Merit Vegan Restaurant
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So visited this place again this time I tried the Vietnamese crêpe which has really good reviews. The crêpe was quite oily and I didn't find it flavorful. The stuffing mostly had sprouts and not enough tofu or mushrooms. The second item I tried was a spicy noodle soup. I requested them to add vegetables to it and somehow they said that this comes with a lot of vegetables, but as you can see that it actually doesn't have any vegetable inside the soup. The soup was quite flavorful and I really enjoyed the soup, but I do wish that it had some vegetables in it. I wish they consider adding a few veggies to it because it is perfect otherwise
I came here on a Friday evening after hearing really good things about this location. But, my vegetarian friend was not impressed as she has had better fake meat. She said the best thing with the best flavor of what we had was the spring rolls. The chow fun and sweet and sour savory were not super flavorful. The sweet and sour savory vegan protein was more doughy than I expected. It tasted and had the consistency of mochi doughnuts. The chow fun was ok, but didn't have much flavor. We did really enjoy the fresh spring rolls though. It was also not the greatest of starts either, because we walked in as their door was open but they told us to go back outside because they weren't open yet (we were like 15min before open) And then like 5min later, 2 people walked in and they were seated. So, we just followed them in and were seated. It was a large space so it can host small and large parties. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. And the food came out fast, but I wasn't sure if that was because we were one of 3 groups in there at the time. In total, it wasn't too expensive either. All 3 dishes I believe came out to be like $45 (without tax/tip).
I was on the search for a vegetarian restaurant in the area and came across this one after reading reviews that this was the best vegan restaurant in the Bay Area, and Merit did not disappoint. Green papaya salad: very refreshing! Loved all the different textures from the nuts and papaya and tofu. Jalapeño BBQ seitan: that first bite of the seitan may have been a little lifechanging. It tasted like beef tongue from both the flavor and texture and was deliciously smoky. Delicious!! House special rice clay pot: this had noodles on top and rice on the bottom. I LOVED the rice, almost ate the entire thing myself. The noodles had a good amount of ginger flavor, which is great if you like ginger but personally it's not my favorite. Very fragrant! Service was friendly and quick. The restaurant was clean and had some unique decor that I enjoyed reading (e.g. a sign that listed famous vegetarians in history). Would recommend this spot!
Pro Tip: Rice doesn't come with everything. Ask when you order and order it on the side with your dishes. Believe the hype Vegans, Merit lives up to its name. Merit's Vegan cuisine leans Vietnamese in terms of flavor profile and offerings but they do serve other Vegan asian dishes from other countries as well. There is plenty of parking, the space is huge and staff were all very helpful/welcoming. Its run by a whole bunch of Vietnamese uncles and they treat you like family. In terms of food, portion sizes and price, you get your bang for your buck. For five people our bill came down to $117 and we were stuffed. We all ordered individual plates and then some to share family style. Let me tell you this was too much food and we ended up taking some home. Definitely order per person as the dish sizes are generous. In terms of food I ordered the claypot and the lemongrass deluxe. The lemongrass was slightly salty but went perfectly with white rice. As for the claypot we totally could had split this between two people. The crispy burnt rice at the bottom went well with the glass vermicelli noodles on top. This was perfectly seasoned and I definitely would come back here just for this. Im looking to try the other vegan options with more greens in it and I look forward to catching you at Merit.
We had a really nice meal at Merit Vegan. The space is pretty large, and when we arrived around 6:30pm they were fairly busy but still had plenty of tables open. We sat in a booth, which was comfortable, and I appreciated the poster on the wall noting famous vegetarians. The Green Papaya Salad was a great start. It had a really good crunch from all the papaya, and even though it didn't look like there was a ton of sauce at first, it ended up being perfectly flavorful. The light sauce also did a really good job of giving that fish sauce style flavor in a vegan way. The Jalapeno B.B.Q Seitan was probably my favorite dish. The seitan "beef" slices were really flavorful, with a nice smoky and buttery flavor. I do wish it had a little more spice, but they have chili sauces and chili oil at the table, which helped add some extra flavor. We also tried the House Special Rice Clay Pot. The rice itself was great and very flavorful, and the mushrooms added a lot. The vermicelli was tasty too, but the ginger flavor was pretty strong. I usually don't mind ginger, but it was a bit much for me in this dish. Service was also great. The staff were all very nice and welcoming, and everything came out quickly. Overall, a solid vegan spot with a lot of flavor, especially if you like Vietnamese / Asian-style vegan dishes.
Some of the best fresh rolls I've ever had. The tofu is marinated and seasoned and it takes it to the next level. They're also not shy with that peanut sauce, which I appreciate. Had the BBQ Vermicelli bowl and was thoroughly satisfied. It's a big portion, hits all the marks for veggie varieties, and tasted super fresh (even for takeout). I only came to get takeout but would for sure come back to dine in. The staff I interacted with were very friendly and the vibe was good.
Merit Vegan Resto continues to blow me away! Love that they have plenty of seating, and their extensive menu offers a little something for everyone regardless of dietary restrictions. Plenty of gluten-free options and everything os vegan! This resto will not make you miss meat! Their "meat" alternatives are incredibly impressive from textures to flavors! Service was also solid and our server was truly just so jolly and happy to serve us. Prices are reasonable, food came out fast, and most importantly, their food was gooood! Well done, MVR!
One of my favorite vegan spots, and I've been coming here with my family long enough that it's about time I actually wrote this up. The pho is the thing to get. Clear broth, comes with an assortment of vegan proteins, and it's been consistent every single time over the years. Best had in cold weather. The spicy noodle soup is solid too but it doesn't hit the same way. The SP4 gourmet deluxe is my other staple and I order it like an appetizer. The protein comes out fried with a crispy shell and soft inside. The sauce leans hard on lemongrass and citrus but it's savory throughout, not sweet. Haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Orange nuggets are chewy with a citrusy and sweet glaze. Good enough that I skip the actual appetizers for these. The Szechuan Pineapple is spicy, salty, and savory with chewy gluten and a citrus undertone running through it. Green papaya salad is strictly sour and tangy. Fresh, nothing heavy about it. Sweet potato curry is definitely underrated. Potato goes soft all the way through and the whole thing tastes hearty without being heavy. Basil eggplant tofu skews sweet and the eggplant goes silky and it's a family favorite. Eggplant claypot has the same idea but the sauce is better and it comes out in the claypot which makes it feel like a proper dish. Jalapeno BBQ seitan was a miss. The BBQ sauce tastes flat. Staff is friendly and food comes out fast.
I cannot name the dishes as I ate here with family that ordered all of the dishes. I must say the food was delicious. The cooking style here is primarily Thai but we did order 1 banh xeo dish (Vietnamese). The name of the restaurant's sign is Merit Vegetarian but it's Merit Vegan here so I am a little confused if this is truly a vegan establishment. Food (4 stars) + Lots of different flavors and textures that simulate meat + I'm not vegetarian but I admire this food as I don't feel like I'm missing out on meat + Great variety of dishes - Portions can be a little more per plate Service/Ambiance (3.5 stars) + Food came out pretty quick + Diverse customers - I came here in CNY so maybe they were short staffed because I had to get my own fork and water I will certainly come back here mainly for their variety. Is there any one dish that stands out? Not really, but I had a good overall meal.
The Pho, Fried Rice (pick one!), and The Queens are my favorite. We come here at least 6 times a year. It's one of the best vegan restaurants in the South Bay. Quite popular for lunch and dinner. The service is also very attentive and the food comes out pretty quickly.
I was truly blown away at Merit Vegan! The service staff were all very kind and friendly, they will make you feel right at home. There are so many tables, but every table is full since so many people love this place. They will also play Happy Birthday in the restaurant and sing to your special celebrant! They're menu is stacked! It can be challenging to decide, but the servers ask questions to help guide you to the best dish! I still can't believe everything was vegan.. I didn't miss any meat hehe The flavors were all so bold and had amazing layers of depth. You can tell the effort they put into every dish. I shared photos of my top dishes- vegan cream cheese wonton, super crispy deliciousy sweet and savory. The sauce had a kick and tang! The tom kha was soo comforting! Perfect amount of sour and creamy! The veggies all cooked perfectly. I drank every last drop. The chocolate ganache pie is a show stopper! So rich and decadent, the whip cream kept it's consistency. I will definitely order a whole pie to share one of these days. Coming back for sure!
I was visiting my friend in Santa Clara and we decided to order take out from Merit Vegan. We got crispy egg rolls to share, I got the flat glass noodles with veggies (I can't remember the name of the dish), she got vegan orange chicken. The crispy egg rolls were really good, very flavorful. I liked my noodles, I didn't realize all the veggies were piled on top of the noodles, I just thought they didn't give me that many noodles. Half way through I realized they were all on the bottom. The noodles were good, they just could have used a little more flavor. My friend liked her orange chicken. The orange chicken came with the sauce on the side, which was kind of nice since she only ate half and then saved the rest for later. The portions are generous and the prices are fair. I ordered online and their ordering platform is really easy to use and texts your phone for updates on your order. I wouldn't mind going back and trying more of their food. There is ample parking, I had to ask for forks and napkins for my to go order.
This is /the/ place for vegans and vegetarians alike. Have you ever wondered what the vegetarian version of that one dish you saw in Asia would taste like? Look no further than Merit Vegan which has vegan versions of LITERALLY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN ASIA. As a lifelong vegetarian who loves asian food, this is a DREAM restaurant. Every time I go to Merit Vegan, I try something different and I am never disappointed. My favorite dish so far is the house special rice clay pot, but I've also tried the black bean noodles (veggie jajangmyeon?), eggplant clay pot, and a bunch of vegetable soups (not pictured). The service is also EXTREMELY quick and they also have vegan desserts but I just never have room for them by the time I'm finished with my meal. I plan to keep coming here and try more new things but also continue to get the house special rice clay pot because it's just that good.
1 month ago
This is probably my coworker lunch buddy's and my new favorite lunch spot--we've been coming quite a bit of late. The spring rolls and the golden rolls appetizers are top notch--it would not be hard to convince me that the spring rolls contain something addictive because I cannot seem to get enough of them! Coworker's favorite appetizer is the wonton poppers, which are also great! I've tried several things on the menu and while my coworker and I have some favorites (the lemongrass beef must be tried, and the green curry and curry noodle soup are both also fantastic), we haven't had anything so far that we haven't liked. I did bring my husband for a meal on the weekend and he wasn't a fan of the fried buns for the char siu bbq with lotus buns and thought the char siu was too sweet, but he enjoyed the spring rolls so hopefully he'll give it another chance later. Vietnamese iced coffee here is also good, but it's not one of the places that brings the little drip filter out to the table etc. in case you're looking for that (my coworker was hoping for it when we first came). The decor is fairly typical of a place run by the Supreme Master Ching Hai group, and the menu has the same vibe if not the same items (my sandwich-loving husband was dismayed by the lack of banh mi), which is a bit of a change from when I had been here previously almost a decade ago. I think it's a change for the better. The location is clean and the wait staff are friendly to the point of sometimes being suspiciously chipper, but it's actually pretty endearing. They also have a little mini market by the door where a few vegan dry goods and instant coffees can be purchased, although I haven't tried getting anything there yet since we're usually on our way back to work. Merit is part of my regular lunch rotation, so I expect to be back many times! Maybe someday I will have tried everything on the menu, even! read more
I've been hearing my husband talk about Merit for years- finally tried it out with our friends. It did not disappoint. All the dishes were tasty- some of my favorites- Gourmet Deluxe ( taste like meat), tofu rice clay pot ( no picture), papaya salad. Definitely want to go back read more
1 month ago
So visited this place again this time I tried the Vietnamese crêpe which has really good reviews. The crêpe was quite oily and I didn't find it flavorful. The stuffing mostly had sprouts and not enough tofu or mushrooms. The second item I tried was a spicy noodle soup. I requested them to add vegetables to it and somehow they said that this comes with a lot of vegetables, but as you can see that it actually doesn't have any vegetable inside the soup. The soup was quite flavorful and I really enjoyed the soup, but I do wish that it had some vegetables in it. I wish they consider adding a few veggies to it because it is perfect otherwise read more
I came here on a Friday evening after hearing really good things about this location. But, my vegetarian friend was not impressed as she has had better fake meat. She said the best thing with the best flavor of what we had was the spring rolls. The chow fun and sweet and sour savory were not super flavorful. The sweet and sour savory vegan protein was more doughy than I expected. It tasted and had the consistency of mochi doughnuts. The chow fun was ok, but didn't have much flavor. We did really enjoy the fresh spring rolls though. It was also not the greatest of starts either, because we walked in as their door was open but they told us to go back outside because they weren't open yet (we were like 15min before open) And then like 5min later, 2 people walked in and they were seated. So, we just followed them in and were seated. It was a large space so it can host small and large parties. Our waiter was super nice and friendly. And the food came out fast, but I wasn't sure if that was because we were one of 3 groups in there at the time. In total, it wasn't too expensive either. All 3 dishes I believe came out to be like $45 (without tax/tip). read more
I was on the search for a vegetarian restaurant in the area and came across this one after reading reviews that this was the best vegan restaurant in the Bay Area, and Merit did not disappoint. Green papaya salad: very refreshing! Loved all the different textures from the nuts and papaya and tofu. Jalapeño BBQ seitan: that first bite of the seitan may have been a little lifechanging. It tasted like beef tongue from both the flavor and texture and was deliciously smoky. Delicious!! House special rice clay pot: this had noodles on top and rice on the bottom. I LOVED the rice, almost ate the entire thing myself. The noodles had a good amount of ginger flavor, which is great if you like ginger but personally it's not my favorite. Very fragrant! Service was friendly and quick. The restaurant was clean and had some unique decor that I enjoyed reading (e.g. a sign that listed famous vegetarians in history). Would recommend this spot! read more
Pro Tip: Rice doesn't come with everything. Ask when you order and order it on the side with your dishes. Believe the hype Vegans, Merit lives up to its name. Merit's Vegan cuisine leans Vietnamese in terms of flavor profile and offerings but they do serve other Vegan asian dishes from other countries as well. There is plenty of parking, the space is huge and staff were all very helpful/welcoming. Its run by a whole bunch of Vietnamese uncles and they treat you like family. In terms of food, portion sizes and price, you get your bang for your buck. For five people our bill came down to $117 and we were stuffed. We all ordered individual plates and then some to share family style. Let me tell you this was too much food and we ended up taking some home. Definitely order per person as the dish sizes are generous. In terms of food I ordered the claypot and the lemongrass deluxe. The lemongrass was slightly salty but went perfectly with white rice. As for the claypot we totally could had split this between two people. The crispy burnt rice at the bottom went well with the glass vermicelli noodles on top. This was perfectly seasoned and I definitely would come back here just for this. Im looking to try the other vegan options with more greens in it and I look forward to catching you at Merit. read more
We had a really nice meal at Merit Vegan. The space is pretty large, and when we arrived around 6:30pm they were fairly busy but still had plenty of tables open. We sat in a booth, which was comfortable, and I appreciated the poster on the wall noting famous vegetarians. The Green Papaya Salad was a great start. It had a really good crunch from all the papaya, and even though it didn't look like there was a ton of sauce at first, it ended up being perfectly flavorful. The light sauce also did a really good job of giving that fish sauce style flavor in a vegan way. The Jalapeno B.B.Q Seitan was probably my favorite dish. The seitan "beef" slices were really flavorful, with a nice smoky and buttery flavor. I do wish it had a little more spice, but they have chili sauces and chili oil at the table, which helped add some extra flavor. We also tried the House Special Rice Clay Pot. The rice itself was great and very flavorful, and the mushrooms added a lot. The vermicelli was tasty too, but the ginger flavor was pretty strong. I usually don't mind ginger, but it was a bit much for me in this dish. Service was also great. The staff were all very nice and welcoming, and everything came out quickly. Overall, a solid vegan spot with a lot of flavor, especially if you like Vietnamese / Asian-style vegan dishes. read more
7 months ago
Some of the best fresh rolls I've ever had. The tofu is marinated and seasoned and it takes it to the next level. They're also not shy with that peanut sauce, which I appreciate. Had the BBQ Vermicelli bowl and was thoroughly satisfied. It's a big portion, hits all the marks for veggie varieties, and tasted super fresh (even for takeout). I only came to get takeout but would for sure come back to dine in. The staff I interacted with were very friendly and the vibe was good. read more
Merit Vegan Resto continues to blow me away! Love that they have plenty of seating, and their extensive menu offers a little something for everyone regardless of dietary restrictions. Plenty of gluten-free options and everything os vegan! This resto will not make you miss meat! Their "meat" alternatives are incredibly impressive from textures to flavors! Service was also solid and our server was truly just so jolly and happy to serve us. Prices are reasonable, food came out fast, and most importantly, their food was gooood! Well done, MVR! read more
6 months ago
One of my favorite vegan spots, and I've been coming here with my family long enough that it's about time I actually wrote this up. The pho is the thing to get. Clear broth, comes with an assortment of vegan proteins, and it's been consistent every single time over the years. Best had in cold weather. The spicy noodle soup is solid too but it doesn't hit the same way. The SP4 gourmet deluxe is my other staple and I order it like an appetizer. The protein comes out fried with a crispy shell and soft inside. The sauce leans hard on lemongrass and citrus but it's savory throughout, not sweet. Haven't had anything like it anywhere else. Orange nuggets are chewy with a citrusy and sweet glaze. Good enough that I skip the actual appetizers for these. The Szechuan Pineapple is spicy, salty, and savory with chewy gluten and a citrus undertone running through it. Green papaya salad is strictly sour and tangy. Fresh, nothing heavy about it. Sweet potato curry is definitely underrated. Potato goes soft all the way through and the whole thing tastes hearty without being heavy. Basil eggplant tofu skews sweet and the eggplant goes silky and it's a family favorite. Eggplant claypot has the same idea but the sauce is better and it comes out in the claypot which makes it feel like a proper dish. Jalapeno BBQ seitan was a miss. The BBQ sauce tastes flat. Staff is friendly and food comes out fast. read more
3 months ago
I cannot name the dishes as I ate here with family that ordered all of the dishes. I must say the food was delicious. The cooking style here is primarily Thai but we did order 1 banh xeo dish (Vietnamese). The name of the restaurant's sign is Merit Vegetarian but it's Merit Vegan here so I am a little confused if this is truly a vegan establishment. Food (4 stars) + Lots of different flavors and textures that simulate meat + I'm not vegetarian but I admire this food as I don't feel like I'm missing out on meat + Great variety of dishes - Portions can be a little more per plate Service/Ambiance (3.5 stars) + Food came out pretty quick + Diverse customers - I came here in CNY so maybe they were short staffed because I had to get my own fork and water I will certainly come back here mainly for their variety. Is there any one dish that stands out? Not really, but I had a good overall meal. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
The Pho, Fried Rice (pick one!), and The Queens are my favorite. We come here at least 6 times a year. It's one of the best vegan restaurants in the South Bay. Quite popular for lunch and dinner. The service is also very attentive and the food comes out pretty quickly. read more
10 months ago
I was truly blown away at Merit Vegan! The service staff were all very kind and friendly, they will make you feel right at home. There are so many tables, but every table is full since so many people love this place. They will also play Happy Birthday in the restaurant and sing to your special celebrant! They're menu is stacked! It can be challenging to decide, but the servers ask questions to help guide you to the best dish! I still can't believe everything was vegan.. I didn't miss any meat hehe The flavors were all so bold and had amazing layers of depth. You can tell the effort they put into every dish. I shared photos of my top dishes- vegan cream cheese wonton, super crispy deliciousy sweet and savory. The sauce had a kick and tang! The tom kha was soo comforting! Perfect amount of sour and creamy! The veggies all cooked perfectly. I drank every last drop. The chocolate ganache pie is a show stopper! So rich and decadent, the whip cream kept it's consistency. I will definitely order a whole pie to share one of these days. Coming back for sure! read more
3 months ago
I was visiting my friend in Santa Clara and we decided to order take out from Merit Vegan. We got crispy egg rolls to share, I got the flat glass noodles with veggies (I can't remember the name of the dish), she got vegan orange chicken. The crispy egg rolls were really good, very flavorful. I liked my noodles, I didn't realize all the veggies were piled on top of the noodles, I just thought they didn't give me that many noodles. Half way through I realized they were all on the bottom. The noodles were good, they just could have used a little more flavor. My friend liked her orange chicken. The orange chicken came with the sauce on the side, which was kind of nice since she only ate half and then saved the rest for later. The portions are generous and the prices are fair. I ordered online and their ordering platform is really easy to use and texts your phone for updates on your order. I wouldn't mind going back and trying more of their food. There is ample parking, I had to ask for forks and napkins for my to go order. read more
This is /the/ place for vegans and vegetarians alike. Have you ever wondered what the vegetarian version of that one dish you saw in Asia would taste like? Look no further than Merit Vegan which has vegan versions of LITERALLY EVERYTHING YOU HAVE EVER SEEN IN ASIA. As a lifelong vegetarian who loves asian food, this is a DREAM restaurant. Every time I go to Merit Vegan, I try something different and I am never disappointed. My favorite dish so far is the house special rice clay pot, but I've also tried the black bean noodles (veggie jajangmyeon?), eggplant clay pot, and a bunch of vegetable soups (not pictured). The service is also EXTREMELY quick and they also have vegan desserts but I just never have room for them by the time I'm finished with my meal. I plan to keep coming here and try more new things but also continue to get the house special rice clay pot because it's just that good. read more
5 months ago
I have been a loyal customer of Merit for many years and have always enjoyed their food, which is why this experience was especially disappointing. In my most recent order, I found a hard object in my meal and unfortunately bit down on it, hurting my tooth. Not only was this unpleasant, but it completely ruined my appetite and left me unable to finish the rest of my food. What made the situation even more frustrating was the lack of response from the restaurant. I emailed them with photos of the object and details about the incident, but I never received any acknowledgment or reply. After years of being a satisfied customer, I expected better food quality control and at the very least a response to my concerns. I hope they take food safety and customer feedback more seriously in the future. read more
Confession: I'm not vegetarian, and honestly, I don't usually like vegetarian or vegan restaurants. I've tried plenty (thanks to my vegetarian friends' recommendations), but most of them were one-and-done for me. Except for Merit. This is the only vegetarian restaurant I actually enjoy--and keep coming back to. The food here doesn't try too hard to be "healthy" or "alternative." It's just genuinely tasty. Favorites: the Lotus Salad, Crispy Chow Mein, and Spicy Noodles. Every dish is full of flavor, fresh ingredients, and that satisfying balance of crunch and spice. Even without meat, nothing feels like it's missing. read more
Food was delicious and the portions were great. It reminded me of Loving Hut in Elk Grove! Bill, the best server, went above and beyond to make us feel welcomed and offered great suggestions and ensured our food was less salt. read more
I'll start this review by saying I do not have any dietary restrictions, I am not vegan or vegetarian, but was extremely satisfied with the food here! We came on a Friday night around 6 PM and it was quite busy, for a good reason too. They have a lot of tables available, as well as booths. There were a lot of staff and service was pretty good. But the food?! So delicious, the star of the show. Very flavorful and fresh. The fried rice and oriental BBQ were probably my favorites, the flavors were great. We loved every dish, and would definitely come back. read more
8 months ago
Our vegetarian / vegan go to in south bay Food is yummy, and great to scratch my itch when i'm craving chinese food. Love the service - the waiters are SO friendly, helpful, happy, and funny! Love the wall that has famous vegetarians - Einstein, Buddha, etc. Ambiance was casual and laid back! Good for small or big groups - friend had a bday lunch with ~10 people here. read more
3 months ago
A Special Family Celebration Ruined by an Aggressive Merit Employee I am writing this immediately after one of the worst dining experiences I have had in more than 40 years of frequently eating at restaurants. I left feeling deeply upset and shaken--and without having eaten anything myself. My eight-year-old son and I came to the restaurant to celebrate a special family occasion. What should have been a happy and meaningful evening was completely ruined by the behavior of an employee named Jason. We both ordered soup. My son chose a soup he had never tried before. When ordering, he politely asked whether he could have some mint on the side. Instead of simply agreeing or calmly explaining that it was not available, Jason responded harshly to him and said, "That is not how this dish is prepared. It would not taste good and does not go with it." It was an unnecessarily dismissive response to a very simple request from an eight-year-old child. When the soup arrived, I noticed that my son was not eating it. I asked him what was wrong, and he simply told me that he did not like it. Again, he is eight years old and had never tried this particular soup before. I gave him my soup instead, which he ate. I then spoke with Jason, explained that my son did not like his soup, and politely asked whether it could be replaced with another serving of the soup I had ordered. Instead of responding professionally, Jason immediately became aggressive and raised his voice at me. He said, "This is our famous dish. Everyone orders it and eats it, and you are the only one complaining." He then loudly demanded, "What do you want to do--not pay for this soup?" I had never said that I did not want to pay. I had only asked whether the soup could be exchanged because neither my son nor I liked it. His reaction was completely disproportionate, hostile, and shockingly rude. When I asked to speak with a manager, Jason told me that he was the manager. Later, when I repeated this to another employee named Maggie, she laughed because he was, of course, not the manager at all. My son became frightened, stood up, and left the restaurant. Afterward, he told me that he never wanted to return and that he was afraid Jason might do something bad to him. He continued crying afterward. As a mother, it was heartbreaking to see my child so frightened because of the way an adult restaurant employee spoke to us. Maggie later came over and apologized sincerely for Jason's behavior. She explained that it was only his fifth day working at the restaurant and said that she would speak with the actual manager about the way he had treated us. I appreciated her apology and professionalism, but unfortunately, it could not undo what had already happened. I have never encountered such rude, intimidating, and dishonest behavior from a restaurant employee. Jason completely ruined a special family occasion, made my eight-year-old son feel unsafe, and left him frightened and crying. I am deeply hurt, honestly stunned, and still struggling to understand how a simple request for mint and a polite request to exchange a child's soup could have resulted in this kind of treatment. read more
Their crispy pan fried chow mein is better than some non-vegetarian restaurants. The gravy was full of flavor. Lots of veggies drenched with the gravy cover the crispy noodles. So much veg that you can barely see the noodles. Really good. The Satay Salad had a peanut sauce with a bit of a spicy kick. The salad used shredded cabbage as base greens. I would say this is more of a 3 star salad. The fried wonton was also good. Crispy wontons filled with something that tasted like mushrooms. Perfectly paired with the sweet sauce. Reasonably priced items with generous servings. Menu has lots of choices. Food came out quickly. Staff were nice. read more
Merit Vegan is a Vietnamese-owned and operated Vegan restaurant in Sunnyvale off of Lawrence Expressway. I'm not a vegan, but there are times where I want to eat a lighter and more healthy meal. In the past, my partner recommended getting a delivery of the Clay Pot Rice, which remind me of Korean japchae because of the noodles on top of the rice. It's a delicious familiar flavor and served as a gateway into Merit's cuisine. Recently, we started going into the restaurant. The space has a lot of wood furniture and shelves with pictures of famous vegans on the wall. The staff there is very welcoming and friendly. Earlier this week, we walked in a few minutes before their posted closing time of 8pm. It was still packed with at least 14 parties seated and eating away. They allowed us to dine in and order. It was a nice enjoyable meal. We ordered the Sour Soup which was served over a flame kind of like Tom Yum Kha at a Thai restaurant. I got a simple but hearty Won Ton Soup. A lot of garlic and vegetables. The Pho and Bun Bo Hue are also really flavorful, despite them not having any beef. They know how to spice things up and texture tofu and seitan. Merit is a quality Vietnamese vegan establishment, and I fully recommend checking it out to vegans and non-vegans alike! read more
2 months ago
I am not a vegan but this is one of the Veg restaurants I go often and recommend to my friends and coworkers. I highly recommend their house special clay pot (with the mushroom it just taste so wonderful). Service is decently fast. The price is reasonable too. Inside the ambiance is very south Eastern Asian style. There are plenty of seating in the restaurant and plenty parking space in the parking lot too. I highly recommend Merit Vegan. read more
1 year ago
Merit always hits the spot. We've been here multiple times but less in the past year or so because we moved further away from Sunnyvale. We've tried a version of almost every dish and love them all. The service is always quick, warm and the food is delicious. Our faves are their Tom Kha Soup, Fried Rice and Orange Nuggets. read more
Excellent vegetarian food! Extensive menu with a wide variety of tasty dishes, non-alcoholic drinks and desserts in a pleasant atmosphere and plenty of free parking in their lot. We enjoyed the lotus root salad, vegan BBQ beef, tom yum soup, vegetable fried rice, brown rice, vegan beef with mixed vegetables, vegan orange chicken nuggets, eggplant & tofu clay pot, matcha lattes, and many more dishes. Terrific flavors with the right amount of sauce and wok heat and good sized portions at reasonable prices. Conducive to sharing family style. Nice and clean interior (the bathrooms are very nice & clean too). Pleasant service. I highly recommend this restaurant and will come again. read more
Giving 5 stars again but the service was really slow this time!! took like over 20 mins between dishes. The place was packed when we got in but even as people started filing out we were still waiting for ever for our food to the point where the second half of our meal didn't come til we were nearly done with the first. I'm renouncing the house clay pot rice that I put as a "must get" in my last review; it is good and interesting but I think curry fried rice is wayyy superior. I also think the house clay pot rice and the vermicelli curry noodle soup both NEED chili oil to be good, and of those two I think the noodle soup is better. We also tried pineapple sensation this time. I usually don't like pineapple in my savory foods but I would get it again!! The ocean cakes are very good and it's not too sweet for a pineapple dish. Also got the gourmet deluxe, I ordered this a long time ago and forgot what it was called and kept ordering the wrong thing trying to get this again, it's fried gluten it's so good - def recommend getting this. It was also REALLY packed and loud on a friday night! Just a heads up. read more
We met up with some friends at Merit Vegan Restaurant for lunch on a Sunday. This was my first time here. My wife and two other friends had been here several times. The parking can get challenging in this strip mall but mostly weekdays during lunch. The restaurant is very spacious and can accommodate large parties of 6-10, but geared towards groups of 4. They have two separate restrooms with multiple stalls. House Special Rice Clay Pot: Seasoned tofu, mushroom, bean threads, onion and ginger cooked with fragrant rice (4/5). This was flavorful and had a good sauce. Gourmet Deluxe: Most popular. Fried gluten-free protein cooked with spicy lemongrass and served with steamed broccoli, cucumber and tomato (4/5). Yep, I can see why this is their most popular dish. Fragrant, savory...again, deep-fried what's not to like!?! Top it off with lemongrass which i love. Yum! Mama's Clay Pot: Eggplant and 'ocean' cakes cooked in house special sauce (3.5/5). Organic brown steamed rice (1). We needed something to help sop up the sauce in Mama's Clay Pot. The portions weren't huge but enough and at their price point, it was good. Everything was very tasty. I will be back! The service was good at first. But, once all the food was served and we wanted to get the check. It was your typical "ignore" you. I don't see your hand up as I walk by. It wasn't just our server but several of them. I understand that they were busy but... read more
Service was so fast and considerate. We don't usually order specifically vegan food but their meat substitutes were actually really good! The texture of the sweet & sour savory really surprised us and the sauce was not too sweet. The curry was solid and flavorful with great pricing. read more
1 year ago
My go-to vegan spot in the Bay Area. Always so many unique and diverse dishes. Quality is always on point and so is the service. You still get the feeling of a family run restaurant which adds to the charm. Simple but clean and happy vegan diners is what you will be guaranteed to see. read more
Pretty good for a vegan place, it actually made me consider eating a more vegetarian or vegan diet, which no other restaurant has done... Super fast service and nice, clean ambience with plenty of seating and booths. We ordered the ocean pineapple mushroom cakes, the crispy noodle chow mein, the fake chicken drumsticks, and the Vietnamese crepe pancakes. Ocean pineapple mushroom cakes and the crispy noodle chow mien I would order again. The fake chicken drumstick was only good with the sweet chili sauce and the crepe/pancake had too many bean sprouts and onions and not much else inside...it was very large but also very thin. read more
4 months ago
2 months ago
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More info about Merit Vegan Restaurant
548 Lawrence Expy
Sunnyvale, CA 94085
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(408) 245-8988
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http://meritvegetarian.com
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Ask the Community - Merit Vegan Restaurant
Do you currently have outdoor dining?
No. They do not. I have been there at least four times and found the food well seasoned and tasty always. But they get packed with take-away orders and their wait staff, although always courteous, rush you through your dinner. I did not enjoy that…
What can I get that is low in oil but still delicious (besides water)?
Not many oil free options but go with salads (check the dressings)and soups. Sweet Sour or veggie noodle soups are good . Ask to hold the oil in the spicy offerings as they use chili oil.
Is Merit Vegan Cusine part of the Loving Hut chain of restaurants?
No! Although the restaurants have a few similar kinds of cuisines and dishes the ownerships are completely different. Merit is I believe related to Golden Era in San Francisco and Golden Lotus in Oakland but that may no longer be the case.
How much of the produce is organic? I'm worried about glysophates.
They don't advertise anywhere whether they only use organic produce for the food. I bet they would, if they were doing it. So, better thing would be to call them up and…
Gluten free options?
They do have gluten free on the menu. I ordered something gluten free here and ended up getting sick. If you are celiac, I would skip this place.
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