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Vegan-friendly
Chinese
Buffet
Take-out
Malaysian, Kosher
Pan Asian vegetarian restaurant also known as Sri Melaka Vegetarian Nyonya and is located next door to a vegetarian market (same company). Offers Malaysian Nyonya dishes such as satay, curries, sizzling beancurd, eggplant, and mock meats made from soy and wheat gluten. BYO. An attached food store sells a range of vegetarian cooking products and meat-analogues. Holds cooking classes (including dinner) on the last Monday of the month with booking required. Lotus wall mural decor. Reported closed Nov 2018.
20 Reviews
First Review by KelseyApple
caitjoy
Points +341
Mock Meat Heaven - Edit
Food was pretty good and definitely satisfied my Asian food, mock meat cravings.
Read moreHowever, I probably wouldn't visit again as there are Asian restaurants with better quality food and the service wasn't the best (the lady at the cashier forced us to pay cash because it costs them more to take eftpos...)
Pros: good range of food
Cons: service and atmosphere
Guest
cat_aus
Points +332
Strange - Edit
So we've been here a few times and I'm just not sure what to think.
Read moreThe food we had the first couple of times was amazing, lots of faux meat, really tasty dishes, so many options. When we've been again and ordered the exact same dishes they've come out and been totally different in taste and texture.
There's no atmosphere and the water glasses have been dirty every time we've gone.
I really don't like the lady who tries to push extra food onto you. It's really off putting, and there's no printed bill so you don't know what you're paying for.
Pros: Great food! , Lots of vegan options, Good value (I think)
Cons: Pushy owner, No atmosphere, Inconsistent food
Guest
Hugtsa
Points +130
Funny, pretty yummy - Edit
When you’re really wanting something that’s not vegan but you are vegan.. I walked in quite late and asked if they were still open and the lady you see mentioned in other reviews-which I hadn’t read prior said they had chicken curry and lamb curry and confirmed they were vegan dishes. It was less of a customer/restaurant transaction and more of a secret and mysterious quest experience. Some find it off putting clearly, however I enjoyed the theatre of it all and the food was quickly produced, hot (and charmingly I thought) not 100% what I’d ordered/agreed to. It was unexpectedly meat like which was what I guiltily felt like and had a hearty stodgy quality not often present in vegan establishments and there was definitely some flavour to be found in all than spiciness. Was also surprised with a vegetable dish and something that tasted and appeared similar to pork crackling although I couldn’t say what either was called because they weren’t agreed to or mentioned at or before purchase. The Oracle decided my chosen meal and supplied it for what was clearly a price based on the same mystical intuition that provided the meal I’d be having. I actually loved the whole whacky experience, will probably be back every 3-4 months for another dose of spicy, cooky fun😊
Read moreGuest
steveO
Points +32
Just does not feel right - Edit
Vegan, vegan, vegan she kept saying! Shark fin soup on the menu? The Madam (read other reviews) was pushy to the point of being amusing. The food was very unhealthy and I was not sure what I was actually eating. No, too strange, very uneasy about the ‘vegan’ integrity and will not be going back. I was not overcharged.
Read morePros: good for a laugh
Cons: unclear about their vegan credentials , pushy
Guest
Peace ...
Points +3614
Vegetarian Food Hunt in Perth … - Edit
Vegetarian Food Lovers, shouldn’t miss this awesome vegetarian restaurant in Perth at James St, Northbridge. In this traditional vegetarian food restaurant, I had the BEST Vegetarian Curry Laksa (A$12) in my 24 years of being a vegetarian! OMG, simply scrumptious! A big bowl of Curry Laksa noodle, I’m surprised by different laska ingredients available in this dish. Service is good! Make my day.
Read moreThe location is not difficult to find. After visiting AGWA, I took the BLUE Transperth’s CAT bus (which is a free and convenient means of travelling around the Perth CBD). Alight at Russell Square stop or Northbridge stop and the restaurant is within a short walking distance.
Guest
pinksheep
Points +52
Not my favorite - Edit
Like everyone says, lady boss always overcharges. Other than that, yea, the food tastes great, but last time I was there something was off about the food, as if it were a few days old. There was this "dirt" taste on the satay sticks and pineapple. The interior is not very attractive. The place looks old and unclean. Lady boss is unprofessional and doesn't write the orders down, even if a whole group of people are ordering. Some of the dishes taste great though.
Read morePros: Many vegan options, Good flavor
Cons: Unprofessional , Old food (?), Lady boss overcharges
Guest
Greysocialist
Points +403
Disappointing - Edit
Lots of mock meat served with sauces only slightly different - and fresh vegetables which don't seem to vary from one dish to another. Disappointing! And we asked for one rice and were charged for two - with the manager pretending to misunderstand. It's not a big amount on the bill, but annoying. The place isn't inviting, either, looking like a badly kept canteen.
Read morePros: Fresh vegetables, Mock meat
Cons: Poor management, Doesn't look clean and well kept, Big menu but dishes not distinctive
Guest
yoen
Points +45
nice food but dishonest lady owner - Edit
I've been a regular customer for years. I repeat, Regular Customer. The reasons are because the food is yum and I want to support veggie restaurant in Perth. The boss, who is the head chef (rarely shpws up at the front) is a very friendly and generous guy. But the lady boss, just as what the other bad comments say about her. So though I've been there many times, I always know she always marks up the total bill. I think I have run out of my tolerance with that lady boss' attitude. Very unhappy! But I feel very sorry for the waiters and waitresses, they are actually very nice.
Read moreGuest
Arbonne Lady
Points +23
Great food - Edit
I have been to Lotus quite a few times and have not been disappointed. I particularly love the satay chicken (of course mock-chicken). The best part is everything that you eat in the restuarant can be purchased next door to the Lotus restaurant to cook at home!! Vegan Tom Yum mmmm.
Read moreGuest
abhaya
Points +92
excellent vegetarian Malaysian food - Edit
Try the fish. It's delicious. Nice location and plenty of space.
Read moreGuest
Moix
Points +345
Delicious! - Edit
Visited "Lotus" in April 2013 after being away from the city for about 4 years. I don't think it's changed at all! It is Asian fusion style & yes, I would agree that most dishes are mock-meat centred. Which they do very well, full of flavour & sometimes a bit too close for comfort! So it really comes down to if you're into mock-meats. We did order one yummy mushroom dish with no mock meats & the sizzling "prawn" hotpot which had heaps of veggies included. So there are choices which are veg-plenty & I didn't find it overly oily..again, that comes down to individual taste. I've never tried the buffet. Some other notes, the desserts mostly contain palm sugar & dairy although you can ask for dairy free. You get complimentary Jasmine tea. The decor is simple, a bit plain for me, plastic on the tables etc. The atmosphere is ok, quiet music but usually well patronised. The old owner lady, which other reviewers refer to, isn't scary or loud. She just knows the menu back to front & will be decisive for you if you are unsure, hahaha. I find her quite endearing. She is a sweet lady & gave me a persimmon once.
Read morePros: Flavour! Always a bonus when dining., Stacks of vegan options, Lovely staff
Cons: Bit of a Yin atmosphere for my liking.
Guest
wellread
Points +85
Plenty yummy - Edit
Had three excellent dishes for dinner on a Friday night: Assam Garam Fish, an eggplant dish, and the chicken satay starter. The fish was a standout, and also the satay, and both were pretty large portions. Good service. The price for those three dishes and including rice and tea was $49. I like mock meat occasionally and thought they did a pretty good job of it, but when we wandered over to the store afterward I realized that all the stuff we ate came from the freezer case. It's probably too much to expect a restaurant making these items from scratch, and I'm sure most Asian restaurants use the frozen stuff. Anyway, a great meal and I'd go back.
Read morePros: delicious, generous portions, Malaysian
Cons: frozen food
Guest
hardcoder
Points +72
Nyona + Vegan = Awesome - Edit
Well made Nyona cuisine. And it's veg, so go! Don't you remember how good beef rendang used to taste? Oh yeah, one of the few dishes I missed after becoming vegan... so good.
Read morePros: Tasty, Location, Store
Guest
Coulinjo
Points +44
Not healthy but tasty - Edit
I agree with every review - it can be all these things on all days! We've been ripped off by the owner too but complained and received a lovely email back offering free items next time we went in. The only disconcerting thing is the names of the dishes! I don;t WANT to eat beef, fish, lamb, chicken etc and it took me ages to eat there. The names are off-putting and I tend to point at the menu. They probably think I'm an ignorant Australian who thinks they can't speak English, but I never want to say I'm ordering Sweet and Sour Chicken (the rest of the dishes have got so spicy over the years). It puts me off - that, and the amount of fat which must be in these fake meat products.
Read morePros: Price, vegan, attached market
Cons: Attidtude of owner, Names of dishes, Casual billing practices
Guest
philjdomm
Points +945
my friend loves it...my man loves it...then i love - Edit
what is every1 complaing about...the mama-san seems to take care of me the way a mommy would!! she just knew...
Read moremy man converted vegetarian because of the 2 visits!
he loves it!
Guest
button
Points +206
Mediocre - Edit
I had the lunch buffet here, the food didn't seem very fresh, healthy, or tasty. I found the atmosphere and decor uninspiring, but the service seemed fine. It wasn't a bad experience, but I left here not terribly impressed.
Read moreCons: Not very fresh, Decor, Atmosphere
Guest
simpsonyellow
Points +235
Not Bad, but Slipping Standards - Edit
I've been a regular customer at this low frills, vegan-friendly place for about 10 years and, until recently, it was hands down a 5-happy-cow establishment. On buffet nights, I was regularly treated to the delights of 'Beef' Rendang, Curry Kapitan, and Nonya Eggplant. Things seem to have changed for the worse in the last year or two, however, and the last time I went, the buffet was a major disappointment. Gone were the richly flavoured faux meat stir fries and curries, replaced by *very* basic stir fries, pastas, and what appeared to be cold McCain / Birdseye potato wedges! Not quite what you'd expect from Nonya cuisine.
Read moreThe place is still owned and operated by the same people that served me up delicious veggie fare week after week for nearly a decade, so I can only imagine there's been a bit of cost-cutting experimentation going on with the buffet lately. A real shame, as this will definitely turn off first time customers. The buffet includes water, juices, soft drinks and dessert though, so there's still some value to be had.
The very friendly owners don't spend quite as much time at the restaurant as in previous years, and the service has suffered a little as a result. The current staff is still fine, but not as warm or attentive as a few years back.
As far as I know, the a la carte menu hasn't changed much, so I'd recommend sticking to that, and trying out some of the dishes I mentioned above - at least until the buffet returns to its previous standard. At the moment, I'd give White Lotus about 3.5 happy cows, but I'll round it up to 4 because I know what they're capable of.
It's also worth mentioning that the adjoining Vegetarian Market is outstanding, especially for lovers of faux meat / seafood.
Pros: Some excellent dishes, OK prices, Great veggie store next door
Cons: Poor buffet (at the moment), Average service
Guest
Michael Tait
Points +149
Not cheap, not good, not again - Edit
I ordered frm menu as buffet looked tired & and past use-by date. Soup OK. Sizzling beef didn't, consisted of limp beef sausage & chopped bell peppers. Gado gado a mix of cabbage, lettuce,beanshoots and peanut sauce. No egg! Very bland. Service ordinary. Expensive for what I got (A$40) michael tait
Read morePros: BYO
Cons: Food, Service
Guest
Petesternz
Points +1447
Mediocre Food - Edit
I didn't have any problem with service or the owners as some of the previous reviewers did. I just had a problem with the mediocre food. Nothing horrible, just nothing great. Very pedestrian mock meat chinese, and I've been treated to much much better in the past. Flavours were extremely basic, either super spicy or sugary sweet. Avoid the vegetable curry, which was particularly offensive.
Read morePros: clean, good portions
Cons: expensive, not great food
Guest
KelseyApple
Points +89
Made me nervous! - Edit
After a quick look at the menu here, I thought the AVS website had been mistaken about this place being vegetarian. Every dish listed on the menu had a type of meat in the name. I was not confident that the asian server, whose English wasn't so good, was understanding that I was vegan but after talking to her son, I was relieved to find out that all the "meats" were soy analogues. I ordered chicken wings but honestly found it too like the real thing to really enjoy it. It was definitely enjoyed by the meat eaters I had gone with but a psychological trip for me. The food was tasty none the less. They also had freezers full of analogues and other vegan ingredients for purchase at the attached health food store.
Read morePros: good food, health food store attache
Cons: analogues were too real
Guest
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