Hippies, backpackers and vegans will find paradise at this restaurant, while the carnivorous may suffer from the lack of meat on the menu. The small restaurant is a favorite among tourists and the vast majority of its diners are farangs. In fact, in all our visits the only locals we have ever seen there are the staff. The décor is fresh and vibrant. Wooden tables and comfy rattan chairs are spread out in the all-red, air-conditioned restaurant. On display at the back are handmade accessories designed by owner See. Unfortunately, while Lotash Seed scores high on atmosphere, the service doesn’t match up. Servers are unreliable, struggle to answer questions and are clueless about what they are serving. So don’t bother asking for recommendations. Health-conscious diners are spoiled for choice as the menu features a wide array of tofu and mushroom-based dishes. But while most of the farang customers rave about Lotash Seed’s recipes, all of its dishes taste rather bland to our liking (maybe because the food is engineered to suit foreign palates?). Larb tofu, for example, appeared more like stir-fried mixed vegetables with diced tofu. It was dry and had no hint of ground roasted rice or mint. Banana flower salad was a step above the larb, but still average. Also steer away from the watery, insipid tom khaa tofu. The saving graces of the vegetarian restaurant are Lotash Seed fried rice (mixed veggie fried rice) and mushroom satay served with peanut sauce. There is no dessert to end with, but a variety of cocktails and alcoholic drinks are available; its signature nip is Special Lotash Seed Iced Tea, which is actually a concoction of vodka, gin, rum, tequila, triple sec and orange juice. Overall Lotash Seed is not terrible. It provides an inviting, relaxed ambiance with chill-out music in the background. It’s a nice place to nibble at satay and sip cold beer before clubbing on Khao San. But for a scrumptious meal, we recommend heading somewhere else.
