I never come to town without eating here. The Asian- fusion food is fabulous. The staff are wonderful. For over 40 years this restaurant has been the best in LA.
Cathy
Chinois on Main is a California classic, and the food is as spectacular as it was 30 years ago. What was the leading edge of culinary innovation in the 80's, has been borrowed and copied by many chefs, but never executed as well as Wolfgang's. When you want to taste a perfectly timeless dish, and you want it to bring back all the nostalgia of the first time, this is why you go back to Spago and Chinois time and time again. This menu is utter perfection, and every plate of food was executed brilliantly. Bella's presence was heartfelt and generous, and seeing her work the room brought back all the warmth and memories of a remarkable fine dining experience. Wolfgang Puck, you are truly a master and still the best there is! We had the whole fried fish, the Shanghai lobster, and calamari and rock shrimp salad, and the schezuan eggplant. I would order the exact same thing, every time. Bravo!!
Gwen
The food was fabulous as always! I was there when Chinois opened! We have eaten there, had family events there, holiday parties there.... We always, always have excellent food, the best sauces, plating, freshest fish and oysters, and always innovative. We have some of our very favorites, from day one, like the warm curried oysters (currently not being served because they cannot source good oysters) and the whole sizzling catfish. Lobster with fried spinach always a winner as is the Tuna Tataki. Bella who is the "Queen" of the operation, has been with Wolfie since the beginning. The staff has been there for decades, and some of our favorites have retired.... We recently ate at Merois, a Wolfgang restaurant atop the SunRose hotel. Bella recommended it when they were closed for a private event, and we had company in town. Also fab food, and a to die for view, but NOT Chinois...... I have probably celebrated at least 8 birthdays there, and they did our staff Holiday party for decades. Rarely is a restaurant that has been around since 1983, retained such high quality food, staff, ambience.... it is the whole package!
karin
We have been going to Chinois for a very long time and we always look forward to it. The food, service and ambience cannot be beat. We love going there. Happy 42nd anniversary!!! Many more
Sonja
Amazing evening! What a magical place and amazing cuisine! Such an honor to see WP again. Everyone was so welcoming and made us feel like family.
Arlene
What a wonderful room and dining experience celebrating Chinois's 42nd Anniversary. The menu as always over-delivered on portion and quality. Service was familiar and easy to be with and the people streamed in for the Prie Fixe. We were delighted to eat the recipes of Wolfgang Puck and even had the opportunity to meet this wonderful man and chef. We celebrated our friends birthday and the restaurant shared in the celebration of this big birthday. Love Bella who warmly greets us always and cannot recommend highly enough! Enjoy and return again and again!
Patricia
Chinois usually fires on all cylinders. Appetizers and vegetables are amazing and served with incredible sauces. Unfortunately, the main dishes during the anniversary set meals suffered from small amounts of meat and tepid temperature.
Kevin
Food was very good but ambiance was not. Tables are much too close together and noise level is way too high. Very unpleasant experience. Especially given the cost of the food and drink. Service was slow and our food was delivered out of sequence and had to be sent back.
Jodi
Chinois is a special experience. You feel tucked away off of bustling Main Street in a beautiful jewel-box celadon accented interior. The food is as good now as it has been for decades. The staff are attentive, helpful and very professional.
Veronica
Always good service from the moment you enter. There's something to be said about the staff remembering you and making the extra effort for a memorable evening!
Wow! Our dinner at Chinois On Main was one of the best experiences my family adn I have every had. From the moment you walk in the staff makes you feel special — looking around, I could tell that many guests were regulars. In particular, Leonardo really went above and beyond in making our experience special.
The food was also wonderful — we got the chinese chicken salad, sea bass, catfish, and their daily special of short rib along with some drinks. All flavorful and big portions, definitely more of a family style!
We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dr . Benjamin S .
Bella, You are one of the greatest warriors we have met. Your dedication to your team and the quality of your food has us coming back for years now. When we come to Santa Monica, your our first stop as always. We can't thank you enough and keep sending out the best food in Santa Monica. We will see you soon!!
Oleg Dymovsky
Great food in upmarket setting
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gladys Chandler
Very High-end dining DineLA
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Morgan
We were greetly warmly by the sweet older lady but after that it went all downhill. The following are my notes that unfortunately had to be taken during my birthday!!! No greeting upon arrival by Hector Few drink refills.. had to ask 3x Manager(male) was on the phone and did not visit the table, but lovely lady in green wished happy birthday and was very sincere (she was great!) Lobster was forgotten or poorly coursed Dessert menu was brought before the lobster arrived Birthday was forgotten despite prior mention but later remembered No check-back after the main meal was served (catfish and lobster) Lobster came far after only after we had finished the fish and what appeared the be the expo had to clear the plates Manager never came by to address the issue; was instead on the phone Server hector did not check back on the late lobster — it was either not rung in or misfired General lack of attentiveness in the dining room Manager fails to visit or "touch" tables Excessive texting by male manager during shift, as seen in photos Male mgr focused on texting, to go order issues and pictures of food rather tha guest interaction JOEL!!!! He made my birthday special, he remembered my name, sliced my catfish with personality and even said bye to us BY NAME when we left!!!!! WHAT A GAME CHANGER!! The rest of the team I had interaction with (not other servers or support) seemed to lack the fundamentals of service: Greet,smile, refill, upsell, check back, fire, course items, etc. Really unfortunate for first Wolfgang experience. Ive served at Per Se, Jean Georges, and 11 Madison and this experience was definitely not Michelin worthy. For $300, I'd expect much higher standards. See picture of manager on phone with foot on wall!!!!!!!! ...while my drink is empty Then support staff on the phone! Then Joel being a rockstar! And then my lovely girlfriend Im really sorry to have to publish this review... :(
I never come to town without eating here. The Asian- fusion food is fabulous. The staff are wonderful. For over 40 years this restaurant has been the best in LA.
Chinois on Main is a California classic, and the food is as spectacular as it was 30 years ago. What was the leading edge of culinary innovation in the 80's, has been borrowed and copied by many chefs, but never executed as well as Wolfgang's. When you want to taste a perfectly timeless dish, and you want it to bring back all the nostalgia of the first time, this is why you go back to Spago and Chinois time and time again. This menu is utter perfection, and every plate of food was executed brilliantly. Bella's presence was heartfelt and generous, and seeing her work the room brought back all the warmth and memories of a remarkable fine dining experience. Wolfgang Puck, you are truly a master and still the best there is! We had the whole fried fish, the Shanghai lobster, and calamari and rock shrimp salad, and the schezuan eggplant. I would order the exact same thing, every time. Bravo!!
The food was fabulous as always! I was there when Chinois opened! We have eaten there, had family events there, holiday parties there.... We always, always have excellent food, the best sauces, plating, freshest fish and oysters, and always innovative. We have some of our very favorites, from day one, like the warm curried oysters (currently not being served because they cannot source good oysters) and the whole sizzling catfish. Lobster with fried spinach always a winner as is the Tuna Tataki. Bella who is the "Queen" of the operation, has been with Wolfie since the beginning. The staff has been there for decades, and some of our favorites have retired.... We recently ate at Merois, a Wolfgang restaurant atop the SunRose hotel. Bella recommended it when they were closed for a private event, and we had company in town. Also fab food, and a to die for view, but NOT Chinois...... I have probably celebrated at least 8 birthdays there, and they did our staff Holiday party for decades. Rarely is a restaurant that has been around since 1983, retained such high quality food, staff, ambience.... it is the whole package!
We have been going to Chinois for a very long time and we always look forward to it. The food, service and ambience cannot be beat. We love going there. Happy 42nd anniversary!!! Many more
Amazing evening! What a magical place and amazing cuisine! Such an honor to see WP again. Everyone was so welcoming and made us feel like family.
What a wonderful room and dining experience celebrating Chinois's 42nd Anniversary. The menu as always over-delivered on portion and quality. Service was familiar and easy to be with and the people streamed in for the Prie Fixe. We were delighted to eat the recipes of Wolfgang Puck and even had the opportunity to meet this wonderful man and chef. We celebrated our friends birthday and the restaurant shared in the celebration of this big birthday. Love Bella who warmly greets us always and cannot recommend highly enough! Enjoy and return again and again!
Chinois usually fires on all cylinders. Appetizers and vegetables are amazing and served with incredible sauces. Unfortunately, the main dishes during the anniversary set meals suffered from small amounts of meat and tepid temperature.
Food was very good but ambiance was not. Tables are much too close together and noise level is way too high. Very unpleasant experience. Especially given the cost of the food and drink. Service was slow and our food was delivered out of sequence and had to be sent back.
Chinois is a special experience. You feel tucked away off of bustling Main Street in a beautiful jewel-box celadon accented interior. The food is as good now as it has been for decades. The staff are attentive, helpful and very professional.
Always good service from the moment you enter. There's something to be said about the staff remembering you and making the extra effort for a memorable evening!
Restaurantji Recommends
Wow! Our dinner at Chinois On Main was one of the best experiences my family adn I have every had. From the moment you walk in the staff makes you feel special — looking around, I could tell that many guests were regulars. In particular, Leonardo really went above and beyond in making our experience special.
The food was also wonderful — we got the chinese chicken salad, sea bass, catfish, and their daily special of short rib along with some drinks. All flavorful and big portions, definitely more of a family style!
We will definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Bella, You are one of the greatest warriors we have met. Your dedication to your team and the quality of your food has us coming back for years now. When we come to Santa Monica, your our first stop as always. We can't thank you enough and keep sending out the best food in Santa Monica. We will see you soon!!
Great food in upmarket setting
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very High-end dining DineLA
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We were greetly warmly by the sweet older lady but after that it went all downhill. The following are my notes that unfortunately had to be taken during my birthday!!! No greeting upon arrival by Hector Few drink refills.. had to ask 3x Manager(male) was on the phone and did not visit the table, but lovely lady in green wished happy birthday and was very sincere (she was great!) Lobster was forgotten or poorly coursed Dessert menu was brought before the lobster arrived Birthday was forgotten despite prior mention but later remembered No check-back after the main meal was served (catfish and lobster) Lobster came far after only after we had finished the fish and what appeared the be the expo had to clear the plates Manager never came by to address the issue; was instead on the phone Server hector did not check back on the late lobster — it was either not rung in or misfired General lack of attentiveness in the dining room Manager fails to visit or "touch" tables Excessive texting by male manager during shift, as seen in photos Male mgr focused on texting, to go order issues and pictures of food rather tha guest interaction JOEL!!!! He made my birthday special, he remembered my name, sliced my catfish with personality and even said bye to us BY NAME when we left!!!!! WHAT A GAME CHANGER!! The rest of the team I had interaction with (not other servers or support) seemed to lack the fundamentals of service: Greet,smile, refill, upsell, check back, fire, course items, etc. Really unfortunate for first Wolfgang experience. Ive served at Per Se, Jean Georges, and 11 Madison and this experience was definitely not Michelin worthy. For $300, I'd expect much higher standards. See picture of manager on phone with foot on wall!!!!!!!! ...while my drink is empty Then support staff on the phone! Then Joel being a rockstar! And then my lovely girlfriend Im really sorry to have to publish this review... :(
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