Mao's Kitchen - Venice Beach

My favorite Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles is truly exceptional. The food is authentically Chinese, and the prices are fantastic. Thank you for creating such... read more My favorite Chinese restaurant in Los Angeles is truly exceptional. The food is authentically Chinese, and the prices are fantastic. Thank you for creating such a wonderful dining experience!

For the location you can eat cheaply and well read more For the location you can eat cheaply and well

Service was excellent Food was amazing Location is fabulous Value for money and no booze available making the place a chilled out vibe Ps. I love drink but didn... read more Service was excellent Food was amazing Location is fabulous Value for money and no booze available making the place a chilled out vibe Ps. I love drink but didn’t need it tonight as the food was on the money.

Visiting LA for the first time in my life, I wanted to go down to Venice Beach to see it since I have spent so much of my life watching shows from the 80s where... read more Visiting LA for the first time in my life, I wanted to go down to Venice Beach to see it since I have spent so much of my life watching shows from the 80s where people were having so much fun out there. And I wanted to lift weights like Arnold. After seeing the sites, I decided to eat some Asian food because we don’t have any good Asian where I live. Walked into Mao’s, let me tell you it was great. Had the Kung pow chicken and the Dan Dan mien. Definitely higher quality stuff than stereotypical Chinese takeout restaurant. Bring a beer from one of the local establishments next-door with you when you go into the restaurant. The owner is cool if you know what I mean.

The most authentic and nostalgic Chinese restaurant I’ve ever known.Born and raised in the 70s in China, I’ve traveled around the world for the last 20 years an... read more The most authentic and nostalgic Chinese restaurant I’ve ever known.Born and raised in the 70s in China, I’ve traveled around the world for the last 20 years and have visited all sorts of overseas Chinese restaurants. Mao’s Kitchen stands out from all the others. The food there isn’t just some Chinese food; it’s the Chinese food reminiscent of the old days, each dish with its own unique characteristics.The menu is printed on simple paper and looks aged, as if it has time-traveled to the present. It resembles an index of intriguing stories, each with a brief introduction. I was captivated, eager to discover what each story entails. Through the menu, you can feel the author’s love for the food and his appreciation for the opportunity to connect with each guest through the dishes.Every dish is alive, speaking to you, telling a story, full of life and heartfelt eagerness to share its essence with you.The first bite of the complimentary fried crackers, served in a simple stainless steel bowl, unexpectedly brought me to tears. They tasted exactly like the homemade crackers fresh out of the big frying pot that I used to have in my childhood during Lunar New Year. You can’t find the same in any other Chinese restaurant or supermarket. You could only have such food either cooked by Grandma at home or here.The Two-dollar Salad was worth twenty dollars. It was simple, ample, and nimble, so fresh that it seemed like it had just been brought to the table directly from the backyard garden. The sauce was another big surprise. I could tell the base was sesame paste, which is the traditional sauce we use in northern China, but there was also something else in the sauce that I couldn’t identify, making it uniquely tasty.The Hot and Sour Soup was not exactly the typical recipe but something more special. The large portion was enough for four people, so be cautious if you are dining alone.Mao’s Hometown with fish was again simple but surprisingly delicious. Fresh vegetables with tender sole fillet in a secret recipe sauce, cooked to perfection.There was no meat in the Hot and Sour Soup, making it vegetarian-friendly. In fact, vegetarians can always choose tofu or smoked tofu as a protein option in any dish which provides a choice.The service was great. The young waiter was polite, smart, and observant. He was multitasking but didn’t miss any gesture from each table. With a smiling face and attentive eyes, he seemed to run the place as if it were his own home.All these elements, combined with the nostalgic paintings on the wall, the old-style furnishings, and the warm ambiance, make this restaurant a place one wants to return to again and again, whether alone or with friends or family. It is a place where you can find not only great food but also peace, love, and life.Last but not least, being steps away from the gorgeous Venice Beach, the location is unbeatable. Nothing compares to a joyful stroll along the beach to appreciate the beautiful Pacific sunset after a fulfilling dinner. Vegetarian options: There was no meat in the Hot and Sour Soup, making it vegetarian-friendly. In fact, vegetarians can always choose tofu or smoked tofu as a protein option in any dish which provides a choice.