meatlessinla's Profile
Great Indian Food in Los Angeles?
Crown of India in Hollywood east of Highland. It is some of the most flavorful Northern Indian food in the LA area outside of Artesia. The chef was the original chef of India's Grill. The portions are huge and it has no atmosphere to speak of.
Crown of India
6755 Santa Monica Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90038
(323) 465-3321
Tea Houses and Loose Tea
You can order high quality Chinese tea through 1001 Plateus. They are local and will arrange for a tasting.
http://1001plateaus.com/
Pumpkin Season - Recommendations?
I had a pumpkin macaron from Boule yesterday and while the texture was great, it had no pumpkin flavor, not even pumpkin pie spice.
Pumpkin Season - Recommendations?
I've made the delicious Kabocha squash with Farro and Cavolo Nero from Suzanne Goin’s Sunday Suppers at Lucques cookbook. I haven't had it in the restaurant, but it would be worth checking if she's making it this year. Or just make it at home although it is time consuming.
Nice restaurant with good vegetarian (options), Beverly Hills-ish
I'll have to try the tempeh at Chaya Venice. I imagine it's less than $27.
best veggie burger? astro?
I think you're referring to:
Simply Wholesome
4508 West Slauson Avenue
323-294-2144
Nice restaurant with good vegetarian (options), Beverly Hills-ish
Grace on Beverly (more West Hollywood than Beverly Hills) has a few vegetarian entrees, sides, appetizers and salads. The heirloom tomato and tempeh napolean is a hearty $27 veggie dish.
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Grace Restaurant
7360 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90036
Chang's Garden- Vegetarian review w/ pics
Known for its vegetarian dishes, the regional food of Shanghai can oftentimes be a source for better than average meatless renditions of normally carnivorous delicacies. One of the finest examples is the rendition of a smoked duck appetizer constructed from multiples layers of tofu skin common on Shainghainese restaurant menus. Chang’s Garden does not make the vegetarian duck but their cold kao fu (listed as sliced gluten) definitely satisfies the vegetarian meaty appetizer crave. Unlike the "gluten puffs” swimming in brown sauce found in some Chinese restaurants or the gluten appetizers common in vegetarian delis in Hong Kong, Chang’s kao fu is a dry firm, slightly spongy vehicle for the rich savory sauce in which it is marinated. Served with equally flavorful mushrooms, knots of tofu skin, and bamboo shoots, I could have been satisfied with an entrée sized portion of this alone.
We ordered another classic Shanghainese cold appetizer, sweet lotus root. I believe the dish is normally prepare with glutinous rice stuffed into the little holes of the root but this version was stuffed with what tasted like dried fruit. My friend who has spent much time in China said that some unidentifiable flavor in the dish transported him in memory to many a meal in China. The lotus roots had been braised until softened in a sugary, fruity syrup seasoned with that unknown spice.
I had to try the green bean pancake, a vegetarian version of the beef rolls that have been getting rave reviews over at 101 Noodle Express. Of course, I can’t compare the two, but I’d think that any carnivore would be more than pleased with this hot appetizer. A pancake (similar in texture but thinner than scallion pancakes) is rolled around green beans that have been fried with sliced shiitake mushrooms.
The Hunan tofu (prepared without the pork) was a spicy dish similar in appearance to its Sichuan equivalent. Unlike mapo tofu though, the slices of soft tofu were cooked with green onions and thin slices of black mushroom; instead of the heat arising from the numbing addition of Sichuan peppercorn, the oily bright red sauce was cooked with slices of fresh chiles. It was pretty great and was the firt item on the table to disappear.
The vegetarian kidneys were made of the stuff sold in the packaged vegetarian meat section of Chinese supermarkets. The waitress couldn’t tell us what was the actual ingredient in the substitution although she said she guessed it was made of grain. The texture is a bit rubbery, the shape is almost accurate and the criss-cross design on the top resembles the pattern cut into real kidneys in Chinese cooking. Stir fried with black mushroom, bell peppers and basil, the bland “kidneys” mostly served to provide texture while the cuttings helped the little nuggets to hold the flavorful brown sauce.
Better versions of snow cabbage with tofu sheets and fresh soy beans can be found elsewhere. The greens were tough and the sauce lacked depth.
Upon hearing our vegetarian request, the waitress suggested that anything on the menu in the tofu and vegetable sections could be prepared sans meat. In fact, she was so conscientious that she inquired as to whether or not we could eat leeks and garlic (ingredients prohibited by many vegetarian Buddhists). She inspected each dish on our table to ensure that her instructions to the kitchen to omit the meat had been followed.
Our feast for three, with plenty left over totaled $46. The service was attentive and a vegetarian can comfortably enjoy regional fare here without feeling like you are missing the essence of the cuisine.
See photos at:
http://meatlessinla.blogspot.com/2007/09/changs-garden-arcadia.html
Chang's Garden
627 W. Duarte Rd. (626) 445-0606;
Open daily 11:30am-10pm
The Foundry vs. Hatfield's?
All' Angelo for good Italian on Melrose (near La Brea). It's small and kind of romantic.
Mock Meats in LA?
Now this is a topic I can get behind!
I think Bulan Thai (vegetarian, mostly vegan) has better mock meat (especially the chiken) and general Thai cuisine than the other vegan Thai restaurants mentioned in this thread. You can see a review and pics at: http://meatlessinla.blogspot.com/2007/08/bulan-melrose-ave.html
Here are some vegetarian restaurant recommendations featuring mock meat:
- Mighty Vege House on Valley Blvd in Alhambra - see my review w/ pics at http://meatlessinla.blogspot.com/2007/09/mighty-vege-house-alhambra.html
- Bean Sprouts in Arcadia
- Native Foods in Westwood does some fake meat althought I don't think it is their strong suit
- Tea Shaker and Vegetarian Restaurant in El Monte
- Fine Garden on Las Tunas in San Gabriel
- Vegetarian Wok on Valley Boulevard in San Gabriel
- Veggie Life Vietnamese in El Monte
- Papillion Vegetarian Cuisine Grill (Phillipino & Chinese) in El Segundo
- Hospital Cafeteria in the Glendale Adventist Medical Center
- Cinnamon Vegetarian Restaurant (Mexican) in Highland Park
- Vegisoul on Jefferson Blvd.
- Soul Vegetarian on Pico Blvd
- Leonor’s Mexican in North Hollywood , Studio City, & Valley Village
- Garden Wok in Reseda
- Good Karma Vegan Café (veggie burgers) on the Venice boardwalk
Non-Vegetarian restaurants with more than one mock meat option on the menu:
- Brite Spot on Sunset in Echo Park
- Golden China on Venice in Culver City
- Mock meat pizza toppings at Stonefire Pizza Co. on La Cienega
- Mendocino Farms in Downtown serves gourmet sandwiches w/ soy bacon & cutlets
- Astro Burger on Melrose in Hollywood
Many Shainghainese restaurants feature vegetarian meats such as the smoked "duck" appetizer. I just had vegetarian kidneys at Chang's Garden in Arcadia
You can get good mock meat products for cooking at:
- Bodhi Vegetarian Supply on Valley Blvd in Alhambra
- Veggie Express on Garvey in Monterey Park
- ABC Christian (Adventist) Supplies & Health Food Store in Glendale
There are also a bunch of vegetarian places in Orange County. I know I'll think of more...
Free cupcakes in BH today! Review & Pics of Crumbs
I just read your review - looks like I should have chosen the apple cupcake as my freebie. Yes, you're right, the cupcakes are the size of Costco muffins!
Free cupcakes in BH today! Review & Pics of Crumbs
I was walking in Beverly Hills to get a cup of coffee this morning when I received an offer I couldn’t refuse, a free cupcake from the hyped New York export, Crumbs Bake Shop. The display in the glass case was a vast colorful sugary array. The opposite of the refined decorated mini cupcakes at Vanilla Bake Shop, the frosting and toppings are liberally applied to Crumbs’ gigantic cupcakes. I couldn’t begin to navigate my way through the names of each cake/frosting/filling combination of cupcakes with titles like hostess and devil dog so I settled upon the Reese’s cupcake: chocolate cake, peanut butter frosting and filling. I felt guilty about walking away without supporting the business, so I spent $2.25 on a “mini” cupcake, the size of a regular cupcake by most standards.
The smaller sized cupcake had a bland, slightly dry and very sweet white cake with a chocolate cream cheese frosting. Both the cheese and the chocolate in the frosting were completely undetectable leaving only the taste of sweet sweet sweet – a cupcake for a 4 year old.
The chocolate peanut butter cupcake (normally $3.75) was only slightly less disappointing. The cake was moist and unlike the aforementioned frosting, did have some chocolate flavor. At first I was pleased by the presence of what tasted like real peanut butter in the frosting. The frosting however, left an unpleasant shortening like film on my tongue and considering its consistency, there was way too much of it.
You can see pictures at:
http://meatlessinla.blogspot.com/2007/09/crumbs-beverly-hills.html
On the bright side, there were other, more promising flavors: apple caramel, pistachio, cobbler, key lime, raspberry/blueberry swirl, carrot. Crumbs either possesses gumption or a clever business plan to exploit runoff from the long lines formed at the overrated Sprinkles only two blocks away. Unlike their nearby neighbors, Crumbs also sells scones, cookies, danishes, croissants, (massive) brownies, fruit pies, and full sized cakes.
I can't recommend the cupcakes but hey, if you're in the neighborhood today and in need of a free sugar high...
Crumbs
9465 S. Santa Monica Blvd., Beverly Hills
310-550-9811 www.crumbsbakeshop.com
The Nancy Bar on Weekdays ?(at Mozza)
I walked in at 6:10pm on a Wednesday night and was seated directly in front of Nancy's station at the mozzarella bar. The bar and restaurant was still 2/3 empty.
ISO fresh pita
Wholesome Pita makes their own. They're located at 7111 Melrose just west of La Brea next to Cafe M and are open until midnight.
Chocolate Chip Cookie Craving
Square One Dining
The chocolate spreads throughout the cookie more like zebra stripes than chips. The exterior crunch gives way to the soft chewey middle.
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Square One Dining
4854 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90029
Now Open- Bollini's - The Best Pizza in L.A.
And the way the sauce merged with the top layer of crust.
Now Open- Bollini's - The Best Pizza in L.A.
Comparis!!!! I grew up on that stuff. Thanks for the memories.
Indian food in Hollywood
India's Grill (near the Beverly Center at the La Cienega/San Vicente intersection in a minimall) used to be great but has been kind of spotty over the last few years. However, it is still better than most places that have been mentioned and the portions are very generous .
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India's Grill
428 S San Vicente Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
Osteria Mozza: a vegetarian's review
Our dinner for two totalled $95 and we were stuffed. I don't consider it inexpensive but we could have ordered less food and at many comperable places, it could have cost a lot more for the amount we had. We ordered:
3 mozzarella appetizers
2 pastas
1 side dish
Tea Houses and Loose Tea
For a relaxed experience, you can try Hwa Sun Ji, a Korean tea house in Koreatown - they offer a tea ceremony for a $10 reservation as well. I posted a review last week at:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/436729.
has anyone tried the vegetarian philly cheese steak sandwhich at astrobuger??
I'm always a fan of trying new things - be sure to let us know how they are. Or get both and bring the leftovers home.
Garden Grove Dining Options
Nyoc Nya Vien Thay is a Vietnamese candy shop specializing in sugar cane juice which can be really refreshing on a hot day.
14370 Brookhurst St. (714) 531-9801
24-hour food
101 Coffee shop in Hollywood for updated hotel diner food. The peanut butter, honey, banana shake is great!
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101 Coffee Shop
6145 Franklin Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90028
Korean Recs - Ktown
For a quiet refreshment, the charming Korean tea house, Hwa Sun Ji at 3960 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 100. I reviewed it last week:
http://www.chowhound.com/topics/436729
has anyone tried the vegetarian philly cheese steak sandwhich at astrobuger??
I haven't tried either the veggie philly cheese steak or fajitas but the veggie ham & cheese sandwich is good. The Santa Monica Blvd location does not have the full vegetarian menu offered on Melrose, they only have veggie burgers and a few other vegetarian patties.
Baklava
Thanks for reporting on the consistency of the baklava at Sarkis. Do you know if the baklava at the other places mentioned are the wet or dry variety?
Lark Cake Shop in Silverlake
The salted caramel and white chocolate lemon (filled with lemon curd) cupcakes were very good. I was less impressed with the chocolate mousse (the mousse frosting was great but the cake couldn't hold up). See pic at:
http://meatlessinla.blogspot.com/2007/08/lark-cake-shop-silver-lake.html
Korean Tea House, Review and photos
No, that must be a different one; I'll have to check it out. This place (Hwa Sun Ji) is between St. Andrews and Wilton on the South side of the street.
