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    Variable Cafe

    4.9 (442 reviews)
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:30 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Variable Cafe Takeout or Delivery

    Variable Cafe Photos

    Business Info

    VARIABLE CAFE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Variable Cafe

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jake A.

    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!

    Saint Louis No. 2 Po Boy
    Ria R.

    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.

    Vegan chili is fantastic!
    Brett B.

    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!

    Green Goddess Salads
    Joi R.

    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.

    Ashley E.

    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.

    TBS Cup
    Patrick R.

    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!

    My Son's Pho
    Lorena T.

    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.

    Jasmine green tea
    Pam Y.

    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.

    Miori I.

    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.

    Menu
    Jessica H.

    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.

    You and Banh Me
    Elisa H.

    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

    Christian T.

    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.

    Ceasar salad with Parmesean "chicken"
    Amber F.

    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.

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    7 months ago

    Business owner information

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    Plern W.

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

    One of my favorite restaurants in West LA! Every time I order it this year it is amazing.

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    2 years ago

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    5 months ago

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    Plern W.

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    8 months ago

    I ordered for pick up. The food is the best Vegan dishes I've eaten. DELICIOUS!!! I had the Drunk Cauliflower and West Coast Shrimp.

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    Plern W.

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    3 years ago

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    11 months ago

    They have the best vegan Caesar salad I've ever had. And they're dressings are just delicious.

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    6 months ago

    We got takeout from them and everything was really tasty. Next time, we'll probably dine in because the space looked pretty pleasant.

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    Plern W.

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 years ago

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    7 months ago

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    Page 2 of 12

    Variable Cafe Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Variable Cafe

    Is there outdoor seating? Do they have high-chairs available?

    No outdoor seating.

    Do I need to make a reservation for this Thursday, 7/8/21 for an 11:00am, 2people?

    No you should be good! The food is a absolutely incredible. Get the fried cauliflower 🤤

    Do you have outdoor patio heaters?

    No outdoor seating and no outdoor patio heaters.

    View All 4 Questions

    Noun - Three cocktail options at Noun

    Noun

    3.5(86 reviews)
    0.1 mi•Del Rey
    •$$

    I have been meaning to try this place out for months. I got tired of waiting on people so I went by…read moremyself on a weekend. What had previously intrigued me was the fridge cigarette coffee drink and their aesthetics. I ordered an Avo toast and of course the fridge cigarette (chilled espresso, with Diet Coke and I added cold foam). The Avo toast was okay - what you would expect it to taste like. I personally like mine with a little bit of kick - either chili crunch oil or some chili flakes. The drink was really good too - I do wish the espresso was a bit more like a double so it could be stronger. Because I still wanted to taste the coffee flavor together with the coke but I felt like the coffee needed to be a bit stronger so the coke didn't overpower the flavor. But still good. I want to try the short stack next, which looks like a yummy drink. The aesthetic and design was very cool and retro. The place was packed and I think I was the only person who didn't have a laptop. So it definitely seems like a chill place for people to work/study. The chef who also assisted me with my order was super cool and helpful. Told me about events that they have and that they expanded their hours until 7 pm and do a happy hour from 5-7 pm. She said it's more of a wine bar at that time. I'm definitely going to come back for that after work. Price point is what you would expect from a trendy LA coffee and wine bar. I think my bill came out to $32 for the Avo roast, fridge cigarette ($2 added for cold foam) and I also got a custom lighter (lighter with diet coke logo wrapped). I would recommend this place for either a chill coffee get together/date or by yourself like I did , or in the evening for their more wine bar vibe for happy hour.

    Cafe and people were nice. The food was mediocre. The drinks were not great. Very watery matcha. We…read moreordered 2 diff drinks and both were ...not that good to say the least. For $10+, you would get a much better deal at any of the other overhyped matcha places. It was nice to see non-matcha drinks as well so we also tried the tropicoqueta- sounds cool but not tasty at all. It was like watered down matcha with white flakes inside. :( Pretty disappointed. If they just got their food and drinks together, this would be such a hot spot.

    Photos
    Noun - Interior of Noun

    Interior of Noun

    Noun - Atmosphere

    Atmosphere

    Noun - Noun coffee beans

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    Noun coffee beans

    Menotti's Coffee Stop - Cortado

    Menotti's Coffee Stop

    4.2(741 reviews)
    1.7 mi•Venice
    •$$

    Excellent tasting coffee! Highly recommend the Bees Knees (honey lavender latte) + Spanish Latte…read more(cinnamon + condensed milk). In addition to coffee, they have a curated collection of vinyls for sale. We purchased a few 1970s-1980s funk and soul records from South-East Asia. This will be my go-to coffee shop in LA!

    If I had to pick one coffee shop that lives rent-free in my head, it's Menotti's…read more Yeah, the prices have gone up over the years, but somehow I still find myself thinking about this place all the time. It's one of those spots that's worth the occasional splurge because the quality is just that good. The Spanish Latte is easily one of my favorites and a must-try if you're visiting for the first time. But if you know about the secret menu... sheeeesh. I'll have to gatekeep that one. Let's just say it's hands-down the best latte I've ever had. Perfect balance, amazing flavor notes, and one of those drinks that makes you stop and appreciate how good coffee can actually be. The atmosphere is just as great as the coffee. There are games to play, cozy corners to hang out in, and little hidden gems throughout the shop if you're paying attention. It's the kind of place where you can grab a drink and end up staying way longer than you planned. A true Venice classic and still one of the best coffee spots I've ever been to. Staff is amazing and just feels just a community, they make the experience feel incredible for just getting a coffee

    Photos
    Menotti's Coffee Stop - Down to earth ambience!

    Down to earth ambience!

    Menotti's Coffee Stop - Merchandise

    Merchandise

    Menotti's Coffee Stop - Larry David pop up event

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    Larry David pop up event

    Alfred Coffee - Cloud Cream Latte

    Alfred Coffee

    3.7(209 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    •$

    Alfred is always a solid choice for coffee, matcha, and other specialty drinks. Since this location…read morewas in the same shopping center as where I was having lunch, my friends and I decided to stop by for a little afternoon pick-me-up. We all ordered the World Famous Hot Vanilla Latte, which is made with vanilla syrup, espresso, and steamed milk. While I usually go for one of their matcha drinks or something a little sweeter, I had not had this latte in a while and figured it was time to order it again. It was great for the weather and exactly what I was in the mood for. I normally visit the Studio City location but this Marina del Rey location was a pleasant surprise. It is right by the marina, so you can enjoy your drink while watching the boats go by. The cafe also has a cute nautical theme that gives it a different feel from many of Alfred's other locations. The service was friendly and efficient and our drinks came out quickly and exactly as ordered. Parking was also very convenient. The parking lot offers two hours of free parking with validation and all of the businesses validate. Since we were there for longer than two hours, I simply drove out and back in. Overall, this is a great Alfred location if you are in the Marina del Rey area. Between the waterfront views, easy parking, and consistently good drinks, it is definitely worth stopping by.

    My coffee was extremely watery as you can see from the photo, this was supposed to be a cold brew…read morewith oat milk. I feel like this location is also extremely understaffed and I feel bad for the employees as I feel like they are at constant stress with this busy location.

    Photos
    Alfred Coffee - Pastries

    Pastries

    Alfred Coffee - Cloud Cream Lattes

    Cloud Cream Lattes

    Alfred Coffee - Iced Vanilla Latte

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    Iced Vanilla Latte

    Paisita Cafe - Breakfast burrito with chorizo

    Paisita Cafe

    4.4(64 reviews)
    0.6 mi•Venice

    Paisita cafe is our neighborhood spot. When our daughter was a newborn and our world basically…read moreexisted within a two-block walking radius, this became our little escape. That alone makes it a special place for us. Love the vibe, love the people, and they make a great cup of coffee. I'm a big fan of the Wake & Bake roast, and my go-to is an iced flat white. Just a great neighborhood cafe - the kind of place you feel lucky to have a couple blocks from home.

    Paisita absolutely knocked it out of the park…read more The vibe alone is worth checking out--vinyl records covering the walls, and somehow every song they played was a banger back-to-back. You can tell a lot of thought went into creating a spot that feels both welcoming and unique. I ordered the chilaquiles and they were incredible. Easily one of those dishes where you're already thinking about coming back before you finish your plate. For drinks, I got the Glory Latte and it was perfect. The espresso actually shines through, and it's not overloaded with sweetness like a lot of specialty lattes can be. If you're looking for a simple, well-made latte, this is it. And if you've got more of a sweet tooth, they've got plenty of creative specialty drinks to choose from too. This place feels like it's about to become a local favorite. Definitely a new go-to spot, and I'll be bringing all my homies from the area here soon. Highly recommend.

    Photos
    Paisita Cafe
    Paisita Cafe - Chilaquiles vibe

    Chilaquiles vibe

    Paisita Cafe - Drinking Latte is a Balancing Act.  #lol

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    Drinking Latte is a Balancing Act. #lol

    Erewhon - I'm an avid spring water enjoyer. This wasn't great, though.

    Erewhon

    3.7(558 reviews)
    1.1 mi•Venice
    •$$$

    Food: this has been on my bucket list! Got the Strawberry Glaze Skin Smoothie (aka Hailey Bieber),…read moreArugula with Fig salad side, and Chicken Roti sandwich. I had them make the smoothie without collagen as that is a beef product. It literally took 21 minutes on a Wednesday. It was ok, a little sweet with the stevia. I asked how many calories and they wouldn't tell me. Only that it's meant as a "meal replacement " and is between 500-1200 calories. Oof! I'll stick with the healthy superfruit smoothie from Toastique. The salad was good with the figs standing out and the sandwich was delicious. Lots of avocados. Ambiance: everyone is there for the prepared foods and smoothies. The grocery aisles were fairly empty. There's a few bar stools by the entrance so we ate there but most take to go. Parking: very small light with complimentary valet. Luckily we got a spot. Note there's a 30 minute parking limit! Price: $53 for the above 3 items.

    Joe at this location handled or shall i say mishandled a transaction where my groceries were…read moremysteriously placed on the previous womens credit card in error by cashier patrica at venice location. I told them about the error and the way that the handled it thereafter was so rude and unprofessional. The took so much of my time and in the end failed to even give me the $20 gift card that was promised to me for the headache and time taken from me that was there error. I have shopped at Erwhon since the 1980's and this is how they treat a long time customer!! Deplorable!!!!!

    Photos
    Erewhon - Coconut cloud

    Coconut cloud

    Erewhon - Outside benches in front of store

    Outside benches in front of store

    Erewhon

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    Variable Cafe - vegan - Updated September 2026

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