4. Restaurants

Lotus Vietnamese Grill & Noodles

4041 Campbell Ave, Arlington, VA, 22206
  • (703) 566-2173
  • Store is closed

Lotus Vietnamese Grill & Noodles Menu

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  • Fernando S.

    We waited just for a pho for about 45min ended up not the right order and only 1order been input

    (2)

  • Natasha G.

    Let's see... seeing that the reviews on this restaurant are all over the place should be an indication that sometimes the food and service can be great and sometimes everything can fall flat. There is no consistency. I've been here a few times, and my feelings have been both positive and negative! Hence, I think three stars makes sense. Price-wise, this place is on point due to the area. The ambiance is spectacular - the decor is pretty and formal, and the space is large. The service can be attentive, but sometimes forgetful and passive. I am a huge fan of hot Vietnamese coffee with condensed milk, and I very much enjoyed it here upon my first visit. On a subsequent visit, our waitress took the coffee contraption away, and I couldn't make another cup of coffee. I didn't like that, but it was too late for me to say anything. On the first visit, they let me keep it and even gave me more hot water without me asking for it (like I've had to do elsewhere). I thought that was a fantastic touch. I think the summer rolls are very bland and tasteless even with peanut sauce. I've had the vegetarian papaya salad, and it was a very nice portion, but it tasted only okay in comparison to others I've had. The lemongrass chicken with rice is good but I'm not so sure about the quality of the chicken. The banh mi are made just fine. I've had a few vegetarian rice dishes, and they needed more spice. The lunch specials are alright - there are tacos! The chicken taco is pretty good. Bottom line: northern Virginia is full of Vietnamese restaurant, and this one is just dandy if you're in the area.

    (3)

  • Laura L.

    If you have never had Vietnamese and are not that adventurous of an eater, Lotus might be more up your alley. I came here for a team lunch so we were rolling pretty deep (like 14 people deep). We were seated quickly but it took some time for just water and our beverage orders to be taken. If that wasn't a harbinger for the rest of the meal, I don't know what was. About 20 minutes into sitting at the table, our orders were taken. It took quite a bit of time for our dishes to finally make it tour table and, without even getting down to eating, clocking in at almost an hour. Sadly, I got the pho which was a) expensive b) majorly lacking noodles c) fairly bland. When all was said in done, our business lunch turned into a little less than a two hour lunch escapade. I will say, the space is clean and modern (much different that my usual Eden Center pho joints) and the servers were nice. Would I come back? Possibly, with a smaller group and if there was a different chef on staff with more rambunctious taste buds.

    (3)

  • C And G W.

    I love this place! The service is always wonderful and the sandwiches are incredible!

    (5)

  • Emily L.

    Updating my rating due to the defensive and rude - and straight up argumentative - comments from the owner on every average to poor review. Lotus' response is a huge turn off, and I absolutely will not be back to support this business. Where others might see feedback as constructive, that's clearly not the case here. After getting some crazy dental work done, I was in need of something soupy and warm and thought some pho would hit the spot. We ended up getting the bun bo hue, a soup that's richer and a bit tangier than pho, and which I had really enjoyed in Hue, Vietnam. Sadly, the soup here didn't even come close - it was a really generous portion but was so bland! I kept eating it hoping that I'd like it more, but it was definitely missing something. I wouldn't order it again. My husband got the vegetarian steamed rice pot, which came with veggies and tofu steamed into the rice. There was also a sweet soy sauce covering the dish, so the rice was pretty mushy. Overall, there wasn't enough variation in texture (everything was mushy - good if you're on a soft food diet like I was, not good otherwise) and the flavor was too sweet for my liking. Would also not order this again. Both dishes were huge - each could've fed 2. Service was quick and nice, and the atmosphere is nice - quiet and clean. Won't be back because of the poor experience with the food, though.

    (1)

  • Cream Cheese C.

    Shirlington being...Shirlington, my expectations were as low as many of the reviews here. But I was so delightfully surprised! The lunch deals were fantastic, food flavorful and plentiful, and service friendly. I got the Bún with pork, my friend got the pork chop, and his kid had beef fried rice. I liked mine the best but it was all good. The bill ran $35 for two adults and a child. A great value and overall great experience.

    (4)

  • Stacy S.

    Every meal is delicious and reasonably priced. Our current favorites are the vermicelli and tacos. Includes outdoor seating. Highly recommend.

    (5)

  • Hannah H.

    Wow! I was actually pleasantly surprised with Lotus! My husband and I wanted to stick nearby for dinner, so we decided to give Shirlington another try. We haven't had much luck in terms of the eateries around here, so we were both a little apprehensive. However, Lotus seemed to be the best option based on their menu offerings (they have lunch specials daily until 5PM; they also offer appetizers such as spring rolls, chicken wings, calamari, etc.; soups, salads, grilled meats on dishes; noodle soups; vermicelli noodle dishes with meats; and, desserts). We were served by both Mr. Thao and Ms. Annie, and both were extremely nice and attentive. My husband had one of the lunch specials - a Crispy Spring Roll (cha gio; stuffed with crabmeat, shrimp, and pork, served with a side of fish sauce) with a Pork Chop with Rice entree. I was pleasant surprised with the spring roll; it was only 1 roll, cut into 2 pieces; it was perfectly crispy and fried, and the filling was nice and juicy. The fish sauce wasn't too potent and it complemented the roll nicely. I really liked this appetizer, and would probably order multiple rounds of these! The porkchop entree came with rice, a house salad (fresh and light vinaigrette with sliced almonds; delicious!), a thinly-sliced chop (okay in seasoning), and a side of fish sauce. The porkchop was a little too thin and a little too fatty for my taste, but my husband thought it was pretty good; the lunch option gives you only 1 porkchop, but the dinner option gives you more (just keep that in mind). I had the sliced pork banh mi sandwich; it came in a nice crusty and crispy bread, filled with sliced pickled carrots and daikon radish, sliced cucumbers, chili peppers, mayo, and a generous amount of the pork. I think the sandwich could have used extra mayo and some extra 'dressing' of some sort, but I just used more fish sauce to sprinkle into the sandwich that made it better. It was a nice-sized sandwich, but I just wished that it came with a side of something (either extra pickled veggies). We also shared a bowl of beef pho - I'm not a pho connoisseur by any means, and I'm sure that the flavor doesn't have much 'depth' to it; however, I enjoyed it as the broth had a nice subtle 'minty' flavor to it and it was soothing with the extra dollop of sriracha and the hoison sauce. The bean sprouts were fresh, and there was an ample amount of beef slices and noodles. I would definitely come back here again as I believe Lotus is one of the better, if not the best, dining options in Shirlington! ;D +Crispy Spring Roll (appetizer) +pho +banh mi sandwich (don't forget the fish sauce; get the pork version) +house salad (with the sliced almonds; really delicious!)

    (4)

  • Sima T.

    Friendly staff! The food has a home made taste with elegant presentation. Loved the green papaya salad with beef jerky. It had a perfect balance of sweet, sour, salt and heat. I ordered a small pho with no meat with extra lime and green onions . It was very tasty however I got charged extra $4 for the lime and green onion. I thought that was a bit much however I would have been okay with paying if they would have told me up front about the extra charge. All the other places that I had pho I never paid extra for these items!

    (4)

  • Michael M.

    Late supper. Had the Crispy Salt and Pepper Pork Chops which were so delicious.They came with on a bed of pickled relish which enhanced the flavor and sent me into food overload. My wife had the Pho which was awesome. Great tasting broth, delicious noodles, etc, etc, etc.. I will be back again and again and again..

    (5)

  • Rebecca M.

    Considering the many lunch options in Shirlington, I think this place may need to up their game. I met up with some friends for a weekday lunch recently. The interior is sleek, modern, and clean. The ambiance is nice though quite quiet; our conversations could likely have been heard by everyone in the small restaurant. The server was nice but seemed possibly inexperienced since he seemed awkward and was not on top of refills, etc. We ordered off the lunch menu, and I got the Bahn Mi Sandwich. It was totally okay, but not my favorite in the area. The portion was good, but there wasn't a good bread to filling ratio. Each bite seemed to bready to me with not enough moist Bahn Mi flavor. We were still hungry after our main courses and ordered 2 desserts. One of which was a banana dish which was quite sweet but still good. Overall, there are so many other Vietnamese places in the area that I prefer, that I will not be going here to fill my cravings. Also, I prefer other Shirlington restaurants for lunch like Cheesetique, Busboys and Poets, Guapo's, Copperwood Tavern, and THAI Shirlington over this one, so I can't see returning.

    (3)

  • Branden B.

    This place is great! We frequently stop for drinks and pho. The food is amazing and the staff is super friendly.

    (5)

  • Sandra K.

    Authentic, charming, delicious, friendly. The atmosphere is soothing, the food with much flavor and abundance, the staff attentive and pleasant. This is one of, if not my favorite, Shirlington restaurant, for all around best vibe.

    (5)

  • Eric N.

    I have never spent so much money for pho in one sitting before until I ate at Lotus in Shirlington. Granted, it was 9PM and both myself and a friend were craving pho before hitting up Clarendon. But still, $12 for a bowl of pho tai and $14 for the combo bowl? Jeez, must be all that nice interior decor and location. The pho itself was good, but with how expensive the place was, I most likely won't be back unless I'm in the area with a craving.

    (3)

  • Craig B.

    Lackluster food plus service does not a success make. The beef vermicelli was bland and unseasoned and apparently unmarianated. The pho bon bien was almost without taste. I ate the seafood and it was rubbery and bland. I wasn't given a spoon. We were placed out of the way and serviced at their leisure (infrequently). I just can't recommend that you go here.

    (2)

  • Natasha B.

    My fiancé and I just moved to the Shirlington area, and while walking around one day, we came across Lotus. Being Vietnamese myself and also as someone who has worked in her parents successful and award winning Vietnamese restaurant for many years, I was excited to find a Vietnamese restaurant in our new neighborhood. PROS: The patio outside was nice and quaint. The decor inside was tasteful and simple. The bathrooms were clean and modernized. Our server was very nice. The menu was extensive and didn't just offer pho. I was pleasantly surprised to see lunch specials (($12 for one summer or spring roll and a choice between a salad/pho/rice/noodles - they also had 3 more specials but this one caught my eye). CONS: While our server was extremely nice, the service was slow. We arrived for lunch around 11:30. There was a table eating inside, and three parties out on the patio including ours. After we were seated, it took approximately 5 to 7 minutes before someone greeted us. After we were greeted, we ordered waters and Vietnamese ice coffees. Our beverages were slow to come out to the point that I thought our server forgot about us. When our drinks finally did arrive, at that point we were ready to order. My fiance and I ordered the same thing - the $12 lunch special with summer rolls and vermicelli noodles and wings to start as an appetizer. The server didn't write our order down but she did correctly repeat it back to us. The summer rolls were good - they tasted like...well..summer rolls (it's hard to mess up rice paper, noodles, shrimp and herbs). The peanut sauce was good - not to thin like some places but not thick either. My fiance's roll had this thick piece of pork in it. Typically, the pork in summer rolls are thinly sliced but this one was weird. Regardless, he thought it was okay. After we finished our rolls, we waited quite a while for our lunch entrees. When the food server finally came out with our lunch, he also brought along our wings that we had originally ordered as the appetizer. For whatever reason, he placed a bowl of pho in front of me. After telling the food server that I had ordered the same thing as my fiance (vermicelli noodles), and not pho, he seemed confused but removed the bowl and apologized for the mistake. I thought he was going to go back and let our server know right away that she rang in the wrong item. He may have done that, but after my fiance got his lunch, we saw our server 2 or 3 more times and she did not bring it up, she did not apologize for her mistake, nor did she mention when I might get my own lunch. In fact, she said to me, "are you sure you didn't order the pho?" I thought that was odd since she correctly repeated our order after she took it. The wings were crispy and cooked perfectly. But, they were extremely salty - to the point where I barely finished one. My fiance had two and we left the rest on the plate because it was hard to eat. My fiance then started in on his noodles. The whole dish was extremely bland and the fish sauce lacked any flavor. My lunch never came out the whole time my fiance was eating. I had to flag our server down, and ask her to cancel my meal. We ended up sharing his lunch but after tasting how bland his meal was, I was secretly glad my meal never came. As we were asking for the check, our server finally apologized for the mistake and blamed the fact that they had new cooks in the back. She informed us that she would remove my dish from the check, as well as the one summer roll I received as part of my lunch special (that should have been automatically removed anyway considering it was part of the special and I never got the full meal). The check: My fiance is someone who doesn't look at the check when it arrives. He just assumes it's correct, and he immediately hands the server his credit card. I know this is a terrible habit! After paying for the meal, we were walking away when he told me that he looked at the check after she rang his credit card. Our server completely messed up the check. She charged us for his meal ($12), Vietnamese tacos ($11) and a Banh Mi meal ($11). Obviously, we never got or ordered the latter two meals. It was definitely our mistake for not catching this sooner, therefore, we just left it as is and basically vowed to never return. Verdict: There are so many other amazing Vietnamese restaurants around this area. Perhaps on the day we came for lunch, the servers and kitchen staff were having an off day (I completely understand that) but this does not excuse the overly salty wings or the bland food. For an authentic and perfectly seasoned Vietnamese food, try going to the Eden Center near seven corners.

    (2)

  • Joe N.

    Dang yo I'm broke and I didn't even pay it's that pricy!

    (3)

  • Dan N.

    Our first experience at Lotus was a trainwreck, but the restaurant had just opened and some favorable recent reviews encouraged me to give it another chance. I'm glad I did because the experience was much better this time. They have come a long way and they get credit for that. During my first recent visit I got the chicken vermicelli bowl and spring roll. It was a decent meal - perhaps a little on the plain side - but it felt a bit lacking for the price. It needed something else to complement it. In my second visit, I got the beef pho soup to get the full experience. The soup was generous and flavorful - much improved from the first time I ordered it - but I still feel the price is too steep. Around a decade ago, I would get pho soup in Chinatown in Boston for $5-6 that was just as good, and in my work food court in DC there is a pho station that offers similar pho for $6. In a runoff, I'd probably hand the tiebreak to Lotus, but for double the price - $12 - it's not enough of a distinction for me to dine here regularly. If they could get the pho down to a more reasonable $9 or $10, I would be a regular customer. The service is much improved from its rocky beginning, and the staff is more on top of their game. I'm further encouraged to see this restaurant has stopped its insane practice of attacking customers on Yelp for leaving unfavorable reviews.

    (3)

  • John S.

    I'm shocked to read poor reviews of Lotus. Having lived near Eden Center for 8 years and walking around Shirlington one busy Saturday night, I was a bit nervous about trying a Vietnamese place in Shrilngton, but boy, was I pleased! I ordered the full prix fix dinner and my friend ordered the "light." There was nothing light about his meal, except maybe his soup. We both had spring rolls, soups, entree, and dessert and our meals came to less than $30 each, including tip! The spring rolls were very tasty. My friend enjoyed his beef soup while I enjoyed my asparagus and crab. I've had better asparagus and crab, but this was tasty and lighter than what I've experienced in Falls Church. The entree was incredible, very spicy beef with loads of bamboo slices, mushrooms, peppers, and plenty of jalapeño peppers. It was different than more traditional Vietnamese fair, but delicious! I would highly recommend Lotus, the service was very friendly and attentive. The food was remarkable and very good prices too!

    (5)

  • Christen P.

    After discovering lotus had Pho, my boyfriend and I ate here 5 days in a row. Their Pho is amazing, broth is perfect and does not require a load of Hoisin Sauce and Sriracha to make it tasty. This is literally THE BEST PHO that I have had in the DC, Arlington, Alexandria area (even better than the #1 listed Pho spot in DC!). What makes it even better is that the restaurant is clean, the decor is nice, the lighting is perfect, and the waitstaff is attentive and right on point. I am now a frequent guest at this location and am so happy that I found this little gem!

    (5)

  • Ev K.

    Went here on a Wednesday night, only a few people in the place, staff was very accommodating and gave us a nice private table by the window (asked for this when I reserved on Open Table). Surprisingly the parking lot and garage in Shirlington are pretty full on a weekday evening, though! She got a lychee martini, and seemed to enjoy it. I just stuck to water. Appetizers: green papaya salad with shredded beef jerky, good but just not as fresh and flavorful as I had expected (I've had better, specifically in Hawaii). Should have skipped the summer rolls - huge and filled with rice, greens, and shrimp, but still kind of bland even with peanut sauce slathered all over. Pho: Good stuff! Nice bowls of beef pho, comes with the usual side plate of bean sprouts, a big twig of mint, lime, hot sauce and peanut sauce. Satisfying and a great meal for blustery winter nights. Prices also quite reasonable. The staff was very attentive and friendly throughout the evening. Great service. Summary: Appetizers not that impressive, just go right to what they do best - pho.

    (4)

  • Jenn H.

    I live near Shirlington, and after several years of living in the area, my boyfriend and I are feeling pretty uninspired about places to eat around home. On our way to Medi the other day (another new restaurant in Shirlington!), we see Lotus...and decided to give it a try, someday. A week or so later, we decide to wander around Shirlington to eat what we could eat...and then saw Lotus again. We walked past, and didn't see a menu out front, which was a little disappointing. Lotus staff, if you're reading this--please post one in front! The host kindly seated us, and tried to discreetly sweep something off the table. We heard three loud clicks, and he placed a little glowing lotus that changed colors. Some people might find this tasteful, but I personally thought it was really tacky. I really nearly laughed when he set it down. The real problem came when we saw the menu, though. There's plenty of selection...but really?! who charges $14 for a bowl of pho?! My bf got the pho anyways (he wanted noodle soups), and the server had some issues with figuring out the two meats he requested. weird. I ordered a clay pot rice--because it was cheaper than most other things on the menu, and even this was $14. Like the decor, the bowls and everything were fairly pretty. My food was ok (it really made me think of dol sot bibimbap, with a weird assortment of not-particularly-asian vegetables), and my boyfriend was unimpressed by the pho, especially given that Lotus skimps on meat (compared to other pho places) Why get robbed for very mediocre food? I probably won't be going back--at least, until I hear things have improved,

    (2)

  • Alex T.

    I had the pho lunch special, so it was a small/lunch-sized portion of pho and one spring or summer roll. The food was just fine. It was on par with any strip mall pho joint I've been to. I love strip mall pho joints. That being said, the amount of food that I got for $12.99 (yeah, that's the lunch special price) would've cost $8 or $9 anywhere not in Shirlington. Lotus' food is good, but not nearly good enough at their price point.

    (2)

  • Kimberly S.

    Damn Gina! I'm glad that I got a Christmas bonus this year because Lotus Vietnamese Grill & Noodles is charging a hefty penny (make that 1,200 pennies) for a bowl of pho. Their roasted pork and spring roll vermicelli bowl is a whopping $14! At most Vietnamese restaurants this dish usually costs no more than $8. Price point aside here are my thoughts: - The restaurant is beautiful, modern, and very clean. Since it is brand new my silverware was sparkling -- I don't think they have ever been used before! - Service is friendly but awkward to say the most. They did not serve water until all of our food came out, nor did they give us chopsticks and a soup spoon with our bowl of pho until we asked. The food took awhile to come out which was surprising because it was not very busy. - The menu is all in English but was so vague it made it hard for me to figure out what exactly they were trying to sell. Vietnamese beef noodle soup can apparently mean many different things and they do not really differentiate between them on the descriptions. - Their sate sauce is very lackluster. It was all spice - - I could not taste the depth of the roasted chili at all. I enjoyed my meal but I probably won't be back because I just can't stomach the price point. For a similar ambiance with better service and a better value go to Four Sisters in Merrifield or Rice Paper in Eden Center. This place will do in a pinch, but Vietnamese food should just not be this expensive.

    (3)

  • Nina P.

    I've only ordered the pho, summer rolls and the lotus stem salad. All were very good. To compare with Pho 75 or Pho Factory, I like Lotus' pho better. Sometimes the beef at the other places tastes/looks a little mysterious. And I just get the eye round steak. The broth was really good, they do a great job with packaging up to-go orders and everyone was friendly when I picked the food up. I dont have a problem with the price on the pho because the meat is better, a few dollars more is worth it to me. I'm not a pho expert so maybe my palette isn't as discerning as others but it is solid slightly above average quality pho to me. The lotus stem salad at $12 could have fresh shrimp in it instead of the shrimp that's inside of the summer rolls. But I will just order it vegetarian next time because it was still really good. Now I do have to address the manager's replies to some of these reviews. It's a bit off-putting. but i was also intrigued so much that I ended up ordering food the day that I read all of these hilarious yet awkward responses. i'm glad i had no issues here! and I'll probably order again this week.

    (4)

  • Robert P.

    It took me a long time to get back to Lotus and I only live a couple of miles away. Service is still wonderful. This is a charming little place. Spring rolls: very good. Sweet Tamarind Chicken: Wonderful! I am not too familiar with tamarind, but this was very pleasant. It might be too sweet for some, but they might be able to adjust that if you ask. I love sweet and sour ANYTHING so I was happy with it. And the rice cut the sweetness anyway. But the star of the evening was their Fried Calamari. I do not usually describe food as elegant, but this was an elegant appetizer. Beautifully presented and not your usual fried calamari. One usually knows what to expect when ordering fried calamari, but this a revelation! Lightly breaded so you actually taste the calamari. Perfectly seasoned. served over a sweetish mix of sprouts. Only down side is there could have been more for the price. If you like fried calamari, you have to have this appetizer. I would give this appetizer 10 stars.

    (5)

  • Lamia A.

    I always passed by this place and saw diners eating there. Tonight I was going to the movies with my friend and we decide to stop by for a quick bite before we went in the theater. I got the veggie pho soup which consisted of noodles, veggie broth, and broccoli. My friend ordered the chicken lime basil dish with peppers and onions. We were pretty hungry and we would hv ate anything. The food didn't take long and we got our meals. It tasted disgusting! My soup smelled horrible. My friend's chicken was rubbery and tasted like a road kill quality ewww,, and was overly spicy to kill the nasty flavor. We looked at each other and barely ate and asked for the check and left. Wouldn't recommend this place, it even left a bitter taste in my mouth -_-

    (2)

  • Terry M.

    The pho was very good. It was a dead Tuesday evening and our waiter was prompt and courteous. Will return to satiate my pho needs.

    (4)

  • r a.

    I like everything about this restaurant. The food is good, albeit Americanized. ALL restaurants are Americanized, though, because of a variety of reasons - including health regulations on how good It's prepared, stored, etc. The restaurant itself is comfortable with a really nice, fifty ambiance. The coffee is wicked good, but certainly not low-cal! I've never had bad service, either. Once I do, I'll change my opinion. Until then. This place remains a favorite.

    (5)

  • Tierra H.

    One of my friends got me hooked on pho. I didn't wanna do it. Avoided it for years. And one day, I dove in and fell in LOVE! She gave me good pho and I was spoiled. So I went in search of the good stuff closer to my home. I stumbled into this place on a random afternoon in Shirlington. The restaurant is gorgeous! I really like the ambiance. Its a nice place to go to with a date, for lunch, by yourself -- anything. I ordered the lunch special, which was a summer roll and a nice bowl of pho. It's offered from 11 to 5 and isn't very expensive at all. I really enjoyed the summer roll. It tasted very fresh and the peanut sauce was soooooooooooo good. I've had peanut sauce that tasted like melted Skippy. It was bad, but this wasn't that. And then my bowl of pho came. Hot, steamy, delicious bowl of wonderfulness. I found that I had to do no doctoring up of the broth, which was great. I often don't know just what to put in it, so the fact that it came out the kitchen perfect really made me happy. The service here was great at well. I'm a sucker for good service, so that ensured that I will be back here ASAP. I really enjoyed my quiet lunch. And of course, it's Shirlington, so parking is a breeze. That also helps to make this restaurant a new favorite.

    (5)

  • Alex C.

    Best restaurant in Shirlington Village. Not only is the food fantastic, the customer service is terrific at all times. Lotus has very reasonable lunch specials, as well as generous portion sizes. If you like Vietnamese food, Lotus is a must!

    (5)

  • Samantha L.

    Met a friend here for lunch. Had a delicious bowl of pho. Really good. Good service. Shirlington is kinda far from my normal day to day activities but if I was back in the neighborhood... I would go back. The lunch specials are also a great deal!

    (4)

  • Shelly N.

    Met some friends at this restaurant for dinner and am confused at the lackluster reviews. The menu is plentiful--I'm used to pho restaurants that have limited entree options and was overwhelmed at what to try. I ordered goi cuon (cold spring rolls), the Tamarind Chicken, and an iced Vietnamese coffee. Goi cuon and cafe sua da are what I always order at any Vietnamese restaurant so I can't say they were anything special--they're standard dishes and my expectations were met. However, the chicken was an excellent choice. I wasn't too familiar with tamarind sauce and wasn't sure if I'd like it but I did...I'd recommend it if you like sweet and sour dishes. It's more on the sweet side, but I'd definitely order it again. The dessert wasn't expected but since Shirlington was doing their chocolate crawl, the restaurant was featuring some kind of flourless chocolate cake (or at least it was more like a bittersweet chocolate fudge) so we shared it. Apparently it's on their dessert menu and it was AWESOME. It was rich and wasn't sugary-sweet, but was perfect with scoop of vanilla ice cream. Service was great and I'll definitely be returning. I just wish I lived closer or this would be my go-to Vietnamese spot.

    (4)

  • Tessie E.

    So, Shirlington is supposed to be dog friendly... This place isn't. Came here with my puppy, sister, and mom while they visited and had a subtle battle on what I was supposed to do with my dog while we ate. We ended up compromising with him leashed very tightly outside the outdoor seating entrance.. The only reason we stayed was my mom was very insistent on her craving for Viet food. That being said, price point vs. quality of food and service? Two stars. Maybe 2.5. It was 60 dollars for the three of us and we didn't even order drinks (maybe my sister ordered a coke). The portions were very beautifully decorated, but that doesn't change the fact that the sauces were bland and actually did not belong with the dishes we ordered. We ordered three pork bun (that's vermicelli bowls) and the portions were small .The spring rolls were good though. (very good) Conclusion? Don't come with your dog. And I've heard good things about the Thai restaurant across the street ;)

    (2)

  • Nini T.

    This review is for CARRYOUT only. 3.5 stars Friendly customer service. IMO this is not 100% authentic Vietnamese food - they customized it more for American taste. I only ordered the vietnamese coffee, asparagus soup, and shaky beef. Vietnamese coffee - 3 out of 5 Asparagus soup- 4 out of 5 Shaky beef- 3 out of 5 (presentation is good and looks very appetizing but the beef itself is not very good - not enough flavor, beef not soft like other places i have tried. i think it's the marinating process and choice of beef. Usually whenever I order over the phone, I usually add 5 minutes extra to the time they said the food would be ready for pick up. Very disappointed this time around, they said would be ready in 10 minutes but 25 minutes later food finally just got done. If you are not in a rush like me, and don't mind waiting, that's fine. Overall I would definitely recommend this place to my family and friends. I would come back to try other dishes.

    (3)

  • Sheryl M.

    Excellent meal! We have been looking for a solid Vietnamese place in NoVa. The lotus salad was perfect! The two fish dishes were fantastic. We got the salmon and the Mahi Mahi ! The seafood pho was incredible as was the the garlic book choy! We will be back!

    (4)

  • Lyn L.

    Located in downtown Shirlington, this Vietnamese place delivered the best of Shirlington! We had nice window seating and service was on point especially with our water glass refills. We started with the Crispy Spring Rolls (cha gio) and they provided a nice fish sauce. The order came with 2 rolls(cut into 4 pieces). They were hot and crispy. We also ordered the Crispy Shrimp Rolls, a whole shrimp with the tails and some basil pieces. It was an odd combination but quite tasty. I ordered the Sliced Marinated Grilled Pork Vermicelli Bowl. There was plenty of grill pork and noodles. It was very hearty and more than enough food for one person. The hubby ordered their 'Noodle Soup" aka Pho. It had so much meat and noodle, enough for two people! Service was great, water refills never ended, and speed was their top priority. We'll definitely be back to try other menu items!

    (4)

  • Pegah Y.

    We dined at Lotus and ate some delicious Vietnamese food about a month ago. I decided to be adventurous and get something besides pho and ordered the spicy beef noodle soup (I also got the sate sauce, which made it even more spicy). The food was delicious, but SO SPICY. Really hit the spot. My bf ordered the pan-fried rice noodles and enjoyed it too - he's def not a fan of spicy food the way I am. In short, my soup was delish - just extremely spicy, so be aware of that if you want to order the spicy beef soup. Also, I would recommend that if it's your first time trying Vietnamese food, get the pho for the more authentic Vietnamese experience! I really liked this place - great service, great decor (their lotus flower center piece that changed colors periodically was a great addition), and great food. Also, it's conveniently located in Shirlington Village, where there is plenty of parking and plenty of other restaurants.

    (4)

  • Mandana Y.

    Even though they are one of the more intimate options in Shirlington, Lotus was able to accommodate my party of 8 right at the beginning of the lunch hour, without a reservation. They were fast, courteous and extremely welcoming, Their menu is extensive, making it the perfect option for a picky group and they have PHO! and lunch specials! But PHO! good PHO. So yes, go to Lotus and skip the bigger options in the area. You'll get a nice intimate experience and you'll return to work relaxed and refreshed!

    (4)

  • Ashley H.

    I really enjoyed my dinner here. Friendly, respectful, and fast service. The food tasted fresh, and they accommodated my request to combine aspects from the grilled pulled pork vermicelli bowl with the lemongrass chicken bowl I ordered (I wanted the crispy rolls). I got the mango cheesecake to go, and they were as cute as ever boxing up everything.

    (5)

  • Stephanie S.

    This restaurant has a lot going for it. The food has been quite good, the interior setting is very classy and the service is excellent. The waiters, host, bus person all seem to work together so you are never left waiting. They have also all been very friendly. On our most recent visit tonight my 16 year old and I shared the summer roll and crispy spring roll. He had the red curry seafood soup and I had the steak cubes "shaky beef" entree. We both enjoyed our meals and agreed that they would be worth ordering again. The 16 year old's remark was "we really have to let Dad know this is a new go to place in Shirlington" I suggest giving this place a try, it's a nice addition to Shirlington.

    (5)

  • Bill P.

    Well there is no more Green Papaya in the 'hood so this place is a welcome addition. Got a small bowl of meatball soup $4 (the meatballs were tasty yet very tofu-ish) and the marinated beef strips were DIVINE! tender and well seasoned in another large bowl with all of the fixins $14.50. Everything is fresh.....fresh.... fresh. My daughter Violet got a large bowl of the just the veggies $9 but it was chocked full of noodles, mushrooms, bamboo shoots etc. She loved it and took half of it home. Plenty of extra bamboo shoots on the side and extra add in sauces sweet and spicy. Great setting and service (owners and managers came by a few times to check on us) and lots and lots of choices on the menu......endless. Look at the great pictures!!!!! I highly recommend......

    (5)

  • Mary J.

    A group of my friends and I came here during their first week of opening since we live in the Shirlington neighborhood. Here's the rundown of my experience: Ambience: Pro- clean (it's new) Con- layout; We were seated at a table closest to the entrance. The draft from the door opening was cold and my seat was literally next to the seats of folks waiting to be seated. It was hard to flag down a server from where we were. Food: I ordered the pho number 1 (equivalent to pho dac biet) in most pho joints. I felt that it was way overpriced for what I got. Broth was so so. I did not find any bible tripe or soft tendon in my bowl. My boyfriend had the pork chop rice and was disappointed as well due to the disparity between the food and the price. Service: needs a LOT of work. We only saw our waiter ONCE and it was only when we ordered. Our food took 45 mins to come out and it was only when I finally got up to go to their counter since there was virtually no one on the floor to be flagged down. I pretty much felt a bit ignored. Glasses also kept shattering in the background. They definitely seemed a bit overwhelmed. Understandably, it's their first week so I'm open to trying them again in the future to see if improvements have been made.

    (2)

  • Brandy C.

    I had pho (the P4 specifically) and the Vietnamese iced coffee when I dined here yesterday at lunch. Absolutely delicious! Not to mention the fast and friendly service. I only had 35 minutes and they served me very quickly. The restaurant is very nicely decorated. On a previous occasion I also tried the fresh summer roll which was very yummy. I will definitely be back because I work down the street and I LOVE pho!!!!

    (5)

  • J S.

    The food and the environment were good. My wife and I thought the spring rolls and tamarind chicken were really good. The pho was good as well. The service was slow. I had to fill my own water from my kid's cup and go request plates for my kids two times.

    (3)

  • Coco B.

    I've been looking forward to this restaurant's opening for a while, since its within walking distance from work. While I understand that it's a brand new restaurant, the service was far from up to par. I came in with a couple of friends right before the lunch rush. Sad to say I've never had to wait for pho so long... We also had to flag down a different server for our tab - which wasn't properly adjusted for the $11 lunch special. We were in a bit of a rush to get back to work on time, so we just paid as is. I will say that I did like how the restaurant was set up. I will probably give it another try in the future.

    (2)

  • Patrick K.

    They've had a horrible soft open so far but I will be back and will amend my review if needed. The service is pretty horrible and the layout of the restaurant is definately not the best use of space. I've been 3 times and got the vermicelli which was good but not enough sauce. I also got the pho once and for $10 it was just ok and small. The bahn mi is also very mediocre. The restaurant has run out of food two of the times I've been there once was chicken (there's a harris teeter about 50 feet from your front door) and once was bahn pho noodles!!! How does a pho place run out of noodles? Are you serious?!?! Ok so all these things can be attributed to a new business but my biggest issue with this place is the prices, $12 for a bowl of pho during dinner is outrageous, and then running out of noodles on TOP of the crazy price? This place definitely has to adjust their prices to match their quality of service and portion of food especially in an area like Shirlington who already had one overpriced Vietnamese restaurant shut down just a few years ago(RIP Sigonique).

    (3)

  • M O.

    Great food not too expensive considering the area. Lady behind the bar was super nice and very polite. She was honest and they said they couldn't sell me bahn mi cuz the bread wouldn't be fresh at dinner time. Great ppl great place. Cha giao was real good too

    (5)

  • SN D.

    Dinner food was just okay. We tried the Duck corner and Pan fried rice noodles with chicken. Both tasted just okay. I've had better. We tried the mango martini and the mai tai. The martini barely had alcohol and one of the mango pieces on the pick was spoilt. I tried the pork taco, that had great taste and pretty good size for $5. Rest of the food we had I felt was over-priced for the the quality and taste they were offering. Wait staff accidently spilled the glass of water all over my dress, but he was so apologetic and I felt so bad. He was really nice. There's a lady server who is Russian decent and doesn't know anything about Vietnamese food or ingredients. I almost didn't want her to come over to our table to answer any questions we had. They were playing some Sinhala classical music and I wanted to know the connection that music had to Vietnam, out of curiosity. I really enjoyed the music. She totally didn't want to go find out and clearly she didn't know. I would not waste my time here. Sherlington Thai has great tasting food next door at a much better price and always friendly staff.

    (1)

  • J P.

    I was so happy when a pho restaurant opened in Shirlington. I go here all the time. The location is great and the main reason I keep coming back, but the food is also really good. I've had better, but no complaints. The service has been spotty but that seems kind of typical in Shirlington. The prices are not exactly competitive, but I'm happy to pay for the convenience and enjoyability of the location. I'd probably say 3 1/2 stars is more accurate for me.

    (3)

  • Ken E.

    I really like this place. I've eaten here twice and both meals were good to v good. A little pricey, but that's to be expected in shirlington. If you want cheap vietnamese, head to 7 corners; if you are a local and want to walk downstairs and hop over for a quick bowl of pho or vermicelli w/Pork, then this place hits the spot.

    (3)

  • Pat H.

    Wow, what a fantastic find and it's been there for 8 months! I've been traveling to Four Sisters in Merrifield to get my fix of Vermicelli and Grilled Pork. The restaurant is lovely, the staff extremely efficient and friendly, service perfection, and reasonably priced. The dinner menu had a wonderful selection and looking forward to trying lunch as well. After reading the reviews on the Pho, I can't wait to try it next time, if I can ever resist ordering the Vermicelli and Pork. Kudos to the Owner/Manager for making constructive comments. It's important they be aware of how their customers feel and far better than other owners who disregard anything unfavorable. Keep up the good work!

    (5)

  • Audrey M.

    I typically like to wait a few weeks before trying a new place, but was so excited at the addition of a Vietnamese noodle joint in Shirlington that we we went shortly after the opening. To say it was chaotic is an understatement---the wait was long, and the staff a bit disorganized...I saw people having to ask for water, napkins, etc. Upon walking in, I immediately bemoaned the placement of 2 overly large round tables right in the middle of the restaurant--I have no idea who ok'ed that layout, but it made zero sense, especially given that the majority of parties were between 2-4 people and those rounds accommodated 6-7. I witnessed one couple awkwardly situated at one of these rounds, while several other parties of 2 were waiting to be seated. Why not utilize smaller square or rectangular tables that can easily be separated or pushed together?? However, I'm happy to report that as of our visit yesterday, those ridiculously large rounds were replaced with smaller 2 and 3 tops which allows the restaurant to seat so many more people---they must have listened to other customers who noticed the same thing! The pho itself is pretty delicious. The meat is tender and plentiful, and in the two times we've gone I haven't picked a single piece of fat off any meat...that's impressive, and makes it worth the slightly pricey $11-12 a bowl. My only gripe is that they don't offer bottles of hoisin or sriracha at each table; you're provided with a small dish with a few squirts of each. They'll give you more if you ask, but I prefer to have it within arm's reach to customize the flavor as desired. Lunch or dinner for 2 without alcohol will set you back between $25-30. Again, expensive for pho considering the cheap and delicious (but fatty) bowls available at the hundred other Pho joints in the DMV area, but the meat makes it worth the extra few bucks in my book. The kinks in service appear to be getting worked out, and it's an easy commute to satiate my weekly pho cravings...safe to say I'll be returning.

    (4)

  • Paul G.

    Since Pho Sate is still closed - been looking for somewhere else that has great Pho. This Pho is also fantastic. Get the P3 - Spicy Beef 3. They have some Sate sauce also!! Add all your other sauces you typically put in Pho and it's delicious

    (5)

  • John M.

    We have been here a few times now and have had a great experience each time. The service and the good were both great. We will return.

    (5)

  • Beth G.

    My boyfriend and I have lived in the Shirlie for going on more than three years. We were super pumped to see a new dining place pop up. Although it has been open for a while, we just went to a late dinner there this week. We were greeted by the owner and the waiter with smiles. We ordered the spring rolls and the summer rolls. Both were super fresh! The spring rolls were extra crispy, and hot. While the summer rolls were soft and extremely fresh. We've been to other places where the summer rolls were made hours or days before and just don't taste good! My boyfriend asked the waiter for recommendation on what to eat. I went right for the Pho (Number 9) on the menu, while he decided on the Tamariand Chicken. Our food was fresh, and hot. We didn't want for water, or service as they catered to our every need. We'll definitely be returning and enjoying this food again! The decor is pretty sweet too, and makes for a nice ambiance! If you're in Shirlington, stop by this place to enjoy your self some yummo Vietnamese food!

    (4)

  • M T.

    Lotus just opened very recently (about a week ago?), so there are some natural kinks that the staff is working out. That being said, the servers are friendly, attentive, and very apologetic for any perceived minor inconveniences. Stopped in for the first time today and was seated promptly. It took a little time to have our orders taken and there was some confusion about my order when the food came out, but they brought me the correct dish fairly quickly. The restaurant was very busy - all the tables were full and there were a number of folks coming in to pick up their takeout orders. They have a lot of variety on their menu. They have a separate vegetarian section so there's no need to worry about beef broth being used in the veggie soups. They also have a brunch menu and a good selection of imported Asian beer. The food we ordered was good, but not fantastic. The price is a little steep for pho. I get the impression that the folks at Lotus are working hard to keep things running smoothly - I'll give the restaurant some time to break itself in before I return, but I will return!

    (3)

  • Donna H.

    I ate here this past Sunday and was very pleased with everything. Service was prompt (not just my waiter checking on me, but other waitstaff and the manager), it's very clean, and the food was delicious and worth the price. I started with Crispy Spring Rolls. They were nicely crisp, not oily, and very fresh ingredients. Then I had Chicken Pho. It had plenty of fresh white meat chicken, lots of basil and sprouts, fresh lime and two sauces to customize to my taste. It was 2 meals worth, and I ended up taking half home. I also had the Jasmine tea. They refilled my water without asking as well. All of this totaled $17. This is Shirlington, and that's a good price here for a beverage, appetizer and main course. I recommend giving it a try. I will definitely go back to try other dishes now.

    (4)

  • Kristine B.

    The vermicelli bowl is VERY tasty. I love Pho but my friends have told me the Pho is just ok. I would definitely recommend the vermicelli bowl - delish! The atmosphere is very chill and calm - which is nice after a busy day.

    (4)

  • Ingar S.

    I ordered their pork chop and it was yummmmmyy. Seasons very well. My mom ordered their regular pho, the broth was really good. All in all, a higher quality Vietnamese food. I also ordered one of their fried rolls from their appetizer. So good. Will def. go again! Only downside is the price.

    (4)

  • Charles H.

    Despite the above average cost, my $12 bowl of pho was priceless! I arrived at 1140am with only one other customer seated. My combination Pho (Dac Biet aka P1 at Lotus) arrived five minutes later. I immediately noticed the nice size fancy bowl and the minimal amount of side veggies ( basil, jalapeño papers, and bean sprouts ). No complaints were made as I was HUNGRY ! The broth was good, decent flavor, with plenty of noodles and meats. The server discounted $2 from my bill as I presented a a ValuPak coupon prior to ordering. I'll be back to explore their other menu items in the future.

    (3)

  • Brandy P.

    The soup is awesome!! The tacos were awesome and the springrolls.

    (4)

  • Katie C.

    They have a great lunch special from 12-5 Monday-Friday that includes a HUGE bowl of pho and a spring/summer roll all for $12. The portions are so large that we both got a take home box and left feeling full and satisfied. The dining room is very cozy and they were playing tasteful Christmas music. Definitely recommend for a quiet lunch with a friend.

    (4)

  • Tameka T.

    Love this place. Great food and service. I had the pork vermicelli bowl....which was sooooo light and yummy. The spring rolls were great also. dessert...not so much, but that's okay. I will try the Pho next time.

    (3)

  • David L.

    I wasn't going to write a review on how terrible the food was here, but since the owner or whoever it is has clearly decided to throw the business in the crapper with his mean spirited responses, I just had to join in on the fun. I've actually eaten here twice as the place is very close by and really wanted to give it another chance hoping the first time was just a fluke. The space inside is clean and being in the Village makes the location prime. Opening up the menu for the first you'll raise an eyebrow at the inflated prices, but think they're justified by virtue of the location and expect the food to be decent. Unfortunately that just isn't the case. My wife and I have tried a variety of dishes between the 2 of us. Spring rolls are the go-to appetizer and for the most part they're fine, nothing special. The fun begins with the entrees. First up we have the pan-fried egg noodles with seafood: huge portion, but just really lacking flavor. The noodles themselves have an OK albeit unmemorable flavor but all the veggies and seafood just seem to be tossed in as garnish. Not sure what the "house" sauce in the dish is supposed to be, but Lotus should probably go back to the drawing board on it. Next up we have the pho dishes. We tried both the beef noodle soup #1 and the spicy beef noodle soup (bun bo hue). Again at $14 a bowl you'd think they'd at least be on par with places that charge half that price for the same dish and again you'd be wrong. The running theme here is blandness. Even in the bun bo hue which sounded like it should be bursting with flavor, my taste buds were just bored. The final dish we've tried is the steamed rice in clay pot. We got the veggie version and this was by far our least "favorite". The only ingredients seem to be in the name of the dish along with a healthy dousing of soy sauce. All in all just very disappointing since I feel like we really did give the place a chance going back a second time. I think based on the replies to the reviews, the social media maven of Lotus will probably tell me its my fault for having high standards and that I shouldn't compare it to other restaurants I'm used to. Well I agree, it's my fault...for returning a second time and it definitely doesn't hold a candle to anything at Eden Center or the myriad of Vietnamese options in the area.

    (1)

  • J L.

    I ordered their Lotus lunch special (grilled chicken with rice and spring roll). The food was average. Service was very sub-par. My chicken was luke warm, which is not what you want coming out of a kitchen. I also have a dietary restriction (nuts). After being asked three times by our server, and once more from the manager, what I was allergic to, they proceeded to give me a salad with nuts on top (almonds). When I asked if they were nuts, they told me "no." When I asked what they were I was told "they don't know." There was definitely some mis-communication, but I'm not sure why. In summary, poor service with average food.

    (1)

  • Carolyn B.

    Great service, which almost made it four stars. The food was good (had the tofu app and beef noodle pho) but it didn't have me crying tears of joy. It did fit what I was looking for: bar seating, chill atmosphere, cocktails, close distance, casual, asian cuisine, hot tea and noodle soup). Went on a Sunday around 2pm and was the only patron for a bit. This was nice because I got to know the staff and chat with them. Very friendly and they pay attention to details which enhances the customer service experience. I will be returning for some of the phone cocktails and the comfortable atmosphere.

    (3)

  • Emilio F.

    I cannot speak for some of the negative reviews left here, as my experiences have been nothing short of amazing there. I live in Shirlington and have been here many times since discovering them. Yes, there is absolutely cheaper Pho to be had, but quality, location and ambiance make every dollar spent here worth it in my mind. First, the service and attention from staff and management is always top notch. They are committed to ensuring you have a great experience every time. The wait staff and the managers are beyond friendly and full of information. I have truly expanded my knowledge and appetite for Vietnamese food as a result of many recommendations and conversations. Second, the food is incredible. I have taken family there who are picky eaters and they were thrilled with the food they ate. The portions are quite sizable and everything I have eaten has more than met my expectations. Even some items I have yet to try, but have seen others order, are tempting and mouth-watering. My personal favorite is the P3. SPICY BEEF NOODLE SOUP (Bún Bò Hu) - Different kind of noodles w/ spicy beef soup & extra fine beef shanks and a couple slices of pork meats. Ask for "saté sauce" (house made) if you want more spicy hot, it is amazingly spicy and just heavenly. (I always get extra) Do not miss out on a fabulous culinary experience, go try them today.

    (4)

  • Stephen D.

    I don't understand all the hate for this restaurant. Though I do love reading the responses. I have only gotten rolls and pho here, so I can't comment on the other menu items, but the food is fresh and delicious every time I have ordered I think it is just as good as the highly rated pho places in Eden center. Yes the prices are higher (about 3 bucks more than said places for a bowl of pho), but this place is also competing with other restaurants in Shirlington and is much nicer in terms of decoration. Know your market I suppose. (But hey, sometimes it is worth it to me to pay the extra few bucks and not get an MSG headache) But what really gives this place 5 stars is the service I have received since coming there the first time. The owners are extremely nice and have remembered me from the first visit. They have always asked about my dog when I bring her and talk about her when I go in for take out. They strike up a conversation and treat me as if I am a family friend. That is how you treat your customers. I don't go in and spend hundreds of dollars all the time, so I am not keeping them in business, but they seem to really appreciate their repeat customers and are thankful for their business. They make a good product and make me feel like family. My dollars will continue to go there.

    (5)

  • Richard W.

    Service attentive and professional - helpful with knowledge of entrees = 5 Calamari - agreed with previous reviews adequate, greedy, but nice to serve with hot peppers - make less greasy then might be good - 3 A sweet /sour (really strong tangy/sour) chicken - tasty 4 Grilled salmon - had a too mild ginger on salmon, nicely cooked, yet served on a bed on vinaigrette salad, too grilled asparagus and white rice (they do not provide brown) was a dish that just doesn't go together. Not enough sauce to add to blah dry white rice and the salad bed clashed with salmon - 2 Nice addition to this neighborhood - given other reviews, hope chef takes notice and improves

    (3)

  • B V.

    It seems the bad reviews are from people who do not eat Vietnamese foods so their palate is wanting Campbells chicken noodle soup or McDonalds. Go get a burger. The owner met me at my table to describe the Pho Spicy Soup process and it sounded great. I make my own Pho and it takes a very long time and it is sometimes a pain, so I thought they could do the work for me. The broth was clear, tasty, and I got the spicy beef and YES it was spicy. Damn good. Going back every weekend to try everything. The professional courtesy of the staff and efforts by the cooking staff was fantastic. I got a seat by the table and everything couldn't have been better.

    (5)

  • Patrick J.

    Ordered Calamari and the rib eye and flank steak Pho. The calamari was very thick, not tender and somewhat oily. I suspect the oil it was fried in wasn't hot enough. The Pho was nothing to write home about, but didn't sit well and make my friend and I sick the next day. I won't return. There are better options in the village.

    (2)

  • Allison P.

    Yikes!! Returned for my second bowl of pho and the experience was drastically different. Sat at a table.. ordered pho.. then literally had to ask the server for everything from a glass of water to all other items required for successful pho consumption. No chopsticks, soup spoon, sriracha or hoisin sauce... Ordered the same bowl of pho as last time (#9) and it had noticeably less meat. Now definitely not worth the price tag. Watched the waiter spill a glass of water on another diner, while I waited with my empty glass. Glass wasn't filled until I asked, again. Too bad because this neighborhood spot has the potential to keep a lot of people happy. If the service doesn't improve, it won't last.

    (1)

  • K. Alisse W.

    I have to say that I was pleasantly surprised given some of the negative reviews of this place. I had the veggie pho and it came with loads of vegetables, tofu and what looked like fake chicken--I can't be positive, as I didn't see it on the menu (I had to ask if they had any non-meat pho options). All of that is a huge plus for $11, and the broth had good flavor too (although it was just little too salty for my taste). Coming from DC where Pho 14 was my go-to spot, this place wasn't quite as good but it's a pretty decent option for Virginia.

    (4)

  • Julia J.

    Ordered carry out pho. It comes with large bowls, which was nice, but the broth was completely tasteless. I added so much of the sauces provided and it was still super bland. Very disappointing. Also, the serving size of the noodles was very small. I also had the summer roll--it was just okay. Overall, I will keep looking for my go-to pho restaurant.

    (2)

  • Ty N.

    For what it's worth, I ordered two different pho types for carryout for lunch earlier this week. Overall, my bowl of pho with raw beef (tai) and tendons (gan) was enjoyable and satisfying. These are my rating factors. Broth - tasted pretty good, which is critical for good pho Noodles - excellent, I would say just right, especially for being packaged for take-out Beef - great, but not a big deal for me Tendons - fine, tendons are like rubber bands without being bitter, don't know why I like them so I don't know if one would rate them:) Vegetables and sauces - Great Packaging - excellent. Not your typical take-out stuff. They provide a nice bowl that you can just eat out of and not have to use another bowl Price - fair, more explanation below Overall - enjoyed it The other bowl of chicken pho went to someone who's got as much experience eating pho as it gets and his feedback was "good", which says a lot:) I am not a pho-addict or regular eater, but recently I have a craving to have pho every few days. So I am just trying them out when I can or the opportunity presents itself. The consensus among Vietnamese in the Northern VA area is the cafeteria style place off of Wilson in Rosslyn is probably best. A lot of times, it depends on your taste, mood and who's cooking that day. We used to enjoy the pho at the place in the Luchmann plaza at the corner of Route 50 and Graham (Falls Church) until they seemed to have a new cook some years back. We haven't gone back. I pass by the Vietnamese Eden Center just about every day so I try them all when I can as well. I am no foodie critic but at the same time, when you have a great bowl of pho, you would know it. Anyhow, with my recent pho craving, I was glad to see Lotus Vietnamese Grill & Noodles when I was in Shirlington because I work nearby. I almost didn't order the pho because of my initial reaction to the price. I saw it being $12 and $14 on the menu. Then, I read some of the comments about price and other things, and interestingly, the responses from the restaurant got me interested and I made my orders. The two bowls of pho I ordered actually were $10 each. I don't know the owners or have talked to the folks who responded on Yelp, but I thought their comments in respond were fair. Reality is, if a Japanese place in Shirlington charges for a good bowl of udon, a patron would probably not complain. Yet, a good bowl of pho for the same price in the area would be criticized as expensive. I initially thought it was expensive too until I read some of the comments and the responses from the restaurant. Anyhow, I am glad I gave the restaurant a try. I don't have much else to add about the restuarant other than that my order was ready on time and the place seemed nice and clean. As for the pho, I would recommend and order again. Finally, I like how the restaurant responded to the complaints in a gutsy and level-headed manner. Starting and operating a small business is a tough venture at every level/aspect and most people I know who have businesses want to do their best to please their customers because they rely on the customers. Customers have their rights to share feedback but it should be constructive. For things to be 1/5, they have to be pretty bad overall. Yelp and some advisors would suggest not to respond directly or keep things general. I have a small busines and in some ways disagree with the advice because it let the charges and complaints stand - undefended. I appreciate how the restaurant addressed the issues and concerns directly and let the public decide. Good, bad, over-priced or fair, the public will decide over time. Most of us who go to the Eden area would probably have said intitially that Rice Paper Restaurant's prices were high. But I bet that we would gladly pay those prices over other restaurants if they didn't have such long lines all the time:)

    (4)

  • Sash G.

    My roommate and I went here looking for an alternative to all the pho restaurants around town and while decent enough, there was nothing very special about it. The space is very clean and the staff is friendly; however, the food is pretty bland for the price that was charged. The spring rolls were fine but my mango chicken dish had too little flavor. My roommate had the pho but commented that it was just okay - and that Pho 75 was much better. It didn't have a lot of patronage for prime dinner-time on a Tuesday which is a little disconcerting, but the ambiance and atmosphere are solid. Probably a good place for a quiet date or something along those lines, but there are better options around.

    (2)

  • Adrienne J.

    I've always had a pleasant experience with the staff here, and the pork + spring roll vermicelli bowl is one of my favorites.

    (5)

  • Hoon C.

    It opened just at the beginning of the year so they are probably working to get their kinks out. The dining area is attractive with a modern look... not typical of pho places. I'd imagine because of it's location and modern decor, the prices are high... not typical of pho places. $10 for a bowl of pho is kind of pricey for nova... not typical of pho places. The portion wasn't bad -- not too small, not too big... medium... in a fancy bowl... not typical of pho places. Service was slow... not typical of pho places. They have other things besides pho... rice dishes and bahn mi (but they ran out, which we thought was odd considering we went at noon)... not typical of pho places. The pho was good but for the money I'd venture elsewhere... unless I needed a quick fix. I'll probably go again in a few weeks and try their bahn mi.

    (3)

  • Peter S.

    Pho was great, but . . . 1) the restaurant was so cold I wound up wearing my winter coat the entire meal ( and I'm a warm blooded guy). 2) they clean forgot one of the items I ordered, but did take it off the bill when I asked; 3) the service personnel were hyper kinetic to the point it made me jumpy (not a relaxing meal); 4) the kitchen was slow, even with a simple order of one of their signature pho soups.

    (2)

  • liz d.

    I keep brining people to this place and everyone loves it.

    (5)

  • E L.

    Great service. Staff is very courteous and attentive. Food is delicious and flavorful.

    (5)

  • Henry W.

    Great beef pho. The lunch special has choice of summer or spring roll and bowl of pho for $12. Very tasty

    (5)

  • Kia K.

    After hearing about this place from a friend who swears it's the best pho in the area, I decided I was going to try to kick my head cold and came in for a bowl of chicken pho. I was the only customer in the restaurant at 12 noon, but Lotus Grill did not disappoint! Great chicken pho and very attentive staff. By the time I left, the place was packed. This will be my new pho place besides Pho 75!!

    (5)

  • Sushi C.

    Great place: the service was very quick and pleasant and the vermicelli bowl a good deal. I also enjoyed the asparagus and crab soup. Will come back.

    (4)

  • Mia W.

    Lotus offers a variety of Vietnamese food of fine quality. One should be very impressed by the range of traditional and fusion dishes this place offers. The presentation of the dishes is definitely a plus since they include all the side dishes and sauces with each individual order. One would wish the portion to be larger because everyone wants to eat more of the delicious food. The service slightly lacks consistency possibly due to how busy the restaurant is. The atmosphere can be a little uncomfortable at times and one may be misled to believe the servers are unprofessional.

    (4)

  • Indy M.

    Recently revisited this restaurant -- and I'm really glad I did. The quality of food and service have drastically improved. I go back about once a week for a pho fix.

    (4)

  • Mara V.

    This place was fabulous! Best Bun I have had in the city. I almost wanted to drink the sauce left in the bottom of the bowl. Also quiet clean modern interior would make this a great sit down place. Very nice owner. I would highly recommend!

    (5)

  • Omar S.

    Stay away from this place! I live in shirlington and I was excited to see a new spot coming up in the neighborhood. When it was finished, I couldn't wait to try it because I love pho. So I decide to try it with my girl. She's not a big fun of pho, but was willing to get something else on the menu. She ordered shrimp cake and I ordered beef pho. My pho was ok, not the best not the worst. Her shrimp cake or whatever that was, tasted like spoiled fish. So, I reported it to the waiter and ask for a menu so she can order something else, he said sure. To our surprise, he came back and asked if we would like it boxed to go, Lol. We told him no, it taste like spoiled fish and we don't want it. He instead that we take it because they can't serve it to anyone else, what? Also, the manager said that because this is what she ordered that she has to pay for it. So, needless to say that both of us lost our appetite after that. I asked him for the check. Sure enough they charged me for both meal. I payed and left. This is so disappointing! I was so exited about this place. This is the first bad spot in the shirlington in my opinion. Bad management, terrible customer service. I will not go back and I will not recommend Lotus to anyone. Stay away!!!

    (1)

  • Charles B.

    Rarely ever write reviews but I made an exception for this place. I've been back twice in the last month and every time I bring someone new because the experience- food, service and ambiance is top notch. The owner is very friendly and outgoing, and we've made acquaintance. Both my wife and I will surely make this one of our normal spots for Viet fare. Highly recommended. Loved the value you get for the $24-$26 dinner specials. And the fried banana dessert is TOO DIE FOR! Big Fan!

    (5)

  • Jalpa P.

    ATMOSPHERE: Nicer than most Vietnamese restaurants I've been to. Located in the cute village at Shirlington. SERVICE: Waitress was really helpful and pleasant. FOOD: Just got the pho here with round eye and it was actually pretty decent. I was surprised because I haven't found a place that makes good broth in the NoVA area but this place actually is pretty good (although, still hasn't beat Pho So 1 in Richmond, VA) Probably would come back if I was in the area.

    (4)

  • Thai T.

    Could have sworn I wrote a review when they first opened but I guess better late than never. Came here with a friend about 5-6 months ago to try when they first opened and it wasn't bad. Had a seat by the window we ordered the 3 course meal deal. The springrolls were good, crispy and light outer shell, dipping sauce was typical and good. I remember getting the rice and grilled pork entree and it was also decent. The banana and ice cream dessert was delish!! Have been meaning to go back but prices compared to Eden Center and other places, were a smidgeon higher but for the convenience of the location (near home), I wouldn't mind trying it again and see if they've stayed consistent!

    (3)

  • Kent H.

    My wife and I are long time patrons of almost every Shirlington eatery over the last thirty years. Yes thirty years. We were excited that a Vietnamese restaurant was returning to the hood. After seeing an afternoon showing of Miss Saigon what better place for dinner than Lotus. We were the only patrons at about 5 pm. The cocktails and wine service was prompt and spot on and generous. We ordered cai guo (sp?) and spring rolls... the ciao guo was as good as can be this side of Saigon. Ditto for the Spring rolls. Entrees included Pho (beef) and Mango Chicken. Both were wonderful and again very generous. By the end of our meal the place was almost full. Can't say anything about dessert tho... Baskin and Robbins. Sorry Lotus. The Village at Shirlington is a busy location for dining and probably very competitive. I am headed back soon if only for the Spring Rolls and cai guo. Hope Lotus hangs on and becomes as popular as Thai next door.

    (5)

  • Christopher W.

    The spicy beef noodle - Bun Bon Hue dish is hard to find in general and even harder to get right! Order spicy beef noodles with pho noodles and well done flank and you will not be disappointed! This restaurant and staff are truly amazing !

    (5)

  • Linda G.

    My boyfriend and I were staying at the Hilton Garden Inn a block away and decided to try Lotus for lunch. I had the vermecilli & tofu bowl and loved it. For $11, the portion was huge and very filling. The tofu was cooked wonderfully; it was thoroughly pressed, well-seasoned, and delicious. It's unfortunate that I don't live nearby -- I have often found myself craving the dish I had there! The service was friendly, our water glasses were kept full, and though it was a slow afternoon and some staff were standing around chatting, I had no complaints. If you're ever in Shirlington, I highly recommend Lotus!

    (5)

  • David T.

    A great Vietnamese restaurant in Shirlington! Have gotten takeout twice now, and both times were excellent. The crispy spring rolls are some of the best I've had. Also had chicken and veggies as well as Chicken Pho. Both were delicious. Some reviews listed on here are extremely picky. As far as overpriced - you live in N.Virginia. It isn't any higher than the other restaurants in Shirlington. One piece of advice I'd give management: post your menu outside, as well as on your website. Going to their FB page to view their typed menu is a bit cumbersome.

    (5)

  • Andrea W.

    Went there for lunch with a coworker (she's vegetarian, I'm not) and were very happy with the whole meal. We arrived around 12:15 and the restaurant was very empty (more people eventually filled in closer to 1:00). I ordered the lunch special #2, summer rolls (2) and the pork bahn mi sandwich. It was a lot of food for only $11. The summer rolls were beautifully prepared and delicious; served with a peanut sauce. The sandwich was good, very large. The bread was a little too hard and crunchy for my liking, but that's just a personal preference thing. My coworker got the vegetarian spring rolls and a tofu noodle dish. She was also very happy with her food. Quick service and excellent food for a reasonable lunch price.

    (4)

  • Lhynette C. A.

    I really like this place. It's a good place to get some pretty good Vietnamese food. I had the Vietnamese Chicken wings...pretty much drenched in fish sauce and ginger. It was delicious. I will definitely go back for the wings and to try other dishes.

    (3)

  • Matt D.

    I initially wrote a very negative review of Lotus, and while it's still not my favorite restaurant, they should be credited for working out all of their kinks. The staff is now friendly and attentive, people get seated in a reasonable amount of time, and I no longer have any phone problems. I would still rather go to one of the many more authentic and overall better Vietnamese restaurants in Northern Virginia, but for more mainstream Vietnamese food, Lotus is a solid choice.

    (3)

  • Mike B.

    I tried this place when it first opened and it was a nightmare. My wife and I gave it another try today for lunch and it was night and day from our first visit. Granted the Pho is not cheap compared to other places but they have a lunch special that is just right. I am glad they got their act together!

    (4)

  • Rosie M.

    This place is fairly new, so with that being said, the service was uber slow, but the place is really nice, the food good (not great) and the location is perfect. A nice change of pace for that area. I'd definitely go back, maybe try something other than Pho.

    (3)

  • John B.

    I've been here for Pho 3 times since they've opened, with the most recent time being today. The kinks have been worked out, and they are continually getting better in terms of service, quickness, etc. I think this place has the best summer rolls I've ever had. And they're just $1 to add to your lunch special. But I can't get over the fact that the prices are so high and they have been skimping on the meat. I swear, the meat portion has been cut in half since the first time I went. Also, the broth for the noodle soups has been getting more and more watery to the point where it has almost no aroma at all. Not only that--they used to give you a couple sprigs of basil for your soup. Now they simply mince a leaf or two of basil and put it on top of your soup. Portion size is OK for lunch, but I can literally get a better tasting bowl of pho that size anywhere else for half the price. The 2 stars are for decor and reasonably good service. 1 star for OK tasting food.

    (3)

  • Karin J.

    We just ate here on a whim after discovering that it opened less than a week ago. Here are our initial thoughts: 1. Agree with everyone that their are still kinks that they are working out. 2. The decor is very nice and modern--cute glowing lotus lights decorate each table. For the small restaurant space, though, they need to add more tables. We noticed that a line started forming, and they had seated several couples at tables that usually hold 6 people. We suggest that instead of having large round tables in the center of the restaurant, they should think about rectangular tables that can be made for two people...or can be interchanged for larger parties. This would help seat more people. 3. The service is still a bit slow, but again, I think because they are working out the quirks for opening. 4. The Pho Tai was great--I've been to several Pho places in the area and this broth is not too oily or sweet. There were also a lot of noodles and the beef was good! Overall, very filling. 5. I agree the price of the meal was a bit on the high-end ($12 Pho Tai), but again, because this is located in Shirlington, rent prices are probably high. This is not a hole-in-the-wall Vietnamese restaurant. They are definitely catering to a higher-end dining experience. 6. The menu is a bit daunting and lots of meat options in the Pho. Would like to see a simpler menu, but I do like that they have a specific vegetarian section. 7. Would love to see other options on the menu such as Banh Mi sandwiches (perhaps for lunch item?) The restaurant is very busy right now--I think a lot of the locals are trying the place out. The waiters are all very apologetic right for the slowness of service. But I look forward to going back and trying out more of the items.

    (4)

  • Dorit R.

    We went here just a few weeks after it opened and I'm scared to even try to go back. Really disappointing food. When several things got screwed up, it took forever to get a manager and he clearly was so distracted by whatever was going on in the kitchen, he was very short with this and didn't do anything to make it right.

    (1)

  • Nirav S.

    the clay pots are amazingly tasty

    (4)

  • David B.

    The restaurant is nice and tastefully decorated. Our server (Tai) was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. For an appetizer I had the crab and asparagus soup ($6) Which was very good. For the entrees I had the duck corner ($18) and my girlfriend had the pan fried egg noodles with seafood.($20). The portions were generous. The duck was cooked perfectly and my request to have the spice toned down was addressed perfectly. The noodles had a large portion of seafood on the top and was more than my girlfriend could eat in a sitting. The flavors were good. My only complaint would be the speed at which the food comes out. I didn't even finish my soup before the entrees came out. (I know normally a complaint about speed is for slow service.) As time progresses I hope they can improve on the timing and I look forward to trying more of their menu.

    (4)

  • M H.

    Nice atmosphere. Fresh, delicious food. Great mojito.

    (4)

  • Meredith W.

    The pho here is ok, but not great. The broth needs more flavor. Also, pho is a great cold weather food, but in the warm months, I wish they had a more diverse menu of Vietnamese dishes. I think this place has potential, but they need to work on the flavors a bit. Service is good though, and I like the space.

    (2)

  • Andrew R.

    Went here during the winter, hoping to get a nice warm bowl of Pho and stay warm. Well the Pho was pretty good, hard to mess that up I think, but my wife ordered a steak or beef dish and it was freezing cold. I hate complaining about food to wait staff, but we sent it back to get warmed up and they brought it back about 5 degrees warmer. Not hot enough by far. I think we just quietly finished, paid and left after that. The vegetables on the side seemed like they came from the freezer section of a grocery store as well. It pains me to write bad reviews, but I would advise avoiding this place.

    (1)

  • Marco I.

    happy to find out there is now Vietnamese in the heart of Shirlington. Food is great, good size portions, usually enough for leftovers... : ) Definitely more expensive than your traditional Vietnamese, but the location says it all..

    (5)

  • Rich H.

    I've been there once for lunch and once for dinner. The lunch special with lemongrass beef was great, and the spring roll was fantastic. Tasty, tender beef! For dinner, the rib eye soup was like a mini pho and left enough room for one of the better shaking beef's I've ever had. Only complaint is with the service. It's not that they aren't trying, they just need better training.

    (4)

  • Erin G.

    Grabbed lunch here for the first time today. I had a vermicelli bowl with crispy spring rolls, which was among the best I've ever had. A friend had pho, which looked good as well. The foodservice was excellent. When the kitchen sent food out with an ingredient that my friend requested not be included in the dish, the waiter promptly replaced it. The only service hitch was a long wait to get the bill at the end. That said, though, it was still well worth it to have gone. I will definitely be back!

    (4)

  • Grace P.

    Was pretty excited to see this place open as the decor looked pretty and I was looking forward to a good Asian restaurant in Shirlington but this isn't it. Went on a Monday night so the service was ok but the food was substandard. We ordered chao gio and pho. The chao gio tasted like the black pepper laden la choy frozen egg rolls and didn't come with lettuce leaf or mint and a spare tablespoon of sliced radish. The pho noodles were stuck together in a giant blob at the bottom of the bowl... Like they hadn't bothered to reheat or soak the noodles before putting them in the broth. The soup was average and although my husband and I are not big eaters the petrie dish sized plate of bean sprouts was not enough for one bowl much less two. We had to ask for chopsticks which is odd since the primary entree on the menu was noodle soup based and most people even Americans use 'sticks to eat them... I dunno... I kinda was done after spending a couple mins trying to break the noodles up in the soup. Eden center is 10 min away on Route 50 so we'll stick with that where its cheaper, the food is much better and bubble tea is right around the corner.

    (1)

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Map

Opening Hours

  • Mon :11:00 am - 10

Specialities

  • Takes Reservations : Yes
    Delivery : No
    Take-out : Yes
    Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
    Good For : Lunch, Dinner
    Parking : Garage, Street
    Bike Parking : Yes
    Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
    Good for Kids : Yes
    Good for Groups : Yes
    Attire : Casual
    Ambience : Casual
    Noise Level : Average
    Alcohol : Full Bar
    Outdoor Seating : Yes
    Wi-Fi : Free
    Has TV : Yes
    Dogs Allowed : No
    Waiter Service : Yes
    Caters : Yes

Lotus Vietnamese Grill & Noodles

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