Mao's Kitchen

The food is delicious, I return every year when I visit L.A. i recommend green curry, ginger sweet and sour fish, pineapple fried rice… you choose whatever you want because everything is really good. My pics is at 12:00 when the spot open. At this time I ordered to pick it up. 🥰🥰🥰

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.

Stopped by here for a quick dinner before a red eye flight, and ordered the Model citizen soup and Orange ginger chicken. Both dishes were very large and are good for two to three people. Note that the entrees don’t come with rice, so you have to order that separately. The model citizen soup came recommended by our waitress since the noodles are handmade. There’s plenty of veggies and a starchy broth. The orange chicken had a great crunchy texture and only a hint of ginger. It has some broccoli on the side. We had leftovers and I’d recommend storing the noodles separately from the broth so they don’t get soggy. Plenty of indoor seating and they do offer takeout.

I'm so glad this place is still here, as it brings me a lot of nostalgia from my old days living in Venice. It hasn't changed a bit since 2010, which is great. The restaurant is super accommodating to different dietary choices, like vegan and gluten-free, because they make everything from scratch. Loved the hot and sour soup and mapo tofu. Plus even the rice puffs they put on the table are gluten-free! AND, the food was super affordable for the quality and portion size. The female employee who took served on Saturday night was so kind and helpful, and I was thrilled that the vibe was so chill at 5pm (only a few people sitting inside, but many take out orders).

Food is ok, took long to get the food on the table. Reasonable portion size.