I was torn with this review because I LOVE the plants and the ambiance here, and the shrimp dish I ordered was really good (mostly). Conceptually, it's awesome. The execution was lacking... They must have been short staffed or something but it took quite a while to order and much longer to actually get our food. And when the food started coming, things were forgotten or mixed up. Lots of confusion. In terms of food quality, I loved the Cajun shrimp. I had greens and Mac n cheese with my plate, and it came with cornbread. Cornbread was great. Mac n cheese was okay. And the greens were not good--tasted like they were sweetened. The fried oyster mushrooms were crispy but I wasn't a fan of the batter and seasoning. The bbq sauce it came with was good--I think I would have preferred hot sauce. I ordered the peach shortcake to go, but refrigerated it and ate it two days later. I don't know if the lack of freshness is what made it not good, but I wasn't not a fan. I threw that away :-/ read more

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I have had Crystals Soul Cafe saved for so long and never had the chance to visit. Today I made time and it didn't disappoint! Walking into this establishment was nothing short of amazing. The energy I felt was so welcoming. The food was amazing. I wondered what I would miss going vegan again and not being able to have soul food, but with Crystals I don't need to wonder. Try it! The tacos were amazing I sampled everything else because I couldn't fit anymore food in my stomach (I tried) and that was also good. I can't wait to warm the rest up tomorrow for lunch. read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Must-try for vegan soul food lovers~~ Crystals is a lush, misty oasis on the outskirts of LA proper. You should honestly take your non-vegan friends (myself included) here to convert them, the food is that good LOL We got in around 9 pm to place a takeout order-- would've def dined in if we arrived earlier. This is a whole ass greenhouse. Plus little water features, spirituality books, mood lighting, and crystals curate a serene, bohemian vibe. TACOS (asada): The "meat" is uncannily meat-like. They have this down to an art. On top are avocado, vegan cheese, and tomato generously laden. At $16 it's a little over $5 each (kinda steep for tacos ngl) but very worth the flavor & quantity STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE: Hmmmmm this tastes like a smoothie ;u; Not much milk-like thickness but still delicious & fruity My bf basically inhaled his catfish soul plate LMAO. 10/10. The variety is wild (the dessert list....!!). Need to be back to try the rest of their menu. NOTE: At the time of visiting (Mar 2024), their card reader was down so only taking cash or Venmo. read more

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I love this place. Wanted some clean and tasty plant based food. No processed stuff, but great tasting food that makes you believe and that's exactly what I found here. Came all the way to LA from Lake Elsinore for this. The hours on the site were a bit inaccurate-think it said they open at 4pm but they opened at 5pm. The yelp reviews prepared me for the wait so that was no biggie for me, I placed my order online ahead of time. For quality, whole food made well, I don't mind waiting. Especially if I'm told ahead of time of the wait. Such was the case here. I was told it would take awhile, especially for more food and so I adjusted my expectations accordingly and my food was out on time. It was also nice to hear crew members in the back discussing orders and getting out each customers order. The place is not huge, but it's all the vibes. There is a table for 2 outside on the patio, two tables for 4 inside and then a few bar stools. Plants everywhere with colored lights and fish tanks and tvs. If you're claustrophobic, you may want to order to go. The restrooms are small but in my experience they were nice and clean. It also had a diffuser or something in there for a nice touch. When going out of my way to try a place, I get a bit of everything to make the drive worth it. I got the Lion's Mane Rib plate and the Meatloaf Soul plate-I forgot what the actual names are. The meatloaf is on point. If they made this out of mushrooms, I'd be hella shocked. The ribs you can tell are mushroom based but still have a great texture to them and were satisfying. Came with fried shrimp in the form of mushrooms that were also satisfying The mac tastes maybe more like stroganoff which is not an issue, it's a good pasta dish. The corn cakes are moist and in good portions. Greens were good and the mashed potatoes I ate cold but were still good the next day. Nearly forgot I had the jambalaya. It was amazing. Wish I ordered it to eat there but I'll have it again next time. Looking forward to trying more and bringing someone special here with me read more

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Crystals had been on my food list for a whiiiiiile and I was so excited to finally try it, especially as a vegetarian. I ordered the lions mane rib plate and their fresh squeezed juice. I really love how unique their food is, the cornbread is to die for. Food is on the heavy side (as soul food usually is) and portions are gigantic, so keep that in mind when you visit. Ambience was very neat too - loved all the plants and cool lights. read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Lions Mane Rib Soul Plate - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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This place is a hidden gem. I will return again. This is soul food. The two plates we ordered made me, my friend, and my brother full. Each plate comes with two sides. Lions Mane Rib Soul Plate: This dish is a must. The way they cooked the lions mane is absolutely delicious. Caribbean Shrimp Soul Plate: This dish is tasty. I found that there was a lot of sauce on the shrimp. It was still very tasty though! Cajun Lobster Mac: So delicious! Candied Yams: Best yams I have had as of 8/20/23. It tastes like a heartwarming whole thanksgiving meal. Corncake: So moist, deliciously sweet. Collared Greens: Tasted delicious. Definitely not cooked typically like other collared greens. They really know what they are doing. read more

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Please don't close this wonderful business that's so healthy and a favorite of so many... It'll be a profound tragedy.

Insanely delicious! Can't wait till I get to go back for more. I had to pick up to go order.

This place is one of the best vegan restaurants in los angeles food amazing service was excellent and the ambiance was terrific.

Plant friends accompanying me for dinner the Jambalaya was amazing w the sausage n vegan shrimps in there it hit especially with the Smokey Sauteed Cabbage. I got the Side Lions Mane Rib , texture is perfect for BBQ and the flavor is incredible Thank you, Chef. Now I gotta try other menu items! Beautiful vibe and essence here read more

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The food was excellent. I tried the ribs and Cajun shrimp with sides of jambalaya mac and cheese, fries, mashed potatoes, and collard greens. The only one I didn't enjoy was the collards; all the others were flavorful and delicious. Definitely a great place for a well-seasoned, filling vegan meal. However, the restaurant itself is very small. There are only about three tables inside and the restaurant's interior is also oddly lit and filled with plants. Service was also extremely slow. The servers were very nice and helpful when ordering, but I would recommend visiting only if you have time to wait. read more

Possibly the best vegan food I've ever had. And I've been to almost every, if not every, vegan place in LA. 10/10 across the board. Literally can't find anything to complain about. read more

Hands down the best soul food!! Their mashed potatoes were absolutely delicious and their corn cakes are chefs kiss (ordered some more to go) Overall truly delicious soul food I ordered their lions mane ribs plate and that didn't not disappoint. Service was so friendly and inviting as well as their ambiance it's so calming and warm. Found my new favorite spot read more

My favorite: I really enjoyed the lions mane, rib "steak" plate. Made with lions mane mushrooms the "steak" was thick tender pieces on a stick covered in a tangy bbq sauce, the oysters mushrooms were super delicious, they give you large pieces which were also covered in a tangy bbq sauce. The greens were ok. The shrimp mac and cheese was ok. The fried "shrimp" was good, came with a cajun dipping sauce that was pretty tasty. Not a fan: The Loxtail plate came with purple cabbage and "shrimp" mac and cheese. When I ordered the Loxtails which are a mock version of oxtails I was truly excited because the photos on Yelp looked so realistic like the real thing so I had to see for myself. Boy was I wrong. The photos on Yelp look nothing like what I received so I was a bit surprised when I saw it. I disregard that because I just knew it was going to be fire since looks are deceiving rt? Wrong again! I couldn't get past the gelatinous membrane that encased the lions mane mushroom "meat". I definitely had a texture aversion to it so I split it open and just ate it out the encasing. It tasted ok, definitely not as delicious as the "steak" imo. It was kind of like grounded "meat," but a bit dry and not that flavorful. I ended up repurposing the Loxtail mushrooms "meat" into veggie wraps the next day for lunch. Cost: I ordered before the restaurant was open and when I arrived I still had to wait about 1 hour for my food. It was a bit pricey, I paid over $80 for two plates and a side of "shrimp." I think each plate was over $30 and the side of "shrimp" was $11 dollars. They accept Zell or Venmo only! Atmosphere: The place is small and cozy. Very clean and relaxing. Relaxing because there are crystals placed throughout the space so you can feel the energy flowing. It's also a plant sanctuary. I definitely love the greenery, however I feel the space is kind of small to have such an abundance. I'm kinda tall myself so I had to scrunch down walking around because the plants were definitely grazing my face and shoulders. FYI: I tasted a lot of coconut nut based flavors. So the "shrimp" has a coconut batter on them, the Loxtail gravy was very coconuty and the purple cabbage definitely has a strong coconut based flavor to it in case you have a nut allergy. Rating: My experience was 4 stars, as I would like to try additional items on the menu to get a full experience. Will I come back YES! Do I recommend YES! I'm always going back and forth with my commitment to being 100% vegan, but it's places like Crystals that make it worth it every time. read more

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Vegan soul food?! HOLD ON NEEEEEOOOWWW! First off, the fluorescent lights and plants really stole the show inside. I was intrigued, to say the least. Their menu is LARGE so you may want to come back more than once to try everything. I know I will next time I'm in town. ;) Nonetheless, The atmosphere was welcoming and the service was great. We originally ordered for dine-in but they had no issue changing it to take-out when we decided to take it to-go. We ordered the gumbo (without shrimp), with a side of corn bread and Mac + cheese. Mac + cheese is my partner's favourite food and she said THEY DID NOT MISS! You wouldn't have suspected it was vegan by how cheesy it was. Interesting enough, it reminded me of the Mac I make personally make. Very pleased. The gumbo was my personal favourite!!! Gumbo was one of the last *big* meals I had prior to switching to veganism. Thankful I'm still able to enjoy it!! read more

I had a nice time here. The food is amazing and fresh. The service is very nice and professional. The ambiance is super good and chill. 5 stars read more

This place was amazing, and I couldn't believe it was vegan! The food was delicious and the customer service was so patient with me answering all my questions. I wanted the comfort of southern food and the menu choices were a lot! The ambiance of smooth jazz music and plants was calming to my soul. Thank you for sharing your passion for cooking great food. read more

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Plate CLEANED! This was the rib platter with greens, fried oyster mushrooms, Mac n cheese, and cornbread. Everything was delicious! Enough food for 2! read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Plate CLEANED! This was the rib platter - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

This is hands down the best vegan food I have ever had in my life!!! Everything that my friends and I got was absolutely delicious. I got the bbq "chicken", Mac and cheese, red beans and rice and the corn cake. My friend got the spicy Caribbean jerk shrimp plate and another got the lions mane ribs plate. Everything was absolutely amazing. The service was amazing and everyone was so nice. You come in and you are welcomed by the plants and just the good vibes in the restaurant. Ambiance on point. If I could give this place 10 stars, I would! read more

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I'm always up for trying new plant based, vegan spots, especially when they hold down a 5 star rating! Now for Crystals Soul Cafe, I get a double bonus, it's super local (three minutes away) and it's a B.O.B.! Although this was an Uber Eats order, the food was amazing nonetheless! There are SOOO many choices it's hard to narrow them down, which is a good thing! However, I managed to order three items and I was not disappointed in the least bit! Everything is seasoned well, not overly salty like some vegan spots can be! The portions are perfect! Long review short, to be honest, between the endless menu items and the amazing tastes, you are literally compelled to come back and try something else on the menu because there's no way EVERYTHING can taste this good! - Fried Chicken and Peaches N Cream Waffle - Cajun Chick'n Sandwich w/Fries - Peach Cobbler Crumble 6" read more

Excellent corner restaurant cozily situated near Avalon and el segundo. When you walk in it's lush with plenty of plants and smells of citron/lemongrass aromatherapy. I called and placed my order over the phone, they told me about 45 minutes. when I arrived at the restaurant they were finishing some items to taste fresh and it was another 20 minute wait. Everything delicious, vegan soul food with a variety of items on the menu. Vegan shrimp plate: soy shrimp was nicely fried, I loved the purple cabbage and cornbread. I wanted to love the mac and cheese but i did experience a little bit of aftertaste. It's strong enough for my tongue to pick it up- maybe metallic, maybe slight chemical. The texture however was spot on. Lions mane po boy- they chargrill/ broil the mushrooms for a smoky/char effect, I loved the cucumbers and tomato in the sandwich to balance out the creaminess of the sauce. I'd get lighter sauce next time. Truffle fries are fried in coconut oil, neutralizes the truffle so it isn't too strong of a truffle taste. The showstoppers was definitely the brownie: warm and wet with a caramel type syrup. This will fill your chocolate void/cravings. Also the mulberry pecan pie - also made fresh with homegrown berries. Such a great idea especially for fall. Can't wait to try the lasagna! They were sold out that day. Parking available on the street right in front of the shop. read more

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Can't get enough of this place. Please don't change anything...Lol Went back again this weekend. Vibe still bomb, food still delicious, people still dope. We ordered the lasagna(a must have), curry oyster mushroom plate, "shrimp" taco, strawberry sea moss smoothie and apple caramel cake. They ended up giving my friend a strawberry shortcake by mistake. And she said that was delicious! I'll definitely be back! read more

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I wish I would have took pictures. The wait was well worth it. The food was amazing, flavor On POINT. so much variety. Be sure to tip the friendly staff. I will have pictures next time because we will definitely return. This place is it!!!! read more

Ok this place is absolutely incredible. As someone from the FL Panhandle who used to frequent New Orleans, I miss soul food something fierce. Unfortunately, I'm celiac & can no longer enjoy much of it anymore. I came across this place looking for a good date night spot with someone who is vegetarian. Finding a place that has both gluten free & veg options can be tricky, but Crystals Soul Cafe hit the spot. The service was excellent, the food impeccable, & it was so cozy inside. They were out of something in the dish I ordered, but were able to substitute it & it was some of the best gumbo I've ever had -- period. I also had enough leftovers for days. I don't know what magic they use to make gluten free, vegan fried shrimp, but they deserve the utmost respect. Highly recommend to anyone with dietary restrictions who is looking for an authentic soul food experience. I'll be back again. read more

Placed my order on Grub Hub baby stack oyster rib soul plate, which encludes collard greens, mac n cheese, 2 mushroom ribs and corn cake. I Don't know why but there were some fried oysters also encluded in the bottom right corner of my plate this was a surprise and much appreciated at the time of opening. 1. Was very pleased with how fast my order was delivered to me, but I was not happy seeing that my plate was not sealed for my safety. Anyone could have tampered with it. 2. My greens were gritty, kinda bland this go around, the bbq mushrooms were really good, mac n cheese was really good and my corn cake was delicious, but the mystery fried mushrooms tasted old and re -dipped multiple times inside really old grease, this was horrible. Don't know why this was added to my plate but you could have kept that. We had a good and bad start on the first review, and I appreciate that this time the greens were cut to perfection. But yet they were gritty as if they were not properly washed. Not sure if I'll order again. read more

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The food was super tasty and flavorful! I ordered on DoorDash, it took some time to get to me but when my food did arrive it was still hot. I'd go back and try other items read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Catfish Fillet Soul Plate tasty!!! - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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I cannot put into words how much I love Crystals! Everything is made when you order it and the food is always perfect. Also, the staff is always so sweet. This is my favorite Sunday or post run meal read more

Flavorful vegan food many options just be patient with the cooks they are a little slow

This might be one of the best restaurants I've ever eaten at, to be perfectly honest. I've been vegan for 5 years, eaten at Michelin star restaurants and dined all over the country. The flavor in each dish is honestly magical and I have to be thankful I don't live close by otherwise I'd be eating here every week. They did not hold back on the seasoning, I am very impressed. For anyone who has ever thought vegan food can only be bland, I'd challenge them to come here and try the food because this is as flavorful as it gets. I am so thankful this place exists and as a vegan Angeleno I will definitely be coming back (worth the 30 minute drive from dtla). I enjoyed the ambiance of the place as I waited for my takeout to be brought out. The music, lighting, plants and decorations such as the crystals made for a positive vibe. Service was also prompt and very friendly. The gentleman working there very graciously helped me bring my food to my car as there were a few bags to carry. Overall I cannot recommend this neighborhood restaurant enough, if you live in LA you must try this! read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

OMG!!! So glad we got to try this place recently, last time we were in LA. We just tried to get it when we were back in town this week, but they were sadly closed. Next time! Crystals made some of the best food we've ever had! Instantly our favorite LA spot. As far as vegan Southern and soul food goes, it's just Crystals and Quickie Too in Tacoma, WA. I've tried other restaurants and pop-up vendors, and nobody compares to these two places. The mind blowing amount of plants and the little nook created a magical experience. Friendly and accommodating staff. The chef came out and chatted with us. The menu is expansive and huge! It made it difficult to decide with so many great options, especially vegan meats and desserts. Everything was amazing. Great flavors and textures. The gumbo was incredible. Best cornbread ever. Great po'boy. Lobster mac n cheese?! Everything was crazy! We just wish we could have tried everything. We're dying to go back and try more! I love the Southern options and I would love to try the Caribbean, Hawaiian, and curry dishes as well! read more

I wish we had found Crystals sooner because we've been missing out!! The food is truly a delight to the tastebuds. There's so much love and care that goes into every aspect of this family operated business. Upon entering you'll be met by a mesmerizing collection of countless plants and crystal decor. The family operating the business is committed to providing a welcoming and positive experience to their patrons. The food does take time to prepare, but I don't mind waiting for quality. Plus you get updates on when your food is close to being ready. Vegan or not, there's no way to not be blown away by the flavor of the food. We've had the pleasure of eating at Crystals 6 or 7 times in about 2 months (making our way through the extensive menu!) and are more than satisfied each time. Serving sizes are very generous and there's obviously a lot of thought that goes into not just the preparation of each meal, but also the clean and allergen friendly ingredients (no soy, mostly gluten free, no canola oil, etc). We're definitely spreading the good word about this awesome and delicious gem of a restaurant. read more

Good food. Sometimes it's closed when it should be open. But other than that food is good.

Best vegan food I've ever had! I've been here only once and was completely blown away with how tasty the food is! I came with some non-vegan friends before going to a concert at SoFi stadium. Not too out of the way. My friends and I were all impressed with how delectable everything was! I had to try the vegan lobster mac n' cheese and was not disappointed. I ordered the BBQ chick'n plate and didn't leave anything behind. Everything from the cornbread to the collard greens was full of flavor! The staff were all so friendly and gave excellent recommendations. If I lived closer I'd be here all the time bringing everyone I know. highly recommend trying and can't wait to be back myself! read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - BBQ Chick'n Soul Plate with Vegan Lobster Saffron Mac n Cheese - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I went to Crystals Soul Cafe for the first time the Friday before New Year's. I was excited to try it. The reviews were great. Sadly, I didn't have a good experience. I do my best to support vegan restaurants because I know how hard it is for them to be successful and I appreciate having more options. I debated whether or not to write this review, but I hope that it helps them do better. I truly want them to succeed. First of all, when I walked in, I thought I accidentally went into a plant store. There are way too many plants in the restaurant. It made it hard to get through the establishment and I can imagine how it makes it harder to keep the place clean. The place wasn't clean at all. The bathroom was also dirty. My mother ran a restaurant and she always said you can tell how clean a place is by their restroom. If they keep that clean, then the whole place is clean. The menu was very extensive. On their site, it says only two people are working the kitchen, so please be mindful of the time it takes for them to prepare food. Because of that, they should keep their menu simple so that it doesn't take so long to make food. Have a couple of staples that are offered every day, then rotate specials every day. That way you can better focus on getting food out quickly. Our food took an hour and a half to come out. That is unacceptable. I wasn't given an apology or offered anything for my very long wait. We ordered two entrees, two beverages, and one dessert for a total of $98. I expected more for what we paid. It seems a long wait is normal for them. There was another group waiting right before us and they took their food to go out of frustration. Lastly, the food made me very sick. Since I became vegan, it's rare for me to get sick from food. However, the food I got made me so ill for about five days. It ruined my New Year's plans. I attribute this to the lack of cleanliness. Again, they need to get rid of most of the plants and keep everything clean. I hope the owners take this as constructive feedback. I've never owned a restaurant myself, but as I said, my mom did and I know how much work is involved. The owners should do what they can to simplify things for themselves. I wish you the best. read more

Incredible. Full experience with the ambiance and each plate is enough food for 2 people. We were blown away that it was all vegan

My fault. I didn't realize that I never left a review for these amazing people Crystals is by far my Gabi vegan joint in L.A right now and that's saying something Every single thing I've tried on the menu is nothing short of incredible. Literally everything is delicious The place itself is a huge vibe, and to take it a step further, all of the plants inside the establishment are for sale. So if you see something you like, you can take it home. If you're vegetarian, vegan, or just like to eat healthy once in a while, do yourself a favor and get over to Cristal's immediately if not sooner read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Carne Asada Fries, Curry, Lasagne, Cajun Burger, Sea Moss Smoothie and so much more - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The Service was great and the ambience was really amazing as well. I enjoyed my and would revisit it???

This place is amazing, freshly cooked alkaline soul food, definitely come here to eat, good vibes and music. read more

Crystals Soul Cafe - Great smothered soul food platter all alkaline. Very yummy ad filling. - Soul Food Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have been wanting to come here for a minute, but whenever I would remember, it would be closed. I FINALLY got here during open hours and let me tell youuuu!!! I can't wait to come back. This is that, make a noise after every bite, type food. This is that, do a little dance in your seat after every bite, type food. This is that throw your head back and act like it was your first bite after every bite, type food!! This is that, can't stop thinking about you, type food!! You get what I'm saying? My friend brought me here for a belated birthday dinner and we split a few plates, because there was SO much to choose from! We got The Shrimp Soul Plate, the Caribbean Soul Plate and the Truffle Chick'n Sandwich. Mannnn!!!! Let me just say....read the previous paragraph! If you want food with flavor, come here!! They also have a super dope vibe with plants absolutely everywhere and music that makes you groove. Highly recommend!!! I will absolutely be back (there is so much more food to try!!) read more

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I have been vegan for a 7 years. Once a month me and a friend that are on this journey together get together to enjoy a meal. Unfortunately the food at Crystals lacked flavor. The desserts were amazing. read more