Chef Lu's Asian Bistro — Restaurant in Spokane

Chef Lu is an Asian restaurant. I know, duh. But it's taking me some time to wrap my head around Asian restaurant and specific ethnic restaurants like 'Chinese' or 'Japanese'. I'm used to the latter where it's strict only-Chinese or only-Japanese. I don't mean fusion either. Places that make, let's say, Pad Thai but Chow/Lo Mein and Yakisoba (that was just a generic example). The problem I find when a place does that, none of the specific ethnic dishes are 5* but closer to 2-3*. The saying goes something like "skilled in a lot, master of none". And that's how I feel with Chef Lu's. Don't get me wrong, the stuff is better than average. And Chef Lu seems predominantly Chinese with a strong Japanese presence. Then some other things thrown in.

(sorry, no photos) The order consisted of 1x Fried Rice: Veggie 1x Fried Rice: Chicken 1x Chicken & Broccoli 1x Potstickers (steamed) 1x Spring Rolls 1x Chow Mein: Chicken 1x Pad Thai: Chicken

Pros: -Nice, clean restaurant -Terrific staff (not just friendly, but accommodating) -Menu has wide variety -Wait time was fairly quick (arrived an hour before closing, not a lot of customers) -Food is a few ticks above average for most of the dishes. -Ample parking -Portion size is worthy -Pad Thai feels like an after thought on the menu, but is better than most out there. -Good sushi set up

Cons: -If anything will pause someone from ordering, it could be the pricing. Figure $20 a dish. -There's something else about the food but I can't quite put a finger on it. The best way I can phrase it is that, the food feels (and looks) a bit dark and husky. Other restaurants, their dishes can look visibly lighter. The chow mein noodles are lighter in color to the point they almost look yellow? (but it's not yakisoba noodles). Some fried rices are as dark brown, but fun and light (which makes one sometimes wonder if they even used the correct seasoning, right?) It's not a bad thing, just different. -I feel that to make this a 5* place, I'd need the desire to go all the time. I don't necessarily mean weekly. If I worked in the area and money wasn't an issue, would I be dying to go twice a week? Once a week? I don't know. (I can cite a couple places that I would totally do that) That said, it'd be a great place for a large family or going out to dinner with friends.

Conclusion: Chinese food is very subjective to taste. I tend to put these places through some tests to deem if it's worthy or not (ie; returning). Most places are a NO. Chef Lu's is good enough that we do return there...

We ordered from them through Door Dash yesterday. Half our order was completely wrong. Now I understand that during this time substitutions may be warranted, but usually when that has to happen a restaurant will call to make sure what they plan to substitute with is OK. That did not happen. We spent $70 to have half our food show up and not be anything near what we ordered. We ordered a combo meal that was supposed to come with sweet and sour shrimp and sesame chicken. We received sweet and sour chicken and some sort of cashew ketchup chicken instead. The sweet and sour chicken was fine, although we wouldn't have chosen that if given the option because we don't care for chicken. And as we all know, usually seafood dishes cost slightly more that chicken dishes. So given this change i'd have atleast expected a credit of some kind (which again is where the phone call should have come in). The cashew ketchup chicken legitimately tasted like chicken sautéed with cashews and ketchup. There were onions and celery in it as well, but the ketchup flavor was so over powering that I couldn't taste them nor could I taste the cashews. So basically we paid $70 to have to throw away half our food. Do not ordered delivery from these people. Hopefully the experience sitting in the restaurant is better. I will never find out, because I don't expect to ever choose to waste anymore money ordering from them in...

Visited Chef Lu's as a group of 10 to celebrate birthday, graduation, and a send off to college. Did not appear very busy. We were immediately seated. Three of us ordered hot meals and the seven remaining Sushi. The Moo Goo Gai Pan, Fried Rice, and a Beef Noodle Dish came right out and was well received. The Sushi did not come until 90 minutes later. Yes, an hour and a half. We politely followed up regularly throughout the wait. Two of our group cancelled and left about an hour into the wait when they found the order had not even been started. Our celebratory meal quickly became a "can you believe how long it's taking" discussion. The servers were very uncomfortable with the wait and attempted to ease the building frustration/disappointment with some edamame. Unfortunately the meal and atmosphere were tainted beyond recovery. It did not help that once the sushi started arriving the first thing brought out was the two orders that had been cancelled 30 minutes prior. The two that ordered it were long gone. This was followed by frozen pieces of yellowtail sashimi and two rolls that were not what had been served in the past. In summary, do not order the sushi in house. It appeared the lone Sushi Chef who was the boss according to the wait staff was beyond overwhelmed with take out orders which took precedence over in house patrons. I love to give great reviews but I cannot do...