Lotus Chinese Restaurant — Restaurant in Redondo Beach

I live nearby and was initially excited about the opening of Lotus Asian Grill, but after dining there twice, I'm hesitant to go back anytime soon.

FOOD: I opted out of getting the fancy lobster/truffle/filet mignon dishes because I believe a great Pan-Asian restaurant should be able to nail traditional dishes. I also wanted to order dishes I would normally place considering my proximity to this location and I'm likely not going to be ordering take-out lobster once or twice a week. Here's my review of the dishes I ordered (in the order they were brought to the table).

First visit (8/26/2023): Mapo Tofu (4/5): Tasty but not as spicy as requested. Mongolian Beef (4/5): Very good, but the dish was basically half onions Fried Calamari (2/5): They use large squid cut in big pieces so it was chewy; batter was thick so the calamari was overly oily; the sauce (ketchup+mayo?) was also heavy and didn't help cut the oiliness Pad Thai (5/5): Outstanding, generous portions of noodles and protein. I'd say one of the best in the area Braised String Beans (4/5): On par with similar dishes I've had; nice sweet soy flavor; string beans cooked perfectly Crispy Crabmeat Cream Cheese Wonton: Never served, removed from bill.

Second visit (8/31/23): Salmon Carpaccio (3/5): Labeled as "carpaccio" but served room temperature instead of cold; didn't have microgreens but tasted good though. Crispy Honey Shrimp (2/5): Had high hopes for this - batter was soggy; nice sweet taste but the shrimp was suspiciously VERY salty leaving a bad finish Spicy Seafood Soup (2/5): Good except for overly salty shrimp. Just like the dish above, the shrimp tasted like they were sitting in a salt brine for so long that it penetrated throughout the protein. After biting into them, it altered the taste of the dish entirely Spicy Garlic Chicken (3/5): Not extra spicy, as requested; basic sweet-savory chicken dish with veggies. *I actually ordered this after being told that the Spicy Peppercorn Fish Fillet and the Spicy Peppercorn Beef were no longer being served. I was advised that most spicy dishes kept getting sent back because guests said they were too spicy. This is a bummer since I am a fan of spicy [traditional Chinese] food. Crispy Crabmeat Cream Cheese Wonton (4/5): On par with similar dishes I've had. Garlic Brussel Sprouts: Never served, removed from the bill.

SERVICE: Terrible service, wrong orders on both visits, server never checked on us, slow, and disorganized. Dishes were brought out one at a time in weird sequences and times where entrees came out before apps. It felt like there was no person in charge - servers and bussers were in chaos and always needed to be flagged down. For the level of class I believe Lotus is trying to portray, the service is bad, if not, one of the worst in the area. If not for their social media manager's (Daniela?) energy, I'd give it a "0." Yes, it was that bad.

VERDICT: Lotus Asian Grill needs improvement. The food had some hits but was overall slightly underwhelming, and the service was exceptionally poor. I agree with a review on Yelp and don't know where all these 5-star reviews (Google/Yelp) are coming from because I heard so many similar complaints from other diners around me. I'll wait and see if things change before considering...

Stopped in to newly opened Lotus Asian Grill (LAG) on Friday, two days after it opened. It now occupies the space where W’s used to be. The layout of the interior of the restaurant hasn’t changed much, but the bar in the back has been replaced by a long bench seat. The restaurant appears brighter inside than before. The service was excellent. The entire staff was friendly and efficient. They seemed genuinely interested in ensuring we had a good experience. My girlfriend ordered the Mongolian Beef and I decided to try the Kung Pao Chicken. We both upgraded to a full dinner and got Hot and Sour soup, a house salad and white rice. There was a small token charge for the upgrade. The soup and salad were both outstanding. The soup had a deep, rich flavor and the salad was crispy and refreshing. My girlfriend really enjoyed her beef dish. My Kung Pao came with asparagus and squash. Very tasty. Caution…….the red peppers in the dish were nuclear hot!!! The portions were more than ample and my girlfriend brought home enough of her beef to have for lunch. I would say they provide tasty, high-quality food at a good value price point. I recommend you give them a try ASAP before word gets out and they become swamped with diners!!! We will surely be going back again soon!!! Thanks Lotus...

Located on PCH this gem is a place I’d go back to for both their food and their service.

The decor is new and the interior very clean and well appointed. The floor plan is nice and there seems to be plenty of room for all. There are two sections to the restaurant so it would be great for a large family or party!

The service is on point and very friendly. The servers know the menu and are more than happy to point out popular items and special dishes. They come back to the table frequently to make sure you have everything you need.

The menu is a good size. Large enough to find your favorites, yet small enough you will not become too overwhelmed. The food comes out rather quickly and piping hot! The flavors are delicious and we were very happy with all our dishes! The portions are generous and the flavors distinct to each dish. Which is great because I hate ordering food that all tastes the same with different proteins. lol. You will not find that problem here at all.

They offer a variety of sodas, beer, wine and saki to wash all the yumminess down.

Items to take note of:

• There is parking in the back and an entrance...