Sweet T treated me to one of my favorite cities for my 32nd birthday: LA. I was able to try a few new veg-friendly places and here's the list:
Veggie Grill (El Segundo)- a quick and easy place to grab a light meal. I tried the "Carne Asada" without the bun. Portions are rather light for the price when I added on sweet potato fries, but I think this is normal for West Coast. If you want to eat a lean, light meal, you pay a premium. And many people are willing to pay. This place was packed on a Thursday afternoon.
Sprinkles Cupcakes (Beverly Hills)- had to try their new vegan version: red velvet. I can't say I'm a fan because it was rather oily as a cake and as a frosting, but the moistness was impressive. If you're not used to eating cane sugar, you might find this too sweet like I did. The "V" candy top is great touch, but it tasted rather pasty and bland. Always glad to see vegan options, thanks Sprinkles.
Seed (Venice)- organic, macro, and vegan? Sign me up. I regret not trying the burger which is what they're famed for, but they served the best sweet potato fries I've had yet. Crispy, just the right saltiness, and plentiful. Doesn't hurt that it's served in a Chinese takeout box, which I love. I had the "House Greens Salad" because it came highly recommended, but found it too light to be satisfying by itself. Eaten with the fries, it was a good meal. Seed also served water gratis that was infused with cucumber, mint, and lemons that was as refreshing as it sounds. Again, we thought the meal was rather pricey for the portion and casualness, but I think if we were used to living out here we wouldn't be sticker shocked!
(I was having so much fun I forgot to photograph meals for the next three restaurants.)
Real Food Daily (Santa Monica)- I know I was disappointed with RFD during my November trip, but I was wrong! I didn't know dinners here were so much better. The portion sizes were abundant and you could easily go home with leftovers for lunch. I loved the "Cold Noodle Salad" with perfectly chewy green soba and crunchy vegetables. Our friends had the "Gumbo" which was a huge stew with whole grains, tempeh, and a corn muffin in case that wasn't enough. I'm still not convinced of their desserts, but their meals are worth trying whether you're a veg eater or not.
Inaka (La Brea)- this was a great surprise (thanks Erik)! A macro Japanese restaurant that served up the heartiest hot pots. Definitely check it out. The decor is minimalist and the food is simple, and you won't leave feeling overly stuffed.
BCD Tofu House (Koreatown)- this was a desperate stop for dinner while stuck in traffic. I was happily surprised to find vegan tofu soon dobu filled with mushrooms and other veggies. I asked for very spicy and cried for the first time in my life from the spiciness. My mouth also went numb. Don't get cocky like me.
The Stand (Laguna Beach)- this was my favorite surprise, thanks to T. A vegan stand where the menu is so huge you get cross-eyed. If you're a soup lover, come here. They have about 10 varieties of vegan soups and let you taste test every one. I also love their soft serve fruit that is simply fruit pushed through a juicer. Think ripe bananas as soft serve ice cream.
Didn't have time to check out Gjelina (Abbot Kinney) and Interim (Santa Monica) which were also on my list... next time!
