Bamboo in Sherman Oaks - Never Again

[Jwsel]

I decided to let a few days pass before I posted about the Monday night dinner I had with my family at Bamboo in Sherman Oaks. I thought my opinion of the food might have been influenced by the fact that I did not want to go to Bamboo in the first place since: (1) I recalled it was pretty mediocre in the past; and (2) we only went there because one of my brothers insisted that A&W Seafood in Northridge (which I consider the best Chinese restaurant in the San Fernando Valley) was too far to drive. However, after thinking it over, I don't think my preconceptions influenced my views too much. No matter if I had been there a hundred times or just this once, one thing was plain: our dinner at Bamboo was absolutely terrible.

Starters were worthless. Since my brothers were really hungry, we shared an order of spring rolls that were greasy and tasteless. I took two bites, and gave the rest of mine to one of my brothers to finish. (He said he was only taking it because he was starving.)

We also ordered some hot and sour soup as a starter. I wouldn't exactly call it a starter, because it came after the first of our four dishes. As for the soup itself, it was absolutely indistinguishable from egg drop soup. Actually, I would have placed money on it being egg drop, since it was a yellowish broth thickened with corn starch with small yellow flakes floating in it and hand none of the tofu, bamboo shoots, or pork that typically come in hot and sour soup. It also had no heat and no sourness -- and no other discernible flavor. I even asked the waiter if it was egg drop, but he insisted that it was, indeed, hot and sour soup. I still don't believe him, but c'est la vie. I did ask for some vinegar, hoping that could at least give the soup some of the titular sourness, but it never arrived. I had about half a bowl before giving up.

Then there were the main dishes. My brother who insisted on going to Bamboo strongly pushed for us to order shrimp in salt and garlic. The dish looked like fried calamari. The shrimp were small and had been battered and fried too long. The shrimp were dry and incredibly salty. I think Panda Express has something similar -- and probably just as good. And that was one of the better dishes.

My brother also pushed us to have something that he claimed was New York steak in a ginger sauce. What we received was strips of beef covered in a red sauce that looked and tasted like someone had mixed ketchup and corn starch. I took one bite and could not eat any more.

Even worse were the hot braised scallops. This was a platter filled with this red, glutinous mess with scattered pieces of white (the scallops) drowning in the gloop. It was revolting.

Our last dish was sweet-and-pungent chicken, which was decent, but probably something you could get better at any hole-in-the-wall Chinese place. The version at Bamboo Forest is far better, and significantly cheaper. (In fact, the prices at Bamboo are a joke. Most of the items were in the $13-$16 range, and the food I just mentioned cost about $70 before drinks, tax and tip.

Service was also atrocious. The soup also did not arrive until after the first of our main dishes came and, as I mentioned previously, the waiter never brought any vinegar. We also had to ask for rice three times -- all after our food arrived.

After the meal, the brother who insisted on going to Bamboo said that he thought the food was excellent and asked how we liked it. I decided to be polite and say nothing, but my father looked at him like he was from Mars and said that it was "mediocre" and he would never go back.

I share that sentiment.

[Das Ubergeek]

I agree that it would have to try hard to be mediocre, but just a note that Chinese family-style dining doesn't come in courses unless it's specifically a banquet. Dishes tend to fly out as they are ready.

[cimero]

I live nearby on Beverly Glen and over the last 10 years have been there about 5 times. Each time I go, I vow never again. The food for me has always been totally mediocre and if you are there late the wait staff will practically shovel you out the door. So totally no reason whatsoever to go there. It's too bad because there are so few upscale Chinese restaurants. Chi Dynasty is where I go for a nice setting, but definately Sepulveda or Chinatown for the food quality.

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Chi Dynasty
12229 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

[Sandra W]

My sister wanted to go to Bamboo for her birthday, yesterday. I talked her into trying Chi Dynasty. The best of the mediocre in the valley. Don't get their "famous" chicken salad. I've had it several times... the chicken is incredibly dry.

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Chi Dynasty
12229 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

[carter]

While the setting is better than many at Chi Dynasty, the food is terrible, and the use of canned baby ears of corn is the dead giveway.
Their sauces have little to no flavor.
Same problem at Green Apple, except instead of baby corn from a can, all vegetables short of those specified with a veggie name, are onions and if you are lucky, they may throw in a few water chestnuts, again out of a can.
Glad a few understand the over-hype of Bamboo, though.

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Chi Dynasty
12229 Ventura Boulevard, Studio City, CA 91604

[EclecticEater]

Was there with Lipton on Saturday and had the same won ton bombs, Shanghai vermicelli, orange peel chicken, pork fried rice and the food was hot, delicious. The bombs were chock full of very good minced meat, garlicky; the orange peel chicken excellent; the prok fried rice good; and the Shanghi noodles good. It wasn't "real" enthnic SGV or "deep" Irvine type of Chinese food where more patrons are from Asia than from 'Merica, but all in all it was damn good for what it was, including excellent service and dishes brought when they were cooked even though, as Lipton said, the place was full. Satisfied my longing for Chinese food with valet parking and close in on Ventura Boulevard. Nothing wrong with that and I can add that my wife, who is very sensitive to msg and too much oil in Chinese food, had no problems at all and also had a good meal and time.

[Hughlipton]

Went there last night for dinner. Had the won ton bombs, Shanghai vermicelli, orange peel chicken, pork fried rice and the food was hot, delicious and the service could not have been better even though the place was SRO. I guess for whatever reason it must vary from night to night.

[Sandra W]

My mom used to love that place, too. It was beyond dreadful. A&W was too far for her as well. Next time, split the difference. Try Sam Woo on Sepulveda in Van Nuys. It made all of us reasonably happy.

[Jwsel]

I briefly considered Sam Woo. My favorite local Chinese is Bamboo Forest, but it's more of a takeout/delivery place and does not really have any ambience. It also was closed on Monday.

[carter]

Kung Pao in Studio City, not the one in Sherman Oaks, is very good, and their soups are one of their specialities. Secondly, the shrimp served there are of the medium-large scale. Can't imagine you can't find many options there that would be a great improvement. no mixed drinks, though, and bad wine. BYO wine. Several good beers though.
And the ambiance is quite pleasant, yet in a very casual, non-tablecloth kind of way. Prices are similar, and platters are very good sized.
Bamboo used to be good until Joseph bought out his chef partner and then found an $8 an hour cook to do the food, and it shows - the last time I was there, a poster on this board sat behind me, and afterward, yet again, I vowed never to return, and it has been at least 2 or so years since.

[J.L.]

Whoa. Your brother is not a 'Hound, I take it?