nearest dollar taking my $0.95 has a profit for the business. So I will not be shopping here anymore to eat food due to the lack of communication. What does business should have done was write a sign and put on there that they cannot accept change which I offered to give him a nickel and he said that they cannot accept change as well as but that their card reader is unavailable and that exact change doesn't matter or this location needs to change their prices because now I gave Mao's kitchen an extra $1 that they did not need and that I mean it. I did like their fried rice but I like keeping my money more so I will not be going back to this restaurant.

--- PEE COVID REVIEW

This place at this price is definitely a 10 out of 10! 5 stars for this restaurant and well deserved too! I orded the fried rice and when asked for my choice of protein I chose fish after the waiter's suggestion. It was FABULOUS! Out came a mountain of fried rice with a huge egg on top that I added for only $2! I could go on and on just make sure you all walk just a little bit up from the venice boardwalk and grab yourself some of this AMAZINGLY DELICIOUS food from here!!! Again...

Ive loved this spot for YEARS. Calling in my orders for pick up or eating in with friends. When I pick up, its alkost always same thing..#17 as brown rice with shrimp and occasionally add the $2 Chairman Special. My order was $7 including protein without chairmans special or cashews. Ive brought several friends and family there and Maos became their tasty fav too. So why 3 stars? I called in my order yesterday on way home and tho the website says $8, the cashier said $10, but also now I pay for my protein choice additionally. Surprise! I expect pandemic inflation, but only 5 months ago it was $7 including shrimp. Another dish, the garlic, said $9 on website, but she said it was 13 before protein... I still think she made a mistake. A $7 dish turned into $13+ in 5 months (almost doublef in price) and tasted nothing like the "trademark". It was full of soy sauce or dark salty sauce, not as much shrimp as before and hard to eat, plus in a smaller box. Last visit months ago they served in flat brown square but this time much smaller medium box. I think they changed cook along with the prices. Very disappointing. I need to find a new spot... I was really looking forward to that familiar taste and tho surprised at the new price almost doubling, I hoped taste n quantity would make up for it....

Went tonight with some friends. The only thing they have going for them, is that their food is cheap. The waitress was super rude and the food was mediocre - at best. We took some time to chat at the beginning of the meal, while we drank a beer (BYOB), and casually looked over the menu. It quickly became clear that the server was annoyed with us. For the rest of the meal, it felt as though the entire staff wanted us out. They cleared plates before we were finished, and definitely never offered to get us anything additional. When we finished our main course, the server brought our check without bothering to ask how our meal was - or if we wanted anything else. Two of my friends wanted dessert - we had to flag down the (shockingly) annoyed server, who took one order and walked away. Two orders would have apparently pushed her over the edge. We then finished about 3/4 of the dessert - and the staff started clearing our plates, waters, and beer cups. Apparently we had been cut off. I'm not sure why an establishment would choose to have a BYOB philosophy, if they really want to be a fast food joint. To top it off - we had six people- and gratuity was included in our bill. This is apparently how you get away with treating people like crap. I will not...