So I was in Venice Beach yesterday and was looking for a place to get some food at. I’m a very big food nut when it comes to new places, and I always like to ask locals where to get the best food around. I received many votes for Mao’s Kitchen located on Pacific Ave right next to the Bondi BBQ restaurant which was a very close second.

Anywho, this post isn’t necessarily about the food so much as the take-out menu and overall aesthetic of the restaurant. The place itself had a lot of Chinese influence, primarily propaganda type posters, large photos of Mao Zedong, former leader of the Communist party in China. Eating there almost gave you the sense that you were in an old Chinese restaurant, with their large wooden communal tables, no-frills wooden chairs, and the very authentic Chinese food (I recommend the Orange Ginger chicken and the Beef with Yams).

What most impressed me though was their take-out menus. Printed on a low-quality brown stock, it really made me feel like I was picking up a propaganda flyer for the Communist regime. The very stylized imagery, the black and red color scheme. If you’re Shepard Fairey fan you’ll know what I’m talkin about.

Anywho, hit the jump for a couple of photos that don’t do their menu any justice. Guess you’ll have to stop in for yourself!