- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Greens Cafe - CLOSED
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Vegetarian Vegan, Vegetarian [Edit]
15435 Jeffrey RdSte 110
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 653-1241
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
103 reviews for Greens Cafe
Review Highlights
"My favorite is the join-the-club sandwich."
(in 4 reviews)
"and I'm not even a big fan of carrot cake."
(in 6 reviews)
"I tried the Eggplant & Tofu in Basil Brown Source and it..."
(in 4 reviews)
Loading...
103 reviews in English
-
Review from Lauren J.
San Diego, CA
9/16/2010
It is hard to find yummy vegan food. The food is always fresh and consistent at Greens. Sometimes the food takes a little bit to prepare, but I guess that's a good thing b/c they are making it fresh.
I LOVE the broccoli "beef" dish and the Half Moon Wraps. The salad dressing is light and delicious. They also carry kombucha. -
Review from Derrick G.
Irvine, CA
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
I guess I should preface this with the fact that I am not vegan or vegetarian, but can appreciate most foods and have had some truly exceptional vegan food.
The restaurant looks much cleaner and inviting than the old rundown shopping center that it is housed in. When we walked in around 6:30 on a Sunday night, it appeared to be pretty empty with one other table of 6 dining there . I noticed on their website that they had a buffet for 11.95 on Sunday nights. To our surprise, there wasn't anything set up there aside for a little window with a pot of hot and sour soup sitting there. Luckily it wasn't a problem since we were planning on ordering a-la carte anyways, but still odd.
We noticed on yelp that they had a buy-one get one free drink special which the person working there was not aware of and had to call the owner. We tried the plum iced tea which was a good blend of not too tart and not too sweet and my mother-in-law opted for a hot tea. They had iced tea for 2.50 and to our surprise we were charged 3.50 for hot tea?!?! Are you kidding me?
We asked for some recommendation on an appetizer between the sweet potato fries and faux chili fries. We went with sweet potato fries, but the waitress brought us the chili fries and seemed shocked when we told her she messed up. We ended up just being agreeable and kept the fries. The fries themselves were bland and unseasoned yet the faux chili had a decent spice to it and was tasty.
We did the faux orange chicken which was everyones favorite dish featured some breaded cauliflower and some soy stuff too. Good crunch and flavor.
The jumping for joy fried rice was pretty tasty but ultimately too salty.
I thought our favorite dish was going to be the joyful rainbow garden which was their signature dish on their front door. As a Surprise to us, they didn't tell us that they were going to substitute broccoli for the bok choy around it. All in all it would have been a hit if again it wasn't too salty.
They offered all the tables there to try their hot and sour soup which must have been leftover from their lunch buffet. Here was the big surprise - it was bland and under-salted. Hot and sour soup is almost always super salty.
I would stick to veggie grill or native foods if you are looking for some good veggie food around Irvine. -
Review from andrea v.
6/24/2010 4 photos
My first experience at this restaurant was when they first started their Sunday buffet ($11.95). I made reservations and was looking forward to it and it easily lived up to my expectations. There were not a huge number of dishes, as I would expect at a generic buffet somewhere else, but instead there was a good variety of quality dishes that were all vegetarian!
I prefer a buffet setup like this when I want to try a lot of different things on the menu without having a ton of leftovers. I don't normally like buffets because low quality food designed to stuff you is the opposite of an ideal meal, but I'll make an exception when a restaurant has a special buffet option like this one. I got to try a little of everything, which makes it easier to know what to order on a return trip.
My favorites (some from the buffet, some from a regular order):
Crystal Wraps- I love all spring rolls. These were just as refreshing and delicious as they looked
Jumping for Joy Fried Rice- flavorful full of yummy veggies and healthy all in one!
Orange tender of joy- If their menu didn't tell me there was cauliflower in here, I wouldn't have known!
Eggplant with tofu- This is one of my favorite asian style dishes and this one was extra good!
Last time I was here, the guy at the counter told me they were going to become a Loving Hut (something about the Supreme Master and the timing of opening this location and the ownership, it was all a bit confusing).
Parking: Ample parking in strip mall lot
Prices: Normal affordable veggie prices($7-$10), $6.95 lunch special was available when we visited on a Sunday!
Atmosphere: Casual. Mirror lined restaurant with tables and bar area against one wall to for additional seating.
Service: You order at the front counter and they bring your food to you. Minimal, but effective, and they are always so nice.
Supreme Master TV: Yep, it's there. Just think of it as free entertainment if you choose to watch.
I am a fan for sure! I hope it's just as good or better when it becomes a Loving Hut location. -
Review from Candice C.
Huntington Beach, CA
8/24/2010 1 photo
This place is okay. Nothing to write home about.
However, one of my favorites is the Field Singer salad: "Grilled seasoned soy protein bites on a bed of shredded organic green and purple cabbage, organic celery, organic carrots, organic onions, toasted almond slices, goji berries, and Asian sesame vinaigrette." - It was yummy, and a huge portion! Good for two people.
The service was mediocre. It's kind of annoying when I have to flag down a waiter just for water. Didn't tip very well because I was always waiting for something, not being served.
It is located caddy corner IVC (Irvine Valley College) with other good restaurants. I suppose it's a good place for veggie eaters in the area as the closest option would be Veggie Grill on Campus Drive, or Wheel of Life on Culver.
Come here and see for yourself - maybe there is something I missed that you can tell me about. I would be willing to give it another chance, I just didn't fall in love with it. -
Review from Jim T.
Updated - 6/21/2011
The Greens Cafe is CLOSED, but if you want the same menu selections go to the Loving Hut, in Tustin or Ladera Ranch. Went there and the food is almost exactly like the menu the Greens Cafe had, and also the same religious affiliation on their flatscreen television. LOL
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
1/13/2010
I went to Greens Cafe again and again it was outstanding Vegan food. Warning however, on their… Read more »
-
-
Review from T T.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/11/2010
Ambiance: Clean but very small and can get crowded. Sitting at the bar stool area is annoying
Price/Portion: Expensive with TINY portions. Extremely disappointing
Service: Friendly
Taste: Fabulous greasy after-party in your throat.
3 Stars because they seem to have good intentions.
After growing up eating a LOT of Chinese vegetarian most of my life. This place was pretty disappointing. If you want good Chinese veggie, go to Happy Family or Happy Garden in Rowland, Vegetarian Wok or Gourmet Vegetarian in San Gabriel, or Veggie Delight in Cerritos. I'm sorry Irvine are you have to pay so much for mediocre veggie food.
So my friend took me here, and I was surprised and actually excited about a vegetarian buffet! The items for the buffet were so-so, but the grease factor just killed it! Other veggie Chinese restaurants are greasy too, but some reason the taste is actually cohesive.
However, I really don't think the buffet is worth it. I'd rather go to souplantation and use their buy one get one free coupons and spend half the amount there than here. My mom was in the area and got some lunch specials. MY GOSH The pORTions WERE TINY! We couldn't stop laughing. We thought, maybe all the Irvine area people are so fit and skinny because they don't get enough food here!
There was very limited seating during dinner time and we sat on the bar stools that was a pain. Everyone trying to walk in and out. No fun.
Anyways, I know they have coupons and yelp-specials. But meh, I'd rather just go home and cook. -
Review from Grace C.
Oakland, CA
5/18/2010
**Review STRICTLY for their dinner buffet**
2.5 stars...
Came here on Saturday night and received a warm welcome from the owner (I assume he was the owner.) He immediately informed us of the buffet, which he said was "a better deal", and since we couldn't decide what to order from the menu, we went with the buffet.
For $13 per person including tax, you had unlimited access to vegan entrees (imitation meat, mixed veggies, rice, noodles) , appetizers (spring rolls, sweet potato fries, fried spring rolls, salad), desserts (flan, carrot cake, chocolate cake), fruits, tea (green or red), and soup (corn chowder).
Well, the food was OK; I've definitely had WAY BETTER and less oily , Asian-influenced vegan and/or vegetarian food. The items I liked the most were the fried spring rolls (cabbage and carrots inside, mainly), the rice with various veggies, and the imitation beef. The desserts were plain gross (what do you expect - no cream, butter, cheese, milk?) The soup was super starchy (potato-based) and I didn't like it at all.
The main problem during my visit was the slow service, which resulted in lack of/limited quantity of food (empty trays for nearly 30 minutes!?) Needless to say, the scraps that were sitting in the trays were cold and soggy. I think the food would have been better if it was HOT, fresh, and if there was more of it.
The table next to us ordered off the menu and they seriously waited more than half an hour for their food to come. The restaurant wasn't even busy - only 3 tables (including mine) were in the house.
Slow slow slow.
I don't know if I'll ever return. -
Review from Dru C.
8/8/2009
I'm not a vegetarian, but I enjoyed everything I ate here. The food was fresh, light, and airy. I nibbled on some crispy stix and crystal wraps for appetizers. I grazed at some "jumping for joy" fried rice and enjoyed the "wong tong" (is that racist?) soup, made with organic tofu and shitake mushrooms.
Throughout the meal, I felt like a skinny pixie dust fairy, ready to fly away at any moment's notice and spread the word on the benefits of vegetarian food. Tinkerbell would be so proud.
The only thing was, after the meal I was still hungry and I was seriously craving some meat. Big time. Greasy, marbled, fat-laden dead animal protein of any kind. I wanted to eat like Pumbaa the big, fat warthog. Oh wait, Pumbaa eats bugs and insects, right? Nevermind. I felt like EATING Pumbaa. Yum, bacon and pork chops. -
Review from Lee N.
Newport Beach, CA
6/20/2010
I am no vegan or vegetarian by any means. I would rather eat real meat any day.
So after reading some of these reviews on Yelp, I had to try this place out for myself. The place is ok but keeping in mind that they are serving fake meat, the food was not that bad. Had I not known that this was a vegan restaurant, I would have never known that there was fake meat on my plate. I had the table-side sizzling plate and it had little pieces of soy, made to look like real shrimp, slices of beef, and shredded pork. You can only tell that this was not real meat by actually tasting it.
The food was a little too salty for my taste, but the service was good and the staff was friendly. I might try this place again...some day. -
Review from Anita L.
10/8/2009 1 photo
This place is so close to me I should really be eating here more often, but then again, when I'm craving vegan, this isn't usually the first place that pops to mind.
The staff were nice and the food wasn't bad. I had a wrap with a bunch of vegetables in it. I thought it was good for what it was, but it wasn't extremely exciting. I had a wrap with a really good mix of vegetables in it. It was pleasant, nothing overly exciting, but didn't taste bad either. The side of potato salad was really bland though -- kinda tasted like nothing actually.
If I was seriously craving vegan/vegetarian food and I just couldn't wait to drive to the Veggie Grill, I'd definitely stop here. However, I can take it or leave it if you know what I mean. -
Review from Rachelle B.
La Mirada, CA
9/10/2010 1 Check-in Here
When I lived in Irvine, I'd always get coupons (50% off, or buy one meal get the other free. What a deal! Save them, they'd be great to use) for Green's Cafe. I would always save them, but never go. Of course, when I move out of Irvine (but I still work there) I actually try it out. What a gem! It's a lot like wheel of life, without having people screaming "Vegan power!" at your or the crazy "go green/vegan" propoganda. It was really empty at about 1pm, there were only 3 other parties there, and I got a big ol' table all to myself. It took forever for someone to get my order, which I did not like one bit.
I ordered the 2 item lunch combo (they change every few days, luckily I went on a Thursday and those seem like better options) with the green beans and ground "meat" and the eggplant with tofu, which came with a side of rice. It came out really fast and the portions were just right for what I paid, ($5.50) though they were kind of small. I love eggplant. I love it more when it's cooked well and not bitter tasting. The sauce is really great, not too much of it either, because everyone knows that eggplant are like sponges and just soak up flavors like crazy. This was just right, and so was the tofu. The green beans were really crunchy still and they weren't swimming in sauce. LOVED this combination.
Service wasn't the best, but they do the best they can, I suppose. Would love to come here for the lunch buffet on Sundays, but I live further away and by the looks of the reviews, it doesn't seem like it's so great. I think I'll stick to their awesome lunch specials. -
Review from Angela C.
7/17/2009
Walking in I was a little uneasy because it felt like a Chinese restaurant with hints of modernity (I think my brain was confused), but yet I remembered the rave reviews on yelp so took a chance with this place. For the most part, I have never eaten at a straight up vegan place that I enjoyed, but this place was pretty darn good. So good in fact, that I completely forgot that I was even eating at a vegan restaurant.
The menu selection seemed limited - they had some stirfries, some wraps, sandwiches, and noodle soups with pictures of each. None looked particularly appetizing from the menu, but once our food arrived, my friend and I both happily ate away! We ordered the Jumping for Joy Fried Rice and one of the wraps and shared. Both were absolutely delicious. Don't knock this place till you try it - great service too from a cute lil' Chinese lady.Comment from Lawrence L. of Greens Cafe 7/29/2009
Good News to our dear customers: we are going to have an… More » -
Review from Edrees H.
Tustin, CA
4/16/2009
This place is hands down amazing. I don't need to write a review. JUST GO.
.
.
.
.
.
......Okay, I'll write one anyway.
First thing when you walk in you will notice how clean and aesthetically pleasing this place is. You will also be greeted in a very friendly way, warm smile by the owner. I talked to him a lot, actually, and got to know him a bit. And as the reviews below said, he is extremely passionate. He just wants to offer people in the area the choice of vegan/vegetarian, and even offers local students a 10% discount on the bill! But GREAT owners and employees, we felt very comfortable here.
Now onto the food. I am not a vegan - I'm not even a vegetarian. Though I think it's a great way to go and I love the food - so I go to places like this pretty often. The food was really really good. Take it from a meat eater like myself that it was just as good as anything else I could eat meat or not. I ordered "jumping for joy" fried rice. Yes, all their dish names can be confused with ads for Prozac - but that's a good thing.
Go here if you are near the area and want to try out a very clean, friendly, and tasty vegan place :)Listed in: My Neighborhood, Top Restaurants
-
Review from Sam S.
Irvine, CA
9/1/2009 6 Check-ins Here
Greens Cafe...How do I love you? Let me count the ways!
1. Friendship Sandwich - Open faced deliciousness featuring avocados and grapeseed mayonaisse. Fantastic, but difficult to eat with a beard.
2. Embraced by Light Spaghetti - Holy mackerel, I've never had a vegan dish be so rich and fulfilling. The soy alfredo sauce is totally bomb diggity.
3. Semi-weekly All You Can Eat Buffets - Yes, that's right. Be sure to make a reservation, it fills up!
4. Friendly staff! - They learned my name! They learned my name! I mean, I went here maybe four times in a week, but still, they learned my name!
5. Good for kids - Smiling spaghetti so adorable you'll be hesitant to eat it.
6. Ambience - I'm not going to pretend I understand what is happening on the TVs, but there were whales dancing and people singing, so it's all good by me.
7. Kombucha (and the house teas) - Filled with 100% pure love!
8. Crystal Wraps - These are Spring Rolls Plus, and totally worth the trip alone.
Take the time to try this place, you won't be disappointed. -
Review from terramassu u.
Orange, CA
8/1/2010
All you can eat vegan buffet partly defeats the purpose of going to a vegan restaurant, but hey, lets see what it's about. ($13)
The staff was so friendly. Though it's a buffet, they asked if I enjoyed my meal, and made small talk. They also brought me a dish that was not a part of the buffet: slice of pear and salty crunchy bits topped with a cream looking sauce and cucumber wrapped in seaweed- like pear and cucumber handroll.
As far as the buffet:
Green iced tea- Jasmine, very much jasmine tea.
Black Iced tea- sweetened probably with agave.
Go with the melon, pineapple, and watermelon. Also, the chocolate cake wasn't dry, and the white frosting could be enhanced by coconut, but didn't have coconut. The flan is the same as at other loving hut locations. The "cut sushi" was fun, reminded me of the Korean sushi rolls. The dessert table was fabulous, and the special sauces for the rolls and the "sweet potato fries" were exciting- a tangy mustard type of sauce.
The other ten dishes were a mish mash of Chinese inspired vegan fare, with brown rice, wild rice and black rice as well as a Shanghai type noodle dish similar to pansit. Those were worth getting. The other dishes were filling, but forgettable.
Feels like a place to go if:
-you don't mind the vegan Loving Hut propaganda- as the employees were Loving Hut shirts and this is likely Loving Hut affiliated place.
- you want to try something different, and eat foods that look like meat but aren't.
- you're vegan/ vegetarian
- you like places with plenty of parking
- you want somewhere to go with your church small group to accommodate someone who is vegan or vegetarian
- you want to leave feeling full.
- you want to live longer.
- you want to save the world and stop global warning.
- you are a guy who discovered that hot vegan/vegetarian girls go to Greens Cafe alone or with their girlfriends, and you want to meet a girl who doesn't do meat.
I -
Review from Ching C.
Santa Ana, CA
3/1/2009 6 photos
My BFF and I were curious to what had replaced one of my favorite Asian crepe place so we checked out the menu and decided to try the place out.
99% vegan food with minor exceptions. By the end of our meal, all my BFF could say was how "refreshing" the food was--and it really was. We were felt full without feeling sluggish (yes, we all love food coma but it was nice not to feel it once in a while).
For $25, we got:
- Spring roll with peanut sauce
- BBQ sandwich - yes, tasted like real meat
- Side salad with passion fruit dressing
- Ma-po tofu with multi-grained rice
- Breaded "chicken" strips with tartar sauce
- 2 Plum rose iced tea
All dishes tasted excellent, not to mention the staff (owners) were extremely nice and chatted with us for a good 20 mins. each. -
Review from Tiffany N.
La Jolla, CA
5/31/2009
Meh. It was alright.
I came in sometime last week and it was completely empty, therefore it gave the owner plenty of time to stir up some chit chat about organic/vegan/vegetarian food. He was nice and friendly (from what I could understand from him, this place is Chinese owned) but it was a bit overkill. Yes, the restaurant is clean and plastered on the walls are various happy vegetables smiling at you while you eat, plus 2 TV screens that had something foreign on.. I think.
Anyway, I ordered the Ocean Beauty wraps that came with a free iced green tea (special of the day) and the bf had the Roof Top Singer Spaghetti with an Iced black tea.
The wraps were decent, really thick on the mayo though, and had a tinge of Chinese herbal medicine to it. It pretty much tasted like the lady who made the wrap had just previously rubbed herbal medicine on her hands, then prepared my food. weird, I know. My bf's "spaghetti" had an Asian flavor influence also, as did the green tea (which was actually a good flavor) and the black tea (which was sweetened, and WEIRD tasting.. I don't really recommend it)
Then the owner starts suggesting desserts, which, *gasp* they're out of. so we try ordering a fresh squeezed OJ to-go and *gasp* they're out of it too. Okay, you just lost us for two items there and I don't know if I'm willing to come back and try it out, sorry.
I mentioned I was an IVC student, and I didn't get a discount either. umm, bummer. If you're in the mood for Asian-style vegetarian food then this may be your place otherwise I'd say skip it.Listed in: Thanks to Yelp!
-
Review from Kris C.
Irvine, CA
3/7/2010
Greens Cafe is a tasty, no frills restaurant. It also happens to be vegan, but don't let that stop you. The menu is Asian inspired, with a smattering of wraps, sandwiches, and burgers.
My boyfriend and I started off with the potstickers, handmade with a whole wheat dough. The filling was a bit bland, and the whole wheat dough doesn't help either. The potsticker is thick and sturdy, so the dough was undercooked in some places. I would skip this appetizer in the future and try the crispy stix or crystal wraps instead.
We ate the eggplant, tofu, and basil in brown sauce and the moo shu vegetables. The eggplant dish was really good, and the basil gives it a nice kick. The only downsides are that you must order rice on the side, and it was heavy on the eggplant and light on the tofu. Regardless, I'd eat it again in a heartbeat. The moo shu vegetables were fantastic- a nice little crunch and lots of flavor. Sometimes moo shu dishes can be too salty, but not this version. We finished up with the chocolate chip cheesecake. It was creamy and chocolate-y, but not too rich and overwhelming.
Greens Cafe is nice and clean, and the service is super friendly. There is a lot of variety on the menu, so there is something for everyone. The prices might seem a little high, but the portions are generous and you'll have leftovers for the next day. -
Review from Bryan M.
Oakland, CA
4/14/2009
As if growing up in LA's suburbs isn't weird enough, mine has a plethora of vegan restaurants. It almost seems like Irvine, California has more of 'em per capita than Oakland and Berkeley combined. As far as i know, Greens is the fourth animal-free joint in town, so on my OC vacation (SPRING BREAK!!!), I had to check it out.
This restaurant is in a dry, dull strip mall (aren't they all?) where our middle school punk bands used to play daytime coffee shop shows. The place was started by five friendly followers of the supreme master (http://en.wikipedia.or...): ya know, those folks that own every vietnamese veggie joint in oakland and san francisco. But unlike all those restaurants (golden lotus, golden era, golden-whatever) that have basically the same menu, Greens wanted to be a little more whacky.
This food ethic brings out menu items like a bbq "chicken" sandwich with hummus spread, which i got. There's also a fantastic alfredo-like spaghetti dish, fish stick-like chicken tenders with tarter sauce, vietnamese essentials like fresh spring rolls and a delicious ice cream sundae.
My only complaint is the small portions on appetizers. But definitely a solid joint. Its no Wheel of Life, but I definitely dig eating off their creative menu while watching supreme master television on their flatscreen.
And its very clean, if you're into that sort of thing.Listed in: a vegan guide to the OC
-
Review from Champ M.
Here's something Irvine needs more: Mom and pop'd eateries where the owners are actually beaming with joy as you walk in, trying everything in their humbleness to make you enjoy your curiosity for the V-word: Vegan.
Everything here is just right, nothing overdone or out of place. There's even a warning poster on the wall of possible impending doom our planet will experience of ppl keep destroying our rain forests, etc, that type of thing you would normally only see in LA.
At each table sat a fresh tulip in its own vase of real water. I know right? They've got everything on the menu covered with anything you could possibly do to switch out the word meat with tofu.
Even smoothies.
My curry chicken w/ potatoes ($9) on brown rice tasted like an interior of a Toyota Camry and the potatoes a dialysis hospital, but I'm sure it was just the soy they used that morning, rubbery, I really didn't let that phase me since the stuff's gotta be healthy right? Plus I was mega hungovers and needed anything in my body to soak up last night's devilry. The meal was solid and I had plenty enough to take home and eat for the next 2 days, seriously, a lot of food.
Great owner. -
Review from Amanda P.
8/20/2010
I came here after reading the good reviews on Yelp, but I left disappointed.
When I came in a little before noon, I was the only person in the restaurant. This place is owned by the Loving Hut chain, so there's the usual propaganda playing on the tv in the background. It was loud enough that I wasn't really able to tune it out until other customers came in. So much for a quiet meal.
I was given a glass of room temperature water, no ice. Even though there was no one else in the restaurant, the server took a while to come back and take my order. The lunch specials change every two days; there's one menu for Tuesday/Wednesday and one for Thursday/Friday. I thought that the food on the Tuesday menu looked better, but I came on a Friday, so I had to order from that one instead. I ordered the lunch special with curry and green beans. The server told me that it was the Thursday/Friday special and I had to assure her that today was Friday.
The food was ok, not bad but nothing to write home about. The portions were small, but at $5.50, it wasn't a bad deal. My meal came with a big scoop of reddish brown rice, which I thought was tasty but a little undercooked. As I was finishing my meal, I noticed lots of dark, dirty particles floating in the bottom of my water glass. Gross. I wish I'd noticed that sooner, before I drank the water!
After I left, I felt a little sick, though whether that was from the food or just the psychological effect of the dirty water, I don't know. -
Review from Richard V.
Irvine, CA
3/14/2009
So we heard there was a new Vegan cafe here in Irvine and stopped to check it out. We're already big fans of Wheel of Life, Native Foods & Veggie Grill so we're fully ready for some more options. This place was clean and just feels fresh with the colorful design and artwork. The owner was very nice and was happy to talk and answer questions.
The food was a mix of traditional Asian and very interesting variations of Italian and American dishes. Everything we tasted was excellent and just felt healthy. We were told the ingredients were all organic including their teas and coffee.
Even if your not vegetarian you will seriously love this place. Trust me, you won't know your missing any meat and your heart will love you for it! -
Review from Kevin F.
9/7/2009
Haha, I hate to put stereotypes on vegeterians.... but I think this kind of fit the bill. We walk in and the owner and staff greet us in this friendly, 'earthly' type of way. Like, "hello, how are us? is your day greattt?"
And then you read the menu, and can't help but laugh. Friendship sandwich? Jump for Joy rice? Everything was so positive!!!
But then you get beyond the apperances, and you get your food, and bam, you shut up because its so darn delicious. Cause if food is this great, then who cares how things are? I had a friendship sandwich, and that food and I definitely hit it off. I usually hate mayo, but this grapeseed mayo was definitely different, but in a delicious, let me eat you sort of way. And the toast and avocado with it was awesome as well.
Honestly, I wouldn't eat here all the time.... but every few weeks or so, I'd definitely take a return trip. -
Review from Michelle H.
Orange, CA
1/15/2010 5 photos
If I were rich, I swear I could be a vegan. And let me tell you this... I live for meat. Steak, bacon, lamb, chicken, you name it, I want it... ALL. You know when Vegan food is good when you don't miss meat at all. Native Foods is another place I really love to get vegan grub, but I think this place might just be better!!
We had the #1 special that came with two small appetizers and three large entrees. Appetizers: crispy sticks and spring rolls. Crispy sticks were served with faux tartar sauce which was deliciously tangy and surprisingly creamy. Spring rolls were very refreshing and I liked the peanut sauce.
Entrees: chicken fried rice was absolutely amazing; filled with veggies and had a nice texture due to the grainy-ness of the brown rice. Orange chicken - OMG tasted like orange chicken w/o the guilt and was so crispy, believe it or not! Eggplant Tofu was freaking amazing, full of flavor, a wee bit on the salty side but sooooo good with the fried rice. Oh and the combo comes with iced tea, extra yum, and was more than enough for three hungry girls!
Overall, I love this place. It's a cute little restaurant with a great concept backed by great food. I will definitely be coming back for more!Listed in: Top Restaurants
-
Review from Charlene P.
Irvine, CA
8/4/2009 7 photos
A-OK.
Greens Cafe is a cute and clean little restaurant with nice decoration and a variety of entrees, but from my deliberation I'd say that the dishes don't pack as much of a punch as those in the Wheel of Life.
I came here with Mark S., and between us, we shared:
Crispy Stix - These soy protein strips were very filling and a pretty good treat, but there's not much flavor to it unless you dip it in the chipotle sauce it came with. If you keep chewing it, though, everything starts to blend together flavor-wise. Only 3 pieces, too, for $4. Kind of expensive.
Ocean Fries - These "fries" are actually fried yam pieces that I enjoyed more than the Crispy Stix. They tasted a lot like seafood for some reason and I'd say that it was pretty delightful since it's a bit different and I haven't tried anything like it before. Good treat for two, even.
Embrace by Light Spaghetti - This spaghetti came with a leafy side salad and was covered with a creamy white tofu sauce. Much like alfredo sauce. I think this spaghetti was pretty good, but not too much flavor, actually. For spaghetti, there could be more things added to it to give it more flavor, but this kind of tasted a bit bland. It was good for the first few bites, though. I liked the way the noodles were cooked.
Jumping for Joy Fried Rice - My favorite dish out of the ones we ordered! A nice batch (huge serving, actually) of organic multi-grain fried rice with a bunch of veggies, topped with soy protein cutlet. This dish was pretty flavorful and very filling! The flavor was packed in for every bite I took, and I definitely recommend this rice for at least 2 people. Can serve 3 people, even.
Overall, the food was not so bad and the decor is great. I just wish that the service was a bit faster, and I was kind of wondering how the place was a bit empty despite all the great reviews.Listed in: Veggies, veggies, veggies!
-
Review from Eric H.
Santa Ana, CA
3/24/2009
Wow! I stumbled across this place today while riding my bike. It's vegan and all organic.
I had the joy burger and french fries. The fries are organic, fried in a healthy oil blend, and tossed with sea salt and organic herbs. Excellent! The joy burger is a light soy patty made to mimic a fish sandwich. It's breaded with panko and perfectly fried. They served it with a vegan tartar sauce (fresh made and delicious) on a toasted whole grain sesame bun.
In short, this place rocks! I'll be back again and again. They also have a nice selection of desserts all made in-house. The menu covers a range of items from salads and homemade soups to wraps and sandwiches, even noodle bowls. It's a pretty extensive menu and it all looks pretty darn good. -
Review from Jeannie C.
Irvine, CA
8/3/2009
After months of talking about Greens Cafe, we finally came here for dinner on Saturday. I just came home from a full day of luxury and decided I wanted to eat something fresh and healthy and decided to come here.
At first, I was worried that we need to wait for a table since so many reviews have been excellent but when we arrived, there were still some tables available. One of the staff members shouted out to us that they only have four menus and will give us the menus soon. As we were waiting, we just looked at the HUGE menu board above the counter to see what we wanted. It wasn't that hard; thanks to fellow Yelpers, I already knew what I wanted to try.
We ordered the crispy sticks, crystal wrap, joy luck fried rice, and won ton soup. The crispy stick has the texture of fish stick but the consistency of chicken nuggets. It was decent, I just wish, they gave more than three. The crystal wrap can use more bean curd cause the lettuce and shredded carrots and the peanut sauce that I dipped it in were the only things I can taste. The fried rice came with 4 strips of fried bean curd on top and that gave it flavored to the rice because without it, it lacked flavor. The won ton soup reminded like how I would make it at home; it was fresh and tasty but their won tons were unique. It was stuffed with all types of bean curd and mushrooms.
I like this place, overall and will come back to try other things but hubby still like the eating hardcore meats. I even signed up for their upcoming event this Sunday.
The service was just OK but understandable since there was only one of her who was helping six tables. She forgot to provide plates and cups of water for us. -
Review from linda t.
Orange, CA
7/8/2009
Cool, my review will be above my friend, Edrees! We both obviously enjoyed it, hence the 5 stars. The place is bright, relaxing, and welcoming. Laurence definitely makes sure everyone that dines there has a great experience, thank you!
My favorite is the join-the-club sandwich. I've recommended this to numerous friends and they LOVE it. I had the embrace by light spaghetti and the first time was awesome, second time around lost its awesomeness. But that can be easily changed, what made it stand out from all the pastas I tried was the mushrooms -- deep and rich flavor. Can't wait to try it again to see if it will be like my first experience. Try the appetizers, they're all good.
OH, if anybody likes the salted plum asian candy that's encased in a hard sugar shell then get the roselle plum tea drink. The first sip I took was amazing because I was confused -- my tongue was blasted with something familiar in flavor, but my mind couldn't comprehend what it was until I heard the world "plum" again. If I lived closer, I'd probably stop by after work just for this refreshing drink...it's quite energizing -- though that could be my excitement that a hard candy could be in an addicting healthy liquid form. -
Review from Benny L.
Long Beach, CA
8/12/2009
The reviews on yelp certainly pointed me toward this locale. I thoroughly enjoyed my stay (for the most part).
When we walked in, the place was surprisingly empty for lunch time but, it didn't bother us one bit. We sat right away and ordered rather quickly. There was minimal wait for food preparation and the timing between appetizers and course(s) was adequate.
The positive(s): The food was spectacular and filling and priced decently--especially for how much food was given with each order.
The negative(s): I am a stickler for bathrooms. I used this restroom and while it was clean, the soap dispenser posed a problem. The soap dispenser had a block and when I pressed down on the pump it projected oily goodness all over my shirt and pants--real charming I tell ya. I was not pleased by this.
The neutral(s) but worth mentioning: the red beans on the shaved ice were frozen and chunky, not chewy and moist like most places. This disappointed me as I was really excited to get red beans on shaved ice. BOOO.
Overall--Great food. Great price. Bad soap dispenser. Need thawed red beans. I will return.Listed in: Vegan Cuisine
-
Review from Jen H.
Irvine, CA
8/9/2010
I came here for a birthday and was excited that it was a vegetarian place. I couldn't wait to try the food. We did the buffet during lunch time and it was okay. The first few bites of the items tasted good and after that I just started noticing the oiliness and got turned off by it. After I ate at this place, I felt really nauseous. I'm not sure if it's because it's oily or if they sprinkled some MSG in there, but I wasn't feeling well. I actually wasn't the only one either. I found out another person didn't feel too well eating the food either. Yikes!
The staff is nice and all, but I don't think I'll be coming back. -
Review from Tony W.
Santa Ana, CA
9/20/2009
I'm not a Vegan. I'm not even a Vegeterian. I AM into variety and every once in a while, some healthy eating (ok, even if it's not health I really wouldn't know but I believe it is, so it is...powerful thing about mind over body).
Sorry for digressing. Back to the matter at hand -- the eatery....
Short recommendation: As many reviewers have said, just go! We went on a Sunday when they have their all-you-can-eat buffet for $11.95. Excellent experience.
Long recommendation: J-U-S-T G-O-!
It's a small place, but very friendly, good decor, and clean. The owner and staff are very friendly and attentive. They're working like a bunch of beavers to keep up because the food is very good and thus the buffet trays are being emptied constantly. There was a good crowd there past 7pm on a Sunday. And a diverse crowd at that (not vegan vs. non-vegan!, but Asian vs. non-Asian; hey, it's Irvine!!!!).
The buffet is a great way to sample many of the dishes in their menu. I don't even know what I ate, but they were all tasty and filling (and I can eat a lot even though my picture does not indicate it). The soup was great. The desserts were very good, especially the carrot cake and flan. The buffet comes with your choice of black or green tea.
They say they take reservations, but they're so busy they can't answer the phone half the time. -
Review from Neil S.
Washington, DC
7/2/2009
Great for non-vegetarians, good for long time vegetarian/vegans.
The owner was really nice and wanted to make sure we were happy. Portion size was average as was the price for a place like this. There are better places in SF and elsewhere with this type of cuisine, but for the area its def. one of the best.
We got:
Half moon wrap - mexican fajita-esque with the beans and sauteed veggies. The fake meat went well- not tofu based. Pretty good, but needed some hot sauce or salsa.
Ocean Delight Golden Noodles - Overall great, but fake shrimp needed some help. Good mix of flavors, but again, need to ask for soy or hot sauce.
Side salad - not too many vegetables, but the dressing was really flavorful.
crispy stix - great texture.
They have a 10% off coupon on their website- so be sure to print it out. -
Review from Andrew B.
Irvine, CA
4/29/2010
I'm no vegan, but I figured I would give this place a try based on all the positive reviews.
I didn't like the food much - I think this place is missing an opportunity. I expected to find really delicious veggie foods, but nearly every dish is prepared with soy based vegan fake meats, which as you would expect - not good eats for a meat eater. Plenty of Indian food would qualify vegan - but they aren't throwing soy meat into all their dishes...
The owner was really nice, and the service was great. He even made recommendations, (which we ordered - not a good sign when we didn't enjoy both dishes he recommended though.
Basically, if you're vegan - this place is probably worth a visit, otherwise I'd go some where else... -
Review from Alex K.
Irvine, CA
6/24/2009
Not a vegetarian, but saw the reviews and decided to try lunch. got the yam fries, embrace by light spaghetti (mushroom onion tofu cream sauce), and fried rice.
Food was pretty good. We got free iced barley teas. Fries were good, the ketchup had a lil something in it which made it different. Pasta was ok, the sauce looked like it came from a can, it came with a nice lemony salad. The fried rice was pretty good too, I liked the fake chicken haha, it tasted good, wish there were some more. BUT! on the menu it said there was broccoli in it, but I did not get any..., I am willing to forgive though.
will definitely come back to try more. -
Review from Rachel M.
Irvine, CA
3/31/2009
Sitting here tapping at the lettered plastic, I'm as delightfully stuffed as a toy panda, but I keep thinking about the leftovers in the fridge. This signals a couple of key things.
1. This food was delicious.
Knock-out, drag-down tasty, as if your skeptical omnivore crush was showing up at a potluck and you really needed them to enjoy their meal so that you would have a chance at seducing them while they were blissfully food-comatose. I'm not even into meat analogs, usually, but every variety of faux-meat was great (and with an unheimlich chewiness). The sauces were fresh and well-balanced. Every part of every dish was spot-on.
2. The portions were huge.
I'm a good eater. A really good eater. Every time I visit home, my mom struggles to tactfully (she uses hand gestures, seriously) imply that I'm bulimic (just because I moved to SoCal...), because I can put away such enormous amounts of food and come back for more. But this place dishes out honestly generous amounts of food. I mean, I'll still polish the rest off later tonight, but that's impressive.
The space is bright and airy, the part-owner was incredibly friendly and loquacious, and the prices were reasonable, and actually cheap considering that it's organic as well as vegan.
I'm actually so thankful that I found it that I'm having early relationship jitters, afraid that it will leave me. Go there. Bring your friends, family, even your omni crush. You won't regret it. -
Review from Tarun B.
Irvine, CA
5/11/2009
I'm usually wary of soy imitations of real food, but I've come around as of late. I've amazingly never had any kind of coffee drink made with soy milk, so I figured what the hell and came over to try a soy mocha. I'll look past the fact that it took them 20 minutes to make it (I had time to kill and the owner was really nice) and just focus on the mocha itself, which was pretty good. There was that unmistakable soy aftertaste which, granted, is difficult to mask, but it was good. I'll be back at some point to try out the "real" food.
Oh, and that Supreme Master stuff on their TVs? I could do without that. I don't need to hear about how I'm killing the Earth because I eat meat. I get that enough from the Indian community. -
Review from Amanda C.
Santa Cruz, CA
8/16/2010 3 photos
Followed yelp reviewers and tried this out on a date, great decision. We were about an hour before closing but the lady seated us nicely and told us to take our time. Even suggested a different table cuz the one we were at was wobbly. She's a very nice lady and made sure we were comfortable and everything was done well.
Eggplant & Tofu in Basil sauce: eggplant and tofu well cooked bathed in thick flavorful sauce
Coconut: real cold coconut chopped whole Super yummy
Greens Magic Wrap: wrap super stuffed with fresh and light crunchy veggies, rather filling though not as flavorful as I expected but still good
Food- fresh and light, cleanly presented
Price- well for portion
Customer service- excellent -
Review from Michelle N.
Irvine, CA
4/28/2009
I saw that this place had been opened for a while now, but I never got around to eating here until yesterday.
The place was pretty well-organized, clean, and downright cute. There were only two Asian employees working there yesterday, and they were friendly. I ordered an Ocean Delight Golden Noodle as take-out, and it was delicious. -
Review from Mark S.
8/3/2009 5 photos
It was a Sunday afternoon, and I had just gotten back from central California when fellow Yelper Charlene P. informed me of this 'awesome vegetarian restaurant' she found. When we got there, the place was pretty empty - which was hilarious because Charlene P. made reservations.
We were seated promptly but after that service seemed kind of slow, and I think it's because they were waiting for us to decide; but despite this, I really don't think it should have moved at that pace. The decor was alright; reminded me of an Asian Veggie Grill slash Jamba Juice - very green, with huge in your face pictures of fruits. Also the English in the menu was humorous. I understand that alot of Asian places have mega-"Engrish" menus, and this place fit the mold. I forgot some key ones, but hey - I was there for the food.
We ended up ordering the Crispy Stix ($3.95) and the Ocean Fries ($5.45) for appetizers and the Embrace by Light Spaghetti ($8.45) and the Jumping for Joy Fried Rice ($7.96).
Water was served to us as well, but it was room temperature; I like my water ice cold like the rest of us, feel me? And they also promote this clean drinking water system, which is made by a company called Japin, who were famous for "anti-aging technology." When our food comes out, they not only bring the appetizers out but also one entree (Embrace by Light Spaghetti), leaving behind the Jumping for Joy Fried Rice. I found this incredibly odd, so Charlene P. and I decided to just munch on the appetizers and the Jumping for Joy Fried Rice would be out in no time.
The crispy stix were alright. It tasted like gummy tofu in panko bread crumbs. The ocean fries were way too gummy. The Embrace by Light Spaghetti tasted like something I had out of those $1 microwaveable dinners they sell at Albertson's. The mushrooms were well cooked though. It was just the sauce; tasted so...cheap. The Jumping for Joy Fried Rice was actually really good. The rice in it was awesome, and it had the right amount of seasoning. the tofu on top tasted like pork cutlet. It was really good.
Overall, I don't think I will be back. If you want good vegan Asian food, head to Wheel of Life, which isn't too far way actually. Also, I can't help but notice how suspicious it is that a good number of the 5-star reviews are from people with only one or two reviews...Hmm...Something smells 'veggie' here.... -
Review from Tiffany L.
Irvine, CA
8/25/2009
I think that for being a vegetarian place, and in IRVINE, this place is ok..but~~ there are PLENTY of GREAT vegetarian places a hop, skip, and a jump away in garden grove!!
i came here with my friend to see what had replaced our precious genki living...it was...a vegetarian restaurant! wel...we were hungry and we ARE both pescetarians...sooo..we decided to try it out~~
my friend ordered the mapo tofu and i got the joy burger(?) -- a "chicken" sandwich type burger
my friends mapo tofu had a THICK layer of oil before it got to the sauce...she barely touched her tofu..she just ate her rice
my sandwich was mediocre. the morningstar farms chicken patties are MUCH better in my opinion...
the waitress was really nice and made sure we were ok througout our dining experience, but honestly..with so many better vegetarian restaurants out there...i wont be back.
