Sandra Caldero-Smith
Small bistro packed with amazing flavors. We had the eggplant and beef with green beans along with fried dumplings. Everything tasted great. If you make it for lunch special hours the food is a steal.
… moreValerie
The food was good. You can get plates to share with your family.. My favorite there is the hot tea. All the dishes were really good.. Definitely would recommend it. Plates are about 20 dollars each more or less.. I wouldn’t really get the beef broccoli because the meat wasn’t that great.
… moreCaroline Renzelman
This place is a beloved neighborhood staple. The lemon chicken is one of my favorite dishes. The breading is so thin and crispy, and the dipping sauce tastes like real lemons. I also love the braised string beans and pan fried yee mein noodles. The owner and staff are so nice and attentive, and they also support several Chinatown mutual aid orgs. I love them.
… moreJuanita Lai
The ladies are really nice, got the pork and century egg congee and it had lots of pork in it compared to other spots I’ve been to around Chinatown! Also got their Singapore noodle stir fry which came with lots of various seafood!! I wish I also tried their fried shrimp but will definitely go back for that next time.
… moreMei Chi Siu
Good solid local Chinese restaurant close to my church. Enjoyed excellent REAL Cantonese Chinese food with reasonable prices. Lastly I think their chefs are magical; their kitchen sounds are not loud at all. Dishes ordered; veggies, salted fish pork patty, Singaporean noodles, egg plants, stewed fatty pork and chickenwings. So good…We’ll be back!
… moreMikel
Always great… nicest owner and wait staff… super friendly and comfortable… Will see Chinese people eating here… I like to order alot of dishes, have food to take home…
… moreISLAND Off
The service attitude is average, and the hygiene is very poor. There is hair on the packed takeaway paper towels, and there is also hair in the packed bags. Then there is still some pot dust in the fried food, which is all gray after eating. Then they said that they would help me put chili in the packed dishes, and they all agreed. After giving the tip, they found that no chili was added to the dish, and they completely forgot the guest‘s request. The whole experience is very bad. You have to charge more for rice when packing meals on Sunday. You don’t need to add it at ordinary times. I don‘t understand why this special rule is?
… moreJR Mariano
Incredible and authentic Cantonese food. Very friendly staff (owner is chef, server, and dishwasher), affordable and great variety on the menu, and generous portions. A must try if you are looking for very good affordable Chinese food in the LA/ Chinatown area. Also has an A Health Department rating!
… more中田はるか
The best lunch I’ve ever had!!
Price per person: …
… moreDustin Pratt
I stumbled upon Zen Mei Bistro while wandering through Chinatown, and I’m so glad I did! Tucked away on the corner of Yale and Alpine, this little family-run spot feels like a hidden gem. The vibe is super laid-back—think old-school charm with handwritten receipts, green porcelain chopsticks, and a kettle of hot tea brought to your table as soon as you sit down. It’s cash-only, so come prepared, but the prices are so reasonable you won’t mind.
The food here is classic Cantonese with a homey twist. I tried the BBQ pork wonton soup, and wow—the wontons were plump, meaty, and swimming in a big, comforting bowl of broth. The kung pao shrimp was another hit—perfectly spiced with a nice crunch from the peanuts. They’ve got a great range of seafood dishes too, like the fried lobster (or “dragon prawns” as they call it), which looked amazing on another table. Portions are generous, and everything feels fresh and unpretentious.
Service is friendly but no-frills—don’t expect a ton of chit-chat, just solid hospitality. The place can get busy, especially around lunchtime, so I’d recommend arriving early to snag a spot. Parking’s a bit tricky (metered street only), but it’s worth the hassle. Zen Mei isn’t flashy or fancy, but it’s the kind of place that makes you feel like you’ve found a secret slice of Chinatown. I’ll definitely be back for more!
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