The server lady was soooo sweet and made awesome recommendations on the phone. I had the "eggplant pamphlet" and orange shrimp and they were sooooo yummy!!! I have not dined in but the place is relaxed and chill. Nothing too crazy, but a gem for Chinese food in this area!
Solid choice for Chinese food cravings in the Venice Beach area Food is solid, I like it. It shines in its own right, unique but still tasty. My cravings were satisfied. Interior looks nice, but j opted for take out. Interior has a rustic feel to it with classic wooden tables and chairs Staff is friendly and professional, and food came within 5-10 minutes from ordering. Great sevice overall.
Calm atmosphere, very easy going, relaxed helpful staff. The wonton soup was exactly what I needed to be me back in a good space but the tea is LIFE! Will go again!!
We stopped by this local Venice spot for dinner and it was great! The spicy wontons were very good and the perfect amount of chili spice. Also the staple orange chicken was good with plenty portion for 2 people. Will be back again!
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.
Been coming here for many years. Their food is reminiscent of old school east coast restaurants I grew up with. Fried Rice is our favorite. We always order it with either chicken or shrimp. Love the Hot and Sour Soup. Our favorite appetizers are the Shrimp Roll and the Beijing Egg Rolls. Prices are reasonable although they did increase slightly after the pandemic shutdowns. Service has improved significantly and it's a pleasure to see Sabina. She's always so friendly and upbeat whenever we visit. It's nice that she always remembers us and welcomes us like family! I don't know and didn't ask, but Sabina takes care of the guests like she owns Mao's now. If not, she's the greatest employee an owner could hope for! Beware, the portions are plentiful so come with an appetite. We almost always order more than we can eat in one sitting! However, you'll have great leftovers for the next day. The only negative I can say is that I find the seats (older metal and wood folding chairs) are a little uncomfortable, at least to me. We love this place and its people, both the staff and their friendly and interesting guests! Highly recommend.
Pro-tip: good luck finding parking around here ! Bottom-line: Surprisingly, Mao's kitchen ranks among the upper echelons of Chinese cuisine society . Each order made to order, so expect to wait a decent amount of time . But it is worth it! I've had a couple of items in the past, but my latest order was the large hot'n sour soup. There are many variations of this classic soup dish. In theory it should be equal parts sour/spicy, but I'm impartial toward the spicier take with an ancillary 'sour' after taste. Mao's hits my preference on the head. The base is smoother, savory, and spicy. Would definitely come back to try a main entree dish.
This is one of my favorite restaurants in Venice Beach! The ambience is normally quiet, which I appreciate and they have a very easy grab and go counter upfront. You place your order, wait, create your order right then and there and then take out. - I love the cuisine. The flavors are so explosive! I also enjoy the decor and the kindness of the staff. You can eat indoors or outdoors and you are located one block away from the boardwalk. Parking is not easy so plan to arrive via Uber, bicycle or walk.