Chinois on Main

“I recently arranged a group dinner at Chinois on Main in Santa Monica, and it turned out to be one of the most memorable dining experiences I have had. From the moment we walked in, the manager and owner greeted us warmly and continued to check in throughout the evening with such genuine kindness that it really set the tone for the night. We ordered a bit of everything for the table, and every dish truly impressed. The crispy calamari salad had the perfect balance of crunch and bright, refreshing flavors. The Shanghai lobster with curry sauce was rich, aromatic, and absolutely decadent, a standout that had everyone at the table talking. The catfish filet with sizzling ginger was light, flaky, and bursting with flavor, while the roast duck with plum sauce had the perfect combination of tender meat and crisp skin. The spicy lamb with cilantro was bold and savory, perfectly seasoned and beautifully presented. It is rare to have a group meal where every single dish shines, but Chinois managed to deliver across the board. The food, service, and atmosphere came together seamlessly for an unforgettable evening. I would highly recommend Chinois on Main to anyone visiting or local to the Santa Monica area. It is a gem worth experiencing.”

“This Asian-French fusion restaurant is one I’ve been wanting to come to for years and it was worth the wait! Amazing service. Still closed indoors but they made a cozy out door area with live music. I went on a Thursday. Fun area to be in overall. We order the soup that was Devine. The catfish was perfect with a little squeeze of lime and we got 2 sides. Veggies and stir fried rice. I was in food heaven! Their servings are all shareable sizes if you like to share with someone on a date. Perfect spot for a cute date. LARGE wine selection and cocktails were yummy.”

“Restaurant seems to be frozen in time since the year 2000. The interior and exterior retain their vintage charm and the menu features simple dishes made with quality ingredients. While the food was excellent, the service could use some improvement. Although the staff was friendly, it seemed a bit chaotic and disorganized at times, which made the dining experience a little less enjoyable. However, I was happy to be back at Chiona on main after a long time and would definitely recommend it for the tasty food and vintage charm.”

“Really disappointed been past here many times and we thought we would try it out... the service was good but the food and drinks what a let down.... we had oriental asian salad which had plenty of chicken lack of lettuce , and not much dressing or taste for that matter and it was piled high, large portions does not mean value etc if it does not taste good... the duck in plum sauce was greasy and not enough plum sauce at all, i really wanted to like this place but the taste was bland, we had 3 cocktails not really strong, one tasted like it was watered down... we had creme brulee for desert which was separated into 3 different bowls that was okay. for $250 with tip and i am not a foodee at all , i will eat anything pretty much, i could gone to PF changs for better taste... paying $250 is fine if the food is good but it was a real bland and feel that giving you large portions makes up for it... this place has been here for years at least 20 years and we both wont be going back, way over priced for something for so poorly made.... my wife is a better food connoisseur than me even she didnt like it! which says alot.. take me to johnny pastramis any day i say!”

“Went for lunar new year last night. The only great thing was the entertainment. Food was absolutely terrible. It was a 5 course menu. Should be easy for kitchen to execute. I'll never come back here. Btw you guys have a major gnat infestation.”