• 4
• totally vegan fast food

I mostly agree with the other reviewers, though it's interesting how the number of stars can vary so much. This VG is located in a newly constructed mall. The main parking lot is really ridiculous and stressful, but the ambiance inside the VG is relatively mellow for Silicon Valley. I've found the staff to be quite nice and friendly. The women's restroom was out-of-order the last time we were there, but the staff were willing to accommodate us. As noted, you get the heavy restaurant-food treatment: too much oil, salt, and sugar with sometimes small portions. However they keep varying the menu and trying new entrees. Personally I liked the Harvest Bowl though there was way too much Field Roast sausage in there; this dish clocks in at around 750 calories, but ditch half the sausage and it drops to around 600, on par with a vegan Chipotle burrito. The kids' meal offerings are really junky. My kids don't like the unappealing veggie burger patties, though they readily eat the greasy sweet potato fries, which I remind them is "a sometimes food." We swap the fatty dessert for mandarin oranges, which my kids don't really care for as they seem straight out of a can. My kids would love a simple bowl of sticky brown sushi rice dressed with tamari, topped with plain organic tofu, served with a crunchy pile of salted nori. I think VG needs a separate menu for real vegans who are in this lifestyle for the long haul, vs omnivores experimenting with veganism who need convincing that they can find all the same (junky) tastes they're worried about losing. The Real Vegans Menu would have simple clean bowls chock full of local organic beans, greens and grains, lightly dressed with exquisite new combinations of nut- and seed- and avocado-based dressings. Well, maybe I'm just expecting too much from a VG?