| West Los Angeles |
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California Vegan 
 based on 10 member reviews
12113 Santa Monica Blvd Ste 207, West Los Angeles California
90025
310-207-4798
Type: Vegan, Thai, American, Fast food, Wine, Delivery, Take-out
Info: West LA vegan restaurant. New owners since 2008. Extensive menu including Thai food and American food. Parking provided. Open daily 11am-10:30pm. Accepts credit cards. Price: Moderate.
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| "pretty good"
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My Rating |
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28 |
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Posted on: Thursday, March 19, 2009 |
Review: went before new owners I think. Food was good, though I didn't like the texture of the fake meat. Nice atmosphere though.
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "Indifferent"
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My Rating |
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162 |
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Posted on: Friday, February 27, 2009 |
Review: I'm updating my review from a visit a few years back. I used to love their BLT, but it has since changed with the change in ownership. I had the newer version at a different location; I was not crazy about the new BLT, if fact, I wouldn't go out of my way to get it again. If you're from out of town, I would probably skip this place; LA has far greater Vegan restaurants than this one. [And I don't think it's ethical for them to call themselves "California Vegan" if they are not in fact fully Vegan...that's deceptive, as I assumed everything there was Vegan.]
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "Nice Space but Mixed Feelings"
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My Rating |
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296 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, August 13, 2008 |
Review: I've come here with family and friends numerous times in the past while the restaurant was under the previous owner as well as the current one (since earlier 2008). Was just recently here in August 08.
To my surprise, the menu has been revised with higher prices. Lunch special is now around $10 and dinner special $12.50. That's a notable increase from before, but I guess that's a trend due to the current state of inflation in the US... But it also means that I won't be eating here as often.
Since the new owners took over, the quality of the food has been mixed - sometimes fair, sometimes good, sometimes not so good. The stir frys and noodles can be oily and salty, so I always specify less sauce.
And I did also notice the packaged baked goods that they stock by the register. They are not vegan, and I had asked the waitress about that, but she just shrugged. I think the owners and waitstaff are not vegetarians themselves (like many staff in veggie restaurants in LA anyhow).
The interior decor remains the same - simple and comfortable. Location is the 2nd floor with large windows overlooking the busy streets.
Pros: convenient location * has parking lot * varied menu
Cons: started selling non-vegan dessert * new higher prices * portions small/medium |
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| "Higher Prices- Same avg food- Not all vegan"
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My Rating |
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21 |
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Posted on: Sunday, August 10, 2008 |
Review: Was a bit disappointed to find that they've raised their prices since I was last there a month or so ago. Since they've changed ownership, I've had very mixed experienced here and while tonight wasn't bad, it was really average.
I thought their prices were already as high as what was reasonable for the area, and while prices have gone up everywhere, it seemed like they've overdone their increases. They're doing things like charging $1 extra to get your tofu fried instead of soft in a mixed vegetable dish as well.
There was some controversy over the mock meats in these Thai "vegan" places some time ago and considering that some of their desserts are labeled with honey in them I'd be surprised if their mock meats are all vegan. When I pointed to one of the packaged desserts they offered which contained eggs and dairy (last month) and told the woman at the register what I read, she just smiled and said, "...yes, have eggs".
Too bad this is the closest Thai place to Santa Monica, I'll be driving a little further in the future.
Pros: Closest Thai to SM * *
Cons: Pricey * mediocre food * maybe not vegan |
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| "Sometimes good but not always"
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My Rating |
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31 |
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Posted on: Sunday, June 15, 2008 |
Review: I've eaten at Calfornia Vegan many times, and generally, I like it all right. But my most recent visit (today) was a disappointment.
Why? Because the fresh spring rolls we ordered were NOT fresh. It was served WARM! (oddly enough, a first) because the kitchen had heated it up. The lettuce inside became soggy because of the heat. I suspect the kitchen had made the rolls earlier or the day before and refriegerated them. And that's why they had to heat them up before serving them. A big No-No because the rolls are supposed to be served fresh and at room temperature.
And the California chow mein we got (flat rice noodles instead of yellow noodles) was tasty but too saucy and thus salty. Made me really thirsty afterwards.
My friend got got a pad thai lunch special, and he had asked for no sprouts and peanuts / substitute broccoli instead and was charged extra $2 without being told so by the waitress. It seems to be the customary policy for the Thai vegetarian restaurant around LA to charge extra anytime one asks for a substitue. Would have been nice if the waitstaff tells you that upon ordering.
On the plus side, my friend liked his pad thai. And I liked the "lek tom yum" soup, which was very tasty. It's thin rice noolde, fried tofu cubes, and bean sprouts in a soup.
Suggestions: If ordering any of the fresh rolls, ask your waitstaff if they can make it fresh for you. And if you don't want salty noodles, let them know. Otherwise, food is generally okay, and lunch specials (without substitutions) is a bargain. Soups are good.
Pros: nice ambiance * good lunch specials * has parking
Cons: un-fresh rolls * salty noodles * |
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| "Disappointing."
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My Rating |
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2 |
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Posted on: Sunday, January 27, 2008 |
Review: I ate here for lunch today and was very disappointed with my experience. The food was mediocre at best and the service was worse. I ordered a vegetable wrap. When I asked the waitress what it had in it, she pointed to the menu where it said, all wraps served with alfalfa sprouts, tomato, romaine lettuce, salsa, and vegenaise. I was confused because the other wraps (all priced the same at $6.95) contained those items plus a protein. So I asked if I could add avocado (an extra $1) and ordered grilled tofu added as well. Then the waitress came back and said that the chef had made a mistake and put in grilled potato instead, but that I would get the grilled tofu on the side. When my wrap came, it was stuffed with lettuce, did not have any sprouts or salsa in it and had very little avocado and tomato. I ate half of it, but when my grilled tofu still had not arrived, I complained that the wrap didn't contain what was listed in the menu and that the tofu was never served either. The waitress went away and then came back and told me that the chef said she did put in the alfalfa sprouts and salsa! As if I was lying! I opened up the wrap and showed her that those ingredients were not in there. Finally, she took my plate back and returned several minutes later with what looked like the exact same thing. I was not pleased. I opened up the wrap again to show her that it still did not have alfalfa sprouts or salsa in it and then noticed about a teaspoon of sprouts hidden under the lettuce leaves. I asked about the salsa and she pointed to the tomatoes that were chopped small. Apparently if you cut the tomatoes smaller, that makes them salsa. To add insult to injury, the waitress also informed us that we were charged extra for the added potato-- even though I hadn't even ordered it! I won't eat there again.
Pros: clean * not crowded *
Cons: mediocre food * parking limited * poor service |
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| "One of my favoritees"
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My Rating |
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32 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, January 09, 2008 |
Review: We ordered to-go. I got the orange chicken dinner and my boyfriend got a wrap with fries. The dinner was a great value. It came with a spring roll, a large cup of soup, salad w/ dressing, fried rice, and the orange chicken. It was way too much food. The orange chicken was also a bit too sweet for my liking. I agree with the previous reviewer: the chicken could have used some vegetables big-time.
My boyfriend's wrap was very large, fresh, and good. His fries were cold and rubbery by the time we got back to the hotel, however. He should have gotten a dinner meal! The restaurant itself had a really lovely layout and looked out over Santa Monica Blvd.
Pros: Great selection * Nice decor and view * Great value
Cons: So-so service * Not healthy * |
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| "soso"
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My Rating |
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304 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, December 05, 2007 |
Review: There are a lot of good reviews here, which is surprising to me. The food and service is OK. I'd definitely skip this place if you are in town touristing for A Votre Santa / Real Food Daily / Native Foods which are all close by.
If you're warn out on the above places and are in the mood for some Thai, then by all means. I just get freaked out when Thai places serve pancakes :)
Pros: * *
Cons: * * |
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| "excellent"
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My Rating |
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10 |
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Posted on: Friday, May 25, 2007 |
Review: love this place - great food in an area that really needs a place like this. very friendly and family friendly. only thing is i wish they had bigger portions.
Pros: great food * nice *
Cons: small portions * * |
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| "pretty good"
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My Rating |
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54 |
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Posted on: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 |
Review: It's not as good as Real Food Daily or Native Foods but the menu is huge - so much to choose from and ALL vegan. The orange "chicken" is good at the first few bites but then gets boring - the dish should come with vegetables - I was stealing veggies from my friends plates so I didn't have tofu overload. But there is lots to choose from and it is reasonably priced. Great place to bring non vegans.
Pros: location * reasonably priced * lots to choose from
Cons: some items not that good * * |
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