From the long established Au Lac in Fountain Valley springs its 2nd and more upscale location in downtown Los Angeles. Opened 2014 across the street from Disney Concert Hall. Features a menu of both raw cuisine as well cooked vegan dishes. Full bar and upscale lounge atmosphere at moderate prices. Parking lot entrance is around the back of the plaza, or park on street. Open Tue-Sun 12:00pm-3:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
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710 W 1st St, Los Angeles, California, USA, 90012
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- Wheelchair accessible
- Accepts credit cards
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Last update on 03 Aug 2022 by RonDeutsch
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116 Reviews
First Review by Chia
SeanFdr
Points +34
great vegan food - Edit
This place has a great reputation, I love the venue: a warm tasteful aesthetic, comfortable seating.
Read moreSome of the dishes were much to my taste, but the ‘chicken’ fillet dish made of soy was not what I envisaged - a slab of rubbery homogenous texture BUT the chef volunteered a 50% discount on that dish, and I did eat the enjoyable marinara sauce and side dish.
The spiralled raw vege noodle and cheese was phenomenal.
Definitely would go back.
Guest
amarcial021
Points +132
So delicious!! - Edit
Such friendly and helpful staff. I recommend the "Octopus."
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2018-08-30
Guest
ReidGodshaw
Points +139
favorite food in Los Angeles! - Edit
No doubt the best food I have had in LA! ALL VEGAN! SooOOO good, I recommend the octopus, curried rice, or the tostada!
Read morePros: mmmm
Cons: none
Guest
TinaCheong
Points +485
Amazing Asian Fusion food - Edit
While looking for a vegan place to try for the night, I saw this place and decided to try it out. I'm a huge fan of Asian fusion foods so I was excited to try this place out. Upon being seated the server let us know that everything served at this place is 100% vegan, so that's already a win for me!
Read moreSince my friend and I weren't super hungry. We ordered 2 appetizers + 1 entree and that filled us up. We got their pork rolls and friend fries, and the friend fries blew me away. The pork rolls were alright, as that is probably a personal preference because my friend really enjoyed it.
The curried rice though was amazing. I'm such a sucker for avocado and light flavoring that just typing up this review is making me crave that dish again. For dessert we got their tiramisu and it just sealed the deal.
The overall ambiance of this place, paired with the service and the food made the whole dining experience a pleasant one.
Pros: Parking , Delicious food
Guest
Mera_Xebel
Points +148
Vvietnamese in downtown! - Edit
I was very skeptic of this place, but end up here anyway, and I am glad I ate here. It was a nice place, great atmosphere and the food is amazing from the taste to the presentation. Also their flu shot tea is really helpful and tastes delicious.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2018-06-02
Pros: their offer super foods for tea & smoothies
Guest
julzzz
Points +92
Disappointing... - Edit
Oh man, I was just not impressed by the food at this place. We ordered the BBQ 'pork' rolls, the Cali Roll, and Bun 33 - and we were not impressed by any of it. I feel like this place might be one of those places where you have to know which items are the right ones to order. The Cali Roll was almost completely a cucumber roll, pretty boring. The Bun 33 noodles were just not interesting at all. I had 2 pieces of the BBQ roll and was done. Atmosphere was nice but I do not think I'll be back.
Read moreGuest
PreciousPelaez
Points +26
My fav vegan spot to date! - Edit
The food tasted amazing and the customer service was amazing as well. Our waitress, Taylor L, was extremely patient with us and explained the menu very thoroughly to us and made some excellent recommendations! Def a must try. The “Shrimp” , Ramen and Pho are a must!
Read morePros: Vegan Restaurant , Affordable , Great tasting
Guest
MonicaPearson
Points +26
Amazing! - Edit
Vegan Pho and “Shrimp” could not have tasted any better. Ordered as take out while staying at a hotel downtown and delivery was super fast too! Bonus!
Read moreGuest
NicoleCondonPolido
Points +38
As Expected - Edit
Au Lac Downtown is very different from the Fountain Valley restaurant. It is across from The Disney Concert Hall. Parking available but must leave your key. The ambiance is very LA. It’s nice. Cozy booths. The food is really good too. We split the Yellow Noodle Soup and the yucca fries. Both were delicious. He got the Garlic Noodles. Too spicy for him but I thought it was delish. The “pork” is Field Roast Apple Sage Sausage. I had the raw Tostada. Yummy.
Read moreFor dessert the Choconut X-Tasy. Not too rich and or heavy.
Pros: Raw options, creative menu, fresh
Cons: commercial “meat” products
Guest
BlendedFruit
Points +271
Gorgeous Fine Dining - Edit
Au Lac -DTLA is a sophisticated restaurant that is a haven for vegans.
Read morePros: Right by the art museum, Provides raw vegan options, Provides live piano performance
Cons: Took several drive arounds to find their parking, Hard to see from the street, Needs to offer more raw food options
Guest
Smankoff
Points +32
So Delicious - Edit
I am a huge fan of pho. Chances are, if a place has vegan pho, I'll order it. That's what I did here, and it was definitely a good move. Flavorful broth, perfectly cooked noodles, and delicious "chicken" slices. I look forward to going back next time I'm in the area.
Read morePros: central location, great food, friendly staff
Guest
VeganMountainCliff
Points +143
elegant and delicious - Edit
The setting, staff, and food are nothing less than super
Read moreGuest
phytophile
Points +1371
good food - Edit
The food was delicious. The Bahn Mi was great. The wait was long after we ordered.
Read moreGuest
SoWo1999
Points +673
Beautiful food and restaurant!! - Edit
I really enjoyed this restaurant! The ambiance is lovely and the food was a work of art when it arrived at my table! I had the Chinoise, which was fresh and delicious! The staff were amazing, very helpful and friendly. They were very busy the day I went, and short staffed, but you couldn't tell by the way they quickly served the food and attended to everyone. I will definitely be back! I enjoyed everything about this restaurant.
Read morePros: Fresh and very delicious food, Nice ambiance in restaurant, All vegan, what could be better!?
Guest
Mc102036
Points +40
great food - Edit
Very nice quiet place. The food was great! Will definitely be back when I visit LA
Read moreGuest
ChynaCat
Points +380
fantastic - Edit
Tried Au Lac while in LA this week and was blown away by the presentation and flavors. Fresh and scrumptious. Everything from the yam "prawns" to the garlic basil noodles and tostada was amazing. I will definitely return when in LA. Those of you who live here are so lucky to have such an incredible spot in your city!
Read morePros: great food, fresh coconuts with spoon meat
Guest
mrrfrost
Points +372
Delicious! - Edit
A lovely restaurant in Downtown LA. A pianist plays away in the background (on a Saturday evening), nice atmosphere and not so busy.
Read moreService was excellent and friendly and the food was flavoured with some excellent sauces, especially the sweet and sour tempe.
The starter of salt and pepper tofu was topped with some tangy greens and hot jalapeño peppers.
The cuisine seemed to be a mix of Mexican and Vietnamese, we edged to the Asian side and was not disappointed at all.
Pros: so flavourful, excellent service, nice ambience
Cons: None
Guest
WilliamHeutink
Points +70
What a place! - Edit
It looks great!
Read moreWhen you go inside, it's an amazingly well designed space. There is plenty of room to have a party and it feels fresh and trendy.
The food....
Just go. I mean, what can you say?
Service is good and helpful. I prefer this location of the two.
Guest
Diverloon
Points +78
Divine! - Edit
Amazing food, great wine, very friendly staff and romantic atmosphere! Perfect.
Read moreGuest
AprilCuevas
Points +18
AMAZING - Edit
Omg this place only looks beautiful, but the food is sooooooooooooooooo delicious! I had the mad flax appetizer ?????? then I ordered the tostada and the my friends was just out of this world! You need to try that if you go check the place out. Of course couldn't leave the place without the postre!! I had the rainbow over the sky.. ?? AMAZING.
Read moreThe one thing that I didn't like was our server. He had this smirk on his face. It almost felt like he was thinking... These kids aren't vegan and they cant afford the food. ? it wasn't even THAT pricey. It was two of us, the only thing we didn't share was our entrees. We spent $45. I thought that was good??
Pros: Beautiful Restaurant , Great Food
Cons: Server
Guest
ArtVB
Points +336
Delicious raw food - Edit
The food and the environment are definitely five stars. I loved the pasta with garlic and the curry rice. Both raw and cooked dishes are excellent. Service, however, has some room for improvement. Our servers were incredibly nice and made everything possible to provide good service, but they were overburden by the number of people eating there on a Friday night. The manager should definitely consider hiring one extra person on Fridays before the shows next door start.
Read moreGuest
Aliwg
Points +421
awesome food- mediocre service - Edit
Amazing food! But, there was a band playing the night we went and the music was painfully loud. Plus, there was a second band playing in the attached bar and we were seated in the worst possible spot where we could hear both bands clashing. They brought us our food and we had no cutlery - I had to ask three times and eventually stand up and practically walk into the kitchen to get some. They never gave us the bill, again, we had to stand up and almost walk out to figure out how to pay. They did realize the mistakes and gave us a discount on the bill, though, and the food was really, really good!
Read moreGuest
Christyrose
Points +100
great food, awkward service - Edit
This place has great decor, ambience and the food is amazing. I loved the lemongrass "fish". I'm docking a star because the service is not what it should be for this price. Tables were left dirty although they were not busy. Our server and host were very friendly, but seemed unexperienced.
Read moreGuest
maplemag
Points +75
fantastic - Edit
Can't go wrong with Au Lac. Went for lunch with a few non vegans and everyone was pleased and full. The food was delicious and the service was outstanding!
Read moreGuest
LoveLezlie
Points +30
everything is delicious - Edit
I was looking for a vegan spot within walking distance when I had to serve for jury duty in downtown LA and this place was the closest. Everything is so fresh and delicious and I love that this place was created because the owner healed herself with a plant based diet. I'll definitely be back!
Read moreGuest
heathera75
Points +383
The Most Exceptional Food on the Planet! - Edit
I LOVE AU LAC! Top Notch Vegan food! Been here multiple times and it is always delicious! Chef Ito is so special and a good friend. As you may know, Vow of Silence for many YEARS now. He spends his energy perfecting food I suppose. Try the Ito Burrito. There is tons of raw choices ad well as cooked vegan. But this isnt your typical "raw" food. It is unbelivable and unique and so incredibly flavorful. Ambiance is so cool and some nights there is a show or music in entertainment room. Au Lac is an extraordinary place with exceptional food!
Read morePros: Raw and cooked vegan choices, Extraordinary taste, Organic, Gluten Free
Cons: None
Guest
luzmack26
Points +28
A feast for the palate and senses - Edit
Amazing delicious food and ambiance. My husband and I tried several dishes and all were outstanding. Service is friendly, a little on the slow side even that it was around 1:30 pm on a Sunday, and there were only about 8 people at the restaurant. We assume everything is so freshly made that might take a little longer.
Read moreThey have raw dishes and a few warm ones as well. They also have some interesting kambucha drinks.
The restaurant is modern, contemporary decor, clean. Great place to take family and friends for a charming celebration, and very close to the Disney Hall. Also below the restaurant there is a $1 parking with validation for 2 hrs, which is priceless considering is downtown LA.
We are heading there again to eat the warm garlic noodles and the rainbow torte that were so delicious! We were there only 3 days ago and cannot wait to get those dishes again!
Updated from previous review on Monday July 13, 2015
Pros: Healthy and fancy delicious food , Great ambiance , Parking
Cons: A little slow on food serving
Guest
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