Red Lotus, Auburn, WA (restaurant) - Locating Tiki

W woofmutt Member Seattilite Telstar Joined: Mar 26, 2002 Posts: 2639	W woofmutt Posted posted on Wed, Aug 11, 2010 9:40 PM First things first, the Red Lotus doesn't have a trace of Tiki in it.* But it is one of a very few intact Chinese American restaurants in the greater Seattle area which still have their exotic interiors. It's also the closest thing to a vintage Tiki joint in the greater Seattle area. So though it's not Tiki it definitely has the vintage exotica vibe. The Red Lotus is windowless with a mostly dimly lit interior. There's extensive use of bamboo, lacquered wood, Chinese style light fixtures, and 1960s metallic wallpapers. The lounge is called the Pagoda Room and though it has bamboo and lacquered wood it's not as interesting as the main dining areas. (And it has a lot of plastic beer banners around.) A better option is ordering drinks from the bar in the restaurant. The quality of the drinks is typical working class bar level but the prices are good and the drinks are stiff. Years ago the Red Lotus used to serve four special house drinks in the classic white Chinese figure mugs. (One of their house specialty drinks was pretty good, the Confucius or Fu Man Chu, but they stopped serving it when they could no longer get Navy Grog mix from their supplier.) The food at the Red Lotus is excellent Chinese American style food, I'd say it's well above the average of what you typically find in small town Chinese joints. Fresh vegetables are generally used in vegetable dishes. Their sweet-n-sour sauce is neon orange stuff from a five gallon bucket but my friends and I never order any dishes with it.) The Red Lotus's version of General Tso's chicken (now apparently just called "The General's Chicken") is not the sweet and sour glop covered deep fried chicken chunks you find at most places. Their version is amazing spicy crispy drumettes which make hot wings taste like Chicken McNuggets. Door detail Register area. Waiting area. Waiting area. Waiting area ceiling. The most brightly lit of the three dining areas. This one is sort of the "lunch room." Not frozen. The Forbidden City dining room is a bamboo extravaganza. The $6.50 lunch special. A martini at lunch in a windowless restaurant is a beautiful thing. *Well, they do serve a Mai Tai which most people here would frown about.

First things first, the Red Lotus doesn't have a trace of Tiki in it.* But it is one of a very few intact Chinese American restaurants in the greater Seattle area which still have their exotic interiors. It's also the closest thing to a vintage Tiki joint in the greater Seattle area. So though it's not Tiki it definitely has the vintage exotica vibe.

The Red Lotus is windowless with a mostly dimly lit interior. There's extensive use of bamboo, lacquered wood, Chinese style light fixtures, and 1960s metallic wallpapers.

The lounge is called the Pagoda Room and though it has bamboo and lacquered wood it's not as interesting as the main dining areas. (And it has a lot of plastic beer banners around.) A better option is ordering drinks from the bar in the restaurant.

The quality of the drinks is typical working class bar level but the prices are good and the drinks are stiff. Years ago the Red Lotus used to serve four special house drinks in the classic white Chinese figure mugs. (One of their house specialty drinks was pretty good, the Confucius or Fu Man Chu, but they stopped serving it when they could no longer get Navy Grog mix from their supplier.)

The food at the Red Lotus is excellent Chinese American style food, I'd say it's well above the average of what you typically find in small town Chinese joints. Fresh vegetables are generally used in vegetable dishes. Their sweet-n-sour sauce is neon orange stuff from a five gallon bucket but my friends and I never order any dishes with it.)

The Red Lotus's version of General Tso's chicken (now apparently just called "The General's Chicken") is not the sweet and sour glop covered deep fried chicken chunks you find at most places. Their version is amazing spicy crispy drumettes which make hot wings taste like Chicken McNuggets.