Lido Restaurant: Vietnamese, Chinese and French, but nothing really French about it
by Sam | November 12, 2009 | 26 Comments
(votes: 9, average: 2.78) 
Loading ...Lido Restaurant is located at 2518 N. Military Avenue in the Asian District just off Classen Blvd (map). They are open Monday through Saturday from 10:30am to 9pm. You can reach them at 405.521.1902. All major credit cards accepted.
Lately, I’ve been tired of cooking for myself and have had an insatiable desire for Asian food. I have a string of Asian restaurant reviews coming soon and hope I don’t have a heart-attack from all the MSG I feel like I’m consuming (just so you know, it makes food much more delicious despite what critics of the flavor enhancer say). Anyway, several people have dropped the name Lido around me so it sparked my curiosity enough to give it a try. Legend says that Lido was the original Vietnamese restaurant to open up in Oklahoma City with success. The influx of new immigrants, however, has allowed newer and better restaurants to open up around Oklahoma City. In my experience, Lido is an ok option, but there are many other places that offer better Chinese/Vietnamese food, often for less money.
If you look at the sign outside of Lido, it says “Vietnamese, Chinese and French Cuisine,” but when you look at the four items found in the “French Specialties” section on their 164 item menu, you’ll see Diced Filet Mignon, Mushroom Pork Chop, Mushroom Garlic Shrimp . . . and then you’ll notice Korean BBQ Beef ribs. The last time I checked, Seoul is about 5,500 miles from Paris. I don’t know about you, but I was scratching my head on that one. I was hoping that the food wasn’t going to be plagued with the same sense of culinary confusion.
Besides the frog leg dishes, all the menu items were typical of most Chinese/Vietnamese restaurants. Nothing really stuck out. However, conveniently located under the tabletob glass are various specials that actually caught my attention. For $12.95, I had the Sizzling Fish Special. You can choose from various types of fish, so I went with salmon in the mushroom garlic sauce (mushroom black bean and sweet & sour sauce are also available). It also comes with your choice of steamed or fried rice and soup (egg drop or hot & sour).
The hot & sour soup I had was disappointing. I’ve had Chinese delivery soup with much better flavor. But I held out hope that the sizzling fish would surely change the course of this meal. It came out similar to how Mexican fajita dishes are presented, nice and sizzling hot on a metal skillet. The sight of it definitely whetted my appetite. It had a nice array of vegetables (baby corn, cilantro, peas, broccoli, onions, mushrooms, celery, bell peppers and spinach) with deep-fried, crusted fish covered in sauce. Unfortunately, it looked a little better than it tasted, but it was alright. At least it satisfied my big appetite.
I’d heard that the vermicelli noodle dishes are the best thing to get at Lido, so I decided to visit one more time. I ordered the charbroiled shrimp bowl ($8.95 dinner, $7.55 lunch). The dish includes your choice of meat or shrimp, with cucumbers, carrots, and peanuts on a bed of thin vermicelli noodles, plus bean sprouts and shredded lettuce. This includes a small bowl of Nuoc Mam (watered-down fish sauce) that you pour in the bowl to add flavor, and to help loosen up the noodles. This dish was ok, but the shrimp was overcooked and the flavors didn’t really pop out to me. It’s worth adding a few squirts of Sriracha sauce (Vietnamese chili sauce) to give it a little kick if you like a bit of spice. I’m not saying it was bad, but I just think many places, including Pho Cuong (3016 N. Classen Blvd. – review to come) up the street, offer better, and cheaper, variations of this dish with more flavor.
Since I haven’t even come close to making a dent in the massive selection of dishes, I know I can’t give a fully comprehensive review of Lido, but based on the few things I have tried and the less-than-satisfied comments from a few friends of mine, I know there are several other restaurants that do a much better job with Chinese/Vietnamese food.
That’s my take. What’s yours? If you’ve had a better (or worse) experience at Lido we’d like to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.
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So far, 26 people have responded to this article. Won't you join in?November 12th, 2009 at 7:41 pm
Haven’t been to Lido in years… Back in the day it was pretty good.
But back in the day that area was pretty much Lido, Grand House, a handful of cookie cutter Chinese buffets and Sala Thai.
I had been telling my wife that it was pretty good last time I was there and that we needed to go there sometime…. I’m actually trying to ween her away from Golden Palace…. But maybe I’ll try and find someplace else to take her instead.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
try Golden Phoenix or Chow’s on 3033 N May Ave, much better alternatives.
November 12th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
Your experience at Lido mirrors mine perfectly. Overpriced, overrated and lackluster. Golden Phoenix, on the other hand, is my neighborhood go-to for Chinese. I literally eat there a minimum of twice a week, and that’s a conservative estimate. For blow-your-brains-out spicy, try the squid with lemongrass and chili. For vegetarians I recommend the hot-pot with pineapple, tofu and okra. Delicious filet tips can be had at a bargain price, and their (fried) spring rolls are the best I’ve found locally. Sam, are they heavy-handed with the MSG here or is the grub just that damn good?
Also, Sam — if you’ve not yet tried the vermicelli bowls at Pho Ca Dao, please do! Crisp, clean, vibrant flavors with incredibly fresh nuoc mam. Their savory crepes are worthy of your time and stomach space, too. Pick up an egg tart from the Bo Sing Bakery a few doors down for dessert.
Very excited for your next few reviews!
November 12th, 2009 at 9:07 pm
So sorry you were disappointed in the hot and sour soup…I’ve always found it to be my favorite in town. I’ve never cared for the vermicelli dishes, at Lido or otherwise, but I love the sesame chicken and kung pao chicken at Lido. As well as the BBQ pork lo-mein. And the service has always been top rate whether I’m ordering to go or dining in at Lido.
November 12th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I’m not a fan of Lido. I don’t remember what I ordered the last time I was there, but I know I didn’t care for it.
November 12th, 2009 at 11:25 pm
Wow, tough crowd. I have always had good luck with Lido’s. I really enjoy the vermicelli dishes and love the shrimp rolls although Pho Cuong on Classen might have better. Geeez, now I need to find some late night take out!!
November 13th, 2009 at 11:15 am
Ok, my opinion is just the opposite. We (my work buddies and myself) LOVE Lido’s and try to go there at least 1-3 times a month. The shrimp vermicelli bowls are delicious as well as the shrimp rolls dipped in peanut sauce. Lido’s is packed everyday at lunch, so there is quite a following. I would definately recommend Lido’s!!!
November 13th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Never really liked Lido too much, I always preferred Dot Wo but I haven’t been to either places in a very long time. It’s a shame that as time goes by most restaurants go down in quality instead of improving in quality.
November 13th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Being an Asian who is actually from Asia, I’d say that Fung’s Kitchen and Chow’s come pretty close to what we get back home! Fung remodeled and moved so you’ll have to look out for it. Its somewhere on classen … between 23rd and 36th. Golden Phoenix is also pretty good but not as good as the aforementioned Chow and Fung.
November 13th, 2009 at 3:47 pm
Lido has pretty much gotten worse every time I’ve eaten there over the course of the past five years. They still do a few things really well, but that list is getting shorter and shorter. The neighborhood has a wealth of superior alternatives, imo. Once you get beyond the noodle bowls, you’d better like cornstarch because that’s what you’re getting.
November 13th, 2009 at 4:12 pm
@Benjamin, yeah I saw Fung’s new location in the building that used to be Crawdaddy’s and before that it was a pizza hut. Haven’t tried their new place yet but I did notice their sign promotes that they have Dim Sum. Going to have to try that as it would be nice to have another Dim Sum option.
November 13th, 2009 at 5:39 pm
Last time I ate there is also the last time I will eat there. I was served a drink with part of a roach moldy roach carcass floating around the top. I almost puked. I will never go back.
November 13th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
@Benjamin…. I was wondering where Fung’s went to. Last time I drove by there it was still an empty Crawdaddy’s
I have never tried Chow’s and the last few times I drove by there I thought they had gone out of business. Back in the 90’s some of the ladies from my office would go over there once a week.
Another observation I have made is that you can almost rate an Asian restaurant by their chopsticks…. The ones that offer the crappy, little, warped chopsticks are a dime a dozen. The ones with the nice chopsticks usually serve some good food.
November 14th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Lido was our favorite for years. Not so much now – cold food, lackluster wait staff and so-so meals. Love Kang’s – great sushi and Lido “type” food. Expensive but worth it.
November 14th, 2009 at 12:48 pm
Fung’s and Golden Phoenix are where it’s at. No doubt.
November 15th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
If you’re in that strip mall and are wanting some good down-home Vietnamese cuisine and don’t feel like paying the high prices at Lido’s, head three doors down to Lang’s Vietnamese Bakery. Little cute family run hole-in-the-wall place. They have 2 dollar sandwiches and 5 dollar vermicelli and pho bowls…and the taste is just amazing! We go there for lunch every week and always see fancily dressed business folk walk over to Lido, and we smile knowing we are getting what is probably better tasting Vietnamese for a fraction of the cost.
November 15th, 2009 at 4:20 pm
It’s been years that I’ve been to The Lido. I used to go there frequently when I worked at the Capitol in college. I always ordered the B8. I normally don’t order beef at a Chinese place, but here it was good. The last time I went I wasn’t as impressed. I do love Grand House and prefer to go there when I chooce Chinese in that area.
November 16th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I agree, SO over Lido. I prefer Kim Wah, which is closer to me anyways, but the vermicelli bowls are better!
Last time a group of us went to Lido, we saw some guys that work there carrying a HUGE frozen, raw animal carcus directly through the center of the main room taking it in the back or something. And the room was full of diners! I dont know, but it seemed unsanitary and I thought that has to be against some health code. Also, who wants to see that when they are eating!
November 18th, 2009 at 11:42 am
Informative post and comments. I’ve thought about trying Lido, but after reading this, I won’t. Thanks for saving me the trip!!! (The comment about the roach sealed the deal. Good Lord!!!)
November 22nd, 2009 at 8:56 am
How can you eat at an Asian restaurant if Asians wont eat there? Judge by the clientele?
November 23rd, 2009 at 11:46 pm
I have to agree with dk. I’m Viet and my family won’t eat their either. Not to say the food is bad, it just isn’t authentic. I do love Chow’s for some fantastic Chinese food though, get the oysters in ginger sauce. As for a good Vietnamese restaurant in town, I would also have to vouch for Lang Bakery for the Banh Canh or the Banh Beo Tom (if you’re interested in something authentic and different) and my personal, albeit biased favorite, Pho Ca Dao for the pho and the Bo Kho stewed beef.
November 24th, 2009 at 12:14 am
dk, I originally made a comment about the lack of asian diners at Lido, but it got edited out for some reason… Anyway, it sounds like I really need to try Pho Ca Dao next! I also thought that the place on the other end of the plaza from Lido was good, they just don’t have the convenient hours that Lido has.
November 25th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I went to Lido’s last night. I still like the place. I had the black-bean chicken and vermicelli and I thought it was very tasty and fairly-priced. My friend had the veggie fried rice and she swears it the best she has found in OKC. I do think the service is lackluster, as Kim said in a different post.
December 1st, 2009 at 3:25 pm
Ok, I’m in, we are going to try Lang’s bakery!
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:08 pm
Ok, my co-worker and myself went to Lang’s today to try it out. We walked in and sat down at a sticky table. Only one person was working and she walked over and took one paper napkin out of the dispenser on our table and gave the table a swipe and walked away. We picked up the menu’s and decided what we wanted to order, she never came back to take our order even though other people had arrived and she was attending to them. So……we got up, left and went to Lido’s where we were waited on in a most professional way and had excellent vermicelli bowls in a clean, warm enviroment. I still love Lido’s!
February 20th, 2010 at 9:42 am
Hi! I like eating at Lido. I do agree that it is an little pricey but the place is cleaner than many other Asian restaurants. Mainly, the local Asians do not eat at that restaurant is the price and as authentic. Yes, Lang’s Bakery is more authentic, cheaper and less professional with service. When I go to Lang’s Bakery, I just order at the register. If you want a more authentic Chinese experience try Grand Village across from Shepard Mall on 23rd. But, then again most will order something like Kung Pao Chicken or Sesame Chicken. BTW Korean Ribs is the style of cut from beef ribs, not a Korean dish.
Please tell us what you think.