Oh sure, back when I actually lived in Palo Alto, there wasn’t one vegan restaurant in sight. Now there’s two. Garden Fresh Vegan Cuisine opened earlier this year and I finally got around to eating there. Like their other, older location in Mountain View, they serve Chinese vegan cuisine.
On the menu, there’s plenty of imitation meat dishes (but if you’re not into that, there’s also tofu and just veggie dishes). Pictured above is Veggie Ribs – pressed shiitake mushrooms sautéed with onions and green peppers in a black bean sauce. It’s hard to believe it’s made out of mushrooms; they have such a nice, meaty texture.
Veggie Chicken Chow Mein – Soy chicken with cabbage, carrots, onions and bean sprouts. I love the fat wheat noodles and the fact that it’s not drowning in sauce.
Hunan Veggie Chicken – Shredded soy chicken with celery, carrots and bamboo shoots sautéed in a special hunan sauce. While this dish tasted good, it seemed a lot like the chow mein only without the noodles.
Next time, I’ll have to do a better job of ordering. All-vegan restaurants are so few and far between that I get a little overwhelm when I’m presented with an entire menu of dining options. But that’s a good thing.
Related Posts
Loving Hut Review – the other all-vegan restaurant in Palo Alto
Vegan Red Velvet Cupcake From Sprinkles – If you’re going to be in the area, you might as well stop by for a cupcake.
YUM!!!
i remember my first all vegan restaurant – it was caravan of dreams in nyc and i was sooooo happy, excited, and overwhelmed. ah ha ha! and i still totally get overwhelmed in an all vegan place – i think it’s because i’m just not used to having ALL the options available. the garden fresh yummies look great! sorry that the hunan veggie chicken was a little disappointing, but those ribs look like they made up for it. mmmmmmm!
Good to know! I am moving very close to Palo Alto this fall. :)
What an interesting idea — pressed shiitake mushrooms made into ribs. I’ve never had anything like that but it sounds delicious. The noodles look good, too. I love thick, chewy Chinese noodles. Sometimes it’s really hard to predict which dishes will taste alike, and it’s usually disappointing to end up with two practically the same, when there are so many choices!
I’ve never seen shiitake used quite like that- They really do look like chunks of meat! Crazy! I’ll have to experiment with this concept.
Dang, that chow mein looks right up my alley!
Whoa! I didn’t know about these places, although I have tried the Sprinkles Cupcakes!
I always feel a mixture of delight and sorrow when I see something as awesome as those veggie ribs look–must reproduce, but how?!
I know what you mean about being overwhelmed at all vegan restaurants. We were in Boston recently and hit up an all vegan Thai restaurant–with literally over 100 options. I think I’ve gotten too comfortable with my usual 8 or so options. 100 was too much.
Have you ever been to any of the other Loving Huts? Supposedly they’re all different. One of my all-time favorite veg restaurants, Alice & Friends, in Chicago, recently became a Loving Hut.
Thanks everyone for your comments!
Mark – I’ve been scouring the net for a recipe but I haven’t found anything yet.
I’ve only been to the Loving Hut in Palo Alto, but I have heard they are all different. I think it’s the kitchen size. The one in Palo Alto is kinda small so their menu is limited.
I love this place!!! The sweet and sour “pork” is the best. I’m sad that I moved to the city so I can’t enjoy this great place as easily.
Karen – I’m going to try the sweet and sour pork next time I go there. I’ve heard good things about it. Thanks!