Lotus Test Kitchen

Food fresh, plentiful, delicious and that doesn't even start to cover the flavors. It is off the beaten path of Chinatown,but you know it's good, because of the neighborhood local traffic that came in out while we were lunching. It mostly an online, pickup delivery, but there is a small amount of chairs with a little shelf bar to accommodate walk-ins like myself. Moderately priced, service was genuine and pleasant, orders, completed quickly and hot.

Be careful when ordering double protein. If they don’t give it in an extra box, they probably only gave you a total of one portion. This thin layer of meat was supposed to be “two” portions and they packed the rest of the box full with rice to make it look full. The lady chef gave me trouble for pointing out that they gave me such a small portion. The guy at the cashier was nice about it. But the prices on their menu is also not up to date. They will charge you a higher price and not honor the menu prices that are right behind them.

Yeah this place is legit. The portion sizes are massive and the prices can’t be beat. The food is amazing and there’s so many different options! You can really customize what you want and you can always add more protein or sauce. I want to come back here and try all the different options. I got the pork belly bao which was perfectly crisp but as warm and delicious. I also got the pork belly bowl and I’m so glad I did. They really know how to cook it to perfection! Not to mention the chicken teriyaki which fit well with the veggies and sauce. I loved the spicy and sesame sauces and hope to try more. Another thing that really shined was their honesty and compassion. A customer dropped his food during an accident while food was being handed off to him. Instead of getting mad and making him pay for a new bowl, they made him a fresh one and helped to clean up. I believe this type of service goes above and beyond and definitely deserves recognition. Please come here and support the business! You will not be disappointed 🙏

great value! big portions and great food. lady that took our order was also extremely nice!

Delicious hole-in-the-wall! I ordered the chopped salad w/ tofu and pork dumplings for $22, which I felt like was a good price. The tofu was cooked right in front of me, and I was walking out with my to-go bag within 5 mins. HIGHLY recommend the dumplings; you can definitely tell they’re made from scratch and were the best I’ve had in a while. Enjoyed my lunch in the park, which is mere minutes away. Definitely recommend!

Very generous serving sizes, but the food was meh. The pork belly rice was very salty, and the thick belly cut was less tender than I hoped for.

I went to the grocery store and there was a fire drill. You read that right, a fire alarm went off and everyone had to leave. Hungry and frustrated I walked a couple blocks into this unassuming restaurant. It smelled good. Only a 6 hightop bar seating, but it was empty excluding one other couple who finished and left by the time I got my food. Food came pretty quickly, but that is because I came in the quiet lull right before the dinner rush. People had the right idea to order ahead regarding this place. They get slammed pretty quickly. Lemongrass Chicken Bowl: Chicken, marinated with fresh lemon grass seasonings in our House-Made Soy Dressing with (1) Base and topped with Cucumbers, Grape Tomatoes, Purple Cabbage, Pickled Daikon and Carrot, topped with Scallions. * Comes with a side of Kale Mix dressed with our Ginger Dressing and Purple Cabbage Slaw. VERDICT: EAT THIS! That pickled daikon and ginger dressing when this bowl is mixed together make this dish sing. It was so freaking good! Chicken Teriyaki Bowl: Marinated Chicken in our house teriyaki sauce. Topped with cucumber, grape tomato, spiced corn, purple cabbage. While good, I think it would have been better if I DIDN'T get the sesame sauce with this one. Choose your sauces wisely in this place. I should have gone for the ginger dressing again. VERDICT: GOOD Strawberry Oolong Tea: Good, but a little too sweet. I also ended up with some weird rock sugar in the bottom that was odd. Maybe it didn't dissolve? It also tasted different. It was also just too sweet at the bottom where the syrup and strawberry pieces mingled with the chunks of sugar. VERDICT: GOOD VERDICT: GOOD. I didn't feel like I wasted my money. It is very much a choose your own adventure, with the sauces, so ask for their recommendations if you are unsure. I loved my Lemongrass Chicken Bowl.

One of my new go-to spots for Asian-inspired healthy bowls. I first found out about Lotus Test Kitchen last year while looking for a lunch spot in Downtown. Since then, I’ve been getting bowls from here at least once a month. They seamlessly meld Asian flavors into healthy bowls without a lot of compromises. My favorite bowl is their signature Braised Pork Belly Bowl, which features three substantial chunks of tender pork belly. It also comes with cabbage slaw, and pickled daikons and carrots that helps tone down the greasiness with their tangy, refreshing crunch. And then there's the Spicy Gochujang sauce, an optional but highly recommended addition that weaves sweetness and a subtle kick to the bowl. While certain dishes, like the Thai Curry Chicken and the Spicy BBQ Korean Pork Belly bowl, occasionally come with meat that errs on the drier side, their sauce and pickled vegetable toppings help elevate the central ingredients. Overall, a great lunch spot that offers a quick, filling, and delicious bowls. If you’re looking for something healthy outside of your usual salad bowls, I highly recommend giving them a try.