I had been meaning to try Lou's for years and finally got around to doing it after being reminded by the SF Chronicle's Bay Area's Best Restaurant list. Embarrassingly for Marin, only two restaurants made the list--including Lou's. It definitely lives up to its reputation. First, yes, it takes calling often! I called on a Thursday and it literally took calling over 50 times to get past the busy signal. Once I got through, ordering was really easy. I was even able to pick my pickup time. If you can't get through, don't despair. At 6:15 when I picked up my order, people were still able to walk up and order, although only a few entree choices were left. Everything we had was just so flavorful. The fried chicken was the favorite, rhen the beef birria. But the fried shrimp (which was pretty spicy!) and herby roast chicken was also delicious. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Unassuming storefront - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Home Run! The food here is exceptional. They don't do quantity, they do quality. Some of the most diverse flavors I've had recently. You should probably plan ahead and order before you get there, even though there is a possibility of showing up and ordering if they have plates still available. Better to know you have the food you want to order. They only do lunch and dinner and the menu is listed each day with times to call and place your pre-orders. See website for times. The place is mostly take out, although there is a small out door first come seating area. Service is exceptional and the food is incredible. Never had a bad meal here. In fact everytime I order I am amazed at the quality of the produce, ingredients and flavors. The chef has an amazing ability to satisfy even the toughest food critic in your family. If you are looking for a great food experience that compiles exceptional food with top notch customer service from people who truly love what they do, look no further! read more

This is one of my best eats of the year and it's only March! Lou's takeaway caught my attention when I was looking for a grab and go dinner for a sunset picnic I had planned and they didn't disappoint at all. I assume I talked to Anthony (Lou) while I was ordering and he helped me and my friend choose between all the options they had for the day. I love how it's really no frills, but just really good food. My friend and I ordered the sunset fried chicken(?) and the local fried rockfish to share. Both were fried to perfection and we loved how the sauces complimented the meal so well. The chicken's sauce was spicy, savory and you could really taste the Calabrian chili kicking through. The rockfish's sauce was tangy and was perfect with the fish. The salad was also the perfect side for the meal. Portion were huge and we were able to eat it for another meal. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Fried Chicken - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

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WOW a amazing hidden gem (at least for me it was hidden). First time coming here and honestly just came because traffic was so bad. The fried hawaiian chicken was amazing. I feel like Marin doesnt have a lot of good spots that arent outrageously expensive but this is one of them. The fried chicken was cooked perfectly and topped with a sweet sauce. It was so juicy! Salad and noodles were delicious as well. Although its my first time here they definitely made me feel like Ive gone here for years. Theyve built a close community with their customers. An iykyk type of spot. Outdoor seating is limited however most people take their food to go. Definitely coming back to try the rest of the menu! Wish I came sooner! read more

Lou's Takeaway - Fried Chicken - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Sorry everyone, this is not a review. This is a love letter to Lou. Dearest Lou, I called you at 4:15 pm sharp for a dinner order. I didn't give up on you because I kept calling and calling until you answered. Somehow, you're always so happy to hear from me. I was INCREDIBLY happy to hear from you. I placed my order for a six piece roasted shrimp skewer with rice, fresh herb sauce, crispy wontons and a fresh side green salad at $24. You told me pick up was at 5 pm and I got on the 101 North immediately to you. There you were, waiting for me at the window with a smile. Of course, my spicy shrimp were awaiting my arrival. You even gave me extra sauce on the side. To me, this is the ultimate love and care I needed at the end of a long week. I know I could have stayed on-site at the lovely outdoor seating, but I decided to take my plate home. I want you to know that I didn't share this precious plate. I also licked the container. Yours very truly, Sha read more

Lou's Takeaway - Shrimp skewers ($24) - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Holy crap what is a place like this doing in little ole Marin? I feel like an amazing find like Lou's are located in San Francisco or San Jose right in the middle of a bunch of asian shops. The food is often sold out by the time I come but I finally got to taste Lou's and I'm blown away. I got: 1. Fried Chicken Spicy: Sorry I don't know the actual names of what I ordered but it was with the orange sauce on top of katsu like fried chicken. This was a bit spicy but not bad at all and this is coming from a wimp who can barely tolerate siracha. The chicken is so crunchy and juicy. I'd compare the sauce to almost like an indian curry like (but not really). 2. Fried Chicken Green sauce: This sauce tasted more like carribean or coconut-y style. Both this and the spicy one was delicious but I actually liked this one more. I loved the coconut/creamy flavor of the sauce and it went so well with the freshly fried chicken. Overall, hands down the best asian food in Marin. There isn't even a question or comparison. The portions are huge, the flavors are fresh and innovative. The service is also great. The shop itself can it a bit hard to find as it isn't really labeled. Its just a small shack in the parking lot of Scotty's Market. read more

I do not usually make it out to Marin County, but I had an errand to run in San Rafael and decided to check out where locals like to eat. Reddit pointed me to Lou's Takeaway, and after seeing how many people raved about it, I had to try it. I called in my order and the person on the phone was super nice. He told me it would be ready in about 15 minutes. Their menu changes often with different specials, and since I love spicy food, I went with the Szechuan spicy chicken that comes with rice and a salad. I asked for it extra spicy. When I arrived, the place immediately caught my attention. It is a small walk up spot that kind of looks like a mobile coffee stand, really charming and casual. The guy at the window was friendly and I am pretty sure he was the same one who took my order. I asked for chopsticks and they had them, which was a nice touch. The moment I opened the box in my car, I was impressed. The portion was generous, the food was plated really well for takeout, and there were lots of peanuts, which I love. The first bite was delicious. I would not call it very spicy, but it had that classic Szechuan numbing heat rather than an overwhelming burn. The salad was fresh with a light dressing, which balanced the richness of the chicken dish perfectly. The flavors overall were very savory and satisfying. If I am in the area again, I definitely want to go back and try some of their other specials since everything on the menu sounded tempting. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Szechuan chicken (extra spicy) - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Learned of this spot via SF Chronicle Top 100 Eats and decided to swing by on our north bay trip. Later in unassuming shopping strip - prepare for line during busy hours. Came Friday lunch, order at window, in about 10 min food is cooked ready. Some outside seating but most folks order to-go. DH and I didn't think we were that hungry so we split Lou's balls which came with tasty green salad and dressing. The pork used in meatballs tasted fresher than normal ground pork. Next time will like to try fried chicken and would love for a brown rice option! read more

Lou's Takeaway - Ordering window - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I was in the mood for some good comfort food and did a search for local restaurants where I could grab a quick bite. Lou's Takeaway got great reviews and the pictures of the food looked amazing. I ordered by phone ahead of time--which I think is a good idea since it took about 15 minutes to prepare and there was a short line of patrons ahead of me. My first choice of slow roasted pork belly had sold out by 12:30pm, so I went with my second choice--a braised pork belly dish, and I was not disappointed in the least! The restaurant is a tiny stand-alone building in a strip mall parking lot with a few benches around it, so I think it's better to grab your food and go somewhere else. When I eventually got to dine on my lunch, I was super satisfied with the main dish and the green salad tossed in a delicious dressing. I would definitely recommend Lou's for a low-key, high quality take out meal! read more

I gave a review like 5 months ago. I've been coming here weekly every Tuesday since and this is a local gem especially for Marin. It's lit that's all that I gotta say. Call in your order in advance. It's a unique local small biz owned establishment whipping out unique dishes every day twice a day like hotcakes. Get it how u live it! Thank me later. Sorry no pics (I'm bad at that. I should take pics ) Big portions, lit special sauce always different, leafy salad with bomb dressing and the rice is fire cuz the juice soaks into. I get the fried chicken every time. Never deviate from the truth read more

Lou's Takeaway - Steak (forget what it's called on menu) - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Another OUTSTANDING visit to this spot These were great Coconut Pork belly Poipu Roasted chicken Pork shoulder read more

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Let me just say...there are those citizens who maintain that the Bay Area's best food is served at newish places such as Tartine in SF and now Marin, Stellina Pronto in Petaluma, and the acknowledged snot houses such as Danko, Auberge, Kokkari, Quince, Prospect, Spruce, Chez Panisse, Boulevard, and State Bird. No. The best food, the most innovative food, the most well-prepared food, is available right here at Lou's. You think I'm wrong? Show me. read more

Wow! This chicken is probably some of the best I've ever had. It's full of flavor. The sauce is incredible. The chicken is cooked to perfection. The restaurant is very small with only 4 employees who cook the food daily. Everything is fresh!! I wish there was a little bit less salad, however it's always good to eat your greens! read more

Lou's Takeaway - Chicken plate - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is probably Marin's most hidden gem. Get their fried chicken. It's fried to perfection and the sauce is like crack. Eat it over rice, eat it over salad, eat it over anything. Generous portions and bursting with flavor. This place reminds me of Hawaii. Great service. You can call ahead of time and get an estimate on how long it'll be ready. No tables inside, just outside. read more

These guys have nailed it! Small kitchen in the middle of a parking lot, food rocked. Got the chicken salad and the beef stew. Absolutely delicious and such a unique spot. Definitely a place to pick up lunch or dinner particularly when you need a warm hug - comfort food :) read more

We haven't been back in a while since we're rarely in the area, but whenever we're driving up to Napa or Sonoma, this spot is a must! A few things we wanted were sold out so I'd recommend calling ahead to place an order. They don't have a set menu on hand so you have to make sure to go on their website. Despite the call-ins and the line, the wait wasn't long at all. We got the crispy chicken, spice-roasted chicken, and miso-roasted shrimp skewer over rice - all so good! The breading on the chicken wasn't too thick, just right, and the sauce they drizzle on top was super flavorful. We even had leftovers and the leftovers were still good!! read more

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I still love the food. I think it's incredibly creative, constantly evolving, and a really good value for the food you get. What I think is completely insane and to be frank, outrageous, is the whole phone ordering system. At 11:15am for lunch and 4:15pm for dinner, you're expected to sit and war dial their phone number over and over. 99% of the time it goes straight to their voicemail. The 1% of the time it goes through and rings there's a 99% chance nobody picks up and you go to voicemail only to start all over again. After trying again today with 149 calls, I finally got through. I love the food, but is any food really worth this amount of trouble? Why not have a call queue so whether the call gets answered isn't simply left to chance? Oh and 4 of the past 5 times I've called, the items I wanted were sold out because it took so long to get through by phone. If you go in person, you won't have this issue of course. That's all I can recommend for now. Avoid doing takeaway, which is funny because it's in their name lol read more

Delicious and fresh every time! A small but mighty business that deserves the hype. Been here a few times and each dish has been 10/10.

A hidden gem with some of best fried chicken I have had in a long time. The food menu rotates daily which is a great way to keep trying new dishes. Service was excellent, overall great spot. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

This is a neighborhood gem that has been discovered by many outside of the neighborhood as well. All of the food is always made fresh, the menu is posted each day a few hours before they begin taking orders. You do have to be pretty good about calling and getting your order in as they do sell out. This is my go to spot when I'm looking for a salad and protein, but want to have a lot of flavor packed in. if you are sensitive to spice, definitely ask them about spice level when you place your order as some of the food can be spicy. read more

Lou's Takeaway - The most delicious chicken salad. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Lou's is my special solo lunch treat before or after I have a medical appointment nearby. I have had the spicy fried chicken and today I got the crispy pork shoulder "Alouha" style with gochujang Mac and a pineapple soy drizzle, so yummy! They can sell out of popular dishes so I just order in person so I know what is still available. Service at the counter is always friendly. Stool seating is facing the parking lot, so best for a casual solo meal or lunch with a coworker if you are lucky enough to work in the area. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Spicy fried chicken - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

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I was back in town and the first placed I had to eat at was Lou's Takeaway. I checked the dinner options once it posted to their website and so many of the meals sounded enticing. Luckily I would be eating with friends so we were able to order a few and eat it family-style. I started calling a little after 4 pm and after a fee busy signals, someone was available to take our order. We chose to try the d10 style belly balls (house grind of duroc pork belly w/Vietnamese seasonings), West Indies stewed pork shoulder (a savory herby island style sauce), and soy-braised duck. The pickup time was set and I was excited to try more of Lou's creations. Pickup was a little bit after the set time but who am I to rush the kitchen. While waiting I heard the evening meals sold out. I tried all dishes and again Lou is a master at combining flavors and building a nice balance. I think the star for the night was the West Indies pork shoulder. The meat was tender and the flavor was well-developed and scrumptious. It had a had just the right of heat. The pork belly balls were moist and had a nice sweet sauce. The roasted peanuts added a different texture to the dish and were a nice addition. The pickled daikon and carrot was atop the green salad and gave a nice crunch to the salad. The soy-braised duck was cooked to perfection and was tender and delightful. I also think the salad side green salad needs a mention. I believe it's a spring mix and possibly some arugula. Anyway the salad was fresh and the house-made dressing is light and tangy. Again the balance of flavors is spot on. I bet the salad could be sold as a separate dish, yes it's that good. Lou's is a special restaurant and I give my compliments to the staff and chef. read more

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Search: chicken salad near me. OMG! Found. It has to be a local secret, maybe-not sure, but fantastic! Great website that explains about the daily menu. Walk up window, easy ordering and friendly folks. It's obvious this is a culinary labor of love. Little covered patio with stools if you must eat there, but there is a reason it's called "Lou's Takeaway", you get it? Fried Chicken is the star but today there was shrimp on the menu which, as my eyes are always bigger than my stomach, I opted to only order one dish. Fresh, balanced and exciting flavors, textures and combinations! Can't wait to try more. read more

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One of the best meals I've ever had in the Bay Area, bar none. Fried chicken was cooked perfectly and did not feel greasy at all. The side salad, which is often an afterthought for most restaurants, was also delicious and contained some sort of tasty dressing. Portions were also incredibly generous, coupled with the fact that the crew runs a pretty tight ship. read more

Stumbled on to this place as I had to take my dog to a specialty vet in Marin. What a lucky stumble! Takeout window with kind friendly service. Regular customers know that their tight menu is posted online daily with 4+ entrees to choose from. I went for fried chicken with a terrific peanut sesame sauce. It's a boneless dark meat thigh battered, fried and sauced. They added a sample of their pork meatball which was tender and juicy as well. Tomorrow they will feature seafood, so it looks like they do rotate their menu frequently. Great little shaded patio on the side for me and the pup to enjoy lunch! Great experience. Appreciate the straight forward model...and the kindness reminds me of food trucks in Hawaii. Bravo! read more

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Great service amazing food and fair prices for the portions. Hard not to appreciate how this place prepares their food. You can tell they are passionate about what they do. Will come back anytime I'm in the area read more

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I want to be cynical - a casual restaurant run out of a small shack in a grocery store parking lot serving high-quality cooking, with a highly-recommended, nearly-five-star-average-on-Yelp, beloved by the Chronicle reputation - I was prepared to be disappointed. And yet... I was surprised. Look, it's not the BEST FOOD IN AMERICA. But this is exactly what it claims to be - a high-quality, easy meal, in an unconventional space but serving impressive dishes. I had an excellent pork riblets dish. The salad was as good as any you'd get in a pricier spot, and the meat was seasoned perfectly. Perhaps a bit too much rice, but I let feeling satiated. The hours are atrocious, it's a complicated ordering process, and it's out of the way (I live in San Jose!). But yes, five stars. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Pork riblets - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

This place just absolutely never fails. The quality of ingredients is incredible. The innovation of flavors is genius. The guy at the counter is always so friendly and helpful even though he must be stressed during the rush. I work right up the street and treat myself at least once (or twice) a month. Delicious. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Hype me up chicken. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

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Absolutely a hidden gem that shouldn't be hidden. We got the saucy fried chicken, which was truly fantastic. Crunchy outside, juicy inside, and the sauce had the exact right amount of a kick. Salad on the side was nice and refreshing with tasty dressing. Easy to order on the phone on a Thursday/holiday, highly recommend! read more

The best way to describe food at Lou's is as a California Cuisine version of Hawaii's Plate Lunch - protein, rice, and garden salad. And much like good plate lunch in Hawaii, it is "way ono!" (Delicious, yummy, heavenly, delectable - your choice.) We've been wanting to try Lou's for a while now, but we weren't ready to brave traffic from southern Marin during rush hour. Fortunately a recent appointment had us finishing up right about when they open. Their daily menu is online. If you want to be assure of getting your first choice, you need to call when their phone line opens about 30 minutes before the window. It took a couple of redials, but we were connected in about a minute. We had their spicy fried chicken and a creamy spiced chicken - both served over steamed rice with a side salad. Both choices were amazing. I'm not sure what their salad dressing is, but it is of a slightly sweet creamy variety and both of us commented on it. (Much like plate lunch, the portions are well sized for large appetites.) In addition, we had a bean dish and chewy cornbread to round out our meal. It says it in the name, "Takeaway." Don't expect a spectacular dining room. Most folks just pay, get their food, and head for home. There are a few tables to the side, but they weren't in use when we were there. The staff both on the phone and in-person were very helpful. If we were a bit closer, we'd be there more often. read more

My family, along with everyone who is lucky enough to visit us in Marin County, are spoiled because we have Lou's Takeaway as our prime destination for lunch or dinner. We are lifetime customers! It started with the caramelized pork belly and when that isn't available, there's always the fried chicken served with the most savory sauces. The portions are enough for two to share - or save for another meal the same day. A word about their salad: I confess I'm not a fan of greens but when it comes to Lou's Takeaway salads, there is not a single leaf remaining. Like their sauces on the entrees, their unique dressings are divine! I only wish that Lou's Takeaway was open more often when I'm craving an exotic food adventure. A special shout-out to Lou himself and his friendly "life is beautiful" staff! read more

My coworkers picked up takeout from Lou's and I'm not gonna lie - they put me on!! I've never had it and they recommended I try the chicken cutlet. First of all, the portions?! - I love a restaurant that isn't stingy. I can tell the service is amaaazing. Everything on the plate was DELICIOUS! I was told their menu changes every day and I'm excited to try another dish next time. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Chicken Cutlet! - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

One of the best hidden gems in San Rafael! The food here is amazing! I've been here a few times already and love that their menu is different everyday. Great for people who like to eat something new and different everyday! The menu is always full of uniquely flavored items that you do not see elsewhere. They post their menu up a few hours before opening so you can call in your order if you wanted to. Lou's is always busy so it is best to call ahead for your order. Portions are huge! So you will get your money's worth of food. Sometimes service is a little slow but only because Lou takes his time cooking and preparing quality food and of course they have many orders called in ahead of you usually. There is limited outdoor seating and indoor seating. Lost people look like they just take their orders to go. Lou's is also conveniently located in a plaza so plenty of parking. Overall arguable the best restaurant in San Rafael! Highly recommend visiting here at least once. read more

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I'd give 10 stars if I could. We found Lou's on Yelp while looking for a place to cater an office celebration. We decided to give it a try before committing. A few of us paid them a visit during their lunch hour. At first we couldn't find it because we didn't know it was a small stand inside of a parking lot. Customer service was super friendly and inviting. We ordered a plate of pork shoulder which came with salad and rice. They also added a free tub of soup. Lou's food is spectacular. You can taste the love and intention in every bite. I can't even describe the flavors, they were so amazing and complex! Even the salad dressing was incredible. With that said, after that first tasting, we decided to move forward with the large order. I emailed Lou directly and he helped me order for my large group. He even accommodated us despite it being a busy time of the day. We ordered fried chicken, pork shoulder, rice, salad, and he even made a vegan option for one of my colleagues. The office LOVED everything and kept asking where the food was from. This is going to be my go to from now on. Thank you Lou!!! Food: 10/5 Service: 5/5 read more

Kowloon fried chicken was so good! Called right at 4:30pm to schedule a pick up for dinner later. I was browsing the website and luckily saw that they advise doing this since they're so popular and only have one phone line. Arrived promptly at pickup time, but still had to wait 15-20 minutes for the food. The portion of the fried chicken was huge. I think it was chicken thigh? Must've been a ginormous chicken! I did wish they were more generous with the "kowloon" seasoning/sauce. It barely covered the chicken, so there wasn't any to accompany the rice. However, the chicken was impressively juicy that it didn't really need the sauce anyway. Half the container was a salad. Usually I'd just pick at the salad but wow that dressing was delicious! I'm proud to say I (almost) finished the whole salad by myself. Call ahead for your next dinner! You won't be disappointed. read more

Meeting a friend for lunch at their house, they were going to takeout food from their favorite place in their city. They sent us the menu that morning and asked us for our lunch selections. On this Friday, the menu listed six entrees selections, a lemon-grass roasted chicken, spice-roasted chicken, King salmon ginger scallion poke, fried chicken, smoky roasted jumbo prawn skewer and jasmine chicken rice porridge. Our choices: Fried chicken - the large fried chicken cutlet was sliced and topped with a pineapple bonito infused soy reduction over a bed of medium-grain white rice and side of mixed green salad. The batter was crispy and the chicken was flavorful and moist. Smoky roasted jumbo prawn skewer - the prawns were marinated in garlic chili and topped with a creamy green herb sauce with medium-grain white rice and green salad sides. Five large prawns on a skewer were perfectly roasted and not overcooked. Very tasty and there is a little kick to them probably from the garlic chili marinade. Now I know why our friends wanted us to try the food from Lou's. This food from this takeaway place is delicious and will definitely want to try again. Looking forward to another lunch get-together with our friends. read more

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Love this place! I'm sad it's only opened Tuesday-Fridays. I have a love/hate relationship with the ever changing menu. Love because it's so exciting checking to see what new, delicious concoctions Lou comes up with! Hate because you try this amazing thing and it may or may not pop up on the menu again and you never know when! This is a local gem that you can either call in or order in person, but be careful because they might run out of what you've been eyeing on the menu! Staff are friendly and welcoming, I have never had a meal that I didn't like here. read more

Some of the best and most flavorful food. So good, that I went there twice in 3 days while up in the area for a wedding. It's not the fastest food to get, but it's fresh and definitely worth the wait. read more

The braised short ribs were very tender and had a really tasty sauce. It was a nice serving size and the staff were very kind and helpful. A lil pricey, but the quality and service were fantastic. It's a takeaway window with some seating nearby, but there are plenty of areas to land and chow down nearby if you aren't going home. read more

Lou's Takeaway - Braised short rib. Served over rice with macaroni and a salad. - Comfort Food Near Me - San Rafael, California

Top notch. Incredible!!! Best $20 you will ever spend. My wife and I eat here regularly, it is always on hit. I usually do the fried chicken, she goes spice roasted. Tonight we got the Slow-Roasted Pork Belly Slab, it came with a sweet green chili vinegar dipping sauce. Thank god for Lou's read more