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Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: ClairemontMon-Sun. 10:30 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
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Hi Sipz, I missed you!
I used to head over to the Sipz on Scranton Road (in the food court) several times a week before they closed down. They told me to come visit their other location, and today I finally decided that I had the time to during my lunch break.
And of course none of the employees that I used to know were there. Timing is everything, I suppose.
However, I was helped in a very quick and friendly manner, and ordered my Pad Thai with Tofu. They told me it would be about 10 minutes, but it was really more like 5.
I headed back to the office and am now enjoying my Pad Thai. Yummy as I remember it.
One of these days, I'll return for a dine-in meal and follow up. But so far, so good.
Avoid Sipz because the service suckz!
The service is DEPLORABLE. (Yes, deplorable!) Last time I came they got my order wrong twice before I just gave in and accepted what they brought me. As I was paying the old woman at the cash register (I think she is the mother of the owners, if I remember right) asked if everything was okay. I said, "No, not really." And she said, "Oh" and swiped my credit card and that was that. She didn't really care to know about the problem.
The food here is okay. I'd say that it's more "vegetarian-style" than "Asian".
People thought this was:
SUSHI!!!!!! I'm vegan and have been to other places that serve vegan-friendly sushi, but I'm always so paranoid about the purity. So thankful that Sipz came to the rescue. Wish I could enjoy my Sipz Dynamite and TJ Roll any time of the day instead of only past 5pm. Oh well, at least it's worth the wait.
Knocked off a star since I always have some trouble with the drinks...water not refilled or the wait is long for bubble tea. Still love you guys!
Oh yeah, the chocolate chip cookies are freaking delicious!
People thought this was:
Awesome, creative vegan dishes, most with an asian flair. If you 'miss' chicken and beef, this place is for you. Someone here says their dishes have MSG? Hmmmm I usually feel sick after eating MSG, and I don't after eating here, so IDK about that. Nice boba drinks.
Everything on the menu is average, but I'm speaking from a non-vegetarian perspective. Prices are good and there's plenty of parking and usually plenty of seating. A variety of dishes to pick from.
Good food, but it's laden with MSG. MSG=very bad, they don't add it to the fake meat and sauce they cook with, instead it comes pre-packaged like that. If you really value your health, then don't eat here.
People thought this was:
Sipz is one of my favorite places to eat in San Diego. It is a Vegetarian (mostly Vegan) restaurant with a wide selection of tasty dishes. If you go after 5pm they even have Vegan Sushi which is amazing! I have been eating at Sipz for several years and have very rarely had any dish that I didn't love. I stick to the Asian dishes and sushi.
The only negative about Sipz is that the service can sometimes be bad. When its really busy they don't have enough wait staff and there are a couple of ladies (that I think are family) that can be rude. But the people who are behind the counter are always super friendly, so it's hit and miss. I've turned to ordering to go most of the time so that I can still enjoy their great food. I would still recommend eating there, just try to avoid the weekend dinner time rush if possible.
I can't even begin to describe how much I love this place!
The food is basically amazing. I've been here a few times already, but I am never sick of it. It is so flavorful and delicious and basically, a treat for vegetarians (and non-veg people too!)
My favorite noodle dish is the Drunken Noodles and the best rice dish is the Spicy Basil. I also like the broccoli with "beef" but I love the "chicken," so I usually substitute it for the beef. The tofu there is really good too, but in my opinion, the "chicken" is the best. I also tried their avocado shake last time, which was really interesting and refreshing. If you're adventurous and want something new and different, that would certainly be a good drink to get. I have to say the coconut dessert was phenomenal, and the mango with sticky rice thing was pretty good too. YUM!
The only down side is that the service is pretty bad. The waiters don't seem to care much, and it's hard to get their attention if you need something. But at least the food makes up for everything.
People thought this was:
I've tried several different dishes now and have been here a few times. The food is still fantastic. The service SUCKS.
Every time I'm here, the server will forget to bring at least one item. The appetizer has a good chance of arriving after the entrees, or competing in a picture finish, arriving just seconds before the main dishes hit the table. Each time I've eaten here, I've had to ask for our drinks at least twice, and no matter which server is working our table, they just nod and then quickly walk away, with a good 10-minute gap between any request and actually delivering what you want.
The last time I ate there, my friend and I waited so long for the bill (even after asking for it) that I decided to stage a mock-death protest. I put my forehead down on the table, my arm flopping off to the side, vowing not to get up until someone noticed I was "dead" and brought us the bill. It took about 15 minutes of us sitting there, just waiting with our empty bowls, and my would-be rigor mortis, to get someone to approach our table.
Holy crap. I almost warned the patrons coming in the door, "Get out while you still can! Once you're seated, you'll never get out!"
I think that my friend's analogy was a perfect fit: "This place is like Hotel California. You can check out any time you like, but you can never leave."
People thought this was:
I'm not a vegetarian, but my friend and I are eating healthier, so we decided to try Sipz. We heard… Read more »
After several years, Sypz is still, one of my FAVORITE vegetarian restaurants in San Diego!!
Where else can I get endless lists of mostly VEGAN entrees ranging from of mouth-watering Xia Xiu Noodles to creamy Thai Curry Chicken to Caterpillar Roll?!?? This is one of the very few restaurants that I go and LOVE perusing through all of their menu items. Not only they're vegan, but also extremely delicious!
Not only that, they do the mock meat right. Even my omnivore friends swear by them! And, as a vegan, I do sometimes feel ALMOST guilty for eating them, especially Xia Xiu Noodles!! They actually look like BBQ Pork, when they're "pork", probably made with gluten. Texture is amazingly chewy yet yummy!!! You can actually buy these veg meats from them directly if you wish, and they even told me nicely that 99 Ranch also sells them. Wow!! You mean, they actually care about the customers?!? We bought a vegetarian ham and veg chicken from them and cooked up a storm, quite happily!! And discovered a whole array of vegetarian meats down at 99 Ranch on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. It's right across from the bakery section next to all the processed meats (thankfully they're somewhat separated).
Anyways, for first timers, I usually recommend the following:
- Drunken Noodles with Chicken or Tofu (if you're not into mock "meat")
- Thai Curry Chicken
- Pad Thai with Chicken or Tofu (don't expect traditional pad thai though, it's different but still yummy)
- Spicy Basil with Chicken or Tofu
- Sushi - Caterpillar Roll
But pretty much most things on the menu are very good. Just avoid VIetnamese Noodles - I found it bland. Pho, on the other hand, is pretty good but I got mixed reviews from people. AVOID Italian dishes here. STICK with Asian fusion.
Portions are humongous. And I do like humongous tasty FAST delicious vegan food that are made just for ME!
As for drinks, I love how you can replace dairy with soy. Also they have FRESH coconut juice!! Double points!! I like their soy milk tea and love their coconut juice and fresh fruit smoothies. PERFECT for a summer treat!
By the way, if you order between their HAPPY HOUR (3-5pm), you can get some of their delicious appetizers for $3 and entrees for $5!! We just did that today and they were grreat! I am still so full from them.
Parking for this plaza is humongous, and so convenient. The restaurant is right off 805, just exit WEST and make a U-turn, then turn right into the plaza after the gas station.
Just hope their spicy levels are more consistent - sometimes not even mild when I order medium, and pretty spicy at other times. Be sure to order spicy if you want at least a little bit of spice.
Anyhow, THANK YOU Sypz for helping us go veg!!!
People thought this was:
One of my favorite vegetarian restaurants in San Diego. They have the most EXTENSIVE vegetarian /… Read more »
I didn't expect an Asian vegetarian place to be so packed. Too bad I was broke when I went and I only got a coke. Homeboy gave me his leftovers and it was alright. It's funny because it has vegetarian options and serves meat dishes too. I was impressed with the flavor, and it could have been a bit spicier to add a bit more kick.
Service was a bit slow because only one waitress was up and about. Felt sorry for her but hey it's business and I'm looking for a job =P Anyways good food. Will update when I go again.
People thought this was:
Dear Sipz,
I loved that you knew how to crisp up the potstickers just right. Crispy, making my toofus chatter in joy. The vegetarian contents are very healthy and delicious, trying to fool me into thinking it's *good* for me, but i *know* the potstickers don't get *that* crispy without a nice helping of oil sizzlin' in the heat of the frying pan. I enjoyed it, but I see what you're doing, baby. *winks*
I have to give you special credit for the noodles being bouncy and toothsome. Udon noodles are often limp, flaccid, sad creatures to be pitied at many dining establishments. Not you, Sipz. Not you. You know it's important to make sure the noodles are bouncy and toothsome. Just like the crispy potstickers, the bouncy udon noodles left my mouth chortling and gleeful and ready to tango.
That said...
You're lacking a bit in the heat department- are you shy? My tongue could use a bit of sizzle and fire, but picking 7 on your "heat" scale left me lukewarm, craving and burning for more. That's no way to treat a girl, don't you know? That's called toungueteasing, and it's not very nice.
Your name makes me think of a beverage joint rather than an establishment that serves food, which is a bit misleading. Not a crime by any means, but it's like posting a picture of yourself 10 years ago and 20lbs thinner on a dating site. Just saying...
The fact that you embrace vegetables makes me feel all warm and cuddly. I would love to see more tofu dishes included rather than mock meat, but I know you can't please every girl you meet.
Bottom line, I'll be seeing you again. I'll call you, okay?
Love,
Vegetarian restaurant lover.
People thought this was:
If I could afford to eat at Sipz everyday, I would. I have been a vegetarian for 5 years and have been going to Sipz once every couple of months since then. I LOVE that they have so many menu options, that they recently added sushi, and that they now have their liquor license.
I always warn people that I take with me that the service is bad. It's funny bad, though. Like waving your arms in the air being ignored and laughing about it ridiculous. The food is always delivered to the table within 5 minutes of when you order it. Your meal won't take any longer than usual, it just doesn't always occur to the servers that they need to come back to your table... ever.
Some of my favorite menu items:
BBQ "chicken"
Dynamite sushi roll
chinese "chicken" salad
the "Bun"
the "chicken" curry
I have eaten almost everything on the menu, and the only things that I have been slightly disappointed by were the lettuce wraps (lettuce was too bitter) and the vegetarian pho (too fake-meaty tasting).
All ingredients seem healthy and fresh. PLEASE order yourself a thai iced tea and the sweet rice with coconut (served in an actual coconut) dessert.
People thought this was:
I seriously miss this place now that I don't have it anymore.
These guys are very reasonably priced and have great food. I know people have had service issues here, but I've never really had any problems (at least not any more than most restaurants these days).
When I lived in San DIego, this was at least a once a week excursion for me. The Sweet & Sour Chicken & Orange Chicken - a little too sweet for me, but yet amazing anyway. I think any omnivore would totally go for this...I had to do a double take when I tried a small piece for the first time because it tasted pretty legit.
My personal favorite have to be the summer rolls and the Spicy Basil chicken. I've also had the drumsticks (standard) and the Pad Thai - also pretty good. The only complaint I have is that, on occasion (but rarely) the 'Chicken' in my dish has been a little soggy.
Now that I live in Miami with a total lack of vegan and vegitarian places, I wish I could have them freeze it and mail it to me.
Gone there 2 times in the way past.
Just revisited again twice during this week and I love it all over!
I had the char sui "pork" and it was so good
then
I had the thai curry and it was so good.
Banana cake desert is also very very good!
People thought this was:
I'm not a vegetarian but I do enjoy going to Sipz. I think that their mock chicken, beef, and now "char siu" is quite good. I usually get the chicken or the tofu though. I find most of their dishes to be quite delicious especially the "Soft Chowmein". However, I will say that a lot of their dishes is starting to taste the same to me.
I do find the location a bit too strange. I never get a good vibe from that plaza. It does have plenty of parking and it does allow me to get in and out of Sipz quickly.
In restaurants in most European countries (not the adjusted touristy ones) you need to give the waitress (if you can figure out who the hell that is in the first place) a sign, waive, stare, flirt, make eye contact or sometimes beg to come over to your table if you want something: from ordering, extra drinks (no free refills), or even if you want to pay. It's considered rude if they 'bother' you all the time.
In the US they check in on you all the time, refill your drinks (for free!) and often put the bill on your table before you even take a bite. It took me at least a year to get used to this last one, it felt like: please eat as fast as possible, because we want to fill up the table after you. This is the biggest difference when it comes to service perception.
This whole thing is leading somewhere: because of this I'm still a sucker for places with some imperfections when it comes to speediness of service. Sipz is one of those places. Sipz' menu is extensive and they serve all kind of vegetarian meat substitutes: a lot of bowls with your choice of meat, spiciness, sauce, rice and vegetables. In addition, they have salads, starters and all kind of drink variations.
When I peeked at my neighboring table, I noticed they were sipping some interesting looking green drink (drinks are always greener at the neighbors) so I decided to order this too. The not so good English speaking waitress and I had some communication problems, and I ended up ordering the wrong drink (was my own fault, she was so nice that I said yes to everything, should have paid more attention). The drink I got was green, but with ice in it and all kinds of jelly black (eatable) balls at the bottom. I still have no idea what they were, but it was a great way to kill the time before the food came since the things fitted through the (clear) big straw. I'm easily amused.
I always like to try new stuff on menus, specialties or recommendations and therefore went for the "Legendary chicken salad" this time. My goodness, the "fake" chicken was SO good and the salad combination (with a spicy lime dressing) delicious. I've tried other stuff on their menu before and everything so far I had here is really good and the portions are very generous. It's kind of arrogant to call your own chicken salad "legendary" but in my opinion they have reason to do so.
The cashier was as adorable as our waitress (you go over to the register to pay): an older men with huge classes- the type that seems to enjoy life, always smiles and takes it easy. He took the time to run my card and put on his glasses properly. People like this leave me with a feeling of happiness for some reason.
The interior of Sipz is simple, it looks like my single uncle's backyard furniture -love the guy but he is not married for a reason, straight too so he lacks in the taste department- and the location is in terrible Clairemont, but the food more than makes it up for it. Although I do like my meat, I would have no problem turning into a vegetarian knowing that it can be so tasty.
People thought this was:
This place has generously-sized, tasty vegetarian dishes in most of the standard "favorites" and more. I don't go out of my way to eat or avoid meat, but if I didn't already know this "chicken" wasn't real chicken, I probably wouldn't notice the difference. Whatever product it's made out of blends seamlessly into dishes such as teriyaki "chicken" and orange "chicken". Even the limeade and water seem especially refreshing and above average.
The service is hit-or-miss though. One day one server will be okay, the next time another server will suck. Last time, it took the borderline rude server forever to bring water, and even longer to take the order. Then she just slams the food down in front of us and walks away. "Um okay server, I guess I don't need anything else."
I really like the food, but might start taking it TO GO.
The first time I ate at this place was three years ago. I stopped in for the bubble tea and went back to work. A week later, I took my at-the-time boyfriend there for lunch and we didn't really remember it. Tonight, we met up some friends there and I quickly remembered when I saw the ambiance. The service was ok, the waiter forgot about my bubble tea and I asked for the smoothie and he came back with the milk tea. I had the vegetarian pho which was actually good. I just think the service is hit or miss here. Not a bad place
I tried this place on the suggestion of some friends.
The bad: The restaurant is cute, nice decor, but it was hotter than sin inside and on a heat wave of a weekend I was really hoping for an air conditioned dining experience. The fans were spinning full blast which I'd normally enjoy, but I came to dine with a pounding headache and the spinning fan blades with lights directly above made for a strobe light effect that forced me to be that jerk who wears sunglasses inside that the dinner table.
The good: The food was absolutely delicious!!! I was 100% satisfied with the "chicken" udon, and I nibbled on my friends pepper "beef" and decided on my next visit that was the dish I'd order. I am not a vegetarian but I enjoyed the dishes here immensely and plan to go back and bring friends.
The service was fair, the giant water glasses were fantastic on such a hot day, but please oh please get A/C!!
People thought this was:
This a good place for vegetarian food. I wasn't too overly impressed with my meal, but it was a good amount, I had the fire noodles or something, it was stirfried thick rice noodles with veggies and fake meat. The apple slush was like plain sugar with green dye. It's an authentic little place and is good for keeping low key and eating healthy. I will come back to try other stuff.
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Holy crap was I wrong about this place. While the food still tastes pretty good. I'm kind of not sure why the people who run Sipz and who work there have anything to do with making and serving food to paying customers. The service tonight for me and a friend just fucking sucked and ruined their chances of me ever spending a dime at this joint again. Peace, Sipz. I'm gone.
People thought this was:
Just got a take-out order of the Spicy Basil Chicken and have to say it was amazing. Can't wait to… Read more »
Sipz Fusion Cafe was highly recommended to us by our San Diego-based vegetarian friends. You've got to go, they said, & while you're there, you've got to try the orange chicken. Always looking for great vegetarian Chinese food, we were in.
The first thing I noticed was how popular the place is: plenty of space, but quite full on a Monday night! Pairs of people and large groups alike seemed to be well-accommodated and also quite content. The decor is cool, the colorful graffiti-esque fish mural covering one wall at contrast with the rich wood and cool lines elsewhere around the space.
I need to mention quickly the place settings: zodiac placemats, forks & spoons, and instead of hot tea, a huge glass of water with lime. I bring this up because classically for me, forks on the tables instead of chopsticks ring a warning bell that the food might not be so good. I mean, if you can't even manage to work a pair of chopsticks... well. Furthermore, four nights earlier, we had eaten (but most certainly not dined) at a Chinese restaurant called "Mandarin Dynasty" that featured a side veg menu, and virtually the same place setting. That was bad, but somehow I got the feeling it would actually work at Sipz Fusion Cafe. Here it just seems like a purposeful kitschy wink. Sure enough, the first round of food was accompanied by chopsticks--we didn't need to ask.
The menu: HUGE. Like a book. ALL this stuff is veg? How am I supposed to choose? Here are the choices we finally made, and how I rate them:
* Boba taro milk tea: I don't know if I've ever had one of these I didn't like. We liked the contrast of the ice-cold tea with the warmer- and softer-than-usual boba at the bottom. Somehow it just really worked together in a very nice way.
* Dynamite Roll: Yeah, Sipz has an extensive veg sushi menu. It can even be made with brown rice if you like, but that's just nucking futs.
This baked roll was fresh-tasting, with a sauce that might well be too spicy for some, but I liked it. Two drawbacks: a bit toooo much of the sauce, and the avocado was hard. That was very displeasing-- if they couldn't get ripe avocado (though a trip to the supermarket after dinner told me--yes, I squeezed--that ripe avos ARE available), they should take the item off the menu for the evening.
* Char Siu "Pork": this is said to be "simmered with a Century old recipe of Chinese bbq sauce." The product was what I believe I know as "stewed beef chunks," quite tasty, but overpowering with an oppressively-thick layer of sauce. Not expected, and I didn't love it. Could have been tasty if there was some ring of subtlety to it.
* Walnut "Shrimp": That classic American dish. This was one of the better veg versions I've tried, with excellent texture, a thin crispy exterior, and just the right flavor to the honey-mayo sauce. My son would've liked MORE of that sauce--it WAS quite a thin layer--and a larger "shrimp" product. But he did say it was the second-best version he remembers having.
* Orange "Chicken": What the friends recommended. NICE. The nugggets themselves had almost a KFC-like seasoning, and a very good texture. The orange sauce was, thankfully, not at all gummy, and was made with lots of real oranges. A great dish indeed.
The service at Sipz was friendly and efficient, and our water glasses never got empty. Between the service, atmosphere, extensive menu and the small sampling we had on this visit, we wish we could take Sipz home with us. Or perhaps better yet, move down to San Diego to be close by.
I would have given this place a 5 star rating, but the service has always been spotty. I tend to eat here alot by myself, I sort of stop in, on the way home, or on my way to a friends house. I dont really venture out to Clairemont that often, unless I have a reason to.
But anyways, A few times, the waiters were nice to me and acknowledged my singular presence, while other times asking for a cup of water was like asking them to perform lobotomy surgery. I actually even received a glare from one of the customers, as I waited patiently for 10 minutes, just for a cup of water.
The food here is top notch, thought I feel that the portions are a little too heavy. Maybe its good for those who like to eat large masses of food, but quite honestly, I couldnt even finish half my meal.
I havent really ventured on their menu options, I just gotten the Mongolian beef each time. Which is superb.
The one thing I do make sure I get every single time, is their chocolate chip cookies. They are seriously to die for. I believe they're vegan cookies? And everytime I bite into them, my mouth begans to water and savor the delicacies of a vegan cookie.
I recommend this to anyone. Though I was surprised to see alot of white people, in comparison to asian people. I dont know why? I always seem to be the minority there, but thats not a factor in my review, just more of a heads up.
Just thinking about Sipz makes my mouth water....I don't think I can get tired of this place!
I'm a health nut so I try to find fantastic restaurants that serve healthy, nutritious, fresh, and flavorful food! Sipz definitely ranks right up there! You don't have to be a vegetarian to like this place. I went with a friend who is solely a meat and potatoes kind of guy, but I convinced him that the place is a hit for meat lovers as well. You wouldn't know the difference with their "mock" dishes.
My friend ordered the Orange "chicken" and he was impressed that the mock chicken tasted like the real thing! It was a little too sweet compared to the typical orange chicken I'm used to, but still delish!
I ordered their Tom Yum soup bowl and Legendary Oriental Chicken salad. Mmm..mmm..mmm. Very FRESH ingredients! That's what I like about this place.
I still have to try the Thai Curry "Chicken" everyone's been raving about. I only wish there was one closer to my place. I would go here everyday, but it's still worth the extra drive for some good eats!
Hmm..if food is really this good, I think I can live as a "vegetarian" after all. =)
People thought this was:
Vegetarianism gets a bad rap. I mean, the writers for "The Simpsons" made Lisa a vegetarian, and we all know that the Lisa-based episodes suck. But as a person considering flexitarianism, I'm glad there are places that "can make friends with salad," or something like that.
Their wings were delicious, as the "meat" was tender and pretty close to the real thing. I also believe they use sugar cane as the "bone." Nice touch.
The wings were followed by their Kung Pao "Chicken" bowl. Again, the "chicken" was tender and pretty close to the real thing. They also did a pretty good job of the breading. Oftentimes, I get Chinese chicken that tastes like it has been breaded in Lucky Charms. Not this "chicken." They did a pretty good job of toning down the breading, allowing the bamboo shoots and veggies to accent the bowl well. It could've used some water chestnuts for more texture, though.
Not knowing how crazy this place is about spiciness, I ordered the bowl at a "medium" level, which wasn't enough. Thankfully, they had chili oil and sriracha to turn the heat up. What I ended up with was a vegetarian meal that can really put hair on your chest.
All this was polished off with their vegan cookies, which were deliciously chewy and VERY generous with the chocolate chips.
The service was good for a non-crowded early Thursday afternoon. But I gotta knock 'em one star for slightly expensive food, being in a strip mall, and excessive use of the letter Z.
Despite having an appetizer and dessert with my meal, I didn't feel bloated or like grease is oozing through my pores. Just satisfied. I didn't know vegetarian food could be THIS tasty. I could get used to this.
People thought this was:
Average.
I see nothing special about this place other than being vegetarian. It is akin to a fast food styled eatery.
I had the potstickers, they were oily, semi burnt yet good (though they took a while and were brought after four other tables had received their main dishes or appetizers).
We went on to eat the orange 'chicken' and tofu thai basil. They were good. The orange 'chicken had a chewy constancy paired with an under-savory sweet sauce. I would suggest adding some onion.
The Thai Basil was a solid thai stir fry. The flavor was full and the undertone of basil was enjoyable. The menu did lie, it wasn't spicy at all.
I must say that this experience was tarnished by poor waitstaff. We had a younger gentlemen, looked like a son, the short one. It was as if he was forced to work when he want to go out and play. Im sorry grow up and do your job, at least you have one.
Decent veggie food.
Verdict: San Diego Needs more veggie restaurants.
Every once in a while, I get the urge to go veggie style. SipZ makes that choice easy.
First off, you cannot get more green than green chopsticks.
Secondly, they do custom changes. I love PAD THAI, but I also love wide noodles. I usually order the PAD THAI with wide noodles, or the Drunken/Spicy Noodles with peanuts on the side. I use to be more for the "chicken" but lately tofu is just as amazing. For PAD THAI lovers, this may or may not be the exact same as meat loaded equivalent. The difference to me is that I do not leave the restaurant feeling bloated or weighed down by all the extra crap other restaurants usually throw in there. Rather, I feel "light".
[http://www.yelp.com/bi...].
People thought this was:
So good... I can smell it and taste it as I write.
This is going to be one of the most memorable mouth orgasms you'll ever experience.
And for dessert?
Perhaps a vegan chocolate chip?
Oh, I don't mind if I do!
People thought this was:
Delicious!
Sipz is one of my favorite restaurants... I just wish it was closer to me. It's one of the only places I know that serves vegan orange chicken, which is enough reason to give four stars. They also have a plethora of other delicious options... including boba drinks and avocado milkshakes! Yum!
Here's what's keeping it from getting five stars from me:
All of their fake meat is soy-based. I try to avoid soy when possible because it's so processed, but they don't offer seitan or other alternatives. You can always chose to substitute your "meat" for vegetables though!
It is a bit on the pricey side for me. I mean, their portions are enormous, but I'd much rather pay $5-6 for a meal that I can eat than $8-10 for a meal that's too big for me.
People thought this was:
got the pad thai. pretty much a little bit of goodness on top (couple bites) and then a bunch of noodles stuck together. Not worth the price.
And put the A/C on!
Not gonna go back.
So, I'm not a vegetarian, but not a big meat eater either. What I don't like about a lot of vegetarian meals is that I find them flavorless ...
However, at Sipz, everything is perfect. *insert cheesy smiley face here* Though it is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant, I find that all of their meals have tons of flavor - just the way I like it. =) There's no meat whatsoever in their menu, so I don't have to worry about that gamy taste that I don't particularly like.
My favorite meal is the Spicy Basil (if I remember the name correctly) with tofu chicken. I also LOVE their (taro) milk tea with boba!! SOOOO DERRICIOUS!!!
Their portions are pretty big ... the only thing I hate is how they give a little tiny bit of rice. So, I'm left with a ton of tofu and vegetables with no rice to eat it with. So, you might have to order some extra rice. But then again, I might just be a fatty who loves to eat rice ... =/
I recommend this restaurant to everyone - even for those non-vegetarians. This place is gooood. You'll be stuffed with "chicken" and "beef" unlike ever before!!!
People thought this was:
This was love at first visit! I am in LOVE with this place. I'm not even vegetarian. The food here is soooo delicious! The service is beyond great. The waiters were really good to us, very considerate & patient. The wait was not long at all, despite the good amount of people there and the fact that we needed two tables for our party.
I ordered the bbq chicken which came with steamed rice. I can't even tell you how good this was. I love rice and I'm very picky with my rice, this has to be the best rice i have ever had, anywhere. The bbq chicken tasted even better than actual bbq chicken i've had at other places, so this says a lot to me. Not to mention, their portions were big, especially for the price! I also had a mango boba slushee and i absolutely loved it. Everything was perfect, i'm not gonna lie!
A really big tip was left accidentally but it was agreed that they deserved it. This is now my favorite place to eat at. I highly recommend this.
People thought this was:
Whatever is in the BBQ "Chikn", whether it's Seitan, or textured vegetable product, or newborn bunny rabbit calves, I. DON'T. CARE, cause it is the Mayor of Yum City.
Rock on, Sipz fuzion! Even if your servers make me feel like a leper awaiting judgment day, I will return faithfully if only to stuff my face with Oriental Chikn Salad, week after week.
DO IT!
People thought this was:
OMFG! I am in MAD love with this restaurant. The portions are huge, the food AMAZING, the prices totally reasonable!
My only criticism is about their Thai Iced Tea (too sweet).
You do NOT have to be a Vegetarian or Vegan to fall in love with Sipz!
People thought this was:
Although I've only tried the pho and cho mein, they never seem to disappoint. I usually order to go since they're always busy.
Sipz is delicious! I am by no means a vegetarian, and yet I visit as often as I can.
I've honestly liked just about every meal I've had there..but be sure to try the Japanese Fire Noodles, Spicy Thai Fried Rice, & the Wok Fried Drunken Noodles. Those are my favorites. =) I've found each of them to be incredibly flavorful AND filling as well. Oh & don't forget to try the Mango Rice dessert. .
Other than the food, the service is nice and the prices decent.
In conclusion: 5 stars
Let's face it, servers in Asian restaurants are not about the customer service. They don't want you to ask a lot of questions concerning the menu and they won't put on a show for you. They want you to order your food, eat it, and get the eff out so they can turn over your table.
You might think that because Sipz Fusion Cafe is a vegetarian restaurant, that the staff would be more down-to-earth, relaxed and leisurely. There is where you'd be wrong. The servers were just as impatient as any other Asian restaurant. We received our ten page menus and were left to peruse them for a moment. About three minutes later the server came back to see if we were ready. Trust me, no one in the world could take in the tome that was Sipz menu in three minutes. It was freaking enormous.
As I said before, Sipz is supposed to be a veggie lover's Heaven. They serve up Pan-Asian cuisine without the meat, substituting the animal flesh with a substance called seitan. Now seitan, for those who don't know, is wheat gluten that has the feel of meat, the look of meat and the texture of meat...without the meat. It's truly matter of the devil and it makes perfect sense that it is called seitan. I've always wondered why vegetarians who don't like meat anyway want to ingest things that look like meat and taste like meat. That shit's just crazy.
The experience at this Sipz is just 'meh' though:
The Food:
It's chock-full of MSG and not quite right in any way. The Vietnamese bun incorporates rice vermicelli that is too thick and a strange ham-like meat substitute that just doesn't go with the dish. Most of their dishes incorporate the seitan very well, for the most part, it's just too salty.
The Ambiance:
Located in a dire-looking strip mall in Clairemont Mesa, the ambiance of Sipz leaves something to be desired; a goofy looking mural of fish on the wall, creepy lace curtains, funky track lighting, a (horrible) painting of Bob Marley on the wall, IKEA furniture and plates and mugs from Wal-Mart round out the 'well-appointed' touches. The interior designer must have graduated from the .99 Store School of Design.
The Price:
At $8.00- $11.00 per plate, the food here is not cheap. Add in the quality, service and ambiance and you're paying a hefty price for wheat gluten, veggies and rice. The portions are big enough to share with a friend easily.
I doubt I'll be back to the cafe, but I'll definitely continue visiting their Scranton Road location which seems so much better.
People thought this was:
I have heard some great things from friends aside from my girlfriend who is a purist rather than someone who enjoys faux-meat dishes.
I look for flavor and flavor is definitely what I was served!
I started off with the happy hour $3 crispy pot stickers. With the generous portion size and explosion of flavor, I was thoroughly impressed.
For my second course I ordered the Mongolian "beef". The veggies were stir fried to perfection and the "beef" had the perfect consistency of a succulent stir-fried beef. It was amazing!
The reason this meal fails to hit the 5-star rating is because the dessert left me a little bummed. I ordered the cookie and ice cream. The cookie was good, but I expected a warm gooey cookie! I looked at the plate and knew that the cook simply grabbed a cookie from the cookie jar and placed it on a plate next to a single scoop of vanilla ice cream. Please work on that!
I will be sure to hit this place next time I am in the area!
I eat at Sipz at least twice a month. I love the food. The glaze on the orange "chicken" is so tasty and the soft chow-mien is one of my favorites. I do feel there are a few things people who never have eaten there should understand.
1.) The service is awful. You probably won't get more water unless you ask. The waiter will probably only come to take your order, bring the food and then leave the check. But once you get you order, you won't care anymore.
2. No matter (at least in my experience) how spicy you say you want your dish, it usually won't be spicy. I'm not sure why, but they do offer Sriracha. Just ask for that and you'll be set. Don't be alarmed when it arrives in a gaint mustard bottle.
3. Don't ever order the pot-stickers unless you are into eating straight grease.
4. If you order a coke, you will receive a can of coke and a cup of ice.
Despite all that, to me it's worth suffering through the lack luster service. You can't get delicious veggie Asian food like this anywhere else in San Diego.
They have vegetarian/vegan sushi after 5. All the desserts are vegan. They just started offering an Avocado Shake. I'm personally not a boba fan, but they have a wide variety. They also recently started offering a Happy Hour menu, Monday - Thurs from 2-5 I believe. And there's usually a coupon in the Reader for a 3-course meal for only $14.
If you are a low maintenance vegetarian or someone who loves vegetarian food, you will enjoy Sipz.
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Pacific Beach
Category: Vegan
Neighborhood: North Park
Category: Vegetarian
San Diego, CA
Category: Vegetarian
Neighborhood: Clairemont
Category: Thai
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