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Categories: Vegan, Active Life
Neighborhood: Hollywood
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I work around the area and I wanted something good and healthy. By the name of this place, I would've never thought this was a family owned Thai restaurant.
Even though it saids its all vegan, I still think this place is great and the price is dirt cheap!
Great portion and great for lunch if you don't want anything too heavy!
Giddy up, y'all. That there cowboy burger is delicious, just like your mother.
We love this place more than your dad loves hookers!!
People thought this was:
The cowboy dinner is the way to go.
They have tasty dishes that even satisfy my meat-eating pals, vegetables that aren't steamed to within an inch of their life like at some other vegetarian spots, and best of all they deliver.
When I'm feeling a bit under the weather and don't want to cook for myself, this place has an awesome vegetable soup that is flavorful and healthy- Chicken soup for the vegan soul, delivered! The salads & "chicken nuggets" are pretty tasty, too.
The menu can get a bit daunting, but if you order the cowboy dinner and don't like it, this place probably isn't for you.
Service is a bit dicey, make sure you remind them to include the tahini sauce and you might want to give them directions to your place if you don't happen to live around the corner (they deliver pretty far away)
FOUR 1/2 STARS
People thought this was:
YUMMY!!! This is my fav so far. I had the cowboy and it was a dream. I had the house potatoes which were OK, but man that burger was good. I will be going back. The people are cool, to. The only thing is that the parking is nonexistent. We had to park in the driveway next door to pick up our takeout. Sometimes you have to work for whats good. GO THERE!!!
Vegan Express, I'm in love with you! You helped me through the rough days of being a 15 year old vegan. I remember when my mind was blown having vegan butter for the first time at your restaurant. Those were the days!! 7 years later and I love your food more than ever. Pancakes tropical are still my favorite item regardless of what time of day it is. All the Thai items are also amazing. Even my meat-eating friends gladly go here with me, which is a true testament to your glory. Keep going strong!!
My husband & I are completely addicted to the 'Cowboy Burger' - we have it at least 3-4x/wk!!! Super fresh ingredients-great avacados, & don't be turned off by vegan cheese-it rocks!! Great price, great food, & healthy too!
I'm a big fan of Vegan Express and I'm not even vegan or vegetarian.
Their raad na and miso soup are to die for. Although the miso is Salt City, USA so you might not like it if you aren't a salt phene like I am.
People thought this was:
Cheap, vegan, and closeby to me at work - what more can I want?
oh yeah. For it to be delicious too. BING!
Totally ghetto building, yummy food, pretty alright (non-heart attack inducing) prices, and relatively friendly humanoids. Nice! 15 dollar min. delivery!
People thought this was:
Two words: Brokeback Mountain. Oops, wrong two words. Two more words: Cowboy Burger. So, so good. Vegan Express is tiny, but very friendly, with an odd sense of humor. Fresh salads, great curry, and great prices. I love it so.
People thought this was:
I love vegan restaurants but this place isn't the best. Good for take-out or delivery, but I don't recommend going there to eat. It's not in a great location and parking is difficult. Some of the food is very good, but a lot of it is just not. The menu can be hit and miss. Find what you like and stick to it!
We were working out of a studio in North Hollywood for a month, and I was living at the Oakwood across the 101 at the time.. we used to eat here everyday to and from the studio. The location isn't the most convenient but its all good. The building is a bit dilapidated but totally adds to the legitimacy of the joint.. this is after all, about the food.
I appreciate the spots who bring an element to cooking food which is lacking in some way in america... taking pride and care into the things you DO make rather than trying to cover a ridiculously large spectrum.
The straight-up chicken sandwich is amazing. The bun is always fresh and the amount of sprouts and avocado they give you is pure love. No stupid 4 slices of avocado nail trimmings. The different fried rices are also really good, and I even enjoyed having their fried tofu in mine although growing eating tofu I usually hate it fried.
Down to earth, quality ingredients, good prices, super legit.
People thought this was:
Man this place is awesome! A couple of years ago my girlfriend suggest we'd eat there and I said NEVER! Been going back there once a week ever since!
0 for decor, granted, but the food is AMAZING! Try the Seitan Wrap, it must be laced with crack or something, because no matter what, I must have it...matter of fact, I am going to go have one now!
Ive eaten takeout twice form here..
cowboy dinner, and the chicken dinner thats the same but with fake chicken..
the cowboy dinner is addictive, probably cos its so salty, but yum.. fresh vegies and the brown rice is always good..
Im a big fan...
I have even got one of those mega red meat eaters craving it too, much to the distress of her husband! hahaha
I am close to it many days of the week at the moment so I think i will eat here more often and try new things each time to be able to write a better review...
(well, the real reason is because it is good food...)
good healthy, filling and YUMMY in general....
The spring rolls here are the best ever! ($4 for 3)
I've never had a bad meal here, and the prices are very reasonable. Every time I've gone, the service has been great, everyone is very friendly.
Vegan goodness. Not being vegan I actually enjoy eating here rather than a vegetarian or 'omnivore' place. First, you have a wonderful and genuine Thai family cooking....get this...Thai food! Granted, not everything has to be classical Thai cuisine, but I had some of the tastiest sandwiches ever while in Thailand. Their meat substitutes are tasty and filling, their sauces are authentic and....tasty and they have crispy spring rolls to die for. Second, you have the prices...reasonable. Third, easy to get to! It is right off the 101, Barham, etc.
Minuses: It is like eating in Thailand. Simple utilitarian decor, tile floor, A/C unit in the wall, little TV hanging precariously above...I just need flip flops and sand! About 6 tables that hold four each comfortably. Parking can be confusing unless you notice the metered spots a few hundred feet up the street, or the 4 double parked spaces off the alley behind.
OH! They deliver and are always friendly. Every time any of the family sees my cats, they swoon...its nice!
Well you can imitate good meat but you can't imitate good service. The service I received here was one step above abysmal.
Upon entering the place I was greeted by no one so I figured I should sit down and wait, but then no because the guy in the "As seen on porn" shirt is looking at me. He's behind the counter, wait, he's in the kitchen, oh my god he's the chef. And I think he's also my waiter?
I decided to make the first move by approaching the counter and asking for a menu and THEN sitting down. Hmph! Good. Awesome move, they know I'm here, obviously about to order, and all primed up, but after a few minutes of dead air I realize that no one is coming to see me. I'm on my lunch hour ya? TICK TOCK. Alright, cool, we make our own destiny right? I got up and placed my order with the porn star and sat back down. A few minutes later I was actually given a glass of water and then my "fish" wrap which was only not bad. The "fish" wasn't quite as good as I had hoped but the wrap had all the basics: Lavash, tomato, avocado, lettuce, and of course sprouts. Unfortunately the dipping sauce wasn't pulling it's weight and that's what I was counting on to snap that sandwich out of it's doldrums.
The place stays consistent with basic vegan consciousness by using energy efficient lighting and ceiling fans instead of AC. They have signs too. My favorite had a picture of a chicken saying "Let's face it Colonel, you do chicken wrong." It was so geeky and cool at the same time I had to laugh.
The menu here is so extensive I have no idea how they pull it off. They have a small kitchen with only a medium size grill, an oven, two pans and a spatula.
I am quite sure that I will have to try breakfast here in which case I may bump it a star.
It sounds so good.
-Cowgirl Pancake Breakfast: pancakes, tofu, scramble topped with soy baco bits and cheese (no casein)
-Chicken and Pancakes
They also have Thai food, curries, Salads.
I know I must be missing something here.
I never was brought a check and so when I was done I went up and paid. As far as I know, a bill was never physically produced, he just rang it up, calculating the total in his head. And I hated to do it but NT.
I will return for more rejection though because between the menu and possible porn stars there are too many ways to get lucky here.
People thought this was:
Vegan Express is extremely hard to get to and it has no parking except a few spots in the back. I would say to go there if you have to. If you are in the area, delivery is the way to go. The food is good. The menu is better that many of the other Thai vegan places because there is more to choose from. The staff is friendly. Its not really a place to enjoy eating at atmospherically but if you are hungry its a great place to pick up so to-go food or have it delivered.
People thought this was:
If Californian Vegan didn't sit just over the mountain in Hollywood, this place would probably be sitting on 4 or 5 stars in my book.
With a similar menu, Cali Vegan trumps this place every time. From the fries through to the vegan pancakes they get it done so much better.
My partner raves about the Breakfast Burrito at Vegan Express. The one he orders contains scrambled tofu, faux-cheese and fake bacon bits. He loves them.
I'm a bit meh about it all. And word to the drivers... I think there are two spots out the back for parking. Maybe don't make this your destination for a special date. Just use it as a convenient tummy-filler on your way back/to Universal.
People thought this was:
To clarify, this is a hole in the wall. The problem with many Yelp reviews, I have noticed, is that people go to holes in the wall and expect the same service as they would at nice restaurants. Not gonna happen.
This place is fantastic. Almost everything I have ordered has been awesome. The cowboy burgers rock, as do the curries and the "chicken" nuggets. The guy behind the counter is friendly if you say hi to him and you yourself are nice. Just don't be a douchebag. Go to the counter and order, THEN sit down. This is a dive, moron. Not a 5 star restaurant. That being said, I give it five stars.
I highly recommend.
I did not know they deliver. Not that it matters for me because I live in an undilverable area and would go hungry if I ordered food.
People thought this was:
Its a pretty great hole-off-the side-of-the-freeway.
My friend Cortney took me here the first time. it was after a job at an agency specializing in media jobs. Towards the end of the interview, she asked me how old I was since I sound so much more poised & intelligent than I look [what a lame "complement"]. I was 24 at the time. She told me I looked like "jailbait" [her words not mine].
I walked up to someone while we were waiting for our food & asked him if I could ask him some questions one being how old I was. He figured I was 24. She was an idiot.
After he left the guy behind the counter told me the guy was a member of the band Phantom Planet. Ooops! No wonder he thought it was odd I wanted to talk to him.
Try the salads. The red curry is pretty good. The mock meat rocks sweet!
People thought this was:
In my transition from omnivore to O/L vegetarian and then to vegan, I've gone on a vegan food jihad -- on a constant quest to find good, reasonably priced, clean vegan food. Or *else.*
...Vegan Express kind of gives me the heebie-jeebies.
Is it good? Sure. Is it reasonably priced? Definitely. Is it clean? ::cricket cricket:: I know that the Powers that Be have bestowed an 'A' rating upon Vegan Express, yet every time I walk in, my 6th-sense-I-can-smell-a-dirty-restaurant-a-mile-aw ay alarms go off, putting a ringing in my ears and flashing red and blue lights cluttering my view.
Then again, maybe it's best that my vision remain clouded in a colorful haze, so I don't have to write yet another good place off for being roach infested and/or filthy/disgusting.
People thought this was:
My office (or former office now since we're moving) is a few doors down from Vegan Express and although I've eaten here many-a-time I am finally writing my review.
I love this place! It has definitely saved me when I was too busy to drive away for lunch. I've tried almost everything on the menu and will always stand by the cowboy burger! My goodness, that burger was tasty. And many of my meat eating friends have said that this burger passes their approval test. I think it's the sauce they put in it...
Their spicy noodles are damn deelish (called see-me noodles on their menu) and their curries are good, although I suggest just getting it with tofu and hold off on the fake meats...but hey, you may like it. Many thai-influenced foods and they also have good breakfast wraps (although they aren't opened early enough to actually have them for breakfast...odd).
I will admit that their service before wasn't so great especially when ordering over the phone but they have gotten better and am now greeted fondly by every time I come in. Speaking of coming in, it is quite a cozy place. Very small digs but I didn't mind it much. Although, not cool if you come in with a big group and the 4-5 available tables are taken. They do have a back patio, though.
They've been opened everyday but will be closed on SUNDAYS starting in MAY.
Street parking is available on Cahuenga (meters) and there is parking in the back (tandem) but very limited.
Vegan Express, you will be missed! Thank you for feeding me all these years!
People thought this was:
Sooooo, fifilala and i decided that we'd do breakfast today...i followed up my 9am lesson with a trip to studio city/universal city(?) to Vegan Express...i found Vegan Express on Yelp ofcourse in a desperate attempt to get my girlfriend Vegan pancakes without enduring Swingers AGAIN!
After i parked on Bennett street, a block down for the restaurant, I directed Fifi off the freeway from my outdoor seat at Starbucks (where she would park). One half of a sugarfree vanilla soy latte later (starbucks IS handy!), we realized we could have parked on cahuenga right in front of holiday inn express. which of course is right next door to Vegan express. anyway, together we walked a short block over to the restaurant just after they opened around 11am!
AND OMFG!
this place is glorious! a cute little cozy bungalow with a crazy involved menu including lots o breakfast burritos, pancake options (breakfast is by far my favorite meal 24/7) and wraps, salads, soups, noodles - thai food and american standards - the menu is actually INSANE!
little miss fifilala had the pancakes fried chicken combo, very authentic i must say as a meat eater...i had the Cowgirl breakfast, pancakes, soy scramble with cilantro onion and tomato and a side of hash brown potatoes. and i have to say that the pancakes were some of the best i've ever had PERIOD. AND I"M NO VEGAN!
LOVE IT!
4 STARS! PERIOD. DOT!
People thought this was:
Love this place.
definitely one of the best in the valley. they always get my order perfect, the place is really clean and well kept, the employees are really wonderful too. Plus the menu is delicious
Vegan Comfort Food.
It's been a difficult time for me. And during such difficult times, what makes things better (for a short while at least) than comfort foods? Nothing. Diet taboos to the wind, I needed a new drug. I needed something delicious.
Thankfully it's only a short drive to Vegan Express, and also thankfully, they make the most incredible vegan pancakes and fried fake-chicken you've ever not yet tasted. I ordered the "Chicken & Pancake" breakfast (breakfast served all day). The chicken of course is not real, it's made of soy with a kamut, low-gluten batter, then fried to crisp, golden perfection. That's right, I said fried, not a word I use often, or take lightly for that matter. Drastic times call for drastic measures.
This fake chicken is amazing, as good as it gets. Better even. The batter is thick and a tad sweet with a slight donuty flavor, which is just perfect with the very realistic tasting chicken. It's normally served with the regular pancake, but they were happy to indulge my request to have it with the "Tropical Pancakes" instead, which have fresh bananas and blueberries cooked right into them. So fluffy and thick and amazing. The plate comes with Earth Balance vegan buttery spread, maple syrup and a whole lot of sticky, carb-coma inducing, who - gives - a - crap - about - carlories - at - a - time - like - this kind of yum.
The next time you need a good eat-your-heart-out because your eyes are too tired to cry anymore sort of pig out, you now know where to go, and exactly what to order.
I eat there often actually, and everything I've had from the menu has been amazing (and most of it is neither fried nor fattening) ... be it the spicy green beans (basically a Thai style Prik King), the mock-duck curry, one of the yummy wraps, or any of the fantastic, huge and brimming over with fresh vegetable salads. Don't forget the vegan Thai ice tea either. Yeah, it's all good here. And did I mention the breakfast rocks?
Just to piggyback on a few of the other reviews, a couple of corrections and comments:
1. It's a tiny, family owned and run place, one step up from a hole in the wall (the tiled counter makes it way too pretty to be considered a dive). Expect them to wipe down a table for you, but don't expect them to hold your hand or wipe your ass when you go to the bathroom. Grab a menu, order at the counter, have a seat, enjoy. The patio setting outback is especially nice. These people are not here to entertain you, they are here to feed you. Sure, you have to order and pay at the counter, but it's not a big deal considering the entire place is maybe 12 feet by 12 feet in total. I can't believe someone complained about this!
2. They do in fact have a parking lot (why am I giving away this secret? this is how much I care about you Yelpers... just don't block my car the next time you're there, ok?), it's behind the building and needs to be accessed by turning into the hills one block to the west of the restaurant, at Bennett Drive, then left into the alley way and straight back.
People thought this was:
They deliver?!?!
If they get even 4 people deep in line, the place is considered busy because it is so, so small. The food is good if you are open to vegan and vegetarian food. But if you are bringing people who are total meat eatters, they will merely poke at their lentil burger or tofu cubes and scowl. That's no fun, leave them home for your sake.
The food is good and worth the wait. Credit card over $10 or $15 so bring cash or pay for your friends. Nothing on their menu sounds too impressive, I admit, but most of the stuff I've had are really good (minus the pepper black steak wrap (blah)).
People thought this was:
The food is amazing here. American or Thai, it's all good. I particularly like the Mock Duck Curry or really anything they make that includes the word "curry." Their burgers are good too, as is the pad Thai. You can pretty much close your eyes and point to anything on the menu. It will rock!
Sure it's tiny and there's no parking lot, but neither of these things have ever been problem for me. Maybe I'm never there when it's busy, but the service is quick and it's a very nice environment.
It's very important to me to have a little place like this that's affordable and easy. You know, like a casual neighborhood joint. Most cities don't have a place like this that's vegan (especially in the Hollywood/Studio City area), which makes this place that much better.
But back to the deliciousness! I've taken a number of non-vegetarians there and they unanimously love it. It's just plain good.
Go there and eat delicious food often!
People thought this was:
This is a great hole-in-the wall veggie place. I had a terrific salad with edemame, garbanzo beans, avocado, onions, romaine and choice of dressing for under $8. And this included a whole avocado! I couldn't believe it. The other had a lentil burger that was a bit soft, but tasty none-the-less. And there was a great smoothie too. They have great outdoor seating in the back. This is a counter place, but there is indoor seating as well with air-conditioning.
Major complaint, no parking.
*Update*
Thanks to Foodeater Z. - I found out that there is parking in the back. My mistake, I tend to miss things like that.
People thought this was:
Every dish takes like a home-cooked meal. Even non vegetarians will eat here and order again. I'm a meat eater and I eat here quite often and leave satisfied. Plus they have fresh young coconut juice! yay!
People thought this was:
i absolutely L.O.V.E!!!! this place. they have a pretty large menu, full of plenty of choices of yummy yummy stuff. great variety from breakfast to wraps and curry! its very affordable and well worth the long drive for me all the way from south central to the studio city area. Totally homey- from their super polite kitchen, to the tip jar that just takes all the tipping pressure away and the free water on the counter! i also go nuts for the red sauce they have on every table (i dont know what its called... but its amazing).
try the chicken strips with the red sauce (i think they might call them chicken nuggets) and the pad thai and the mock duck curry and the berry smoothie!!! yummmmmmmmy!
People thought this was:
a good vegan can eat a wide array of burgers including snazzy named ones like the cowboy burger. I had the mushroom and it was very slippery but quite tasty. The place is very cramped and practically only fits 10-15 people. The place is close to the office so all good for me. I wouldn't drive all the way out from my area for it though. Decent eating.
People thought this was:
this was one of the few places that delivered to my place. the delivery girl was always so sweet.
it's good vegan food at a decent price. The wraps with the faux meat always satisfied my carnivorous husband. he'd get the one with some white sauce, lettuce and tomatoe. i love the curry with brown rice.
People thought this was:
This is, I think, one of the first vegan restaurants on the more easterly side of Los Angeles, located just over the hump of Barham, off the 101. Yes, it's small but the food is very good and has been consistently so for oh so many years. Before there were the other Thai Vegan places--Truly Vegan, Vegan House, Green Leaves, Vegan Plate, California Vegan, etc.--there was just Vegan Express and it has remained among the better of such restaurants. Their seitan wrap and pad thai are so good! Also, they do have a little bit of parking, two spots that are located in the alley behind the restaurant. You can normally park on the street in front, though.
People thought this was:
Definitely my favorite vegan fast food place in L.A. It is a little dingy and small, but always quality. The menu is good, especially for when you are hung over on a saturday. The breakfast burritos are my favorite, chicken and pancakes are a close second. I really like the pepper steak and the mock duck curry too. The guy who works here always remembers me which is sorta nice I guess and the back patio seating is nicer and quieter than the inside.
People thought this was:
This is the best vegan "hole-in-the-wall" I have ever been to. The menu is interesting and not limited to so much of the super-familiar vegan fare. Although, it does have a good selection of favorites like thai and chinese stuff. I had the tofu and green beans and while that doesn't sound like much it belies the culinary journey it took me on.
People thought this was:
This is probably one of the 1st vegan places, I ever ate. The food was ok. I had the cowboy burger. Since I'm a carnivore, I had the cowboy burger. Yes, the boring cowboy burger. It was tasty, once I wrestled it to the plate, took the bun off, & mixed in all the veggies, etc. Very slippery w/ bread. I thought the place was small w/ no parking (busy street), and little or no atmoshphere. There were like 2 people there. 4 would have been considered busy, for dining in. And it's a little out of the way for me. But, still has similiarities to California Vegan, Vegan Glory, The Vegan Joint, etc. I usually indulge on which ever is closest, when I need something healthy..........
This is a true hole-in-the-wall,but we love the food,the staff, the concept! It's always a hit with kids, too. A great place to introduce kids to healthy eating (cowboy burgers, yum!). We have never been disappointed,there's always a friendly atmosphere.
People thought this was:
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