good health food stores/restaurants in los angeles?

[beachpotato]

hi -
i'm going to be going to LA for a few days and wonder if there are any good health food stores worth going out of my way for. i know that there's that a good one in the valley (don't remember the name), but other than that, i dunno. ideas?

[Amy SF]

:hi:

In Santa Monica, where I live, there is Coopportunity, which is a health food co-op. It's at 16th and Broadway, if you're going to be in this area. There are three Whole Foods stores here also (two of them used to be Wild Oats). There are WF locations all over Los Angeles, as a matter of fact. Where in Los Angeles do you think you'll be?

Oh, as for restaurants, there is a ton of them in the county. I always like to talk up Real Food Daily, as it's one of the best restaurants in the LA area. There is one location in Santa Monica and another in West Hollywood. There is a vegetarian Indian restaurant in Santa Monica called Chandni, and a vegan cafè in SM called Golden Mean which is very good, albeit a little expensive, at least for somebody like me who isn't working right now. :doh:

There is also the famous Follow Your Heart market and cafè in Sherman Oaks, a local institution and makers of Follow Your Heart vegan products. Here's the link to their website: http://www.followyourheart.com/marketandcafe.php

Also in the SF valley (Tarzana, I think) there is Madeleine Bistro, a vegan French restaurant. It has a good reputation. I haven't been there yet, but it's a goal of mine. :up:

In Westwood (home of UCLA), there is Native Foods. There are even raw restaurants in several locations.

Again, lt me know exactly where you'll think you'll be so I can suggest more places to shop and eat.

[beachpotato]

i don't know yet where i'll be, just doing the tourist thing for the weekend. my friend is picking the hotel. at home (san diego) i have stores that are related somehow to wild oats, but i'm looking for interesting food that i can't find here. i also need to be able to pick up something pre-made before my friend goes to pink's (insert screaming veggie here). thanks!

[Amy SF]

Good heavens, unless you're okay with sides, that's a good idea to get something before going to Pink's. http://www.pinkshollywood.com/pgz/menu.htm Totally nonveg friendly menu. :no:

[WonderRandy]

oh god, Pink's looks horrid!! is that one of those Hollywood tradition places? :spew:

[Amy SF]

Yeah, EVERYBODY goes to Pink's. It's very famous around here. Everybody loves it.

I've never been there myself.

[WonderRandy]

Looks like they do have a vegan dog on the menu - topped with guac, tomatoes, and chopped onions, only $3.45...

[Amy SF]

Oh, I missed that. So I guess they're not entirely hopeless.

The falafels I get here in Santa Monica are $3.25, but they are SO worth it. :p

[WonderRandy]

gawds I want falafel...!!!

[beachpotato]

how do they serve that falafel? in a pita w/hummus? :)

[Amy SF]

how do they serve that falafel? in a pita w/hummus? :)

From the LA Times review: "Falafel fried balls of cooked, mashed garbanzo beans, served with tomato, parsley and shredded lettuce topped with a sauce called tahini. All that is stuffed inside a pita bread to create a crispy, nutlike sandwich. The Falafel balls are cooked while you wait to ensure freshness."

You can have them add hummus, tabouleh and other extras either on the sandwich itself or on the side. :bobo:

Now I'm craving their falafels again. :brood:

[beachpotato]

From the LA Times review: "Falafel fried balls of cooked, mashed garbanzo beans, served with tomato, parsley and shredded lettuce topped with a sauce called tahini. All that is stuffed inside a pita bread to create a crispy, nutlike sandwich. The Falafel balls are cooked while you wait to ensure freshness."

You can have them add hummus, tabouleh and other extras either on the sandwich itself or on the side. :bobo:

Now I'm craving their falafels again. :brood:

yummy - where in SM is this place?

[Amy SF]

Hungry Pocket
1715 Pico Blvd.
right across the street from Santa Monica College

There is a little strip mall at Pico and 17th. It's in there.