Lotus Garden Vietnamese Cuisine

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Posted 03/23/09

I don't usually have Vietnamese food delivered but I felt like trying something different tonight. I found Lotus Garden on yelp, another one for my overrated on yelp file, and thought I'd give them a try.

I ordered the raw beef salad for 8.95 and the Garlic Noodles with shrimp for 8.50.

They estimated that it would take 35 minutes and they were right almost to the minute. I heard the doorbell and opened the door to see that for some inexplicable reason the delivery guy put the bag of food on the ground. Right on the steps of my building where I hose off unmentionably foul things. I was not amused.

The raw beef salad was kind of bland until I put some of the fish sauce on it, then it tasted like fish sauce. Over all it was a very small salad but even so it was mostly cilantro and cucumbers. For $9 I expected a bit a lot more beef. The Garlic noodles with shrimp had no shrimp, not even one. I was noodley and garlicky; it was tasty but a small portion for $8.50? Give me a break!

Pros: Timely delivers

Cons: small portions

Posted 03/22/09

What sets this Vietnamese restaurant apart from the rest? The high quality and freshness of the ingredients. We love the BBQ pork, here it is always lean and tender. All of the meat is lean and lacks the hunks of fat and gristle that you get mixed in with your food at other restaurants. If all you order is the PHO you are missing out. We moved from Bernal to Mission Dolores a year and a half ago and we don't get there as much as we like. Six months passed between our previous visit and the one we made last Saturday night and we were still treated like regulars. Kathy commented that my husband was getting "his favorite dish the pork". Great food, exceptional customer service and an inviting space make this Vietnamese restaurant the best in San Francisco.

Pros: Great Food and Excellent Service/Best Asian Food in Bernal Heights by Far

Cons: No Complaints

Posted 04/13/08

I used to live walking distance from this neighborhood, and loved to get the pho and raw beef salad at Lotus Garden. That was a couple of years ago. Today, I was feeling under the weather and a craving for Lotus Garden struck. So, I drove over to look for my old haunt and was very sad to discover the restaurant was no more. Then, a miracle happened... I had resigned myself to driving a few blocks up and finding some "consolation meal" of a burrito or burger, grabbed a random parking spot, looked across the road and saw a newer, improved version of the same Lotus Garden! Is it really the same place I wondered?! I went in, to find the same owner, Kathy. Now if you are looking for great Vietnamese food, you can't go wrong with this place. But what really makes Lotus Garden wonderful is that Kathy and her husband (the chef) truly love making their food and serving their customers. Kathy said the new place has been open 16 months now (the old place they lost their lease I believe), but they aren't getting enough traffic to pay the bills. She may need to close if something doesn't change. That's why I'm writing this. Sometimes, you don't want a good thing to be discovered/overrun, but if people don't start going here it will vanish, and that would be a big loss to San Francisco. There aren't enough places with phenomenal food where the owner really cares, and you can feast for less than the cost of a movie. If you go, Kathy will be there, and she will answer your questions with a smile on her face and perhaps tell you about her dream of writing a cookbook. Hopefully she will someday because their food is incredible and we'd all stand to benefit from being able to learn how to make it ourselves.

Pros: A gem -- family run, huge value, outstanding food, owners really care about their customers

Cons: Go here! They aren't getting enough business and will vanish if we don't support Kathy and her husband. That would be awful!

Posted 08/25/07

We just stumbled across this place because our first choice, Blue Plate next door, didn't have any tables available. Almost passed it over because there were only 4-5 diners inside on a Friday evening, but that would have been a mistake.

We had a really enjoyable light dinner: just the garlic noodles with prawns, and the flaming beef with prawns which was cooked at our table by a ... flame .... and delicious. Washed it down with Saigon beer, which we were told is new there as the standard Hue brand wasn't being exported from Vietnam any longer. The Saigon was OK but I prefer the Hue.

Fried bananas with coconut ice cream for dessert. Mmmm.

The owner was very personable and made sure we felt welcome. We'll definitely be back.

Pros: Undiscovered, friendly service

Cons: You probably wouldn't go in if you didn't already know about it

Posted 03/01/07

This place has a few good reviews but whenever I've gone it's been dead. I don't want to have to wait, but they deserve more business and I'd hate to see them close!

The food is really good. Actually, I've only had the imperial rolls, chicken pho and crab - all very good! And the staff is very friendly too. I think they should turn up the heater or something b/c it's always cold in there.

Pros: Food, service, location

Cons: too cold

Posted 11/08/06

Cute little place, tho not fond of the flourescent green walls at their new location. Owner is super friendly, and there's usually no wait. Tasty soup base and abundant add-ons in the Phoa (beef noodle soup). Always very fresh produce served with soups, fried spring rolls. Service usually fast and friendly. A great addition to the Bernal Heights/Upper Mission neighborhood. We just wish it was closer to home!

Pros: Tasty and authentic Viet food, casual atmosphere

Cons: Parking difficult

Posted 09/23/06

Kathy has re-invented Lotus Garden. After a trial run on a previous Mission Street location, the new Lotus Garden (next to Blue Plate) is primed for huge success. After dining in SF for the past 14 years, Lotus Garden is hands down "one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in SF" without pretension. The sublime flavors and delicate preparation by the chef (Kathy's husband) makes for a truly memorable dining experience. New to this restaurant? Ask for the special Lotus Garden crab, sea bass, &/or crepe. Unlike other well known Vietnamese jaunts, Lotus Garden dishes are never drenched with butter. A must for SF "foodies" who are looking for the next bright star in dining.

Pros: Delicious food, home town hospitality

Cons: You go here for the food

Posted 08/25/06

Really awesome food -- shaking beef in particular will be one of the better Vietnamese dishes you've ever had. Quite reasonable prices ($9-10/entree) and attentive service from a lady who's presumably the owner.

Posted 07/01/06

I love this place. The food is outstanding (try the shaking beef or the pork dish or the crab dishes), the service is friendly and prompt and the prices are right. Great, great neighborhood or destination Vietnamese restaurant.

Posted 06/28/06

I m a person that loves food very much. Over the years I've try out many cuisines, and now my taste budds have developed into very "High taste"
One day,I was searching for a new restaurant to satisify my T-budds on Citysearch. And I happen to run into Sake Cuisine, so I decide to give it a try. It turns out it really is a Hidden treasure despite the fact that it is in the mission district, I thought nothing good will come out of it. BOY! was I wrong. The Teriyaki beef there was HEAVENLY, the Teriyaki sauce was INCREDIBLE, the best sauce I ever tasted. The beef was also very high quality, tender and juicy,came with salad and soup. As according to the name of the restaurant I order a bottle of hot Sake.... WOW I was in heaven.
I highly recommends Sake Cuisine.

Pros: Free food given out, the Sauce, Hi-Quality of food

Cons: , chairs are squeaky

Posted 12/27/04

I would highly recommend you give Sake Cuisine a try! This restaurant features both Japanese and Chinese food and you will be completely satisfied with either choice. They have a fresh and delicious sushi menu that is completely affordable. The Chinese food is equally delicious. It is made to order and they are very, very generous with their portions. My friend and I went there to eat and had the best service ever. The people who work there are incredibly nice and treat you right. We were both completely full when we left and only spent $30 on our meal! They also offer free delivery. I'm telling you.. you have to try this place out! You will be happy you did!

Pros: Price is right!, Great Service!, Great Food!

Cons: Bad Music

Posted 05/24/03