The Southern California Restaurant Thread

[Amy SF]

I'm hoping that discussion of local restaurants will, ah, get the juices flowing and spur readers of this forum to discuss WHERE we can go for a meetup, not just IF there is going to be a meetup. :notvegan:

So, my first choice: http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&q=Chandni+%2B&near=Santa+Monica,+CA&fb=1&view=text&latlng=3276558802486529535&dtab=2&reviews=1&oi=more_rev&sa=X&ei=Jch7SIX4FqiKiAPcvpRP

Chandni Vegetarian Indian restaurant. Big plus is it's right in my neck o' the woods. :D

I only have eaten there once, actually, many years ago, and don't remember what it's like. Anybody willing to give this place a try?

[danakscully64]

Hey, why do WE have to drive far? :p

Sounds good!

[*AHIMSA*]

So...Is it a discussion thread for restaurants in SoCal in general?

I have many to discuss. :)

[Amy SF]

So...Is it a discussion thread for restaurants in SoCal in general?

I have many to discuss. :)

Go for it! :up:

[danakscully64]

VEGAN ZONE! :) :lick: Very good!

[Amy SF]

And pray tell us, WHERE is Vegan Zone located? :whip:

[*AHIMSA*]

Vegan Zone is my favorite restaurant in San Diego. http://www.veganzonesd.com/

The food has an Asian flair, but they also have great French fries, burgers of various sorts as well as quesadillas and pancakes.

It is small, clean and 100% vegan.

[danakscully64]

Ahimsa suggested it to me, even told me how to order one of the soups :lick: I think it's very affordable too!

Pineapple Burger (http://www.flickr.com/photos/danakscully64/2232449125/) and Tom Kha Soup (http://www.flickr.com/photos/danakscully64/2232449199/).

[*AHIMSA*]

Oh that soup is soooooooooo good!!! :drool: Sometimes I go in just for that (which takes a LOT of restraint, 'cause it's all so good!!!).

[danakscully64]

I had it in January and still haven't forgotten how good it was. We stopped by on our way home and took the leftovers. I want to duplicate it, but can't find all of the ingredients locally.

Do you ever order "to go?" I wish I lived closer!

[danakscully64]

Mark was in San Diego and stopped and got me some Tom Kha on his way home :hungry: :lick:

[Amy SF]

Ahgeez we need a SD meetup! :D

[danakscully64]

:yes::yes::yes:

[*AHIMSA*]

Agreed!!! :vebo:

[codemonkey]

I wish there was a veggie place in inland north county SD. There's Sipz in Kearney Mesa but I can never convince my family to drive all the way over there to eat there with me when I'm out visiting.

[danakscully64]

Leave your family behind and take a road trip to see us :D

[codemonkey]

My husband and I have already decided that the next time we go to San Diego, we're not telling my parents and staying with friends. They monopolize all our time and won't go to awesome vegan restaurants with us.

[danakscully64]

Aw, that sucks. I would be honest with them and say "You're just not cool enough to hang with us." :p :lol:

[Amy SF]

OMG Look what I found in today's Los Angeles Times!


Vegan Spot: A vegan twist on comfort food in Silver Lake
By Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
August 18, 2008
IF YOU think vegan junk food is an oxymoron, you've obviously never had a dairy-free "Twinkie" from the Vegan Spot. So great is the public desire for them that Silver Lake's newest vegan destination -- it's been open for three months -- regularly sells out of the golden-cake tubes filled with rich white frosting.

"I hadn't had a Twinkie in probably 25 years," says the restaurant's co-owner and chef, Sara Radovanovitch, about her first taste when the baker brought them in. "It was amazing. I'm eating something that totally tastes like my youth and it's not going to give me a heart attack."

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-earlybird18-2008aug18,0,4048433.story

Apparently they deliver, but I doubt they'd deliver all the way to Santa Monica. :( Looks like a road trip is in the offing to Silverlake. :lol:

[danakscully64]

I make vegan twinkies (http://www.flickr.com/photos/danakscully64_/2572592720/):)

[Amy SF]

Wowee! Save some for Labor Day, mmkay? :D

[danakscully64]

We can make some together on LD if you want or I can make some in advance :)

[whisper]

Well if anybody ends up in Big Bear, snow boarding or something, there's a few good places.

A new Indian restaurant just opened up called The Himalayan. They have a huge veg section and the owner(?) is very nice. He lets me know if something has dairy in it. They have a great lunch special too. It comes with two entrees, soup, rice and bread for $7.95. I eat it a lot :D

Maggio's has delicious vegan pizza. They offer a couple of different gourmet sauces. Domino's comes out like a hard piece of cardboard though. They said it's because they've raised the temp of their ovens.

And if you like Mongolian bbq's, theres one of those too. Just make sure to go before it changes to dinner prices....it's about double the lunch price.


There are a few places to stay away from though (constant health dept closures, etc) so if you come up feel free to ask which ones.

[danakscully64]

My bf and I might be flying up to Big Bear soon, I'll let you know :)

[danakscully64]

Oakland isn't in So Cal :sealed: