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The Veggie Grill
Categories: Restaurants Vegetarian Restaurants American (Traditional) Vegetarian, American (Traditional) [Edit]
81 Fortune DrIrvine, CA 92618
(949) 727-9900
- Hours:
Mon-Wed, Sun 11 am - 9 pm
Thu-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
504 reviews for The Veggie Grill
Review Highlights
"Favs: sweet potato fries, santa fe crispy chickin."
(in 35 reviews)
"I really enjoyed my strawberry lemonade; so refreshing."
(in 41 reviews)
"I had the Bali Bliss w/a side of mix salad."
(in 24 reviews)
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503 reviews in English
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Review from Tammy R.
Anaheim, CA
1/24/2012
I love to get the nachos and sweet potato fries here, when I want a healthy-ish snack. The service here is always friendly and welcoming. I once had to wait for them to make a new batch of chips for the nachos, which is worth waiting for, and the very nice cashier gave me a voucher for a free meal! I finally branched out and got the Kale salad with Tempeh on it. Oh my word I am a fan of it now. :) Delicious as well as healthy. You can't beat it.
I need to try some of their burgers and soups now. I hear they have a Tortilla soup Tuesday! I'll be coming back... -
Review from Stephen W.
Aliso Viejo, CA
1/29/2012 1 Check-in Here
I am a vegetarian. I had heard good things, and the Yelp reviews looked good, but I was really disappointed.
I had the Carne Asada sandwich that they offer. It really had no flavor at all. The 'beef' was not very seasoned and it was just on a bun with lettuce, tomato, and onion. There was a little green salsa, but not enough to add enough flavor to do anything. The side of chili that I got with it was really good though. A lot of flavor, and had a nice spicy kick to it.
On the upside, they had bottles of Deschuttes Brewery Pale Ale available, which isn't very common, but is one of my favorite brewery's.
In retrospect, I will probably come and give it another try, maybe will try one of the chicken dishes, but if that is at all the same, then unfortunately I probably won't be back. Stay tuned for that review! -
Review from Aris M.
Costa Mesa, CA
Whether you eat meat or not, it's safe to say one can definitely find something that appeals to the taste buds at The Veggie Grill. This location is particularly amazing.
First let's talk about the menu, more specifically the burgers. Oh the burgers. This is what sets The Veggie Grill apart from other vegan spots (Native Foods, Avanti Café, Hipster Den...etc). If I am in the mood for a delicious "burger", this is where I will be. In addition to having a huge variety of different specialty burgers, there is also the option of substituting a whole wheat bun for a wrap, or even a bed of kale. Some burgers, like the American Stack, work great with the bun. Others, like the Chipotle or Carne Asada, work better in a wrap. Either way, it's going to be good.
Then there's the awesome staff. I've eaten here many times and haven't had one bad experience with an employee; they are all so kind and personable. Sometimes I choose to be "that guy" and substitute certain things here and there in my order, but they are always cool enough to allow the changes with a smile, not a sigh. The manager, Neil, is especially awesome.
The restaurant and bathrooms are always clean. There are always place settings waiting for me at each table. The food is consistent and delicious. The prices are reasonable; you can come here with $10.00 and leave satisfied. The only thing you can do now is try it for yourself. -
Review from Astrid G.
2/4/2012 1 Check-in Here
Believe the hype! The Veggie Grill is THAT good. Since it was my first time there, the cashier was happy to tell me about the menu and what she recommended. I eventually went with one of her suggestions, the kale salad with extra walnuts and a piece of the carrot cake for dessert. The salad was huge but the flavor was perfect and the candied walnuts were a nice addition. The carrot cake was excellent (and bonus points for having dairy-free icing on top!). Next time I'm back in SoCal, I'll be back here to try everything else.
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Review from Jena P.
Aliso Viejo, CA
1/25/2012
I recently stopped eating meat/dairy and have been looking for a few good restaurants where I can order off the menu without worrying about what I am really putting in my body.
My husband and I went to the Veggie Grill last weekend and abolutely loved it. We ordered the southwetern chicken sandwich and the grilled chicken sandwich (with a side of sweet potatoe fries & mac and cheese) The sandwiches tasted exactly like the real deal. The southwest was my fav~it had a wonderful chipotle mayo spread on it. The fries were the best I think I've ever had!!! To top off the whole amazing experience was the strawberry lemonade...WOW! I recommend all herbivores and carnivores to try this restaurant. You won't be disappointed :) -
Review from Josie L.
1/12/2012
LOVE their sweet potato fries. LOVE their Southwestern Crispy Chicken Sandwich. LOVE their iced tea station. LOVE the service here. I don't understand how in the world they get my "chicken" sandwich to actually taste like chicken, but it's amazing! The bun that the sandwich is on is equally amazing. They add a little guac and a little relish on top of the "chicken" which makes the perfect combination of flavors. I have tried to branch out and try new sandwiches on their menu but find myself ordering this one every time because every time I ask an employee whether they would choose the chicken sandwich or a different sandwich they always suggest the chicken and say that it is their no. 1 most popular item. Maybe next time I'll try their BBQ veggie burger....maybe...
Oh and if you want to try a cool twist on an Arnold Palmer, I always fill my cup with 3/4 of their unsweetened black tea and 1/4 of their strawberry lemonade...SO good! -
Review from Grace N.
Tustin, CA
1/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
So I am not a vegetarian. I probabably never will be, but sometimes I feel the need to eat vegetarian when I overkilled on the partaking of meat. Anyway, my sis, friend and I ate at the Veggie Grill before going to a movie.
I ordered their the Chipotle BBQ "burger" and sweet potato fries. For a veggie place, this was really good. Very flavorful with the kick of chipotle and man, was that burger packed with ingredients. It was huge!!!! I ate the whole thing though because it was so yummy. The sweet potato fries are one of the better I have had around (sorry, but Seabirds vegan truck has the BEST sweet potato fries) and it was a great compliment to the burger. I ate the fries with the BBQ sauce and it was just a wonderful combo altogether.
My sister had the baja fiesta salad. At first, I was turned off by the quinoa, but after awhile, the taste and texture grew on me. They knew how to good quinoa and make that salad hearty. The dressing was light and flavorful. I only had a few bites of her salad, but I was impressed.
It is a bit pricey, but I understand that quality cost more and vegetarian ingredients are a bit more. I wouldn't come here all the time, but once in a while, it is a non guilty treat to come here. I would recommend it to anyone, even the meatetarians out there. -
Review from Tami D.
12/7/2011 1 photo
I was craving something healthy and delicious, and thought the salads looked great here.
When I was looking over the menu, the Veggie Grill employee assured me that the Chop-Chop Chef Salad was amazing. I'm not a vegetarian and have never eaten anything with "veggie proteins" before, but he was so nice, helpful, and convincing that he made this salad sound wonderful.
At first the salad tasted good (the chopped romaine and dressing were delicious), but when I started eating the "chickin" and "veggie steak" in the salad, I realized I wasn't a fan. The texture and taste just weren't my cup of tea, so to speak.
I was still hungry when I left the Veggie Grill. I would have loved a regular salad with no "veggie" chicken or steak. I do have to admit that the customer service was really good here. I just wish I had liked the salad more. -
Review from Lisa N.
Updated - 12/13/2011
Grade: A
We are now regulars at The Veggie Grill and visit the place about 90% of the time that we are at the Spectrum (about once a week). One of the waiters recognizes us, lol. My favorite sandwich is the SANTA FE CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH. The chipotle ranch that the VG uses on most everything is very tasty. The avocado on top was a great addition. My husband had the red coleslaw again, and I ordered the spring mix as my side. Wow, the spring mix surprised me! Very fresh and filling. Love the quinoa on top, first time I've had it! I have ordered the spring mix salad each time as my side every visit since the first time I had it. Big fan of the food at VG so far. Hubby has been suggesting it each week that we visit the Spectrum so far.
The strawberry lemonade was especially good this time. I typically mix it with water to make it less sweet.Their other drinks (lemonades and iced teas) are also unique.
My husband ordered his signature sweet potato fries - our guilty pleasure each time we visit. I like that their food is animal- and cholesterol-free. But some are high in calories in other ways.
Other entrees my husband or I have tried:
VG CHEESEBURGER: Husband says this is a pass. He didn't like it as much as the All American stack.
BAYOU CHICKEN: Husband prefers the Santa Fe Crispy Chicken.
BBQ CHICKEN/BUFFALO WINGS: Husband does like this and has ordered these a few times.
STEAMIN KALE: This was on the bitter side for me.
In sum, our favorites are: SANTA FE CHICKEN, SPRING MIX SALAD, ALL AMERICAN STACK, BUFFALO WINGS, SWEETHEART FRIES, CHIPOTLE RANCH SAUCE. If I'm in a healthier mood, I choose the grilled chicken sandwich.
Why the rating is not 5 stars:
Two incidences:
1) server was sick and handling our cups one time - we already notified management
2) we found a thread in one of my husband's Santa Fe crispy chicken sandwiches during our last visit. The manager was very sweet and apologetic about it, and they gave us a coupon for our next visit.
But other than these few incidences, 95% of the time, we are very happy with our food and service. They also sent us a birthday coupon for free entrees, which we happily used. Glad to have them relatively near us because we crave Veggie Grill more so than not these days!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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8/16/2011
Grade: A-
I'm not a vegetarian, but The Veggie Grill makes me feel that it'd be possible for me to be… Read more »
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Review from Negien M.
San Francisco, CA
1/5/2012
I wish they would expand to Northern CA (SF specifically please)! Good vegan fare that uses a lot of soy/wheat/gluteny stuff.. I have no idea about the health advantages, but it is delicious. That said, traditional burger enthusiast should probably opt for a salad.
Best sweet potato fries ever! The seasoning of the the fries is perfect and I love the ranch dip it comes with! Also amazing is the kale salad that (if I recall correctly) comes with a delicious mango dressing, candied nuts, some sorta of sweetly cured cabbage, carrots, quinoa, and corn salsa. The fake chicken nuggets are crisp and come with the same tangy ranch dip as well as a red marinara like sauce. Finally, the lentil soup is very flavorful but comes with some lame crisp chip thing.
The only think I've had that falls short is the mac n cheese. The rice pasta is super gummy and hard to break down, and there is just no replacement for real cheese. -
Review from Ainsley D.
San Diego, CA
12/12/2011 7 photos
Delicious all vegan, healthy option for all of your favorite burgers, salads, sandwiches, wraps and comfort food. I frequently get their new spicy buffalo wings, chick'n noodle soup and santa fe crispy chick'n sandwich. The mac and cheese is super delicious, too!
This is the closest VG to where I live and it's worth the 200 mile round-trip drive just to get for lunch (VG, pleeeeease build one in San Diego soon!)
Also, make sure to sign up for their birthday program and get a postcard for a free meal during your birthday month! -
Review from Michelle T.
Boston, MA
12/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
The fam and I were surprised at how delicious the food was at Veggie Grill. Definitely one step up in terms of price and quality than regular old fast food veggie burgers.
Great for meat eaters as well, as a one-time thing of course. I personally hate meat imitation products, so the fake chicken fingers were not my cup of tea, but the portobello mushroom burger and Kale salad with seitan were both delicious! You also can't ever go wrong with sweet potato fries.
Nacho's were decent. The plate was little on the small side, as were all the other burgers 'n salads, but i suppose portion control never hurt anybody. -
Review from Mike T.
Irvine, CA
1/26/2012
The Veggie Grill is legit. The sweet potato fries are my personal favorite. I can't say I've ever ordered an item I didn't like. You can call in a quick order to go or dine in. This place does get pretty packed at the lunch hour, but the food comes out pretty quick.
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Review from Devin H.
Anaheim, CA
1/20/2012
I LOVE Veggie Grill! I have been vegetarian now for about 4 months, and my friend who is also vegetarian introduced me to this place. The first time I went, I played it safe with a Portobello burger. This is a really good "burger", though after a while it proved to be a little more mushroom than I can handle, but that's a personal preference. This is also a VERY messy burger, and is better if eaten with a fork and knife. The second time I went, I got some kind of "chicken" sandwich that came with avocado on it....this was REALLY good, even better than the mushroom burger! You can hardly even tell it isn't meat!
Aside from the burgers, the sweetheart (sweet potato) fries are MAGICAL. Seriously, they are so sooo good, and they come with some kind of a (vegan) ranch-type dipping sauce...I'm not entirely sure what it is, but it's really good! I'd buy it bottled if they sold it! I am definitely looking forward to going back so I can try something new...I'm thinking about trying the burger "el dorado style" (which adds jalapenos, grilled onions, and vegan cheese)
Definitely a great place to eat! Check it out! The food would even satisfy meat lovers! -
Review from Juleigh J.
Dana Point, CA
1/12/2012
The Portobello Mushroom Burger is to die for! I'm a diehard red meat eater but I LOVE this place in general and the portobello burger to be specific. Everything I've ever ordered here has been delicious. I really hope Veggie Grill opens more locations!
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Review from Braydon T.
Laguna Hills, CA
12/1/2011
I was a little apprehensive to give veggie grill a try but I am really glad I did. The food is really good but also kind of expensive for faux meat, I would highly recommend the santa fe chickin sandwhich with sweet potato fries. I have tried the stack and the bayou chickin and nothing compares to the santa fe.
One thing I will say though is Veggie Grill is probably not the best choice if you are health conscious. Like most things in life if it tastes good its probably no good for you and I would imagine a Santa fe chickin sandwhich and sweet potato fries is about as healthy as a big mac and fries from mcdonalds.
You may also notice they do not provide nutritional information and if you try and obtain it by emailing them they will flat out refuse (I tried out of curiosity) this leads me to believe their food is probably horrible for you but does provide a vegan alternative to meat. -
Review from Steven N.
4.5 Stars
Since Michelle M stated the burgers and Mac-n-Cheese here are good, I went with a VG Cheeseburger El Dorado Style (jalapenos, caramelized onions and ketchup) $9.95 and added a side of Mac-n-Cheese for $2.25. http://www.yelp.com/us...
Well, Michelle M did not lie. This was one tasty burger. The texture of their marinated veggie steak was quite good. I've had several mushy veggie burgers before and mushy would not be used to describe this patty at all. This patty also had a nice charbroil taste to it. I will have to admit, this fake burger tasted quite close to the real deal. With the fresh, crisp veggies and bun, it can fool many meat eaters out there.
The Mac-n-Cheese was pretty good also. The texture of the pasta was perfect for me. It was firm the way I like it. I can't stand soft pasta. The cheese was a little on the watery side. I'm guessing this is due to the lack of dairy. It was still enjoyable though and that's what counts.Listed in: I will gladly pay you Tuesday…, Irvine, I hate you, A Big Salad, Vegetarian and Vegan Joints
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/10/2011
4.25 Stars
I came for a salad and left quite impressed. The counter dude was friendly. Always a good… Read more »
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Review from Jeena E.
The Veggie Grill consistently pumps out Vegan kibble that is actually edible! I am thinking about going vegetarian and buying a Prius! Just kidding.
The Veggie Grill is seriously good eating, I really did enjoy it. The restaurants interior is like an Apple Store for Vegans. It is minimalist, high tech and very clean. Muted tones and wood grain rule the color scheme. After a minutes time of sorting out the menu (the "chicken" is touted as "specially seasoned and marinated veggie protein blends", whatever that means.) my husband went with the Baja Fiesta salad and I decided upon the Thai Chickin' salad. In place of the standard soda dispensers they offer a Lemonade and cold Tea bar. I loved this idea. I opted for the Strawberry Lemonade and hubz went with a Pomegranate Tea. Both were refreshing and delicious. More restaurants need to try this wonderful idea!
Withing 5 minutes our salads arrived and we were both surprised by their wow factor. These guys take plating seriously, the dishes looked SEXY. I tried my husbands Baja salad first, it consisted of chopped romaine, papaya, avocado, roasted corn salsa, quinoa, cucumber, cilantro, tortilla strips with a ginger-papaya vinaigrette. The ingredients were farm fresh, I can't remember the last time I really enjoyed a salad this clean tasting. The ginger-papaya vinaigrette tied the greens together well and it boasted a terrific bouquet of flavors. Awesome!
The Thai Chickin' had equally fresh components: romaine leaves, red & green cabbage, roasted corn salsa, green onion, mandarin oranges, toasted sesame seeds, cilantro, wontons with a spicy Thai dressing. The tofu "chicken" wasn't a bad attempt. The flavor was quite good, but the mouth feel is understandably off. You just shouldn't attempt fake proteins, it is all in the texture. I ate it willingly, but it did take from the overall salad which was flawless otherwise. I would happily order this again, but may consider sans "chicken".
The offer a "Chicken hot wings" appetizer that seemed rather frightful, I don't have the bravery to attempted that one quite yet...
The patrons here are the tedious and eye rolling crowd one would expect: Hipsters in tight pants and donning facial hair, Vegan eco-terrorists sporting funny hats and Apple electronics and of course pompous OC housewives in between Pilates and their afternoon cocktail hour. It is what it is, consider yourself advised.
I will most certainly return to The Veggie Grill for those marvelous salads!Listed in: The Bubble
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Review from Kylen B.
Tustin, CA
1/14/2012
I have to admit I don't like the food here, but that is not the reason for 2 stars.
I work for a very small company and each Friday we purchase lunch for everyone. We have been doing this for more than a decade and so we've become quite intimate with many eateries in the area. Typically, there are only 5-6 people that join for lunch but most are vegetarian and so we choose various places to eat.
We had stopped buying lunch at Veggie Grill, not that people didn't like the food, but they seemed incapable of getting orders correct. It's pretty annoying when the food arrives and orders are incorrect. Although they are willing to correct their mistake, no one wants to make another trip and waste their lunch hour.
Recently, we decided to try them again and they had got our orders correct, which frankly, surprised us. We ordered food again this past Friday for 5 people. Three of the orders were wrong. Two were completely wrong even though the correct details were written on the outside of the boxes containing the meals.
We have concluded, perhaps incorrectly, that the folks at Veggie Grill could not get a job at a fast food restaurant because of this incompetence and so applied at Veggie Grill, who happily employs people who cannot pay attention to detail.
Maybe if you dine in, it won't be a big deal because you can easily have them correct their mistakes. The people I work with seem to like the food OK although no one raves about it being delicious. So, it is an easy decision to not return for us. -
Review from shawn a.
Irvine, CA
1/5/2012
Healthy Delicious Food at the Spectrum what more could you ask for? The Sweet potato fries are must. Can't have my meal without it. And the dipping sauce it comes with seriously enhances my taste buds :))
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Review from brownie n.
Orange County, CA
1/8/2012
Best vegan nachos ever! Ask for extra jalapenos.
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Review from shannon g.
Aliso Viejo, CA
1/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
I got the bayou chicken. It was great I loved it. It all tasted great I love the slaw they have too. The only thing I didn't like was the end of my chicken thing seemed all burned. Tastyyy
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Review from Greg N.
9/27/2011
Grill, you got my love
Well that's all right
I could eat your steamed kale mornin', noon, and night
Oh...your miso dressing
with sesame
Me so happy that your dressing impress-a-me
Grill, you got my love
With the All-American Stack
An all-veggie burger that's filled and don't taste whack
The side we chose was
red cabbage slaw
It was flat but for the night it was your only flaw
Veggie-Veggie-Veggie
I got so much veggies in me
Ooh Veggie-Veggie-Veggie
You're gonna help me live longer
So I can have more time with my wifey!
You're good for my heart
And for my rhymes
You give me food that gives off energy for my mind
Gonna eat some gluten
Gonna eat some soy
Their Chillin' Chicken got them both and more for this hungry boy
Long as you know I still do eat any meat I want to
And that's actual and that's factual
But still I choose you to be with me
And your portobello burger's good, such a pesto-y
Pick-me-up!
Veggie-Veggie-Veggie
I got so much veggies in me
Ooh Veggie-Veggie-Veggie
You're gonna help me live longer
So I can have more time with my wifey!Listed in: The Burger, Pizza, Sandwich…
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Review from Justin S.
Mission Viejo, CA
1/9/2012
A friend took me to this place a while back and i was surprised. Got myself some chicken tenders and mac and cheese; chicken tenders tasted amazing. Couldn't believe it wasn't chicken. Also the mac and cheese. Best I ever had. Awesome.
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Review from Meghan T.
Costa Mesa, CA
10/12/2011
5 words that will change your life: Kale salad with blackened tempeh.
!!!!!
So good and so full of superfoods and healthy ingredients. I normally don't like raw kale but this is so flavored with all the other ingredients that it doesn't bother me a bit. When I am feeling like a cheap date I get the Bali Bliss with blackened tempeh.. here's the tip: as a WRAP. I don't know why but it's way better than as a sandwich. Also, you can never go wrong with the Bayou Burger. That was the 1st thing I tried here and fell in love with. Finally, the sweet potato chili fries are the ultimate vegan splurge. They were better than the ones I had at Native Foods. -
Review from Jordan S.
Aliso Viejo, CA
11/24/2011
Im not vegetarian, although I grew up on vegetarian food (grandmother was vegie for 40 years). The only reason i give this place 3 stars is because of two things on the menu that i eat and LOVE. Santa Fe Burger and Sweet Potato Fries!
Thats it...anything else is at your own risk. :) -
Review from Danielle C.
Buena Park, CA
1/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
THE BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN PLACE EVER! the burgers are amazing and the sweet potato fries make me drool. definitely somewhere i will be coming back to. super healthy and extra yummy. little bit on the pricey side but SO WORTH IT.
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Review from Michael C.
Warwick, NY
1/1/2012
I wish this chain was National! They definitely understand good fresh vegetarian food. And the avocado! All very very good!!! Enjoy!
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Review from Robert W.
Santa Ana, CA
11/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
In past months I've been increasingly interested in vegetarian options. I've been cutting flour and sugar from my diet as much as possible. I'm reducing my red meat drastically and meat in general appreciably. As it turns out, it's getting progressively more difficult to find yummy vegetarian places to eat in the El Toro area.
Lunch Cohort found this one on Yelp. The order taker asked me if it was my first time and we chatted about marketing. I chose the Veggie Grill Kale Salad with Blackened Tempeh, as suggested by another Yelper, and a fountain drink. I really don't understand the need for faux meat and have no interest in trying the "chickin." Of the three tea options, I tried the pomegranate green tea.
The salad was very tasty and slightly on the sweet side. The pomegranate green tea was on the sweet side as well. Maybe the food wasn't that sweet and I'm just overly sensitive. But I have been reading in other reviews that many of their dishes are on the sweet side.
Basically, I had an excellent 4-Star lunch experience. I felt very satisfied and did not feel like it was a forced, meatless experience. Assuming other items on the menu are just as tasty I can imagine myself eating here regularly.
I don't recall what Lunch Cohort ate but he seemed to enjoy it. He cleared his plate. I know that he came here with me more as a favor to accommodate my dietary ambition than anything but I think his eyes were opened to the possibly of healthier cuisine.
$13.68 is, perhaps by some standards, a bit pricy for a "salad" however, relatively speaking; it's what I'm spending at most places any ways. I want to eat healthy and I'm willing to spend what it takes. -
Review from Shane D.
Despite liking vegetables, I am not usually a eater that craves anything vegetarian. I'd usually prefer my veggies be a side dish along side some tasty grilled meat.
However, I have been reading review after review about how the Veggie Grill has vegetarian dishes that don't taste vegetarian. Ya right. I've heard that one before.
Well, you know what? I should know better than to doubt the tried and true expertise of my yelp friends.
Despite having a pretty limited menu, and each dish being a little pricer than I expected ($8-10 sandwiches), everything I tried was very tasty.
The Chipotle BBQ sandwich might be the closest thing to meat I've ever had on a veggie burger. It's seriously messy though. There's almost too much sauce. It went everywhere.
The Chili is really good for having no meat in it. It has a smoky flavor that's really tasty.
The pomegranate green tea was way too sweet for me though. I'll have to try a different drink option next time.
All in all, I'd say I like this a little better than Native Foods' meatless options. I still prefer many other healthy options out there to this, but if I'm ever craving something that tastes like meat but doesn't have any meat in it, this would be my choice. -
Review from Eoeo E.
Mission Viejo, CA
12/31/2011
Very good. Tho if you order the uptown nachos get it without cheese. The cheese tastes like melted plastic. Haven't tried everything on the menu, but so far so good. Will go there again.
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Review from John W.
Cerritos, CA
9/16/2011
I've passed by Veggie Grill...gosh...like for 2-3 years going back and forth to UC Irvine and my apartment. I've always been a bit dissuaded from going in both because I had a preconception of an all-veggie menu that either would mean all salads or not-so-great vegetarian meat replacements. Finally, many moons later, I get the courage to enter in and although the price is probably the biggest barrier to entry, Veggie Grill is probably one of the best sandwich restaurants around the Irvine area.
Coming into the restaurant, Veggie Grill immediately gives off a very immediate vibe of a sit-down restaurant with the normal fast-food type cashier setup. Its definitely a bit more upscale than Panera but still teeter-totters on that casual fast food versus fancy sit-down decor which is a plus for me. Even their restroom is unique with their thin but big sink.
The food selection is separated into sandwiches (and wraps), salads, appetizers, drinks, and dessert. The price for the entree (with the replacement order of their sweet potato fries) was about $11. I had the Bayou Chicken Sandwich. There is also the option to cut the sandwich in half which I found very helpful. My gosh...it was delicious (and supposedly, after checking online for some nutritional facts, healthy!) Filled with guacamole, some veggies, and a whole grain type bread, the sandwich really just hit the right note of having its own unique taste and being a tasty delight. The sweet potato fries were no joke either; coming right behind my other option for favorite sweet potato fries at the UC Irvine Pub. It had some unique herbal seasoning and fried just enough to be such a great treat. A spicy ranch sauce was also included which just elevated the taste.
The drink was about $2. They have a variety of drinks available but the drinks that most stood out were their teas and lemonades available to just get at one's own convenience. The strawberry lemonade is definitely slurp-a-licious with its not-too-sweet-but-just-right taste and a slight sourness. The price for dessert was $3.25 for the carrot cake. Supposedly, it was dairy-less and healthy and although the cream was a little strong on top, the cake itself was so good!
The service was fine (a little strange admittedly with a cashier that forgot to give us a cup and a little hurried) and the location isn't bad at all with plentiful parking all around.
All-in-all, the price is the culprit that makes me a little hesitant to give it the full five stars as I still feel that the final meal didn't completely make me full. However, its taste (and again, supposed healthy-ness!) is simply godly. I highly recommend it and can't wait to go back again. -
Review from Minerva T.
Garden Grove, CA
Duke D. kept pushing about going to Veggie Grill so when we finally had a day where we would spend some time at Irvine Spectrum, I decided that it would be our dinner. I guess I was sort of expecting more of a sit-down type of restaurant since he had kept talking about going there; it was a lot more casual than that but I liked the atmosphere overall. It was very clean in terms of design and color. I forced him to surprise me with an order since he was the one who had raved about the place.
The drink selection was great. Aside from the regular soda fountain drinks, they had fresh lemonade, strawberry lemonade, pomegranate green tea, unsweetened black tea, and peach black tea. I went with the peach and he went with the pomegranate. Both were fantastic choices. Unlimited refills? Awesome. I wish I had the stomach to have more!
We started out with the sweetheart fries that he claimed were to die for. They were sweet potato fries and nicely fried. Paired with Chipotle ranch dipping sauce, they were pretty good but honestly not the very best I've had. They are high up there on my list though! Solid side.
My entree was the Bayou Chickin' which was their version of chicken blackened with Cajun spices. He got it for me kale style which meant no bun but just a bed of kale, and I had a side of their chili instead of a slaw. To be honest, I didn't really enjoy my entree because it was "blackened" too much. I mean, I understand that the point was to make it seem similar to actual chicken but I personally know that the veggie-protein mix didn't have to be charred to be cooked thoroughly. The charred areas overwhelmed the whole taste of the burger so that I couldn't distinguish the Cajun spices all too well. Sadness. The chili was good though.
Duke D. got the All American Stack which was their veggie steak with thousand island dressing stacked with onion rings. The onion rings were nice, and the little bit of the steak I tasted was tasty. I hope the rest of the burger was good - he enjoyed it from what I could tell! Overall, an okay experience for me but it is a tad pricey for what it is. -
Review from Michelle S.
Long Beach, CA
12/27/2011
people need to look up the definition of vegan here....look. i know i'm a snarky negative person. i gave this place a bad review...and the owner contacted me, offered a free meal, and for me to ask questions as my last review said the place was soy heavy. so i drove 50 miles (unlike that twat at 118 degrees who said she would send me a coupon but didn't). asked for the soy free menu. it had one item on it that was soy free, and not a soup or salad or drink.
i have a whole foods 2 miles from me. it has amy's soup. I own a can opener. i'm just saying.
i really appreciate the customer service. and i have to say their tea is positively delightful and light. the dressing on the kale salad should be bottled and sold.
i'm trying to think of more nice things to say...
the thing about eating out is...even if a restaurnat only has one good item on it (and yes their portobello mushroom is ok), it has to be good enough to make someone recommend it. to make them want to eat there time and again. even if i worked next door to this place, i wouldn't pay $8 for a salad that i could get at whole foods for half the price. why can't they put that mushroom on a sald? is that asking too much??
oh and owner...study what your ingredients are. that "not-chicken" that "tempeh"
SOY-SOY-SOY-WHEAT-GLUTEN-SOY.Comment from Kevin B. of The Veggie Grill 12/28/2011
Hi Michelle, Please accept my apologies for disappointing… More » -
Review from catherine q.
Irvine, CA
10/11/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I tried everything and I end up only eat their ++Santa Fe crispy chicken and +bayou chicken Kyle style.
++I like their sweet potato fries and I love their spicy Mayo.
++++Strawberry soda is fresh, tasty and not too sweet. It's soooo good!
-----I don't like their bun's. The bun's are always soaked and way too soft. The flour will stuck like caramel on your tooth.
---chocolate chip cookie is very chunky, don't eat before your whole meal, because that is your meal already.
+++Service is friendly and this place is never too crowded.
+++++A easy dinning place without running kids around...YEAaaahhh!!!!! -
Review from Pete F.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
"Free of cholesterol, animal fat and trans fat" Say no more. Following a decadent Thanksgiving meal, this is precisely what we needed. In addition to being more healthy eating, the kids meal are a great deal, including a dessert and drink. We gave the boys water and the parents enjoyed the lemonade and iced tea selections. :)
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Review from Sherry S.
Irvine, CA
10/16/2011
So healthy and delicious!
From salads to burgers to fries, veggie grill's options have always satisfied me! -
Review from Chris T.
Riverside, CA
10/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came to The Irvine Spectrum on a little family outing for my mom`s birthday. We walked by The Veggie Grill and my sister was explaining to my mom that everything they serve is vegetarian. We walked into Urban Outfitters for a while and as soon as we walked out, my mom was a little hungry, and we decided to have a little snack because we were going to have dinner later in the evening. So we walked back to The Veggie Grill because my mom was interested to see what they have.
My sister mentioned that their Sweet Potato Fries are really good. So we ordered the fries and we all shared that. The fries come out hot, so that`s a plus. The fries are sprinkled with a little bit of salt, so it`s a little sweet from the potato and a little salty from the salt, which enhances the flavor of the sweet potato. mMm.. i`m a sucker for sweet and salty things. The fries also came with a dipping sauce. I don`t remember what kind of sauce it was, but it was spicy and yummy.
I`m very interested to come back here and try the other things that they have. -
Review from Mamabear B.
Irvine, CA
12/17/2011
I love how everything is healthy. I am not a vegan, but I could seriously eat here everyday. I had the kale salad which tasted so fresh! The sweet potato fries where not over seasoned and the strawberry lemonade is addicting.
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Review from Sara B.
9/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
Loved every minute of every bite that I took of my portobello mushroom sandwich "kale style." The iced tea selection is outstanding!
I will be enjoying another venture to this place!!!
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