After a ridiculously stressful week at work, my nerves were shot and I was pretty much a total wreck. After sleeping in 'til 3 or 4... and waking up starrrviinggg.... Luy suggested we go to Green Temple. Now, here's the thing. I'm a vegetarian... going to veggie restaurants doesn't really scare me. Unless they're afraid of flavor. But I'm always scared to take people who aren't vegetarians.... So, Luy is pretty much biggest meat eater I've ever met. So the fact he was all about going to a veggie restaurant was kind of a big deal. So we headed down to Redondo and didn't quite know what to expect. Lucky for us it was a chilly Sunday, and meters were free and plentiful. We walked in the door to see only about 2 tables inside... but our nice Australian server led us to the outdoor patio where we snuggled up in the corner booth under a heat lamp and were able to relax... and eat. and eat we did. and relax we did. and relax... and eat... and relax... relax... and eat.... I had the walnut loaf -- and it was the PERFECT comfort food for a chilly day... especially after such a stressful week. It was suppperr tasty and moist and perfectly cooked. Bravo Green Temple! Luy got the veggie burger, which was a liiiitttlllee burnt on the outside, but whatever. But the tofu sauce that came on his veggies was KILLER. So he actually ended up getting an extra side of sauce that he used on the burger, and we took home the remaining gooey, garlicky, goodness... Dessert was a chocolate, coconut, orange bread pudding. ummm... WTF? amaaazzinngggly good. But what amazed both Luy and I was that when we emerged out the front door to leave, that somehow we'd been transported BACK to reality... and we didn't like it. It was actually a SHOCK to see cars and hear traffic.... But, for a good hour and a half, being at the Green Temple allowed us to escape the real world... and it's exactly what we needed. read more

This place is awesome! I've been wanting to try this place for some time and yesterday my vegetarian friend and I were in the neighborhood so it was the perfect opportunity to give it a go. My friend had the veggie burger which she thoroughly enjoyed. This says a lot because she is very particular when it comes to meatless burgers. She commented how nicely seasoned it was and the bun was delicious. I opted for the 4 bowl and selected black beans, broccoli, veggie burger and guacamole. Let me tell you this was some good eatin'. I didn't know what to expect with the tofu sauce on top, but it was wonderful and nicely rounded out the items I had selected for my bowl. I ordered the smaller bowl and I have to say I felt completely stuffed by the time I finished. I truly appreciate the nice server who took the time to go through the menu with us newbies. She described different dishes for us pointing out the popular items and items that she enjoyed. We can't wait to come back for dinner some nice evening and enjoy more of their cuisine! read more

We went on Sat Oct 7, and were pleasently surprised that it was thier 7th anniversary and that the food was on the house. Any place that does that deserves a five star for sure. Then their food is awesome. It was strange to me that the food was vegetarian, and yet,,,, it's so good. I had their walnut loaf which was hearty, flavorful with a hint of (I think) sherry. Their salad with the tofu cream dressing is a must. The atmosphere is soooo Redondo. Kinda hippie yet classy. read more

THE GOOD: I love this restaurant and have been eating here for years! Their savory wrap, almond steamers, and broccoli pine nut casserole are to die for! Even if you're not vegetarian the tofu sauce aka "savory sauce" they put on everything makes it better than any dish with meat. The service is great, especially if you get helped out by the owner elena. She's a sweetheart. THE BAD: they aren't open on Mondays! :( THE UGLY: Don't be turned off if a woman Camila helps you. She's often nasty and has an attitude, but she's worth dealing with to visit this wonderful restaurant. read more

So, I'd heard about this place for awhile but it took me forever to convince my meatatarian hubby to go try this place with me. Apparently, he had a bad vegetarian restaurant experience with an ex and has cringed everytime I mention the words "vegetarian restaurant." This time around, I win! He actually liked everything that we had tried. The place is really cozy when seated indoors. I can see how the outdoor patio would be really nice during the day or on a warmer night. We got a quesadilla as an appetizer (the waitress laughed when she asked the hubby which one and he responded "the normal one"). The quesadilla was good but nothing special. We ordered the White Lasagna and their special Eggplant Lasagna. Both were really good! The white lasagna had this amazing sauce that made me forget that the lasagna was actually GOOD for you. It wasn't too heavy and it was the right balance of flavorful without being too much. I had the lima bean soup with my lasagna and it was so yummy...tasted like something my mom would make. Also loved the walnut bread that came with the soup. Hubby had the eggplant lasagna with a salad and he enjoyed everything. The eggplant lasagna had a tomato based sauce and tasted so wonderful! Lots of flavor without overpowering the eggplant taste. I asked him if he would be willing to come back and he said yes, so yay! I did good! We finished our meal off with the white cheesecake and the strawberry pie. Both were good but I really liked the strawberry pie. It's definitely something that I wouldn't be able to get elsewhere. The explanation that we were given when ordering is that it was strawberry puree with agar. And that's exactly what it tasted like and it tasted so fresh! Like as if the strawberries were just pureed. Love! Btw, there are a few parking spots right in front of the restaurant entrance. We didnt know and found parking along Catalina Ave thankfully but for those that don't know the area well, just a little FYI =) The restaurant also uses a lot of organic and local produce, which I love! read more

I am a regular and have been coming for years. I'm in Boston for a lot of the year and I really miss it. I made instant friends with some of the staff and have tried pretty much everything on the menu. My person faves are half soup and salad, even their simple salads are filled with so much veggie goodness and flavor and in my own mind I call the tofu dressing crack dressing because it's so damn good, and I hear they'll give you the recipe if you ask! I also like the white lasagna, such a light and flavorful dish. They also have daily specials too. I love the service, I love the vibe, I love the people, definitely one of my favorite places. I highly recommend this place! read more

I tried their veggie burger and it was OKAY. The tofu sauce was VERY TASTY, and so I ordered a side of it to add flavor to the burger. It took the server quite a while to bring over the tofu sauce, so i didn't even get it until my last bite. He charged me extra for it, which is fine, but considering I barely got to use it I felt sorta ripped off. Stars go for the ambiance and for seeing my vegetarian girlfriend smile while looking through the menu. For once she can order from a mneu without fear/modifications! Will be back for sure, if only to make her happy. read more

THE BEST veggie restaurant in LA to me. The people that are saying this place has no hype and it's bland prob have screwed taste buds from processed and junk foods that they eat. This ain't no veggie grill peeps! this is healthy, home made food. Also, I dont think some of the dishes are their strong points, and it so happens that newbies will have these dishes (like the quesadilla) and be like "what? this place sucks!" try and have some of their signature dishes instead that you can't really get anywhere else (like the bowls!). I wish I lived closer, I would literally come here so often. Everything I've had is fantastic and so refreshing. Obviously the tofu sauce is the best thing that happened to you. The owner is always there and very attentive. And being amongst the absolute beautiful scenery makes your experience magical. I hope you see, feel and taste the magic of this place. I can't say enough good things about it. LOVE YOU GREEN TEMPLE!!! read more

Seriously. Why the hype? Ambiance: GORGEOUS. Service: up to par! Really sweet and friendly staff. Now the most important part; FOOD. Meh. Meh. Meh. I don't get why everyone is giving this place 5 stars. I really really don't. I wanted sooooooooo badly to have Green Temple become my new obsession, with all of my little yellow vegetarian heart. I can't quite pinpoint why this restaurant and I didn't click. Maybe it was the lack of flavor in their food? That's always subjective. It did taste a lot like stuff I would make at home. My dinner companions were not impressed with their entrees either. Perhaps it was the disconnect between the way the place was decorated and the food? Everything about this place says that they would at least have some kind of chow mein on their menu, but most of their offerings were either Mexican or American style. I think this is a case of an honest mom-pop eatery trying to be too many things at one time. Also, they use Yogi tea. You could go to Mother's or Whole Foods and buy it if you wanted to. Can't they at least use fresh tea leaves? Somewhat un-related, but if you have to make a trek here from Orange County like I did, it's not really worth the drive. This particular stretch of Redondo Beach has morphed into a retirement community for bros and their bro hoes. In other words, you'll go to dinner at Green Temple and try to find something to do, but be totally put off by all the extreme douchery. I'm sorry Green Temple! I wanted to love you, I really really really did! I wish you the best of luck, I sincerely do. Perhaps we can reconnect at a later date and try again. Until then, all you're getting is a one night stand. read more

I hate to write a bad review, but our server was so out of line that I feel like I need to say something. My mom and I went here for lunch and had to wait a little bit at the table before seeing our server (you seat yourself so this is totally understandable!). Our server was super nice at first and gave us some time to look over the menu. During this time my mom went to ask where the restroom was and also, as I came to find out, ask to put our order in and said that I had to leave in an hour. It seems that this got misinterpreted as saying that we had been waiting an hour. Know how I found out? Because when the server saw my mom again, he YELLED AT HER and asked her in a raised voice why she would say we had been waiting an hour, and how that wasn't nice at all, and how he doesn't appreciate her doing that and he was only gone a moment because we needed time and on and on. It was wild!! My mom kept explaining that that wasn't what she said, and that there was a miscommunication, but he kept going on! Even ending his rant with a sarcastic, "I am truly grateful you brought that to my coworkers attention". I'm sorry but what?? I've worked as a server for many years and I have NEVER went off on a customer like that, and I have had some awfully mean people as customers. Like dang, at least pay me if I have to get yelled at haha. In retrospect we should have left at that moment, but I was so in shock that I went straight into my, "customer service defense mode" to smooth things over. I should NOT have to do that while trying to have lunch out with my mom. The food was good, but probably not worth getting confronted over a miscommunication. Even if my mom was completely out of line and said some nonsense like that (which she didn't), that still was not an appropriate or mature way of addressing the comment. Needless to say, I will absolutely not be back and neither will my friends/family that I've shared this with. On the plus side, the server/host that gave me the check was so so so nice!! So it's definitely not everyone there, and maybe our particular server was having an awful day. read more

Holy Guacamole Yelpers! I'm addicted to Green Temple! Note: I love a good cut of meat. But for during the week, I try to eat lots of greens. This is a great place to pick up a light dinner, especially after a work out. It leaves you feeling healthy and thoroughly nourished. I especially love their bowls and that you can choose the half size or full size. I like to do the Four Bowl, usually with tempeh, brown rice, a veggie and some avocado or guac. The tofu sauce is simply delectable. The half size fills me up and I don't feel gross after. Service is fast and seriously friendly. And that patio is TOO cute! I love Green Temple! read more

My friends and I came here on a whim one evening, when the restaurant we wanted to try was currently closed due to an emergency. My friend yelped this spot on his phone and found it was right around the corner. Keep in mind I'm not a huuge vegetarian eater but I've been to certain restaurants that were specifically vegetarian that were alot better. The restaurant had a cool vibe when you walked in, kind of those small spots that you could meet a person for some quiet conversation over a meal. The service was ok, something you would expect from a small not so busy establishment, I have no complaints what so ever about that. The food, hmmmmmmmmmmmm it was alright. my friend and I ordered the blue plate. I enjoyed the mash, the salad was a little treacherous for me to get through, I felt like i was chompin my way through a lush forest on a hike in my motherland, the veggie patty was filling but it just seemed like it missed that one ingredient... meat maybe? oh yeah , just wondering why they don't put ice in the water they serve..? With that being said, not such a big fan...the prices were a bit high for that kind of meal...but then again i just came from golden corral the week before which was about 4 bucks cheaper. lol read more

A really relaxed place with outdoor seating - mixed with the peaceful sound of the fountain, it'll make you want to take off your shoes and socks, and let your beard hair grow out. The food's really fresh and it seems like a lot of thought and pride go into picking out the freshest produce, and preparing their overall menu. The tofu sauce is pretty inventive and the combination of flavors was something I hadn't really tasted before - it goes great with everything. The only downside is that it's rather pricey. If you don't really care too much about quality, you may call it an overpriced bowl of brown rice and veggies. But you may do this after licking the tofu sauce off your fingers and wishing there was more... read more

My friend is a vegetarian and I wanted to take her someplace interesting for her birthday. I decided to give Green Temple a try. First, the setting is so serene and peaceful. It is mostly outdoor sitting. There is a fountain encircled by plants and topped with a string of lights. It was chilly the day that I ate here, but there are heat lamps that managed to keep me warm. I do not know what they do in winter. The waitstaff is very friendly. They were able to answer all of my questions about the menu. I ordered the avocado melt. The bread was delicious and hardy. However, the star of the night was the tofu sauce covering the veggies. It is delicious--a little creamy and a little salty. The iced tea was great too. It was not too sweet and very strong. My friend had the broccoli pine nut casserole. It looked dense but in actuality it was very light. All and all, I enjoyed my experience here. read more

How I wish there were more places like this in LA. The decor is a mix between Indian Sari's and Z gallery yuppiness, which isn't a bad thing. 1st, I would like to say that I as a vegetarian, I don't have much say in where we go to eat. Yet my friend - a guy who would eat my fingers if he was hungry 'nuff - found great reviews for this place and wanted to go, so of course I was in. And we both loved it! The quality, ingredients, and overall time involved to make everything from scratch is intense. I love the fact that the servers know everything about the food, and dont hesitate to tell you everything involved in making it. With that said, I wish they had a more diverse selection of cheese. I dont discriminate, hell I buy tilamook by the 2 pounds gangsta kilos, so i like most cheese. I know that "the spot" a mile away is a little cheaper, but I personally have tried both and "heart" this place more. read more

Tofu sauce on everything, please. Green Temple is located in the Village nestled amongst other restaurants and shops. The ambiance here is fantastic; decor is eclectic and zen-like. Relaxed, hippie vibe. Indoor and outdoor seating. I always grab a seat in the back patio by the fountain. Staff is friendly and helpful, although service is sometimes slow. Ingredients are organic and locally sourced. Noteworthy; Broccoli Pine Nut Casserole. Steamed broccoli layered with yukon gold potatoes, soy cheese, roasted pine nuts and organic tofu sauce. Includes a salad or soup. Oh my goodness, phenomenal. And this is coming from a hardcore carnivore. Tofu sauce is so rich and creamy. Wholesome and hearty. Veggie nachos. Served with black or pinto beans, salsa and your choice of cheese. Add veggies for an additional cost. These are delicious and a wonderful appetizer. Highly recommended! read more

I love love this place even though their veggie burgers were sometimes oddly tough to eat - maybe it's better now but I'm too scared to try them again. I do a happy food jig(like now...as I type this) every time I think of sitting out in their whimsical laid back seating area in the court yard patio to eat their beans & rice or steamed vegetables topped with that creamy magic sauce. I think that I just might head over there this weekend to have bite. ymmmmm....*sigh* read more

There occasionally comes a time when one review cannot withstand the weight of how amazing a place really is. Now is that time and The Green Temple is that place. Back for Valentine's Day dinner for our third year in a row, the boyfriend and I found it just as perfect as we remembered it from last year. In fact, since Green Temple is closed on Mondays and therefore was closed on real Valentine's Day, we actually moved our celebration of the day up to Sunday just so we could be there. We called it "Better-Than-Valentine's-Day" - and it was. With the usual nice touches such as the table being draped with a white tablecloth and rose petals scattered about a candle in the center of it, I was very happy with our choice. A menu with the Valentine's Day special - a salad, a mushroom turnover, and dessert - was presented as soon as we were seated. My boyfriend opted to get this as it only comes around once a year, and the owner (who recognizes us each time we come in now) soon came to our table to ask him how he liked it. Was the balance right? Was the flavor good? When my boyfriend responded with an emphatic, "It's VERY good", she seemed very graciously appreciative. This exhibits two important points at Green Temple: 1) They make everything from scratch, and 2) They care what their food tastes like. As for me, I got the Italian vegetable soup and the savory gold baked potato - nothing new here as these are my favorite items on the menu. The real star of the show was the 3-layered Valentine's mousse dessert that I split with the boyfriend. Layers of strawberry, coconut, and chocolate heaven with crushed almonds on top. I'm not a fan of embellishment as it can create unfair and unrealistic expectations, but holy-cucumber-sandwich, this dessert is amazing! I looked forward to it all year, and it was better than I remembered it. So good, in fact, that I am still thinking about it 3 days later. Like the gummy bear smoothie at American Girl Café, however, this too may be a bit cruel of me to mention since I am nearly certain that it is only served on Valentine's Day. The rest of the year you will have to solace yourself with one of their other great desserts. The pies, in particular, are delicious. Like I said in my original review, if you are a meat eater and not open minded - this place isn't for you. Stick to Claim Jumper where you are safe and comfortable. Don't be angry when you come here and see it's exactly what it claims to be - a vegetarian restaurant. And a great one at that. I can't think of a more perfect place to spend Valentine's Day (or Better-Than-Valentine's-Day) with the love of my life, or even just a casual Friday night dinner. This place remains to be my all time favorite restaurant. read more

This was a tough one. Ambiance and service were five star. Love the tables, nooks and crannies. Loved dessert too! Wonderful nut chocolate cake. But dinner? Reviews were right. No taste at all. Come on, salt? You don't have salt? Broccoli casserole was over cooked, slightly cold and had no taste. Soup? Bla. Everyone else was being polite too but we all added salt and left food on the plate. Loved the location and with so many great smelling places to eat within walking distance ambiance just won't cut it. Being mindful does not mean being tasteless. Rethink the chef and I would love to come back. read more

+Ambiance, love all the attention to detail. You literally feel like you're in a serene, green temple. Extremely zen. Even my fiance commented on the ambiance. +Great service, the waitress was busy but kept checking on us +Good food and wide variety. Burritos, tacos, bowls, salads, soups, entrees. Something for everyone +Speedy, we got our food quite quickly. +Tamales were extremely tasty -It's a little bit pricey but you are getting quality ingredients (expect to spend around $20/$30 for two people) Portions are decent, don't expect any leftovers. -The tofu sauce that they use for the bowl and for some of their vege dishes is good but they use it a bit heavy handed so I felt there was too much sauce. Overall digging this place! read more

Green Temple... FTW! Ok, so my experiences have never really been fantastic at vegetarian restaurants. I love to eat my meat and I never seem to be satisfied when having only vegetarian options. So my first thoughts of Green Temple was that of "oh boy, another hippie veggie fest that'll leave me hungry... damn it!.... I'm going to have to pay for this??" The decor didn't help out much either with Buddhist statues, fountains, and flowers all over the place. Don't get me wrong, the decor was truly beautiful and totally screaming "Free Tibet". Green Temple, however, did not disappoint! This place isn't completely vegan, so there are some foods that have that oh so tasty fatty substances such as cheese and milk. I had the special there the night i went which were the vegetable tamales served with brown rice and soup. Problem with most tamales is that they are either really dry and grainy or that they are just doused with sauce masking the great flavor inside. These tamales were topped slightly with white cheddar cheese, not dry, and full of flavor. I topped the evening with a nice cup of Green Tea with toasted brown rice to make this place a great hit for me. Prices felt a little steep for me but the food made up for it! PS BE AWARE: this place is small so if you have a large party, it may be difficult to get seating inside. There are heat lamps outside if you are OK with that. read more

Seriously, they raised the prices again? Spreading veggie love, peace and wisdom is always commendable ... but $15 for a baked potato entree is absurd & so are the ridiculous extra charges for everything from salsa to sauce. Sadly, it's increasingly true that only the affluent can afford to truly eat healthy, whole foods. read more

I freaking love this place. It's ridiculously out of the way and a pain to get to but well worth the drive for vegetarians, vegans and the open-minded carnivore. First timers have to try the tofu steamers. The tofu cream sauce is sooo good. Topped over fresh steamed veggies, dense tofu and brown rice, it's healthy and YUMMY. You also have to get the soup that comes with your entree instead of a salad. The cup of soup comes with a generous slice of grainy, homemade bread.. the kind with the nutty crust and soft middle that is perfect for dipping into soup. I hate Lima beans and I adore their lima bean soup.. seriously! All the soups I've tried here (they have an ever changing selection) have been very good. If you know me IRL, you know that I know my SOUP! Oh, and try a slice of one of their pies. Very good dessert too. A must visit for all of you veggies and vegans out there! read more

This place is awesome! I've had their White Lasagna, Tostaditas, and their Dragon Shot. I really didn't know what to expect when I pulled up but the place is beautifully decorated and the outside seating is so relaxing- so perfect for a semi-breezy, sunny day. Seriously- fountain in the middle of their garden, friendly staff- Great food. Just so you can have a mental taste: The white lasagna came out and the aroma of the "cheesy" goodness boosts up my appetite. It consisted of savory tofu sauce and perfectly cooked vegetables perfectly placed between layers and layers of durum semolina spinach fettuccini noodles. Decadent and dense-yet creamy and delightful. This is some serious sh$%! I am so impressed. read more

I am not sure if this is what the South Bay think is a wow food?! I mean it wasn't good at all.. The flavors were just off and so tasteless. I went there yesterday and ordered their curry special.. It wasn't tasty. I am a vegetarian and a big curry addict, and that wasn't a curry at all, it was water and some Thai spices. My partner ordered the veggie patti and mash potato .. It really grossed me out ... No slat or paper and pretty sticky texture... I mean with all this fuss and the 4 and half stars you would think it's beyond amazing. But it's very disappointing. I mean go to any small restaurant in Berkeley Shattuck Avenue and you'll get super delicious with half of the price vegetarian food.. Sorry Green Temple. The service was good, the people were warm and friendly. But they need to hire a new chief .. I am just surprised of people thinking the food is delicious... I know for sure I am not going there again. read more

We decided to catch a late lunch and the website indicated they were open until 4 but you had order 30 minutes before which we were fine with. When we arrived at 3:25 there was no parking in front of the restaurant so I paid for street parking. When seated, we were advised that WE WOULD HAVE TO CLEAR OUT AT 4 SHARP regardless of whether or not we were finished with our meal. I was shocked. Between my wife and myself we have been to hundreds if not thousands of restaurants and we have never experienced the "kick 'em to the curb" treatment or mentality. I was tempted to give them one star but since we actually did not eat there (and probably never will), I didn't think it was really fair to rate them that poorly. read more

Delicious, flavorful, filling and worth every penny. It's a little hidden but definitely a gem. There's an indoor and outdoor area for dinning. I had the three bean soup, white lasagna with a side of broccoli and strawberry cheesecake for dessert. Everything had such great seasoning, texture, and flavor. The couple in the table next to me suggested the strawberry cheesecake, she said its her favorite and orders it every time. She was right it was the best way to end my meal. It almost tasted like home made strawberry icecream (at least the consistency and flavor aspect) but its not freezing cold. I had to make room for dessert so I packed up half of the tasty lasagna and broccoli and now I have lunch fire tomorrow. The proof is in the pictures read more

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My very favorite vegetarian/vegan restaurant since 2005. The food is amazing. The broccoli tastes like no other. That being said, I will not return. February 2018: I was in the middle of a very exciting and busy day. I was feeling wonderful and it was a gorgeous day. I quickly ordered garden veggies with tofu sauce and an avocado sandwich. It was close to the time when the restaurant closes to prepare for evening meals. I was right in between my hair being done and spa facial, had just enough time for a quick bite. I took my food to go and decided to sit at the table outside the restaurant to have a quick bite of delicious veggies. I was then approached by the owner and scolded for eating out of the togo box outside in front of the restaurant. I was feeling embarrassed and ashamed. I apologized, quickly gathered my food and left. It actually bothered me so much, I had no appetite and the food was wasted. I really pondered on this for a long while, wanting to understand the situation. I want to apologize for offending the owner, that was not my intention. I feel the tone of the scolding could have been different as to where I would not have felt so awful. I have patronized the Green Temple for 13 years, it is with very mixed feelings that I shant return. Michelle. read more

Yum! The savory sauce...that's all I have to say. Excellent stuff! I've eaten here a couple of times and I really need to go back! read more

I have a vegetarian friend. Unfortunately. You know the kind, the militant vegetarian that puts down everyone who eats meat. So I found myself here after much insistence and given no other alternatives. Imitated food that models and names itself for classic dishes does not impress me and new age spiritualism irritates me to no end. Right off the bat I'm already biased. Water fountains, Buddha statues, and colorful garments adorn the place. Hard wooden benches with pillows serve as the outdoor seating area. You have stepped into hippie hell. A quick glance at the menu and I settled on their tostada. My thought process being that it's a tostada. A simple creation. Throw some beans, lettuce, cheese on a tortilla. How can you go wrong ? Well, you can if it's organic. That means no deep fried tortilla but just warmed organic tortillas. That means no oil or lard in the organic black beans. That means steamed brown rice with no seasoning. That equals a tasteless combination that left me craving a greasy taco. Which begs the question "Why should vegetarian food be made with bland organic ingredients ?" My fate is sealed, I'm going to destroy myself through carcinogen ingestion or I'm not in tune with my inner self but this food just doesn't work for me. Total for the dish was $11. To top it off soda (organic, of course) cost $2.50. Add in tax and tip and you're talking close to $18. Ah, the materialistic contradictions abound....... read more

Love the food. BUT if you are in a hurry don't think you can call in an order then sit to eat. You apparently have to sit down and order to eat in. If you call because you are in a hurry and need to rush in and out you are not allowed to sit in the restaurant with to go boxes. Even though there are literally no people sitting in the restaurant at all. read more

Green Temple - Not a person in site. But we aren't allowed to sit and eat. Don't order to go and then change your mind - Vegetarian Near Me - Redondo Beach, California

first, the decor of this restaurant is spectacular. Luckily it was a perfect night to sit outdoors by the fountain and we found the environment charming and very peaceful. onto the food! i cannot say enough about the tofu sauce! it was absolutely delicious. i ordered the broccoli bowl with broccoli and corn. I ordered a junior size and barely could finish. so much food! i also asked for the sauce on the side and good thing that i did because it was really decadent. i mixed a little of the sauce with some tapatio and it was heavenly. the corn they used in the bowl was super sweet and delicious while the broccoli was very tender. i loved every bite. my sister and i shared some of the wheat bread as well and it was tasty. tasted fresh made and was very very easy to devour. my sister had the pita sandwich and she couldn't stop raving about it. she said she didn't feel heavy after eating that entire sandwich! for the quality and amount of food you get the prices are awesome! with tip our meal was a little over 20 dollars which is great in LA for really good vegetarian food. read more

I have visited Green temple twice so far. Such a great experience in this restaurant. Loved interior, menus, drinks, food, and staff. Feeling great and relaxed (even detoxed!) when leaving the restaurant. We tried the herbal shots, which tasted better than I thought. It was served in a bottle like a Japanese Sake bottle and cups. Fun experience. My favorite was the Macadamia Nut Crepe. It is a crepe with lots of fresh fruits and amazing macadamia nut cream on it. This cream is heavenly and I didn't leave any drop of it on the plate. Loved it loved it and it is great for breakfast. Seems like this is only Sunday branch special. I'm not a vegetarian so I don't really go to vegetarian restaurants, but this restaurant showed me how much flavor they can put on the plate without using any meat and seafood. Definitely will go back. read more

For a vegetarian, the green temple is where its at. I LOVE EATING MEAT and other animals, but I am many times satisfied with the delicious that happens all over the walls at the green temple. Make sure you get TOFU sauce on whatever you eat because that stuff tastes like liquid sausages, which sounds disgusting but is actually delicious. I'd say don't go here on a cold day though, most of their seating is outdoors. read more

TO-FU bowl! TO-FU bowl!!!! That is the chant that has been ringing in my mind for the last few days. I'm not REALLY a vegetarian (I love the taste of cow a bit too much) but I can appreciate good food period. This place definitely delivers. Had the 4 bowl with tempeh, hummus, veggie burger, and avocado. YUM! Very tasty... a bit salty but no worries, it was still good and not overwhelming. They have a small for $9 and the larger portion for $11. I had the larger portion but I probably could've gone with the small. I had food left over and was force feeding myself for a minute before I stopped myself. They have these interesting little dragon shots for like $4. They have different shots for different desires, like memory, beauty, stamina, and I forget the rest. They come in these sake glass containers and you pour them into a little sake shot glass. you get about 3-4 out of it. The menu warns you that they have little alcohol content in them. It's such a cozy little spot, make sure you do outside seating, the inside is just TOO cozy. Catch my drift? The staff is really nice and helpful. Only mishap: we were done eating at 9:15 so they reminded us they place closes at 9p. TACKY! There were still other people around, enjoying their dinners. I'll come back though, they have plenty of interesting options. read more

Cute, peaceful courtyard with running water. Friendly service from people with non-American accents. Fun tea infusions. Vegetarian goodness. AND COCONUT ORANGE CHOCOLATE BREAD PUDDING. I know I have raved about bread pudding before but stay with me a minute. It's coconut. It's orange. It's chocolate. AND it's bread pudding. It's moist and delicious to the last drop. The food I had wasn't anything too spectacular, but it was tasty for sure, and plenty big servings. And you know how vegetarian food doens't quite fill you up unless you've adjusted to no-meat? Well, that leaves plenty of room for dessert. And did I mention? The bread pudding? It's really good? Yeah. read more

Well. It's been 9 days since I've lived here FT and I think that given that we started din by chin-chining with Dragon Shots (herbal extracts, obs made with chemical free herbs) made to open our hearts to beauty, love, strength, and...immunity... rather than clinking with Basil or Bulleit indicates that I no longer remember I spent the 26 of the last 30 years living anywhere but SoCal. Strolled in at 7p on a Friday, easily sat on their back patio - vibe very much "my wealthy aunt went through a Zen phase, tricked out her house with subtle mandalas and heat lamps, and has now reverted to embrace her WASP roots and we have decorated a resto with the spoils of her adventures" - in short, clearly I loved it - cozy without being cluttered - perfect backdrop for kvetching abt how we will both die intern year. As is not atypical for a veg place, menu reads a bit disjointed - If you want to continue in the spirit of hippie-eats (which, I guess is normal here...so I have to just say...if you live in CA and want to eat), start with organic hummy, a "hand-torn" green salad, a temple bowl (a bunch of veg and non-animal protein on a plate, smother with tofu sauce, put a bow on it), or...veg nachos...and entrees range from tofu steamers (veg mix, brown rice, tofu, veg) to veg burgers to avo melts, to enchiladas (veg, tempeh, pintos) and veg tacos....but I have to say, the Mexican may not bear any resemblance to much south of the border, dear Lord did that mound of guac do my body right. Service friendly but absent. Flavors fresh, wholesome, in need of a bit of salt - but all sins absolved with use of Tapatio. Portions come in 1/2 and full - though I didn't see a huge size different btwn myself and A's plates, for a veggie place, price to portion ratio was better than expected - I was full for like 90min after eating rather than like no time at all. Starters $7-10ish, entrees $9-13. Will obs be back to continue to conquer the menu one strand of organic spelt pasta at a time - though no booze, so I'll have to find another watering hole to whet my whistle. read more

The restaurant is beautiful and serene. I love the outdoor seating. Our service was very good. I thought the food was good, but nothing to rave about. We ordered the soup of the day, veggie burger, tofu steamers and orange/cranberry cookie. The soup was hearty and tasted nice. The veggie burger was okay, but I prefer gardenburgers to be truthful. I liked the steamed veggies that were on the side. My hubby ordered the tofu steamers, since the waiter recommended them. They were a bit lackluster IMO. I know a lot of the other reviewers love them. I really did not care for the steamers. It felt like a dieters dish to me. The cookie was surprisingly tasty... My favorite part of the meal. Despite the beautiful setting (adjacent to a liposculpting place, lol), I doubt we will be returning anytime in the near future. read more

I've eaten here only once. But, that is enough. I tried the special--a tamale inspired dish. But, it consisted of a mountain of mushy vegetables topped with corn bread and enchilada sauce. The sauce was good. The corn meal was good. But, the guck underneath was gross. They should be ashamed of serving this up as a meal. My friend ordered something with potatoes...another mountain of mushy vegetables. Yuck! However, the soup and bread was good. The atmosphere is good. But the place is second rate, at best. I feel sorry for you if you go here. This is nasty vegetarian food. For tasty vegetarian food try an Indian restaurant. read more

I live in the Bay Area. I don't think our vegetarian restaurants are necessarily the best, but we have some good ones (Millenium, Golden Lotus, Golden Era, Enjoy Vegetarian, Greens). I am blown away that Green Temple has gotten such superlative reviews. OMG??? Best vegetarian restaurant in LA? WTF? On a preliminary note, I was impressed that Green Temple doesn't rely upon faux meats. I like faux meats -- I love them, in fact, when they are well seasoned and prepared -- but sometimes vegetarian restaurants overuse them. Some vegetarian restaurants do not excel with just vegetables and need the faux meat for direction. Green Temple attempts to succeed or fail on its own accord. I think it fails. Basically, it's fresh, but not robust in the taste department. We shared a Garden Quesadilla, which was barely adequate, few vegetables, and not warm. We split a White Lasanga and a Blue Plate Special (veggie burger sans bun with a mushroom gravy). One of us got an upgraded salad and the other got a bowl of soup with our meals. We shared everything. The vegetable ministrone-esque soup was the best. It was flavorful and delicious, light and fresh. The salad -- with the tahini dressing -- was fresh but tasteless. The white lasanga wasn't bad -- it would be boring to eat it entirely by oneself -- but it was unfortunately the highlight. The blue plate was just not memorable. The mushroom gravy had little flavor and the side of mashed potatoes was lukewarm. Service was great. The Australian server was killer. This was my first and last visit. I will not return when back in the area. read more