Lotus Sister Food Cart

1 star for the poor customer service I received today. The vendor’s behavior was unprofessional.
I would always visit this food cart whenever I go to 8avenue to satisfy my cravings. I always buy their lo mein and chicken.
Wouldn’t really recommend their fishballs because all they do is boil it, the grilled ones from the other food carts are better.
They understand little English, enough to take orders and tell prices.
Today, I visited this cart to buy a lo mein after my orthodontist checkup. I was with my sister and she wanted to buy the fried dumplings. The vendor heard us talking about fried dumplings and told her it was 9 for $ 2. My sister asked if she can see the dumplings, but the vendor didn’t understand so my dad had to translate what my sister said into Cantonese.
The vendor replied back and asked why my sister wanted to see it. My dad and the vendor spent more than 5 minutes talking about it. She (the vendor) kept refusing to let us see the dumplings because she thought we were wasting her time because she had to take it out, but there was nobody else in that cart. She also suspected my dad to be a health inspector (but I still don’t understand why she would hide and refuse to show the food she was going to make us).
After my dad explained that we are already buying the lo mein, she agreed.
My sister saw the dumplings and changed her mind. So, she asked for a chicken. After she received the chicken, my dad gave the vendor a $ 20 bill. While she was pulling out money to give back as change, she was mumbling something about how we asked even though we didn’t want it. My dad heard her and asked why she was behaving like that despite earning money.
She got mad and pulled the chicken out of my sister’s hand and said «Well, don’t eat if you’re not happy» and gave the $ 20 back.
I do not plan to visit this cart again after this experience.

Stinky Tofu & Fried Chicken Drumsticks for all!
A very decent cart, probably the only cart on 8^th avenue dare to sell Stinky Tofu! You can smell the tofu cart at the corner of the block. The aroma may attract you to come closer or may make you turn away. Stinky Tofu are nicely fried and comes with various sauce, you just have to ask for it! Stinky tofu that satisfies my cravings for an inexpensive price.
Another love from this cart is the Fried Chicken Drumstick. Chicken dipped in flour and then deep fried! When the lady is cooking this up, you will hear it sizzling as you walk by. It’s just mouthwatering as you watch it turn golden brown. Chicken skin is nice and crispy.
I don’t think all the food is fresh here but still worth a try.

HAWT DAWG!!! Stinky tofu sold from a street cart??? I thought these were banned by the Health Department… whoops…SHHHHH!!! Be very very quiet… because this is beautiful! Passing by this nondescript cart the water stained printed paper immediately caught my eye. In capital letters the words STINKY TOFU had me immediately stop dead in my tracks, memories of my days tromping the Taiwan night markets, with that familiar rancid smell signaling to my mind that stinky tofu was close by. My mouth began to salivate and I pleaded like a spoiled brat to please let me buy an order. My companions all gave me a mixed look of disgust, fear, and despair. But I ignored their threats that they would not let me back in the car and placed an order. A cube of tofu was retrieved somewhere from the back corner of the cart, cut into 4s and dropped into a murky, boiling tray of oil. Seconds later a fog of stinky tofu smell covered the entire block, leaving me standing alone as everyone fled for fresher air.
When the tofu reached a golden brown, they were dunked into this neon orange sauce and placed on a Styrofoam plate. I savored every little piece taking enjoyment in the cacophony of flavors.
As with all street carts, you are taking a risk by consuming food prepared on the street. So if you do not have an iron stomach… maybe you should just sit this one out.