Jade Rabbit is a fast-casual restaurant located in Santa Monica serving Chinese American food. Yes you can think of this place as a variation of Panda Express, but I think the food here is much better and healthier. Chef and owner Bryant Ng was formerly the opening chef at Nancy Silverton's Mozza and has been nominated for the James Beard Award multiple times including Best Chef: California in 2022 and Best Chef: West in 2017 for his formerly acclaimed restaurant Cassia in Santa Monica (now closed). [Parking]: Free 1-hour customer parking behind the restaurant. [Atmosphere]: Cute decor and the restaurant was playing funky music in the background. [Menu]: Customers build their own bowls with 2 bases (6 options), 2 vegetables (4 options), and 1 main (8 protein options or 1 vegetable instead) for $12.99. The back side of the laminated menu also lists all allergens for each item. Top Yelp highlighted items include Orange Mango Chicken (main), Chow Mein (base), Cold Noodles (base), Almond Roca Chocolate Chip, and Scallion Garlic Cheese Toast. The best-selling dish at Cassia, chickpea curry, is also available on the menu as main. *** Bowl (bases - chow mien + cold noodles, vegetables - cucumber salad + chopped kale salad, and main - charred honey chicken - $12.99): Generous portion with enough to split between lunch and dinner. I really liked the kale salad as it tasted creamy. The cold noodles were not too spicy with just a tiny hint of numbing spice. Honey chicken and chow mein were good. The order also came with green sauce and sweet & sour sauce. The green sauce was absolutely amazing (creamy and spicy) and the sweet-and-sour sauce was not as good as the green sauce but still good. *** There is no question in my mind that Jade Rabbit is one of the best Chinese American restaurants in LA and Orange County. I want to come back and try some of their other items on the menu next time I am in Santa Monica. read more

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Jade Rabbit is excellent. The food is delicious, the rabbit character is very cute, and the price seems reasonable. I do the build your own bowl with salad mix and brown rice usually. I love the cucumber salad, pickled cabbage, and roasted sweet potatoes, but you can't go wrong with any of the veggies. I usually get a third vegetable instead of a main because I am vegetarian, but they do have a chickpea curry main that is delish! The green dressing/sauce situation is amazing - it tastes herbal and fresh. Employees are always kind as well. :) read more

Jade Rabbit - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

One of my go-to favorites in Santa Monica now. This place takes fast casual to a new level. The broccoli/beef and orange chicken are phenomenal and don't skip the cookies. Portions are generous and it's a tremendous value for the money. Very family friendly. The owners are an amazing couple and used to have Cassia, which was also delicious, so no surprise this place knocks it out of the park. Speaking of parking, they have an agreement so you can use the specialized bicycle lot across the street after 5pm! They have been doing live music nights too, which I highly recommend. Love Jade Rabbit! read more

Craving Chinese but seeking something unique, I bypassed the chain with the mascot and found Jade Rabbit. I left feeling satisfied after a late lunch/early dinner. I ordered the Build Your Bowl ($12.90), choosing two bases, two veggies, and one main. I went with fried rice and chow mein for the bases, and Spicy Chinese Broccoli and Pickled Chinese Cabbage for the veggies, both of which I loved for their spice and flavor. For the main, I opted for half portions of the popular Orange Mango Chicken and Spicy Sichuan Chicken. I appreciate that they offer fried wontons as an extra crunchy element to the bowl. The guy behind the counter, I believe his name was Zak, was incredibly friendly and helpful. He even offered me a sample of the beef & broccoli. The food was delicious, especially with the green sauce that had a nice kick. I will definitely return to Jade Rabbit for another bowl and plan to bring my family. My only minor complaint was that the chow mein was cold. This is a great lunch spot, especially if you live or work nearby. read more

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Elevated Panda Express style restaurant with more authentic flavors and healthier options at more or less the same prices! I did a Build Your Own Bowl which starts at $12.90 and comes with 2 bases, 2 vegetables, and 1 main. For my bases I got the fried rice and chow mein. Both were good, but I really liked the chow mein which has a springy texture and the sauce was a tasty sweet soy sauce. The fried rice didn't have too much flavor though. For vegetables, I got the cucumber salad and the spicy Chinese broccoli. Both were fresh, crispy, and yummy. For the main I got the 50/50 which is half Orange Mango Chicken and half Spicy Sichuan Chicken. Both were okay, the chicken was a bit dry for both. Everything was topped with the optional crispy wonton strips which was a nice touch. For $12.90, the variety, quality, and portion size was pretty good. I left pretty full. I also got a side cheese scallion toast and it was tasty, but not necessarily worth $4. I wish the bread itself was buttered and toasted on both sides before the cheese was added on top. That would be a game changer. Overall, the food items were generally great. I really liked how the spicy items were actually spicy. My friend and I had to constantly get refills on our water haha. The style of the restaurant is like Panda Express where you go down an assembly line to pick what you want. They also have listed signature bowl creations in case you didn't want to stress about choosing your items. The interior is neat and clean and so is the bathroom. For parking, they have designated free parking spots behind restaurant. A good experience here and I would come back for a cheap and balanced Chinese-inspired meal. read more

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Nice service, good portions and a nice amount of variety to pick from. I got a create your own bowl and had plenty leftover for dinner. The drinks also come with a free refill which is nice! My only con is some of the items were not very warm and a bit too oily for my preference. read more

Jade Rabbit - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Not only is Jade Rabbit, sleek, modern, and practical, it's delicious. This isn't your average fast Asian affair. This is elevated. The concept is easy. Pick two bases. Pick two veggies. Pick one main. I went with the fried rice. That along could be a meal--that's how flavorful it is. The spicy noodles were base noodle two--flavor packed. Veggies were cucumber and the mushroom zucchini combo. The cucumbers deserve their own call out because they were the best thing. Yes, the cucumbers. The main was the sichuan chicken. Nice and crispy. They'll ask if you want to add an egg roll. Let me answer for you. Yes, you want to order the egg roll. The interior has a cool modern industrial vibe with exposed brick coupled with great bar stool window seating. read more

Jade Rabbit - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Good price (about $15 with tax) for the quality/quantity of the ingredients. Pick two sides (fried rice/chow mein), two veggies (kale salad, spicy chinese broccoli) and one main (you can also get two half orders of a main dish - spicy chicken/mango orange chicken). Food was delicious and I didn't feel bad about myself afterwards (as I would if I'd had Panda) Friendly employees, clean restaurant, delicious healthyish food. Would definitely return! read more

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WOW! The food AND the vibes here were immaculate. I would say this is a very nice change of pace for restaurants in Santa Monica. It's a cafeteria style shop with great selections and nice spots to dine and hang. Food: great! This tasted like a gourmet Chinese food hub, but with different Asian fusion selections. My favorites of the night were the cold noodles, and that green sauce that pairs well with the Szechuan chicken. Service: amazing! They were all so friendly and all so very nice! Definitely will come back because they were amazing. read more

Jade Rabbit - 50/50 Chicken Bowl Pepper Jack & Chicken Egg Roll That delicious green sauce Canto Lemon Black Tea - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Really liked Jade Rabbit in Los Angeles. The concept is super easy ,you order, pick exactly what you want, and then sit and enjoy. I made my own salmon bowl and everything tasted fresh and flavorful. I liked being able to customize it with different sides and toppings. The space has a cool, modern vibe and felt clean, casual, and easy to hang out in. Definitely a good spot if you want something quick, fresh, and a little different. read more

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Jade rabbit is like a super super super elevated version of panda, and it is just the most incredible comfort food. The portions here are massive as well, if you get a plate, you get two bases, two vegetables, and a protein. The favorites that I tried were the zucchini mushroom, the orange mango chicken, and the Mongolian beef. The egg rolls are so good as well they are cheesy and packed with flavor, don't forget to get the jade sauce, it is like a creamy and spicy sauce that pair as well with literally everything! The service here is also fantastic, everyone that works here is so nice, I can't wait to come back! read more

Jade Rabbit - Fried rice & chow mein, garlic shrimp & orange mango chicken, spicy zucchini mushroom, Japanese sweet potato - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We went the first week they opened. We moved down the line and designed our own bowls. The portion was pretty good. Not huge but not small. Flavors were unique. I'm not sure they all went together but they were different... and I appreciated that. I'm going to go back now that they've been open a few months and see if I like it even more! read more

Jade Rabbit - Pretty solid. - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Heard this was the new 'Tigawok', so had to try! Definitely a good deal for a lot of food- for $12 you get 2 bases, 2 cold veggies, and one main. But, a lot of the mains get charged extra. Got this and an extra side of a main and was enough for 2 people! Would rate well for portion size, but overall thought the taste was okay. The food wasn't as Asian tasting as I would have liked it to be. Parking is difficult in this area- came on a weekday lunch. There's seating inside. read more

Jade Rabbit - Fried Rice, Chow Mein, Beef & Brocolli, Scallion Cheese Toast, Orange Mango Chicken - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Had an appointment nearby the hospital and Jade Rabbit was walking distance. Like the style of Chipotle and Cava, this build your plate concept was for premium Chinese food. I got a plate of Fried rice, cold noodles, spicy Chinese broccoli, zucchini & mushrooms, 1/2 honey chicken and 1/2 chicken mango. Loved all the food I got on my first visit especially the cold noodles! It had a nice bite and chew to it like it was made fresh and housemade. The honey chicken and chicken mango were on point! 10/10 recommend and I'd get this dish again! They have ample bar and dining room seating inside with the cool green neon rabbit signage throughout. Service was fast and efficient. I'll definitely come back when I'm in the area. read more

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Clean place, nice ambiance. The girl at the front taking the order seemed bothered because we didn't know what we wanted right away. Some food dropped on the counter when they were filling my bowl and the employee picked it up and put it in my bowl. Maybe employees need more training. Food was good though, after I through out the dropped piece. read more

As someone who enjoys filling, customizable, and healthy meals, I will always be a fan of the fast-casual, build-your-own bowl experience. Jade Rabbit nails that concept, with a delicious Chinese-American twist. Typically, you don't expect top-quality at BYOB (build-your-own-bowl) places. Jade Rabbit brings the quality to their BYOB. Everything was fresh and flavorful. The beef and broccoli option was my favorite, with melty beef, balanced sauce, and fresh flavors. Also, don't sleep on their house-made, green hot sauce. Amazing. My buddies and I got our food within five minutes. Service was swift and helpful. The prices were more than fair. And the inside setup was clean, modern, and comfortable. I will for sure be back. A fantastic option for what it is. Fast, casual, customizable, delicious. read more

Jade Rabbit - Honey chicken and beef & broccoli - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This has quickly become an office favorite for lunch and is very good quality food with generous portion sizes! It's a simple process here: pick out rice, vegetables, and your protein. My go to is either the charred honey chicken or orange mango chicken and they are both flavorful and delicious. The staff is always friendly and welcoming. Definitely would reccomend this spot for a heavy lunch or dinner!! read more

A Panda Express but 10x better. A lot of good options to make your own bowl and to switch it up when you want to try something new. The scallion garlic cheese toast though is amazing. Parking can be a little hard if street parking is limited which is a downside, but Jade Rabbit is worth circling around the block a couple times. read more

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Dinner pick up on a Saturday. Let's face it, parking is not easy, and quite frankly a deterrent for me. It's simple...if I can find parking I go. If I can't find parking I go. But lucky for me I did find parking. Service was nice and fast. I ordered the 50/50 chicken so that I could try a little bit of several things, and subbed spicy Chinese broccoli for kale. Added a cheese toast and treated myself to an almond roca chocolate chip cookie. Cheese toast and cookie were *chef's kiss.* But $4 for a piece of bread. Eeek. I've heard this place touted as elevated Panda Express. The flavors were good, but not mind blowing. As they made my bowl I quickly knew where the problem lay. With the portion sizes. Don't expect Panda portions. Literally two bites of chow mein. The smallest scoop of fried rice I've ever seen. And those are the cheap filler items! Sichuan chicken was not 3 peppers spicy, and the mango chicken was more mango than chicken. Am I glad I tried it? Yes. Will be back? Not likely. Panda orange chicken has my heart. Bonus: that damn cheese bread was really good Bogus: portion sizes not in line with the $20+ I paid. read more

Jade Rabbit - 50/50 Chicken with the smallest portions of rice and chow mein I've ever seen. - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Stopped by Jade Rabbit in Santa Monica for lunch with coworkers. This was my first time visiting, and it definitely left me impressed. It reminded me of an upscale Panda Express, but the food here is definitely on another level. I built my own bowl: fried rice and chow mein noodles as my base, chopped kale salad and spicy Chinese broccoli (which wasn't really spicy) for my veggies, and a half-and-half mix of Orange Mango Chicken and Charred Honey Chicken for the main. Everything was flavorful, fresh, and portioned. Shoutout to Zak, who was amazing; he let me sample the Beef & Broccoli, which ended up being my favorite of all three proteins. He also offered slushie samples (which were great), and yes, I ordered one too! Do it!! We took our food to go, and after a short walk back to campus, it was still hot and delicious. Only downside? I bought one of their cookies and realized later it didn't make it into my bag. Still, a nice spot with friendly service, clean restaurant, solid flavors, and worth a return visit. read more

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A new take on Chinese American food has come to Santa Monica, and they've made me a fan. My friend and I popped into Jade Rabbit over the weekend after hitting up the beach. To have a meal for $20 that is incredibly hearty with high quality ingredients and delicious felt like a steal to me. We had the hardest time finding parking though! Actually this was our 3rd attempt at going but this time we resolved to circle until we found spots to finally try them. Does anyone have any parking tricks for eating here!? Otherwise, I am sure it will deter us from stopping in the future! Parking aside, we were warmly greeted upon entering and the staff was all very friendly to us. They have all of the food out which makes it a great option for people like me - On The Go! You can have one of their premade bowls for optimal combinations or create your own bowl, which is what I opted for. After picking your items in the cafeteria style line, you pay at the register, then don't forget to grab napkins & utensils if you need them! Once you get your food, you can grab & go or they do have indoor & outdoor seating. My friend and I actually sat at one of their brightly colored yellow two tops in their sidewalk seating. Perfect for a beautiful Santa Monica day! Now the most important part of it all, the eats! My bases of chow mein and fried rice were both solid, I'd probably get the same bases next time I'm in. I tried two different main dishes, both of which I liked a lot. The mango orange chicken had an enjoyable flavor as did the grilled honey chicken. I must say on the sides, I did not care for the flavor of the Chinese broccoli. However my friend did like it, so your mileage may vary. On the flip side, my second side which was the curry mashed potatoes is BOMB! My favorite bit of the meal and actually paired great with the proteins. Loved it and I feel like that's the MUST get item at Jade Rabbit! When checking out, I could not resist the almond roca chocolate chip cookie by the register. When I sat down, I googled & learned all about Almond Roca which originated in Tacoma, Washington in 1923! It's a fun take and mix on incorporating an almond cookie with a chocolate chip cookie! I liked it and if I'm feening for some sugar next time I'm in, I'd be happy to satisfy my sweet tooth with it. My friend and I agreed this is a great spot we'll be back to visit again. We're looking forward to trying some of their more premium proteins in the future - bring on the beef & broccoli and salmon! read more

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I really wanted to love Jade Rabbit--especially after being warmly welcomed by their friendly and attentive staff. Service was excellent, and the vibe overall was great. The atmosphere is vibrant, hip, and clean, with a cute and comfortable. I ordered a two-base bowl with double chow mein, cucumber salad, chopped kale salad, and charred honey chicken. The chicken was definitely the standout--flavorful and well-cooked. The chow mein, however, was underwhelming and didn't quite hit the mark compared to other spots. Veggies were just okay. Overall, fairly priced for the portion and quality. Great place to hang out, even if the food didn't totally wow me. read more

Jade Rabbit - Two base bowl - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Congrats to Kim & Bryant on the opening of Jade Rabbit in Santa Monica. The fast casual spot is reasonably priced and super fast - once you know what you want, it only takes a minute to build my bowl and pay for my food. You start your order by choosing two bases, move along the line to choose two vegetables, then keep moving to choose your main item, drinks, dessert and then pay, with your tray of food moving along with you. Keep moving to your right for utensils, sauces (soy sauce & sriracha) and water. I had the tasty 50/50 Chicken signature bowl w/ spicy Szechuan chicken + orange mango chicken, fried rice, chow mein, cucumber & kale. Next day had the spicy minced lamb w/ spicy Chinese broccoli & roasted sweet potatoes on cold noodles & chow mein. You can also build salads here. Nothing so far has been too spicy, and if you need the heat you're welcome to add as much sriracha as you want. The house made HK milk tea & citrus passion fruit iced tea were delicious. Save room for the Almond Roca chocolate chip cookie. I'm looking forward to returning to explore the rest of the menu. read more

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Clean neat delicious food good variety awesome service. Will definitely be eating there again. Can't wait to try all the selections.

This place has an incredibly welcoming staff and I had a great experience from start to finish. The atmosphere is relaxed, not too busy, and perfect for a quick bite. It's a fast casual take on Chinese food featuring the trending "slop bowl,"and everything I tried was excellent. Both chicken options were flavorful, but the standout was the spicy jade sauce, absolutely amazing. It's a must try, and I'd happily recommend this spot to anyone. read more

Jade Rabbit - Bowl with white rice, chow mein, mango orange chicken, spicy Szechuan chicken, cucumber and sweet potato. Spicy jade sauce - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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Good food, amazing employees, nice ambience. Prepare for most dishes to be at room temp. Beef/ broccoli & shrimp, though tasty, highly over salted. Vegetarian dishes were the best. I'll be back to try other varieties. read more

The space has a great vibe. Even though I came for take out, I ended up staying. The service was quick and friendly. The food was fantastic. Not your typical greasy fast food. Had the chicken salad, beef bowl and garlic shrimp bowl...all delish and healthy. Love the merch, too. Jaded trucker cap? Can't go wrong. read more

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Returned for a second try. SO much better. The kinks have been worked out! Staff was great, food flavorful, options plentiful, portions heaping, And still at the low-low price of less than $13 a plate/bowl (that was enough for an entire second meal the next day). FYI, this was an all-veggie meal (the dark chicken meat wasn't appealing to me on our first visit). My ONLY lament is that the food isn't hot. Not even warm. By the time we got to the table it was room temp. We'll be back. read more

Didn't love it didn't hate it. The food was a bit greasy for our taste and the flavors weren't really there. Was really excited that it opened up but unfortunately it wasn't great. Love the veggie options but it was a bit much for our taste. read more

Really fresh, flavorful, and AFFORDABLE!! Especially for the Santa Monica area. We went with a group of four, ordered everything we wanted including the awesome Almond Roca cookie, cheese toasts, and slushee and milk tea. The whole check with tip came out to around $100 which is a steal considering the quality and the neighborhood. Everything tasted great. Vegetable sides were cooked really well. The beef & broccoli tasted exactly like a high quality lomo saltado. Chicken was tasty & crunchy. Would definitely return again, especially to try to put together some fun new combos! read more

Jade Rabbit - Beef & Brocoli Bowl w/ Fried Rice, Chow Mein, Roasted Sweet Potatoes, and Mushroom & Zucchini - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Jade Rabbit recently opened and being a fan of Chinese fast food, I had to try it. The place is super casual and cafeteria style. Menu has some preset combinations or you can build your own. I got the 50/50 which had orange and Szechuan chicken with 2 sides and 2 bases. I opted for the chow mein and the cold noods. It's, as should be, more expensive than fast food but I think it's still worth it because of the quality of the food. The flavors were pretty good. I think it could've packed a bigger punch but I really like heavy seasoning. I'd recommend against the cold noodles as it was cold and just didn't taste too great and didn't mix well with the rest of the flavors. Would recommend coming a number of times to try the different options. read more

Jade Rabbit - 50/50 (Orange and Szechuan) with chow mein and cold noodles - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

The chickpea curry is sooo perfect! Portions are sure to get you filled, clean relaxing ambiance with brick wall, neon and fairy lights, and the service was quick and friendly! Definitely will be coming back. Great place to bring people with different diets together from meat eaters to vegans! read more

Jade Rabbit - Cute seating - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

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This is such a fantastic place. Really interesting and delicious food and a great variety. I've been here 4 times now and each time I've LOVED it! And am always impressed with the kind and high level of service! read more

The food is so delicious and portion is perfect. The service was amazing! Yes, once I walked in, the place is so adorable with the cute drawings. It's a walking distance from my home that I love to come back; the price is not bad. Oh and great for a family with children and with good friends. read more

Jade Rabbit - Fried rice/chow mein with cucumber salad, pickled Chinese cabbage and orange mango chicken - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Great ambiance, simple, doesn't feel like a pretentious/upscale panda express lol it has its own great energy! Great flavors, I think it could use a bit more spice and heat but it's still early on so there could be adjustments in the future. Texture was all good, meat and veggies were cooked to the right firmness. The portion size could be improved though. Tbh I really do miss Cassia :/ they hosted my birthday once and everything was amazing. I'll come back to Jade Rabbit, and maybe some day it can give me as much joy as Cassia once did! read more

Jade Rabbit hails from the chefs of Cassia and brings to Santa Monica quality fast casual Chinese fare. Concept is similar to a high end elegant take on Panda or a Kang Kang food court. Food is overall tasty and feels of good quality. They have good variety and their sauce game on point. Some of the upsell items like Fried Shrimp were a bit underwhelming for the price but the mains are great such as their take on orange chicken. Service is nice and there's good amount of seating. Parking a bit tough - expect to park a 1-2 blocks away in any curb parking you can find. read more

Really pleasantly surprised here. Cute, clean, and comfortable setup inside, and excellent service - but the highlight is easily the food, which is fairly priced considering portion and quality. The flavors are authentic with modern twists that remain quite loyal to the Chinese palate. I really enjoyed reading about their story and the origins of their creative decisions with recipes. Will definitely be back to try more of their selection :) Highlights: cold noodles, Szechuan chicken, honey charred chicken, pickled cabbage read more

Jade Rabbit - Chinese Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Loveeeee this new spot!! It's like a Chinese food version of chipotle where you go down the line and order what you want. The inside was so cutely decorated and the staff was super friendly and personable despite it being super crowded. And the food - DELISH! And so much for the price. Will def be going back! read more

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We've been waiting so long for Jade Rabbit to open and are thrilled to welcome them to the neighborhood! They exceeded our expectations both in food quality and price. Think fast casual, like Panda Express, but higher quality dishes and slightly pricier, but not by much. I think the price point is just right given the quality and quantity of food, and I'm hopeful that they will do well given their location right by St John's. I ordered the build your bowl with fried rice, salad mix, charred mushroom & zucchini, spicy Chinese broccoli, and charred honey chicken. Hubby got the 50/50 chicken bowl minus the cucumber. The fried rice was tasty and not drowning in soy sauce. The salad mix was much nicer than what you get at a lot of places - included spinach, kale, and romaine. The taste of the mushroom & zucchini and Chinese broccoli was on point, though I personally am not a fan of cold dishes. The Chinese broccoli was perfectly cooked to be crisp tender. The chopped kale salad was on the sweeter side with quinoa and apple chunks and was reminiscent of a Waldorf salad. All the chicken dishes were excellent, though the charred honey chicken was probably my favorite and the only one that wasn't coated in breading. My daughter was put off at the sight of all the vegetables but consented to get the chickpea curry since she loved the version at Cassia - this version suited her even better since it was salty and not in the least spicy. Overall, I didn't find the food to be that spicy but it did make my nose run! The mango creamsicle pudding was a little sweet, a little tart, and did indeed evoke a creamsicle. If you like those, you will love this. Can't wait to come back and try more dishes! read more

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Beautiful new spot! Excited to try it since I was a huge fan of Cassia. I love an elevated fast casual concept. Gorgeous space, the light is lovely when you enter. Really nicely designed. Ordered a bowl, love all the choices for vegetables. Super flavorful. The fried rice base was also superb! Sadly I did not like the salmon I got as my protein choice. It was a bit dry and overdone. Also very fishy tasting. I'm not super picky with salmon usually. Sad face. I would definitely go back for another bowl and try a different protein option. Staff were very nice. read more

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