Red Lotus & Taste Kitchen

Adventured to Ann Arbor to try Red Lotus Plant Based Kitchen ( Taste Kitchen ). Everything I had was delicious, and I was really full by the end. Service was a bit slow as there was only one person working as a server AND the cook. Not every item is vegan and it shares space with The Pho Shop, so be mindful of that when ordering. I got the Mushroom Steamed Dumplings, Vietnamese Vegan Winter Rolls, Vegan Paella, and Coconut Panna Cotta. The rolls break easy so best to eat them in one bite. The sauce was great with the dumplings. Happy they offer vegan dessert too! The inside has a really nice vibe for lunch.

If you’re in Ann Arbor and looking for a vegan spot that doesn’t make you feel like you’re chewing on sadness, Lotus Cafe is your new best friend. This place is like the lovechild of Pho and Vegan heaven—seriously, who knew those two could get along so well? First off, the prices are shockingly decent. I mean, we tried another Asian place across the street, and Lotus Cafe’s food was tastier *and* almost half the price. It’s like finding out your favorite band is playing a secret show for free—pure joy. The chef-owner here is basically a vegan superhero, he was vegan for a year and wants to ensure vegan/vegetarians has some solid options in Ann Arbor. You can tell he’s on a mission to make vegan food so good, even meat-eaters will be sneaking in for seconds. We sampled a few dishes, and here’s the scoop: - Curry Butternut Squash Soup (vegan):5 stars, no question. If this soup were a movie, it’d win all the Oscars. Must try. - Mushroom Steamed Dumplings (vegan):Pretty good, but there was something mysterious going on that made them a tiny bit demanding—like they wanted more attention or something. - Mushroom Tacos (vegan):Super yummy! These tacos are basically a party in your mouth, especially with the sriracha sauce. Highly recommend. - Agedashi Tofu (vegan): Nice try, but the soup could use a little more oomph. It was like the tofu showed up ready to dance, but the soup forgot the music. Oh, and the Thai iced tea? Perfectly sweet and refreshing—like a little vacation in a glass. Service was friendly and quick, and the portions? Let’s just say you won’t leave hungry or sad. Bottom line: Lotus Cafe is a vegan gem in Ann Arbor. Whether you’re a full-time vegan, a curious vegetarian, or just someone who loves tasty food without breaking the bank, this place has your back. I’m already planning my next visit—because once you’ve had that curry squash soup and mushroom tacos combo, you’re hooked.

The food and atmosphere were amazing; I highly recommend! There is something on the menu for everyone, regardless of dietary restriction. While the specialties are vegan and vegetarian, there are also meat dishes from the connected pho restaurant! Though Red Lotus is not normally open in the evenings, the owner will take customers if there is expressed interest! Service was absolutely amazing. My friend and I ordered the mushroom dumplings, vegetarian laksa, and beef combo pho - everything was absolutely amazing!

I enjoyed the laska noodles and I really like their vegetarian menu. The dumplings were good, the sauce a little salty for my taste. The service however was a bit lacking. At 3 pm on a Saturday there seemed to be only two staff, and I had to figure everything out on an ordering tablet and sit at a random table with no idea what happened next. One of the staff later showed up and set up the table with a big chunk of grease or something on his overalls. There's a bar but a computer and paperwork of a staff member was piled up on the counter. The food looks beautiful and it seems like a classy space for a restaurant, I hope they can improve the service and atmosphere of the place to match the quality of the food.

As a pho lover, I’d say this is the best pho I’ve had in Ann Arbor—especially given the limited options in town. At first, I found the flavor a bit plain, but I quickly realized it’s because the broth is made entirely from fresh, high-quality ingredients, without artificial enhancers. I had just used to more processed flavors! I also loved the special drink, a fresh fruit-infused tea. The natural sweetness from seasonal fruits made it taste far better than the overly sugary, artificially flavored drinks sold elsewhere. A truly refreshing experience!

Absolutely fantastic restaurant!! Layers of flavor in well portioned, reasonably priced meals!! Mostly vegan with a couple of vegetarian dishes to please almost anyone. My daughter and I can’t wait to go back! And, yes, they have a bar, too!

100/10 definitely recommend. The food was absolutely amazing (tasty and beautiful) and the owner is so kind. We came to dine-in at Red Lotus during a weekday evening and the owner said he doesn’t usually open for dine-in during dinner time (he is normally open just at lunch) but that he wasn’t too busy today and would open just for us. We were able to order from both the Red Lotus (vegetarian/vegan) menu and the Pho Restaurant menu (which has both pho and other meat dishes). It was all delicious. Everything was so good. And the pho was the best pho I have ever had. The owner said he has worked on his recipe for 10 years and traveled across the country trying all the pho to make a recipe even better and I must say I agree. It is indeed the delicious. The owner says he would be happy to open for more people in the evening if there is interest. I really hope you have the chance to try his delicious food! I will definitely be coming back.

I can’t say enough good things about this restaurant! The food was absolutely amazing. We had the vegan laksa noodle, mushroom dumplings and the miso spinach salad. All were beautifully presented (like artwork really) and all had unique flavors that were delicious. The miso spinach salad was to die for! The flavor profile and textures were the best I’ve ever had, and very simply done. The owner/ chef was cooking and serving along with his wife and they have a very smart set up where you order and pay via tablet at the table. Given how tough it is to find waitstaff these days, hopefully this will help them to stay open long term. Highly, highly recommend this restaurant for both vegans and non vegans.