Munchies Vegan Diner-Moved

Munchies Vegan Diner
515 N Main St
Santa Ana, CA 92701
657-699-3076

Yes, another Vegan Big Mac review!  I heard about Munchies Vegan Diner on Instagram.  I decided to give them a try during the Labor Day Weekend, after reading parking is hard to find at times.

It's located in McFadden's Public Market, along with four other food stands, and an arcade/bar upstairs.  Parking wasn't bad, paid street parking, but on a regular weekend, it would be tough to find.

Big Much, $17 with fries.

Munchies Vegan Diner calls their Big Mac the Big Munch.  They use the Beyond Burger patties.  This was a huge burger, good flavor, the pickles stood out the most, but their sauce was kind of bland.  Fries were ok.

Service is good.

I gotta say that the Vegan Big Mac at Doomies is still my favorite vegan Big Mac, with Plant Power being second! Munchies Vegan Diner is only the second place I've tried the Vegan Big Mac, where they use a plant based burger-either the Beyond or Impossible, Veggietize Me- Impossible, is the other. 

Eat Love

Eat Love

Eat Love was at the Long Beach Vegan District at The Pike when I tried them.  But, I've also seen them at the North Hollywood Vegan Fest- where Lettuce Feast and Veggietize Me both set up!  I've been meaning to try their fried chicken and finally had a chance in Long Beach.

Self Love Bucket, $16- three pieces of chicken and fries, with one sauce- I picked honey mustard.  The chicken is house made with a wheat product.  You get three good sized pieces!  I bet the three pieces were close to 12 oz or more!  The outside is a nice crunchy flavorful batter.  If you used their batter with regular fried chicken, everybody would like it.  Now, inside, texture wise it's very much like chicken.  But, taste wise a bit too salty, and that's the chicken part, not the batter.  It resembles the taste of chicken but, you know it isn't real chicken.  The fries are nothing more than frozen fries from a bag.  While the honey mustard sauce was pretty good, it was only half filled.  They charge $1 for two sauces.

Service.  While friendly, way too slow.  People were waiting 20-30 minutes for their orders! 

I wouldn't go back to Eat Love. 

Beleaf Burgers-Closed

Beleaf Burgers
4024 Grand Ave
Chino, CA 91710
909-517-3907

Beleaf Burgers is in the Cravings building, that used to be a Food 4 Less.  They maybe the first vegan burger restaurant in Chino.  They use the Impossible burger.

Cravings is owned by 99 Ranch Market.  This building is split into two- a shopping area and a food court.  There are about 15 or so food stands.  But, everytime I've been there, it's not crowded at all.

Bedder Burger Classic Double-$12.75. Two impossible patties, lettuce, diced onions, pickles, carmelized onions, tomatoes, American cheese, on a toasted bun.

This was pretty good.  The burger was very hot, with the cheese nicely melted.  It was fine, but it really tasted like something anybody could make at home.  There was nothing

Service is good.  But, I called to ask where they are located, I didn't know they were inside Cravings, and they told me they were closer to a chain restaurant in the shopping center.  I tried looking around there, but couldn't find it.  So, I called again, and they finally told me it was inside Cravings.  They should have told me it was inside Cravings in the first place!

Anyways, there are better vegan burgers, including the chain, Fat Burger, so I won't be back to Beleaf! 

Honeybee Burger-Closed

Honeybee Burger
1820 N Vermont Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
323-452-6500

I have reviewed many restaurants in Los Feliz including Rocco's Italian Market and Deli, House of Pies Restaurant & Bakery,  Palermo Ristorante Italiano , the now closed Tangier Korean BBQ of Tokyo, Little Dom's, Best Fish Taco in Ensenada, Ye Rustic Inn, Lucifers Pizza, 1739 Public House, the now closed Mexico City, Spitz, Cruzer Pizza, Anarbagh, and Fred's 62.

Honeybee opened about three weeks ago, it's right next door to the movie theater and a couple doors down from Fred's 62.  It's a small, brightly lit space with a counter space on the right and tables on the left hand side.

Queen Bee, $12.95- double pattie with both the Beyond and Impossible patties, with house sauce, house made onion jam, lettuce, tomato, a thin ribbon of onion, and Chef Jo’s house made pickles.

This was outstanding!!  Maybe the combination of the Beyond and Impossible burgers, made it the best vegan burger I've had!!  Good flavor and textures, fresh toppings.  A huge portion too.  Well worth the price.

Service is good.

I would go back to Honeybee anytime!  What a great vegan burger!

Lettuce Feast

Lettuce Feast

When I went to the North Hollywood Vegan Fair to try Veggietize Me, I saw Lettuce Feast.  Everybody talked about their great Nashville fried chicken.   I was too full from the V-Mac from Veggietize Me, I told myself I'll come back another time.

On May 4, 2019 they were celebrating the 80th Anniversary of Union Station.  They had about eight food trucks, and Lettuce Feast was one of them!!  So, I went by to give them a try!

Lettuce Feast got a new truck, so there wasn't any signage on the truck.  The lady who worked the 80th Anniversary event told me that Veggie Feast was the truck with no signage. 

Nashville Hot Chik'n Sammy Combo with regular fries, $16,-vegan fried chick'n with apple slaw on a brioche bun.  This was very good.  Maybe not as great as the hype, but a damn good sandwich.  The texture on the chicken pattie was spot on.  It was just like biting into a real chicken pattie.  Good flavor.  But, they could put more sauce, I got the mild, but there wasn't any heat, like none.  I expect mild to have some heat.  The slaw was a bit dry, but good and fresh.  I liked the sandwich, didn't love the sandwich so much that I would rush back.  The fries with sea salt and rosemary were good, but could have been more crisp.

Service is good.

While Lettuce Feast is good.  For me, it just didn't live up to all their hype!  I would go back, it's a ton of a food for a good price.  I just wouldn't rush back!

Update July 7, 2019

I went back to Lettuce Feast, this time at the Sunday Vegan Street Fair in North Hollywood.  I also included a picture of their truck with all the details.  It's one of the most popular food trucks, with line stretching down the sidewalk.  I waited one hour in line to order.

I wanted to try their chicken tenders and got four pieces, $14, with hot and hot honey as the two flavors, and regular fries.  The tenders have a hard crunchy outside, but inside it's mostly a small piece of veggie chicken.  There isn't much flavor with the veggie chicken, but the outside was very flavorful!  The hot was pretty mild, but the hot honey was very spicy!

Service is ok.  Like I said before, I waited an hour in line.  Part of it was there are tons of people in line.  The other part is the cashier is doing many things.  One thing she did was take a dish to one of the vendors next door!  I saw that while I was waiting in line.  When I got up the window to order, she just disappeared, nowhere to be found.  I think she was helping inside the truck.  I couldn't see inside.  But, at the very least she could tell me, I will be back.  They really need to get their act together and hire more people inside the truck and have only the cashier take orders.

Lettuce Feast is popular, but I don't see the appeal.  Their chicken tenders are below average, and while their sandwich is good, it's not the best in the thing I've ever ate.

Veggietize Me

Veggietize Me
North Hollywood Vegan Street Fair

Veggietize Me is a vegan food truck that is always at the North Hollywood Vegan Street Fair.  The faire is located just west of the Chandler and  Lankershim.  There are about 30 food trucks at the faire.

V-Mac $14.95- two impossible burgers, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, tomato, on a sesame seed bun.

I've had three vegan Big Macs- Doomies, Plant Power, and Organix.  This is moved right to the top of the list of best vegan burgers I've had.  This was outstanding.  I liked the added touch of a fresh tomato.  Everything tasted just like you were eating at the restaurant started by Dick and Mac McDonald, then stolen by Ray Krap, I mean Kroc of Shit!

Service is good.  Veggietize Me runs promotions on their instagram account.  So, give them a follow.

I would go back to Veggietize Me anytime!

Szechuwan Garden-Glendora

Szechuwan Garden
1932 E Rte 66
Glendora, CA 91740
626-335-9055

I've passed by the shopping center where Szechuwan Garden is located plenty of times.  It's located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Lone Hil and Route 66.  I've eaten at many restaurants on the southwest corner of that intersection like- The Pier Grill, Thai Diamond BBQ, Zuzu Chicken, and the now closed, China King Buffet.  So, I when learned there was a Chinese restaurant that served vegan items I went right over.  Apparently this space has been many restaurants before, including a Chinese restaurant before Szechuwan Garden took over.  I don't think they have any affiliation with the Szechuwan Garden in Montclair!  Update- May 23, 2019.  The Glendora and Montclair locations ARE owned by the some person/company! 

Szechuwan Garden has been open for almost a year.  It's a medium sized restaurant with a counter area as you walk in and tables spread out throughout the space.

Vegan beef and broccoli- $12.29.  This was great!  The beef was cut into thick pieces, that were tender and flavorful.  The broccoli was well cooked.  The sauce used was very good, with good balanced flavors.  This really tastes like beef.  If you ordered this, you would not be able to tell the difference!

Shrimp lo-mein-$9.25- This was good, with about eight medium sized shrimp, cabbage, green onions, and well cooked noodles. As with the vegan beef and broccoli, a good sized portion!

Service was good.

I would go back to  Szechuwan Garden anytime! Very good food, and good prices!

Burgerlords-Closed

Burgerlords
110 N Ave 56
Los Angeles, CA 90042

I went to Burgerlords in Chinatown, and while I wasn't really impressed with the vegan burger.  But, I went to their brand new location in Highland Park to try the pastrami tofu, as written by LA Eater.  But the pastrami tofu wasn't ready to be served to customers.  They said it's still being refined so they can sell it to the public.  So I decided to order the vegan tofu nuggets.

This location used to be the Good Girl Dinette, and Burgerlords opened on Saturday, March 16, 2019. 

 

Vegan tofu nuggets, $4.95.  This was great.  Very well seasoned tofu in a very crunchy batter, fried to a crunchy golden brown.  This was so good.  

Service is good.

I wasn't happy that the tofu pastrami wasn't on the menu, but the vegan tofu nuggets were great!!  I would go back to Burger Lords just for these nuggets!

Pots n’ Woks

 Pots n’ Woks
11213 E Washington Blvd
Whittier, CA 90606
562-463-7755

Pots n’ Woks is an interesting Chinese fast food restaurant.  They have a full steam table with beef, chicken, and seafood.  But, they also have cooked to order vegan items- beef, chicken, and seafood!  They put the vegan items in a container that is black on the bottom and has a clear top.  The regular meats are put in a white container.

Vegan beef and broccoli- $9.99 vegan combo-which comes with rice and chow mein and your choice of one item.  I got all chow mein.  Al carte is $10.99 for beef and broccoli.  This was great.  The chow mein portion is huge, made with cabbage, onions, and some soy sauce!  The broccoli was cooked perfectly, though they could cut it into smaller portions.  The vegan beef, was great!  Soy and wheat were used to make something that tastes just like beef!  If you were blindfolded and tried this beef, you would not know the difference.

Service is good.  I was greeted when I walked in, and the guy was very nice and hard working.  He answered my questions, and I told him I was waiting for a friend to come.  He was cleaning when there wasn't any customers, and when there were customers, he was nice to everybody.

I would go back to Pots n' Woks anytime.

Hinterhof-Closed

Hinterhof
4939 York Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90042

Hinterhof  is a vegan German restaurant that opened in January 2019.  They were so popular, that they ran out of food on one of their first days.  Luckily, they have worked out the kinks, and they had food on a raining Thursday night.  I've been to Red Lion Tavern, a German restaurant in Silver Lake.

Hinterhof, which is about half a block from The York, has seating outside in the front and a huge dining room. 

Soft pretzel-$5.  No  salt on the pretzel, but a good chewy texture, decent size.
I would ask for salt next time.

Jaegarschnitzel-$19- housemade schnitzel, creamy mushroom sauce, spatzle and red cabbage!  This was outstanding!!  the schnitzel was made with seitan, and was coated with a perfectly fried batter.  The mushroom sauce was very creamy and balanced.  Spatzle-potato dumplings were covered with the mushroom sauce, but was pretty good.  I didn't touch much of the red cabbage, too vinegary for me.

Service was good.  There were only four people in the restaurant when we got there.  Within 30 minutes, most of the tables were filled.  But, we got good service.  We didn't lack for anything.

I would go back to Hinterhof anytime!

Counterpart Deli-Closed

Counterpart Deli
1559 Echo Park Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90026

Counterpart Deli used to be Chango Coffee, and they opened up in December 2018.  Counterpart is a vegan deli, offering something that isn't available in the area. 

Vegan pastrami- $16, purple sauerkraut, vegan swiss, alfalfa.  Frankly, this was below average.  I felt like I could go to any grocery store, buy their vegan pastrami, cook it up, and then place it between the bread and other toppings, and it would have been just as good.  The vegan pastrami was just like any off the shelve seitan.  The dressing was good, the sauerkraut was fine, not that tangy, and the bread was fine.  But, overall, just a below average sandwich.  Not worth the $16 price tag.

Service is good.

I wouldn't go back to Counterpart Deli for this pastrami! 

by CHLOE. Silver Lake-Closed

by CHLOE. Silver Lake
2520 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
424-675-7617

by Chloe is a vegan restaurant that is attached to the Whole Foods 365 store in Silver Lake.  It's a fast casual restaurant with a few tables spread around the restaurant.  You can walk directly into the 365 store, without going outside again.  Chloe has a few locations, some in the northeast and in Europe.  I believe this is their only 

The Classic Burger, $9.95.TEMPEH-LENTIL-CHIA-WALNUT PATTY, LETTUCE, TOMATO, ONION, PICKLES, BEET KETCHUP, SPECIAL SAUCE, POTATO BUN.

I didn't mean to shout, but Chloe's website had the descriptions in all caps.  I'm too lazy to write type all that.  Anyways, a damn good burger.  Very good flavor, the potato bun held up well to the patty and toppings.  

Large Mac & Cheese, $8.95. SWEET POTATO-CASHEW CHEESE SAUCE, SHIITAKE BACON, ALMOND PARM.  The shiitake back threw me off, because it tasted like real bacon, a bit less smoke flavor, but still very good.  The cheese sauce was good and the huge shells, cooked perfectly, were coated with the liquid gold.

Service was good.

I would go back to Chloe again!

Plant Power Fast Food

Plant Power Fast Food
450 W Stuart Ave Ste D 130
Redlands, CA 92374
909-406-1655

I had the vegan Big Mac from Doomie's Home Cookin', which was great, and Organix, which was only ok.  I heard about Plant Power Fast Food, a San Diego based plant based, fast food chain, that is just starting to expand.  There are a couple locations in San Diego and they will soon open in Long Beach.  This Redlands location opened in August of 2018. 

Vegan Big Mac-$8.95- two all vegan patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles on a sesame seed bun.  This was great!  The patties, I'm guessing a soy mix, was great-tasted just like beef.  The sauce, and cheese were spot on.  Good bun and fresh veggies.  Not only is this less expensive than the vegan Big Mac at Doomies-which does include fries, but at $18, it is much better tasting.

Service is good.

I would go back to Plant Power anytime!! I can't wait until they open in Long Beach, and hopefully they will open all over Los Angeles!

The Pizza Plant-Closed

The Pizza Plant
55 S Madison Ave
Pasadena, CA 91101
424-341-1969

The Pizza Plant is located in a space called Kitchen United.  It's like a food court, where are a bunch of restaurants that share the back of the house-the kitchen space, and the front of the house is a common dining area.  I noticed Canter's Deli, a Cuban restaurant, and Mama Musubi, sharing this space.  They do not accept cash, it's all plastic.  You order at a kiosk.  Then somebody calls out your order.  It takes some getting used to.

The Pizza Plant is a vegan pizza place- just like Cruzer Pizza, it seems like pizzas come in three sizes- a 10 in round, a 14 in thin pan, and a 24in that you can share.

The 36% • Everything But The Hog Classic House-made Pepperoni, Plant Craft Cashew Mozzarella, San Marzano Marinara, Oregano-Thin crust pan style-$14.  This was terrible!  A complete waste of money and calories.  The crust was too crispy, had no flavor, and was .  The sauce was too bland, no flavor.  The pepperoni was like eating rubbery, chewy, pieces of flavorless gum.  The cheese was the only thing that was half way good.

Service- The only service is some person calling your name, when your order is ready.  He was nice and he did answer some questions about what other restaurants were part of this Kitchen share.

No reason for me to go back to The Pizza Plant.

Borreguitas BarExpress

Borreguitas BarExpress
977 S Garey Ave
Pomona, CA 91766
626-391-0700

David Allen wrote about Borreguitas BarExpress a few weeks ago. It's a small place, where you either order at the counter, if the order is to go, or you take seat if you're eating there.  I would say there are about 6-8 tables.

It's so new they do not have a sign installed yet.  Just a banner over the signage of the business they replaced.

Vegan burrito with asada soy meat, refried bean, onion, and cilantro-$6.99.  This tasted more like a bean burrito because there was a very small amount of asada soy meat.  The beans were fine, the tortilla tasted as though it was made fresh, the onions and cilantro were fine.  I just wish there was more soy meat.

Service was good.  But, if you pay with plastic, they charge you a $1 fee, which violates the agreements businesses have with the credit card companies.  They also don't tell you about the $1!

Borreguitas BarExpress is ok.  There aren't many vegan restaurants in Pomona, but I can get a bean burrito from many other places in Pomona.  I want a vegan option with actual a good amount of vegan meat. Not a tiny portion of vegan meat, and the rest something I can get at any Mexican place in the area.  Matter of fact, there is a Mexican restaurant right door.

Avocadamama-Closed

Avocadamama
Highland Park Vegan Night

When I had Cena Vegan, I wanted to try Avocadamama too.  But, they weren't set up that night, or at least I didn't see them. 

Avocadamama is vegan pasta, with some great sauces.

Og Mac-$8, original cheese over rigatoni pasta topped with bread crumbs. The rigatoni is a bit thicker and larger than the rigatoni I've eaten before.  But, the sauce is outstanding.  Good flavor and very smooth.  But, the bread crumbs were too much.  The crumbs were very hard and tough to chew.

I would get this next time, without the bread crumbs.

Service is good.

I would go back to Avocadamama to try some of their other vegan pasta dishes.

Cena Vegan

Cena Vegan
Highland Park Vegan Night

Every Tuesday and Friday Nights on York Blvd, between Ave 50 and Ave 51, there are pop up vegan food stands along York.  The line at Cena Vegan is always long, unless you get there early.  The food looked good and I decided to give them a try.

They are set up on the south west corner of York and Ave 51, diagonally across from Town Pizza-which also has a vegan pizza.  The line moves pretty fast, but there is always a line.

3 taco combo- Al pastor, carne adsada, and pollo, $8.  Not sure which was which.  But, one-I think it was the pollo, was very chewy and rubbery.  But, the other two were amazing!  Both full of flavor, great texture, and you don't miss the meat!  The tortilla is freshly made, and held up to the ingredients nicely.

Service is good.  But, in order to speed up the line, they had another worker take orders on their Ipad.  He should tell people, if you're ordering with him, it will be plastic (cards) only.  I was paying cash, ordered from him and he told me he can only take plastic.  He should tell everybody that in the first place.  You can pay cash or plastic at the register/counter. 

I would go back to Cena Vegan anytime. 

Monty’s Good Burger

Monty’s Good Burger
516 S Western Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90020
213-915-0257

Monty’s Good Burger, in Koreatown, has been open for about a month. A 100% plant based burger place, what basically is trying to be an In N Out.  The restaurant is small with a counter with about eight seats that faces the kitchen and another counter that runs along the wall.  There is a four seat table at the end of the counter.  There seems to always be a line, and you line up outside.  Helpful hint, when you're near the front door, be like the couple in the above picture.  They waited outside, not in the doorway, until they were able to move up.  Look, you stupid morons, nobody is going to cut in front of you.  But, people maybe coming out, and you're blocking the doorway.  Just wait outside, until there is room at the cashier.

Single burger, $11, impossible burger patty, follow your heart vegan cheese, house spread-a vegan thousand island dressing, lettuce, pickles, and grilled onions, on a potato bun.  Tots with vegan ranch dressing-$4.

This a a decent burger, but the impossible patty was overcooked, and charred. The bun is fine, but nothing special.  The veggies are fresh.  The house dressing is fine, though they could put more of it on the burger.

The tots were cooked perfectly!!  The vegan ranch is very good, a good spice and you won't miss regular ranch dressing.

Service is good.  The young lady taking my order was very nice and helpful.  My order came out quickly.  The interesting thing was, the owner or manager, was outside talking on the phone for almost the entire time I was waiting in line, maybe 20 minutes.  The workers were working really hard and I have no complaints.  But, even if he is the owner, it's bad form to just talk on the phone in front of your customers.  Go around the back.  You look like a lazy owner, who doesn't care.

I won't go back to Monty's.  Fat Burger sells the Impossible Burger for $9, and if you don't add the spread and cheese, it's vegan!  I think that's a better value than Monty's Burgers.

House of Fortune Vegetarian

House of Fortune Vegetarian
13788 Roswell Ave Ste 101
Chino, CA 91710
909-517-2988

Having gone to Happy Family, a vegetarian Chinese restaurant in Rowland Heights, earlier this week, I found out about House of Fortune, a vegetarian Chinese restaurant in Chino!   It's a smallish restaurant with benches along the right wall, and tables in the rest of the space.  It's a nice clean restaurant.

Their signs says there are vegan friendly, but most items are vegetarian.

Fried noodles, $7.25.  Cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and veggie ham.  This was an excellent dish.  The veggie ham, which can be ordered as a fried rice dish, was great.  It tasted very much like regular ham.  The noodles were well cooked and seasoned.  A good sized portion, it's a steal for the price!

Sauteed green beans, $8.95. Very well cooked green beans, with some type of veggie meat crumble.  Well seasoned, flavorful, and a huge portion.

Veggie beef and broccoli with some carrots.  $10.95.  The broccoli was cooked perfectly!  Not too mushy, and not too raw.  The beef was good, with a nice savory sauce.  I think I prefer the Happy Family veggie beef and broccoli better, but this is a very good dish.

Service is good.

I would go back to either House of Fortune or Happy Family anytime.  If I had to choose, I would go to House of Fortune.  But, you can't go wrong picking either one!