Blue Lotus Vietnamese Cuisine

So ever since I have reviewed this place back on 12÷14÷15 to now it seems like they have read their reviews! I have been back here almost every week with my girlfriend and I can say that their service has definitely stepped up. They are now on top of things with concern of their customers and are more attentive. I still come here to this day and will continue to come. I would like to thank their management and keep up the good job and food too!

Ban mi was a bummer! First they told me they had to unfreeze the meet, 10 minutes later they served it to me on a kaiser bun. Not sure who they have cooking back there but don’t expect authentic. The place is also unclean, looks and smells pretty unsanitary.

This place use to be good… Not anymore. Food taste different, but what I’m more disappointed at is the service… The waiter were rushing us to finish and they weren’t paying attention to us. I wouldn’t recommend this place anymore

THE BEST PLACE IN CARSON FOR PHO. I love coming to this restaurant for their chicken phở. I am very picky when it comes to phở but this place is very tasty. The service is great and the prices are not bad at all. I also like their Thai Teas with boba.

First time here and I think I’ll be back. We visited this place after reading some Unilocal reviews. Stopped by on a Wednesday evening around 6:30 and I was surprised to see the place was packed. We waited a short while to be seated. It took about 15 minutes to finally take our order. The food came about 15 minutes later and it was worth the wait. Staff isn’t the friendliest or attentive but the food is totally worth it! By the time we left there were people waiting outside to be seated. You know it’s going to be good when there are people willing to wait in the freezing cold for a table! Food is great, service not the best.
I had #78 and it was absolutely delicious!

I’ve been here several times for dinner. They have a great chicken and shrimp phở. Their boba isn’t bad either and their egg rolls are good, too. Typically good service. Once in a while there’s a bit of a wait but it’s still a solid phở spot.

The food is okay i seen a roach on the table it was so gross i see why they have a B.
Won’t be returning untill they fix that problem.

I’ll admit, their food is good but their customer service can use some work. I would go to this establishment at least once a week for lunch during the work week. Always ordered the same thing using my debit card. Then one day I tried to pay with my card, and all of a sudden they say there is a 10 dollar minimum to use it. Mind you they know I’m a regular and they couldn’t even honer it this one time. I went on to ask, when did that policy start? And the waiter says, «a few months ago.» So all those times I’ve been using my debit card, the policy changed within a week? Sorry fellas your food is good but you lost my business for life.
Moral of the story make sure to have cash if you want to eat at this place but don’t expect the greatest service. Oh and a heads up they were graded a B. I remember they were graded an A two months back. So it’s a sign their quality in the kitchen is affecting the service on the floor as well.

OMG! This place rocks. We had shrimp fried rice, spring rolls, Kalbi short ribs, & milk fish. It’s not heavy in your stomach afterwards. Can’t be afraid to eat as if you’re back in the islands (i.e. Using your hands).

The food is always great but service is always poor and incomplete. You have to call for to complete the things you order. And when you ask, you have to ask a lot of times.

My dad loves this place and that says a lot coming from a man who would rather cook up his own food. I love this place too, mostly because their calamari is SPOT ON. Best calamari I’ve ever tasted. Their phở is mediocre though. I’ve had better broth. Their rice plates seem to be a hit with the fam though– the Korean barbecue plate, fried tilapia plate or the combo rice plate with the meat, shrimp and fish cake.
I really enjoyed their vermicelli the last time I was here. I ordered it with the beef, shrimp, and egg roll. Dump all the fish sauce in that and UMPH!!! So good. Love how the softness of the noodles and the crunchiness of the fresh veggies compliment each other.
Get the Thai Tea.

Very quick and pleasant service. The friendly staff was very attentive. Our food came within 4 minutes of being ordered! The large wall fountain added an unexpected niceness to the décor.
We ordered the House Special Phở. The customary garnish plate of Thai basil, limes & bean sprouts was generous — usually a good indicator of a delicious Phở place. Unfortunately, this Phở was disappointing. The broth, the heart & soul of this soup, was not tasty. It lacked, for a better word, Phoness-​that wonderful rich broth taste that melds beefy goodness with magic to yield Phở broth. This broth tasted watered down, an independent decision my companion hesitantly voiced half way thru the meal, confirming my thoughts.
The staff was so eager & wanting everyone to have a good dining experience that perhaps we simply caught a bad days product, but if I were to return, it certainly would not be for the Phở.

I’ve been here about half dozen times. I always wait a few times before writing a review, just to be sure that a place is consistent. And sure enough, this place is consistently 5 stars. Staff is polite, quick, and you will have a hard time finding another Vietnamese restaurant with better quality food. Keep in mind that I only ever eat Phở (with steak and brisket) or the Vermicelli bowls (grilled pork or beef) so my Vietnamese restaurant reviews are limited to those signature dishes. What can I say? I know what I like! If you have the same Vietnamese cravings as I do and you’re looking for consistently top notch Phở and Vermicelli bowls, please do your taste buds a favor and visit Blue Lotus. Have an iced coffee while you’re here too, also top notch.
As for atmosphere, it’s also one of the nicer restaurants I’ve visited. It’s clean, plenty of natural light shining through, has a beautiful water fountain wall for you to stare at, and light music playing over the speakers. You will definitely like this place.
Well enough from me, time for me to eat!

The food gets my five stars. The employees are fast but not very nice! The only one that is kind is the owner!

Came here with my co-​worker for lunch. Growing up in Carson in the 80’s made me reminisce a few places — such as this place. I recall this being a del taco way back when. It still amazes me that Foster Freezes is still there. like whoa! Flashback!!!
Anyway getting back to my review. It’s going to short and brief as I only ordered 1 plate from this place and it was thee best I’ve tasted — ever! Order the «Korean BBQ salad» you will not regret! Trust me on this.
Alright, I’m out… before I see someone I know here. LOL

Ask for water. They will not serve water unless you ask as they are conserving as much water from the current drought in California. Bless their hearts.
For starters, I usually get the spring rolls with shrimp and pork. I love the peanut sauce it comes with.
The phở is so flavorful and great for when you have a cold or when you’re just craving it. I like the seafood phở.
I also highly recommend the cold vermicelli with shrimp, the grilled beef, and egg roll. It’s so filling but leans a little more on the healthier side. They fill the bowl with salad and veggies underneath the vermicelli. It comes with a side of sauce — I wanna say it’s fish sauce but it has a taste of vinegar and spice as well so I’m not too sure.
The iced coffee with condensed milk is like a drug. It’s so good but very, very strong.
Try the 3 flavor bean with coconut milk for dessert. It’s light and a nice way to clean your palate at the end. It’s also good for sharing.
Servers seem mad sometimes but try not to take that personally as they are very prompt and good at tending to your needs.

I’m no phở expert but have been really having the desire for some lately. And Blue Lotus is pretty much the one spot in Carson, and very close to me so I don’t have to drive to Gardena or anywhere to get quality phở.
Seems to be constantly busy but they serve quickly so wait times are minimal. The broths are very good and flavorful and the small size is more than enough soup for me. they give the usual side veggies to add to your phở.
Tried the calamari and that’s pretty good even though there’s no sauce. Just straight up salt and pepper and there you go. But cooked perfectly.
Also tried the shrimp and pork spring rolls and the beef spring rolls. Both good, but I preferred the beef.
Parking is Ok in the lot shared with all the other businesses there. But it’s never a far walk. The restaurant itself is as clean as it can be for being so busy all the time. Super fast service and good quality food at a decent price.

Right now, I’d say Blue Lotus is my go-​to stop for Phở in the Torrance/​Carson area.
There’s nothing special about Blue Lotus’ Phở and even lacks the larger size offerings other Phở restaurants in the South Bay have, but it’s very consistent and not ever bad. I’ve been here over five times within the last 3 months, and I’d have to say that consistency is very much on their list of priorities, which in the Phở business, speaks volumes. The price for a bowl is under $ 8, so it’s a good easy spot to have lunch at. As mentioned above, although the bowl is one size, it is filling, you don’t have to worry about walking out still hungry.
I don’t get anything else, so my review for this place is on the Phở Tai (Rare steak phở, my standard phở).

Came here with a local Vietnamese guy’s recommendation. Phở was very good, I’ve had my shares of bad and good Phở, not sure how you can mess up Phở, but I’m sure there are some ”secrets” to it. They have fast service and great place to stop by for lunch.

Phở King.
Pros: location is accessible at southwest corner of main/​Carson street. Large selection. Teas, boba, fried, steamed, boiled etc etc. you name it. Prices are $ 1 – 2 les than others. Decent sized portions. Phở base is above average but not life changing. Hit or miss, sometimes it’s too salty. Decent amount of meat in the phở. Vermicelli dishes were pretty good for the price! I like the music choices they have!
Cons: restaurant is not very clean. Cracked seats and hints of food and trash under the tables. Likely due to the high volume of customers and fast turnover of tables. It’s a small high volume restaurant. Fried shrimp in vermicelli bowl dishes were flavored well but they do not remove the shell.
Overall, price is competitive and the flavor is above average. Restaurant was just too dirty to give it 5 stars.