Vegan organic restaurant operating since 1997; has a 2nd location in downtown LA. Offers self-described humanese cuisine - comprising of Vietnamese and Chinese vegan cuisine with a variety of mock meats and brown rice available, as well as a separate raw food menu. Extensive beverages, teas, elixirs and shots menu. Parking lot on-site. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-3:30pm, 5:30pm-9:30pm.
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16563 Brookhurst St, Fountain Valley, California, USA, 92708
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Last update on 13 Nov 2023 by veganmom
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64 Reviews
First Review by think4leafclover
BlendedFruit
Points +271
Fine Dining in the Raw - Edit
Au Lac's menu offers both cooked (over 118 degrees) and raw dishes. This is the place to find peace within.
Read morePros: Avocados seen on plates more than expected to be, Raw soup served warm, Filling meals
Cons: Some of the dishes have processed vegetables, Hard to see through the entrance door from outside, Not enough people know about it
Guest
NicoalRenéeSheen
Points +34
Best vegan food in the OC! - Edit
I love Au Lac. Not only is the food incredible, but Chef Ito and team presents each meal as a masterpiece. There is a lot of love that goes into preparing the food. You can tell by the taste, quality, and overall presentation. The breaded yam "shrimp" is a must (gluten free as well!) and their Pho is really delicious, I get it almost everytime ❤ If you are looking for raw, look no further and order the Curried Rice.
Read morePros: Fresh, quality food, Great ambiance, Fantastic service
Guest
WilliamHeutink
Points +70
delicious! - Edit
Although I prefer the ambiance in DTLA, this is a must!
Read moreGuest
desertdune
Points +30
Yum! - Edit
First time here. We were 4 long time raw foodies in town for a conference. The staff were attentive but not overly so. The food was fabulous! My first time to have sprouted rice and it was delicious.
Read moreThe value was okay - portions could have been a little bigger for the entrees. The presentation was gorgeous and I appreciated that even though a few of us ordered the same desert, the chef took time to make them look unique. Clearly the chef is an artist.
I look forward to going back!
Pros: Taste, Presentation
Cons: Portions could be bigger
Guest
sambee
Points +135
Amazing - Edit
I was hesitant to try this place. In my experience, vegan asian food can be very hit or miss. However, this place far exceeded my expectations.
Read moreWe went on Christmas Eve about an hour before they were closing and they weren't rushing us at all which was great. We were worried that they would try to rush us out but the restaurant was packed and their service seemed as normal.
We started with the Egg Rolls which were great. My parents are omnivores and said these can definitely compete with regular eggrolls.
My dad got the Wonton Soup which he loved. He also said this could compete with regular wonton soup. He got a salad that I can't remember the exact name of, I think it was maybe Mei Salad? It had avocado in it that's all I know. Whatever it was, he said it was absolutely amazing. Who knew a salad could be so spectacular? He's been raving about it for days.
My mom got the Kung Pao Chicken. She was nervous at first because she eats regular Kung Pao chicken all the time and didn't think that a mock meat version would be good. She was wrong. She said it was amazing.
I, the only actual vegan of the group, hate mock meats. I never liked the taste of meat so I hate when restaurants base all of their meals off of mock meats, which is often the case in many vegan asian restaurants. While a lot of the options here do involve mock meats, there are also a lot of tofu options as well. I got the Glass Noodle Stirfry with tofu. It was really good. The flavor, the texture, everything was great.
I highly recommend this place if you're looking for a more elegant vegan restaurant to eat at that won't break the bank. The portion sizes were great, the food was great, the prices were great, the service was great, the atmosphere was great; it was all great.
Pros: Large portions, Excellent food, Nice vibe
Cons: None
Guest
jclemens
Points +24
amazing!! fresh and delicious - Edit
Slower service because it's a relaxed, authentic environment. But the food is absolutely delicious, and you can taste the quality. So healthy and flavorful. Dinner entrees are more expensive but the lunch and soup portions are the right price point.
Read moreGuest
socalRob
Points +231
Pleasant dining - Edit
Vegan fine dining is still a rarity, and this place has been doing it for years. The selection of foods is great and staff is very friendly.
Read moreGuest
brififi
Points +91
Try Au Lac - Edit
Great elixirs, fresh ingredients. Great to take out of town friends, or a romantic meal.
Read morePros: All Vegan, fresh and lovely
Cons: none
Guest
amymylove
Points +152
Love the Soup! - Edit
We frequent Au Lac on the regular since it is close to our house and these are some things you MUST TRY:
Read moreBeef Steak (Died and went to heaven)
Wonton Soup
Royal Noodle Soup
Pho
Pineapple Fried Rice
Egg Rolls
Salt & Pepper Tofu
Sweet and Sour Chicken
Kung Pao
Cabbage & Chicken Salad
Steer clear of!:
Sweet and Sour Soup
Beef Watercress (PLEASE DO NOT TRY)
Eggplant Hot Pot
Glass Noodle Stirfry
Grilled Seafood Noodles
Trust me!
Pros: Soup
Cons: VERY SLOW SERVICE, Pricey, Not at all spicy
Guest
Teppiedoo
Points +130
Amazing!!! - Edit
My omnivore and Vietnamese friend recommended this place to me because they have such authentic Vietnamese food that just so happens to be vegan. I can't wait to go back. Amazing menu, everything we ordered was fantastic. Great atmosphere. I can't recommend this place enough :-)
Read morePros: Amazing food, High quality , Cozy atmosphere
Cons: Nondescript building
Guest
heathera75
Points +278
Heaven on Earth! - Edit
This place is completely amazing and a whole other level in Vegan and Raw food! I had heard of this place for yrs, and even though I have recently moved down from Pacific Northwest to Ventura- Ojai area (an hour plus north of LA), I made the drive (few times now) Very worth it. Really not overly expensive.
Read moreI don't think my words can do justice but let me say:
Chef Ito, Reverse Osmosis water, Professional vibe from all the workers, All Vegan. All Organic, EXCEPTIONAL FOOD!!
Pros: Extraordinary food , Soft lighting and plesant atmosphere , All Vegan. And an exceptional raw menu
Cons: Too far from my house!!!!
Guest
Moneyz
Points +465
Raw Food Is Better - Edit
Half the menu here is raw food. Their raw food was spectacular. I was literally mind blown by how delish their Humanese soup was. I also had their curried rice which did not match up to the soup in my opinion. I had their Hawaiian blend juice, that was one of the best mixed juices I have ever had. The service was great they were really busy and I still had my first plate within 15 minutes. I would recommend this place for the soup and juice alone, but the restaurant itself is an experience it is bustling with people, I would recommend people to stop by at least once. I do think they use too much avocado in their dishes. Oh yeah and their donut holes were really good too.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Tuesday May 27, 2014
Pros: Mind Blowing Soup, Beautiful Presentation , Service/ Friendly Staff
Cons: Expensive, Secluded Almost Hard To Find, A Lot Of Avocado
Guest
bkoffman
Points +40
Creative, beautiful and healthful food - Edit
Au Lac is special, especially if you are a raw foodie. The raw dishes here transcend description and not the usual raw burger or rawsagna served at other few food restaurants. It also offers a nice faux cook meat menu with typical tasty dishes from Vietnam and China. The atmosphere is lovely and the presentation is beautiful. It is nice to be able to go to a raw vegan restaurant where I can bring business associations and new friends that has a more upscale vibe. It is a unique experience.
Read morePros: Amazing Raw Food, To Die for Raw Desserts, Artistic Presentation
Cons: Busy
Guest
autismcaregiver
Points +69
My Favorite Restaurant - Edit
Best tasting healthy food!!!!!
Read moreMy favorite place to eat!!!!
Friendly helpful staff.
Guest
maymusic
Points +259
love their raw menu - Edit
Au Lac is a little gem in OC. It's tucked away in a little unassuming shopping center in ftn valley and the food is amazing! I've tried their cooked options, but their raw menu trumps it. The ambiance is romantic and quiet. Dimly lit booths make a great mood for a date :)
Read moreMy favorite raw meals-
Tostada
Curried rice
Ahn Fries Rice
Pros: amazing food, cozy, romantic
Cons: expensive , food never comes out at same time.
Guest
zgeist
Points +40
Going to OC, Forget DisneyLand, Go to Aulac - Edit
I can't stress this enough:
Read moreASK FOR ITO. IF you do this it will change yoru experience.
Crazy Variety, Best Service. Most Awesome Chef of any restaurant on the planet. It's more than amazing food, it's an experience.
You will meet people, try things, get given things free even, learn things and feeel the energy of a place as though you were in an ashram.
I really can't put the expereince into words. Sounds silly, but this is the best envorioment of any restaurant out there and I can only pray that other owners check this place out and try to mimic it. It would change the dining out experience.
"This restaurant is a different place if Ito is not there at that time."
Love you Ito, keep it real and keep it coming you silent ninja you!
Pros: Ito, Ambiance, Food
Cons: *, *, *
Guest
OperationChowhound
Points +5812
Awesome Asian - Edit
I ordered the bbq vermicelli. It was delicious. The meal was large and had lots of different flavors. I didn't try anything from the raw food menu. The restaurant was clean and decorated well, but still had a casual atmosphere. It was near closing time and there were still lots of people there. It was a little noisy, but not enough to disturb my dinner.
Read morePros: delicious, large portion, nice atmosphere
Guest
dsm3359
Points +19
GMO - Edit
As I am sitting in Au Lac being completely ignored by a waitstaff who cannot answer my request of GMOs in the soy products used in the dishes here, I finally ordered raw dishes without soy products just in case. My dining partner ordered the sweet n sour soy chicken. My food was delicious but I was still perplexed that nobody could answer the GMO question. Finally at the end of the meal, the owner came over & explained that nothing was GMO at which time I devoured the left over sweet n sour chicken. Everything was yum!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Sunday February 19, 2012
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Very Popular, Nice Variety, Good Food - Edit
I've eaten dinner at Au Lac a couple times, both before and after the restaurant had renovated in early 08(?) and was very pleased to see the improvements made. Beautiful interior with both table and booth seating, luscious velvet curtains, two separate dining areas, very warm feeling. Both times we went, the entire restaurant was packed and a line out the door. We had to wait both times, but in the end, the good food made up for the wait.
Read moreBoth times my husband and I came with friends, and we all left very happy. Both times we ordered from the cooked Asian food menu as well as the raw food menu.
I personally like: the jicama spring rolls, Vietnamese crepe, the soy beef noodle pho soup. YUMMY.
If you are in this part of Orange County, definitely eat here. BUT, the weekend evenings will be very busy, so expect a wait. Otherwise, come during the week or for lunch on weekend.
Pros: friendly servers, good food, large menu
Guest
Shannon2222
Points +18
A very special restaurant - AULAC - Edit
Aulac is one of the best raw food restaurants I have been
Read moreto. The staff are truly kind, and the service is great.
This is one of the best life giving foods, you will will
ever give to yourself. Whenever you are in the L.A. area,
dine at Aulac and you will be happy that you did.
Sincerely - A Happy Customer - Shannon Santos
Pros: Large Portions, Raw Entrees, friendly Staff
Guest
giegie
Points +82
Yummy - Edit
I've been several times and always enjoyed the food and service. I really love the raw menu, even though I am not a raw foody. The chef always comes out and acknowledges the guests which is a nice touch. It's great to know that when I got to Au Lac I am eating super healthy and delicious food!
Read moreGuest
MrsVeganPizza
Points +234
Unique Raw Food - Edit
They have both a cooked and raw food menu. I have found the cooked food to be tasty, but the raw food truly unique. I especially like the fryed chicks & mashed potatoes. It is quite expensive, but definitely worth a try as it's unlike anything I've ever tried before.
Read morePros: Unique Tasty Raw Food
Cons: Pricey
Guest
onlyahuman
Points +213
Humanese! - Edit
I've had very little experience with raw food but what I got at Au Lac was amazing! I had the Humanese raw soup and it is probably one of the top 10 favorite things I've ever had. I was in CA without internet access (and thus no Happy Cow) and just happened to find this place on my GPS. The waiter was nice enough to recommend other vegan places in the area to me and I was very happy with his suggestions!
Read morePros: humanese soup
Cons: expensive
Guest
LT
Points +66
Au Lac - Edit
The restaurant has changed over the past couple of years, offering more raw and less cooked food. The prices have also increased. The service can be good at times and bad at others. One time we waited 30 minutes for a booth, which is fine. But another couple walked in 20 minutes after us, and the hostess gave them our booth. We got a "sorry" from the hostess and the next available booth, but a free spring roll would have been nice.
Read morePros: vegan
Cons: mostly raw, price
Guest
RawMatt
Points +48
"Au Lac" My absolute fav - Edit
Chef Ito is nothing short of a culinary genius. I have been to many raw vegan restaurants and "Au Lac" takes the prize. Do not pass up the chance to stop in.
Read moreGuest
MichelleOJ
Points +71
Delicious! - Edit
Visited this place for a quick lunch recently. Heard great reviews and it did not disappoint. Au Lac is pretty easy to find in a strip mall and has plenty of "bicycle" & "vegan" parking in front. :) The interior is just lovely and was well crowded with the lunch crowd when I arrived.
Read moreThe menu is quite extensive and you can order most items as a small or medium size portion. There are plenty of raw options which all sounded delicious and inviting. I opted for the "popeye" spinach salad with dressing & walnuts (& I forget what else). All of the flavors worked perfectly together, the dressing did not overpower the spinach at all but was a rather nice complement.
There is an extensive "elixer" menu and a page of luscious-sounding desserts...next time! Service was a little slow, probably due to the busy lunch crowd and a few large parties. Food was wonderful. Prices can be affordable to a little steep depending on what you order.
Pros: Organic & Fresh, Friendly Staff, Nice Raw Selection
Cons: Slow Service, Can get $$$
Guest
novackofo
Points +89
Delicious! Friendly Service! Great Selection! - Edit
Au Lac is one of the friendliest and most accomodating vegan restaurants that I have ever been to. The food is always fresh, organic, beautifully presented and delicious. I have been a vegan for most of my life and I love this place. My favorite dish is the watercress salad, the tomato broth soup with tons of fresh vegetables and the stir fry which they make special for me with just lemon, no salt or sauce and tons of special vegetables. They are very accomodating. Au Lac is always packed and it is amazing how efficient the staff is. Their vegan integrity and attention to strict vegan standards is highly respected. Being that I don't eat tofu and I am very strict with no salt or anything that remotely resembles sauces, the staff and the chef are always prepared for my special orders. My favorite waitress is Ahn who is a medical student. Please visit Au Lac and you will be amazed. The prices are also amazing.
Read morePros: excellent food, amazing value, best service
Cons: none
Guest
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