RFD (Real Food Daily)... a PSA for our beloved LA Vegans

414 N. La Cienega Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 289-9910
Sun-Thurs 11:30AM-10PM
Fri-Sat 11:30AM-11PM
SUNDAY BRUNCH 10AM-3PM

Second location at
514 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 451-7544
Open seven days a week: 11:30AM-10PM

Alrighty, a first for this site...a Vegan restaurant! This is Celeste, the often mentioned wife of Aubrey, and I'm reporting in since I enjoy...let just say...meatless cuisine far more than he does.

As a disclaimer...our trip to this particular place was instigated by the many glowing reviews of it, even people who said they were staunch carnivores said that they loved it and couldn't tell the difference between the meat alternatives. While I believe they really felt that way, it's really just not the same. For the same reason that organic corn fed pork or grass fed beef taste different and better than the grocery store butchers' selections, fake meat would never make me think I'm eating real meat; what goes into each one is entirely different. TOFUrkey will never taste like turkey no matter how optimistic you try to be about it. THAT SAID, this is what I have to say about going to vegan or vegetarian focused restaurants:

These restaurants do vegetables, and they do them good...so eat the vegetables, the tofu, and the tempeh that don't reference being an alternate version of meat, and you'll LOVE it. Go for the flavors you love and mix them up with a specialty item...like Corn Stuffed Portabella Mushrooms...SEE...doesn't that sound tastey? Well it does to me!

I started out with their Nori Maki, a very nice sweet brown rice sushi roll with shiso, tempeh, avocado, carrot, collard greens, umeboshi, tamari, wasabi with pickled ginger and cucumber salad on the side. It's got both chewy and crunchy textures to it. And, be sure to eat with the pickled ginger on the side and dip it in the sauce, cause both add a lot to the dish.

Next was my Ceasar Wrap, and if you look really closely, you can tell that that's it taking up the right side of the plate. Their thin but chewy spinach tortilla is what makes it blend in with the spring greens salad, but that's ok cause it was also filled with ceasar salad, and also had just the right amount of Blackened Tempeh, which was very good and not at all dry.

We know this place is definitely well known among many, but wanted to feature it especially cause several of our friends with dietary limitations have deemed it their favorite restaurant. Even from my own experience of just wanting a salad, then getting some place where their vegetables aren't even worth trying, and from that I can only imagine the frustration of looking at a menu and finding it so limiting for what you're wanting or able to eat. So I hope you can all come here and enjoy!

Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Range: $4 to $15

Xotik Kitchen...a picnic in the park...or at The Bowl

6121 Washington Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
(310)280-3961
Mon-Sat 11AM-8PM

Today's entry is interesting in the way that I'm going to call it like it is, and maybe not how they want to be known as. Xotik Kitchen, located in the Arts District of Culver City, is a smallish shop that is as casual as you can make it. A couple of chairs and tables out front and a very small counter inside comprise the entire eating area. They describe their food as a natural organic fusion. I could agree with them on that, and heck I could even agree that it's pretty healthy and generally affordable. My view of this place is different on one thing really. The food and layout is more designed for takeout and imparticularly if you're feeling like having a bite out of the house but not in a restaurant like say a picnic. It makes sense that they do a good bit of catering.

We wandered over to Xotic one day on our way home from work, in the mood to hunt around a bit and spotted this place right after we passed the Helm's Bakery area. We hopped in and ordered one Sumatran Coconut Chicken with potatoes and rice(you have a choice of many different sides to choose from) and their Grilled Vegetable Salad. We sat down inside and waited for maybe 10 minutes, then the lady who took our order brought our food. As soon as the food arrived we noticed a dog outside who must have sensed the food in the air. He watched us eat the entire time. I so wanted to swing by and throw him one of my leftover bones.

As you'll notice, the food comes out in aluminum bowls. I grew up eating food like this from Puerto Rican places when I was a kid, so I wasn't too suprised. I must admit though, it was funny seeing it come out like that, especially cause they had little prepackaged plasticware as well. This is one of the main reasons also why I feel they're much better for take out and not so much a dine in spot, granted we came close to their close time so that may have been the reason. The chicken was surpisingly super moist and the slightly tangy coconut sauce that was drizzled on it gave it some zip. The potatoes and rice were not insanely over the top good, but I had no complaints about them. What's nice about this dish is the amount of chicken they give is a half free range chicken. Enough to satisfy even the heartiest of appetites.

Next up is a plate for rabbits with a discerning palate. I enjoyed my few bites, but Celeste loved this thing. Besides a whole mess of grilled vegetables of the season like different kinds of squash etc, feta cheese, maple crusted pecans with pesto were served over a bed of field greens with a citrus dijon dressing. YUM said my little rabbit.

They have other salads, fish plates, some ribs and even a skirt steak to choose from. While their offering is humble, it's all solidly good. The season and weather is very right for a picnic and the Hollywood Bowl is starting to have their picnic type nights and a meal from here would be perfect. Just one thing... make sure you bring extra napkins cause the food is fingerlicking good.



Free Drink Refills: No
Entree Price Range: $7 to $13