The food here is amazing . I'm vegan and this is one of the best restaurants I've eaten in . Plus the people are very very nice who work there . If you like vegan food or if you're not a vegan I guarantee you'll love it . read more

Such a cute vibe and the guy working was really sweet!! The cauliflower wings were my favorite !

Wow. I am so impressed!... With 2022 just happening and myself trying to start a clean diet, as vegan as possible, Variable Café made it super easy AND delicious. I came from Long Beach for a doctors appointment in Santa Monica and decided to Google search for vegan restaurants around the area. One of the first ones to pop up was Variable Café. I decided to go for it because the pictures looked so good and food so yummy! I saw that many pictures were taken by the restaurant, so congratulations! You're doing a great job and you made ME hungry, lol! I decided to go for a green goddess salad and a side of steamed vegetables. Since I have never been there, I do not know what dressings or sauces to ask to accompany the vegetables, so I requested whatever they had. About 15 minutes later I went to pick it up so I called in to see if there was a way they could do curbside pick up, since I couldn't find parking. Whoever answered the phone was super helpful and promptly brought me the food outside! As he approached my window, he greeted me warmly and told me that since I did not specify which dressings I wanted, he decided to give me two different ones, spicy mayo as well as pesto. They were both absolutely delicious, almost hard to believe they were actually VEGAN! Lol Both the salad and the steamed vegetables were generous portions, and nicely put together. Since I am myself also part of the restaurant business and a restaurant owner, it is so good when I come across a business who truly CARES. They make their food as if they were cooking for their own family, with lots of love, care and intention. Congratulations, you guys! I wish you the very best! I'll definitely visit again with my family. Danielle. read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Friendly service. Cozy ambience. Tasty food. It's a small place that I will definitely visit on my next trip to LA! read more

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really great vegan food!! The cauliflower appetizer dish was amazing! I'm not even vegan and loved it!

Cute, clean , cozy place! Great, absolutely amazing food ! Great service! Thank you so much ! Great job guys ! read more

To be completely transparent a dear friend highly recommended eating here. I had my child with me and it had been a long day so I opted for pick up. The staff was kind but, the AC was blasting (it wasn't hot) and I got the worst food poisoning. So needless to say I can't recommend eating here. read more

Okay this place is SO good! I've been twice in three days because I couldn't stop thinking about the pasta. I've been a vegetarian for 20 years and this is one of the best vegan places I've been to. Both times the staff working were super friendly and lovely too. read more

Variable Cafe - Northern Lights Pasta - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Loved their pumpkin spice cream latte. Another customer recommended their green smoothie to me, I will get it next time!!!

Been here three times and have loved the food...yummy, filling, and so satisfying. Lovely owners and that reflects in their service.

This is a no frills establishment, but if you're in the mood for a good bite, Variable has a solid vegetarian menu with tasty items across the board. I really liked the pho, as well as the coconut "shrimp". Highly recommend. Waitstaff were also very friendly. read more

What an amazing time!! The flavors of the food here are spectacular. The pesto garlic edamame was fantastic (I don't know how they made the pesto vegan and so good it's magic) The smoothie was so aesthetic and tasty. The plum sauce that came with the shrimp WAS AMAZING!! Shrimp AND pork was fantastic. The texture was good and the seasoning was spot on. Plern served us and she was so sweet and attentive. We had a great time because of her, thank you Plern! The atmosphere was so cute. There was fresh cut flower on every single table. I had the best time. read more

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This is my second time. I've been dying to come back since the first but was reluctant to do so--ONLY because I was afraid my expectations set the bar too high from the first experience if ever the service was not consistent. Well here we are I'm giving it yet another raving review. We got the burger again, and this time we got the Po Boy along with my favorite sunset smoothie! The Po Boy was great, and the burger was delicious! The flavors are definitely there, and their house sauces are unique. Presentation/plating looked good as well. Our server was working alone and our food took long to arrive but it was understandable considering the phone orders, walk-ins, and waiting other tables. Our server was even apologetic for the long wait which we appreciated it. It was well worth the wait. It was devoured in minutes. read more

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I made a quick trip here to order the You and Banh Me and carrot cake to go. I easily found parking on the street and only had to wait about 10 minutes after ordering from the friendly woman at the counter. The place is small but cute if you choose to eat inside. The banh mi was different from other ones I've had. This one was made with spicy soy chicken instead of tofu and was sweet and saucy with a maple siracha aioli. The bread was soft on the outside, so missing that typical crispness, but it had the pickled cucumber, radishes, carrots, cilantro, and jalapeno. I enjoyed it a lot and it was very filling, especially since I substituted the salad with regular fries. The fries were okay but I probably should have been healthier and tried their salad. The carrot cake was pretty, very flavorful, and quite sweet. No raisins, thank goodness, but I believe there were walnuts in it, which I like. The icing was a bit too citrusy for me. They have a lot of interesting menu items that I'd like to try another time. read more

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Just had a delicious lunch at Variable CafeVenice! The Brussel sprout and the smoothie where unique and tasty, the Caesar salad was refreshing, and the Italian chicken pasta was perfect. Definitely a must try if you are in the area read more

It was delicioso. Pretty good that taste pretty good. The Drunk Cauliflower was fantastic and the Sunset Strip Burger was juicy, great sauce. Will definitely go back! read more

The food always taste fresh and the service is friendly. They do a nice job of creating a pleasant ambience in a little strip center. The portions are also of a good size. The cauliflower appetizer is a delicious indulgence. You can tell the owners really care about this business and providing a nice experience to the customers. read more

Delicious, healthy, real prepared food that is amazing. You feel good while you're eating it and after. I had the Venice bowl and the cook and the sauce of the tofu was amazing. Everything tasted fresh. To drink I had an iced matcha lemonade that I didn't want to finish because it was so good and refreshing! My husband had the tikka masala bowl and loved it! He's not vegan but enjoyed this place and the variety of plant-based options that are way better than replacing meat with fake processed proteins. We look forward to eating here again! It's worth 5 stars but parking can be tricky even with having a lot. read more

I'm so happy that there's finally vegan café right around the corner from my work and I've tried almost everything on the menu and everything is delicious, there to go service is always super fast and there sitdown service is friendly Knowledgeable. Love everything about this place. read more

I came here on a Sunday afternoon and ordered the vegan burger and Brussels sprouts and chili and edamame and I have never tasted such amazing vegan food. This restaurant really exceeds expectations as far as taste and presented concerned. The prices are extremely reasonable and the service is nothing short of outstanding. I will recommend this place to all my vegan and non vegan friends alike. After one visit, this is in the top 2 of all my favorite restaurants in LA read more

So delish this sunset smoothie !!!!! My first time here. The bathroom is so cute. Can't wait to go back and try some foods. read more

Variable Cafe - Sorry I didn't get a pic before i vacuumed it down. It was so pretty - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A friend and I went to this place for a little birthday dinner and it was delicious! Easily our new favorite place! So happy they have gluten free options! We started with the Brussel sprouts which has this tasty sauce. I had the Tikka Masala for my main with the strawberry lemonade and highly recommend! The only thing I wish they had was gluten free desserts! Either way we'll definitely be returning! read more

Variable Cafe - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Lovely little spot on Washington for tasy vegan food. I love the burger and sweet potato fries. I also recco the turmeric ginger latte. The parking lot can fill up, but there is plenty of street parking. The food and service are excellent. read more

This salad is Michelin star quality! This green goddess salad with mushrooms has so many surprises. Savory and delicious. Everything on the menu is made with such excellence. Wonderful service pleasant ambiance and sweet! A jewel ... read more

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Incredible food. We ordered shared the Drunk Cauliflower appetizer. The sauce was finger licking good. Loved the dressing with The Green Goddess salad. The salad had ample amounts of avocado and all of the veggies were both super fresh and high quality. Not a wilted leaf to be found. The Damn Good Chili was good for a veggie chili. The sauce was on point and healthy. Definitely coming back next time I'm in LA. read more

Fantastic service and amazing food. So my husband and I accidentally stumbled across this gem one night when I was searching for vegan food. I think I've eaten the Pho maybe 3 days in a row now. The first night we had the drunk cauliflower (absolutely delicious) and the Pho. Since then, I've tried the coconut shrimp (completely addicting) and the brussels sprouts. When I say everything is delicious I mean it. Sometimes vegan food is just that. No flare and super expensive. That's not this place. It's just really good stuff. Plus the atmosphere is perfect. I was super impressed by the fresh flowers on the table. It's cute enough inside for a nice date. I think the gentleman who helped me is the owner. Just the nicest man. Both (husband and wife) are extremely welcoming and you can tell that really care about the food and the customer. If you're looking for good fresh vegan food that's reasonable priced. I highly recommend eating here. Try the Pho. You won't be disappointed. read more

The cafe isn't very big and we had to wait a while for our food, but our waitress was super friendly and my friend and I had a great time, would definitely come back What we ordered (basically every single starter): - Drunk Cauliflower: great texture and flavor, a reliable choice for anyone who's had this type of dish before (or for people who haven't!) - Kurt Brussel: Basically roasted brussels sprouts with vegan parm and a lemon dressing on the side, not bad but nothing special - T2: They were nothing special, and did not stand out at all amongst our table of other delicious things - Pesto Ed: I usually eat edamame plain + lightly salted, so this version was super tasty and interesting - West Coast Shrimp: easily one of our favorite dishes - the shrimp was crispy and the sauce was refreshing, and the vegan shrimp actually had a a softer texture (compared to other vegan shrimps, which I find to be very chewy) that made it a lot more similar to actual shrimp! I was very impressed - Zephyr Guac - the guac was a bit too sweet for my taste (very strong pineapple taste), however the tortilla chips that it came with were so so good. the chip was thicker and so the crunch was so much more satisfying than anything you'd get from a store or other restaurants - it very much gave me homemade vibes - Sweet potato fries - solid, reliable, nothing special read more

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EVERYONE I bring here is obsessed! If you haven't already tried variable café, you must! Their indoor seating is cute and cozy and the weight staff is amazing! And let's not even get started on the food... Perfect every time! read more

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I'm gluten free and my daughter is vegetarian She got a bowl and I got a citrus salad She got tomato soup I got chili Salad was terrific chili was lacking. Chili needed more onion and vegan turkey was scarce. Daughter bowl with tofu was just wow I am not a big tofu fan but the sauce and how they cooked it was spot on great I didn't care for young kids behind me making tons of noise Service was adequate Clean restaurant and bathroom Would eat here again in a heartbeat you bet Not much to see on the outside but the main food is note worthy Seems like they do a lot of take out orders read more

Don't even think about it, just go. Absolutely one of the best vegan restaurants in LA, and great for vegan-hesitant too. First up, you GOTTA get both the cauliflower and the coconut shrimp appetizers. They are both outrageously good. The shrimp tastes real, and the deep-fried, breaded caulifloweer with their homemade dipping sauce are to die for. You can make a meal of just two two appetizers (which my wife often does.) We've also had the burger,. the bahn mi, and the shrimp po boy - again, all great. Prices are reasonable, staff is friendly, good location with (usually) free parking on Washington across the street from Costco in Mar Vista. Winner! read more

The Variable Cafe continues to be one of my favorite vegan restaurants in L.A. Why, you ask? They warmly welcome me by name and make me feel like family. They do their best to serve up organic food(when available). Menu offerings are consistently excellent at a reasonable price. The only time there was a discernible difference in a dish, was once, during the pandemic. They were understaffed and chef/owner Plern graciously offered to comp me a meal. If ordered via a delivery service, they actually read your notes and deliver as requested. read more

My smoothie was so addictive! I didn't want to drink it all in one sitting but I basically did. Not too sweet and I enjoyed the presentation. Very pretty read more

Variable Cafe - Mango strawberry Sunset Smoothie - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We had a wonderful meals at the Variable Cafe. Joel was attentive and personable and took care with each customer. It's a very basic looking place driving by but the food is outstanding ! Give it a try ! read more

I really like this place. Food is great and fresh! The service was absolutely great regardless of being very busy and having only one guy who's been accommodating everyone. The ambiance have a good clean energy. I would come back. read more

After the close of Sage Vegan Bistro on Sepulveda, I was searching for a local Westside Vegan Restaurant with similar standards as Sage. It's small and the ambience can definitely improve, but the food was fantastic; fresh, delicious and abundant portions that we couldn't finish. The guacamole was a revelation with truffle oil and pineapple in it. I strongly recommend this restaurant for Westside vegans and anyone choosing a delicious plant based diet. It should also be noted that they are organic as often as possible. read more

Variable Cafe - Caesar Salad, Guac and chips and Venice Bowl - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Got my nails done about a block away and was looking to grab a bite. I saw this on Yelp and decided to try it. After scanning the menu I chose the drunken cauliflower, sweet potato fries, the bowl of chili and because of a mention in someones review, the carrot cake as well. The owner was very pleasant and the food was fresh and tasty. I got full pretty quickly so I asked her to pack the carrot cake to go. I tried it once I got home and it is truly amazing! Definitely the best vegan carrot cake, well vegan cake period I've ever tried. As someone who is not vegan, I definitely recommend this restaurant! read more

Variable Cafe - Drunken cauliflower. Fresh, great texture and flavor. - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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My vegetarian cousin was visiting and I am very happy eating vegetarian...so we searched the ratings and found this. The space is, in a word, minimalist. The service is a one person operation watching the entry counter, cash register, order taking, table clearing etc. The person working was polite and helpful. I would give them a 3 for cleanliness. The restroom could use a deep clean and the corners, baseboards etcetera were just a touch grimy. But it is about the food right? We tried three dishes and an app. The fried cauliflower is kind of a veg version of chinese sweet sour chicken. It had potential but the oil tasted a bit overused....do you know what I mean? The Pho was fine, not outstanding, not bad. The other dishes on our table were reported as fine as well. Here is why I chose three stars. This is LA, the food options are plentiful and the competition is stiff. When I saw a 5 star rating, I admit that my expectations are high. I always try to rate in the context of what I eat and where I eat. In this case...they are victims of the other great dining options minutes away. read more

Variable Cafe - Pho with tofu - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Son's Pho is my favourite meal! Drunk Cauliflower is also a must! I love their food! It is an asian cuisine. Their plant based meat is very tasteful. Their portions are big! Love this place read more

Variable cafe is a delicious spot to get vegan food. We had the sunset strip burger and the Po Boy Sandwich and both were extremely good. The restaurant has such a nice and modern atmosphere, but it doesn't feel sterile. Great place to go on a date! The cook came out and asked us if our food was good too, and we came late and still got seated, so all in all a great experience; definitely coming again! read more

Variable Cafe - Sunset Strip Burger Saint Louis No. 2 Po Boy - Vegan Near Me - Los Angeles, California

A new favorite! Small space. Indoor dining only. Vegan. Every table has fresh flowers. The staff are so very nice. Met the owner and she told us her story. Very inspiring. Food is very clean, presented very well and tastes unbelievably yummy. The food is made with positive intention, sourced locally, the flavors are spot on. My favorite: My Son's Pho. Simply YUMMY! The owner gave me some homemade Kimchi to try; their own recipe. Epic WOW! They're constantly trying different dishes so I can't wait!! Parking is a bit crammed and messy because they share the lot with other restaurants, but it didn't deter us. We squeezed our van into the lot and gleefully enjoyed a table in the corner. My plan is to return again and again, and try everything on the menu! If you're thinking about trying this place, just do it! read more

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