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CLOSED: Long Beach Vegan Eatery
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2
Closed
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Vegan
Vegan
American
Take-out
Offers stick-to-your-ribs comfort foods which are dairy-free and cruelty-free and contain absolutely no animal products or by-products. Opened in October 2011. CONFIRMED SHUT DOWN/CLOSED AT END OF JULY 2013 PER OWNER.
12 Reviews
First Review by TomDuncan
Eatin Vegan
Points +30
UPDATE 07/13, hated the food. - Edit
Update 07/2013
Read moreThey are begging for $15k on gofundme.com now. If they would listen to their customers, change their recipes and lower their prices they could make it without charity!
They'll be out of business soon, don't buy any gift certificates...
I just can't offer much good to say, and I've eaten there 4 or 5 times to try to give them a chance.
The best thing I've had there was a side order of bbq beans. These were canned baked beans with a lot of vegan bacon bits added. If you grew up eating Big John beans n' fixins in a can you'll like these.
But the worst item? I can't pick a worst, they were all so bad. I tried the meatball sub - great fresh bread covered in acidic tomato paste sauce and flour and water tasting meatballs (not seitan but breadcrumb mush). The bbq ribs (seitan) sauce wasn't bad but the ribs were some kind of tough rubbery yet mealy seitan mixture. I'm a seitan freak, and this was inedible, like chewing slices of ground up doormats held together with wallpaper paste. The meatloaf was soft like the meatballs, probably the same recipe, just terrible and devoid of flavor or texture worth a second fork-full.
The fried chicken sandwich was passable, mostly because of the fresh bun, otherwise just a frozen gardein breast. The sweet potato tater tots are ok and they give a generous serving, but this is a frozen item and could be done at home just as well.
The desserts, I dont know if the folks raving about them are shills or have never tasted a good vegan dessert. Donut - like they used no yeast - dry, rubbery, with a glob of shortening/cocoa/sugar for frosting, instead of a glaze of chocolate frosting. Whoopie pies- two muffin top type cookies filled with same greasy shortening frosting, the cookies weren't even worth eating by themselves. Krispy treats, how do you ruin those? Somehow they do!
The prices are like Real Food Daily or Veggie Grill, but seem outrageous once you discover you can't eat the huge portion of ruined ingredients in front of you.
Sorry, I really wanted to like you LBVE, I even tried to give some helpful suggestions but got nothing except defensive anger from the female cook/owner/baker and polite rebuke that this was an East Coast style Italian deli sandwich shop from the nice owner guy behind the counter.
Unless they have a rich uncle or completely change their recipes, they will be out of business in 3 years.
I recommend the owners go eat at places like RFD, Stuff I Eat, MCafe & copy them.
Pros: Vegan, Long Beach, Parking
Cons: Food is terrible, Won't take suggestions, Prices, recipes
jtct203
Since you seem to know everything and have all of the answers, why don't you open up your own vegan restaurant? I'll tell you why, because you don't have the balls! But, you apparently enjoy anonymously bashing other's hard work and livelihoods with no disregard for them. I recommend that you shut up!
Read moreGuest
serenacarey
Points +303
Need to get their act together - Edit
I was so excited to eat here because it's close to where I often visit and it's vegan! What a disappointment! They have no restrooms for customers and I had my 90-year-old grandma with me. After I paid for my meal and went to sit down and waited for my food, the cashier came over to me to let me know they ran out of the gluten-free option. I am allergic to wheat! I was out of luck as my grandma sat there and ate by herself. What a disappointment! I will NEVER go back here again!!!
Read moreCons: ran out of food, no bathroom, not very clean
Guest
juliotnunes
Points +744
LBVE - Edit
I had the crispy chick'n wrap which was really good, however; it was just about the same as any other vegan restaurant would offer, for example Native Foods. They do have free stickers which is a plus. I will return again, sometime.
Read morePros: Location
Cons: Expensive
Guest
Neag
Points +32
Well - Edit
The food was great. Only problem I had with this place was that there was no restroom.
Read moreGuest
erik337
Points +18
This place is better than the bad reviews say. - Edit
I moved to Bixby Knolls in LB last year and have stayed away from this place because of the bad reviews. I always went further to Veggie Grill or Zephyr Cafe, but finally gave it a chance last week and my only regret was that I waited so long to try it for myself.
Read moreI've been there 3 times this week and have tried the Beef Cheesesteak, Chicken Parm, Sloppy Joe and drumsticks. The cheesesteak was easily my favorite, but the others were good too and I plan on trying out most of the menu.
I can understand why someone would say the chicken is under seasoned, but you can always add salt and pepper to it. The sloppy joe I had was on par with Swingers, but I don't go there anymore because they have messed up my order multiple times, giving me dairy cheese instead of the vegan cheese I ask for.
This place isn't fancy and doesn't try to be, like RFD with their traditional restaurant atmosphere wasted by the reheated food they serve (if RFD is not reheated, the chef does a great job or creating that style). It's comfort food and I'm glad they're n my neighborhood.
Guest
Cathy P.
Points +53
Not So Great - Edit
I first tried this place about a year ago, wasn't impressed enough to return but recently decided to try it again. Sorry to say, I think the food actually got worse. Very unappealing to look at, vegan slop was my first impression, very overcooked vegetables, didn't like the flavor or texture of the two meals we shared. I thank them for trying but wish they would try a lot harder. The guy at the counter is wonderful--helpful and personable. I like the neighborhood feel of the place.
Read moreGuest
Badinia
Points +68
Friendly People, I Enjoyed It - Edit
I had the California Chik'n Sammich and it was good- this is a vegan junk-food palace, it's good to have around- the owner was very friendly all in all, I had a good experience. I was disappointed that the tots are sweet potato tots but that's my personal gripe. SWEET POTATOES YOU ARE MY ENEMY! That's all. Nice folks, fast and friendly service, vegan junk food.
Read moreGuest
giegie
Points +94
Just OK - Edit
This place uesd to be called "OK Burger", now it's ok vegan food. I really wanted to like it better, I've been twice and tasted four different dishes...Crispy Chicken Wrap, Parmasean Chicken Sandwich,TVP Meatball Sub, and the Chicken Burger. All were kind of bland, I feel really bad saying this as I really want this place to succeed, but it's true. The best part was the sweet potato tots. I will go back when I'm in a pinch, and also to try a desert(the Whoopie Pie sounds really good). As a side note I wish they had healtier bread options....I know this isn't supposed to be healthy food but I prefer the taste and texture of whole grain breads to white.
Read morePros: vegan, friendly staff
Cons: bland
Guest
KenBobSaxton
Points +18
Not whole food - Edit
As with many restaurants this one seems to rely heavily on breads made with refined white flour...
Read moreLikewise the Vegan burger was about the same as Boca Burgers, far too rich. Give me a veggie burger where I can see some veggies; carrots, peas, corn, potatoes.
It's great to have another Vegan choice in the area, But I didn't become Vegan to eat bland protein-rich burgers and white bread. Something that is digestible would be appreciated.
On the other hand, sweet potato fries were nice.
Pros: Sweet potato fries, clean, All Vegan
Cons: refined white flour, protein-rich vegan burger
Guest
MrsVeganPizza
Points +313
Long Beach Vegan Eatery - Edit
I do feel somewhat mixed about this place. I've only been here once and only tried one menu item, a phyilly cheesesteak type sandwich. I found it very tasty! I enjoyed it. It was under $10.
Read moreAt the same time, it did feel like something I could make at home with bread, plant meat, veggies and daiya. I would definitely go back if I lived closer to try some other items.
This is not like a Native Foods or Veggie Grill which I think we in this area have grown accustomed to. If this were the only vegan place in Southern California, I feel like it would be easier to sing its praises. Based on my one item, the food is tasty. It's only a dollar more to add on fries. But, I think overall the prices are too high considering that the food does seem like something you could put together yourself without creativity. If the prices were lower, it would make more sense.
I say give it a try for yourself. What vegan doesn't like trying a new restaurant? The service was friendly, and the interior clean.
Pros: tasty philly sandwich, friendly service, local feel
Cons: a bit pricey for what they're serving
Guest
Andrealv
Points +59
LBVE- good for LB, but not great.. - Edit
It's nice to have another vegan option in LB, but LBVE falls short of providing great vegan options for those familiar with some of the great vegan/vegetarian options out there. For meat eaters trying vegan food for first time, it's pricey but decent. However, for anyone who has been to Native Foods, Veggie Grill, Real Food Daily or one of the many other vegan friendly establishments, it's disappointing.
Read moreAt nearly $15 for a sandwich and side, it's also very expensive for the quality and quantity provided, considering this is a fast-food counter-order type place.
I'd love to see them succeed; maybe making homemade menu items more obvious and considering adding sides to their $9-$10 sandwiches. Better training so that staff knows what is included and menu items are prepared and served completely (I know I'm not the only one who has received my order missing something).
A vegan restaurant is awesome, but some improvements need to be made here to live up to the standards other similar vegan restaurants have established. Especially to get carnivores to open their minds to the possibility of compassionate yet delicious dining. I would encourage LBVE to ask their diners how they like their food and ask for suggestions. Not everyone is comfortable 'complaining' or providing suggestions to restaurant workers who may or may not be open to them. I know they've gotten some bad press lately, so I encourage them to positively seek feedback from their customers on a daily basis and use that to improve and make this place into the awesome spot I know exists in the owners' hearts!
Updated from previous review on Wednesday October 26, 2011
Pros: vegan
Cons: expensive
Guest
TomDuncan
Points +11
What a treasure. - Edit
I've eaten here twice this week. The food is great the selection is wonderful and I will be back for more. The owners are really great people and the employees are very friendly. I'm gonna tell everybody I know to try this restaurant. I'm so glad to have a delicious vegan restaurant this close to home. Thank you Jeff and Beckey!
Read morePros: Taste, Variety
Guest
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