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Haven't been since 2001!All of above plus the wonderful
Haven't been since 2001!All of above plus the wonderful host and Wolfgang himself !! The plum sauce beef ribs, vegetable fried rice were gigantic and the food was as flavorful and satisfying as my last visit in 2001.
Be the first to ReplyWe dined at Chinois on Main last night, and it was
We dined at Chinois on Main last night, and it was spectacular! I frequented the restaurant quite a bit in the 80s and 90s when I lived in Santa Monica, so I was already familiar with the experience. But last night, on my first night back in town visiting, I was so impressed by the deliciousness, ambience, and service we had that I had to comment. We started with the Tiny Dumplings, the Oyster appetizer, and a Scallion Pancake, followed by the Sea Bass and the Shanghai Lobster. For dessert we had the Panna Cottaand the trio of Crรจme Brรปlรฉes, (which was my favorite from before). It didn't disappoint! I have to give the highest praise to our server, Lisa, who was fabulous, very attentive, friendly, and clearly devoted to our having best experience possible. All in all, it was a LIGHTS OUT experience--Wolfgang Puck does not disappoint!
Be the first to ReplyThis was my first time at Chinois, and the food was delish!
This was my first time at Chinois, and the food was delish! It met my expectations. We started with the tiny dumplings, the lobster spring rolls (amazing!), and three main dishes, including duck, beef, and scallops with pad Thai. I highly recommend the egg noodles with vegetables. It has the ambiance of a neighborhood place. It's understated, and business casual was the dress vibe. It's worth checking out! And their bar is fantastic, also!
Be the first to ReplyI was really curious to try this place as it was Michelin
I was really curious to try this place as it was Michelin and a Wolf Gang Puck restaurant so we came here for my birthday. I couldn't decide between giving this place a 3 or a 4 stars as I probably would have given this a 3.5 to be honest. I understand where the other reviews were coming from in terms of the ambiance. Every table was packed tight, literally no space to even walk through the seats. There were also some large bird in between tables hovering over you, which took up a lot more space. The interior space is also pretty small so it was really loud inside, we could barely hear each other. The food I thought was interesting and a good asian fusion cuisine. We had the ahi tuna which was probably my favourite dish of the night. The sauce was thick and light and the tuna was extremely soft and smooth, probably the best ahi tuna I've had in terms of texture. The calamari salad was beautifully presented and prepared by our waitress. The flavours were light and refreshing, which complemented the fried elements of the dish. The short rib was very tender and the sauce was rich and flavourful. The mashed sweet potatoes that came with this dish were also soft and creamy, which paired well with the meat. The sugar snap peas didn't do much for me though. For the price, you do get a good amount of short rib. The duck was nicely cooked and mostly soft however it was pretty dry and I wished the skin could have been crispier. You get a lot of meat here and the fruity sauce was interesting and added another layer of flavours for the palette. The duck fried rice was full of fatty, aromatic flavours and it smelled great. I don't think there was enough duck but the fried rice was moist and juices oozing out of the dish. We thought the side of steamed buns were going to be just plain buns which was what we wanted, however, it had vegetables stuffed inside the buns. This was probably our least favourite dish as the vegetable medley lacked seasoning and the bun was overcooked, dry and hard. We ordered the yuzu custard dessert. Normally, restaurants do give you a complimentary birthday dessert but not here. Anyhow, the yuzu was my favourite part which gave the dessert a strong lemony taste which I loved. The custard texture was also amazing and the raspberry gelato was well balanced in terms of the sweetness and sourness. The white ice cream I think was vanilla coconut or something and it was probably the best vanilla/coconut ice cream I've had considering I don't like vanilla. Some of the staff were really nice and lovely, including our waitress and the guy who performed a birthday song for me. However, I was very confused by the young man that cleans up the table. He took away every dish of ours even when there was still food on the plate. He never asked us if we were done eating and if it was okay to remove the plates except for the one time when there was actually no food left on the plate. And that's because we hurried to eat it all up before he started taking our dishes again. I was taken aback when we still had half an ahi tuna left on the plate that we wanted to eat and before we knew it, the dish disappeared. That kept happening throughout the night. I may still be interested in trying out other dishes so perhaps I may come back but at a time when there's less people and noise. The food overall was good but for the prices, the quality wasn't quite there even though the portion sizes were good.
Be the first to ReplyBoth the food (tried 9 different things to share) and the
Both the food (tried 9 different things to share) and the service was out of this world! It was smaller that I'd expected, but that made it feel much more intimate. The owner made her rounds to made her guest feel welcome and appreciated.
Be the first to ReplyThe restaurant has been open for years on Main St.
for a reason- quality of food is superb! The service has always been solid- polite, informative and the waiter had great recommendations! The restaurant was not very crowded, but we did have dinner pretty early, 6pm! As we were leaving, it was getting noticeably busy. The space is on the smaller side with an exposed kitchen making the ambiance feel like a family holiday dinner!
Be the first to ReplyWe ordered two dishes, sichuan beef and the Shanghai
We ordered two dishes, sichuan beef and the Shanghai lobster. The beef was awful, no sichuan experience in it and was too sugary, yuk!!! Who likes sweet beef!! The salad that came with it was old and tasted like mold. Horrible The lobster dish was also sweet. Not as bad as the beef but for $75 I expected a lot nicer food. The one star they got was for friendly staff!! Don't waste your money there. Go to any restaurant in Thai town and enjoy some delicious reasonably priced dishes.
Be the first to ReplyThe food at this place is amazing.
It's well worth the cost. Family owned for decades. Service was good as well. Full meal with 2 drinks and tip was about $100 per person. I highly recommend.
Be the first to ReplyTables packed in like sardines, too crowded, too noisy, no
Tables packed in like sardines, too crowded, too noisy, no parking, food good, not great.
Be the first to ReplyBeen coming here for years.
The food is so delicious and full of so many amazing flavors! Service is incredible! Our server was usually John whom we absolutely adored but I guess he no longer works here. We bring our tourists here and they love it!
Be the first to ReplyMeh, not my kind of place .
. i think this place is more appropriate for families, not really a date night spot. Portions are quite big and not as fine dining as i thought it would be .. prices are good for what you get, good place for big groups, it is super noisy and busy.
Be the first to ReplyI love this place!!!outstanding food, service, and ambience.
Noisy, friendly, fun with a creative menu filled with yummy food! Extremely accommodating as they were finding a way for our party of 4 to become 6. So welcoming. To our entire family including our 2 month old baby. Brought us dessert even though it was late and we were the last diners in the restaurant!
Be the first to ReplyWe have been to Chinois since 1987.
Chef Rene creates the most delicious food. Whenever I have foreign guests this is the place I would take them for dinner. They are always impressed with the food, service, and ambiance. We have yet to have a meal that is not top notch. Bella and her staff are just delightful and amazing. Many of the servers and bus boys are still there. We have celebrated almost all our birthdays at Chinois.We love starters like Soft Shell Crab when in season. The Curried Oysters is to die for. The deep fried catfish is their signature dish. It's so crispy that you can practically eat the whole fish bones and all. Every once in a while you might even get a lovely piece of ginger. The Grilled Australian Lamb Chops are simply scrumptious. The Roasted Sea Bass in a spicy miso glaze is done to perfection. The duck fried rice is a great side dish. I highly recommend you give it a try. You will not be disappointed.
Be the first to ReplyChinois is a neighborhood institution for those of us in
Chinois is a neighborhood institution for those of us in the Ocean Park area of Santa Monica. The food is exquisite. I've never had anything bad. The staff is exceptional. They are the kind of people that they teach customer experience courses about. Where else are you going to go for French/Chinese fusion?
Be the first to ReplyWhere to start!? My sister was in town on a business trip,
Where to start!? My sister was in town on a business trip, and we needed to find a place to eat between my home and her hotel. I looked up a bunch of places, but the reviews for Chinois totally stood out!The cuisine is Asian-French-Wolfgang-Puck fusion, and the food was tremendous. The Tiny Dumplings were great, but the Wonton-Wrapped Sea Bass with Beets and Spinach has spoiled me for life... I might never try anything else on the menu.The place is small, busy and eclectic. The staff is friendly, helpful, and refreshingly diverse. Two thumbs up!
Be the first to ReplyTHE BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!! Having been fortunate enough to
THE BEST RESTAURANT EVER!!! Having been fortunate enough to dine at Chinois on Main when it 1st opened almost 40 years ago and we continue to patronize to this day. While traveling back to California from our new home out of state we dined at Chinois 2 nights in a row. In fact we scheduled our trip to allow us to eat at Chinois as many times as possible.Chinois never disappoints!!! Having eaten over the globe at some amazing restaurants we always return to Chinois ranking as our favorite and top of the list for fine creative and delightful dining. Bella is delightful as always and has been able to retain staff that exceeds even the most particular of patrons while at the same time maintaining a warm and welcoming ambiance. Waiters and bar tender Victor always remember who we are and our favorite dishes as well.My favorite foods are Ahi with uni sauce for a truly taste explosion combined with the finest quality of ahi. I always order a side bowl of the uni sauce because it is so truly wonderful. Exquisite grilled Lamb chops exceed any lamb found anywhere. Shanghai Lobster with fried spinach remains a true extravagant presentation of lobster at its finest. Chinois chicken salad remains a delightful staple as well.All is all Chinos remains our favorite restaurant in the world!!A MUST RESTAURANT FOR ANYIONE LIVING NEAR OR VISITING THE AREA!!!
Be the first to ReplyI went here for the first time in years and it is still
I went here for the first time in years and it is still absolutely delicious. This place basically created upscale Cal-Asian(in my memory), so you'd think their flavors would be kind of rote by now(since I've now tasted a million restaurants that have followed in their footsteps). But nope, they still impress. And had some flavors I was not expecting. Loved the Salmon, the duck crepes, the calamari, veggie fried rice. All lovely with great service.
Be the first to ReplyBest food and service! Every time I come here, I feel that
Best food and service! Every time I come here, I feel that I got my money's worth. Bella is the best.
Be the first to ReplyI will give this place a 4 stars because they made me
I will give this place a 4 stars because they made me stressed out because they made a mistake for charging me $680 for dinner. I was shocked!!! It's a good thing they corrected their mistake but man it's giving me heartburn. However their food, ambiance and service are amazing and stellar! I would not take that away from them. I would definitely come back again but need to be careful.
Be the first to ReplyI went and had the famous Shanghai Lobster because I'd seen
I went and had the famous Shanghai Lobster because I'd seen it on a television show. It was absolutely delicious! Our server was alright, but otherwise, we had an excellent time!
Be the first to ReplyI know the history of this place and have walked by it at
I know the history of this place and have walked by it at least 500 times since living in the neighborhood but finally got to try it for the first time this past weekend. Calamari & Rock Shrimp Salad - familiar flavors done perfectly. The full-size portion was a perfect starter and the execution of this dish is as good as it gets. -Dumpling and Peanut Butter Sauce - loved the sauce. The dumplings themselves weren't anything incredibly unique but still will done. Great flavor profile here. -Short Rib Special - saw these coming out of the kitchen one after another so had to try it. I've eaten a lot of short rib dishes and this is seriously one of the best. Super tender and well-marbled short rib made this an instant hit. Wish it came with something fun like wasabi mash but the sweet potato mash and snap peas cut through everything nicely. Overall, I was impressed with this place. The flavor profiles are a bit dated (I'm sure they were once revolutionary) but between the service, quality and decor, we really enjoyed our meal. It's definitely not cheap, but you get what you pay for ingredient-wise here. Worth a try for some classic asian fusion flavors done at the highest level.
Be the first to ReplySince this is my 100th Yelp review, thought I'd make it a
Since this is my 100th Yelp review, thought I'd make it a little more special for one of my all-time favorite restaurants. I started coming here with my Dad when I was a teenager because he had been living close by and it was love at first bite...and for me too. In the past, I loved coming here so much, I'd go for dinner with my Dad, in my High School baseball uniform, after home games :)Years later, I even lived in the hood, in back of Chinois...and would often come for just dessert and sit at the bar. I've celebrated numerous Birthdays here - mine/family/friends/loved-ones...as well as anniversaries, Valentines Day, family get-togethers, date-nights out...and in anticipation for what was my last first-date 10 years ago :)My favorite thing about Chinois has always been sitting at the counter (with only one other person) and being able to watch & talk to all the chefs & su chefs & cooks as they prepare and plate all the food. I tend & prefer to make most meals out of their "appetizers" opposed to Entrees, because IMO, they're more exciting yet less expensive than most of the Entrees. One of my favorite dishes (anywhere) is their Tuna Sashimi Tempura with Uni (sea urchin) sauce. I've been known to order two of these babies so I can have an entire plate to myself because it's heaven on earth in every bite. I also love their Soft-shell Crab (which is seasonal) with the cilantro sauce (and I'm not big on cilantro - especially when it's uncooked) but theirs is warm & insanely delicious - especially when the soft-shell crab is plumb and on-point. Some more of my favs are the Szechuan Duck Pancakes and their Chinese Chicken Salad. Also love their vegetable dishes. My favorite entrees are the Shanghai Lobster with ginger curry sauce and served with crispy spinach - its expensive, and there's not much lobster to go around, but it's worth trying if you've never had it. When I was younger I'd always request that crispy spinach as a side dish (which they wouldn't) but through the years they've added it to their menu. I also enjoy their Whole Sizzling Catfish - which they'll cut up at the table for you and it's served with a tasty ponzu type of dipping sauce.The desserts are pretty decedent...but I usually gravitate towards the Creme Brรปlรฉe, which is blowtorched to crisp & crackly perfection, and their Warm Chocolate Molten Lava Cake that oozes in delightful deliciousness (unless it was back in my vegan days and had to settle for their wonderful homemade & refreshing sorbets :) The service is usually great & friendly (most of the staff have worked here forever) the food is usually spaced out nicely. Though often times, it comes out too fast and there's not enough room on the table for everything (especially when we order lots of food) The servers & bus staff are fantastic and always exchange dirty plates & utensils for clean ones in between courses, and they try to clear the tables quickly to create more space. Bella, the hostess with the mostess, has been running the front of the house ever since I can remember and is usually the one you speak to when exchanging phone calls...and warmly welcomes you upon arrival. Wolfgang Puck used to show up nearly every Saturday night in the past and greeted all the customers at their tables..and I/we've taken a few pictures with him throughout the years. Say cheeese :)To me, the place looks the same after all these years - which is okay with me because Chinois was way ahead of their time, with Wolfgang's unique and eclectic take on his signature brand of French-Asian Fusion Cuisine. The place is often crowded and the tables are very close to each other...so you might be sitting bumper-to-bumper with other diners - depending on where you're seated...and a bit of maneuvering is required when getting in & out of your table or chairs. There's a lot of energy inside the dining area...but the place gets a bit noisy...so I don't encourage a romantic night out here. It's more about the food & service. But I still love everything about this place...even the valet service. However, this past dining experience was my least favorite. All the dishes mentioned above, lacked something of sorts and our group of 5, celebrating a Birthday, were slightly disappointed with all our food. In addition, some of the portions shrunk, and the prices increased significantly. Nonetheless, perhaps it was an off night for the food?? But I'll be more than willing to give them a chance for redemption. Because they've been extremely solid & consistent for so many years.Thanks Wolfgang, for creating such unique, outstanding & memorable cuisine...and so many fond & nostalgic memories throughout the years.
Be the first to ReplyI really enjoyed the food here.
It's pricey but worth it for special occasions. I do wish they had speciality cocktails. I ordered a margarita but it wasn't great. I would say stick to wine or more classic drinks. The food was all delicious though. The chinoise salad lives up to its $30 price. The dressing is so good. I also loved the scallops. Service was also great. Family oriented vibes. Love that some menu items are from the original 1983 menu.
Be the first to ReplyLet me start by saying everyone here was incredibly nice
Let me start by saying everyone here was incredibly nice and cordial. Now...Underwhelming, tacky, boring except for the heist of the prices. Strong service at first that then tapered off to me being thirsty for most of the meal - probably also due to the overly saturated, oily and salted dishes. Feels like a white guy in the 80's named this menu, pretty sure something is just labeled as "oriental". Sweatingly expensive. Like it made me sweat until I remembered I was being treated to this meal. But I would never come on my own or take someone else here. It's the sort of place where its coasting off of some rep it build decades ago. Cocktails - uninspired, clashing, meh. Suntory Toki is not something you should speak to me as being exotic. These days I could probably find it at 7-11. Anyways. Big pass. Unless your grandparents are in town. And they lack taste.
Be the first to ReplyAn oldie but goodie.
We've been going sporadically for 25 years. The food is always top notch but last night what made the night so special was the staff. Attentive, funny and earnest. Absolutely no pretense that you'll find at other upper end restaurants. We felt very welcomed and appreciated during the whole experience and will be coming back soon.
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