Bamboo Restaurant
Los Angeles, CA 90034 (310) 287-0668
- Hours:
Mon 11:00 a.m.-10:30 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Attire: Casual
- Good for Groups: Yes
- Good for Kids: Yes
- Takes Reservations: Yes
- Delivers: Yes
- Take-out: Yes
- Waiter Service: Yes
- Outdoor Seating: Yes
- Good for: Dinner
- Alcohol: Full Bar
33 Reviews for Bamboo Restaurant
While most of their menu is forgettable, I'm a big fan of their soups (the corn chowder and especially their grilled vegetable soup).
If this was a site dedicated to just soups, I'd give it 4-5 stars.
Come to think of it, is there a site for soups? I'd kinda dig that a lot.
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The menu didn't really turn me on, as most of the dishes sound like things that I can make at home on my own. And, duh, the reason I go out to eat is because I get bored of those options.
The black bean soup was actually really good and the Mango Curry Chicken was good too (though it was pretty pricey at $15). The pizza was forgetable. Our waitress was really nice and always made sure we had a drink.
I might go back if I lived near by or if I wanted to watch soccer and drink pina coladas in the bar. They also have an outdoor patio.
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Take Metro #33 or 333.
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The veggie options are sparse (though, my veg pizza WAS flavorful). Usually i can roll with this, but the charmless service our party received that night was not coolio.
Our waitress didn't crack a smile all night. She did throw out suggestions for each course, but you could make a beeline for the most expensive item in each category because that's what was recommended every time. UPSELL!!!! Any questions asked about the food were pretty much given one word answers.
Vegetarians: if you choose to move beyond the appetizers, you got two options - pizza or pasta. At a Caribbean restaurant. I went with the bbq veggie pizza which was a generous portion of grilled veggies (including asparagus!!) on a thin crust pizza. A wee messy but delicious and the veggies were perfectly cooked.
Dessert (as mini-me mentioned) was chocolate mousse cake which was forgettable. For you flan lovers - there's two kinds, coconut and regular. Have at it, i eff'ing hate flan.
Service overall was lacking but what really burned my biscuits was our waitress refusing to break a $20 for someone at our table. She claimed she had no change, and said to go to the bar, when the bar sent them back - then she begrudgingly procured some change. Like magic!! but grumpier.
There's patio and indoor seating. Parking is super tough, their lot is tiny and valet only. we parked across venice and hoofed it. My entree was delish, however the same cannot be said for everyone else at my table. Combine that with the crap attitude of our server and i can think of 20 other places that i'd rather spend my ducats.
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I was the first one in our party to arrive and so I ended up talking to some guy at the bar. That was a mistake, because then he and his friends kept getting up to "go to the bathroom" as an excuse to walk by our table and say hi to me over and over while we were eating dinner. LAME. Dudes, we are not in junior high. Grow up.
As for the food and drinks...the mojito I ordered wasn't awful, but it was too sweet for my taste. I would have preferred a little less sugar and a lot more rum.
The bread that was brought out while we contemplated the menu was the highlight of the meal. It was warm, slightly crusty brown bread. That said, it wasn't exactly what I expected at a Cuban restaurant.
I was sad that there weren't more veggie options for my beautiful Jenn, but then I ordered steak. I chose the churrasco, which was nicely spiced but not fabulous. However, the accompanying rice and beans were very blah. And like a woman in a Woody Allen joke, I will also complain that the portion of beans I received was very small.
To add insult to injury, we ordered dessert. Jenn and I shared a chocolate mousse cake that would have been much better if it hadn't been drizzled in what tasted like (and probably was) Children's Nyquil.
Finally, when we were ready to pay, I tried to break a twenty and no one who worked there would admit to having any change. WTF? How can you run a restaurant that way? Do you expect everyone paying in cash to use singles? Is this place secretly a strip club?
Next time I'm in the mood for Cuban in this part of town, I'll just head to Versailles.
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The abridged Bamboo restaurant review:
Delicious. Inexpensive. Informal, but with cloth napkins.
Love the corn chowder, ceviche, mango chicken, crabcakes, and churrasco steak. And the smiley, dark skinned waiter who makes sure you always have a drink.
Go.
Now.
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bam BOO.
Boo is right.
Our waitress would have taken 15 minutes to bring us our menu if we didn't go get it ourselves. The busboys and other servers were nice even though I don't think we were their table.
The food was mediocre. Had the mango chicken. I think my BF had something equally mediocre.
Next time, I'll save myself the parking issue and just go to Cafe Brasil.
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If you want good food and competent service, another place would be a better choice. Nominally Jamaican, the food is really nonspecific to any particular cuisine - unless mushroom soup, flan, and Caesar salad are typical of that fare. The only flavorful entree the night our party was there was the jumbo shrimp. The salads were passable. The mushroom soup was praised. The crabcakes were salty, overcooked and tasteless, the sangria a watery mess. The server was indifferent and mostly absent. The background music was overbearing. The parking is limited. A good pick if you're desperate or not too fussy.
For starters, I've only gotten takeout here, but I do love their food. Some of my favorites are: Chilaquiles (their's turned me onto chilaquiles in general, and it's soo soo good), Yucatan Chicken (an overall favorite), Milanesa a la Bamboo (I feel my arteries harden as I remember this dish, but it's honestly worth cutting your life a few years short just to try it!), Mushroom Soup, Wild Mushroom Pizza, Ahi Tuna, etc. You name it, I've probably tried it. Their rice is really well done, the black beans are also delish, and if you are concerned about carbs, ask to substitute grilled veggies for the rice & mashed potato. You won't be sorry! Their grilled veggies are pretty freaking awesome!
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This place is pretty darn tasty. From the brown bread they serve you before your meal, all the way through the entree, the food here was consistently crowd pleasing (although more so to some than to others).
I don't know why you'd come to a Caribbean restaurant for pizza, but perhaps theirs is good. Nobody in my group ordered pizza, but all the entrees were ill (in the good way, not the bad way). Also, do not overlook their soup selection in the appetizers, as many of these are scrumptious as well.
Be mindful of your wallet, however. A drink , an entree and a soup can put you on the cusp between a 'moderate' evening and a 'spendy' one. Some of the entrees feel like they should be a dollar or two cheaper, but perhaps you are paying for the ambience. or something.
Parking costs $3, and there aren't many other options around, so bear that in mind. In a perfect world, the valet would've been a bit more jovial, but I suppose even in LA, not everybody working valet does comedy on the side. oh well.
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Good Caribbean food, never a problem to get in and if you're looking fo a quick, easy meal this is a good spot. I usually get whatever Shrimp meal they have, standard entree or special.
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Stumbling in here on a Sat night around 10:30 in jeans and sneaks, I wasn't expecting a reservation book (we didn't need one) or white linen table cloths and candles on each table. It wasn't very busy at this time, so our service was fast and focused. Bread was brown like Outback's.
My boyfriend picked our appetizer and I wasn't expecting too much from a "grilled vegetable quesdadilla with mozzerella." ($6) It blew us away! Stuffed with sweet-grilled zucchini, corn, asparagus, gooey cheese, and topped with fresh guac- it exploded with flavor. And it was pretty big to boot.
Then we shared the soft shell crab special dinner. ($21.95) Hubba, hubba. I fricking love soft shell crab, and this one was in a delicious tangy, not-quite-spicy sauce that was mysteriosly but expertly flavored.
The rice and black beans were nothing special. And you only get a small ramekin of beans. Don't people in third-world countries live on beans cos you can get pounds for a dollar? Give me some more beans, please! And also can I have more than two bites of fried plantains? What a tease those were, though a tasty one.
I had a cold so cannot report on the mojitos unfortuntately, except to say $6. I cannot report on dessert.
It's a little pricey for my taste, it would be awesome they did a happy hour with deals on their enticing cocktails and 1/2 priced appetizers. I think I'll fantasize about as I try to fall asleep tonight.
One final warning- there's a tv over the bar in the eastern dining room and depending where your date sits and if he/she suffers from the same moth-to-flame eyes-to-television syndrome as my guy does, you might not have his/her attention throughout your meal.
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The food was so good I'm still drooling from eating here 2 years ago. I came here while visiting one of my friends at UCLA. We decided to get all dolled up ( which worked to our advantage--free drinks!) to have a nice dinner.
I had chicken with some beans and salad. Don't remember the details, but the taste- the best dang beans I've ever had! (And I'm not a bean fan by all means)
My friend's dish was delicious as well. She had seafood- shrimp and fish. YUM.
The mojitos were one of the best I have ever had. Ever since I've had it here, it's become my drink of choice. We sat in the outside patio on the busy street of Venice, but there were trees, bamboos covering us from the street. For a moment there, I forgot we were in the middle of LA.
The bathroom is really cute too. Nicely done just as the entire restaurant was. Very breezy aroma is gives off--So Caribbean (which of course is the type of food they serve.) First time having Caribbean food, and it won't be my last!
The service was great. The staff was extremely helpful with recommendation....and drinks :D I guess it helps being young, hip, and as Kimora Lee Simmons would say--FABULOUS!
Very tasty, great spice.
If you want the flavor of the Islands this is hands down the place.
Great atmosphere and good service. No much selection for Vegetarians however, they'll still find something good enough to eat.
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The restaurant looks more pretentious than it actually is.
There's a hostess, white linen tablecloths and cloth napkins, freshly toasted brown bread, mixed drinks, and all kinds of wine. Also, the front door is hidden behind a secluded outdoor patio with all kinds of houseplants. And it's always closed. Even when they're open.
So don't let all of that dissuade you - the entrees are generously portioned (not overpowering like Versailles or half-sized like the nearby CPK ASAP). The mango curry chicken is good, if a little bland (as in, not spicy at all); the steak is peppery and flavorful. The black beans are also nice and light.
The best part? We walked down the street to get here, and didn't have to deal with parking (though there is a private lot in the back where they make sure you're only patronizing Bamboo).
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I don't know exactly how authentic this "caribbean" food is, as I've never been to caribbea before. Do they really serve pizza, corn chowder and ceviche in Caribbea? The food was really good though. We had the chowder, the ceviche, and I ordered Bahia shrimp. I'd return here, the experience was positive.
The Sopa De Maiz (corn chowder) is freakin' amazing. The menu has a good variety of island flavors. The mango curry chiken is too good to pass up.
The service is top notch. They remodeled a few years back so I think they went for the initmate and romantic vibe. Not something you would typically find with Caribbean joints, but I'm not complaining. The place is more laid back then the decor may convey. We've enjoyed the outdoor patio when dining with a large group of friends. This is a good choice for good food and good atmosphere.
This place was pretty good the first few times, but then it all started blending together and now when I see their menu and try to choose, it all tastes the same in my head. It's not bad, I just got bored with it very quickly. The BBQ veggie pizza is one of their better items. One of my friends loves the sopa de hongos (mushroom soup). I dunno, maybe I'm jaded but this kinda felt like a poor imitation of Bossa Nova. Yes yes I know they're not the same, uh, "genre" but they feel very similar to me, and this place just doesn't have the menu variety that it needs.
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As far as Caribbean food goes, this is the only place I've tried in LA. I went with quite a few people so I was fortunate enough to sample a good deal of the dishes and drinks. The wait can be a bit long, including getting a table, ordering, and actually receiving your meal.
Drinks: The pina coladas and mojitos (you can ask for a mango mojito) were delicious with just the right amount of EtOH added. I had the sangria which was great. There wasn't a lot of fruit in it which was disappointing, but otherwise it's a bit hard to screw up sangria.
Appetizers: If you go, try the ceviche (lime marinated raw seafood). It's a bit pricey but fresh and tangy. The sopa des vegetales was great according to people at the table but I didn't get to try any of it. Bamboo offers brown honey oat bread, the kind they serve at the Cheesecake Factory.
Entrees: I had the infamous mango chicken and definitely do not regret ordering it. The meat was tender with a sauce that captured the flavor of mango, but didn't introduce a great amount of aberrant sweetness to the savory nature of the dish. It came with plantains, black beans, and rice so in terms of value, I think I got my money's worth. I also tried the thin crust pizza which was okay but nothing to rave about. Other meats are also well prepared.
Dessert: I know we ordered a dessert, but I can't remember whether I liked it or not. That said, it probably wasn't unusually good.
All in all, I'd recommend Bamboo for anyone who loves Caribbean food (or Latin food in general). It can get a bit pricey, but the quality of the food is worth it.
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Some pretty tasty Caribbean food and the best damn mojito I've had in my entire life. The location is a bit weird though, right on Venice Blvd. I'm a patio-sitting kind of restaurant patron, but it just wasn't a good vibe out in the fresh air with cars constantly zooming past, with only a thin line of bamboo stalks between us. The food is worth a second trip, but since I live blocks away from the equally tasty Cha Cha Cha's, I wouldn't go out of my way for it.
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They make the BEST mojitos. Honest.
The pizza is the only thing I've ever had because it's that good and I'm afraid if I order something else I'll just crave pizza! I've had the mushroom and the shrimp. Oh and I've stolen bites of plantain off my friends plate, which were also delicious.
It's a really nice atmosphere; they've revamped it a couple times and now it's like this luxurious little oasis on Venice Blvd.
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Best Caribbean food I've ever had. Cute decor, nice to sit on the patio on a sunny day. Great Margaritas. I love the mushroom soup and the BBQ pizza. Never crowded. I love it.
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Carribean food is the main theme here and its superb! I highly recommend getting their blackened chicken with friend bananas. Small portions depending on how hungry you are but a great place to eat.
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Its a great place! The pizza's are fantastic and the little bar they have is great. Best caribbean food around by far. The place also has like a little outside room that looks great for private parties, so overall i think its a great place to dine out with some friends.
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I kinda thought this place was "just ok." Co-workers raved about it, so I went with friends. The drinks were really good, but the food was just decent to my taste buds. This is based on only one time being there, so maybe I should go back again and try it. I had the Yucatan chicken and I was hoping that it would have a stronger kick to it. But maybe this is a dish with "mild" preferences. I like it so spicy that it makes my nose run.
Pluses:
It has a cool looking little bar and happy hour starts at 5.
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Bamboo is the best carribean food in Los Angeles. The Milanesa is so tasty! They also have GREAT mango curry Chicken. I definately think you should stop by and check it out.
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Based on a Yelper's posting on the Talk thread, I decided to give this place a try. He mentioned that his family owned the restaurant and was encouraging other Yelpers to check it out.
I invited my brother, my cousin, her hubby, and my bf. It was around 7:30 PM and I called to make a reservation. It was a good thing I did because when we arrived, we still had to wait several minutes before we were seated. The place wasn't crowded, but I think there's a limit to the number of people the waiters can handle serve at any given time.
Its a medium sized restaurant split into sections. One section is for for group dining, while the other seems more appropriate for the table for two type of dining. The ambiance was nice, the lighting gave the place a warm look and feel. There was only one complaint from my bf and cousin - from where they were seated, there was a red spotlight that glared their view and made it a little hard for them to see.
I could sense my bf was a little agitated - he always does this whenever I introduce him to a restaurant where he is unfamiliar with the cuisine and thinks he might not like what he is served. So it was a good thing that when the waiter served him their ice tea, he really took a liking to his beverage. I think my cousin and her hubby ordered the mojitos and they said they it was very good.
Two of us ordered the mango chicken, another two ordered the pizza, and 1 ordered a beef dish. The beef was okay. The pizza was good. The chicken was delicious - moist and tender and full of flavor.
The service was okay. We had to remind the waiter to serve us bread since we noticed he was serving it to the other tables except ours. He was a little slow on the drink refills.
The parking is very limited, but for a few dollars, you can pay to par in Cafe Brazil's lot which is right beside Bamboo. I'll definitely return again for the mango chicken.
Went for dinner as a group of 13. The atmosphere is very nice and the food decent. Our waitress took about 15 minutes to get our drink order, another 10-15 to bring the drinks, and another 10 to come take our food order. After all that, I was really surprised the food came out quickly. They're got some interesting things on the menu, as well as a few cocktails, but the food wasn't super-amazing. My friend found some beef in his seafood pasta and the scallops were a bit suspicious. My swordfish was yummy, though, and plantains! Plantains were delicious! Go for the atmosphere, for a fun time with friends, but don't expect too much.
Definitely start with the corn chowder...sweet, spicy, creamy, crunchy - yes, crunchy from fresh veggies - and then mosey on to a chicken dish. I don't often remember this, but their dinner/pre-dinner rolls are awesome...baked with molasses or pumpernickel, they are dark and very slightly sweet and melt in your mouth with a little real butter on them.
Their chicken is very flavorful and moist, and most dishes come with black beans, rice, and plantains. The fried plantains at Versailles a few doors down are better, IMO, but the vibe at Bamboo is more upscale, and more laid back and relaxing.
The mojitos are indeed very good, as are the margaritas. Service is generally above average but I've observed both inexplicable lapses and also stupendously good service there in about 7 or 8 trips.
If you compare Versailles, Cafe Brasil, and Bamboo, they all have their charms and strengths. Bamboo is a little more upscale than the other two, and the bill we be correspondingly higher, but worth it.
And yeah - sitting on the patio outside is fun but Venice Blvd. gets so loud that it's tough to have conversations at times. You have to talk really loudly and then you get really embarrassed when it suddenly gets quiet just as you proclaim "DOES THIS LOOK INFECTED TO YOU?"
Augh, I craving the soft shell crab, but alas it's a seasonal dish. Cruel, cruel world. I wait for you little suckers this summer. But their other dishes are yummy too.
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Carribean food at its best! To start, I'd recommend their delicious Sopa de Vegetables...grilled vegetable soup...with asparagus, corn, peppers, zucchini and green onions. I'm hungry just thinking about it! My favorite dishes are their Salmon with black indian pepper sauce and their Yucatan Chicken (also with black indian pepper sauce). The sauce isn't too peppery. It is both spicy and sweet. I've never tried their Mango Chicken...but, I have friends who love it. Entrees come with rice, black beans and plantains! YUM!!!!!!!
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we ate here for my cousins birthday and it pretty good. we got kinda lost looking for the restaurant, but when we finally got there it looked really nice. theres a patio and indoor seating as well. the ambience is pretty chill, however, the restaurant is pretty small inside. i felt like i couldn't move around as much.
i ordered the milanesa. it was okay, kinda expected more of it. i guess i'm just not a big fan of breaded steak. the platains were really good though. i also tried (from my my cousins) the mango curry chicken, the corn chowder, and the smoked salmon pizza. the mango curry chicken was absolutely delicious. the next time i go there i'm definitely getting that. the corn chowder had a very distinct taste. i couldn't put my tongue on it but my cousin finally suggested that the herbs they use it thai basil. we're not sure thoough. the salmon pizza was good too, but as an appetizer not an entree. you'll get pretty tired of it fast if you order it as an entree. for dessert we had cuconut flan and this apple thing with ice cream. the apple thing was good, but the cocnut flan was mediocre. the sause they put on the flan was kinda weird. it reminded my of acetone nail polish remover.
the service wasn't the best service i've ever had. the waitress seemed annoyed with the party i was with. and she didn't refill our bread or water right away.
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As you drive down Venice, this, to the untrained eye, looks like some cheesy Chinese bar that sprouted up in the early 80's.
Actually this place is Italian and Spanish Cuisine and it was here where I had the most mouthwatering fish dish. At first you will think Bamboo Restaurant is overpriced based on the tables, interior, and sub-par service. But if you can make it to the food, the reward is deeply satisfying. The food is remarkable, but the place and attitude need a make-over. Bring a date here and have wine. The food will ensure that the night won't be a total waste.
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I moved out of LA not too long ago and this is one of the restaurants I miss! It's small and unassuming but the food is so flavorful. I have never had mango chicken as good anywhere else. I also thought they did plantains very well. (They are sometimes mushy and flavor-less at other restaurants.) Make sure you try their peach pie thingy for dessert- I'm not sure of the proper name but the wait staff will definitely know what you are talking about!
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