Twelve years ago, I fell in love with Au Lac and wrote a glowing review. Living on LA's Westside, I rarely make it to Downtown, so today was my first visit back since then. I can't believe it's been 12 years--and I'm so happy to say it was every bit as incredible as I remembered. My friend and I came for lunch. I ordered the vegetable pho, and she had the curry rice. Both dishes were absolutely delicious--fresh, flavorful, comforting, and beautifully prepared. Honestly, I wish we had more time because we had another appointment downtown. I would have loved to try more dishes and definitely dessert! Our server was wonderful--friendly, attentive, and incredibly professional. He checked on us at just the right moments without ever feeling intrusive. The service was as impressive as the food. The restaurant has such a warm, relaxing atmosphere. I especially loved the beautiful ceramic water cups with bird designs--they were so unique and charming. Even the water tasted wonderful! I'm thrilled that Au Lac is still thriving after all these years. If anything, the food tasted even better than I remembered. I certainly won't wait another 12 years before coming back. In fact, I was so impressed that I convinced my husband to come with me next Saturday for dinner! I've tried many vegan restaurants over the years, and Au Lac remains my absolute favorite. My favorite on the Westside is Variable Café, but if you're willing to drive a little farther, Au Lac is on another level. I can't recommend this restaurant highly enough. Whether you're vegan or not, this place is truly outstanding. Five stars without hesitation! read more

Au Lac - Vegetable Pho - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I wish I could give a zero. This is the worst meal I've ever had and it's not because of the food, it's because of the godawful service. FLABBERGASTED is the word I would use. The Asian gentleman with a crew cut/short hair was the rudest waiter I've ever experienced. My friend and I got there at 12:30PM before a show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall on Sunday at 2 PM- it took 20 minutes for them to take our order. We let them know that we had a show to go to and to just bring the food as it was ready. It took 45 minutes for our first dish to arrive. INSANE, WHEN THE RESTAURANT WAS EMPTY AND DEAD. Then we heard the Asian waiter telling off the other table next to us who was also going to the same show at Walt Disney Concert Hall. They came earlier than us, ordered first and still didn't even get their dishes before us. They told him to take it off the bill if the food didn't come in time since they didn't have time to eat it. I was shocked to hear the rude waiter telling that table "You should have told us that you were going to a show and that you were in a hurry".. WTF, like in this economy- we're paying to go to a sit-down restaurant to get treated like garbage??? My friend and I barely had time to eat and we took our leftovers. This was the first time I tipped 15% in YEARS and I wish I tipped nothing. We asked for bags since they just gave us boxes and then as we left He had the AUDACITY TO SAY "JUST SO YOU KNOW, WE'RE NOT A FAST PACED CASUAL RESTAURANT" IT'S INSANE THAT YOU GUYS CANT EVEN DO LUNCH ON AN EMPTY SUNDAY WITHIN 2 HOURS. Go here, if you have nothing to do and want to get treated like garbage. I will never go here ever again. Maybe they just get business since this is the only vegan option in the area. Thank you for ruining a lovely Sunday afternoon because we couldn't even enjoy the show, all I could remember was how rude and smug that Asian waiter was. Please close this business. I'm shocked that Gordon Ramsay didn't show up to say that he was shooting this place for Kitchen Nightmares. read more

I came to Au Lac again to celebrate my bday with a friend before a show at the Music Center. Au Lac doesn't take reservations. My friend had the tofu, house salad. She said the house salad was better the last time she came bc the lettuce was different. She recalled it was Romaine lettuce last time. This time it was a green salad. I had the lemongrass fish which was made of soybean. It was a little too dry and rubbery for me. I kept putting it in my soup with rice to make it taste better, but ran out of soup. I won't be ordering this dish again. I took half home, cut up the soybean fish and added it to a stew. I didn't mention to my server that it was my bday, but was disappointed that he didn't even offer like regular servers do, "Would you like to see the dessert menu?" I didn't tell him it was my bday nor did I ask for the dessert menu bc I wasn't the one paying the bill. Not that I needed dessert, but it would've been nice to have been asked. When I mentioned this to another server who came by to clear our table that our server didn't even ask if we wanted dessert and that the restaurant doesn't seem to want to push its desserts, he quickly brought us a dessert menu, but my friend was already paying our bill - too late! It would've been nice to be asked earlier. I even had candles in my bag just in case we got dessert. Anyway, this server said he'll tell our server about not offering dessert. The next day I came back with another friend after a Music Center event. My server from the day before recognized me. This time he asked us at the start before we ordered or after we had just ordered whether we'd like to see the dessert menu. Huh? Ask at the END not start of a meal! Instead of embarrassing him, I told him, "No, thanks. My bday was yesterday." On this second day, my friend and I shared a Chinoise salad (delicious and refreshing!) and paella (not like a paella, a little too wet and granular for our taste, but healthy - a living food dish). We had mint and lemon water for both meals. $12 parking in the adjacent structure. Free parking passes at the Music Center if you're a season ticket holder or good luck with finding street parking. I'd still continue to occasionally patronize this restaurant when I have Music Center events bc I want to support veganism, the restaurant; however, I was disappointed with some of the food and waitstaff this weekend. I'd suggest that the waitstaff go thru customer training on when/what/how to talk to customers. Incentive from the website: join the rewards plan - 300 points for 30% off the bill and 100 points for a free dessert! I'm aiming for the free dessert!! read more

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First time here, arrived at 5 just as they opened before a recital at the Disney Concert Hall, and asked our server Jack to feed us a meal that is gluten free (Living Food Omakase). One of us was doubtful and low-key worried about vegan and living foods--he was amazed before he was halfway through. Drinks: the ruby cold pressed juice so delicious, not too sweet; the thai tea, a desert drink with caffeine! He started us with olive cheese dip: so super delicious with the crunchy seeded crackers. The Bird's Eye Tofu, crunchy on the outside, hot and melty on the inside. And the entrees? He brought a Notrito Salad which felt alive and delicious. The Tori Katsu really blew my mind. The Octopus so crunchy ourtside, soft and chewy and flavorful inside. The yellow noodle soup, so cocoanutty and flavorful. The Jack Makhani a spicy jackfruit yumminess. So glad we saved room for dessert I love Au Lac. I love this DTLA location. Now off to walk in the Concert Hall gardens before a recital! read more

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Everything about this experience surpassed my expectations. To this day, the Claypot Fish is the best dish I've had in my entire life, both vegan & otherwise. The fish flavor is perfect, and the textures of the eggplant and tofu pair so beautifully. It's melt-in-your-mouth savory. The choice of the chocolate coconut cake was by recommendation of the server, and they were right. That dessert is incomparable, so rich and chocolately and the fruit puree cuts it beautifully. Truly a 10/10, no notes. read more

Au Lac - Claypot Fish - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I am not vegan myself but this is one of my favorite restaurants in LA! Staff is friendly, food is great, and it has a nice aesthetic. My favorite was the jade juice recommended by our waiter! read more

Au Lac - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Right behind the Disney Concert Hall block, a fusion Vietnamese experience appears from the downtown cacophony of cuisines. These are not your typical Pho variety items. They are thoughtfully executed vegan (V/V+) versions of lots of favorites, plus some with shrimp, squid, octopus and pork. All come very tasty, and actual fish sauce is optional (versus the vegan sauce version also available). I did this as Uber Eats and am totally happy with the delivered results. This Ito Burrito is super-filling like a 1 lb bean burrito with extra veggies. The Pho Ga had great stock and perfect noodles. The tempeh chicken is the slightly rubbery version (good flavor but sometimes people feel it doesn't chew right as a vegan sub). The Papaya salad had crisp fried oyster mushrooms which are an amazing snack even in their own, dipped in anything. Pics from the interior show this to be a warm and intimate modern classy place. I'll visit there soon when I'm around the Grand area. Really satisfying recipes with excellent quality unique ingredients and great flavor combinations. read more

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Surprisingly very tasty vegan/ vegetarian food. It was also my first time hearing about "living food." We ordered 4 items: - pho ga - tori katsu - basil garlic noodles - mint soup They were all very tasty read more

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A couple friends and I recently dined at Au Lac -- none of us had been there before -- and we loved it! I had the Olive Cheese Dip and the Tori Katsu, both which were an absolute delight. I also had the Cold-Pressed Ruby Juice which was refreshing and energizing! My friends had the Friend Fries, Phở Beef Ball, and Ravioli Rosa which they seemed to enjoy. Overall, I'd say Au Lac is a great spot for vegans and non-vegans alike, and I'm looking forward to my next visit! read more

Au Lac - Tori Katsu...yum! - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I ordered take out and loved EVERYTHING I bought. My 3 kids (and they are picky eaters) and I devoured all of it. We got the Chicken Sate (amazing), Big Thunnini Roll (yummy and my favorite, I always purchase), Green Curry Fried Rice (best fried rice EVER), Octopus (spicy bug hit with my kids), Mai Banh Mi (the sauce you pour on it was delicious), Egg rolls (crunchy and tasty), Kale Sea salad and Thai Iced Tea. I honestly don't get some of these reviews, they are usually not about the food but about service. I have NEVER had bad service when going in person. read more

I tasted the ravioli rosa first and I really liked it. Then the spicy calamari came out and WOW. It is slightly on the saltier side, but wow my friends and I totally inhaled it. Octopus was also pretty good. The garlic basil noodles came at the end- they were mid. I think if it was the first thing I ate, it would've been really good. The dishes by themselves are good but altogether there's a different vibe when they're altogether. read more

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i'm not personally a vegan, but i enjoy vegan food from time to time, and au lac is one of my favorite vegan restaurants. i love the comforting and filling fish dishes (lemongrass fish, calamari, and shrimp. the portions are perfectly sized with the perfect amount of rice and veggies. service was very professional and friendly! plus, the ambiance of the restaurant was so comforting and relaxing - what a great environment to enjoy delicious food in! i'd recommend stopping by if you're in the downtown area and looking for a family-style dinner. read more

Au Lac - Spicy Calamari, Lemongrass Fish, Salt & Peppered Shrimp - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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We came here for dinner before going to the LA Phil concert. The menu has a lot of options. When we are ready to order, the server recommended a few signature dishes. I was a little under the weather and reviewed the tea selection. I asked the waiter what certain type of tea, she said didn't know. Need to be a little more prepared. I ordered the beef ball pho and my boyfriend ordered the octopus mushroom rice. The food tasted good, and the portion is reasonable. For dessert, we tried the chocolate x tasty cake. I think the cake tastes fine but my boyfriend said it's ok, more like a homemade cake. We split our check and paid. After we left, we noticed that the restaurant charged us vee coffee and two cold pressed juices that we never ordered, an extra $28. We quickly called the restaurant about that. The good thing is they reversed it. However, I don't expect the service of the restaurant to be careless, charging items that customers did not order. May need to train your service for better service. read more

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Finally made it to Âu Lạc LA and I completely understand why this place is so respected. The atmosphere is calm and welcoming, and the food feels very intentional. I tried a mix of living foods and cooked dishes, and everything was flavorful, balanced, and thoughtfully prepared. The olive cheese dip and wild rice dishes were especially memorable, and the newer menu items were comforting without feeling heavy. This is the kind of restaurant you visit when you want more than just a meal -- it's an experience that leaves you feeling nourished and grounded. Highly recommend taking your time here. Downtown Los Angeles Plant-based | Living foods options read more

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I think I may have just ordered the wrong thing but I was pretty disappointed with the Birder Bowl. It was very one-dimensional and was literally just tofu, rice, and a mushroom sauce- no other vegetables. The thai ice tea was pretty good though and unique, with a strong coconut milk taste. There's many other things on the menu that looked delicious so I may just try again next time; this is a great place for vegetarians! The restaurant is beautifully decorated and service was great. They do validate partially for parking now in the lot behind. Make sure you get a parking ticket from the attendant. At the restaurant, ask for validation- you should get $4 off your restaurant bill and then they'll stamp your parking ticket for an additional $3 back. We ended up paying around ~$7ish for parking for 2 hrs. Parking lot is CASH ONLY. No wait on a Sunday at 12 pm. read more

Au Lac - Birder Bowl Mapo Tofu - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here to celebrate my friends birthday Really nice atmosphere for that it's a very spacious beautiful place and the service was excellent Wonderful variety of unique vegan food It was so hard to decide what to get I had the pho beef ball soup and my friend had a flavorful tempeh dish Really enjoyed the choconut x-tasy The gluten free baklava is more nutty than traditional baklava yet still very nice There's parking underneath I wish I knew that cause I circled around the downtown area for a bit Would go there again for the dessert for sure read more

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For dinner I ordered the the Big Thunnini Roll and it was fresh with a nice mix of textures and a lot of flavor.I also tried the Siu Mai which were really good and hit the spot. I had heard good things going in and this restaurant lived up to it. read more

Happy place for sure. All perfect from check in to service. Chix sal was nice and the Pho. Whoooo. The tools rock. Thanks. read more

Au Lac - Roll. - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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One of my fave vegan places in DTLA; service is always friendly and the food is tasty. And, the vibe is slightly fancier, so good for meetings. I always enjoy the clay pot and the portion is enough for 2 meals. Parking is convenient with the garage downstairs, but not free. read more

Au Lac - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Always a great dining experience. Great selection of delicious vegan options and outstanding customer service. The servers go above and beyond to make sure you get the best experience possible and are always so attentive and welcoming. Definitely recommend this restaurant as a place where you will not be disappointed. read more

Great little spot in DTLA . Great service and great vegan food to enjoy . We will definitely be back again !

$12 for parking Came here for their crispy mushrooms which is easily the most favorite item I also got the soft tofu stew Compared to the one in Westminster this is more of a fusion place than authentically Vietnamese read more

It was a great experience. The place has a great LA night view in the background. With a full belly, you should walk around. It's quite romantics. We ordered three dishes, and they were all delicious. My favorite was the garlic rice noddles and octopus. Also, their Thai tea is quite special as well. It's worth a try. I am not vegan, but I would come back if I visit LA. People here are nice and welcoming. It's a perfect spot for dates. Good luck with business. You guys should consider opening up one in SF. I will definitely visit often. read more

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The service was great and the food was tasty but wasn't memorable. I couldn't recall what I ordered but had pics! I still would rather do regular Vietnamese than a vegan place. But if you're vegan and you have a show to catch this is a nice place to try. Parking can be a little tricky. $12 cash on the other side entrance and under the building. read more

Au Lac - Faux calamari and shrimp - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The food is amazing, and different in a really great way. I took my daughter here for her birthday dinner. The service was solid, responsive to questions and attentive as appropriate. Only good things to say. The ambiance was not stuffy; it was comfortable, modern, clean, organized, felt good, a small quaint place to relax and take your time enjoying the food and beverages. We will go back, for sure. read more

Incredible plant-based spot for a beautiful birthday dinner!! Friendly staff and amazing service with a personalized birthday message on my vegan cake! read more

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I have been at this restaurant a few times before, having performed here with my sketch group and also coming for dinner before seeing shows at Center Theatre Group. Each time I've come the waitstaff has been super friendly, and the food amazing. So, when planning a little birthday lunch for my mom's 81st birthday, this was one of the first places I thought of. My mom lives in south LA and we live in the valley, so after picking her up, we wouldn't have to travel far to eat. Although we planned to arrive to the restaurant at 2, traffic was horrible and we arrived at 230pm. After looking for parking, I dropped the fam off at 2:40 so they could sit and look at the menu while I found parking. I get a text from my husband saying they closed at 3 so hurry. This was news to me, as I thought they closed at 5. I found parking and rushed in at 2:48, to see my family outside the restaurant. Perplexed, I went in to ask if we could still eat, as it wasn't yet 3pm. No wait staff came to the front to greet me, so I walked in a bit and asked the waiter if it was okay to eat. The waiter said we close in ten. I said I thought the website said you closed at 5. I must have read it wrong. I understand, but it's not 3 and we came a bit of a distance and it's my mom's 81st birthday. The waiter, whose name is Jack, offered to ask the kitchen if they would still make food. I said yes please would you ask? While Jack was asking, another waiter asked me if I had been helped. I told him yes, that Jack was asking the kitchen if we could still have lunch. This waiter says, we're closing in 10. I'd like to have lunch too. And walks away. Yes, with shade. Jack returns and says it's fine as long as we can order within a few minutes of getting the menu. I say great and we all come in. The 2nd waiter takes our order with the least amount of personality he possibly can, and the whole lunch is slightly awkward and we're not able to truly enjoy ourselves with the feeling of "we better hurry up and eat" lingering. By the time we ordered and received our food (which was delicious as usual) , there were still 4 other groups of customers there, and we actually left the restaurant within a minute or two after the last customers before us. Also, no one came around to ask how our food was and if we needed anything. I'm giving 3 stars because this experience didn't quite sit right with me. Yes, it was near closing, but your doors weren't closed and there was no sign saying last call/order at 2:45 or anything like that. I feel like once the kitchen approved making our lunch, customer service should have been at its peak for paying customers, who gave no attitude and tried to be as polite with the ask as possible. It was not. I still tipped 25%, because Jack (waiter 1) was polite and my 81 old mama who I was celebrating raised me that way, but I'm not sure I'll patronize them again. read more

Au Lac - Cornbread tres leches cake with a little happy birthday in powdered sugar? - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

4 stars because finding the right parking entrance was NEARLY impossible delicious fake shrimp and the longevity soup (forgot the exact name) was a pleasant surprise. The tres leches was a hard miss, but overall, the food was fantastic and services incredibly on top of it! read more

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Exceptional fine dining plant based food, with super friendly staff. Highly recommended!

Excellent fresh vegan food with lots of gluten free options! The shrimp were excellent and my carnivorous son loved them! read more

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If you're a vegan, eat here. If you're not a vegan, DEFINITELY eat here!!! The way Au Lac recreates dishes is nothing short of wtf??? Trust me. I say this and th "spicy calamari" comes to mind, but go and try different dishes for yourself. You won't be disappointed. The staff is fantastic and the meals come out in record time, no matter what you get. It's a large space and I hear they have live music from time to time, or I may be wrong, or those times may have passed, but I know I saw a piano. Eat here. You'll LOVE it. read more

Just ok for me, kinda pretentious Garlic noodles was a little over cooked, noodles were broken up and shortened, I don't know why. Taste was decent though, but not really with the price. Bbq pork rolls were also not bad, but with vegan food, it just feels like I'm paying a lot for we'll presented veggies Service was ok. Some appeared to be masking their deep unhappiness with life, or just that they're better than you. Then again, maybe it's just me, but it was the vibe. read more

Hands down one of the best plant based / vegan restaurants we have ever eaten at. This is casual plant based fine dining at its best. And while not cheap, it is an extremely good value. Their dishes are creative, well balanced, and extremely well made. Shout out to Aryeh, our waiter who was knowledgeable, helpful, kind, and on top of things. read more

Each and every time the food is flavorful and delicious! Especially if you are a plant based eater like myself you will appreciate the care in preparedness and the seasonings, mouth watering! I absolutely love this place, especially the cook! It has a nice romantic ambiance as well. read more

The food is amazing and the ambience is upscale. However, on our last visit we asked for the check four times and got walked away from all four times with promises to be right back. We were in an urgent rush to catch an important show and we were pretty upset when all the tables near us were getting helped while we're were frantically trying to pay and leave. My dining partner was quite livid and decided not to leave a tip, which I disagreed with but it's his prerogative to decide that based on his perception of the service received. Unfortunately, the next day he saw the restaurant wrote in their own tip on his bank statement. The lesson: keep your receipt and check your bank statement after visiting. read more

Au Lac - Octopus, delicious and generous portion. - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Amazing food. Never disappointed. Love the sustainable packaging on most items. I will continue to buy their food. Me and my 3 kids LOVE it!!!! read more

I was really impressed and so were the people in my party! I had the Pho beef. I also tried that sushi roll and friend fries! Amazing! Egg roll was pretty good too read more

Au Lac DTLA feels less like a restaurant and more like a training partner. This is a place that understands food as fuel, hydration as strategy, and atmosphere as motivation. If you think in terms of workouts, recovery, and tomorrow's goals, you'll feel immediately at home. The Juices (Ruby & Golden): Both are exceptional, and both serve different purposes in the athletic lifecycle. Golden juice brings it with ginger and energy. It wakes you up cleanly and decisively. No crash, no nonsense. This is "lace up and go" juice. Ruby juice is sweet, smooth, and deeply satisfying. It feels restorative, almost indulgent, but still squarely in the health-forward lane. They come in beautiful, reusable glass bottles, which I now stockpile and reuse for coffee and other drinks to go. Practical, elegant, and aligned with a lifestyle that values intention over waste. The Burrito: This burrito is serious business. So hearty, so filling, that even as a big eater I couldn't finish it in one sitting. I brought half home, and somehow it tasted even better later, which tells you everything you need to know about the quality and balance of flavors. The shell deserves special mention. A gorgeous green wrap with real texture and flavor, not just a neutral delivery system. Thoughtful, athletic food from the outside in. Dessert (Raw Baklava): Light, clean, and surprisingly satisfying. Sweet without being heavy, indulgent without undoing your day. Exactly how dessert should feel when you still care about tomorrow morning. Bar Seating & Atmosphere: The bar area was alive. Fit, attractive people refueling, talking about upcoming athletic endeavors, training plans, and what they're building towards. It felt like a crossroads of ambition and recovery. Motivating without being performative. Details Matter: Even the water pitcher was beautifully presented. Calm, elegant, and intentional. Small touches, but they add up to a space that respects the experience. Race Route & Community: Au Lac proudly supports the annual Downtown Los Angeles Turkey Trot, and the restaurant sits directly on the race route. Overall: Au Lac DTLA is what happens when nutrition, performance, and community align. You don't leave feeling stuffed. You leave feeling ready. -- City Stage Fueling strong bodies, clear minds, and a city that moves. read more

Au Lac - The main course - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Always kept an eye on this place and we finally decided to give it a try today. Came and left wondering why we haven't tried it sooner we were surprised by the huge selection of vegan options that the two of us got four plates which needless to say was more than enough food but somehow we still finished everything (very full) Food was really tasty and you could tell that the flavors and textures were carefully thought through Dishes we tried: - Kale Sea Salad: very flavorful and the kimchi was a nice touch to the salad - Siu Mai Dumplings: delicious and came with 6 pieces a good sharing plate! - Garlic Basil Noodles: tasty with lots of textures and whole garlic cloves i liked it (my S.O. really liked this one) - Tori Katsu: a vegan chicken katsu, that they did a really good job of making. Crunchy exterior, soft tender center and tasted so good. - Magic mushroom elixir (tea): slightly sweet from the coconut and earthy from the mushrooms. actually liked this a lot. (teas come in pots so you can order one for two people) - They also give you large pitcher of infused water which i thought was a really nice touch one thing i noticed with this restaurant was that everything tasted fresh and flavors were innovative yet still went naturally together with no weird after taste, oh and lots of textures! we went on a thursday night and there was a few tables and a decent amount of togo orders but only one server. yet our server was still super chill, composed, and attentive! he was definitely busy which was not his fault and always made time to come check up on us ambiance felt nice, played chill music, interior felt modern yet homey and the bathrooms were clean even though we were super full we didn't feel "heavy" or food coma after. just felt like good clean food. would definitely come back! although next time we'll be sure to order one less dish to save room for dessert! read more

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Tucked away in a plaza, wouldn't know it was there if we hadn't looked on Yelp! Service was friendly and fast, priced normally and everything was fresh. The stand out of the meal was the shrimp, I've NEVER had a shrimp alternative that tasted so close to the real thing, it was insanely good. The bbq rolls were good and the dipping sauce was very tasty. Enough to share. The garlic noodles were probably my least favorite just because i was getting full and there was an odd smell that i couldn't place with eating this dish. It wasn't a bad order, the smell just didn't match what i was eating so i was a little thrown off. Good place if you want a small bad before something in the area and are looking for a meal on the vegetarian side. read more

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