eat oakland

Golden Lotus, 13th and Franklin Streets

Narrative
I came home from the Sacramento area on Sunday evening after spending a hot day near the river reading and practicing violin. I was also house-sitting for a friend who lives on Harrison Street and decided to wander a bit for dinner. The sun was just beginning to set at 8:30 pm and I wanted something not too heavy, high on the flavor scale, and gentle on the wallet. Within 2 blocks of her home I ended up at the Golden Lotus, a place introduced to me by friends I rarely see, but with great taste for local, low key eateries. It was a rainy, early spring evening when they first brought me here.

Contact Information
Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant
1301 Franklin Street
Oakland, CA 94612-3207
(510) 893-0383

Hours
Daily: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Cuisine Almost completely Vietnamese vegetarian cuisine. Almost vegan, except for the one dessert you can order with dairy.

Price Range Moderate. One can enjoy appetizer, entree, beverage, and dessert for under $20 per diner. Credit cards are accepted.

SUMMARY
The Golden Lotus is an understated restaurant with a menu filled with AMAZING food, some of it named after animals, but there is no flesh to be found in any bowls or plates they serve. Meat-eaters and Vegetarians, alike, can bask in their extensive menu and flavors. It's fun to go with a group of people to sample their many offerings. The more, the merrier and the greater the buffet!

My go-to meal with them includes their Ginger Fish, an amazingly crafted soy filet complete with seaweed skin, served on a bed of lettuce and a delicate ginger vinegar sauce. The "fish" has a lovely texture and flavor.

An appetizer I tried for the first time on Sunday that did NOT disappoint was the Lotus Salad. Combining crispy tofu, mint, lotus, peanuts, shallots, and another delicate vinegar sauce with ginger I loved the crispness and medly of flavors of this salad.

Their imperial rolls are also excellent with a blend of vegetables lightly fried in a wrapper wound to the diameter of a finger and served with a ginger dipping sauce that is not unlike a light vinegar.

To top off my meal, I ordered an avocado shake. The light, smooth, green beverage was just what I needed as refreshment on a hot summer evening. The tall glass served as a final treat to my meal.

Service
The service is consistently welcoming and polite. The dining room is understated with tables for groups in the front room and a few booths toward the back of the restaurant.

Rest Rooms
The bathroom is satisfactorialy clean with both hot and cold water and decent water pressure.

posted by wrki @ 10:04 PM