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Fabulous Chinese vegan food

4 Posted on 02 / 05 / 2013

Excellent Chinese vegan food option in San Francisco

Pros: Menu selection, Fresh ingredients, Easy parking

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great lunch specials

5 Posted on 10 / 18 / 2012

Not a bad choice for china town even though its more a mix of asain with thai iced tea and pho. The staff are extremely accomodating and allowed us to create our own dish of noodles, veggies and sweet and sour sauce. Clean and modern decor and a very high standard of ingredients.

Pros: healthy options

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Causal, inexpensive, yummy cakes

4 Posted on 10 / 06 / 2012

I had read about this place on happycow and came by in October 2012 to have a look. Here's my Loving Hut Chinatown review.

Perched at the top of the hill in Chinatown, it was quite a trek for me to get up there from Market Street. But once I got there it seemed like no trouble at all. The restaurant is located on a corner and has large windows on both sides of the street, so it gets a lot of natural lighting inside. The furniture is all white, like most of all the Loving Hut restaurants. It's a small place but still fits plenty of tables.

Because I had already eaten lunch, I opted for a slice of cake and tea. The green tea was just Lipton tea bag. The mocha cake, however, was incredibly fresh, moist, and delicious--easily one of the best vegan cakes I've ever tasted. Also it was not too sweet, just the way I liked. The staff told me that the same baker who makes their cakes also delivers to the Loving Hut in Sunset District.

Next time I'm in the area, I'd like to try their soups.

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awesome!

4 Posted on 04 / 12 / 2012

This loving hut is amazing! Their menu is like 10 pages long but the best deal they have going is their lunch buffet. I can't wait for my next visit to San Francisco so I can come back here and try some other items off the menu. The employees were super nice and friendly. For two lunch buffets and two Thai iced tea's my bill was $21....what?!

Pros: deliciouse, friendly, very affordable

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inexpensive place to eat

5 Posted on 03 / 15 / 2012

Their $5.95 lunch special which includes soup and rice is SO affordable.

I think this restaurant exists to promote vegetarian foods, not to make money.

I love their Vietnamese PHO noodle soup for $6.95.

Pros: hearty, clean, friendly
Cons: nothing

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I vote this place as best vegan potato salad!

4 Posted on 11 / 11 / 2011

They changed the recipe of the potato salad, and now it's blah. Minus 1 cow.

Updated from previous review on Thursday January 06, 2011
This Loving Hut is located in Chinatown - I generally hate Chinatown's for the obvious reasons (dead animals in windows), but I had to give this LH a try. I love potatoes and saw that they had a potato salad, so I ordered a large and then got a cheesecake for my dessert. I swear the potato salad was the best I have ever had! The thing that makes this one stand out from others is the fact that they add shell noodles to it. It was so good that I plan on going back for another serving before I leave. The cheesecake was just OK in my opinion (but my friend actually loved hers), I've just had better. 5 cows for that amazing potato salad!!!

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Good and inexpensive in SF

5 Posted on 09 / 14 / 2011

I wanted to try something in Chinatown so I got into the Loving Hut on Stockton and Vallejo. I took the wonton noodle soup and my BC took the something lemongrassy- both were good, filling and yummy. for desert we took the cheesecake that had a weird taste in the beginning, but it was overall good!

Pros: location, price, yummy
Cons: the vegan propaganda channel can irritate..

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better than expected w/ chain restaurants

5 Posted on 01 / 05 / 2011

Ordered: fried wonton (8 pc) $4.95 not too greasy, plenty of filing good buy

Bun hue spicy noodle soup $6.95. Really yummy (maybe prefer w/ more veggies & less fake meat but no complaints)

Au lac fragrent claypot rice $7.95 also amazing...

$24 total w/ tip....overall a bit crowded but not bad, plenty window seats, attentive staff, tasty food,
No entre over $10

Pros: vegan, not too pricey
Cons: guests close

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Loving Hut Chinatown

4 Posted on 01 / 02 / 2011

I'm a huge fan of Loving Hut and have been to them all over the world, one of the best things about this chain is that every menu is different and each one has a specialty.

We walked over here and it was super easy to find, clean and had the sweetest lady helping us. This was one of the largest Loving Hut's I've been to and it has the biggest menu I've seen. The food is catered to China town and has many Asian dishes it also has the white-washed American vegan dishes of hot dogs and burgers - all vegan of course.

We tried the Ocean Basket which my boyfriend drooled over and scarfed down. It has the fake shrimp made from yam flour, mushrooms, asparagus and a fake soy fish all deep fried with a dill tartar sauce. We also tried the egg rolls (really good), the deep fried mushrooms again (terrible!!), and a cappuccino.

Overall, the food was too greasy for my stomach to handle. There were not too many cold or fresh dishes, but this is something the Chinese and Loving Hut don't usually do anyway. The fried mushroom dish was the grossest consistency of all time - like a mix between plastic and rubber deep fried. We enjoyed the atmosphere, shrimp, egg rolls and cappuccino and especially the staff. They have a really cheap lunch buffet that's only around $6 that I would get if I come back.

Pros: friendly staff, good food
Cons: greasy food

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A very diverse menu!

4 Posted on 11 / 21 / 2010

I went here for lunch and had a great meal. I loved that there were so many choices on the menu, it was a treat. (even if you don't like the fake meat options, which I don't)
I had the tofu & eggplant and spicy exotic mushrooms. I enjoyed both dishes. I also had the multigrain rice which was a little pricier, but very tasty and hearty.
The only dish I wouldn't recommend was the hot and sour soup, which we had as a starter. It was below average.

Pros: variety of dishes, non-typical ingredients, price
Cons: flavourless soup

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Nice Vegan Asian restaurant with a cause

4 Posted on 09 / 02 / 2010

I just ate lunch at Loving Hut yesterday - and what a welcome oasis of love and compassion it was among all the meat- laden restaurants in San Francisco's Chinatown!

They have so many yummy choices with great pictures that I settled on two dishes: a steamed bun with bean filling and a veggie clay pot entrée with brown rice - both dishes were excellent and cooked just right, with the veggies still a bit crispy as I like them.

While I am not personally a big fan of fake meat, I welcome a good selection of these on the menu, as it tends to draw a non-veg crowd as well. This means you will find it easier to bring your meat-eating friends here and show them how good tasting vegan food can be.

Some reviewers were bothered by the presence of Supreme Master Ching Hai on TV and in publications around the restaurant. First of all it's really your choice to look at her messages or simply ignore them and just enjoy your food. And then to be honest, she appears to be one spiritual leader and visionary humanitarian who is worth promoting, with her calls for action and compassion. We are so inundated with the false, cruelty-glorifying propaganda of our industry leaders and media, that I actually found this place rather inspiring.

Right outside the restaurant they had a table with vegetarian information and a small brochure that is hugely informative. It foremost focuses on veganism to counter the climate crisis, but also has sections on animal cruelty and health. I have seen most of it, but this little brochure alone is worth the trip to Loving Hut! Make sure to pick up a few for all your friends when you come to dine here.

Pros: tasty food, freindly staff, great cause
Cons: too many choices - it's tough to decide

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I hate it when Vegan restaurants use "fake meat."

2 Posted on 07 / 24 / 2010

The purpose in being vegan is we do not eat meat, we do not like the taste of meat or the texture of meat and it is a mockery to try and imitate meat dishes. You are defeating the purpose and disrespecting animals...... So, why do restaurants make soy and tempah taste, feel, smell and look like meat?

It's kinda like going on a date with a transvestite.....you are either gay or your not....so, if ur str8, go out with a chick......Same scenario applies to "fake meat:" if you are a carnivore, eat at Chicken Delight and stuff your face with a tortured and chemically induced dead carcass, if you are compassionate and a vegan, celebrate by consuming fresh organic vegetables and fruit and respect animals and the environment.

I ate here for lunch and had the Au Lac Salad with no "fake meat." It was institutional tasting..... Everything else on the menu was fake meat.

The place is pretty sterile and cult like. It almost resembles McDonalds without the clown.....They have these three huge televisions playing non stop about their cult beliefs. Lots of literature to persuade you to join....

Outside of the Hare Krishna Temple in Laguna, The Loving Hut is probably the creepiest vegan place I have been to....

Pros: weird, fake, cultish

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so good!

5 Posted on 04 / 23 / 2010

i loved this place. this is the second loving hut i have been to and it was even better than the first time. i was visiting san francisco for a week and ate at this loving hut 4 times. they have a very affordable lunch special (soup, rice, 2 entrees, and tea for $5.95). their desserts are well priced also, it was about $4 for a delicious slice of cake. their service is quick, their food is good, and their selection is large. you really can't beat the price. my favorite thing there was the ocean basket. mmmm.

Pros: price, selection, taste

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Loving Hut

3 Posted on 03 / 05 / 2010

Average vegan restaurant; nice location in North Beach if you are on vacation.

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The Best Cheesecake Ever

4 Posted on 02 / 28 / 2010

We ate here several times while in San Francisco as it was an easy walk from our hotel.
Each time I had the Golden Nuggets which were fantastic.I varied the mains & desserts each time. All were good, but the cheesecake was superb.
The staff were very friendly and efficient.
The one complaint I have is that often the Appetisers would arrive at the same time as the mains and I found it a little strange.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Great food, All vegan

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Gives the term 'VEGAN' a bad stigma!

2 Posted on 01 / 06 / 2010

My wife and I ate at 'The Loving Hut' and it was (sorry to say) one of the worst meals I have ever eaten/ tried to eat. Firstly, I concur with the other reviewer when he mentioned the 'Supreme Master' ubiquity inside the restaurant. Come on, is all that stuff really necessary? Yes, the 'Supreme Master' website is very informative and is translated in many languages. Now back to the food. The fried items looked and tasted as if they were fried, re-fried, set aside, re-fried, set aside again, re-fried, and then served to unknowing customers. One of the dishes we had was just fried batter. At least that's what it tasted like. There was very little IF ANY mock meat inside! If your dining standards are par and below, then by all means spend your money here. If you actually have a palate, have an inkling of what real Vegan cuisine should taste like, or if you want to have a dining experience where you'd say you've had a wonderful meal, don't bother spending your hard-earned money at 'The Loving Hut'. The other reviewer was right about the drafty door and the overexposure of 'Supreme Master' T.V. stuff. Save up some money and go eat at Millennium nearby! P.S. I tried to give this restaurant one out of five Happy Cow heads, but I was prompted with a dialog box stating that for a 'Vegetarian' restaurant, the minimum amount of Happy Cow heads can only be two! 'The Loving Hut' only deserves one Happy Cow head at the most! 'The Loving Hut' is a perfect example why the term 'VEGAN' has such a bad connotation for omnivores! They set a bad example for Vegan restaurants.

Pros: Vegan
Cons: Food was gross!, 'Supreme Master' propaganda, Just plain bad!

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Disappointing

2 Posted on 10 / 27 / 2009

Ate here on the strength of Happy Cow reviews and found it to be a disappointment compared to the Golden Era we'd ate at previously. The decor is very basic and it's really offputting that the Supreme Master propeganda is on a big screen TV on the wall - very strange! Food was basic and nothing you can't get in other good vegan/veggie locations in SF. The website and menu is impressive but nothing else so be warned. Not recommended.

Pros: Food was hot , prompt service, good desserts
Cons: tired decor, dodgy propeganda!

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I heard good things, but I wasn't a fan

3 Posted on 10 / 11 / 2009

I went here one Friday afternoon after hearing good things from a friend. My fruit smoothie was much too thick and more like a milk shake (although it was still good... just not what I was expecting). My soup had red dates and goji berries in it which sounded interesting in the menu but it was actually pretty gross and hard to eat. I also got a spring roll appetizer - that was tasty. I would go back again but I would pick other vegan restaurants first, and I would be wary of what I ordered.

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Amazing.

5 Posted on 05 / 28 / 2009

So I went there twice on my vacation. Both times I got the pesto pasta, it was so good. I also got a lemonade, it was in an ice cream cup with a cherry and a straw. It looked so cute. I also tried the another dish I forget the name(it was suposed to look like shrimp, with lettuce and chilly, very good) One night I got the mocha cake. It was really good. It was the last one in a plastic container in the case. They took it out, put in on a plate, and drizzled chocolate on the plate. The last time we went we called to see what time they were open till. They were closing in like 20 minutes. They said sure come. It was so nice. When I move out there I am definitely going there more!

Pros: great food, friendly staff, great presentation

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south east asia

4 Posted on 03 / 24 / 2009

i arrived on a sunday evening, i was worried as so many places around were closing up. a 9pm curfew gave us plenty of time. i thought the place had the feel of a fast food joint, and was empty when we arrived. the staff were super nice and within 5 minutes of out arrival another four tables were full.
a good menu with veg/tofu/mockmeat and soup dishes. much more of a south east asian feel rather than chinese. a good selection of starters including a mockmeat share dish. mains were between 8-12us$ and were tasty. i thought mine was a bit oily, nbut eggplant is always a difficult one to judge.
the restaurant was spotless and would deffo give it a try!

Pros: staff, selection

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great service

4 Posted on 03 / 19 / 2009

Really liked this place, though there were a couple negatives. I ordered the tomatoe stew dish, but didn't like it because it was spicy which was not indicated on the menu. Also I was asked if I wanted white or brown rice with my meal and answered without being aware that I would be charged extra for a side of rice. Rice should definitely be free with an entree. Then I ordered a wonton soup to eat instead and that was delicious. The owner/manager was super friendly and was taking the time to talk to all the customers and get to know them. We felt very welcome and were encouraged to linger even though it was pretty late at night which was nice.

Pros: service, soup
Cons: menu needs more info, extra charges

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Good for Tuesdays!

4 Posted on 03 / 18 / 2009

The Loving Hut is very good: clean, bright, a respite in Chinatown. However, the menu is a little sparse. On Tuesdays, the Golden Era is closed, so Loving Hut is a great alternative restaurant. Their Ocean Basket is good, but a little pricey. Their Franks on Bun is great; their fries are awesome. Try their mocha or carrot cake. It's the same one they serve elsewhere, so they're not made on premises, but they're yummy. Friendly staff, clean bathroom (very hard to find in Chinatown!), good food.

Pros: Clean, Yummy desserts, friendly
Cons: Limited menu, some things a bit pricey

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Great Food - Clean Restaurant

5 Posted on 03 / 06 / 2009

Loved the selection from Asian, American, to Italian. I had been twice in 3 days. I ordered the chicken nuggets and potstickers - both good, but the potstickers were a little burnt. I had wonton soup the first time and LOVED it! The special dish I ordered was better than mediocre, but I wouldn't order it again. The restaurant and bathroom were very clean the service was excellent and so was the vegan mocha cake! Prices were fair.

Pros: All vegan, Clean and Excellent Service, Yummy Food
Cons: Parking is difficult, Open Door Can Cause Dining Rooms Gusts

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good food and friendly staff

5 Posted on 10 / 27 / 2008

Loving Hut is a casual restaurant located in Chinatown. It is a clean establishment with a sizable menu and a helpful and courteous wait staff. We were seated promptly and the wait for our food was short. The food was presented nicely, portions were good and everything was tasty. Parking in Chinatown can be a problem, but there are a couple of garages right down the street.

Pros: clean, great food, nice staff