A friend was visiting from out of state and is vegetarian, I have heard of this place from family,…read morebut was excited to try their dishes. We came with a group on a saturday and they were able to seat us immediately - plenty of parking in the large plaza where the Hat and Shiki Buffet is (previously hometown buffet location). All of the items on the menu were intriguing, but I was eyeballin' the salt and pepper one and the fried tofu. My buddy got the lemongrass "chicken" and also the curry with bread. Since we were eager to try the different types of food, we did a family style and that was the best decision. We also got eggplant, and the rice cake/egg. I thought the rice cake looked underwhelming, but our entire group had a consensus and voted that as the top fave of the night. Everything was super tasty and we left happy and full and with leftovers! Super excited to return and to recommend to others. I look forward to come back to try some of the other items such as the "beef" noodle soup or the bun rieu or pho! I also appreciate that some of the dishes came with rice included -we actually ended up with too much rice, but perfect for leftovers the next day. Upon checking out, there was delicious thing by the cash register that was green and resembled a bundt cake in slices. It was labled mochi pandan, and it was AMAZING. so spongy, so delicious and a little sweet. Perfect end of the night that my buddy got one to go right after. It was made fresh and you can tell by how soft it was. I appreciate that this restaurant has vegetarian versions of common vietnamese and chinese dishes. They all were delicious and unique and did not feel too oily or heavy. They look and taste like meat and also the sauces were 100% on point. Thank you Happy Buddha!!

Had an early lunch on a Sunday here…read more The menu is vegetarian, however most dishes can be made vegan except for those like the egg noodles, or egg soup. We order a mix of items and shared. We enjoyed all of them. I was especially happy they had a non-dairy milk for Thai tea - and it was yummy! They served us a surprise dessert of a sweet mung bean soup like dish - that was a nice treat and unexpected.

|[ u n v a r i a b l e l o v e ]| This review was a long…read moretime coming- this is my fav vegan resto! The quality and service is consistently great and I LOVE how delicious everything is. My go to is the Seoul bowl it's so good and perfectly marinated while still being health conscious 5/5. The newer tikka masala has been a fav lately- it's veggie based but the spices and flavor are on point, just as delicious as a non-vegan dish! I think with soy meat it could be even better, I'll see if that's an option next time. West coast shrimp side is really satisfying and savory. I rly should try more items here but it's hard to deviate from my favs haha. |[ s i p ]| Drinks are also decent but the star for me here is the food. I really look forward to more new food items to come. |[ n o t e s ]| Parking lot is small and kinda hit or miss but it's worth it. :) Ambiance- cute brunch spot while still health conscious.

Delightful and tasty hidden gem on Washington Blvd in Marina del Rey. There are several places in…read morethe area, but Variable stands apart with their flavorful and satisfying vegan menu. While I am not at all vegan, it can be a fantastic change of pace when trying a cuisine that is not at all my regular routine. Happily, Variable has tons of choices, and we loved what we got. I was drawn towards the 'N Seoul Bowl' (Korean spicy plant based pork, house marinated Kimchi, organic edamame, steamed organic spinach, carrot, steamed broccoli, onion , organic shiitake, topped with green onion and sesame seeds and side organic quinoa). So good, a bit spicy, and so many flavors on the plate it was impossible to not only love it, but I could not finish it, either. That goes from all their dishes. They are big, and in our experience, it came out piping hot soon after ordering it. My companion tried the 'Indian Tikka Masala' (homemade Indian curry, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, yellow squash, potatoes, cabbage, chickpea, micro green, Served with blend wild Jasmin rice and Indian Flat Bread). Tastes so fresh, hearty, with just enough of a kick to it. I look forward to trying some of their other dishes, too. The burger that the table near us ordered looked fantastic. I gotta think that everything here is pretty dang great.

A meal with intention, respect to tradition, warmth and refinement and nothing unnecessary or…read moreextraneous!!! I am in love with this restaurant and I can't wait to go back. S/O and I shared the vegan combo and dereq tibs, a pitcher of their infused water, an Ethiopian cream coffee, and a glass of palm tree (their arnold palmer). The food was fantastic. I loved every bite we had, especially the gomen (braised greens), cabbage and carrot, and the kik alicha. The dereq tibs, though? That was AMAZING. Tender beef, sweet stewed onion, the perfect amount of spice from the serranos. I loved that the dish is accompanied by senafich (a spicy, horseradish-y mustard) and mitmita (a DELICIOUS chili powder that I want to put on everything lol). The beverages were delicious, I love an arnold palmer and this one is probably the best i've ever had with their spiced tea. Their coffee was decadent and strong and perfectly balanced. And the banana split! I am not usually one for dessert but I knew I needed to try this and I'm SO glad I did. A symphony of textures and complex flavors. We may or may not have used our fingers to get the last bits from the dish. The place itself is like a little oasis from the hustle and bustle of the strip mall outside. Vibey music, beautiful furniture and decor, and all attention paid to the little details. Can't wait for them to reopen so we can come back!! Parking - strip mall was crowded, but street parking wasn't too bad to find.

My first time having Ethiopian food, and it was fantastic!…read more We ordered the vegan combo, doro wat, and beef awaze tibs. The vegan combo came with a bunch of flavorful things like stewed red lentils, stewed yellow split peas, Ethiopian salad, et cetera. I'm not vegan, but I would have been more than satisfied with just the vegan combo as it was delicious and filling. The doro wat - spicy braised chicken with a hard-boiled egg - was tender and tasty. I thought the beef dish was even better. The beef pieces practically melted in my mouth. And everything went great with the injera, which had a spongy texture that I found absolutely pleasing. The service was also wonderful. Before our meal, our server performed a hand-washing ceremony with rose water. And after we finished eating, we were presented with wet towels to clean our hands. Throughout lunch, our server kept our glasses of water filled. This place is a small intimate spot with very few tables, so reservations are strongly recommended.

I've been wanting to try this food for a good long time but I live 90 minutes away. Today was the…read moreday and I was satisfied in every way! Bee and Wali were just as friendly and kind as their reputation. I admire their hard work and dedication so much, they've built something incredibly special. In other words, a welcoming and comfortable space with food that is OUT OF THIS WORLD DELICIOUS!!!! I had the chicken schwarma pita with fries and every single bite was a party, a celebration of what it means to be human with taste buds! Super fresh and visually stunning, secret ingredient is love. I can't wait to come back!

Came here on my lunch break because I was craving some Mediterranean style food. BeeWali's did not…read moredisappoint! I got the Chicken Shawarma wrap with fries and hot damn if that wasn't some of the best vegan food I've ever tasted! I'm more of a flexitarian, but I try to eat at least one vegan meal a day. And wow, am I glad I chose this place! First off, those fries. Seasoned to perfection. I think they use some sort of cajun seasoning. But whatever it was, it was hella good. Next, the wrap. Um, what?! How is this vegan?! Whatever meat alternative they used, the texture was perfect. Also amazing seasonings and sauces. It was packed with flavor and lots of veggies. And it was super filling, too! I also grabbed a coconut water cause I need my electrolytes. I took my meal to-go, but kind of regretted it because the inside is so cute! Retro diner chic. Counter stools. Tiled floors. Adorbs. Also, the staff was super helpful and very attentive even though I was doing take-out. Just a five-star experience all around. Can't wait to come back for more delicious vegan food!!

I visited during a recent trip to LA, and this was easily one of the best meals I had. The food was…read moreincredibly clean and well-balanced in flavor--nothing was overly heavy or overpowering, which made every dish enjoyable. Living in San Jose, it's hard to find this kind of authentic and refined meal, so it was a real treat. The portions were generous, the quality of the food was excellent, and the service was warm and attentive throughout our visit. The only downside is that it's very popular, so be prepared to wait. The wait was longer than expected, but after eating here, I can definitely see why. I'd happily come back the next time I'm in LA.

I didn't quite know what to expect from what it looks like a traditional countryside style menu. It…read moreturns out it was one of the best dining surprises hubby and i had in a bit. The star of the show is easily the banchan. The table just kept filling up with an endless, colorful variety of high-quality, flavorful sides to mix into the barley rice. I ordered the galbi, which was perfectly juicy, savory which rounded out the entire spread beautifully. The entire meal felt authentic.

Customer service 10/10 Food 10/10…read moreDrinks 10/10 Legendary Diamond in the rough Awesome place to grab some good grub

I've walk past this block of stores in Hollywood very often and didn't realize that Samata Vegan…read moreHouse was here. A vegan friend and I had time to grab lunch before going to the movies. I was trying to find a vegan restaurant that she hadn't been to before. So after googling we both hadn't been to Samata Vegan House. I was shock that we found street parking immediately and there wasn't a wait to sit down and eat. The restaurant is very intimate and is open for lunch and dinner. Five or six 2 seater tables. The hostess was amazing and friendly. There were international customers and local neighborhood diners as well. There was a board with meal options of the day. This place is 100% vegan. Even the Thai iced tea is made with nut milk options. I ordered the red curry...very spicy and with brown rice. Great food, amazing service. YES, I will go back again and again!

Pura Vita deserves to be a destination -- not because it's a vegan restaurant but because the…read moreingredients are quality, the food delicious, the menu is creative. My husband has type 1 diabetes so we very rarely eat at Italian ristorantes. Chef Tara has helped us rediscover a new world of flavor without negative impacts on my husband's blood sugar and cholesterol. (Thanks for the variety of non-dairy cheeses!!) Tip for first-timers: go when you can have the brunch or the lunch menu. Then you'll have so many options that you'll have to return! Round 1 Polpettine (meatballs) are made from lentils and texture similar to the real ones; lovely marinara sauce and ground macadamia nut instead of parmesan. Complement this with the citrus notes that highlight the sauteed swiss chard with earthy Italian butter / gigante beans. Round 2 The same beans are in the Greek goddess salad: rich with tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh red onions. This was a visually stunning and paired well with the Sicilian almond 'tuna' melt. The tuna is by far the most imaginative. Again, Chef Tara and the back of the house nailed the texture and I loved the hints of crunchy celery. The capers injected tiny bursts of salt and tartness. The only moderation I'd consider is slightly crisping / toasting the sandwich bread -- but the tuna melt sando is great as it is. Pura Vida is a diamond in the rough especially because the storefront is pretty discreet. I sure wish that we lived closer. We'll be back for special occasions in our life!

From the outside on the street level, it doesn't look like much is happening here but wait until…read moreyou have the food..... Really great food. Everything is vegan and there were a lot of options you can make gluten free. We rave about this place often. Even our waiter was really nice and helpful. Good vibes all around. Though it is on the pricier side, it's so worth it. Also very decent wine selection *mwah*

Such a lovely little spot. We came in after being out in the rain and immediately felt so welcomed…read moreand comfortable. The cafe itself is beautiful and cozy, and the whole team was incredibly kind. Our server honestly made the experience even better. He was so friendly and genuinely excited about the menu, took the time to explain everything, and gave us great recommendations based on what we were in the mood for. You could tell he really cared about making people have a good experience. The food and coffee were amazing, super flavorful and satisfying without feeling too heavy. It ended up being one of our favorite stops during our trip. Huge thank you to everyone there for making our day so special.

Cafe Gratitude is basically what would happen if a hug, a yoga retreat, and a vegan brunch spot had…read morea beautiful organic baby. Everything was spotless, calm, and full of genuinely lovely people. The service was so warm I briefly considered asking if I could move in. I ordered a latte, the Caesar tempeh wrap, and a bowl -- and somehow every single bite tasted like it had been blessed by woodland fairies with culinary degrees. Flavor? Absolutely out of this world. But the BEST part? The names of the dishes. "I Am Well," "I Am Grateful," "I Am Light"... and when your server brings your food they lovingly announce: "You are well." Honestly, being affirmed by a stranger while handed organic vegan food healed at least 37% of my problems. I came for lunch and accidentally left spiritually moisturized. If you want delicious fully vegan organic food, positive vibes, and the experience of being gently complimented by your salad, this place is IT.