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Categories: Vietnamese, Vegan [Edit]
501 Main StJoin the Bodhi Tree family for our first ever Brunch service this Sunday, mention Yelp when you come!
http://www.bodhitreehb...
Mon-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
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A+ vegetarian meats!
All vegetarian with a huge variety. It's a smaller diner, very clean and the staff is friendly. My husband and I ordered a small hot and sour soup (it was enough to share for a starter and DELISH), the "chicken" curry (made of soy) and some steamed vegetables that came with a peanut sauce. The food was amazing, around $30 for the two of us. There weren't many customers dining in the restaurant but there were several take-outs while we were there.
They also had some vegan desserts that we didn't get to try because we were too full - but they looked SO good. We'll have to remember to save room for next time.
THIS WAS A GREAT FIND!!!!
Been wanting to visit this place forever and since I hadn't seen my friend (who lives in HB) for a while now, we decided to finally give Bodhi a try.
We sat outside since it was a lovely day. We started with some egg rolls -- very nice! They used the Vietnamese wrappers and not the lumpia wrappers. I prefer them like that. The Chinese chicken salad was also quite tasty and refreshing.
Larb was a huge disappointment though. It was sticky, sweet and not light like how regular larb is. It also had too much peanuts in it. I'd pass on this one next time.
Tofu and mushrooms with brown rice (off the lunch specials menu) was nice -- a bit salty, but overall, good.
Service was attentive. The gal came back many times to check up on us, although towards the end, she never came to refill our empty water glasses.
I would come and eat here again given the chance. Really enjoyed everything -- except the larb!
3.5 stars
My husband and I have been going here for about 3 years. At first we didn't like it but once we found a few dishes we really loved, we've kept coming back. We've even started splitting a dish since the recession and we still end up full.
The owner is a doll and she always notices when I change my hair.
They've redecorated and it looks GREAT.. and they added vegan cookies, cupcakes and cakes to the menu.. all cooked daily and displayed in pretty cases at the front of the restaurant.
My husband and I stick to the stir fry part of the menu.. we always get the pork, since the texture is the most meat like and crunchy. I'd recommend the:
Broccoli stir fry
Spicy peanut stir fry (made mild because the flavor gets masked with the chilis)
Bamboo shoot stir fry
Curry Stir Fry (not spicy at all)
Oh and there drinks are fantastic.. they even put on extra whipped cream for me!
I'd recommend the banana bread pudding with the coconut ice cream. I think that's my favorite dessert at any restaurant anywhere.
Oh and they're great for large parties.. I've spent several of my bdays there.
Wow, the food is amazing as is the service! My hubby and I come here alot. On our last visit, we started out with the Mushroom Calamari which is crispy and chewy, just like real calamari but like the entire restaurant, it's vegan. You get a very generous amount with a tasty sauce for only $7.95. For dinner, he ordered his favorite, the Bodhi Fried Rice, which he orders spicy. It is perfect with generous amounts of faux beef and chicken. So yummy! At $8.95 is a great deal. I felt like noodles so I had the combination noodle soup which is served up steaming with lots of noodles, faux chicken and beef, sprouts, lime slices and veggies, in a huge bowl for only $7.95! We were throughly stuffed after all of that food. Everything I've ever tried has always been delicious. The Lemon Chicken is yummy as well as the Orange Chicken, and very filling! Try to save room for desserts which are always different but always great!
Recently turned Vegetarian and thought it would be really hard to find tasty places to eat out. This has changed my mind! We LOVE the Springs Rolls.... the mint leaves taste so fresh. Haven't had alot of dishes on the menu yet, but those I have are very good.
We sit outside most often and bring our dog. Sometimes the wait staff is not the most attentive, but they are very kind and bring water out to our dog. This puts a smile on our faces :) My vote - well worth a taste!
Had the Salmon skin/seaweed salad and combo vegetable soup today.
Both are delicious.
The salmon was nicely flavored and the seaweed is salty, which is sooo good. Light and refreshing, perfect for a hot day.
The vegetable soup was light, the vegetables fresh. The tofu is also very light, and the broth is perfectly clear. I didn't want anything spicy or crazy, just a clean yummy broth, and this hit the spot.
We also got treated to a sample smoothie. The strawberry was the perfect ending to a light meal before study session starts.
I have seen this place at least 100 times driving by in Huntington Beach and always tell myself I… Read more »
3.9 stars.
Good place to go after surfing. Down Main St. past all the busier stores. Parking is relatively easy to find depending on when you go. Lunch time got some pretty cheap meals. Will definitely go back when I got a veggie craving.
SIMPLE: BEST VEGAN FOOD AROUND....HANDS DOWN.
Family owned and operated. The mom/chef has perfected all the soy products to a tee. Support them, they're amazing.
I think Bodhi Tree will be what I miss the most about leaving Huntington Beach. This has been one of my favorite places to eat. It's walkable from the pier/main street area, never a wait, and always a great meal.
I've been to Bodhi Tree at least a dozen times in the last year have always left happy. This is Vietnamese-style Vegetarian cuisine, and it falls into the meat-alike category of veggie eating.
Try any of the rice paper rolls. The soups are good; not great. All of the curry/sauce-type entrees are great. Salads are always good. I especially like the walnut beef or chicken.
Service and atmosphere are also good, not great, in a casual, laid-back, semi-sterile OC way. The food is always stellar. Pricing is very reasonable for the Main Street strip, where you generally should expect a 10-15% Main Street Surcharge.
We're staying at Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim and were craving Vietnamese tonight! A quick search revealed Bodhi Tree, which was 20 minutes away. GREAT CHOICE! We ordered:
Shrimp spring rolls: These were nice and fresh, but didn't give the wow factor.
Sizzling rice soup: This gets 512 stars in my book. Super-infused with flavor and the rice is at once crispy, smokey, and plump with broth.
Spicy Shrimp: Ordered this with the brown rice. The shrimp were...shrimpy, which I miss. But despite the coolness of having some skrimps, the dish was just ok.
Roasted Meats with Vermicelli: Holy Jesus! This dish was exquisite. Savory broth with a variety of roasted meats, vermicelli noodles, and fresh herbs. You start with the vermicelli, ladle the meats and broth, and tear up fresh herbs. I just finished dinner an hour ago and I'm already ready for another meal of this!
Coconut Ice Cream: My favorite flavor ever, this was sweet without being cloyingly so. Sprinkled chopped peanuts provide a great asian slant.
All in all, I'll look forward to coming back as often as I can!
nomnomnom
get the orange chicken and beef stir fry.
so delisssshhhh!
and the vibe is super mellow and chill
great place to sit and talk and of courseeee
eat.
Bodhi Tree ROCKS!
The first time I came here, it was my first experience with a vegetarian restaurant and I'm not going to lie... I thought that my shrimp was actually shrimp!! It took a few bites of chewing, and logical thinking, to actually realize that the shrimp was not shrimp and the beef was not beef. But it was still GREAT.
And we keep coming back for more. Everything that I've had from Bodhi Tree has been really good. Sooo even if you're scared of the idea of a vegetarian restaurant, check this place out.
I've been wanting to take this sexy momma coworker to Bodhi Tree for weeks since she is an "vegan/avid-environmentalist/animal-lover/health-n ut/sorda koo-koo/but nonetheless my chocolate hotness."
I needed something to impress her with and Bodhi Tree went well beyond my expectations of vegan food.
What we ordered:
-Jackfruit Salad Grade: A+ (never had anything like this in my life!)
-Jicama Yam Shrimp Cakes Grade: A+ (reminded me of what my mom used to make back when I was a wee toddler)
-Chicken Pho Grade: A+ (I love my real chicken pho, but this one is almost identical. The clean broth and fresh ingredients threw a poppin-ass-party in my mouth!)
-Desserts: One BIGASS Chocolate Cookie and a Casava (sp?) Cake.
I've never heard of this Casava cake before, but its by far the best sweet potato cake i've been fortunate enough to salivate over.
I used to say my momma had the best recipe for a sweet potato cake...but now I'm not so sure anymore. Sorry Momma, I still love you the most though! lol
Thanks Bodhi Tree! You did your part for me and my date...now i need some Marvin Gaye to chip in a little bit back at my PIIIMP PAD!
Payyyce.
I'm not vegan, but i still appreciate this place.
I like the orange peel tofu chicken.
i've actually never tried anything other then that.
So, i'm probably no help to you.
I ramble alot in my reviews, maybe i should get better at this.
Decent Vietnamese/Asian vegetarian food. Definitely not the best I've ever had (that would go to Happy Veggie), but still pretty good. Average prices. Very very friendly service. The food was just okay, there was a bit more sauce involved than I generally like, which was kind of overpowering.
Avoid the restroom though, it was horrifically disgusting.
My friend took me here one Thanksgiving and i was in TOTAL disbelief that this was a VEGAN restaurant. We dined on chicken with lemon glaze, hot and sour tamarind soup, a beef and broccoli dish and some thai tea ice cream. The one thing that stuck in my mind bite after bite was...NO MEAT?? NO DAIRY PRODUCTS?? NO WAY!!
this place is a the best vegan restaurant i've been to. the vegan meat's taste like how they should taste and i am just baffled at how amazingly delicious the thai tea ice cream was. it was most likely made of soy products. I've been back several times and eventually befriended the guy who works there. you know i'll be back for more! hit me up and let's grab a bite to eat!
Best vegetarian restaurant and it's close to the beach and downtown HB. They have meat replacements that taste as good or better than the real thing and it's sooo healthy. The restaurant has a feel good vibe, friendly staff and excellent food. If you're looking for healthy dining, this is the place! Excellent food and the soups are excellent. Great staff with quick and friendly service. Great place to take friends, family and dates.
Update: The restaurant was recently updated and it looked nice before, but now it really looks great. The art work & touch of color looks great!!!
After reading all the rave reviews on this website my friend and I decided to give this place a try. Upon arrival the decorations looked awful and there was a terrible smell. The smell was BAD. This place felt dirty and I regret not leaving right away! I don't understand what all the hype is all about. My friend and I tried 2 dishes and they were at best mediocre.
Amazing!
What a shame this place isnt closer to LA proper.
After an hour drive we got some grub at this HB spot.
Too my pleasure, it was a awesome!
Not a shitty deep-fried viet-vegan mess like all the veg places in LA. This food is actually healthy, good quality vegan fare. They know what the fake meats are made of and the prices are very reasonable.
Super friendly staff and everything we had was delicious! Orange crispy chicken. Peanut butter beef. Shrimp curry! Holy god. What a gem... I hope they open one in LA and run the crappy ones out of business.
I've been to the Bodhi a few times and have always been satisfied.
However, I just had the most disgusting food encounter of my life. Furthermore, the worst response. I ordered the coconut curry soup and was really enjoying it until a small caterpillar floated to the top. My face whitened and my friend asked what was the matter. He investigated and confirmed the presence of a caterpillar! I tell the waitress who was very sweet, but did not seem to know what she was doing. She apologized, took it to the back and came back in thirty seconds to inform me, "no, that wasn't a caterpillar. That was a part of a mushroom."!!!
Okay, I get it. They're afraid of getting shut down because, honestly, serving insects could shut a place down. Furthermore, insects happen when you're working with fresh produce. I know. However, to respond to my disgust with an idiotic statement is infuriating. MUSHROOMS WERE NOT AN INGREDIENT IN MY SOUP!!!
So there. I'll never go back. And the world wide web now knows my horrible experience at the Bodhi Tree.
This is also one of my favorite vegetarian restaurants around town. I came here with my friend and her 10 year old daughter, who both recommended the seaweed wrap (I can't remember the name of it) and it was really, really delicious. It's basically a vegetarian buffet that you get to wrap up in seaweed. YUM.
The lemon chicken is also superb. Like someone else mentioned, as it's breaded and deep fried, it's not the healthiest thing on the menu, but it's certainly one of the best.
I give it a 4 star because service is somewhat iffy and because I really hate Huntington Beach. Especially main street, though it is a bit up off the beach and there aren't as many jocks hanging around as further up the strip.
ok so the food was good.
We got the spring rolls which were good, the seaweed wraps that I loved!!, the sauteed veggies with peanut dipping sauce which was pretty standard, and the crispy lemon chicken (?) which i thiought was a little greasy but my friends loved.
the thai iced tea ice cream was amazing. one of my friends thought it had i weird texture. I think it had some kind of ground almond topping? i loved it though.
the reason why i only gave 3 stars is that the service was impossible!
it took like 10 minutes and waving someone down to get our order taken when there were only three people in the whole restaurant.
then when I asked for my hot tea that they had forgotten, the waiter acted all offended. it was really weird.
but the food is great if you dont mind waiting a little.
My wife and I first checked this place out about a month ago the day after they re-opened. And while lots of places here say they're vegetarian, they claim to be vegan (and so far it seems to hold up based on their menu).
As for the food, the pho and the eggrolls were very tasty, but the pot stickers were only ok. We had a few other dishes that aren't coming to mind with the rest of the table and everyone had a good time.
The atmosphere had that typical asian cafeteria feel to it and was very casual. I don't know if you'd want to bring a date here, but you could definitely bring your coworkers or vegan friends who just want some decent, affordable grub.
I'd definitely go again if I was in the area.
Quality (food) - Vegans & Vegetarians rejoice!!! This is a great spot to have lunch or dinner, their food is very good. The mimic meats are actually very tasty! I cant say enough about their dishes, the Vegan Ice Cream is the BEST! and their Soup of the Day never fails. Great food all around.
Service - The main reason I didn't give a much higher rating. They have a chronic issue with serving their dinners in a consistent manner. On more than one occasion I had my order mixed up with another dinner. In addition I have had to request water or an additional beverage multiple times before it was served to me. I have started of late to just get my food to go and save myself the hassle of poor service.
Price $$ 5-15 (average per item) the prices are actually very value conscious.
Ambiance - The restaurant is clean and gets "cozy" when it gets packed during Lunch and Dinner.
Repeat Visit - Yes, although I have started getting my food to go as it takes shorter time than sitting down (strange I know..)
Very good place to eat. Great food and smoothies. The service is great and the people are very nice.
Their huge menu makes us very happy!
Chinese, Vietnamese... mixed Asian foods.
Lunch was so cheap! Soup, Chow mein, Rice and choice of entree for $5.95.
They also have vegan icecream and smoothies!
We liked this place very much and would go again.
Yummy!!
After a 15 mile bike ride I wanted a hearty and heathly lunch. A friend told me this funny story about the place and told me I should try it. (Story: 3 non-veggie friends didn't realize when they picked it from phone book that it was veggie...thought it was great but the meat tasted funny!!)
So, I ordered the sweet n sour "pork" lunch special...it was so delicious!! It came with a cup of delicious, fresh made, lentil soup...they make their soups from fresh veggies/beans every day. My favorite part of the meal.
Then the cabbage salad, steamed rice, and sweet n sour pork came and it was terrific!! Highly recommend.
The best part was all that plus a drink and tip was under $10...try to beat that price...come on...try the place it's great!
My boyfriend and I accidentally stumbled upon this place while walking by the Electric Chair...and I feel so lucky we did find this place.
I'm vegetarian but sometimes I really miss the taste of meat and the meat substitutes in this restaurant are even better than the real thing. I'm absolutely shocked that these meals are vegetarian. I was was so doubtful that I had to ask our waitress if what I ordered wasn't real chicken.
I'm definitely will be making another trip to this place.
BTW, the only negative thing was the fact that there was only 1 waitress so service was slow (but worth it).
I'm a sucker for peanut sauce and theirs is so good with the steamed veggies! My husband gets fake-meat dishes and cant even tell it's not meat! I don't need faux meat products, I just stick with the veggies, rice, soup, and drinks and am always satisfied.
It's also nice that it's north of all the business on Main St., yet close enough to shop and go to the beach.
I used to have to wait until I went to San Francisco to have vegetarian lemon chicken at Golden Era. The lemon chicken here is deep fried and not exactly healthy, but sooo good (but nothing beats Golden Era). I would not suggest eating the entire lemon chicken alone (it is deep fried after all), but it's a great dish to share with another person or two.
This is a good place to go with friends and order several items to share. I have liked everything I tried here, with the exception of the pad thai, which was very different than what I am used to. It wasn't bad, but did not really resemble pad thai (then again, this is a Vietnamese restaurant, so that does make sense).
Bathroom is kind of weird, you have to walk out of the restaurant and down a hall.
I would have given this place 5 stars, but on more than one occasion, I have been overcharged on the bill. I have had them charge more than what it says on the menu then argue with me when I pointed out the price on the menu! (Tip #1 for customer service: Don't argue with customers, especially if you are wrong!) But besides that, it's a good place to go. Their lunch special is a good deal. Just look closely at your bill. I don't usually, but now I know I have to when I eat here.
Having lived in HB for MANY years, I finally tried this place out - wanting to branch out to try something new. I was NOT disappointed. Usually I don't venture further inland than Olive Street when dining in downtown HB, but this is a vegetarian gem just a couple of more blocks in.
Their menu selection is fantastic. To start, we had the Spring Rolls. Light and delicious. We then had the "chick'n" curry stir fry and pad thai. Both were excellent. I would recommend to friends and would definitely go again.
OMG! this place is freakign amazing.
I had the "chicken" curry dish. VERY GOOD food. And bring a meat eater, they wont notice the difference.
I would recommend first timers to this place. :) Tofu is wonderful.
The sauces are great.
And the staff is really nice. :)
i love the bodhi tree cafe. it's probably about the only thing i have ever loved [and ever will love] located within the huntington beach city limits.
the food is consistently fresh and deeeeelicious...and most importantly the quality has not suffered over the years, which is refreshing.
really though, what does HB have going for it? a filthy beach, terrifying barbie doll ladies, annoying teenagers crawling all over main street like little sun kissed, blonde headed vermon, drunks, and lots of pint sized dogs. confession: i do like the drunks. i also like to pretend i'm a vegetarian when i come to this city so i can eat at the bodhi tree restaurant. especially when i'm around my veggie friends, i'm like 'oh yeah, cheez? chickennn?? gross, who needs that stuff, let's go to bodhi tree~!!' sometimes you gotta lie to kick it.
creepy fake meats ~ check.
good wontons ~ check.
edible spring rolls w/ fake shrimp ~ check.
pretty good version of a little, meatless banh mi ~ check.
delicious spicy, garlic shrimp ~ check.
all this plus various other yummy vegetarian treats at affordable prices! four of us had a feast the other day and we each spent about 15 bucks inc. tax n tip.
Hands down best vegetarian/ vegan joint I have been too. My meat indulging friends crave this place! that is how good it is. Right near the beach on on the end of main street so lots of good walking and where vegans and carnivores can enjoy there meal together. Everything is so cheap hear and the meals are literally almost too big to share, they always bring out like a huge thing of rice with your food. I am sorry megan about your caterpillar incident that was really disgusting but I will still eat here until something like that happens to me, then I would take a break and continue eating here. The lemongrass soy chicken (I think that is what I get) tastes great and I always get a yummy thai iced tea. YAY bodhi tree may you live on forever.
Four words: lemon chicken lunch special. I used to come here so often during my breaks at work that they remembered my order. The service is okay, the soups always seem to change and are like nothing I've ever had (which isn't necessarily a bad thing), and it makes me love vegetarian Vietnamese food.
I'm kind of wary of trying a new dish, though. Veggie Viet food can be hit or miss.
I feel so lucky to live incredibly close to this fantastic restaurant! Whenever I crave a nice bowl of pho, I got Bodhi Tree to count on. Their beef or chicken pho is fantastic on a grey day.
I usually start with their egg less egg rolls which are deliciously crunchy and filled with fake meat, not the usual cabbage and vermicelli noodles. Wrap that up inside a lettuce leaf and some mint leaves, dip it in their "fish sauce" and it is one satisfying appetizer. If there are more than 2 people, get the 8 egg rolls option because you will not want to share your seconds.
Either one of their spring rolls options are well made and very delicious as well.
The lunch specials are very filling and they have plenty to choose from! So far, none of the entrees have disappointed me.
My non vegetarian friends have all liked this place and said that it is very filling but not heavy so eat away!
Hum, not sure what I can really add. I'm not a vegetarian, but I do enjoy vegetarian foods, mainly 'cuz I grew up on tofu.
Anyway, I got some kind of soup with a baguette. The soup was OK, but the baguette was actually pretty tasty. My friend got some kind of veggie crispy chicken burger. It was...actually pretty close to a crispy chicken burger, texture wise. I was pretty surprised. Taste-wise, it wasn't too bad.
Service was a tad slow.
My friend and I went here and both have some experience with vegan food. We started out with pot stickers and Thai iced tea which were both YUMMY. My friend then ordered a combo plate consisting of "chicken, shrimp and fish," which she loved. I got the stuffed tofu which was really good, but sadly deep fried and I barely ate any of it. Both of the sauces were the best part. We ended with the banana bread pudding for dessert and loved it as well.
Overall I liked the place but made the mistake of thinking it was healthy just because it was vegan.
This place is FAN-TAS-TIC! I wish I lived right next door because I'd eat here for every meal and not even feel guilty about it. It's hard to find delicious and flavorful food that's vegetarian (not to mention vegan on many, if not most, if not ALL) dishes.
A lot of reviewers said the the Lemon Chicken was delicious -- and it issssss. But I asked the server (who was extremely nice and conversed for a long time with my mom about good food, accents, and the such) if he could recommend a dish and he said to try the Sizzling Pepper Steak (I think that's what it was called). I was skeptical because I really have never had good vegetarian beef. It's usually too peppery and kinda off. Always reminds me of a vegetarian beef jerky stick. But, he said it's what he recommends to people when they come in for the first time and it never disappoints, he said it actually brings people back. Amazingly, it was delicious. The beef did have some of that "veggie beef jerky" flavoring going on, but the pieces were small enough that it wasn't overwhelming. The flavors on the vegetables were savory and delicious. The tofu sucked up all the goodness of the sauce. If I could get the dish, I'd ask if the beef could be done away with, but I'd live with this beef over any other I've tried that's not made from real cow.
Also, the Wonton Soup was to die for. My mom and I regretted that we were so tempted to try so many dishes, but this was how we started our meal and we were sooooo glad we did. I haven't had Wonton Soup since I became a vegetarian over 9 years ago so I was in heaven. The flavors of the wontons and the mushrooms was fantastic. All the vegetables were fresh and scrumptious. We'd go back just for the soup! Amazing! Why can't more restaurants do this?
I live about 45 minutes away, and I'm already trying to figure out an excuse to go back. Yuuuummmyy!
Spicy actually means "spicy" at this place, and I liked that quite a bit. The sheer variety of food here overwhelmed me, but in a good way. The Thai Iced Tea definitely tasted like it lacked milk, but was absolutely perfect for washing down the spicy noodle soup. The fake meat isn't too bad.
Cons: the prices here seem a bit steep, and the service is mediocre. Also, the food isn't quite earthshatteringly good.
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