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DEMORE

Joined 3 years ago

MSG!!!!. PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL THE DISHES IN THIS RESTAURANT CONTAIN "MSG".EXCEPT THE SALADS...BUT THE DRESSING DOES..SO AS GOOD AS YOU THINK THIS PLACE IS AT THE END...WELL?

THIS IS A HEALTH NOTE THAT IS NOT MENTIONED THAT SHOULD BE IN CASE YOU ARE ALERGIC.

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Paullly

Joined 5 years ago

Great place to take a relative or out of town friend. Been there a few times, the food cant be beat. They have some fun takes on regular asian foods. Its a mix of Korean, Chinese, Japanese, etc and it always tastes great. Cant go wrong with anything here.

Prices are medium high, but worth it. Service is the usual younger crowd of energetic hipsters. Very good service considering how busy this place is.

I like to take out of towners here and then walk to the pier and 3rd street to people watch. I have seen celebritys around here and its always fun.

Overall the food cant be beat and its a fun place.

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Peedler

Joined 4 years ago

Very tasty and nice!. I've been here a couple of times, once for lunch and once for dinner, and both times the food was great! I got the pad thai and it tasted flavorful yet light and fresh, without the greasiness you sometimes find at other restaurants. I also got the korean steak, which was very well flavored and cooked, and it was also a good cut of meat. The decor of the place is also nice, casual yet still well decorated. For the quality of the food, proximity to the beach and 3rd street promenade, this place is a great value. Be ware though, I came with two other people at 6:45pm for dinner on a Monday night, and had to wait 15-20min for seating.

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NeilV

Joined 5 years ago

Amazing Selection, Great Location, Good Prices. Service, ambience, food all excellent. It's a block from the beach and third-street promenade. The prices are entirely reasonable considering the quality, and the serving size is generous.

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roxikei

Joined 5 years ago

Super Yummy!. i love this place so! The food is delicious, the bar staff super friendly and their infused sparkling tea drinks are great! I die for the shishito peppers and the garlic fried rice. Great lunch and dinner spot. I could eat here every night.

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Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

This popular, casual Santa Monica dining spot is where locals go for fresh and affordable Pan-Asian fare.. The Scene
This sun-drenched, airy dining room is welcoming and bright. Oversized paper lanterns and a giant Buddha statue add liveliness to the simple space. Outside, pedestrians from the nearby Third Street Promenade walk by, providing fun people watching. Servers cater to neighborhood locals with friendly efficiency.

The Food
Popular Asian dishes are gussied up with fresh ingredients. Seaweed salad, a mixture of wakame and hijiki in a tangy sesame-ginger dressing, is cool and refreshing. Chilled Vietnamese shrimp rolls, packed with shrimp, cilantro and crispy rice vermicilli, gets a flavor boost from a spicy-sweet sake reduction dipping sauce. Thai beef salad is a carb-light feast with strips of tender sirloin steak, juicy tomatoes and sweet onion tossed with mixed greens in a lemongrass dressing. Japanese-style Alaskan cod glazed with a sweet miso sauce is baked until flaky and light. A cup of coconut-infused homemade tapioca pudding is the finale.

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t_roch

Joined 8 years ago

So glad they finally opened in Santa Monica!. this Buddha's Belly is just as good as the original on Beverly Blvd - only they have a full bar! There's no patio or private room, but a bigger dining room. Their kitchen is not behind the counter, but you can still see the cooks making your food through a giant glass window next to the bar.

My wife and I were here the other night and she loved their Tofu Lettuce Cups and I had the Black Cod, which is always amazing.

Our server was also great - really knew the menu and very friendly.