Goji Kitchen, an Asian-fusion kitchen in the heart of Santa Rosa’s JC neighborhood — featuring MSG-free pho (something BiteClubbers have vocally advocated), bbq short ribs, clay pot rice, orange peel sesame chicken, spring rolls and more than 40 other dishes. And that’s just for lunch.
Run by a trio of owners, Kim and Ben Chang (former managers of China Room) and well-known local health practioner Kimchi Moyer, the focus is on Korean, Chinese and Vietnamese classics made without any artificial stuff. In fact, they’re going so far as to import a special European water filtration system that Jennifer Chang says will really make their food taste even better. In addition, there are no microwaves in the restaurant and she’s proud to say that the chicken is free-range from Petaluma poultry.
Top-notch service helps navigate through the menu, the interior is modern and minimal, and the tinkling fountain keeps the whole experience very zen-like.
Goji Kitchen, 1965 Mendocino Ave, Santa Rosa
The owner lied to the public. I don’t believe that there food do not include msg. I had experience working at Chinese restaurant in the past. Most of stuff they cooked include msg. So please owner do not lied to public. That is a big shame you guy show off with your skills
NO MSG….I HAVE EATEN AT “GOJI Kitchen” AT LEAST 5 TIMES, AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN MSG REACTION….I AM HIGHLY SENSITIVE TO MSG. I WOULD KNOW RIGHT AWAY AFTER THE FIRST BITE….SEEMS TO ME, AS, IF SOMEONE IS TRYING TO STIR THE POT WITH THEIR OWN LIES….NO MSG, BELIEVE ME, JUST A LIL MSG MAKES MY EYES SWELL CLOSED….MY HUSBAND AND I ARE VERY HAPPY WITH “GOJI Kitchen’s” FOOD, AMBIANCE, AND THEIR STAFF…IF THEY ARE NOT ALL FAMILY, THEN THEY ARE ALL LIKE SPIRITED…HELPFUL, JOYFUL AND KIND! THANK YOU KIMCHI, BEN AND KIM FOR OPENING SUCH A LOVELY PLACE.
Shame on you, Steven. I go to Goji precisely because all of their food is MSG-free. Even a small exposure to MSG gives me terrible migraines. Unlike a number of Asian food places in Sonoma County, I’ve never had a problem at Goji. I’ve tried just about every dish on the menu.
Honestly Steven, the big shame really is on you. Anyone who has been to Goji can tell what you are trying (and failing) to do with your lie.
Congratulations Kim, Ben Chang and Kimchi Moyer 🙂
I love Goji, now I can’t live without it! Maybe you know another great food?
Quick lunch and found pho singularly unimpressive – bland, light on the meat, light on the veggies to crumble into and missing key elements, etc, etc – will continue to get pho fixes at Simply VN…BUT the Imperial Rolls – Oh My Heaven!! Dear SVN simply cannot compete on that field…..
Will go back for more items as discussed in this thread – just not the pho……….
Awesome, awesome, awesome. One of the best resturand I’ve eaten at in a long time. Creative menu with lots of interesting sauses. great service. The pripriator (Kimchi) is a wounderful person. Forget the French Laundry, eat here.
Thanks Salty, I had planned to do that.
Mention that to Goji staff. They will be more than happy to comp you on your next order.
I picked up an order of Five Spice Chicken and took it home to eat. Frankly it was totally dried out,almost inedible and if I had not already gotten into comfy clothes I would have driven it back. There must have been some mistake. I may try Goji again but not for takeout. It is a pretty place tho with nice staff.
had a yummy lunch there yesterday — the 5 spice chicken was so delicious, so unusual — flavored like chinese duck, it was moist leg meat on the bone with a crunchy skin and the huge portion could easily have served 2. this place serves up the kind of food stuffy sonoma county really craves!!
Monsieur and I ate lunch today at Goji Kitchen after reading about it here at Biteclub. The lunch menu was long which always gives me a pause as I tend to think a smaller menu results in more refined cuisine. It was cold, windy, and showery today so the claypot appealed to my husband. I chose the grilled pork bun to compare it with my favorite bowl at Simply Viet Nam. The claypot was comfort pure food. Pork, prawns, and vegetables were nestled atop a bed of rice and simmering in a sauce that was had a subtle herby/spicy flavor. I only had a couple of tastes of it as I was concentrating on my bun. The grilled pork had a fatter, almost bacon-like flavor that totally seduced me.
Each dish was beautiful to look at in its fresh simplicity.
The entire staff wanted to make sure we were happy, I think in a good way because of the excitement of their opening.
Gotan Project played softly in the background.
I really love small plates. Tapas for every ethnic food is my fantasy. I really want to sample Goji’s openers but each one is roughly the price of a Pho, bun, etc. I think that’s my only complaint.
I say go to Goji and be pleasantly surprised. I love Banbua and S.V. but they seem to be settling into a rut, a comfortable rut, but a rut none the less. Goji might give them a run for their money if they maintain the clean, vital flavors we tasted today.
Lacking umami??? ask for a dash of fish sauce-packed with umami!
Also, just re-read the review about the water filtration system. I had a glass of water and it was FUNKY tasting. They might need to change their filter.
I had lunch there yesterday, had the combination pho. It is a very nice place, great people, very courteous and informative. The pho was very fresh tasting and good but maybe I will ask for some MSG on the side next time? It was lacking something, maybe umami?
I am soooooo happy this place opened up down the street from me!
I totally agree that MSG is misunderstood and the effects blown out of porportion.
I can feel it but like so many things it is sensationalized. I went by the Goji today and read the menu and cannot wait to try it.
MSG is perfectly natural (it is a sodium salt of the naturally occurring non-essential amino acid glutamic acid) and for every 15 people who claim to be allergic maybe 1 actually is. Soy sauce (as well as steak sauce, worcestershire and the like) has about the same levels of glutamate as food with added MSG yet it magically seems to not give people headaches and all the other complaints people are convinced MSG is to blame for.
Had the cashew chicken and paid the extra $1.50 for wild brown rice. Excellent.
Love it! The owner is so dedicated to her dream! And the food is incredible, and too inexpensive in my opinion. This is such a unique place and definitely worth a visit- once you go once you’ll want to eat there every day.
plenty of vegetarian options, they even have vegan pho!!! dessert was heavenly. can’t wait to try their water once their filtration system is ready!
I hope its good..its what many of us have been waiting for!