Every item on the menu is vegan. I had the Kung Pao "chicken" and it was amazing. The dumplings where incredible too. A must try!
Pros: lots of veganThey may not have the best atmosphere in town, but enough to enjoy a dish of very good vegan food, tasty and well done - don't miss the desserts (loved the carrot cake).
Pros: vegan, tasty, fastAfter not going to the Bay area for several years, we were excited to go back to Garden Fresh and enjoy some delicious Vegan Chinese cuisine. However, much to our disappointment, the food didn't taste the same as it used to. The portions were smaller, and the Orange Chicken looked burnt. It used to be such a great restaurant. It's sad that the food isn't as good as it used to be. We probably will never go back.
Pros: Convenient SpotGarden Fresh has been one of my favorite restaurants since the 1990s. I became a little disenchanted with the restaurant when it changed owners in the early 2000s because I felt the quality dropped off some. Since then, I think the quality has improved, although it's been accompanied by higher prices and fewer freebies. For example, back in the old days, the lunch special used to include fried spring rolls, and all of the dishes included complimentary brown rice (even at dinner). Still, Garden Fresh is one of the better deals around, and its best dishes are excellent.
On our most recent trip, we got the lettuce cups and the veggie chicken curry. The lettuce cups were not nearly as good as I remember; something was "off" with the flavor. I don't think we'll try that dish again. The veggie chicken curry is wonderful comfort food. Sometimes I'm not in the mood for something tasting so "heavy," but this time it was exactly what I wanted.
Some of our other favorites: Mongolian veggie chicken and Hunan veggie chicken (these dishes are pretty similar), basil moo shoo rolls, the veggie curry noodle soup and the moo shoo vegetables. Many other dishes are good too. I also like the tofu chowder they frequently serve complimentary. My wife prefers the hot-and-sour soup, and sometimes they will substitute that for the tofu chowder without charging more.
The restaurant itself is hardly atmospheric, although it is slightly more spruced up than it was in the 1990s. It's basically a few rows of formica tables in a mini-mall. Then again, my culinary tastes were honed in Southern California, where the best meals always were in mini-malls, so the setting doesn't bother me. For us, its convenience is an added bonus; it's in easy biking distance from our house.
Not my favorite place but mainly it is because I am not into the typical mock meat/Chinese vegetarian food. Space is very small and you don't go there for the ambiance.
I love almost every dish at this restaurant. My personal favorites are "Black Pepper Chicken", "Scallion Pancakes" & "Chow Fun". Every item is vegan and the owner Alice really appreciates the regular customers. (She works the Palo Alto store and her husband runs the Mountain View store.) The Palo Alto store has a nicer interior and more menu selections, but prices are a little higher.
I was amazed not only at the speed in which my take-out order was taken and completed (around 5-7 minutes) but the sheer amount of tasty food I got. Yum! Not to mention the menu is 100% Vegan.
It IS kind of on the small side, so eating there is probably not so ideal for large groups. or if it's too busy. Parking lot is also pretty cramped. But none of those factors are really an issue for me, so it all worked out! Looking forward to trying the rest of the menu items.
Pros: Big portions; good food, Fast service, Friendly staffWe were a little disappointed. They weren't the best we've had; not the worst either. Probably won't go again.
Pros: big portionsMy wife and I have been going to Garden Fresh for many years now and can confirm that it is indeed one of the best vegetarian restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area. When taking prices into consideration, Garden Fresh is hands-down ... THE BEST! Be sure to try the scallion pancakes appetizer! The portions are always generous and the service is consistently prompt and courteous. And if you happen to have a sweet tooth, the Maggie Mudd vegan ice creams and Black China Bakery vegan cakes are always available.
Pros: Tasty Food, Prices, Fast, Friendly ServiceThis is currently our "best" restaurant for vegetarian food. Lu Lai used to be in the same class but it closed down. Most everything on the menu is great.
Pros: great taste, friendly serviceGarden Fresh is one of our favorite take-out restaurants. Everything is vegan and most dishes are very yummy and filling (a bit on the salty, oily side). Favorites include scallion pancakes (when in the mood for fried stuff), general's "chicken," eggplant and tofu (if you ask they'll make the tofu steamed, not fried), "chicken" curry (note: can be over-salty), spicy bean curd (ma-po tofu), green boat (saucy noodles with shiitake mushrooms), orange "beef," tofu delight, bok choy with black mushrooms, ... I could keep going but I'd be listing almost the whole menu! Skip the vege sushi (just not very nice) and vege potstickers (not really satisfying). The ambience is hole-in-the-wall-ish (in a mini-mall, next to 31 Flavors) though they've recently repainted and updated the decor. They now serve Maggie Mudd vegan ice creams, by the way. Very friendly and accommodating staff who remember you and your favorite dishes. Our meat-eating in-laws love the food and can't tell whether it's real chicken or not. (It's not, yay.)
Pros: all vegan food, tasty appealing food, large portionsI've been going to Garden Fresh for years. A new owner took over about a year and a half ago and they not only maintained the excellent food and service of the previous owner but added dishes and even a special menu board on the wall. Just wonderful food. For starters try the Scallion Pancakes.
Pros: EverythingWe used to live in the area, so we went here as often as we could. About seven years ago, we moved to the central valley. When we go visit family, we often go eat at Garden Fresh. The staff is so nice! They always remember us. We also love the food. Our favorites are the Sweet and Sour "Pork", Curry "Chicken", and, especially, a tofu wrap (it comes with lettuce to wrap it in). Their appetizers are good, especially the "pizza" and spring rolls. We have taken many friends and family members there--most still eat meat--and everyone else has loved it, too. Garden Fresh is so tasty, friendly, and a nice little place to eat. Dinner is a bit pricy, so luch is a great option.
Pros: vegan, have vegan information, wonderful staff
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