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- Lucky Lotus, a Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai restaurant in Des Moines, has launched a new brunch menu featuring Asian-inspired breakfast classics.
- The menu includes dishes like congee, a savory rice porridge, and kai dao, a take on the American breakfast with eggs and pickled vegetables.
- Other highlights include a Laotian-style omelet, breakfast bing bing with scallion pancake wraps, and Thai tea French toast.
- The brunch menu is available every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
For 14 years, Seng and Dala Chen ran Café Fuzion, a small Asian restaurant on the east side of Des Moines. Their sons Souriyno Chen and Kevin Chen keep their legacy alive at Lucky Lotus, their counter-service restaurant with Vietnamese, Laotian and Thai dishes on Ingersoll Avenue, in business since November 2019.
Now they’re ready to share some of the breakfast options they’ve eaten with their parents at a new brunch, served on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The cute restaurant with umbrellas hanging upside down overhead and framed photos lining the wall is one of the Des Moines Register’s essential restaurants.
Here’s a look at what’s on the menu of the new Lucky Lotus brunch.
What to order for Lucky Lotus’ brunch
Congee or khao piak, $10: Kevin Chen described this dish as a “house breakfast staple in almost all east and southeast Asian countries.” The rice porridge comes in a ginger herb broth, with optional add ins such as chicken or mock duck for an extra $2 and a sunny-side up egg for another $2. “Warm, comforting, and savory,” are words Kevin Chen used to describe the dish. It comes with youtiao, a long, crispy doughnut, that diners can dip into the congee for added flavor.
The 5 Star or kai dao, $12: This American classic features two sunny-side up eggs and pickled vegetables, with optional add ins such as bacon or Impossible sausage. It comes with jasmine rice. “We grew up eating this,” Kevin Chen said. “Basically, you substitute the toast for rice because we always had rice in the house.”
The omelet or kai hom, $12: This Laotian-style omelet comes with cherry tomatoes, herbs and fish sauce, with either jasmine rice or sticky rice on the side. “Ask any staff member who works the morning shift what they make to eat before the shift and this is it,” Kevin Chen said. “It’s simple and perfectly savory.”
Breakfast bing bing, $12: This riff on the restaurant’s bing bing takes a scallion pancake wrap and drops eggs, cheese and Kewpie mayo inside. Diners can order it with bacon or Impossible sausage. Kevin Chen described the dish as “one of the most popular menu items.”
Thai tea French toast, $12: This coconut-banana French toasts is steeped in a Thai tea reduction and served with fruit. “I remember being a child and asking my mother to make French toast for breakfast,” Kevin Chen said. “Thai tea has a notable fragrance and aroma. We thought the flavors would pair well together.”
Before school fried rice, $10: This dish features jasmine rice with eggs, peas, carrots and onions, with the option to add bacon or Impossible sausage.
The menu notes dishes that are vegan- or vegetarian-friendly, gluten-free, or contain peanuts. None of the dishes are naturally spicy.
Drink options include hot tea, drip coffee, or orange juice.
Where to find Lucky Lotus
Location: 2721 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines
Contact: 515-262-8488 or luckylotusdsm.com
Brunch hours: Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Susan Stapleton is the entertainment editor and dining reporter at The Des Moines Register. You can reach out to her on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, or drop her a line at sstapleton@gannett.com.