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    Mandarin Lotus

    4.3 (634 reviews)
    Open 4:30 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 3 weeks ago

    Mandarin Lotus Photos

    MANDARIN LOTUS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Quiet
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Mandarin Lotus

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mike E.

    What a great place! We come to Calabasas often for work and when we get here it's gotta be the lotus! It's a must! Kim and Dan are the best food is prepared perfectly and the taste of every dish is amazing. Always look forward to coming back! If you're looking for a great Chinese cuisine, no need to look any further!

    Kelsey Grammer Orange Chicken, gluten-free
    Christian B.

    Great food and service. I have very high standards for the quality of food and service I get because of my celiac disease. This place does not disappoint. I always get the Kelsey Grammer orange chicken and have never gotten sick. They said anything on the menu can be done gluten-free. The music in the background creates a nice ambiance.

    Lime and mint, sugar cane shooter
    James M.

    Once again, this place serves the best Chinese food in the LA/Ventura county border. The owner is very helpful when ordering if you have allergies and the service is fast considering she does it by herself. For some reason, people don't realize this is a small restaurant and clearly does most of its business with takeout. So for the negative reviews about all the boxes, the reason they're stacked in the front is so the order can be placed in one of the boxes (think Costco) so your food doesn't get tossed around in your DoorDash. Not AI or a fake review so enjoy the food.

    A wall full of signed photos from so many celebrities
    Joe G.

    If there is ever a Chinese restaurant analog of The Beef/The Bear restaurant from the hit Hulu show, The Bear, this humble mom and pop restaurant can certainly play that role. It is also surprisingly a must-stop pilgrimage for celebrities (just look at their wall of famous visitors!). From Kelsey Grammer (who requested to add his name on his favorite dish here, the Orange Chicken) to Kobe Bryant to Jack Nicholson, the who's who list who has been here is pretty extensive and astounding, especially since this restaurant is way out in Agoura Hills. To call the menu jam-packed is an understatement with 324 food items + 2 desserts, but take a good look at the entries and you can see some of the most exotic and creative dishes made with ingredients that you just don't associate with Chinese cuisine. I am just amazed to find so many dishes that are just not your ordinary dishes. Here a sampling of menu entries that caught my eyes (all can be added with chicken, beef, shrimp, or pork): - Honey Mustard Wine Reduction Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk - Maple Pecan Matcha Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk - Kaffir Lime Leaves Oil Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk - Lavender Honey Blueberry Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk - Raspberry Captain Rum Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk - Tibetan Goji Mango Pistachio Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk I asked Kim (half of the Dan+Kim whose names you see in majority of the reviews here) for her recommendation, and she said "Southwest Sh/Bf/Ch/Pk Argentinian Sauce." Now this dish is not a Southwestern American dish, but it is one of Chef Dan Chang's Signature Creations that started from Southwestern China stir fry chicken and green beans. He then added his secret concoction of spices that would make Colonel Sanders jealous and elevate the dish to a fantastic fine dining culinary flavor and presentation. There are layers of taste here that work together harmoniously but are also distinct. This is not a one-note dish overpowered by a single flavor. There is a lot going on but it all works so well. Unfortunately, I tried to pry a bit more information on what went in into the dish, but Kim was rather coy about the magical spices and herbs formula that makes this dish so delicious. I do prefer the red sauce over the green because it complements the taste more but the green is certainly more unique. Long story short, you have to try the Southwest chicken with Argentinian sauce! For dessert, I had the Red Bean Sesame Ball. Once again, this is a classic staple Chinese dish but with a unique spin that is not just another desert slathered with sugar or some overly sweet syrup. Their red bean sesame ball is delicate, delicious, layered, and not overly sweet. There is a drizzle of chocolate, a sprinkle of concoction sugar, and what Kim calls "sandy almond". Very distinct sets of flavors that works well to complement the red bean sesame ball. The Lychee nuts, cherries, strawberries, and baby melon add a refreshing counterpoint to the sesame ball and adds variety in between eating each of the 6 sesame balls. Lastly, Kim is such a darling as a waitresses and hostess and she completes the experience of dining at Mandarin Lotus! Her stories are entertaining. All in all, you may have to spend a lot of multiple visits when you come here but the giant menu is worth the exploration!

    The Chinese restaurant doesn't even have a Chinese menu. The owner is a Chinese woman who can't speak Chinese, and her English isn't very good either - you have no idea what dish she's talking about when you order. The food is pretty standard, but it's not cheap. They don't serve free water everything is canned drink that you have to pay for. The four of us ordered a plate of fried shrimp, a plate of string beans, a plate of stir-fried noodles with herbs, and a pork chop,One order of dumplings, two bottles of mineral water, and a can of Coke. The final bill came to $206, and I didn't pay much attention at the time. When I got home and checked the receipt, I realized how expensive it was. Turns out the bill already included 30% tip, bringing the total to $206. The owner was very friendly to us, but looking back, I feel like I got ripped off。The pictures I attached are just to show the authenticity of this, and they only represent my own opinion - there's no other meaning to them, and it's also possible that everyone's experience will be different.

    Angel N.

    First timer to the Lotus. I had the most amazing GF pecan honey prawn. Wow. I went on a limb and let Kim choose our dinner and it was delicious and worth it. She provided a delicious five garlic stir fried rice to go with it and a large coconut water. The dinner was topped off with an amazing pork chop. One of a kind. The ambiance was perfect. It was calm and quaint, romantic. The best part is almost everything is GF Thank you Dan and Kim for the great food and amazing hospitality.

    We got Mapo tofu with truffle oil (on the right) and some crispy New York strip steak.
    Ashley J.

    The cutest mom and pop restaurant with very kind staff and a lovely ambiance. If you don't know what to get, the waitress will definitely help you find some amazing recommendations. We got Mapo tofu with truffle oil (on the right) and some crispy New York strip steak. It was delicious! Go check it out!

    Orange Chicken, Hot and sour soup, Shrimp fried rice, and Argentinian Beef
    Pari N.

    First time here and my expectations were exceeded through the roof! The owners are extremely friendly, loving, and visibly passionate about what they do. They went above and beyond and took customer service to another level. Don't even get me started on the food. It was incredible. It was flavorful, the presentation was wonderful. 100/10 we're definitely coming back!

    Black velvet Belgian chocolate shrimp with apple wood smoked bacon confit garnished with strawberries

    A foodie's paradise! (Especially foodie vegetarians). Light, complex, and fresh flavors with artistic presentation--thin sliced, bite-sized horseradish maple glazed crispy beef with flawless green beans? Black velvet Belgian chocolate shrimp with applewood smoked bacon confit?!! The menu says "sesame ball" and what arrives are half a dozen perfectly textured red bean paste sesame balls, with a dab of almond-caramel sauce melting over the top of each, fresh fruit, and a gorgeous citrus sorbet to sip from a frozen liqueur glass The vegetarian menu could be its own restaurant with extensive and expertly made options including crispy tofu with peanut sauce; lemon grass turmeric tofu; French basil Taiwanese monk duck; Asian pesto tofu with garlic noodles; blueberry lavender agave tofu.... This is Michelin dining (high quality ingredients in traditional as well as innovative cuisine expertly prepared and presented artfully by a kind and unpretentious server in a humble and sweet shop.

    100000000/10 on all aspects. Food was amazing. Service was incredibly sweet Ambiance was awesome. The menu is huge, including a whole tofu section and an incredible selection of vegan options. Incredible selection of quality tea, food came fast and HOT! I could hear them cooking in the back. Not to mention I had the best wonton soup I've had in a really long time. The owner is very hospitable. My boyfriend and I devoured almost all of the food we got, and we got a lot of stuff. We were so hungry and it totally hit the spot!! Dare I say, mandarin lotus is the best in LA!

    T ..

    Best Chinese Food in LA hands down. Authentic experience, eat there or order to go. Very healthy options and a wide range of general options to select from. All great ingredients, home cooked feel. Please treat yourself to this wonderful little Chinese Food spot. This has become a regular for my family and I.

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    1 month ago

    Best chinese food ever! The lady Kim was so kind and sweet and welcoming! I really enjoyed my meal and my time there! Highly recommend !!!

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    25 days ago

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    21 days ago

    Food wasn't good. I'd never order here again. Everything tasted the same as everything else.

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    3 months ago

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    17 days ago

    Delicious organically sourced ingredients, incredibly creative dishes, wow, an absolute culinary delight.

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    4 months ago

    This little place that has been around for decades makes fabulous soup created special when you're feeling sick.

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    5 months ago

    Great food and a huge selection! Definitely would return to eat. Great service and tasty dishes!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Mandarin Lotus Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mandarin Lotus

    Do they use MSG in the food?

    What options are gluten-free?

    You can order anything and everything on the menu vegan or gluten free! Have something you wanna eat that's not on the menu? Tell them and they will happily make it for you !!

    View All 4 Questions

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    4.7(656 reviews)
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    Made a reservation for a party of five in the lovely Sunroom,amazingly, the overall noise was…read morereasonable for all of us to hear each other talk, which was important, as his was a special occasion, and Michelle really helped make it, in- fact, special. She helped us make decisions about our order, which we appreciated, like is the Rosemary Latte better hot or cold. We went with hot to get the full rosemary experience. She helped us go with our potatoes extra crispy,they were in fact nice & crispy, but creamy soft on the inside. Of course Marc & Carie came to check in on us. My White Egg Omelette was delicious with the goat cheese & herbs delicately seasoning the diced zucchini tucked in. Delicious. Others in my group loved the Avocado Toast, the French Toast, Dutch Baby Pancakes, what a special dish with the Chantilly cream and fresh berries.The "Sandwich" was not just any ole sandwich, this was handcrafted with love. Weekend Vibes for sure!!

    This is my second time dining here and I am very pleased. Today we had to wait about 15 min longer…read morethan we were quoted when we arrived and put our name on the list, but we understand that sometimes people don't leave as quickly as you expect them to. Right after we were seated we were asked to get up and help move the table so they could close the accordion door behind us... okay lol. From the moment our server showed up, our entire experience shifted to being one of the best brunch experiences I've had in the conejo valley area. Our server's name was Zachary K., and he had a wonderful personality. He made excellent recommendations for food & drink. Our food was delicious and arrived within a reasonable amount of time. Zach checked on us regularly and ensured we were enjoying ourselves throughout our time at Sunrose. The restaurant has a very cute vibe and feels almost boho-beachy upon entering. They have an in-house bakery where they sell their pastries and merchandise. We will definitely be back soon

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    Cafecito - Impossible sabor

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    4.7(559 reviews)
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    I ordered the rice and beans and fried yuca to go, and everything was delicious. The orange side…read moresauce was spicy, flavorful, and absolutely amazing. The staff here is incredible -- Audrey was so kind, welcoming, and hardworking. Thank you for such great service! While waiting, they have pitchers of ice-cold orange-infused and lemon-infused water available, which is such a thoughtful touch. My chai latte was also perfect and gave me the little boost I needed. I can't wait to come back and try the Tres Leches pancakes and the Tres Leches cheesecake. I love this place and can't wait for my next visit!  Thank you! Support Local.p

    Have been coming here since Cafecito opened. As a returning customer, I always order the Palomilla…read moresandwich and a side of black beans but what I received today was a total disappointment. The Palomilla sandwich had tough and chewy meat with a sad portion of broken up shoestring fries, and the top piece of bread was razor thin and falling apart, leaving it essentially open faced. See pics for more details. The beans were almost entirely liquid broth looking like the bottom of the pot than a proper side. The meal felt like it was put together from the end of the day leftovers sadly. I know there is new staff upfront and in the kitchen, but serving food in this condition is unacceptable. I'm posting this with photos in the hope that management sees it and gets quality control back to where it used to be.

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    Cafecito - Where your journey begins...

    Where your journey begins...

    Cafecito - Vegan Vaca Frita

    Vegan Vaca Frita

    Cafecito - Tables, what few there are, are now always filled to capacity.

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    Tables, what few there are, are now always filled to capacity.

    Moody Rooster - What's in season

    Moody Rooster

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    3.5 mi
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    The food was beyond; loved every dish!…read more We got the smoked eggplant, spaghetti lemon crème, flatiron steak, half chicken, gyro flatbread, and some mocktails--nothing disappointed

    I think this place may be my new favorite restaurant…read more My friend and I walked in on a Friday night at 6:30 PM, with no reservations. The place was packed, but I have to assume we got really lucky because we got seated right away at an open table near the front. Our server greeted us immediately and brought us waters for the table. We were overwhelmed initially by the menu options because everything sounded incredible. We asked our waitress what she recommended, and she said literally everything on the menu is amazing - nothing is bad and every dish is popular. So I was quite impressed to hear that. My friend and I decided to get the steak tartare, woodfire grilled octopus, fried gnocchi, and chicken liver pate. Every single dish was actually incredible. The chicken liver pate came with four slices of toast, some pickled vegetables and ground mustard. The pate was creamy, rich, slightly on the sweeter side, so it paired perfectly with the tang from the ground mustard & pickled vegetables. The woodfire grilled octopus was cooked perfectly. Seriously the best, freshest octopus I've ever had! It wasn't chewy or fishy at all. The texture was absolutely perfect. It was very easy to cut into and juicy. It was paired perfectly with the aïoli as well. The steak tartare was extremely fresh. One of the things that I hate about steak tartare at restaurants sometimes is it will start to look brown from the meat oxidizing so it doesn't always look as appetizing, but this tartare was still had that vibrant red color as if they had just cut the meat. Lastly, the fried gnocchi was amazing. It's the first time I've ever had a dish with fried gnocchi. They paired it with a cream sauce that was absolutely delicious. I wish I remembered what was in it, but it was so good. I wanted to drink that sauce lol. Love how the gnocchi was also perfectly seared, had no lumps, and basically melts in your mouth. Overall, loved the ambience of this place as well. It's very hip. trendy. Definitely a louder environment but perfect for a weekend night out to enjoy great food. I would recommend making reservations. I think my friend and I probably just got lucky because we went a little bit earlier on a Friday night. Also wanna mention all of the wait staff was amazing. Food was served very quickly and we had no issues with any of our orders. I seriously cannot wait to come back here and try every single thing on the menu!

    Photos
    Moody Rooster
    Moody Rooster - Sauteed octopus with shishito peppers. Probably my favorite dish there

    Sauteed octopus with shishito peppers. Probably my favorite dish there

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    Mandarin Lotus - chinese - Updated September 2026

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