Lotus Restaurant

Finally stopped by today (04/24/2025), but instead of dining in, I did a takeaway since I was at work. I'm pleasantly pleased with the flavors. The dining area was narrow but very café vibes. I would eat here again if I'm at work but I wouldn't travel for it. Very decent spot, though. Can't get better than their lunch specials: One Entree, one appetizer & rice or veg for $12.50-a steal! Lunch Special $12.50 *Bun Bo Hue: Light and sweet vegetarian broth w/four chunks of Vietnamese meatloaf and a generous amount of sliced beef. Quantity is plenty for the lunch special. My preference would be to have a richer meat based broth and simmer down on the sweet. However, with the vegetarian base, everyone can have it, so I get it. *Shrimp Spring Roll: Excellent! Perfect roll with great ingredients. Instead of iceberg, it's spring mix (love it cause that what I prefer or even romaine!). The peanut hoisin dipping sauce was very delicious. I'll go back for this for sure! *Steamed veggies: Tasty and still crunchy!

For the most part, the economical food they provide can feed a lot of people, and I was no exception, because my partner, our friend, and I were able to finish six dishes while not sending a lot. Overall the food was pretty tasty with not a lot of highlight moments but really not much to complain about, either. I ordered the bun bo hue and I thought it was very similar to what I have been served in restaurants in general, some meat in a spicy broth with noodles, and overall I had a pretty good experience eating it. The pad thai was sweeter than I had expected, even if the same dish in the United States in general suffer from chefs putting too much palm sugar and not even tamarind in it. It was still too sweet. The Com Ga dish had dry chicken which could only be solved with a sauce on the side. My partner who ordered the banh mi had positive feedback about the sandwich. Since this establishment is kind of like a staple for Southeast Asian food, I think it is worth coming back and just in general grabbing a quick bite of some comfort food. Its location is also convenient enough for those who live in downtown or the Loring Park area to just drop by and grab a quick bite.

I got the house pho and spring rolls, and I thought they were both great. The service was fine, no complaints. I appreciated having access to good food at an affordable price and within easy walking distance of the convention center.

Great food , fast friendly service. All menu items looked great , you can't go wrong . Kung Pao shrimp was excellent.

best food I had in Minneapolis so far. their pork vermicelli salad was so delicious. the wings were great too.

The Pad Thai was flavorless and burnt, would not get it again. The Vietnamese bahm mi barbecue sandwich was great though. The restaurant seems to be in a rough area and there was a customer shouting where her food was and why are they so slow.

Disclaimer I'm from out of town, and I've never had pho before. For this to be my first experience, they've set the expectations pretty high for other places. The wings are AMAZING nice and saucy. Food came out HOT! Love that for me you should go so you can love it for yourself.

To adequately rate this place, I might have to go and downgrade other places to four stars. We had an INCREDIBLE meal at Lotus. It was very busy (there was some kind of anime convention happening) but we were still communicated with well and seated as soon as possible with no stress. We had the lotus wings, pho, and bahn mi. The food came out incredibly fast and was so fresh, hot, and delicious, we were blown away. Our server was incredibly generous with his time and recommendations. The pho was the best we've ever had, the wings were mind-blowing (sweet, sticky, savory, and perfectly cooked), and the bahn mi were generous. It was also super reasonable for menu prices. We need a Lotus location in Chicago pronto! Thanks so much for a great dining experience.

If you are from out of town, or live under a rock, or simply forgot...the Lotus stands up continuously as the "#1 real-deal Vietnamese superstar neighborhood hole-in-the-wall joint." Must go casually. Love this authentic little neighborhood Vietnamese restaurant. Been around for a long long time. Adapted and persevered. I love all of the appetizers, but the Lotus chicken wings are pretty special. Pho is tasty especially on a cold fall or winter night. I dig the simplicity of the Broccoli entree. But beef and (crispy) potatoes takes me way back in time Veena in St. Paul - rock solid and very filling. Comfort 100% Parking is a little limited and neighborhood side street parking is minimal. Most people are literally walk-ins. Uber is a good option.

i was recently in town to see my guy JOSH, and we got to chatting and doing our service/meal, and we order Pho and we got to talk to the owner operator and we suddenly found ourselves in a charity/donation topic and the owner said, "i cant go with you, but let me give some loving to the cause", and we had over $500 worth of goods for police officers that serve the community... i mean that's awesome. the female in the photos... she awesome, she told her story, i told her dont cry, cause i'll cry... so she let me sign a chair as my appreciation for the community check#1776, table 6, spent $130 or more for a 5 person table

Lotus was somewhat busy at lunch, but the food was great. I started with the eggrolls, which were delicious - light on oil and very flavorful. Then I had the grilled pork salad, which is my usual order here, and it was absolutely amazing again. The only downside was a fruit fly in my bowl - that was a bit of a turn off. Otherwise, it would have been a perfect 5/5 experience.

Lotus is a no-frills, lively joint located in a strip mall next to a gay sex shop and a liquor store. Truly, a one-stop shop in an age of retail/culinary homogeneity (no pun intended). Amazing bun bo hue-- some of the best I've had, with sliced sausage and beef, and rich, spicy broth. The spring rolls (pork & shrimp) were next level. Service was great.

Ordered takeout when a craving for vermicelli salad hit. Was super satisfied with portion and taste. Inside the place was bustling with all tables occupied on a Tuesday afternoon. Was a good price for a great meal.

I have been here over 10 times in the past 10 years, and this is a legit place, with super nice people. The spring roles are a fresh delight and unique "Stew Pho" is my go-to. See below for two separate reviews. You're downtown Minneapolis, looking for a spot to eat: Hopefully you're enjoying your stay at the Hyatt or had a nice concert at Orchestra Hall! There are many options downtown (see Tips, below), and Lotus will certainly give you the most flavor for your dollar. Pho is a very classic, addictive traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. The Lotus is a great pho restaurant with traditional Vietnamese and American-Asian comfort foods. You will find high quality, fresh flavors. Checking out local pho scene: It's pretty big! And if you ask 20 MSP locals their favorite spot, you might get 15 different answers. I am very fond two spots in the Whittier Neighborhood - Pho 79 and Quang, and if you're visiting Minneapolis those are the spots I would take you. Lotus has been around a long time, and has its special merits; certainly a deep love in this reviewers heart. The standard pho is simply a nice bowl; broth with a pleasant, mild flavor. A few things stand out: the House Pho here has shrimp, beef, and chicken (unusual, nice). The Stew Pho is something quite interesting. Adding vegetables and a slight sweet flavor to traditional beef pho feels a natural evolution, and I just love it. Lastly, the have chili flakes, not every place does. Tips: - parking lot is small. I often go here when downtown cause it's it walking distance. But there is lots of paid street parking with a block. - "walk it off" Loring Park is right there. "Don't" feed the squirrels - other nice options in walking distance include fish n chips at Britt's, a drink at The Local, or Moroccan food at the more upscale Fhima's. Hells Kitchen is a crowd-pleasing themed American food experience. And sushi train is just as it sounds!

I'm sorry, the bun bo hue was not it. Whoever put the broth in my bun bo hue, grabbed almost half of it from the top, so most of my soup was extremely oily. I am not exaggerating. One cut/type of beef in the soup. One type of pork which is just the steamed pork roll. Flavor is bland. Bun bo hue is supposed to be rich. Also they forgot my spoon and garnish, so I had to go up and ask them. Pros: Limeade was good. Server was nice. Eggrolls were fine. Beef for the Viet noodle salad was marinated well.

Had their lunch special, Garlic sauce with Chicken, and it was delicious! I don't know how they make money with that price. It was a good amount of food.

Stopped by there for lunch today. Had never been and the reviews were good so figured give it a shot. The restaurant is tucked away a little from the hustle and bustle of Nicollet avenue in a small strip. Small place with few tables but clean and bright. I went with the lunch special and chose fresh spring rolls (no pork just shrimp) and chow fun with beef. The portions were a good size for lunch. and the service was good. The food on the other hand, not so stellar. The chow fun was pretty bland and the needles seems a little overcooked making them a little chewy and rubbery. The spring rolls barely had any shrimp even though the vegetable and the dipping sauce was pretty good. All in all I was a little disappointed. There are better options to spend $15 on lunch downtown.

Great lunch deal! They have mini starter, main and rice. I don't recommend the wonton. It's just fried cheese and wanton pad. The kung pao I had was good. Not authentic but still nice. The place was super busy when I went. You need to keep an eye on the queue because they crossed out my name but didn't give me seating. The staff was local-business style so it's pretty easy to arrange though.

Absolutely LOVE this simple Vietnamese eatery near Loring Park! The shop is cozy, the food is tasty, and the service is fast and friendly. Their Bun Bo Hue is one of the best I've had outside Vietnam; it's just the right amount of richness and spiciness. Their regular pho is also quite good, as is their egg rolls and rice dishes. Parking can sometimes be a bit difficult in this center (wish they would open up the fences off part), but otherwise this is one of our favorite Vietnamese restaurants in the Twin Cities!

Went to grab lunch at Lotus. Parking is a nightmare. I was lucky to find a spot. It's small on the inside and was completely full when I arrived. I ordered the Lunch special with pork and shrimp spring roll, Chicken Fried Rice and small seafood pho. It was delicious and$11 for all that food. Service was good even though they were busy. Will likely be back.

Food was delicious! I love a good peanut sauce that came with the spring rolls. They're not rolled very tight so they're a bit messy but they are STUFFED-- all things that belong in a spring roll are in this! Even the Thai basil So yummy. That alone filled me up! I had the Mock Duck Banh Mi as well and this was so yummy. Filled to the brim, but not too messy! They definitely came through with heavy mock duck which I appreciated. Flavorful and simple. Service was very quick- I picked it up for an order. The spot is easy to get in/out of, and the restaurant is so relaxed and the staff were friendly. Thanks!!

What a strange experience. I was excited to check out such a highly rated spot, and I was seated immediately at a 2-top table, where the staff seemed hard at work. I'll usually give eateries an average of 4 stars until they do something that either bumps their rating up or down. In this case, I started with a large House Pho ($13) but after half an hour, they admitted they had forgotten at me. THIS ISN'T THAT BIG OF A RESTAURANT. I finally got my order. The pho tasted fresh, with more an assortment of random meats and seafood than I've ever seen before. Tasty and filling overall. I spontaneously ordered Banana Wontons for dessert, waited another half an hour, then they told me they were out when I reminded them about my order. How do you forget about the same customer twice? The waitress offered me Taro Bubble Tea instead, to which I said fine. I was already hanging out and people-watching long enough. Might as well get something else while I'm at it. The menu said no tapioca, though my drink ended up having it. Again, weird. Anyways, I eventually paid at the front counter, half expecting some sort of discount for the poor service, but they really didn't seem to care. Never coming back here again.

Love this neighborhood spot for a quick bowl of pho! The service is amazing, and there is a parking lot! There is no frills to this place, but you can tell that this place is an integral establishment to the Loring park neighborhood.

Incredibly soggy and flavorless banh mi. It was so wet and dripping some white liquid (I assume is a mayo sauce) that the bread was completely soggy when it arrives and the plate was covered in a liquid. Mock dock had zero flavor same as rest of the sandwich. Would not go again.

Great food as always, does not disappoint. I usually have the Small House Pho and a Bubble Tea. I like their preparation of the pho over some of the other Vietnamese restaurants in town and the staff is always friendly. However, don't rely on the menu the restaurant has online. After reviewing the menu before I walked into Lotus I went in with a specific amount of cash for lunch. When I arrived I was offered a menu, but declined because I already knew what I wanted and presumed the online pricing was accurate. When I stepped up to the register to pay the check I was cash short so ended I using a credit card which I did not want to do. The online menu shows the Small House Pho $7, however was charged $9. The online showed $4 for Bubble Mango, but was charged $5.50. Photos of a printed copy of the online menu and my emailed receipt are attached. Lotus, please get your act together. In the summer of 2024 there are going to be 8,000+ choral singers from all over the world in the Twin Cities for an International choral music festival. I know many will be staying in the hotels near you. I hope you will have corrected your online menu and KEEP IT UP TO DATE in the future. This is the first time I have ever been disappointed in your restaurant and service.

Easy. Affordable meals in Loring park. Yes it's in a shady part of town but it's worth it. It was one of the first restaurants I tried in Minneapolis. Great prices. And larger portions. Orders come quick also if you want them delivered. I always get their chicken pho. Mango boba. And egg rolls! Amazing food. Affordable. And great flavor.

I had the wonton soup, oyster chicken, and egg rolls. The food wasn't appetizing. I was looking for deep flavors and the old school vibe like it used to be, but it wasn't that. The food tasted like it had been sitting, pre made and it wasn't it. I know it's a local favorite, but times have changed!

Amazing food with even better service! Thank you! 10000000% recommend. The best pho around. Definitely check them out.

Some hits, some misses. Pho and pad Thai are great. The Vietnamese salad is wrong, just wrong...missing some key ingredients. The bubble tea is excellent.

Family owned. Authentic viet food. Great find! Service was great, friendly, quick. Ambiance is typical of Asian restaurants, very casual. Food was good. We did get spring rolls which were fresh. Also ended up with egg rolls which were packed with proteins. Pho was bomb, the soup that is. The broth was flavorful but not overly salty or sweet. Reminded me of the streets of vietnam. However the proteins like beef and meatball were tough and spongy. This is the only reason for not a full 5 stars. The noodles was perfection not mushy but not too hard. Honestly only thing that was off for this meal was the meat. Good ratio for meat to noodles. We will definitely be back and highly recommend to others! Happy eating!

Saw a video and had to review! This owner is the most selfless person and very kind!! They help the homeless and look out for everyone visiting their shop Go visit them and show love to those who also show it

I would have given 4 stars for the food but it's just not okay to charge $2 more than what the menu says. (Per dish) Especially without telling ppl when they order. Bad practice.

The bahnmi sandwich was excellent! I got the pork one. The meat was nice and tender and the pickled vegetables were an excellent contrast to the meat and bread. The pho was alright, nothing super special. I also got the Vietnamese coffee(I have never had this anywhere before) and it was too sweet but that may be how it is supposed to be. Would definitely return for the bahn mi!!!

The place is a bit small but it's a family business and the customer service is amazing! I love the food and the iced coffee. I'm glad this place is still around after everything that's happened.

My wife, 2 kids and I was in the area and wanted to try something in the area. We are of Asian background and do a lot of reviews of places we eat and try. I give this place a 2 stars for their friendliness and the way they treated us. I wouldn't give it to the food. Authentic- No, it is cater to the demographics of that area. No flavor in the pho broth and no fresh aromas from spices. Taste old and water was added because they forgot to make broth from the night before. Banh mi- so so no flavor, cream cheese wonton- wife loves and says it's the best in town. Beef lo main for the kids- Pass!!! it tastes like the veggies are from a vegetable bag from the precut Walmart aisle and they use the brown sauce inside the veggie packet for the sauce. Pass for me. Should have went to pho hoa, pho 69 or even quangs. Tried to get my wife to come back into St. Paul and go to a place on university Ave. but she was too hungry. Sorry Lotus!!! Food is no good and not authentic.

Generous portion of pho for a large bowl. Service was fast and friendly. I would recommend them if you are in the area.

Perfect food and celebrities randomly drop by here all the time!! it's amazing. I highly recommend their lo mein.

I just loved to MN and I was asking some people about a good Pho restaurant and everyone recommended Lotus. My boyfriend and I went there and absolutely enjoyed it. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted and sat immediately. The staff is awesome and so kind and attentive. I ordered a small beef pho without the cilantro. The small was more than plenty for me. My bf ordered the house pho which had chicken, beef, meatballs, shrimp, and crab in it. He loved it and ordered a large- which was sooooo big. We also ordered the crab wontons (crab Rangoon) it was the best I've ever had! We will definitely be returning often.

Got the lunch special here, which, I think, is a great deal! Food 3.5/5 Pho - it is ok, have definitely had better and it had a taste that I wasn't familiar with... Still good on a cold day, though! Chicken fried rice (side with lunch) - not the best, wouldn't order alone Spring rolls - fairly good portion and tasty! Came with peanut dipping sauce Price 5/5 Lunch special is a great deal!! $12 for all the above! Ambiance 4/5 A little dated, but also somewhat modernized? It was clean and fit the bill for a quick lunch. Overall recommend for lunch if you happy to be downtown, but wouldn't necessarily go way out of my way.

I've heard about this restaurant a very long time ago and had always wanted to try it out. Was really hoping to like this place but it didn't beat my usual spot for pho. The pho was bland. The space was very tight though cute. Service was decent, nothing phenomenal.

This place and owner deserves all the love and success in the world. They help feed the homeless and have such a kind and genuine soul. Keep up the great work, will definitely visit if I ever make a stop in Minnesota :)

This restaurant is definitely a family owned restaurant, they have a picture of the family hanging. I stopped by here with a couple of colleagues and it was pretty good. I wouldn't eat at this place again unless I was in the area. I got a pho bowl which was delicious, but I've had better pho's. My colleagues told me that their food was okay as well, nothing special.

Saw the viral video of the owner helping out the homeless and thought I would come by and drop a nice review. The restaurant seems like one of those places where the staff treats you like family. I have never been to Minnesota but I would love to visit one day and have a nice bowl of pho.

Thank you for being incredible human beings and feeding your community!!! The food is aces!!!!

Came in with a group of 6 and they were very accommodating with good food. Maybe a touch expensive, but very good. We had various phos, and most got the house pho as recommended. The broth was good, and a touch sweet. The meats included were mostly good, particularly the shrimp, but the crab had an overly soft texture. The add-ins were especially the very fresh and fragrant basil. I tried the banh mi, which was good with great, crusty french bread. Also, the large pho is very large. You may not need it. There was a weird thing about running out of limeade, then finding some that felt a little off. With a total cost of $20 including tip, it's not bad

This place serves delicious, authentic Asian food AND they help feed the homeless. Pho real!! This is my new favorite place in Minneapolis.

If I could leave 0 stars I would. Left my house in below zero weather to go grab this food just to get a container full of vegetables and hair. Thick long black hair wrapped in my food. And honestly like 5 noodles in the dish. On top of that vegetables aren't even cooked through. Brocolli still hard

I've been coming to Lotus since the '90's. It's a dtwn Mpls staple. Sometimes things can be really good and some times they are just "okay." Regardless, I live dtwn and I'll always come and visit and grab something quick when I don't feel like driving far to get it. Service is always cool... not like back in the day when the owning parents ran it and the 4 sons were always there, but still cool. I'm a 4 decade Lotus patron... I'll always come back.

Can't comment on the food but saw the viral TikTok (@Joshlilij) of the kind owner who donate food to the homeless. Definitely will stop by if I am ever in Minneapolis. Nice to see people spreading kindness in times of hate and division in the world.

Yet another hometown favorite that I can't believe I've never reviewed. I grew up coming here. My earliest memory was in the early nineties. It was one of my mom's favorite place, here and Ping's. Ambience: Small, unassuming restaurant located off Grant, in a strip mall with a gas station and liquor store. Clean, old school decor. Service: Table service is usually pretty quick. Menus are on the table. You pay at the register. Like everything else, the prices have increased due to Covid. The goods: GET. THE. PHO. Any version of it. They are known for it and rightfully so. We make it a point to go for lunch, M-F 11-2. The lunch specials include fried or white rice, an appetizer and almost any entree, for about $12. This visit we opted for chicken pho and chicken stew pho. Fried rice, crab ragoons and simmer rolls. Everything was great, though the veggies in the stew pho were hard. The flavors were on point, as usual. We also had the mango limeade, it was refreshing and sweet. All in all, I'll continue to visit, every time I fly back home to Mpls.

Never been here but the owner seems like a genuinely nice guy. Next time I'm visiting I'll make sure I stop by.

Saw a video and wanted to review! The owner is an angel that feeds the homeless and is kind to all! I'm sure the same amount of love and energy also goes into their food. Who wouldn't want to eat here?!

This is amazing food. It's a small place and you will likely have to park in the parking garage across the street, but it's worth it for the experience. The pho, garlic chicken, and spring rolls were all the best I've ever had.

Saw a video and their clean kitchen ( from that same video ) had to try this place out. Amazingly fresh, delicious and authentic meal. I've been to Vietnamese 4 times and this definitely bought back many good memories I had there. Thanks for your kindness that also bought back faith in humanity.

Great food Great value I love Lotus Restaurant. I am always greeted with a smile by a friend. All of the dishes are delicious, full of flavor and character. As a vegan with non vegan family members I am very happy to find a place that we all can find food we enjoy. My favorites are Lo mein with mock duck and vegetable fried rice add tofu. My husband's favorite is the Singapore noodles and my son likes the Pad Thai. If you like Thai and Vietnamese food - or you have never tried it - you will love every item on the menu!

Amazing customer service and quality. The food was amazing and quick, best eggrolls I've ever had! I felt very at home with a warm welcome, would definitely recommend if you're in the area!

As someone who's Vietnamese, I've never been more excited to try someone's pho outside of my family like yours. If you have the heart to treat others like you do, I couldn't imagine how good your food taste.

I flew into Minneapolis to visit family over Christmas holiday and was craving for a bowl of pho. This place did not disappoint. Soup was very flavorful and the people here are incredibly nice. Definitely recommend.