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Lotus To Go Go
Category: Restaurants Vietnamese Vietnamese [Edit]
113 W Grant StMinneapolis, MN 55403
Neighborhood: Downtown Minneapolis
(612) 870-1218
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 9:30 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
94 reviews for Lotus To Go Go
Review Highlights
"Hands down best pho in the Twin Cities."
(in 30 reviews)
"...especially Pho soup, beef salad, fresh spring rolls."
(in 4 reviews)
"...the Szechuan tofu with veggies and the cream cheese wontons."
(in 6 reviews)
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94 reviews in English
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Review from Jonathan W.
Cleveland, OH
10/24/2011
Fantastic service and good prices at what appeared to be a very laid back place.
I had the egg rolls which were crispy and delicious. Also had the chicken pho. It was a little light on chicken compared to some other places I've been, but the savory broth was the best I've ever had. Plenty of noodles and sprouts! -
Review from Melissa C.
St Paul, MN
1/12/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've only ever had takeout at Lotus To Go Go, and as the name implies--it's kinda meant for that.
Everything I've had has been tasty enough. My particular fave is the house stir-fried noodles with beef. Yum.
But it's mostly just tasty *enough*. The one big complaint? When you ask for something spicy they give you a lot of spicy-making packets but don't always cook the spicy into the food. You can add sauce to get you where you want to be, but it doesn't have the same cooked-in, smooth, complex spicy flavor. *sigh*
Also: the shrimp is always way-overcooked. It's easy enough to avoid it--just know that going in.
Lotus To Go Go is, however, completely solid. You can rely on getting quality take-out food that doesn't unpleasantly surprise you (but doesn't necessarily surprise you at all).Listed in: 100 Reviews in 366 days: 2012, Time for Takeout
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Review from Ashley F.
12/14/2011
I suffering from a terrible cold, and I had this thought stuck in my head.
Pho. That's what will fix this.
I didn't want to go far, so my favorite Pho spots on Uni were out. I didn't have cash so Jasmine Deli was out.
So Lotus it was. Pretty great pho. Helped my cold.
Eggroll was very good, but not as good as KinhDo.
Did not like the Thai Tea. It was much sweeter than previous ones I have had.
Sorry for the broken English, my cold has spread to my grammar. -
Review from S W.
Minneapolis, MN
12/12/2011
Nicest owners on the planet. OK, let me say that. That IS my rating.
Food is - seriously, why is this place so highly yelped?
This food was "there for me" when I lived over there with a closet kitchen. Potatoes and beef - yum. But there is no reason short of being in that 'hood with a closet kitchen NOT to drive twenty more feet down Nicollet and have pho at - pick your spot, any will do. -
Review from scott k.
Bartlett, IL
2/2/2012
Superb! I went for the Pho but tried the Bun Hue instead. It was a spicy broth that kept me smiling for days! I can't wait to go back and try it again. The staff was awesome too. They helped to navigate the menu and provide some perspective as to the food and its Vietnamese origins.
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Review from Joshua L.
St Paul, MN
1/12/2012
Now I know good Pho when I taste it and I tasted it here. I went to 2 other places with 4 to 5 stars on Yelp and was really dissapointed. Lotus makes awesome Pho and the best Bahn Mi sandwiches in the freagin state. You will not regret it. You can play 2.75 at a regular place but the 5 dollar one that Lotus makes is a meal on it's own and you will savor every bite.
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Review from jill s.
Elgin, IL
1/11/2012
This place is so good and the family that runs it is so nice!!!
We were in Minneapolis for business for 3 nights found this place on yelp and it was the only place we ate at.
The Pho was so good, potstickers like no other you have had. These are the real deal and made to order. The sandwiches are great and the Vietnamese Flan is fantastic.
If you do't go to this place while in Minneapolis you are missing out!! -
Review from Karla S.
Minneapolis, MN
10/22/2011
Mr. S and I came here a couple of days ago to feed Mr. S's hangover with what his good friend Larry has sworn is a sure cure. Pho, a Vietnamese noodle soup with a rich broth, is supposedly the perfect answer to your post-party woes. I've always gotten my pho at Quang but after combing through reviews on Yelp I decided to hit up Lotus and see if they could compete.
Before we dug into the pho we ordered pork and shrimp fresh spring rolls. They were pretty and delicious and came with a tasty peanuty dipping sauce. These were totally different from my favorite rolls at Na's Thai Cafe, but tasty nonetheless.
This pho was just as savory and delicious as Quang. The broth was less greasy -- a big plus in my book -- but didn't have as much meat as I expected. Not being a huge meat eater, I wasn't enormously bothered by it. I made a note for next time to remind Mr. S to order double meat.
Mr. S got an order of General Tso's chicken that sounded good at the time. I asked what he thought (I didn't taste it; I get meat anxiety when things are breaded and fried) and all he said was 'forgettable'.
I loved that they offer both a small and a large size pho. The large is usually the side of a tureen and I hate to leave any deliciousness behind. The small order suited me perfectly. Brilliant! -
Review from E W.
Middleton, WI
11/6/2011
2.5 stars.
Maybe all the good reviews set my expectations too high.
Curry soup was okay, but too cinnamon-y for me, and I was hoping for a stronger coconut and lemongrass flavor. Stir-fry dishes were okay; no better or worse than most chinese places. The flavor of the egg rolls was good, but they were very greasy. I liked the garlic flavor of the cream cheese wontons.
The small dining area is dated and well-worn, but was what I expected based on its strip-mall location.
Staff was friendly. -
Review from Morgan A.
Minneapolis, MN
12/7/2011
I *love* this place. It is really a sleeper. It's hard to find good asian food and this place is very unassuming but wow....they are awesome. Their egg rolls are awesome, their beef and potatoes in oyster sauce is amazing, their curry soup is awesome too. I will be returning as soon as I can! =)
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Review from Donna Y.
9/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I ordered the beef pho noodle soup, fresh shrimp rolls, Vietnamese iced coffee ($12)
The pho was a little on the skimpy side. 3-4 slices of beef and not so fresh veggies but the soup was phenomenal. It was savory and well balanced. If you eat a lot, definitely order the large.
The fresh shrimp rolls were very tasty as well. An order of shrimp rolls comes with two rather large rolls. The shrimp was noticeably fresh and it comes with noodles, parsley and basil. The sauce that came with the shrimp rolls was a mixture of hoisin sauce and crushed up peanuts (for texture). Hoisin sauce is slightly sweeter so my personal modification (that worked wonderfully) is a mixture of Hoisin sauce and Sriracha (hot sauce).
The Vietnamese iced coffee is good and tasty as always. For those who are not use to Vietnamese coffee it's a much stronger and sweeter coffee than most American coffees so I'd recommend waiting for the ice to melt to help mellow out the flavor a bit.
All in all the food is wonderful but the location is a bit sketch. Located near a gas station, this restaurant has few parking spaces so keep that in mind if you chose to make a visit here. -
Review from Risikat A.
Minneapolis, MN
12/14/2011
Delicious, yummy eggrolls! Seriously, though. The eggrolls are fantastic. The vegetable fried rice is nothing to write home about and the cream cheese wontons are okay -- they're Vietnamese so they're a bit different but overall, a decent place.
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Review from Adrienne M.
Brooklyn, NY
12/12/2011
A really nice "cheap eats" Vietnamese restaurant near Loring Park. It's not fancy but, service was welcoming and the food was aromatic and fresh. The juicy mango bubble tea was good to the last drop. I just hope I didn't disturb the other patrons with my rude slurping sounds.
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Review from Tracy S.
8/27/2011
What a fantastic find! Everything was excellent.
Thank you Minneapolis Yelpers for your spot on 5 star recommendation. -
Review from Valerie S.
Minneapolis, MN
8/20/2011
I checked this place out because of the Village Voice Daily Deal...
Service= Friendly, kind and warm
Atmosphere= clean and simple
Food= out of this world.
I had the sweet and sour soup with shrimp, which was sweet and tangy and had an amazing array of fresh veggies. Fresh, crisp, awesome.
My dinning partner had the shrimp vermicelli salad and that was just as equally to die for. There was a good amount of fresh veggies, shrimp and not too many noodles.
As we were eating, I was plotting my next visit here!!!! YESSS!!! -
Review from Jessica M.
Minneapolis, MN
6/9/2011 ROTD 10/9/2011
If it wasn't against the law (and breaking about fifteen thousand health codes), I would LIVE at the Lotus - hiding in the backroom during the day and stuffing myself full of delicious noodle-and-rice goodness at night.
This place is a ninja of the Twin Cities - hiding innocently in the shadows of neighboring buildings until you turn the corner and "WHAM!"- it blindsides you with the most delicious and reasonably-priced food you've ever eaten. Some personal favorites of mine include:
* Pho - A Vietnamese chicken or beef soup that is a savory delight in every way. Served in a bowl big enough to double as a bathtub, the broth is swimming with pieces of tender meat, freshly chopped onions, and just-cooked noodles that seem to go on forever. They serve it with a side plate of bean sprouts, fresh mint sprigs and cilantro, Thai basil, and a wedge of lime - the soup version of "choose your own adventure". If you like it danger...er...hot, try a dash or two of the Sriracha to kick it up a notch.
* Fresh spring rolls - I happen to prefer the shrimp spring rolls, but these also come in beef as well. For a measly $4 you get two large hand-wrapped fresh rolls bursting with noodles, fresh vegetables, shrimp, and cilantro. The peanut dipping sauce is tangy yet sweet. Be careful of going with other people, because only one bite and they'll fight you over the last roll.
* Sweet and Sour chicken - My friend ordered this, and although I usually look at sweet and sour as an "americanized" version of asian food, this was an amazing dish. The sweet and sour pieces were crisp and freshly fried, the sauce was tangy and sweet, and the rice was fluffy and piled so high on the plate she barely made it through half of it before giving up in defeat. Definitely a winner, and perfect for friends who are more "burgers and fries" than "asian fusion".
The Lotus is owned by a family of hard-working, personable individuals who will remember your face, your name, and who make you feel like you're among old friends. One time my friend and I ordered food - not knowing it was superbowl sunday - and they stayed open an extra half hour just to give us time to get there.
And price? This place is college-budget cheap, without sacrificing the quality of food. So reasonable, in fact, that it's worth it to try an appetizer or two with your meal, just because you can. It doesn't matter which one you try - they're all good.
In short - you definitely have to try this place. It's great food at a reasonable price, staffed by friendly people. After one visit, you'll know you just found your new home-away-from-home. -
Review from Justin A.
Minneapolis, MN
11/2/2011
We got delivery while at a friends house near Loring. It looked like they had more Chinese food than Vietnamese food on their menu. My wife got Mock Duck and Potatoes (nothing to write home about) and I got the Chicken Bun (normally I get pork but I do not think they had it). My Bun (boon) was OK, the chicken was tasty and the veggies were acceptable but my noodles almost seemed like they had been cut or broken which made it almost impossible to eat with chopsticks. To top it off it cost almost $9 for my Bun. Save your money and go to Pho Tau Bay or even Quangs for better food.
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Review from Rod S.
New York, NY
9/26/2011
This place looks unassuming from the outside and has a really friendly neighborhood atmosphere once you enter. Don't expect anything fancy - especially due to its strip mall location, but it really has some great Vietnamese food and something you can't find much of in Minneapolis. I am a consistent traveler to MSP and if I have time I go to this spot for great, CHEAP food. The menu has a lot of options and for someone like myself who is gluten free I can sample a lot of dishes as many are made with rice or rice noodles so that is always a plus. I recommend one of the noodle bowls and try a few of the appetizers and if you order to much you can always take it home for a late night snack.
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Review from Josh M.
Minneapolis, MN
10/5/2011
Compared to other Vietnamese places I frequent I think this place is more of a 3 star experience, at least for what I like. Not a bad place, you get friendly service and the egg rolls here are really good. However, thier version of hot n spicy chicken just doesn't match that at say Vina or the Kinhdo. Fried rice is just oKay too, maybe some of thier other stuff is really good but I haven't yet had anything that really blew me away.
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Review from Luz M.
San Francisco, CA
10/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I adore this place. I live in San Francisco, but everytime I visit Minneapolis I make sure to come here.
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Review from Linda H.
Saint Paul, MN
6/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
So not fair that Minneapolis has my top two Vietnamese restaurants. Why oh Why can't St. Paul have a Lotus?
This is a teeny tiny little place in a strip mall in the bustling Loring Park area of Minneapolis. Parking can be a challenge but if you luck out, you can get a parking spot in the parking lot but there are only about five spaces so if you can walk or bike here, I would go that route.
We have been here a handful of times in the past year and each time, we order the same things. The fried pot stickers are the best I have ever had, you have to try them. I refuse to even share my order. If anyone else wants them, they have to get their own because i want all five to myself! Most of the time, I only order these and the spring rolls as my meal. The egg rolls are also really good. The peanut sauce is pretty good, I would not say the best I have ever had but pretty good. The entrees I can remember people having were mostly chicken and it is all white meat which is a great thing you don't always get. I usually love cream cheese wontons but that is the only thing we have not liked here.
The ingredients are always fresh and the service superb. Like other reviewers have mentioned, you feel like you are part of the family from the minute you walk in. The staff is so nice and friendly and always willing to help and answer any questions.
I see many people getting the Pho here. It is served in a large bowl which looks enough for two to share. I have never tried Pho so I might try it next time if I ever get tired of my Pot stickers. -
Review from Adam H.
8/16/2011
Decided to stop in here as we were walking by. Doesn't look like much from the street as it's in a small strip mall, but the food and service were fantastic. Our server was cheerful, funny and prompt and answered all of our questions to our satisfaction.
The food was simply great. We ordered a few appetizers (egg rolls, wontons) and the were both delicious, but our entres were easily the best part of the meal. My wife says the pad thai was the best she has ever had, and I would agree. We also ordered the yellow curry with tofu and we both enjoyed it.
We definitely plan to go back. -
Review from Ben D.
4/8/2011
Ever wondered what it would be like to belong to a Vietnamese Family?? The cooking, the closeness, and all of the wonderful culture!
Spend even an hour in here joking with the staff, and eating amongst your friends and you will know. They treat you just like a returning family member with the authentic food, the warm atmosphere, and the truly amazing Pho!
I have become a regular here, and will continue to come back because you honestly can't get food like this ANYWHERE else in the Twin Cities!!!
Well, not at this quality, this price, and this enjoyment level at least!Listed in: Best of Minneapolis, A Working Lunch
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Review from Jenn D.
5/13/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I stopped in to Lotus To Go Go twice during my 4 day stay in your fair city and came close to a third stop (sadly, my feet couldn't make it past my hotel again). The ambience felt almost like sitting in a family kitchen.
Both times I had the Vietnamese salad with the BBQ pork, which was consistently delicious and so much better than I've had in my own home town.
Service was fantastic and perfectly timed for lunch and dinner.
Tips: 1) They don't take Amex. and 2) Was that chili in the fish sauce? I forgot to check on day two, but luckily I like my salad spicy. -
Review from Jason R.
5/2/2011
The only bad thing about this place is there not open Sundays. This was my biggest surprise on my last trip to Minneapolis. Very friendly staff in this family operated restaurant. The pho was excellent even won over one of my friends who was not a big fan before we stopped here. They have a nice mix of other specialties and would definitely recommend there pad Thai or General Tso chicken.
However you are a fool if you do not have the banana wontons for dessert they had us talking about Lotus for about 2 days after. -
Review from Joseph K.
Brick, NJ
10/16/2011
While walking the neighborhood I stumbled upon Lotus.....I sat down and decided to check the reviews on Yelp....the waiter noticed me doing this and bribed me with a free eggroll. No need for the bribe. The food was very good as was the service. As a airline crewmember on a downtown layover this meets my needs for a quick, tasty, inexpensive meal. I look forward to returning.
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Review from Sandy S.
Arleta, CA
5/1/2011 2 photos
Coming from California, I had high standards for Asian eateries. Lotus To Go Go was good, don't get me wrong but I think it should be placed in the Chinese category more than the Vietnamese category. It had mostly Chinese dishes and I what I find odd was that it featured its new item, Pad Thai.
The Spring Rolls was good and the noodles that I had was also good. However, I've been to several other Vietnamese places in Cali and thought that this was just ok.
However, the service was great. I like the family atmosphere and the fact that the everyone was so accommodating. -
Review from Chrissy B.
Denver, CO
9/3/2011
Hands down best pho in the Twin Cities. I don't know why everyone is so hyped up over Quang. Their broth just isn't near as flavorful as Lotus. Not to mention that they have pretty terrible service and are more expensive. Lotus also has GREAT crab rangoon and their bun is pretty good, too. The waitstaff at Lotus are pretty much the nicest waitstaff I've ever met! GO GO to Lotus to GO GO!
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Review from Genevieve L.
Minneapolis, MN
Updated - 4/20/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Seriously, I'm upgrading my rating. This place is a standard in my weekly rotation (partially due to convenience but mostly due to awesomeness!) This is truly a family owned spot and they are very accommodating to special requests. Once I forgot my credit card and they let me take my food and pay the next time I was there!
They are not open on Sunday's however as of recently so be warned if you are craving salty, Vietnamese goodness on the Sabbath :)1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/18/2011
Such a cozy little local spot. They have pho (not nearly as good as Quang's) which is the main dish… Read more »
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Review from Maciej M.
Minneapolis, MN
5/21/2011 32 Check-ins Here
Great food @ reasonable price. Service is very friendly and give good recommendations. We stop there 2-3 times a week for a dinner and really like this place.
Recommend especially Pho soup, beef salad, fresh spring rolls
. -
Review from barry k.
Minneapolis, MN
1/13/2011
The food is awesome and the service is even better. It's this super cute family!
I had the most welcoming experience at this restaurant when I ordered take out. I asked the gentlemen what he suggests and he asked me about my tastes and suggested a few items. I asked if that was enough for two people and he said "it will be plenty, I don't want to try to sell you more than you need. I would rather you come back again and try something new" how nice is that.
We had our food in about 5 minutes (which was the imperial chicken and the bbq pork pho, both very good)
I wish the menu was a bit more exotic though -
Review from Cary W.
Minneapolis, MN
4/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've been coming to the Lotus for several years now and it's just a great place with fantastic service.
The food is light and not swimming in sauce. Their menu has a good selection of dishes for a variety of taste and they've always been incredibly accommodating.
I remember one time I went with a friend and she mentioned to me, she wished the dish she ordered came with broccoli (mind you we never said anything to our server) and when the dish arrived... low and behold.. broccoli.
It's these small little touches that make it a great place that I continue to go to time and time again and recommend for my friends.
I'm hooked on the fresh spring rolls and the pho is a favorite of mine. It's one of those places where the first time you go there, you feel welcome and appreciated. Every visit after that and you feel like you're a part of the family. -
Review from Justin K.
Seattle, WA
8/11/2011
Amazing! I'm visiting from seattle, and picked this spot from the yelp reviews. Soooo good! Service was great, the guy at the counter was quick, pleasant, and accommodating. I ordered the lunch special imperial shrimp with crab rangoon and fried rice. All items were spot on, the rangoons were some of the best I have had. All for about 8 bucks! Cannot recommend enough, I cant wait to be hungry again so I can come try something else.
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Review from Becca B.
Hennepin, MN
2/21/2011
I really wanted to try pho one weekend after the ladies over at Sweets Bakeshop turned me onto it and this was the only place I could get to deliver to me (because I also heard pho was a great hangover cure).
The pho totally lived up to all my expectations and you get enough to feed two people if you order the large size. I've also gotten the pot stickers and wontons here which are both excellent.
Yum, Yum! -
Review from Dan H.
Minneapolis, MN
10/10/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I've gotten take out from here twice, and I'm hooked.
Really good, simple, cheap Vietnamese food and extremely convenient from where I live to get to them and pick it up.
So far I've tried their chicken fried rice with vegetables and their sesame chicken, with their wings/cream cheese wonton/eggroll combo, and by no means is this standard "American-Chinese" food, it is full of flavor and really good. And it's CHEAP.
Highly recommended. I will update my review the next time I visit with my findings. -
Review from Cody V.
Houston, TX
1/22/2011
Wonderful little Vietnamese restaurant that has a great cafe feel. The food is excellent, the service prompt and the atmosphere welcoming.
We ate in the middle of week during the lunch hour and had no problem getting a seat right away, even though parking is hard to come by. Our waiter helped us right away, and our appetizers (wantons and spring rolls) came out in a few minutes. Each of us had their lunch special, and with an appetizer, tea, and a entrée, it's well worth the price.
A great find, and we will be back again! -
Review from Kohleen L.
Minneapolis, MN
11/15/2010 23 Check-ins Here
This place is family run, and it shows because everyone who has ever helped us seems to care that we have a good experience. On my first visit, which was over 2 years ago, I didn't know what to order, and the new bf and I were trying to find something we could agree on to share. So, we decided on the Kung Pao Chicken, if I remember correctly. I had wanted something spicier, so I was thinking something like General Tso's. Our server overheard the debate, and even though we had decided on the Kung Pao, when our food arrived, he provided me with a plate of General Tso's FREE OF CHARGE, just in case the KP wasn't to my liking. Now that's going above and beyond what I would expect of any restaurant! Well, the food was great that night and every night since.
We frequently get take-out and our order is usually ready in 15-20 minutes. The pork eggrolls are SO SO SO SO good, and I've heard that the spring rolls and crab & cream cheese won tons are superb as well. I like the General Tso's or Sesame Chicken, but if you're not a chicken person, and don't mind a little kick, I would recommend the Imperial Beef. Oh, and FYI...you can ask them to spice up any of their dishes, request no veggies, extra veggies, extra meat or just about anything and they will gladly meet your needs! Fantastic service all the way!
I'm so fortunate to have such a good Vietnamese place in my neighborhood, and now they deliver (go to http://restaurantconne...)! All of their food is MSG free, so for all of those out there who can't normally dine at asian restaurants because of the nasty monosodium glutamate allergy...have at it at the Lotus! -
Review from David G.
Riverview, FL
7/14/2011
The Vietnamese salad was very good. It is Vermicelli noodles on a bed of lettuce with cilantro, mint, scallions, sprouts, onions, and carrots. It comes with a small dish of nuts you can add with a small dish of sauce to pour over the noodles. I had it with the spicy stir fried pork. I ordered it a 4 out of 5 on the heat scale. It wasn't very hot, but it had a good flavor.
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Review from Jess L.
7/14/2010
Oh, man, five stars all the way!
I am really bummed that during the 4 years I lived in the area, I never ONCE went to Lotus to Go Go...mostly because I thought the name was silly. I am learning my lesson, that the sillier the name of the place, the BETTER THE FOOD IS. :)
I did a quick scan through the reviews on Yelp of restaurants in the Downtown Minneapolis area, and was pleasantly surprised by all of the good things that people had to say about Lotus. I decided to give it a whirl for lunch today, and I am really glad I did!
Their menu is HUGE. There are literally about a hundred different menu items, including an extensive assortment of appetizers and soups. Everything is really reasonably priced, and portions are generous. The restaurant was hopping with eat in and take out orders when I arrived--always a good sign. The food came quickly, was hot and incredibly delicious. I'll be back for sure! -
Review from Sam H.
6/21/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great Vietnamese in an old school diner setting. Surprisingly high quality and tasty.
