Monsoon Cafe

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1212 3rd St Promenade (at Wilshire Blvd)
Santa Monica, CA 90401

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(310) 576-9996
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Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Monsoon Cafe - Santa Monica, CA
Reviews
( 30 )
( 14 )
( 12 )
( 3 )
( 16 )

Best

this place is awesome

Worst

There is one reason and one reason only that I go there, the scallop dynamite. This is what you should expect when dining at monsoon cafe, at minimum you will be greeted after ten...

loud, bad service, good food 10/19/2004

the service can be quite annoying...but some of my favorite dishes are made here, so I keep going back. The music from the back can be loud, so be prepared...it won't be a quiet evening. But if you are up for yelling...the food can be very good. I LOVE the pepper noodles wtih shrimp. more
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Interesting place, but nah 7/20/2004

The decor and atmosphere is quite intriguing and visually appealing to people. However, if you were seated upstairs, you have to take a long trek to get to the restrooms and also the exit of the restaurant. The food was mediocre and not all that exciting. The service was stuck-up and not very attentive. Didn't refill our water until at the end of the meal practically. I wouldn't really go there again. more
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Only thing good is the ambiance 2/5/2004

The only thing good at Monsoon Cafe is the ambiance. Other than that, the service is horrible and the food is average. And if you have a large party, in our case...12, since the gratuity is included, don't count on getting good service. Pros: Ambiance Cons: , Average food more
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Sheeee! Keep it a secret 11/10/2003

I first tried Monsoon because of work party. What remembered of the party was so good I had to go back several weeks later. This place is great. Better than what I remembered. The decor is right out of southeast Asia. The food is amazing. Their Monsoon roll is to die for and their shrimp rendang(sp???) is the best thing I have ever tasted. Their drink menu is fun and they have this contest to come with funnier and whittier drink description. If they use your description they will give you a gift certificate and your name appears next to the drink. I have summitted my own for "Dragon fly martini" which is " After few of these drinks you will be seeing substitles" but no word yet. I'm going on and on but what I'm saying is that this place is awsom. Pros: Great drinks, Best food, Fun more
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Great place 11/1/2003

This dining oasis in middle of Santa Monica's 3rd street promenade is amazing. I'm not a fan of any restaurants on 3rd street promenade. It seems like most are geared towards one time visitors so their food is bad and service is horribele. But Monsoon is a Oasis in middle of terrible restaurants. Their menu is interesting and the execution is fantastic. Their sushi is fresh, Korean BBQ beef cooked at the table is a treat, all their noodle dishes are to die for and service is friendly but not over bearing. Their sushi happy hour is best deal in town. When I was in last month to listen to the music in their lounge, they had half of Earth, wind & fire sitting in the band. It was amazing to listen to that quality music at such intimate setting. Pros: Great foo, good service, great live music Cons: Very popular more
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Great Atmosphere and Awful Service 3/22/2003

This place has a great atmosphere and great entertainment, but terrible service. We rented out the private dining room and enjoyed everything but the rude and slow service. The waitress gave attitude to our guests and did not make any attempt to be polite. On the other hand, the bouncers were actually very friendly and helpful. Definitely go to Monsoon to party and enjoy the live entertainment in a cool atmosphere. However, if you are looking for attentive service and a real noteworthy dining experience, then save your money and go someplace else. Pros: Cool Atmosphere, Live Entertainment, Good Location Cons: Rude Service, Mediocre Food more
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WOW!!! 11/1/2002

What at great catch nestled right here in the heart of Santa Monica. As many times as I've walked by, I never really walked into this amazing restaurant until just last week. The food is amazing...and fun because everything is serve family style so you get to taste a little bit of everything. And the ambiance, you just can't get a more comfortable place to go for a great meal. I will definitely be back and will recommend all my friends!! more
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Awesome ambiance! Great service! 9/22/2002

My boyfriend took me here on our trip to Santa Monica! I LOVE this place! It was great fun...the decor was very unique and hip...definitely had a great feel and a lot of fun while eating at the sushi bar! Loved the cocktails and the yummy thai noodles...there's a lot of various asian cuisine to choose from! Make sure to make a reservation! more
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Hot girls at Monsoon 9/13/2002

Where do these beautiful girls that go to Monsoon cafe hide out during the days. This place attracts the most beatiful girls in the west side for dinner and the music lounge. I think the hot female staff is the tops the L.A and I'm sure this has to be part of the reason for their popularity. The food is very reasonable and it's pretty amazing. The decore is right out of some Bali travel magazine and the service is casual but right on. I was hoping this would be my secret place but I knew it wouldn't last so I'm letting everyone know about this place. Pros: Great food, Good looking girls, great music more
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Cool Jazz at hot spot 8/29/2002

I came to visit my brother who lives in L.A and he took me to this place. Food was authentic Asian food, made with good quality ingredients and the service was little fast for my taste but not over the top. The Jazz band "Black Rice" was great. I can't believe the quality of the band that plays at the lounge of a restaurant. By the amount of people there that night obviously the restaurant is doing quite well but I did not get that attitude that is usually present at successful place. Keep up the good work. Pros: Great music, Good date spot, awsome drinks Cons: crowded more
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Great Monsoon 8/29/2002

My husband & I met several friends for dinner & music at Monsoon and it was great. The food was amazing and I love the family style. I got to taste 6~7 dishes and each dish was distinct and flavors were out of this world. The service was fast but very friendly. Monsoon's bussers were the best I have ever seen. They took care of our needs even before we realized we needed something and the our server "Joe" was very knowledgeble about the food & the wine list. The band we saw that night was R&B and the singer(Masta) was truely a entertainer. We are going to recommend this place to everyone Pros: great food, friendly, Hip more
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Atmosphere and Great Food 7/2/2002

For a very large restaurant they have managed to keep the look and feel cozy and warm. The food is absolutely A+. I suggest their popular green beens in peanut sauce and lettuce wraps. Full Sushi Bar, Upstairs another bar, with live music, great decor, resonably priced. Pros: inexpensive, good parking, never too crowded more
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A fine place for jazz 5/27/2002

Check this place out on a Friday night... they serve a pretty good meal and upstairs in the back room, they have a tiki bar with live jazz. It's a great place for a few drinks and some great entertainment. Get there around 9 to get a good spot. more
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WOW! 5/25/2002

Go Monsoon Cafe! I was completely taken back from this place! The menu selection was great! Lots of variety! All the food was super fresh and large portions too, not to mention the atmosphere can't be beat! Definately add this to your list of places to eat in LA! Pros: Fresh, Friendly, Great ambience Cons: service more
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Menu for Monsoon Cafe


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Monsoon has cornered the L.A. market on bamboo, featuring a main room evocative of a Shanghai courtyard, complete with a tabled balcony. The upstairs lounge, through a red-velvet curtain, is dark and sultry. The menu offers cuisine spanning Southeast Asia, like Mongolian stir-fried lamb sirloin, Burmese curry beef served in red curry and coconut milk, and a Korean beef wrap with a miso Balinese sauce.

  • 10/3/2004 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-10:30pm; Fri-Sat 11:30am-11:30pm; Sun 2pm-9:30pm
  • Payments: American Express, Discover, Visa, Master Card
  • Neighborhoods: Downtown, West LA
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