Insider Pages Reviews for Monsoon Cafe

5 Stars: Awesome sushi, and great happy hour! (by Bediggy)

Bediggy — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 02:00:00 GMT

I recently discovered Monsoon and I am now a regular customer. Their happy hour is fabulous - everything on their set menu is $4 during happy hour (they have 2 happy hours - one early and one late). The sushi is great! It's always exceeded my expectations. The service is ok, but not great. Sometimes you kind of have to grab the wait staff as they zip by, but for $4 rolls and $4 wine, I'm not complaining.

4 Stars: Great food (by CSMobileUser)

CSMobileUser — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 02:00:00 GMT

The food and atmosphere are great I would've rated 5 stars if the restrooms were clean!

4 Stars: best place I've visited in WLA (by panchhito)

panchhito — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

i was there on a sturday night for the salsa dancing. Which was great . I had so much fun. Although It is A small place

1 Stars: Horrible experience - worst restaurant! (by Bryhar)

Bryhar — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 02:00:00 GMT

Friends and I went for a birthday meal. As a celiac I cannot have gluten. When I politely asked the waitress to help me determine which items I might eat she came back with the answer "nothing really." I had to ask several times to even get her to speak to the chef. When I got no real answer about the sauces I asked if the chef might grill a piece of fish or chicken with a little diced mango (mango was all over the menu as well as fish and chicken) and put it on some brown rice - NOTHING fancy, out of the ordinary or time consuming. It should have been quite easy to do. What came was a dry bowl of rice and a salad sized plate of bone dry chicken. It was as tough as jerky, no mango, butter, oil, nothing on the dry chicken. When asked about the mango she brought some slices of dry hard mango but seemed angry that we had asked. We spoke to the manager (with the chef present) and both looked at us blankly like we were a nuisance, not a customer. The restaurant wasn't even busy with over half the tables empty on a Saturday night (now I see why). I have never been so appalled by treatment in a restaurant by the waiters, managers and chef. I would never eat there and recommend that no one support an establishment that treats people so poorly.

1 Stars: Nice atmosphere... Terrible service (by gglennon)

gglennon — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 01:00:00 GMT

I went there on a date with my girlfriend and the service was terrible. I eat out a lot and have a lot of patience but the waitress was MIA. We ordered sushi, which was really good but the drinks were terrible. Horrible service, good atmosphere... too bad I won't be back

5 Stars: Amazing Sushi (by jfed23)

jfed23 — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Best Sushi I have had! They offer the typical but it was their unique creations/dishes that were wonderful. The atmosphere was great and the staff was friendly and helpful. I recommend it to anyone in the Santa Monica area.

3 Stars: In response to dishonesty (by MonsoonCafe)

MonsoonCafe — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT

Although it is against normal standards, I felt compelled to at least bring to light the two previous reviewers without attempting to "pad" Monsoon Cafe's ratings. I do welcome people to visit the three lettered business bureau referred to in the previous review, as the issue was responded to properly. As for the situation the previous two reviewers are speaking, it was a matter of a customers over intoxication & unacceptable conduct, that led to apologetic friends that financially took care of the services rendered.

1 Stars: Problems with staff and management (by jtentertainment)

jtentertainment — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I was a guest in the "Lounge" area where they have live bands and dancing on a Friday evening. I made previous arrangements with the manager to celebrate my birthday there. The promoter and bouncer, who apparently are very dishonest, created problems for my guests throughout the course of the evening and accused me of owing $150 for guests who had never arrived; and rather than admit fault, they prevaricated their story. The location is beautiful and the food was very delicious but I would not visit again because of those problems with the staff and management nor would I recommend this location to anybody else.

1 Stars: Poor Management, Dishonesty (by CuteQ)

CuteQ — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I looked up reviews from others regarding Monsoon Cafe 1212 3rd St., in
Santa Monica, CA and found the reviews were 50 percent negative. How could this earn a 4 + rating on city search?
I can only say my vote would break the 50/50 tie and Monsoon Cafe would receive a thumbs down. I reported my experience to a bureau that is better than this business site will allow me to say (July 2008). The Monsoon Cafe response to my better or worse business complaint further proves the management and help are liars here.
And honestly try typing in the name of the agency I eluded to. It comes up as three dirty words here!

3 Stars: Good Asian cuisine, interesting decoration (by doll83)

doll83 — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

By entering the joint I was astonished how big it really is. The cuisine was a mix of Chinese and Japanese fare, though the whole decoration had an Indian touch (for instance the elaborate and huge chandelier dangling in the middle of the main dining hall and the pictures on the walls). On top of all that, the restroom's interior reminded me on African art and culture and at the top floor a live band was playing Cuban salsa tunes. Apart from the blend of various styles and design the eatery was arranged with, I really enjoyed the sushi and sashimi. It came fresh and tender. The tempura roll was crispy --spicy outside, hot and succulent inside--and the sashimi was juicy and fresh. The exposed kitchen in the main hall, with plates piling up to the ceiling, totally messed up the ambiance. Service was attentive and kind, rushing around the spacious dining room amid a vibrant crowd.

5 Stars: Not something you would expect on the Promenade (by kiercemartin)

kiercemartin — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:00:00 GMT

When you first see Monsoon it doesn't look like much, maybe a little Sushi bar with ESPN playing overhead, but when you walk past the first bar and into the restaurant proper it's hard to believe you were just on 3rd street. One of the coolest interiors of any restaurant in Santa monica. Two levels, great design, and live music on the 2nd level. The sushi is on par, and they have some pretty interesting creations of their own as well as a great selection of other pan-asian foods. Full bar with a great wine selection. It's hard not to like this place.

5 Stars: Fun place on for food, dancing on Promenade (by jenheidir)

jenheidir — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 02:00:00 GMT

As soon you as you see the mask outside this restaurant on the Promenade, you know you?re in for a good time. The interior of this multi-floored venue makes you feel like you?re in the tropics, and the menu offers enough varieties of South Asian dishes to satisfy even the most diverse group of diners. The restaurant also offers salsa dancing sometimes on weekends. If you?re looking for a restaurant in the Promenade area with a fun, relaxed atmosphere and great food, this is a good choice in my book.

4 Stars: A date-night MUST (by Christina W.)

Christina W. — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 21:37:00 GMT

The ambiance is what draws you in, and the cuisine will bring you back. Fresh sushi, amazing soups (try the red wine one) and a great place to people watch whioe enjoying your own privacy if you score a booth. The price is not bad either. Put on a cute outfit or go totally casual. You'll blend in either way.

4 Stars: Fun Asian Restaurant on 3rd Street (by Joan K.)

Joan K. — Tue, 20 May 2008 22:57:00 GMT

This is an upscale Asian restaurant right on Third Street Promonade in Santa Monica -- it is large with a nice bar area. The food is really good -- everything from sushi to thai to chinese -- fun to order a lot of dishes and share! The stir fried farmers market vegetables are really yummy!

3 Stars: Good (by Chrysta W.)

Chrysta W. — Sat, 10 May 2008 19:48:00 GMT

I have eaten here once on date night and once for a work event. It was good. Not a tone of food. I think the atmosphere is actually better than the food.

5 Stars: Best Salsa Dancing in LA: Wednesday & Saturday Nights (by StephWSU)

StephWSU — Sat, 05 Apr 2008 02:00:00 GMT

I've been going to Monsoon every Wednesday night for the last 3 months. Now that I've discovered them, I can't stay away. The upstairs bar has salsa lessons on Thursday starting at 7:30pm and a live band/DJ that goes from 9:30pm-2am. All of the staff is very friendly, especially Doc, Jo, "Salsa", and Beth. This place has high energy, fun people, and great dancers. Even if you are a beginner dancer, like me, people are willing to show you some moves. This place is so much fun that I've met some people who drive all the way from OC and the IE (Be aware: there's a $10 (cash) cover charge, but it's well worth it!) The food downstairs is also great, reasonably priced, but the service is SLOW, so allow for some extra time. I've heard that Thursday and Friday nights are also fun, if you aren't into salsa.... Enjoy!!!!

3 Stars: blase (by Kristin C.)

Kristin C. — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:05:00 GMT

Monsoon is your average third street promenade eatery. It isn't grimy and gross, but it is for sure not fine dining. If your just in the food for Asian cuisine and aren't a finicky eater, then this place is fine. Don't, however, go out of your way to eat here.

5 Stars: Delicious Food, Reasonably Priced, Entertainment Included (by tasteteaser)

tasteteaser — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 01:00:00 GMT

Went there on Feb.2 for a friend's birthday. Service was great. And the Sushi was delicioso. I would recommend the trio appetizer sampler, the lobster roll, Monsoon roll, and Godzilla Roll. The rolls were loaded with filling. One of my friends ordered the scallops with greenbeans and man that was delectable. Our server was efficient. She knew we were on a time schedule because we wanted to make the salsa classes upstairs, so she quickly brought out the birthday cake, cut it, and helped us move things along. So we did not have to travel far to go to a club because it is conveniently located on the second level of the restaurant. My husband and I are defintely coming back. It was not only tasty, but also affordable. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE....

5 Stars: BEST CAFE IN THE PROMENADE!!! (by devie1207)

devie1207 — Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I've been coming to Monsoon almost every Friday.. And I can honestly say I haven't grown tired of it at all.. Angela is the best server ever.. The food is great, the ambiance is perfect, and it's easy on the budget, too.. If you ever find yourself in the Promenade, don't look anywhere else to have lunch or dinner.. MONSOON IS THE PLACE!!!

4 Stars: Enjoyable Lunch (by laddy2)

laddy2 — Sat, 19 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

The lunch salads are great, and the prices are reasonable. Try sitting on the terrace in the sunlight and people watch. The service is usually fairly prompt, although the waiters do look a tad overworked. Definitely recommended...

5 Stars: Its Cool ... Its Hip ... Its a place to go to impress a date !!! (by godo0224)

godo0224 — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

I am a frequent guest at Monsoon (dining at least 5 times a month for the last two years) ...

Why Do I Love It?

* Angela, the best waitress in the world! Other than being very attentive to your needs, she has a smile that would brighten up any room and a kindness so contagious you want to keep coming back and ask for her table.
* The calamari appetizer ... dipped in their secret yellow sauce ... YUMM!
* Seabass is to die for! No additional words ... just go there and taste it!
* The vibe ... its trendy, colorful and filled with young beautiful people.
* Justin, the Restaurant Manager ... every time we are there, he takes the time to say HELLO!

So if you are looking for a cool, hip and cozy place to take a date or just taste great food ... I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!

1 Stars: Worst New Years dinner EVER... (by arlove)

arlove — Wed, 02 Jan 2008 01:00:00 GMT

New Year's Eve @ Monsoon-cafe-

Blatant lies over the phone to entice our large party to book a NYE reservation CHECK!
$20 Margarita CHECK!
Bad service CHECK!
Bad food CHECK !
Horrible management team CHECK!

Writing this review to warn others about the horrible dinning experienced we endured on New Years Eve-PRICE LESS!

1 Stars: Very Disappointed, Expect More in Santa Monica (by tc4jc)

tc4jc — Sat, 08 Dec 2007 01:00:00 GMT

This restaurant offers poor value for the money. In Santa Monica, there's much higher quality food to be found at hole in the wall places. I was disappointed at not only the mediocre quality of the food, but the poor service as well. The host and managers made no effort to accommodate their guests, and were unresponsive to phone calls and e-mails. Watch out for their receipt, we found it very deceptive that tip was added on top of the gratuity!

3 Stars: Seven Empty Tables- 20 minutes wait ! (by donistheo)

donistheo — Sat, 20 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

Do you get it? The cute college girl at the desk said 20 minutes wait and I counted 7 empty tables. I pointed that to her and she seemed she did not know what I was talking about. We sat at the sushi bar. This is a strange bar where you cannot order direct from the chef but you have to tell the waitress instead ! IFshe shows up ! Also the sushi preparers none of them is Japanese. Mostly Latinos and they know well what they are doing. That is IF the sushi gets to your table ! On busy days you may wait 30 minutes to get just to the miso soup. I live around the corner so for years I vist this place but yesterday was the worst I ve seen. Some months ago they had a nice lady manager her name something like Carrie or so, and the place was working like a clock. I was proud of it. Yesterday it was hell, service terrible, food arriving very late, and the drinks after the food ! Some young tall guy was standind in a corner looking and doing nothing. I was told he was the manager and I tried to avoid complain but make some suggestive remarks about the empty tables ( which by the way 5 of them still stayed empty all the time we were there ! And people waiting.......) and the delay of the food. He did not seem to care much. He said " I am sorry" and that is it. During the many years I went to Monsoon I ve seen good service and good management and also bad service and bad management. Now it is bad service with OK food, and I will be sorr5y to see it continue like this.

1 Stars: Do NOT DINE HERE! (by theflyingourmet)

theflyingourmet — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 02:00:00 GMT

It was my 36th birthday. I had rented the upstairs balcony for the evening for $250. The 20% gratuity was automatic but our 2 servers were rarely to be found when it came to needed new drinks or wondering why it took over an hour to get our dinner. Being a personal chef, my standard for food is high, as well, I am a commercial and corporate flight attendant and service is extremely important to me. The food quality was substandard.The Shrimp padthai was gummy,fried rice bland,teriyaki wings overcooked and tough. amongst many observations about the food. All I can say is thank goodness I ordered the sashimi! All of the decorative items for our table (items I had brought personally back from Thailand, orchid plants, candle holders were missing) I was able to find 1 orchid plant on the bar, but no one had a clue.I spoke with Maria,the general manager. She was argumentative, curt and dismissive. She would not do anything to resolve the items disappearing, or the very disappointing service or terrible food. She told me that any number of patrons could have made off with my "party favors", thinking the party had left. (It was obvious we were still there!) She said it was my fault to have the items disappear and that her staff simply would never do anything of the sort. That there would be no financial obligation from the restaurant to rectify the matter( or reimbursement or gift certificate of any kind ) and if I was lucky, when I came to the establishment again, she might comp me a round of drinks or an appetizer. Let me share with you that my party dropped over $1000.
I find this absolutely unacceptable and that her establishment is not geared towards service in any way. I would recommend to NOT have your party here, NOT dine at this restaurant with any kind of expectation of receiving a timely or delicious meal and be prepared to deal with a general manager who will not care about you in any way, and will not be appreciative of your or your friends business.

3 Stars: This is for far the best restaurant in the promenade (by mailikelly)

mailikelly — Wed, 06 Jun 2007 02:00:00 GMT

This amazing huge Asian restaurant has left me speechless. I have never seen a restaurant with this decoration and atmosphere... But aside from that we go to a dining place to eat. The menu has so many options that even my boyfriend who does not eat fish can find a great plate such as the orange chicken. I had a teriyaki salmon and it was awesome, the portions are really rich. We still manage to leave a little room for the flourless chocolate cake.... what can I say.... delicious!!!! Our server Angela was really helpful even she seemed to be really busy, we were helped by the busser, the runner, and even the manager ran our food. The service is great, the food is for far the best in the promenade, definitely will be back. Great restaurant!!!!!!!!!!

1 Stars: Ok Food, worst service in LA (by cavalia)

cavalia — Fri, 18 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I went to Monsoon a few months back because of its convenience being located on the 3rd Street Promenade. My boyfriend and I were asked to sit at the bar by the hostess who seemed completely clueless. After one hour of sitting there when being promised only a 15 minute wait. We approached her and she told us she forgot about us. When sitting down it took another 20 mins for the server to approach us. Once we got our food they gave us the wrong order and had to wait 20-30 more minutes for our proper entree. When asked for a drink refill we had to decline because the mojitos were so watered down. Worst experience ever! Recently I went back with some friends to just make sure it was an off night when I went and gave it another chance. Again our food order was wrong and the server was not friendly and very rude. My work ordered some take out last week and they gave us their older menu. When we got our food they neglected to call that they didn?t make the dishes and some of our clients just got soup. We called the restaurant and they said they had changed managers, chefs and that they don?t make it anymore. Everyone was upset and left hungry! Needless to say I do not recommend this place at all!

3 Stars: Great place for cocktails and food (by maili)

maili — Tue, 08 May 2007 02:00:00 GMT

I went to Monsoon to me meet with my friends. We sat in the front bar area, we order Margaritas and a couple of apps. The atmosphere was great and our server was really helpful and attending. The chicken potstickers are delicious!!!!
If you are looking for a place to have a great time and for sure great drinks, stop at Monsoon, It is great!!!

5 Stars: Great customer service!! (by ckfood)

ckfood — Sun, 04 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

I went to monsoon on thursday for lunch and i must admit, i had a fantastic experience. I don't know what everyone is complaining about. I had amazing service from kevin, the bartender/host/server (way to multi-task buddy). It was my first visit and was overwhelmed with choices, upon suggestions from kevin, i ordered the wonton tuna decker and the blackened ahi tuna. these were absolutely amazing! my girlfriend had the black cod which she loved. i will definitely be going back to monsoon again in the near future. =)

1 Stars: Cold Food, Horrible Service, Stomach aches! (by raringfungus)

raringfungus — Sat, 03 Feb 2007 01:00:00 GMT

To call the service indifferent would be a compliment. We ordered hot and sour soup, which was tasty but cold and sour upon arrival 20 minutes after ordering. Our "iced" tea had no ice, and we received none until we practically grabbed the waiter Matt (there was no way he was going to stop at our table). The upstairs where we sat was practically empty, so I can't figure out why he was in such a hurry to go stand around at the end of the hall. We never received our samosa appetizer, and when our entrees finally arrived and we told him (another 20 minutes later), he said "of course not". I'm not sure if this meant he didn't believe we ever ordered it, but instead of getting us one he just said "I'll make sure it doesn't show up on the bill." This leads me to suspect he never entered the order and it would make him look like a good guy to "remove" it from the bill instead of fixing the problem. He finally "checked" on us 30 minutes later, by then I had devoured the entrees which had arrived cold and just wanted to get the heck out of there. To top off a wonderful evening, both my wife and I had to race to a restroom within ten minutes of leaving the cafe. Do yourself a favor: there are lots of pretty restaurants; you don't need to subject yourself to this kind of abuse.

5 Stars: Great experience, good food and drinks! Definitely going back and bringing friends! (by local310)

local310 — Mon, 29 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

On the very Popular 3rd Street Promenade lies a hidden gem! From the outside it appears as a small cafe with a patio but once you enter, WOW! You are transported into a totally different world of this great Pan-Asian Bistro. The decor is amazing which reminds you of the restaurant from "Indiana Jones and The Temple Of Doom!" But it does not end there. The food and drink are amazing. From the amazing Monsoon and Jalape?o Sushi Rolls, the Wonton Tuna Decker appetizer and the Sizzling Garlic Shrimp and Scallops entree to the vast selection of specialty drinks. The prices are unbeatable and the vibe is so great! If you get the chance to go in early, take advantage of their $4 dollar happy hour 7 DAYS A WEEK from 4 - 7!!!! The restaurant is very accomidating for large parties and the wait staff is great. The last time I was in their my waiter who went by the name "Employee 13" or something had my girlfriend and me in stitches. The whole place has a lot of character and full of characters which is a breath of fresh air for LA. Definitely going there next time I have friends in town. Also a great place to go before or after catching a movie. The bar is also a great place to catch a quick bite when you are dining solo. Highly reccomended!!!

5 Stars: I wish there were more Monsoons (by 2007foodie)

2007foodie — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

Great food and excellent service. Totally enjoyed myself and your quest will feel the same. Waiting for a table is quick, you'll be entertainment by much "eye-candy" while awaiting your table. Tao is well worth it. You will not be dissapointed. The food portions are huge, so arrive with an empty stomach and please save room for desert, which are absolutly decandet. A celebrity hot spot, a must go, you'll have a blast!

3 Stars: Good food, well priced, BAD ATTITUDE!! (by ustel)

ustel — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 01:00:00 GMT

This is my 3rd visit. The first time it went o/k but I was shocked at the waitress who while I got up from the bar to go to the restroom thru out my half full beer. When I came back and asked about it, she brought a fresh beer HALF FULL with attitude. She really showed no class on the part of management. I can afford my own beer, I felt they were making me out to look like a miser, The 2nd visit was very pleasent, a;though I did have reservations!! My third visit was a fiasco. I attempted to give them the benifit, that is was the early evening of January 1st 2007 and they were understaffed, but the attidude of the hostess Devon, was appauling. Although our server tried her best. We came with no reservations and she said it would take 30 minutes. She was cold rude and indifferent. After about 40 minutes she seated us and was total arongant and stuffy, If she could ingnore us more we would have to have been invisible. We asked her to warm up the place, everyone was cold and wearing jackets in the dining area. She ignored us and had even left the main door open causing a worse draft. When asking for the manager, Maria, Devon was even more obnoxious. Incidentially the Manager Maria never bothered to even show up. This snotty hostess Devon was so obnoxious, unfriendly and downright rude to my guests I will never go back again. The Manager Maria's indifference to speaking with us just further's this establishments attitude. Their are too many good restaurants that would appreciate my buisiness to put up with this type of attitude. The restaurant business is not just about the food, it's also about making the customer want to return. This is a great place for a one time meal.if your looling for a really hip looking place with good food. But forget about being made to feel any type of customer attention from management. Really too bad, it could really be a great place otherwise.

1 Stars: Bad service, below average food, over price (by jc_dinning)

jc_dinning — Thu, 28 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Bad service, especially when considering that the restaurant wasn't even that busy on a 1:30 pm afternoon:

- Brought only one set of menu for two of us
- left one set of silverware for two of us
- didn't even bring water to the table until I requested
- I had to wave down a waiter to place our order
- took over 20 min to get our food after placing the order
- the waiter didn't even check with us to see is the food ok after it was delivered

The sushi was below my expectation, I had much better sushi at other places at a cheaper price. The miso soup wasn't even hot (in temperature), lukewarm at best.

I wouldn't not go back again. Considering that this place is Zagat rated and the prices of the food..I was expecting better food and service.

1 Stars: A Disgrace (by nycandla)

nycandla — Thu, 21 Dec 2006 01:00:00 GMT

The experience itself at the restaurant was absolutely horrible from the long wait time and a bartender ending up seating me. The waiter took about twenty minutes and had no idea what was on the menu or how to pronounce the items on the menu. To make matters worse, the wrong order came out. I could have made better sushi blindfolded than what came out. After the disgusting meal, the check takes about another 15 minutes to come. I ask two servers for my waiter or the check and they say "O.K." then proceeded to just stand around. I believe this is the first complaint I post on any website or in any form for service but such Disgustingly unacceptable service and food leads me to write this review.

2 Stars: worst service anywhere. (by smartypants123)

smartypants123 — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

There is one reason and one reason only that I go there, the scallop dynamite. This is what you should expect when dining at monsoon cafe, at minimum you will be greeted after ten minutes (I?ve sat for 15 once, I finally just went up to the bar). After you have your first drink don?t even think of expecting another, it would just be foolish. My advice, bring your own water so you don?t die of thirst. Bring cash and a calculator; you may never ever get your bill! With all that said ill still go for the happy hour dynamite, but I?ll have my water, cash, and very low expectations in tow.

3 Stars: Best option on 3rd St (by rudette)

rudette — Sat, 18 Nov 2006 01:00:00 GMT

Very pretty and HUGE interior. It's nice to sit upstairs where you have a nice view of the entire downstairs. There's also a cool lounge area in the back upstairs. Very typical pan-Asian offerings on the menu prepared very well, although nothing will knock your socks off. Great for a large group.

3 Stars: Worst Service (by hendrix22)

hendrix22 — Tue, 26 Sep 2006 02:00:00 GMT

While on vacation, my friends and I went to Monsoon for appetizers and sushi. The food was okay. The service made the experience very undesirable. Our waitress took our order, and someone delivered the food to our table. Our waitress did not come back to refill our glasses or see if everything was okay until she handed us the check at the end of the meal. This was an unacceptable experience. I'd suggest checking elsewhere for great food/service on 3rd Street.

5 Stars: Best of the best! (by orionchef)

orionchef — Sat, 26 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

This is, in my opinion, the best restaurant in Santa Monica. I haven't had a dish I haven't liked - and my wife and I have been there several times, and go with the recommended tactic of ordering a few appetizers to share and then one entree (portions are of regular size, not the super-American-huge size so many diners are accustomed to). The service is great - attentive, friendly and accomodating - and the wine recommendations always complement the food perfectly! Santa Monica has a lot of restaurants with great Asian cuisine, but Monsoon is the best of the best! If you're looking for a romantic evening, try an upstairs table for privcy!

5 Stars: most accomidating (by spankyman)

spankyman — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Back in may, my boyfriend decided to throw me a birthday party at a restaurant a table for 20... only 10 made it and the staff was rude.... Well, this weekend was his birthday, and I wanted to hold his birthday dinner at monsoon... I ran into the opposite problem.. I ordered table for 20 and 27 people attended... Though we had to wait a little bit longer (about 25 minutes), the manager was willing to accomodate us and even gave us our own balcony... it was great... they felt bad about making us wait so long and even gave us 6 appetizers for free... the staff was extremely friendly and accomodating... the waiter was vwery helpful and recommended some delicious dishes.... Everyone loved the ambiance and the food... we were very pleased....

5 Stars: so pretty and not too expensive! (by talulaknuckles)

talulaknuckles — Fri, 21 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

Anytime a group of friends are in town I take them to Monsoon--the atmospere and decor is impressive and the menu extensive and not costly.

2 Stars: Horrible Service (by hkemeny)

hkemeny — Fri, 14 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

The food at Monsoon was delicious and the location and atmosphere was great, but the service was the worst i had seen in a very long time. After asking for anything twice, from two different servers, it still arrives in about 10-15 minutes. The food is also prepared very slowly and the waiters do not give the customers enough attention.

3 Stars: For an exotic experience (by lilgourmetdiva)

lilgourmetdiva — Mon, 03 Jul 2006 02:00:00 GMT

You feel like you are in some other country dining here! The restaurant has different levels to eat on (the tables on the balconies have the best view of the restaurant). There is also a big sushi bar. Booths are also available which would be good for a small group of friends or someone special to snuggle up to. The outdoor dining area is great for people watching out on the Promenade. The night I went there was a band duo playing not too far away which may be a good or bad thing depending if you like the music or the volume. As far as the food here, well, I expected the portions to be a bit larger. The food tasted good but not great. Our waiter was hard to find and hard to get his attention (partly due to the noise level in the restaurant). Also it seems there is a strict "No free refills" on soda here. The staff seemed very careful about explaining that to the table next to me.

1 Stars: The staff ate our cake! (by a_akmal)

a_akmal — Thu, 04 May 2006 02:00:00 GMT

For a girlfriend's birthday we bought two cakes, both of which were whisked away by staff (undoubtedly for the absurd cake-cutting" fee that restaurants charge). When time came to blow out the candles, we discovered the staff had already sliced one of the cakes w/out our knowledge and we had only one intact cake.

Furthermore, the staff did not bother to sing happy birthday with us and chose to only serve the first cake to our group, save for two guests--who were given a small slice of the second one.

Upon leaving we had to ask for the remaining portion and were handed a cake with more than a 1/4 missing! When asked about the disproportionate amount, our waiter explained the staff had probably helped themselves to it! It was the absolute height of disrespect.

My next stop is with Monsoon's manager.

5 Stars: Great for the price (by nilejpark)

nilejpark — Wed, 22 Mar 2006 01:00:00 GMT

I am not sure what all these people are complaining about. There food is good when you don't even consider the price but when you think you will only spend about $20 a person for food & drinks it's amazing. The decor is great, drinks are fab, service is good and food is good compare to most restaurants. I wish other restaurants offered this many variety, falvor & quality at this price. Keep up the good work.

1 Stars: Don't believe the hype. (by gkirschn)

gkirschn — Tue, 14 Feb 2006 01:00:00 GMT

On a recent visit to LA a friend of mine recommended this place as a good place to eat. We went there with a few friends (Party of 7) on a Saturday night.

The food was, to say the least, horrible. Of the 7 of us only my friend (Who ordered the korean chicken) came close to finishing their meal. Everyone else just picked at it in a strange uncomfortable silence We coudn't give away the appetizers, about 2/3's of those were uneaten by the time they took them away.

And in one final slap they added a $30 tip to the meal even though that's supposed to be for parties of 8 or more. So on a $180 bill we paid a $30 tip. Plus they rushed us through the meal to make room for people paying a cover charge to listen to music.

1 Stars: Disappointing, not worth the money (by malia707)

malia707 — Thu, 27 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I was highly disappointed with the service and the food at Monsoon, seeing that it had some great reviews on citysearch. I have dined everywhere, but I have never been treated so rudely from from the hostess to the waitstaff who was arrogant and also really ignorant about the food. Also the plates were miniscule, I am use to small plates being from San Francisco but the plates were ridiculously tiny. I do not recommend going to this place, I'm sure there are other places in Santa Monica that is worth the money.

3 Stars: As Enjoyable as a Monsoon (by importinsider)

importinsider — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I like the atmosphere. I love the extensive use of bamboo, and the BIG airy main room, but I think thats where the love ends because I've been to this place twice, and I can't seem to find any particular dish that I like. First of all, every single dish that I had, I seem to have an issue with. The calamari, the Viet inspired dish (mostly vegetables, no meat), etc. had an over-powering use of curry powder. Now, I know this place is a mixture of Korean (kalbi), Japanese (sushi, saikyo miso yuan yaki), and southeast Asian (satay) influence, but they don't do ONE specific cusine JUSTICE. So if your looking for something special, than stick to the typical Japanese, Korean, Malaysian, etc. restaurants.

3 Stars: rude customer service over the phone (by angelaney77)

angelaney77 — Mon, 05 Sep 2005 02:00:00 GMT

We called to make reservation over the phone and one of the customer representative was very rude and unprofessional of letting us make reservation. The person gave us a hard time about it. I truly hope this will change.

4 Stars: Salsa Class Review (by calicrystal)

calicrystal — Thu, 21 Jul 2005 02:00:00 GMT

I just took Monsoon's weekly Wednesday Salsa Class (8-9pm, $9) last night and I wanted to let those interested know that it is NOT for beginners! The class starts out very basic, but then you partner up & have to learn very long combinations based on the instructors' moves. It is ver difficult to see what is going on and almost impossible to get the footwork down unless you are a regular. If you are intermediate or advanced, this class is perfect for you!

4 Stars: Monsoon Cafe (by Melissa M.)

Melissa M. — Tue, 12 Apr 2005 08:51:00 GMT

Monsoon Cafe is an Asian restaurant that caters to all sorts of Asian food lovers. If you like Thai, they have it. Sushi? They do that too! I recommend the Orange Chicken. If you like garlic, try the string beans. The environment at Monsoon kind of makes you feel like you're at tribal council on "Survivor." It's a cool, hip place to be if you're in the mood for Asian cuisine. Prices for sushi are reasonable. Just be aware that the minimum per person is $12 and they don't refil refreshments for free. Because the restaurant is so large, they cater to big groups too!

4 Stars: An emporium of eye candy ... and taste sensations (by Tamara P.)

Tamara P. — Mon, 04 Apr 2005 00:01:00 GMT

Lots to see - from the decor of the dining room and the bar to the appetizers and the desserts. Not to forget the crowd. Mingle, taste some goodies, and be entertained. Also notice the eyes as you enter the establishment ... they remind me of Buddha's eyes which portend good luck and great fortune. Beats a cookie!

5 Stars: Goodness gracious (by schofie)

schofie — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Great food, great atmosphere, great drinks & great music. Only thing that wasn't perfect was the almost too fast service. It's the best Asian food I've had any where in whole USA. Sushi is great and their Monsoon roll is to die for. They also have great special fried rice and black cod. Drinks are potent and tasty. When we were there last they had this great R&B band that had a record deal and the place was packed. Even though we had to wait in line for few minutes it was well worth it since there was no cover charge and music was amazing.

5 Stars: Best of (by jaimemroc)

jaimemroc — Sat, 12 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Everything at Monsoon is amzing. The decor alone should be worth anyone's time for a visit but the food is authentic, tasty and affordable. I saw Monsoon on TV show about best happy hour places in sothern California. Monsoon was voted as 7th best place but I think they should have been alot higher. They have the best Sushi & drink happy hour. I wasn't expecting this good quality food & drinks for $3.00 and $3.75. I would recommend fish roll, which has 3 different types of fish in a roll, scallop dynamite, calamari and potstickers. We also went back for diner since we were so impressed and they did not disappoint. It was one of the most fun diining experience we has with good food and great service by a waiter named "Matt". You can't go wrong with place.

5 Stars: Better than Paris (by jobal)

jobal — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I tried Monsoon based on Guide du Routard's review and it was fantastic. Food was superb, the waitress was sexy & friendly. I can't think of any Asian restaurant in Paris that would be comparable to this restaurant. The decor made me think that I was in southeast Asia not La La land, the food brought be back to my last trip to Vietnam and the sexy waiteress made me want to move to US (almost). I would recommend Vietnamese spring roll & Sushi for appetizers and shrimp rendang & fragrant duck for entrees. The Hawaiian sweet bread pudding was the perfect finishing touch to our meal. Who would have thought I would come to LA to have an Asian dining experience.

5 Stars: You won't last 3 rounds (by gasta)

gasta — Sat, 05 Mar 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Great place for drinks & happy hour. You won't last 3 rounds with these great drinks with polysian drinks. We came here for my friends 30th birthday party last year and now we just went back for my 30th. The food has gotten better & more interesting. The service was friendly but since they were busy as anything it was little slow. But the ambience, drinks & value more than made up for the slow service.

4 Stars: Waitress is the Worst (by lacie1b)

lacie1b — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 01:00:00 GMT

Was there on 1/22, enjoyed the music, food and people. However, the waitress was the most rude person I have ever encountered; if the place had not been crowded my party and I would have moved to another area.

1 Stars: Worst experience ever (by sonnett18)

sonnett18 — Mon, 24 Jan 2005 01:00:00 GMT

I kept my husband surprise birthday party and had the worst experience.
Since we were a large group of 30 people, in order to make the reservation the restaurant made me
-Pre-pay for all my friends in advance
-Didnt want to collect cash or cards from anyone, said I had to pay upfront,collect the money from my friends
-Were most uncompromising,difficult and had a "didnt care a damn" attitude for the amount of business I got them.

The service sucked too. An incident which stands out was when one of my friends asked the server to get her some chocolate ice-cream while the desert was being served.In a pe-selected menu,ice-cream was included. The server said "Sorry, only 2 scoops were part of the contract and they've already been served"
I had paid around $40 per person for food excluding drinks in advance and didnt get value for money at all.

4 Stars: loud, bad service, good food (by adacello)

adacello — Wed, 20 Oct 2004 02:00:00 GMT

the service can be quite annoying...but some of my favorite dishes are made here, so I keep going back. The music from the back can be loud, so be prepared...it won't be a quiet evening. But if you are up for yelling...the food can be very good. I LOVE the pepper noodles wtih shrimp.

3 Stars: Interesting place, but nah (by patee333)

patee333 — Wed, 21 Jul 2004 02:00:00 GMT

The decor and atmosphere is quite intriguing and visually appealing to people. However, if you were seated upstairs, you have to take a long trek to get to the restrooms and also the exit of the restaurant. The food was mediocre and not all that exciting. The service was stuck-up and not very attentive. Didn't refill our water until at the end of the meal practically. I wouldn't really go there again.

2 Stars: Only thing good is the ambiance (by raze)

raze — Fri, 06 Feb 2004 01:00:00 GMT

The only thing good at Monsoon Cafe is the ambiance. Other than that, the service is horrible and the food is average. And if you have a large party, in our case...12, since the gratuity is included, don't count on getting good service.

5 Stars: Sheeee! Keep it a secret (by went)

went — Tue, 11 Nov 2003 01:00:00 GMT

I first tried Monsoon because of work party. What remembered of the party was so good I had to go back several weeks later. This place is great. Better than what I remembered. The decor is right out of southeast Asia. The food is amazing. Their Monsoon roll is to die for and their shrimp rendang(sp???) is the best thing I have ever tasted. Their drink menu is fun and they have this contest to come with funnier and whittier drink description. If they use your description they will give you a gift certificate and your name appears next to the drink. I have summitted my own for "Dragon fly martini" which is " After few of these drinks you will be seeing substitles" but no word yet. I'm going on and on but what I'm saying is that this place is awsom.

5 Stars: Great place (by brettr)

brettr — Sat, 01 Nov 2003 01:00:00 GMT

This dining oasis in middle of Santa Monica's 3rd street promenade is amazing. I'm not a fan of any restaurants on 3rd street promenade. It seems like most are geared towards one time visitors so their food is bad and service is horribele. But Monsoon is a Oasis in middle of terrible restaurants. Their menu is interesting and the execution is fantastic. Their sushi is fresh, Korean BBQ beef cooked at the table is a treat, all their noodle dishes are to die for and service is friendly but not over bearing. Their sushi happy hour is best deal in town. When I was in last month to listen to the music in their lounge, they had half of Earth, wind & fire sitting in the band. It was amazing to listen to that quality music at such intimate setting.

4 Stars: Great Atmosphere and Awful Service (by dining315)

dining315 — Sat, 22 Mar 2003 01:00:00 GMT

This place has a great atmosphere and great entertainment, but terrible service. We rented out the private dining room and enjoyed everything but the rude and slow service. The waitress gave attitude to our guests and did not make any attempt to be polite. On the other hand, the bouncers were actually very friendly and helpful. Definitely go to Monsoon to party and enjoy the live entertainment in a cool atmosphere. However, if you are looking for attentive service and a real noteworthy dining experience, then save your money and go someplace else.

5 Stars: WOW!!! (by nikkerz)

nikkerz — Fri, 01 Nov 2002 01:00:00 GMT

What at great catch nestled right here in the heart of Santa Monica. As many times as I've walked by, I never really walked into this amazing restaurant until just last week. The food is amazing...and fun because everything is serve family style so you get to taste a little bit of everything. And the ambiance, you just can't get a more comfortable place to go for a great meal. I will definitely be back and will recommend all my friends!!

5 Stars: Awesome ambiance! Great service! (by liltummy_bigeater)

liltummy_bigeater — Mon, 23 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My boyfriend took me here on our trip to Santa Monica! I LOVE this place! It was great fun...the decor was very unique and hip...definitely had a great feel and a lot of fun while eating at the sushi bar! Loved the cocktails and the yummy thai noodles...there's a lot of various asian cuisine to choose from! Make sure to make a reservation!

5 Stars: Hot girls at Monsoon (by MattRitchey)

MattRitchey — Fri, 13 Sep 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Where do these beautiful girls that go to Monsoon cafe hide out during the days. This place attracts the most beatiful girls in the west side for dinner and the music lounge. I think the hot female staff is the tops the L.A and I'm sure this has to be part of the reason for their popularity. The food is very reasonable and it's pretty amazing. The decore is right out of some Bali travel magazine and the service is casual but right on. I was hoping this would be my secret place but I knew it wouldn't last so I'm letting everyone know about this place.

5 Stars: Great Monsoon (by arielsortun)

arielsortun — Thu, 29 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

My husband & I met several friends for dinner & music at Monsoon and it was great. The food was amazing and I love the family style. I got to taste 6~7 dishes and each dish was distinct and flavors were out of this world. The service was fast but very friendly. Monsoon's bussers were the best I have ever seen. They took care of our needs even before we realized we needed something and the our server "Joe" was very knowledgeble about the food & the wine list. The band we saw that night was R&B and the singer(Masta) was truely a entertainer. We are going to recommend this place to everyone

5 Stars: Cool Jazz at hot spot (by Yoosun)

Yoosun — Thu, 29 Aug 2002 02:00:00 GMT

I came to visit my brother who lives in L.A and he took me to this place. Food was authentic Asian food, made with good quality ingredients and the service was little fast for my taste but not over the top. The Jazz band "Black Rice" was great. I can't believe the quality of the band that plays at the lounge of a restaurant. By the amount of people there that night obviously the restaurant is doing quite well but I did not get that attitude that is usually present at successful place. Keep up the good work.

5 Stars: Atmosphere and Great Food (by michwahl)

michwahl — Tue, 02 Jul 2002 02:00:00 GMT

For a very large restaurant they have managed to keep the look and feel cozy and warm. The food is absolutely A+. I suggest their popular green beens in peanut sauce and lettuce wraps. Full Sushi Bar, Upstairs another bar, with live music, great decor, resonably priced.

4 Stars: A fine place for jazz (by grammatke)

grammatke — Tue, 28 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Check this place out on a Friday night... they serve a pretty good meal and upstairs in the back room, they have a tiki bar with live jazz. It's a great place for a few drinks and some great entertainment. Get there around 9 to get a good spot.

5 Stars: WOW! (by LiquidMist)

LiquidMist — Sun, 26 May 2002 02:00:00 GMT

Go Monsoon Cafe! I was completely taken back from this place! The menu selection was great! Lots of variety! All the food was super fresh and large portions too, not to mention the atmosphere can't be beat! Definately add this to your list of places to eat in LA!