Been wanting to check out Variable Cafe for so long! Was extra excited to see the Yelp Top places to eat trophy at their counter :) Out of everything I tried, the coconut shrimp was supreme. Second fave was the drunk cauliflower. And then the tikka masala. The Tikka was still good but maybe not exactly what I was expecting - very veggie heavy plate. They have so many more items on their menu I'd love to try. Oh and the teas come in a really cute beaker setup, and they can make to your desired sweetness. It's a cute little spot, space is clean, and they have a bathroom for customers. There's a small parking lot in the shopping center where you can park for free too, yay! read more

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|[ u n v a r i a b l e l o v e ]| This review was a long time 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, but this was 4.5/5. 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. read more

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Delightful and tasty hidden gem on Washington Blvd in Marina del Rey. There are several places in the 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. read more

Variable Cafe - N Seoul Bowl -- so good - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Wow! I generally am not a frequent visitor of Vegan restaurants but I was extremely impressed with variable cafe! I have a friend who has particular set of dietary restrictions and the staff was extremely accommodating and made fantastic recommendations. Everything was delicious and watch out because some of the portions are HUGE! We really enjoyed the pasta and the curry. The restaurant is intimate and comfortable, and everything was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

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So good. I have a shellfish allergy and very much miss shrimp and crab. I got the vegan shrimp Po'Boy and had to call the waiter over to confirm it was not real shrimp...wow. Great fries too and huge portion for the Saint Louis No. 2 Po Boy. It was certainly enough for two people. Service is very friendly, but was a bit slow (one star deduction, but still... much love!). Cute, clean inside. Great vegan options. read more

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My dad is vegan and lives in the Valley and I look for restaurants to meet at when we get together. We found this gem in West LA and love it. The owners/staff are super friendly and even though there are only a couple of people working, the service is fantastic....warm, friendly, and attentive without the over-attention some places have. I love their chili, it is soooo good and the flavors are fantastic. My dad, who has been vegan for like 40 years, and had every veggie burger in the world, swears this one is his favorite of all time. This place is super clean, little fresh flowers on all the tables, great desserts and I highly recommend, even if you aren't a vegan :).....easy parking and outside table available too! read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan chili is fantastic! - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The Variable Cafe stands out as the best vegan restaurant on the Westside. The food never disappoints and the service is top notch. As soon you walk in you feel a sense of community, as in "All are welcome." It's always a green flag when even the other patrons look up and smile and speak to you. The Goddess salad still remains as my favorite item on the menu, but the Drink Cauliflower is a strong competitor: plump, crispy battered cauliflower served with a flavors dipping sauce. I highly recommend dining here any day of the week. Come with friends, family, out of town guest, or just come solo and enjoy a hearty, healthy dining experience. read more

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This is a super cute restaurant in the marina. I've passed by it many times and finally decided to stop in. The Caesar salad with the crispy chicken was very filling and delicious. The guacamole was also very good. Service was kind and pleasant. I'll definitely be back here...maybe to eat there instead of to go since it's so cute. read more

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We are vegetarian but we always are looking to try vegan places we haven't tried yet. Variable Cafe was the one we picked for today and am I glad we did. They have so many options from appetizers, salads and mains as well as smoothies and drinks. The service was quick and efficient and the staff was very friendly. We even met the owner and she was so nice. The food was very tasty and with so many different options you easily will find something great. I had the Tikka Masala and it was amazing everything we ate was so flavorful and I can't wait to go back and try some more options. If you are looking for great vegan food...look no further! read more

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My friend introduced me to one of her favorite vegan places, and I can see why! I had My Son's Pho ($18). I was pleasantly surprised to see fresh baby bok choy in it. Ingredients were plentiful. Soup was delicious! My friend had the Caesar's Hubris ($17), latte matcha ($7) and side dish of vegan chicken ($6) for her service dog who sat by the table. Everything was delicious! The restaurant is small. The owner, Plern, who's Thai, promotes artists' work on the walls. Our server was constantly busy and still attentive. Pleasant ambiance and free parking in the mini mall. We'll be back. read more

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Omg, DELISH!!!! We had the Drunk Cauliflower & West Coast Shrimp to start - both great sharing dishes (& some of us were just finger-fooding it). I had the Little Venice Bowl subbed with cauliflower rice. I don't know why this was so delicious or made me so full. My hubby had the Sunset Strip Burger & Organic Strawberry Lemonade, both which he enjoyed, esp. the lemonade :). My cousins had the Chicken Tikka (I had a little taste & it was SO GOOD OMG). Service was great - kind & gentle. Parking was a bit tight (small lot), but there's also street parking. The desserts looked yummy, might try them next time. read more

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Craving a hearty salad and satisfying smoothie? Variable Cafe is your place. Had just finished working an event in Venice, taking the long way home to avoid some of the traffic, and in search of something satisfying yet healthy to have for lunch. Did a search on the trusty old Yelp app and tada, Variable Cafe was immediately to our right. Walked straight to the counter and was greeted by a very pleasant man. Making a decision when you're starving can be overwhelming so I asked for a recommendation of his favorite salad and the smoothies looked too good to pass up so I ordered one of those as well. The employee was kind enough to offer me a seat but the cafe was small and I didn't want to take up space for potential incoming customers. I waited outside in the car and he sweetly walked my order out to me. Service was top notch so I was pretty excited about the food quality. Pics and reviews were high praising already. What I ordered: - Green Goddess Salad: hearty, sweet, full of healthy fats and fiber topped with the crisp apple dijon dressing really hit the spot -MDR Smoothie: ordered mine without pineapple (because allergies). Delish! I've tried a ton of green smoothies and this one takes the cake. I could have done with less granola since it became difficult to drink through the straw half way through the drink. Providing a spoon was very useful. Not too sweet, not too much greens forward. A perfect balance. Too bad I live so far from Variable Cafe because I could see myself getting my greens fix there regularly. read more

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Everything about this place is great. The staff are very sweet and incredibly accommodating with any alterations. The food is incredible. Everything I've tried here I've loved so far. The art work rotates around and is so fun to see what they bring in. This restaurant is great. read more

Visiting from out of town and was craving some good vegetarian food. I thought the food was great and the staff was riendly. I had the drunken cauliflower and the "shrimp" po' boy. Both were delicious. Good vibes, would come back again next time I'm in town. read more

Found this little cafe because I was in the area and craving a smoothie. The place is small, but fills up quickly. I ordered the MDR smoothie and I really enjoyed it, plus it was filling. Next time I would skip the granola on the top since it didn't really make sense. Definitely coming back to try the food because it smelled so good. read more

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Stopped in for lunch this afternoon. My hubby ordered a Banh Me sandwich which includes a side salad while I ordered a Raw Mongo salad. The banh me sandwich was tasty however, the bread wasn't at all crunchy as is normally the case with a with a sandwich like this. The side salad was delicious with a miso type dressing. I chose a raw Mongo salad which was tasty. The server was very helpful and kind. The restaurant was clean and comfortable Parking in the lot was limited, metered street paring available read more

Variable Cafe - You and Banh Me - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food was very good. Our party ordered a few things: -sunset strip burger -tikka masala -northern lights pasta -my sons pho -po boy -drunken cauliflower -small Venice bowl The highlights were the strip burger, the cauliflower and the pho. The portions are very generous and the food definitely worth trying. The restaurant is small but very cute and the staff is extremely helpful and friendly. read more

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I popped in for brunch after shopping at Costco across the street, looking for something healthier than Costco fare. I was pleasantly surprised! Although I'm not vegan, my Caesar salad was delicious. It was filling, it tasted good, and it looked good. The service was great, and I would totally go back. read more

Variable Cafe - Ceasar salad with Parmesean "chicken" - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I've eaten here 5 or 6 times and every time always intend to leave a rave five star review but I think I'm always riding a wave of absolutely delicious elation I forget. Tonight I had the pleasure of talking with the owner Joel and hearing more about the story behind the restaurant. Meeting him made me love it even more. The drunken cauliflower is one of the best dishes I've ever had and so is the chili, tika masala, fresh made guac and chips, shrimp.. I mean it seriously is all just the top of the highest tier. Tbh... it's a top 3 favorite restaurant not just on the west side but all of LA. My fiancee and I love it here and right when we step out of the door look forward to the time we can immediately return. read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I was sick and craving soup, so typed in "best Pho near me" and this place was ranked really highly. I am not a vegan and am a huge meat eater, but good food is good food. Didn't end up going until a few days later - The parking lot is small and the restaurant is small, there is street parking but it's very busy, especially being near Costco. I'm not sure if all the good reviews are because the vegans eating it aren't used to non-vegan food but everything was super average: Damn Good Chili - was NOT chili but more like minestrone soup. I love minestrone soup but why not just call it that because it wasn't chili. Caesar salad - was a caesar salad no more no less. Tikka Masala - All the veggies were super soft, would have been great to throw in some garbanzo beans or something with a little more texture in it and it was also pretty soupy and not very much like a spicy curry. For what it's worth, my wife LOVED the food and will come back, but I am curious about the Pho for when she brings me back something. read more

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Variable is a staple in our takeout rotation. Can't get enough of them. Their drunk cauliflower puts all other cauliflower wings to shame. The texture is addictive. My favorites are My Son's Pho (it's my favorite pho on the West side) and the N Seoul Bowl (which is light but hearty and the portion is so generous I always have leftovers for lunch). The Sunset Strip Burger is a major crowd pleaser. The Northern Lights pasta is cravable. The service is always warm and welcoming, but never hover. Love the staff. And it's usually quiet inside, pretty small. We've never had to wait for a table. It's such a gem, we were instantly hooked. I just wish I'd known about it sooner. read more

Amazing place! A vegan must-try. Food was delicious, service was 10/10. Ambiance was perfect too. Will be here again read more

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This place ROCKS! Super friendly staff, really cool environment and the food is phenomenal! If you're still reading this, make your way over! read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is my 2nd time coming here and I can see why the locals frequent Variable Cafe, flavor, portion sizes, friendly staff, quick service-- it's all on point. I can't wait to come back! read more

Five stars! This vegetarian restaurant has amazing food and service! It's clearly one of the best restaurants that I've tried in years! The ambiance here is a modern, bright, artsy vibe. The Variable Cafe offers a great selection and variety of vegetarian food. The chef is super talented in making a variety of dishes across different cuisines taste delicious and welcoming. From Indian to Vietnamese to classic American to New Orleans types of dishes - everything that I ate here was absolutely scrumptious! Appetizers: Cauliflower. Simply amazing. The cauliflower had a crispy batter with a sweet glaze. I wanted more! Grade A+ Brussel Sprouts. Served piping hot in a mini black skillet pan. Side of a citrus sauce. Really good! Grade: B+ Indian Tikka Masala Curry. Goodness gracious! This dish had an amazing balance of spices and the flavors bursted in my mouth! Loved this dish! Grade A+ Chili. The chili was absolutely delicious. It was bright and flavorful with a great mix of spices! I loved it! Grade: A Vegan ice cream, fruit & granola. Woah! The ice cream was smooth and delicious. The granola was light and crunchy. We really enjoyed this dish! Grade. A The icing on the cake was the server Maya! This lady needs a raise! She attended to all the tables with patience, care, and detail! She was super welcoming and offered a vibe of calm. Maya made the meal an outstanding experience! I'm a huge fan of this place! Overall grade: A! read more

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My Cuddle Bunny surprised me with a beautiful Vegan dinner meet up. Amazing food, lovely music, customer service on point and friendly, and calm ambience. Definitely coming back. As a vegan is great to be available to have everything on the menu. The cauliflower was great and the pho was well balanced!!! Would definitely recommend for non vegans as well. read more

Variable Cafe - Drunk Cauliflower My Son's Pho Sunset Strip Burger - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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After watching a play at Theater 40 in Beverley Hills, we were quite peckish so my boyfriend found this cafe for us to check out! After looking through the reviews and photos, we decided to come to give it a taste We ordered quite a few items as we wanted to try all the tasty items we saw in the reviews: Drunken Cauliflower: DO NOT SLEEP ON THIS! This was so tasty! I enjoyed the light crisp batter that coated the vegetable and the slightly spiced dipping sauce was a great pair! I throughly enjoyed this dish! Chili Soup: I don't think I've ever had plant based chili THIS GOOD. The flavor was there with all the right spices. I think the next time I come i will get this with the bread You and Me Banh Mi: This sandwich had a slightly sweet taste with tasty pickled veggies in it. Not your typical take on the Vietnamese banh mi since this was offered with fries but none the less pretty tasty My Sons Pho: If you're looking for authentic tasting pho, I would say this rather hit the mark. BUT it was still very tasty! The crisp clean broth with bok chocolate is very tasty, I recommend asking for some limes to squeeze in! If you're looking for a tasty place to munch (it's right across from costco!) Come here and try it out! read more

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Definitely worth checking out! Vegetarian menu, and wonderful options if you want to feel accomplished at feeding your body properly. Everything was fresh, tasted good and the service was attentive and friendly! read more

I could nitpick and say my water glass was not refilled. But that's the only negative thing I could say. I am an omnivore and was expecting to have good meal since trusted friends were taking me there. I was further intrigued because other friends had raved about another vegan restaurant. It was delicious. I had the pasta with fake chicken. They don't even need to call it that. Whatever that breaded fried thing was, zI'm won over. And the pasta was a perfect match. I'm thankful they got me over my food prejudice about vegan cuisine. I'm going back. read more

Everything we had was amazing!!! So friendly. Ambience was perfect. Will definitely be back to try more!!

While visiting my friend in CA, we stopped at Variable for some vegan eats and it did not disappoint. Relatively close to LAX & all-vegan, this place checked all our boxes. Service was also great! We ordered the drunk cauliflower, Bahn Mi, & truffle fries. I was blown away, especially by the drunk cauliflower - as it had just the perfect texture and crunch. Variable Cafe is a smaller establishment though it still has ample seating. Art from local artists is displayed on the walls. Would definitely return for more good eats from this all-vegan restaurant. read more

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Decided to try this place out after a Costco trip because I was tired of In n Out. I was shocked to see online that this random cafe had nearly a perfect rating, but after eating here, I could see why! I'm not at all vegan, but all of the food here was absolutely delicious. We got the guac, pasta, mango smoothie , and pasta. My poboy didn't exactly taste like shrimp to me (tasted more like a fish filet imo, but my fiance said it tasted like shrimp to him), it still had that tasty, greasy flavor that I normally look for in a po boy. The mango smoothie was also sooooo yummy; I loved that they put oats in it- it makes it taste like a parfait! I also really liked my fiancé's pasta- so much so that I almost considered trading with him. The portions were pretty sizable for the price too, and the ambiance inside the restaurant is very welcoming and homey. To top it all off, our server was incredibly sweet. After hearing that my fiance had a stomach ache from some greasy food from the night before, he brought him a cup of ginger tea to soothe his stomach, which very much helped. I'm definitely coming back again! read more

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SOOOO good. My boyfriend and I visited after a day date and loved the cauliflower! Super crowded and flavorful. Staff were also very sweet. I would definitely come back when in the area! read more

I love love love the food here. Everything is so beautifully prepared and delicious. From the Pho to the veggie burger. Yummy!! Don't forget to try the carrot cake. read more

Variable Cafe - Veggie burger and fries. Even to go looks amazing - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Friendly and attentive service. Delicious food; GF, vegetarian and vegan choices! I am not vegetarian or vegan but this place had such great tasting items on their menu! The owner and her husband started this place due to her love of cooking and her dietary needs. They have put a lot of thought and love into this charming and cozy restaurant! I had the most enjoyable lunch experience there today. Will definitely return!! (I may not fully remember the names of the dishes but they were all so yummy!) read more

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I'm not surprised they have almost 5 full stars. I am so happy I found them on Yelp !! I look at the menu and I'm torn between so many good options, but landed on the Caesar salad with added chicken. Ordered their chocolate smoothie and we got the pho. The best hardiest fulfilling, Caesar salad, and I know they sound boring sometimes, but this one was so good. And if you're not a solid person, the chicken is worth getting. They just did it right it taste exactly what you would want and expect from a vegan chicken texture flavor crispiness with moist. I was impressed with my chocolate smoothie love the granola on top . My kiddo loved the pho! We eat everything and left no trace . Last but certainly not least, customer service was a 10/10!! She was super helpful, super friendly and super fast! I'd come back every weekend if I lived closer. Thanks!! read more

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Tons of Organic options and everything is vegan! West coast shrimp and Zaphyr guacamole is amazing. Family run, super chill and amazing service. Parking in the lot read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Has to be one of the top vegan eateries. The Drunken Cauliflower and the Sunset Strip Burger are my staples here. Well-seasoned and cooked to perfection. I'm not vegetarian or vegan, but I have been bragging about this place. Also, there's easy parking: a lot, street, and residential parking, which is a big deal in the Marina Del Rey area. Definitely a win. read more

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Excellent food and service on this first visit. The pasta was excellent, fresh coconut, hemp brownie alamode for Valentine's Day with the boo. Small place for maybe 20 people. Love it! read more

I was recently diagnosed with gout and had to make some major changes to my diet. Gone were the days of pork, red meat, shellfish, processed foods. Welcome to being one of the people I used to make fun of. My ongoing quest for good vegan or vegetarian options took me here. It was great. We had the tikka masala and northern lights pasta. Potions were huge and we could have easily just split one. Loved both entres. Tikka masala is on the "have it again" list. The menu had several other interesting items that will have us coming back. Great to know that there are great options for me in this new journey. read more