Lulu Modern Chinese

khoupernicus a month ago

We decided to dine at Lulu Modern Chinese for our 11th year anniversary instead of at a fancy prime steakhouse as we usually do and we were taken aback by our experience. Pricey? Absolutely, for a modern take on traditional Chinese. But you pay for the experience and atmosphere more than anything else. The food was great, don't get me wrong and the drinks are absolutely showstoppers, nothing but top shelf used here. Lulu has a little bit of everything for everyone (unless you're vegetarian or vegan), with a decent dumpling menu to whet your appetite. We ordered a Peking Duck experience (more on this later), braised beef rib, side of egg fried rice, traditional pork XLB (full of broth, arrived perfectly warm and not piping hot), shrimp shumai and five drinks (Ube? You May!, Yuzu Margarita, Tokyo Drift, Wayfinder and Penicillin [which is tea infused, but cleverly tastes like Mezcal]). The Peking Duck experience is served with a side of 16 thin Chinese pancakes, thinly sliced scallion whites, Persian cucumber sticks, sugar and Hoisin sauce. The presenter will flambé and then slice up your duck into thin presentable pieces before your server serves the platter to you. You can eat the

Michael Lin a month ago

I really want to like this restaurant, I really do. But unfortunately this is not an authentic Chinese restaurant, instead it is highly Americanized. Because I want to help them get better, I’m going to critique some dishes in a more detailed fashion. The chili wonton has no kick in it at all, and they added way too much vinegar and unbalanced. The black truffle stewed egg, I’m pretty sure the chef forgot to season the steamed egg. It is extremely bland and has no flavor at all. Braised beef is definitely the best dish for the meal, I actually like it a lot so I highly recommend ordering it. The crab tofu on the other hand was disappointing. The flavor is there but one the tofu are cut in way too big of pieces, two it has very little sauce. Will I give them a second chance? Maybe, but I don’t have high hopes.

Jules D a month ago

They are known for their Peking duck which is the star of the show - but there are certainly other gems here. The red snapper was a pleasant surprise — well-seasoned, flaky and not overshadowed by the duck. It came with a sauce on the side that complemented rather than masked the fish. The Sichuan crispy chicken had a tad bit of heat but was delicious! Two dishes I'd order again in a heartbeat: the braised rice with black truffle and mushroom and the chili pork wontons. Overall, a fantastic modern take on Chinese classics. Highly recommend for anyone looking to try something a step above the usual Chinese takeout fare. Don't forget the Wayfinder espresso martini with Reposado - cheers!

KimmyEATS 5 months ago

Lulu Modern in Plano definitely delivered. The space feels upscale but still fun, so it works for a nicer dinner without feeling too stuffy. The Peking duck was the highlight for sure. They carve it tableside with a fire show, which is a cool touch, but the food actually backs it up. Crispy skin, tender meat, and everything wrapped with cucumbers, spring onion, and duck sauce just hits. The whole duck is about $100 and can feed up to 4 depending on how hungry you are, which felt fair for the quality and experience. The fried whole fish was a close second. Super crispy on the outside, soft and flaky inside, and the sauce plus dried spices gave it a really nice kick without being overwhelming. The Sichuan pickled fish was also really good. The fish was super soft and tender, and the pickled greens reminded me a lot of Vietnamese mustard greens, which I liked. Dumplings were plump and very juicy, and the cocktails were solid too. Definitely recommend reserving the duck ahead of time. Overall, easy 5/5 for me and I’d come back.

Chris Giang 5 months ago

LULU Modern Chinese has a great vibe and a sleek, lounge style interior that makes it a cool spot for a night out, but the food was a bit of a mixed bag. ​The Xiao Long Bao (soup dumplings) were good with thin skins and a really flavorful broth inside. We also tried the Wagyu pan-fried dumplings, which came with that crispy "skirt" and had a great texture. However, the Peking Duck was a letdown. Even with the tableside presentation, the skin just wasn't crispy at all and felt pretty mid overall. ​That being said, we really appreciated the service. The manager actually took the time to listen to our feedback about the duck and was very receptive to it. It’s always a plus when a place actually cares about the guest experience, so I’d definitely give them another shot for the atmosphere and the rest of the menu.