Mao's Kitchen

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1512 Pacific Ave
Venice, CA 90291

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(310) 581-8305
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Mao's Kitchen - Venice, CA
Mao's Kitchen - Venice, CA
Mao's Kitchen - Venice, CA
Mao's Kitchen - Venice, CA
Mao's Kitchen - Venice, CA
Reviews
( 19 )
( 34 )
( 4 )
( 10 )
( 16 )

Best

I always order food there for lunch, the food is execellent , always hot, fresh and affordable. And get this, the new driver is a girl and she is awesome. Kudos for Mao's, I lo...

Worst

ate here two days ago and two weeks ago. the food was rank and undercooked. service was worse! been going to Mao's for years but won't ever again. a joint in serious decline. ...

Great food, poor service 7/2/2006

malmed Provided by Partner
The service is incredibly inconsistent which is unfortunate because the menu is interesting and the food is delicious. On our last visit, we asked our server for hot sauce 3 times and never got it. I'll continue to go, but only when I'm not very hungry and I have the patience to deal with the service. Pros: interesting menu, tasty food Cons: bad/inconsistent service more
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Great food, poor service 7/2/2006

The service is incredibly inconsistent which is unfortunate because the menu is interesting and the food is delicious. On our last visit, we asked our server for hot sauce 3 times and never got it. I'll continue to go, but only when I'm not very hungry and I have the patience to deal with the service. Pros: interesting menu, tasty food Cons: bad/inconsistent service more
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ABYSMAL SERVICE! 4/18/2006

I cannot believe that they can stay open with such horrific service. I love the Peace Not War Wonton Soup, but good grief the service is so awful it's just not worth it. Who cares how good the taste is when it consistently arrives cold, you can't get a glass of water, the waitresses are in a brain-dead stupor and you have to beg for the check! I've tried going early, bad service. I've tried going late, bad service. I've tried delivery, a joke. I've tried take out, absurd. I don't care how good the food is, nothing is worth the hassle. Pros: Decent Food Cons: Horrificly bad servic more
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ABYSMAL SERVICE! 4/18/2006

tbkowalski Provided by Partner
I cannot believe that they can stay open with such horrific service. I love the Peace Not War Wonton Soup, but good grief the service is so awful it's just not worth it. Who cares how good the taste is when it consistently arrives cold, you can't get a glass of water, the waitresses are in a brain-dead stupor and you have to beg for the check! I've tried going early, bad service. I've tried going late, bad service. I've tried delivery, a joke. I've tried take out, absurd. I don't care how good the food is, nothing is worth the hassle. Pros: Decent Food Cons: Horrificly bad servic more
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Food might be great, but I wouldn't know 3/5/2006

ianfidel Provided by Partner
My girlfriend and I came here for a late lunch last Saturday, and were ignored for 20 minutes after we sat down. The restaurant was only moderately busy, but still no excuse for being so woefully understaffed. No one seemed to notice when we finally walked out. more
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Food might be great, but I wouldn't know 3/5/2006

My girlfriend and I came here for a late lunch last Saturday, and were ignored for 20 minutes after we sat down. The restaurant was only moderately busy, but still no excuse for being so woefully understaffed. No one seemed to notice when we finally walked out. more
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The lone bright spot in westside chinese 2/13/2006

I've been living here for a few years now, and Mao's is the only place where i can get chinese food that actually tastes good. Service is always spotty, but if you order carryout, the foods fresh, hot, and on time. the Orange Ginger Chicken and Weiweur Lamb are personal favorites, but i've never gone with anyone who had a bad experience. Long live the Chairman! Pros: Inexpensive, Veg. Friendly Cons: Parking, Service more
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The lone bright spot in westside chinese 2/13/2006

sgajiwala Provided by Partner
I've been living here for a few years now, and Mao's is the only place where i can get chinese food that actually tastes good. Service is always spotty, but if you order carryout, the foods fresh, hot, and on time. the Orange Ginger Chicken and Weiweur Lamb are personal favorites, but i've never gone with anyone who had a bad experience. Long live the Chairman! Pros: Inexpensive, Veg. Friendly Cons: Parking, Service more
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Best Inexpensive Chinese Food in LA 1/8/2006

pohaha Provided by Partner
I've lived in LA for 2 years now and Mao's is the best Chinese I've found. I know there has to be a great take out and/or inexpensive place closer to Los Feliz, but I have yet to find it. I love this place. It's trendy without being judgemental or pretensious. Prices are great and they are more than happy to make any changes requested. They also have a really good Jasmine Iced Tea. They are open really late and deliver.I love this place and readily drive out to Venice when I get a hankerin for Chinese Food. Pros: Great food, Inexpensive, Clean Bathrooms Cons: Crowded, Parking more
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Best Inexpensive Chinese Food in LA 1/8/2006

I've lived in LA for 2 years now and Mao's is the best Chinese I've found. I know there has to be a great take out and/or inexpensive place closer to Los Feliz, but I have yet to find it. I love this place. It's trendy without being judgemental or pretensious. Prices are great and they are more than happy to make any changes requested. They also have a really good Jasmine Iced Tea. They are open really late and deliver.I love this place and readily drive out to Venice when I get a hankerin for Chinese Food. Pros: Great food, Inexpensive, Clean Bathrooms Cons: Crowded, Parking more
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Go eat at Panda Express - it's ten times better. 12/10/2005

I am not a fan of Panda Express (and I shake my head at people who visit the establishment), but Mao's Kitchen pales in comparison to the chain. The food at Mao's Kitchen was extremely salty. I had the 'wonton' soup, but the wontons were so poorly made, I nearly gagged when I ate my first one. It was ALL wonton skin! My boyfriend ordered the black bean pork, which might as well been sea salt with a side of pork. He couldn't eat it, and this is a guy who eats anything. The one redeeming point was the selection of teas at Mao's. How this place was rated a 9.2 baffles me and very much disappoints me. I am still looking for a great Chinese place on the Westside, but one thing is for darned sure, Mao's Kitchen is a venue I would never wish upon my worst enemies. Pros: Tea, Ambiance Cons: Overly Salty Food, Poorly made Wontons, Uncooked Brown Rice more
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Go eat at Panda Express - it's ten times better. 12/9/2005

malaybrit Provided by Partner
I am not a fan of Panda Express (and I shake my head at people who visit the establishment), but Mao's Kitchen pales in comparison to the chain. The food at Mao's Kitchen was extremely salty. I had the 'wonton' soup, but the wontons were so poorly made, I nearly gagged when I ate my first one. It was ALL wonton skin! My boyfriend ordered the black bean pork, which might as well been sea salt with a side of pork. He couldn't eat it, and this is a guy who eats anything. The one redeeming point was the selection of teas at Mao's. How this place was rated a 9.2 baffles me and very much disappoints me. I am still looking for a great Chinese place on the Westside, but one thing is for darned sure, Mao's Kitchen is a venue I would never wish upon my worst enemies. Pros: Tea, Ambiance Cons: Overly Salty Food, Poorly made Wontons, Uncooked Brown Rice more
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Delicious 11/23/2005

uclagirl Provided by Partner
Although Mao's Kitchen doesn't look like any other Chinese restaurant I've been to (the decor could easily fit either a hamburger joint or rustic bistro), it provides an excellent dining experience. The People's Potstickers and the Orange-Ginger Chicken were terrific, but both were completely eclipsed by the house fish specialty. The ginger, garlic, and cilantro were a fantastic complement to the fish. Parking can be iffy--it's Venice--but we avoided a crowd by arriving slightly early. At 7:15 we had no trouble getting a table for four, even though only half of our party had arrived. The service may not have been perfect, but it was accurate and friendly. I'd eat at Mao's Kitchen again. more
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Delicious 11/23/2005

Although Mao's Kitchen doesn't look like any other Chinese restaurant I've been to (the decor could easily fit either a hamburger joint or rustic bistro), it provides an excellent dining experience. The People's Potstickers and the Orange-Ginger Chicken were terrific, but both were completely eclipsed by the house fish specialty. The ginger, garlic, and cilantro were a fantastic complement to the fish. Parking can be iffy--it's Venice--but we avoided a crowd by arriving slightly early. At 7:15 we had no trouble getting a table for four, even though only half of our party had arrived. The service may not have been perfect, but it was accurate and friendly. I'd eat at Mao's Kitchen again. more
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Really, really good chinese food 8/16/2005

Citysearch User Provided by Partner
Healthy, yummy and plenty of vegetarian options. I love Maos! The brown fried rice is really good with lots of vegeis and nuts. i like the n... more
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OK food, lousy service 5/12/2005

atlfreshnclean Provided by Partner
I decided to order from here because I read that they do special orders. I wanted to get Kung Pao chicken, but with battered chicken instead of the usual stir-fried. When I got my order, they didn't prepare it the way I wanted. Plus they seemed to have a bit of attitude - I was wearing a shirt and tie, and it is a communist-themed restaurant in Venice, after all. The food, despite it being wrong, was still pretty good. Pros: Good food, Big Portions Cons: Impolite more
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OK food, lousy service 5/12/2005

I decided to order from here because I read that they do special orders. I wanted to get Kung Pao chicken, but with battered chicken instead of the usual stir-fried. When I got my order, they didn't prepare it the way I wanted. Plus they seemed to have a bit of attitude - I was wearing a shirt and tie, and it is a communist-themed restaurant in Venice, after all. The food, despite it being wrong, was still pretty good. Pros: Good food, Big Portions Cons: Impolite more
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User review from Insider Pages 4/4/2005

Citysearch User Provided by Partner
It's rather hip rather than traditional fare. I love that it's opened late and they have options for Vegetarians. more
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User review from Insider Pages 4/4/2005

Citysearch User Provided by Partner
Really good Chinese food (coming from a Chinese person). Funky, Venice Beach setting. more
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My favorite Chinese place in town 4/4/2005

Citysearch User Provided by Partner
Food at Maos is great. Portions are huge and you get plenty for your $$$. Perfect local Venice place to get something to eat. We almost alw... more
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Menu for Mao's Kitchen


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Hardwood picnic tables and colorful propaganda posters from China's Communist Revolution mirror the character of the clientele: informal, quirky and hip. Solo diners can grab a...

  • 12/15/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Monday 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM Tuesday 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM Wednesday 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM Thursday 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM Friday 10:30 AM - 3:00 AM Saturday 10:30 AM - 3:00 AM Sunday 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM
  • Payments: Master Card, Visa, Discover, American Express
  • Neighborhoods: West LA, Venice
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