Zen Mei Bistro — Restaurant in Los Angeles

I’d like to start by saying this is my first food review ever. Like most small locally owned restaurants, parking isn’t always guaranteed. That being said, street parking is your best option as their parking is restricted to staff and residents (perfectly understandable). There is both metered and unmetered parking. The street is very quiet and gives a very communal feel. When we first entered the restaurant I felt a little intimidated as everyone (customers) there spoke Cantonese and we were the only English speaking people. Nonetheless, their staff was incredibly sweet and was very welcoming. Our waitress brought us some tea (which was piping hot) and made sure we felt comfortable. She let us take our time to look over the menu as it was our first time and was amazing with answering some questions we had. We ordered their house chow mein, chicken fried rice, chicken & Chinese broccoli, sweet & sour pork, and some of their egg rolls (plate of 5) Everything was family style and made to order and we were asked if we wanted all dishes all out at once or one at a time. When we got our food we were warned that it was very hot and it smelled delicious!! Everything complimented each other very well. The flavors were amazing. Their chicken and Chinese broccoli was very light and complimented the savory fried rice. The house chow mein was delicious and had so many amazing flavors. My favorite was the sweet and sour pork! It was sweet, savory, crispy on the outside, & tender on the inside. Their portions were HUGE! When we finished there was still so much left. Our waitress asked if we’d like some to-go boxes and we said yes! We assumed she’d bring some boxes and we’d pack them ourselves but she offered to do it herself. We told her we didn’t mind doing it & didn’t want to trouble her, but she insisted with a smile. She packed our food with so much care. We brought the leftovers to my parents & 2 brothers and it left them all full and very satisfied! Their prices were very affordable. Our total came out to $59.50 We will definitely be returning and will be telling everyone we know about this...

I stumbled upon Zen Mei Bistro while wandering through Chinatown, and I’m so glad I did! Tucked away on the corner of Yale and Alpine, this little family-run spot feels like a hidden gem. The vibe is super laid-back—think old-school charm with handwritten receipts, green porcelain chopsticks, and a kettle of hot tea brought to your table as soon as you sit down. It’s cash-only, so come prepared, but the prices are so reasonable you won’t mind.

The food here is classic Cantonese with a homey twist. I tried the BBQ pork wonton soup, and wow—the wontons were plump, meaty, and swimming in a big, comforting bowl of broth. The kung pao shrimp was another hit—perfectly spiced with a nice crunch from the peanuts. They’ve got a great range of seafood dishes too, like the fried lobster (or “dragon prawns” as they call it), which looked amazing on another table. Portions are generous, and everything feels fresh and unpretentious.

Service is friendly but no-frills—don’t expect a ton of chit-chat, just solid hospitality. The place can get busy, especially around lunchtime, so I’d recommend arriving early to snag a spot. Parking’s a bit tricky (metered street only), but it’s worth the hassle. Zen Mei isn’t flashy or fancy, but it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve found a secret slice of Chinatown. I’ll definitely be...

It's a perfect mom and pop place for your cheap Chinese food fix. Everyone seemed to love the house lobster, so maybe not your standard cheap fix. Every table had one as did every to go order the lady boxed.

The prices are very good though and some of the cheapest I've seen in Chinatown for the quality and the waiter is so darn friendly.

I ordered the beef in pepper sauce and fish congee. I'd order the congee again except not with fish since I thought it tasted a bit off (and I do believe it's tilapia, which isn't my favorite) but the congee base was amazing as was my other dish.

The chicken congee isn't gummy like it is at Pheonix. Their fish and lettuce congee costs $6.95 and this place costs only $5.00. Most of their rice soups only cost $4.55-5.50 while Pheonix's prices are $6.95-7.50.

Most of their other dishes are under $8.00 and they're all large sized. Best bang for your buck without sacrificing taste and quality. And it's a lot better in quality than more expensive a places I've ate at in Chinatown.

Cheap, exactly what you want and expect for the price.

Parking is metered and free after 8pm on weekdays. If you come before 8 do pay. The meter maid is waiting by the restaurant and gave me a ticket after only being in the restaurant for 5 minutes to pick up a...