Vegan
American
Chinese
Organic
Raw
Juice bar
Take-out
Vietnamese

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.


Venue map for Au Lac
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63 Reviews

First Review by think4leafclover

CupcakesMessyFace

Points +835

Vegan
30 Jan 2009

Really Good!

I've never had vietnamese food so my girlfriend ( a met eater) and i decided to try it. i started off with the Gỏi Cuốn Spring Rolls (rice paper, greens, vermicelli, soy shrimp, soy ham, peanut sauce). I liked everything except the soy ham which was really rubbery. to the point of me gagging. i didnt have my girlfriend try it because shes super picky. their peanut sauce was awesome and the rools were great- if you can get past the rubbery ham. i then had the Ga Xa Ớt Lemongrass Chicken (soy chicken, pan seared chili, garlic, shitake sauce) which was DIVINE!!!! my girlfriend tried it and she thought the same. she said she'd order that if we came again. and that's the first time i've been able to get her to try "fake" meat. im still excited that she liked it! she ordered the vegetable plate and refused to try the tofu (which was delish!) but she really liked the veggies. we both cleaned our plates. for dessert we ordered the chocolate candy and the chocofantasy. the candy we both devoured but the chocofantasy she wasnt too keen on. it was good, but the first bite was a little weird. it grew on me though.

i liked the ambiance of the place- it was a lot nicer than either of us was expecting. the only issue we had was that when it came time for the check they overcharged us. i asked about it and it turns out that they had given us the "old" menus with the cheaper prices and a LOT smaller selection of food and drinks. i explained to them that we ordered 2 desserts beause of the price. i just wanted the difference removed- but the removed one dessert, which was really nice. we both plan to go back, but hopefully well get the "new" menu because there were others things we wouldve liked to try. its too bad that they havent changed out all of their menus. its also a little odd, but....

well be back!

Pros: good ambiance, great food, friendly staff

Cons: menus werent all current

Keith_Thode

Points +712

Vegan
23 Jan 2009

Overwhelming

I've never seen so many different items on the menu - and there's 2 menus - one raw and one cooked. I was only staying for a few days. It's not fair. There were too many items that I wanted to try. I went 3 times, and tried 3 different things - all great. I can't wait to get back.

GeorgeR

Points +96

Vegetarian
09 Nov 2008

Good Service, Good Food

We went there for an early dinner yesterday (4:00), and were greeted within a minute of walking in the door, seated immediately, and had very good service. No more waiting than is normal for any place - and they were fairly busy. The food was wonderful - we shared Spring Rolls - which were good, my wife had a great salad, and I had the hot pot with tofu and eggplant, which was wonderful. We plan to return soon and try more things.

Pros: food, variety

H

Points +600

Vegetarian
04 Oct 2008

THE Freagin' BEST RESTAURANT IN THE WORLD!

If you've never been to Au Lac, don't pay any mind to the negative reviews. This place is awesome! Food sooo good you'll be licking the bowl of your leftovers the next day! Their head chef (small, smiling asian dude) is an amazing, spiritual man, and one of the TOP VEGAN RAW CHEFS IN THE WORLD!! Their prices have gone up in the last few years, which is unfortunate, but the quality is 5 star. They go the extra mile with their ingredients, using macadamia nuts, organic agave nectar, etc. So one of the reasons it's a little pricy is they pimp it out with delicious/nutritious ingredients! And they have a huge Cooked AND Raw menu! On the Raw Menu, the most expensive things (the Paella and Curry, both around $19+) are actually enough for 2 people! Whenever I go, i finish my plate and the plates of everyone I go with, but I CANNOT finish their Raw Curry! And they put a whole avocado in it, if not 2 avocados! And if you go in to eat alone- the head chef (who does not speak by the way) will sometimes motion to pick you up, escort you to a table where someone else came alone, and sit you two together! May sound strange, but a lot of friends are made at this place! And they donate to charity huge! They used to have lots of palms and tiki-style decor, but recently they made it look more fancy. But the vibe is still awesome! Vegi-mok-meat mastery! Amazing soups! Memorable huge salads on the raw menu, you can order brown rice, they sell Durian smoothies.... This is my favorite restaurant in the world, because it's clean, delicious, and make's you feel good!

I've been to the "Inn of the Seventh Ray" in Topanga Canyon quite a bit, supposedly super high class, expensive like crazy, high-conscious restuaruant.... and lemme tell you, that place sucks bad compared to Au Lac! So remember, it may seem a little bit pricy, but the quality and energy of the food excells beyond those restuarants that only have valet parking and cost $20 just for appetizers!

ps - they even purify their own water!

Pros: Bomb-a-licious!!!, CLEAN, Highest Quality

Cons: It's not next door to my house!

juliotnunes

Points +744

Vegan
09 Sep 2008

Au Lac

Friendly service and very helpful. There is a separate menu for the vegans, which is very cool. Definitely going back again.

Pros: Excellent food, healthy, friendly

flytheorient

Points +325

Vegan
21 Jun 2008

The food is good but...

The food is good. although the times I've been there I have only had the noodle soup (Hu Tieu My Tho) and Vietnamese Spring rolls. They are quite good. Sadly the same could not be said about the staff, they are extremely unpolite and the service left a lot to be desired. It has been renovated in the last year or so and the place is very clean.
Overall, if you want good veggie food, and don't mind having your blood pressure increased, I highly recommend Au Lac.

Pros: good food

Cons: staff

Veganmilitant

Points +76

Vegan
29 Jun 2007

Amazing Raw Food!

This place has a raw food menu, and a non-raw food menu. I love the raw food! It really is amazing that this food is completely raw. its very well mad. i reccomend the green pyramid, the rice dishes, the salad song and the pasta prmavera. As of raw deserts, you must try oneof the pies, i really recommend the chocolate Xtasy pie, it tastes like a mud pie!
As of the non-raw menu, i've only had a few things, which were all good, but BEWARE, the raw menu is all vegan, but the non-raw menu is not all vegan! You must ask to speek to the manager to find out exactly what is vegan and not vegan.

Pros: lots of options, very nice atmosphere

hcatloved

Points +52

Vegan
17 Jan 2007

so/so

of the 2 times i've been there, i can't say that i had an amazing experience. it was ok the first time.. and not so great the second.. veggie egg rolls were alright but i don't think the soy meat was all that great

think4leafclover

Points +21

Vegetarian
17 Oct 2006

Delicious!

Au Lac is my favorite restaurant. The food is amazing, and the staff is great. I always have cravings for their food, especially the vermicelli dish.

Pros: tasty food, helpful staff, extensive menu




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