Feasting at Lotus Garden Chinese Restaurant

For this Eating Out article, we checked out the new Chinese restaurant in Hulhumale’, Lotus Garden Chinese Restaurant.

Located on Fithuroanu Magu, near the 24-hour Olive Tree shop, Lotus Garden Chinese Restaurant has a cosy vibe to it. The red lanterns and the traditional wooden doors outside give the place a distinctly Chinese feel. Inside, there is a mix of regular tables and booth seating. The booths make for a comfortable spot if you’re settling in for a meal with friends and a few dishes to share (which is what we opted for).

The menu had a mix of à la carte dishes and set menu items for 2-3 pax or 3-4 pax; there was a mix of chicken, beef and seafood options, along with different carbs (rice, noodles, dumplings) and vegetable dishes.

We chose to go the à la carte route with a variety of dishes; hot & sour shredded potato, hot braised duck, sweet & sour chicken, garlic stir-fried romaine lettuce, and shrimp fried rice.

The food arrived relatively soon and all at once.

We started with the hot & sour shredded potato, a classic Sichuan appetizer dish, where potatoes are cut into thin strips, then stir-fried in a rice vinegar-based sauce (which is what gives it that ‘sour’ taste). The potato had a pleasant crunch to it and the pieces of cut-up dried chillies mixed through gave the whole dish an overall spicy, tangy taste.

The hot braised duck consisted of duck parts and vegetables in a simmering sauce, served in a clay pot. The sauce was soy-based, savoury and chock-full of umami flavour while the duck pieces were tender and juicy. The vegetables added a nice freshness which contrasted well with the richness of the sauce and the duck.

The sweet & sour chicken was another standout. The chicken had a really crispy coating that held up nicely under a tomato-y, sweet sauce. The combination of crispy chicken and that sweet, tangy sauce was seriously addictive and safe to say, this was one of our favourites!

For something a little lighter, we tried the garlic stir-fried romaine lettuce. The name might not sound particularly exciting, but the dish was surprisingly tasty. The lettuce was a little garlicky, aromatic, and still had a slight crunch down the middle.

For our main carb, we had the shrimp fried rice. It was mild, tasty, and nicely seasoned; a great side for the bolder flavours of the other dishes.

Overall, the Lotus Garden Chinese Restaurant was a hit. The food was delicious and the staff were friendly and helpful, making for a wonderful dinner experience. We can’t wait to go back and try more of their dishes, and we definitely recommend that you check it out too!