I remember in the beginning how there was a huge line to get a plate of lemongrass chicken.  There was a huge grill outside at the Farmer's Market once a week.  Smoke billowed into the sky and you could smell the delicious chicken a block away.  Now Lemongrass Plates is tidy and commercialized.  I can't smell anything and each menu item is separated into it's own warming tray.  On the plus side there are more menu items and there is no wait for anything to cook. I tried the medium size pork stew with grilled zucchini and fried rice.  Fried rice was moist and had a nice mild flavor.  Grilled zucchini was cooked just the way I like it without being mushy.  Good but not as much char and flavor as the old days.  Pork was tender and moist with tons of flavor.  Very good tasting dish. Server was nice and efficient.  I'd eat here if I was at UCSD.  Parking is difficult on weekdays especially at lunch time. read more

See all

Ppl is tripping the service was fine and the food is good. The price is pretty nice too! I'm just writing Because I don't want it to go away. read more

I went here last weekend when visiting my brother. We ordered the large bowl to share. The pad thai was incredibly dry and my chicken was stone cold. From the looks of it, there were lots of flies flying around the front counter as well as the kitchen. I understand it's been hot but it just felt like there could be risk of bugs getting into the food. The older lady that served me was quite rude as well. read more

I get in line, I'm first. Everyone is busy so I take a look at the food. A girl finally walks up and greets me, I ask her how to order. She walks me through it. I order. she says actually you can't order because you have to get back in line since you didn't order veggies at the veggies counter two inches to my left. Wtf hahhaha read more

The thin blondish girl Is super rude!! Maybe this job isn't for her! I've been her twice and the same rude treatment both times. Food was ok read more

gross bugs in food. I should have looked at the previous reviews I wanted something healthy and got super grossed out read more

Lemongrass Plates - Has healthy options but not when there is a freaking ROACH in my food so gross will not be eating here again! - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

ight man so i've passed by this place for the last 3 years n never tried this bih. but i finally pulled the plug and im like ighhh, i gotta try it. so i ordered the medium sized bowl w white rice n chicken. and for the sauce i ain't know what was good so i asked the sweet lady working and she recommended the peanut sauce so i got just that man. and she was very nice and even threw on some other shi in there too. ngl i don't even know what i got lmao. she asked if i liked spice, i said ye, and then she just threw some spicy sauce or something on ig. and also she added some of that curry onto my thing too. nah but this place was actually a lot better than i expected. everything on the plate from the chicken to the sauces to the curry were very flavorful. rice was rly nice and moist too which i fw. for $12, the portion is mehhh? it's ight. their roi gotta be insane for what they're charging, considering you can get sum larger from panda for less. but yeah overall, this place is actually pretty solid ngl. exceeded my expectations bc of the reviews i've seen bout this place, which is why i even dodged it for like 3 yrs lmao. would i come here again? maybe man. maybe. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

After I read the reviews that I told myself to give it a chance, which I shouldn't. Got a medium Salmon for $13.68 and food wasn't that great. Went home and now my tummy is turning and turning. Just took 2 Pepto Bismol and praying for not getting food poisoning as one of the reviews said. I am sorry but please double checking on your cooking !!! Probably not coming any soon read more

Lemongrass Plates - Medium Salmon - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Decent spot for campus dining that I used to frequent when I lived at Warren. It's a build-your-own style, similar to Panda Express, and the line is usually pretty empty. I recommend getting pad thai noodles, all the veggies and toppings you can get, and the curry chicken for a decent, filling meal. read more

This place is great. You get carbs, veggies, and protein for under $12. Compared to places around here this is amazing. The Thai iced tea is also a good pick me up. There's usually never a line but there should be. read more

COCKROACH IN THE FOOD? THIS PLACE IS ABSOLUTE DISGRACE. I really liked lemongrass before for its small portions because I prefer to eat less during the day, and it's sauce and the fact that one of my friends works there makes me neglect all the red flags such as it being overpriced and it having disproportionate protein. However, multiple friends of mine got food poisoning from this place and today I had my turn: I FOUND A COCKROACH LEG IN MY FOOD. I tried to confront the worker but they tried to convince me that it was lemongrass. I'd actually be really happy if someone reading this can take a look at the picture and explain me how it is a piece of lemongrass. The workers made no effort in compensating me and their attitude was disappointing. I gave Lemongrass too many chances, not this time. PLEASE STOP GOING TO THIS PLACE, OR THEY WILL NEVER BE AWARE OF CUSTOMER'S HEALTH. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Cockroach leg in food. - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

When I was in college, Lemongrass was just a food truck that came out during Farmer's Market. The lines were always long, food was fresh, and the peanut sauce was delicious! It was always worth the wait and after hearing they secured a spot in Price Center, I've always wanted to come back and try but I never had the time until now. The first downside was seeing the food displayed out like Panda Express. The food didn't look fresh, I had no idea how long it has been sitting warmed up, out in the open. But who knows, maybe it would taste the same. I got the chicken grilled plate with grilled veggies. The sauce was just as I remembered it, but maybe a bit spicier than before? The chicken was kind of dry and the grilled veggies were limp. I remember back in the day they used to have long strips of zucchini that still had their crunch. It was really the nostalgia and the sauce that saved the meal. It was nice trying it out again after so long but I probably won't be back. read more

This place started to have a new organization this new quarter (2020) by displaying all the dishes out like Panda Express. But it has just been a mess. The new menus are so small and confusing, and it's hard to figure out how much a plate would end up costing. I understand the new quarter just started and all the students are rushing in, but it would be nice if they could organize better, slow down a bit, and not make it such as mess and so confusing. However, what made me decide to write this review was my experience today. I ordered chicken pad Thai because I saw that tray of chicken pad Thai full of noodles, golden and juicy scrambled eggs, and green onions, and it just looked sooo good. But then the staff just kept pushing the scrambled eggs aside and filling up my plate with plain and dry noodles instead. I ended up getting a tiny piece of scrambled egg in my plate after I asked for it. So the whole plate I got was 99% noodles, two pieces of chicken, and one bite of egg, for $9. I'm confused. Are the scrambled eggs just decoration? Why do you keep swiping the eggs to the side of the tray? Are you going to reuse the eggs for the next tray... read more

Lemongrass Plates - Chicken pad Thai - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I use to love this place. Back when they were at the farmers market they were amazing. And I recall they were still great in 2018 before I left for grad school. Went back this week and omg the premade food system is not working for them. The pad Thai was bland. The chicken was not fresh. And why would I pay 2$ for a soggy fried egg? Even the steamed bok chin was a miss. I'm sorry but there are much better options (subway) compared to what lemongrass has become. Truly disappointing. Quantity and quality tanked. read more

Looks very unappetizing, the noodles are stuck together in a gelatinous ball. Not fresh at all and frankly tastes bad. There is no texture--the noodles are all mashed up and there aren't crunchy vegetables or chicken to balance out the mush. Not worth the money at all. Also the workers made it difficult to even find something to order so I just went with the most straightforward thing on the menu. read more

Lemongrass Plates - chicken pad thai. - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Back in the days, Lemongrass was the star of the weekly on campus farmer's market. When I heard they were opening a permanent location in PC, I was so excited. I am no longer a student at UCSD, but do find myself on campus from time to time. The first time I visited this permanent location, the portion seemed larger, and it was as good as I remembered. The most recent time I visited, I was extremely disappointed at how much they skimped on their famous peanut sauce. The sauce barely covered half the chicken and half the box was white rice. Lemongrass should realize that without their sauce, they are serving plain white rice and plain grilled chicken. When I asked for just a little extra sauce, I was told it would cost extra. When I mentioned that I got a lot more sauce the last time I came, I was told that it depends on the employee working in the back. I could tell the student working behind the counter had no say in this "policy". I felt a little bad, because I know how it feels to be in a position as an employee where you don't agree with the policy, but you have to do as you are told. It's not his fault. He apologized and mentioned that the owner is very strict with the sauce. My experience with Lemongrass went from a four star the last time I came, to a three star when my food came out, to a two star after this interaction. Bottom line, Lemongrass has inconsistent food with cheap and stingy management. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Not enough sauce... - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I came to visit Lemongrass today (6/15/21) on my second day back to campus following an extended stay away from school due to COVID. I'm a grad student, and campus is now largely empty since undergraduates have left for summer break. This is also reflected in the campus dining options - most restaurants are shuttered (Subway, Panda Express, Rubios, etc.). However, Lemongrass is still open! I know 'being open' is a low standard to set, but I just want to make it clear that this is a *local* restaurant that actually cares about providing hospitality to students year-round, versus some of the corporate/franchise options which are now closed. The person who served me appeared to also be working in the kitchen (with one other employee), and I suspect she may be the owner. She was extremely kind and generous. When I asked her what she recommended for lunch, she told me the yellow curry and grilled chicken were her favorites today, and offered to make me a plate of half-and-half (something not on the menu). She then said, "I hope you came hungry!" and gave very generous portions. I can tell she cares about the student experience & really wants to take care of her customers. I will be returning often (and not just because my lab is so nearby). Thank you, Lemongrass! read more

Lemongrass is the newest eatery on campus. For the first few weeks of it being open, the line was outrageously line. As I've read, this place used to serve at the Farmer's Market, but it is now permanently on campus! The line was always so long at the Farmer's Market, as well. I decided to eat there today because there actually was no line. I originally intended to get a salad, but considering both a salad and chicken pad Thai are the same exact price ($7.75), I decided to go with the latter. I immediately regretted my decision afterwards. Their pad Thai is better than Hi Thai, which is also on campus (and I will never go back because both experiences were eh), but it's still not great. The noodles are very thin and dry and not the noodles I'm used to when eating (good) pad Thai. I think the noodles can make or break the pad Thai. From there, I realized how it wasn't spicy whatsoever. Thai food should be spicy, but it should also be sweet. I guess no Thai place on campus follows this "spice" rule. This dish was a little too sweet, and too peanut-y for my liking. At least they give a generous amount of chicken. On the other hand, the Thai tea is good. I'm not sure if it is pre-made or what, because right as I ordered it, the cashier handed me an ice cold one from under the counter. I would still prefer TapEx's Thai tea, though. I managed to finish my food because I was honestly starving, but I would probably not get their chicken pad Thai again. I'll stick to a salad or rice dish. The aftertaste it left it my mouth wasn't very pleasant. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Chicken pad Thai - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

I ordered the chicken pad thai and when I got it there was lettuce in it. I asked them why and they said they ran out of bean sprouts. They should ask the customer before completely changing the dish. Update: After my last experience I gave this place another try since there are limited options at PC. It was terrible, the pad thai never has more than 4 pieces of chicken in it and it's $9. The dish is just a pile of mushy noodles with too much salt. A disgrace to Thai food. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. read more

Pretty much the only thing I'd come back on campus for...This used to be a Tuesday only place at the UCSD Farmers Market. There was always long lines, and over the year they increased the price and decreased the portion. Though the quality stayed the same, just as delicious! I guess from that they have saved enough money to open a shop on campus. They have way more options on their menus now with different kinds of protein (chicken, beef, pork, tofu, and salmon), and you can have them not only in rice, but also a salad, a wrap, or a sandwich! I love having options!! Although I have always gone with the good ol' Grilled Chicken Rice with Peanut Sauce. I tried the steak once before because they were out of chicken, and it was not bad as well! Yes, their portions are very inconsistent, it's like winning the lottery when you get a full box of food, but we all know that they've worked hard to give UCSD students another affordable option on campus. Plus the cashier guy is super nice! Don't forget to try their drinks, my personal favorite is the Ginger Green Tea! read more

Lemongrass Plates - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I can totally see why this place is so popular- aka why there is a wrap around line that goes down the hall of Price Center when it gets really hectic. The food is delicious and fresh tasting, the service (at least for me) was quick, and I didn't consider the price to be that bad! Okay- so I got the Lemongrass Chicken Salad (since a girl needs her greens!) and I was really impressed with the speed, the portion, and the presentation of what I got. Though I didn't really check if the peanut sauce cost extra (more investigation is needed!), I got it since I read some reviews that it is worth it. With the other choice being terayaki, which you can get ANYWHERE, I had to go for the peanut! And WOW- it was killer: though I have a sneaky suspicion that there is coconut milk in that peanut sauce that gives it a sweet and mellow base, there is definitely this heat packed in the sauce that builds up over time. Other than that, salad was not wimpy generic lettuce/cabbage- it was fresh and crisp- and the chicken was succulent and juicy. In my opinion and in the context of the other food establishments in the Price Center Area, this food place is definitely a great place to stop by if you are hangry and on campus! The price is ok, the food is great (that peanut sauce doh), and the service is pretty good. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Chicken salad with peanut sauce - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Overpriced and absolutely isn't worth it, except for the peanut sauce. Now I get why there is never a line at this place. The menu is super confusing. Unlike Panda Express, they don't cook new food often, the meat was prepared once at the beginning of the day and they out it out until it is used up. Hence, all the meet is are super dry. They even charge you $2.50 for ONE egg. The portion is rather small compared to other places on campus too. Once I came a bit late at like 6pm, they are out of all the meat, so I just had pad thai with bok choy and a fried egg, they still charged me $14 for it. Not recommended, never coming back. read more

The food is generally pretty good, but the service is out of wack. Multiple times I have come, abiding by their posted hours and yet they are closed or about to close. I would understand preparing to close even an hour before posted time, but they are consistently closing much before their posted hours. Review your hours and/or let the customers know read more

My friend and I got a terrible case of food poisoning from here after eating their chicken (I know for sure because I was tested for it). When they get busy they do not listen to you when you order. For example, if you asked for salmon they would give you chicken instead and would be in such a rush to get to other orders that they don't even realize they gave you the wrong one. Or if they do realize they gave you the wrong one, they don't tell you. It's enough to stress about being a student at UCSD, the food poisoning set me back two weeks during the quarter which is lethal in the quarter system, especially during midterms. So, eat here with caution. read more

Probably the healthiest thing in UCSD price center. Update: tried their chicken pad Thai. Of average quality, better than hi Thai's pad Thai but quality is still lacking. Grilled zucchini is my favorite part of their plates (chicken, pork, beef or salmon). However, sometimes the zucchini can be really limp and of bad quality. The chicken is usually good, can be a bit burnt at times but never too dry. I tried the beef once before and it was a bit dry for my taste. There are two sauces you can get, teriyaki or peanut sauce. I recommend the peanut sauce. The rice that comes with the plate is plentiful and of average quality. I have tried their Thai tea and thoroughly enjoyed it. I do like sweets so it could be too sweet for those who don't have a sweet tooth like I do. Their service is usually pretty fast. Don't think I've waited for more than 10 minutes before. The workers are friendly and efficient. The price is also fair, usually 8-9 dollars for a plate. While I think their quality was better back when they were just a stand during farmsers market, I still frequent this place often because its not as oily as some of the other places in pc. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Decent on campus food option. I've had Lemon grass a few times and normally I just get their rice and curry. The food is kinda a hit or miss to be quite honest. I find that they fill most of their plates with a ton of rice and sometimes their curries don't have a lot of meat in them. read more

For as long as I remember, they were at the UCSD Farmer's Market every Tuesday. In the beginning the lines weren't too bad and then one year it was just insane. You either had to go early or else you would have to stand in line for what felt like forever. These days they have a brick and mortar location. The lines aren't too bad and now it's nice to get the lemongrass chicken anytime of the week, month, year. The cashiers are friendly enough and those who prep the food seem to be in a zombie like coma. Why do I say that? Because a friend of mine ordered the salad and instead of getting the salad, she got the same exact item that I ordered - lemongrass chicken plate with rice. She didn't want to argue so she just let it be. The portions are okay. The chicken is very flavorful. The zucchini is cooked well. But what makes this place 4 stars is the sauce. It's a peanut-ty, curry-ish sauce that pulls the whole dish together. It's awesome sauce for sure. Just FYI - if you order no rice, it's an extra $1. I guess it's because there's extra chicken and zucchini but still, that's a little pricey for a substitution or omitting a portion of the meal. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Lemongrass chicken plate. That sauce...wish there was more of it. - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I like the concept. I really do. But this place just misses the mark. My main problem has to do with the padthai. Great flavor, but the noodles are frequently chopped together, making it hard to eat because you're eating small bites of small noodles. I also get the plates there occasionally. The tofu option had some of the most driest tofu I have ever eaten in my life. I think I should have gotten sauce with it to soften the experience. On the contrast, the zucchini tasted great. I would recommend getting the pork belly stew if you want to maximize your flavor and sauciness of your dish. read more

Grilled Chicken Plate - Enormous portions. I can probably split this into two meals and be full both times. Sometimes the chicken is juicy, sometimes it's dry. Sometimes the rice has perfect texture, sometimes it's mushy. The peanut sauce is always delicious. Chicken Pad Thai - I really think this could be saved.. If only the noodles weren't overcooked and so mushy :( read more

Lemongrass Plates - Chicken pad thai w/ peanut sauce - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

This place used to be one of my favorites. However, the quality of the food has noticeably decreased over time, as the prices increase. Most of the chicken is stringy and chewy and even looks like it belongs in the scraps and not in the meal. The Pad Thai is relatively flavorless too. read more

I've always always been a huge fan of lemongrass!!! Oh man! I remember back in college, the smell of lemongrass grilling on library walk every Tuesday and was only able to afford it for special occasions. The life of a college student! Taking out one star because the food was not really hot, warm at best. I still enjoyed it though! read more

Lemongrass Plates - Lemongrass grilled chicken plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

I have no idea what I just ate.. I paid $8 for a chicken pad Thai and it was a complete disappointment. There was three pieces of chicken and a couple of bean sprouts and that was it. The peanut sauce helped a very bland taste. But the worst part was the noodles. It was mushy and gross. If I could, I would take my $8 back and spend it elsewhere!!! read more

Lemongrass Plates - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Love their grilled plates! If you're a vegetarian, you can substitute chicken/pork for tofu! Also if you don't like the peanut sauce, substitute it for teriyaki sauce! The grilled chicken plate is amazing!! Although my only complaint is that the proportion of rice to meat ratio is off. I always finish the rice and have just the meat left over. They also normally give you 3 zucchini slices, wish they gave more though but it's delicious!! The line is usually pretty long during lunchtime but the wait time isn't that bad. Grilled chicken plate: $7.50 Extra peanut sauce: $0.75 read more

Lemongrass Plates - Grilled chicken plate $8.91 with extra sauce for $0.75 - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Definitely a solid place to grab food when you are on campus. Lemongrass Plates originated from the stand that was always grilling and had extremely long lines on those busy Tuesday farmer's market days. Makes sense that they would want to stay on campus if they were doing so well coming out every week. I've tried the Red Curry and the Grilled Plate with Chicken. Red Curry: definitely way more worth it than the Grilled Plate with Chicken, in my opinion. Comes with a better rice:sauce ratio, and you get succulent pieces of chicken that are not, at times, overly burnt as in the grilled plate. The other vegetables that come with the dish also work well with the rest. It's similar to Thai curry, so imagine that, but with a thicker texture. Grilled Plate with Chicken: of course, this was the dish that was the most popular. I agree, the peanut sauce that they use is great. However, they skimp so hard when it comes to this. Really? Can't you just add a bit more? Honestly, if they just did that then this place would be racking up 4-5 stars and a lot more happy customers. It's a simple change. But alas. They give so much rice in comparison. The chicken pieces, at times, are also slightly burnt, which gives it a nice crisp but it can be a bit too much. The grilled zucchini is an excellent pair with it though. Overall, the prices are okay and the flavors are there, but I think that they could definitely improve the rice:sauce ratio. I feel like they just try to crank out as much as they can and get away with the minimum. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Grilled plate with chicken in the front, red curry in the back - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Not recommend. Came here after seeing many good reviews about this place. Met with disappointment. Ordered the grilled chicken plate with Zucchini for 11 dollars, taste-wise, it's alright. However, the meat to rice ratio is very sad, and the zucchini is watery and flavorless. The chicken also does not taste "grilled", though the seasoning is on point. A pleasant hint of coconut coupled with the sweet and slightly spicy peanut sauce is a match made in heaven, but it's still grossly overpriced. I will not be eating here again, since Santorini's loaded fries is both cheaper and has more protein than this plate. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Grilled Chicken Plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

Grilled chicken plate with zucchini and peanut sauce is still as good as it always was at farmer's market. Chicken still has that nice grilled/slightly charred flavor. The zucchini is grilled perfectly. Relatively healthy and tasty option for under $10 in price center. Definitely one of the better places to get food at UCSD. The concept for their grilled plate is pretty simple and not super unique, but they execute it well. I used to always use to line up for Lemongrass during farmer's market during my time at UCSD. On my most recent visit to Lemongrass' PC location, the line wasn't bad at all during lunch time and moved very quickly and efficiently. The portion of the grilled chicken plate seems to have gotten larger, but so have the prices. I think they have been raising the prices slightly every now and then at farmer's market, from about $6 dollars when they first opened to now $8. Tried the pad thai recently and it was maybe the worst I've ever had. They use super skinny rice noodles here instead of the flat wider ones. The sauce is pretty salty and mostly tastes like fish sauce. You get a scoop of peanut sauce over it, which is the only thing that gives it some decent flavor. There are more noodles than anything and chicken and egg is pretty sparse. The cooking of the egg and chicken in the dish is poorly executed. Everything just seems low quality in their pad thai. I would not order it again. Overall, stick the grilled chicken and rice plate and you'll be pretty happy. This dish is probably the best thing to eat in price center and the only thing that comes with decent quality veggies. read more

Lemongrass Plates - Lemongrass chicken grill plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California

See all

Such great food! My favorite bowl is with Zucchini, fried rice, chicken, and peanut sauce. So tasty, and amazing customer service. The workers are actually polite and don't hate their jobs. Combined with great food, this is one of my favorite places to eat from at UCSD. read more

Perfect location, in the middle of Price Center. Glad we don't have to wait every Tuesday to get the lemongrass chicken like how we used to at the farmers markets :) Unfortunately the reviews are accurate, this joint deserves only 3 stars. Not amazing, but not horrible. Portions are a bit stingy, especially the sauce - which is the best part. (Extras will cost ya). The grilled zucchini is surprisingly delicious with the sauce, and they give us a unnecessarily high portion of rice. Don't they understand that moment on the lips...lifetime on the hips? :P Anyway, I gave it 4 stars because it's my favorite option in Price Center - they stole my heart from Bombay :) read more

A good place to pop by for lunch or dinner. Honestly, don't come here expecting some 3 Michelin star menu. It's good for what it is, a fast and casual place for students. I come here a lot and it's never gotten boring to me. Always generous with the portions and the peanut sauce is like crack to me. read more

I'm so glad that Lemongrass has finally opened their place on campus! It's nice to be able to get their food any day of the week and not have to wait until Farmers Market on Tuesdays. The line wraps around and down the hall during lunch but it moves really quickly. Their grilled chicken plate with the peanut sauce is definitely the best thing to get. Pros: - Consistency - it's always delicious and fresh - I didn't even know that I liked zucchini until I tried theirs with the peanut sauce - Service is relatively quick, even when it's really busy - Good price for the quality of food Cons: - The portion size could be too small if you're really hungry - Their peanut sauce is so good but they don't give enough with their regular portion Overall: - Definitely worth a try read more

Lemongrass Plates - Regular grilled chicken plate with zucchini - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Diego, California