An experience

After living in Taiwan many years ago, I can say that the food is extremely authentic and has a great taste. It is identical to the food served at large Buddhist temple gatherings in central Taiwan. Part restaurant/ part educational experience. Vegan.... as pure as you can get.

Deelish modest priced vegan fare in simple unassuming venue

I love this place. I go a few times a month. I like the bare bones atmosphere, friendly service and great food. Portions are big and prices relatively small. Great lunch buffet where you pay according to weight, and if you arrive between 2:30 and 3 pm, the buffet is half price. A wonderful little gem

Best vegan chinese food

I lived in Victoria for a year and this was my favourite restaurant. They serve the most delicious vegan chinese food that any meat eater would love. It is a small place so you might have to wait at busy times. The owners are super nice and portions are excellent. I moved back to Ontario and miss this place so... more

Great vegan chinese food

This is a small restaurant that serves only vegan chinese food. It was quiet when we got there but soon filled up. The food was fantastic! Everything we had was fresh and tasty. I particularly recommend the lemon "chicken" and the sweet and sour soya balls! Also the veggie chop suey - delish!

Best vegan ever

Great vegan meals, huge dishes and friendly atmosphere. Key location for anyone visiting downtown Victoria, close to Market Square, hotels, the harbour ecc..

Pretty Good baffet

Great little restaurant here. Not a fancy place at all, but the food is delicious and the prices are good. Just a little bit oily.

A must go to when in Vic

The lotus pond, is beautiful. I always leave full and happy! The staff are kind and gentle. The good is clean, and so amazing delicious!! The restaurant itself is very simple. The music is always soft, & they offer some reading to help yourself to at the door. I can't say enough good about this place. It's always a go... more

Pretty good food

Our family is not vegetarian and is our first time trying this restaurant. The kids liked the sweet and sour and the tofu hotpot. I was quite impressed with how they manage to imitate various types of meat (chicken, seafood, etc.,) I didn't taste much of MSG at all. It was such a healthy dinner!

Good Chef here

Simple, casual, relatively inexpensive Buddhist vegetarian fare. I had a plate from the somewhat sparse buffet and it was all rather tasty. Do keep in mind this place has a casual 'student dining' atmosphere, it is not somewhere to take a big party looking for a fancy nite out.

26-Szechuan Ginger B

This is one of my go-to favourite dishes at one of my all-time favourite restaurants.... sweet, spicy, salty, chewy crunchy. Ultimate comfort food, their set menus are still good value and consistently good over many years.

Excellent Chinese Food

There are few if any Chinese restaurants as consistent as the Lotus Pond. The food is always excellent. Although it is a Buddhist vegan restaurant, the taste and consistency are as good as you'll find at any restaurant in town.
We always order off the special combo menu on the back page of the menu, which means that four of... more

Good if you're looking for an alternative spot

We found this restaurant solely based on TripAdvisor reviews, and it's no wonder - it's really a bit of a hole in the wall, and not on the typical tourist route. A few blocks from the heart of (the small) Chinatown, Lotus Pond seems to cater more to people looking for alternative foods than those looking for typical Chinese food.... more

It was ok

I went there after reading reviews for their lunch buffet. First things, the buffet is not really a buffet, it is like a salad bar, you pay by weight. Looking at what was on there, things were going to add up pretty quickly. I looked at the buffet and everything looked kind of tired but I was excited to try... more

A "sure thing" in Victoria

There are few really consistent restaurants around, but this is one of them. Every time, every dish is wonderful. Look past judgment, and see good people making great food. Ive fooled a few meat heads here (try the ginger B)! And every veg head I know loves Lotus Pond... (beware GF folks coz almost everything on the menu has gluten).... more

All vegetarian

Delicious food and an all vegetarian menu with lots of variety and options. They use 'fake meat' for some dishes like their lemon chicken but there are lots of other choices if you avoid those products in your diet. No MSG. We really enjoyed having a full range of menu options and everything we ordered was great.

So much choice, and all vegan

I love going here whenever I'm in Victoria. If only such variety and quality were available in more places (and in more cities).
I've always found the service very friendly and prompt while the food is always prepared perfectly. With so many options, I'll never get through the whole menu (but maybe only because I go back to my regular... more

Great Vegetarian Food

This is an excellent restaurant if you don't eat meat or if you are just looking for a quick and healthy option. I have eaten here many times, mostly for lunches, usually off the buffet and it always surprises me how much I enjoy their food.

Lotus pond takes vegan to a new level

Try the faux duck and the chile eggplant, this was a great restaurant! We did not eat off the buffet but you can order off menu.

Yum

The best "Szechuan Beef" I've had in years, fake or not. Even your meaty friends will like it.
Don't be put off by the uninspiring decor. This is the real thing!

My favourite restaurant in Victoria

This place may not look like much, but they have great vegetarian food. I am a vegetarian and I appreciate it. The service was very good too - staff was friendly and helpful. The price was reasonable - same as what I would have paid back home in the GTA area. Will definitely return next time!

Another great place to eat

Great kitchen here. Not a fancy place at all, but the food is delicious and the prices are good. The eggplant is fantastic. The mo shu is also excellent.

A great vegetarian restaurant

This was my first time to the Lotus Pond. I am a vegetarian and this was the best vegetarian restaurant food I have eaten. The food is in the style of typical Chinese food. It is hard to believe that you are not eating at a typical Chinese restaurant. Yet all of the food is vegetarian. The decor is simple,... more

Tasty vegan asian food

The Lotus Pond is a great little place in Victoria. Even your non-vegan/vegetarian friends will love the large selection and delicious options. The Szechuan Ginger "Beef" and Lemon Mock "Chicken" are favorites!
Portions are very filling (we always leave with extra to take home). I'd recommend their combination dinners - a great way to try multiple items from the menu.... more

Great Vegetarian Fare, But Don't Arrive Around 2:30

We really enjoyed the food here. I had read great reviews elsewhere and was recommended by our hotel. I will say that this is a typical hole in the wall-type Chinese place. Nothing fancy but the server was very helpful and friendly, but slow. It appeared that they could have used more employees. But the food was very good, not... more

Bargain - great options

Nice vegan buffet, but surprisingly low on fresh veg - more emphasis on faux meat and carb dishes. The food was seasoned salty, but not "hot." You must ask for pepper oil/sauce - and you MUST!
My only wish-list is that everything was served about 15 degrees warmer. I've eaten there several times and will so again.

really good vegan cuisine

really good vegan cuisine

vegetarian goodness all

vegetarian goodness all around.

really good, but really

really good, but really greasy

good place to go. just don't have the buffet