My friends and I came here on a whim. We originally wanted to go to a cafe in the same plaza but decided to eat first and my friend point out this place. It's located in a small plaza so parking is limited. I thought it was takeout only so I was surprised that we were directed to sit down. The man who took our order was... quick and efficient. I say that because he'll just point at you and ask what you want and not go in a particular order. He didn't write down our order and repeated what we want before we finished talking. Hey, as long as the food is right, I'm not going to get mad at how the order was taken. The food didn't take long at all. I ordered curry and we were given a plate of veggies to add to our soups. I'm not a big fan of Vietnamese food but I absolutely loved the food here. The soups came in large bowls so it's something that's definitely shareable. I tried a bit of my friend's food and they were all so good. Especially the fish! It's probably the best fish I've ever had. At the end, we were given mung bean soup for dessert. It's not my favorite thing but it was tasty. I will be coming back for the fish! read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

After trying a few vegetarian spots in SGV, this place definitely has to be on the list! We came in during lunch time and it was fairly packed. We were greeted right away and sat down, service overall was very friendly. The meal started off with complimentary soup which was surprisingly hearty. We ordered the banh xeo, crispy chicken, and the yellow noodles. The portions here are no joke! The banh xeo came with a generous portion as well as a lot of lettuce/herbs on the side. The crispy chicken was very delicious and fresh...taste just like chicken! We were very surprised. The yellow noodles came on a huge platter and they did not skimp on the vegetables on the plate. Out of all the dishes, i think the banh xeo was my favorite because it was so crispy and flavorful when everything was put together. They were even kind enough to offer complimentary dessert which was mung bean based. I love bean type desserts so this was very delicious. Overall, we had a great experience and will definitely be back to try all the other items I think next on the list will be the roasted chicken, rice rolls, and lemongrass chicken. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - banh xeo, crispy chicken and yellow noodles - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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I really enjoyed my experience here. The food was fresh, flavorful, and came out hot. Even though everything is vegetarian, the dishes were still super satisfying, packed with flavor and healthy without being bland. The noodles had great texture and the broth was flavorful Staff were friendly, attentive, and made us feel welcomed from the moment we walked in. Prices were also very reasonable for the portion sizes. The food is genuinely delicious! read more

Veggie Life is a MUST vegetarian spot in the 626! I do vegetarian a couple days a month and would dread it in fear of lack of options, flavors, and texture. Not here though! Veggie Life does all of your favorite Vietnamese dishes, but fully vegetarian! I've tried a variety of their dishes now and each has always been good. Personally, my favorite is the lemon grass chicken though. Not only is their food always a hit, the service is always kind and attentive! Overall the place just makes you feel at home and you can really feel the personality from their food and people. Always people inside every time I come, no matter what time of day! Another huge plus, free Vietnamese dessert at the end too! I always look forward to it, not too sweet ! read more

My favorite local vegetarian restaurant in the area. Definitely a hole-in-the-wall type of restaurant. Great place for Vietnamese vegetarian food! Everything is plant based, and yet tastes as delicious as the real thing! Have rice and noodle dishes. Very affordable and decent portions. Plus all meals come with a free dessert (usually a sweet green bean or red bean soup). Good service and friendly staff. Parking can be an issue in the front of the plaza, so one can always park on the side/behind the restaurant. Come and support local small businesses. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Banh bo Hue (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

I've been on a vegetarian kick lately and realized I never left Veggie Life the well deserved review it deserves! I absolutely love their dishes. They also offer convenient to-go items on the side of the restaurant if you're in a hurry. It can get pretty busy, especially if you come w/a larger group 4+ or during Chinese New Year. If you're craving Vietnamese/Chinese cuisine vegetarian food, this is definitely the place to go. Service can be better, when it's really busy, it might take a bit longer to get your bill but the food makes it totally worth the visit! read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Broken rice dish and bi cuon spring rolls, YUM!!! - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

We came for lunch and I got the bun Bo hue. It was bomb but the soup stayed hot and didn't cool down, and it was pretty spicy. I think I burnt my tongue because I didn't want to stop eating. I was wearing white so I zipped my jacket up all the way to avoid splashing and I was sweating nonstop. Service and food were great, cool spot. Would definitely come back. read more

My parents like to go vegetarian every 2 weeks, and we wanted to try a new vegetarian place. We saw that this restaurant was not too far from us, so we decided to try this place for lunch. It's a very small hole in the wall vegetarian restaurant in El Monte. We arrived at 11 AM. There was no wait, but it was nonetheless quite busy. The restaurant did not have much AC so it was a bit warm. But the staff served complimentary iced tea, soup, and dessert, which was nice. We got the lemon grass chicken with rice, clay pot rice with chicken, and a vegetarian rice noodle. The rice noodle was quite good and had a variety of different vegetarian items. The claypot rice was decent, but had a very strong herbal/medicinal taste. I really loved the lemon grass chicken which had a nice kick to it. The iced tea was perfect for a summer day. The soup was too hot for a restaurant with no centralized AC though. The dessert was amazing. Overall, solid vegetarian restaurant. read more

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Best Vietnamese vegetarian restuarant in the 626! The flavors are so good and they have a lot of dishes to choose from. I tried the lemongrass "chicken" and it was really tasty. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Bi Cuon - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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They revamped this restaurant. It is much cleaner than it was before. Thank goodness. I feel so much better coming here than I did years ago. Their bi cuon/ spring rolls is still the best vegetarian spring rolls I've had period. They also finally take care now! (Used to be cash only) I've recently moved back to California and so far, all the dishes I've had from their Bun Hue to Com/ rice dishes have been very delicious! Everything is seasoned to perfection. Their Bun Hue is the best I've had in. It is so fragrant full of flavor! Be careful eating it though because if that broth splatters on your clothes, it's game over. They still give you asian dessert aka che at the end, which I so appreciate-- keeping that long tradition going for as long as I can remember (10+ years). This place is still definitely my favorite vegetarian restaurant in SoCal. There is always a lunch rush, so be mindful there may be a wait! read more

We had early lunch at this restaurant and it was seriously the best way to spend a Saturday morning. My partner ordered the Bun Bo Hue and I ordered the rice fish C3, Com bì chả giò thịt nướng. The Bun Bo Hue's broth was really rich and they really enjoyed that. My rice dish was amazing. The faux meat was very satisfying, and the egg rolls were delicious. We also tried the taro pudding, and it was so good that we had to buy a large one to-go. The restaurant itself had a nice ambiance, very bright. The staff are also really kind and accommodating. Lastly the portions are very generous. I highly recommend this place! read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Bun Bo Hue and Com bì chả giò thịt nướng - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

What's up: Kicking off the new year by celebrating with the coworkers. And what better way to start than with vegetarian food? Parking: Parking is shared among the nearby businesses. The lot was pretty full when we arrived but we managed to snag a spot. There's also street parking available off on Mabel Ave. Environment: As expected, when we arrived, it was busy. The line wasn't too long and they ask you to sign up on the wait list that is pretty much a sticky note posted on the front door. Restrooms located towards the back of the building, near the kitchen entrance. They also have a to go line at the other entrance door. There were plenty of people who ordered ahead of time and grabbed food to go. When we were seated, we quickly looked over the menu and placed our order. A short wait later, the food came piping hot. We were also given hot tea. The place was small and cozy with only a few rows of tables. What was ordered: - N1 Pho Dat Biet (Beef Rice Noodle Soup was yummy. Lots of noodles and toppings) Yay/Nay/Meh: Yay. I'll have to say, this was my first time having vegetarian pho and it did not disappoint. The broth is a bit different but still tasty. There was plenty of vegetarian toppings and the amount of noodles was quite generous. Definitely worth a trip back if we're in the mood for vege pho. Credit cards are accepted with a minimum spend of $30. read more

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First time at this restaurant and pleasantly surprised to find a totally VEGAN restaurant in El Monte. What a pleasure to pick up a menu and not have to ask how things are prepared...is there butter or chicken broth or ....? The food was fresh, the place looked clean, the service was attentive and friendly , the portions were large and delicious. Non vegans and vegans will enjoy this place. read more

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I think I found my go-to veggie spot! Every dish we ordered was a hit, the "chicken" is flavored so perfectly, and it goes so well with the rice and veggies that come on the side. The owner is also extremely nice and can speak 5 languages!! I'm usually a very picky eater but I'm so impressed with this restaurant. On top of everything, it is very clean. Please come give this place a try, you won't regret it :) read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

Nice pickling and lots of fresh veggies. They marinate their own tofu items, duck noodle soup is stacked tofu skins. lots to choose from!

Got the spicy Bun Bo Hue, it wasn't even spicy. I also thought it would feature a vermicelli noodle but it had these fat noodles instead. I wouldn't have ordered it had I known this was the noodle and it wasn't spicy. The fake meat was bland. I'm glad this place exists but I had much higher hopes for it. After the meal we walked at Whittier Narrows and the person I was with had to take a poop in the corner of the park because the dish they ordered upset their stomach. (bathrooms in the park were closed that day). They liked their meal while eating it though. I regret my choice. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - thought I was getting a thin vermicelli noodle as I ordered something on the vermicelli page. Tasted more like Pho when I wanted Bun - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

Great vegetarian restaurant. Home cooking reasonably in pricing. Friendly and fast service read more

This place was very good. If you are a hard-core vegan, who loves tofu and Asian cuisine. This is the place for you. Service was amazing. Thank you to the owner who was so nice and kind enough to give us a guide through the menu. Ambience is what you can expect from a local gem like this Asian grandmothers everywhere That's how you know. The food is good. Had a great time. Definitely look forward to going back. read more

Veggie life has a special place in my heart. Ample parking with fast service and delicious food! Food: my favorite dish is the chicken with fried rice (obviously it's not real chicken everything on the menu is vegetarian). The seasoning and texture is perfect! Rice was a little bland but some sauce fixed that right up for me. It also came with a side of warm broth that washed it all down 5/5. The beef noodle soup was excellent as well and was a hit with my sister who isn't vegetarian and was very hesitant to order. She loved her soup and would come back to veggie life again 5/5. Drinks: the avocados smoothie was thick and not too sweet. Ideal consistency and flavor 5/5. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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I grew up eating here, but at some point, I started going to another shop, but recently rediscovered this gem. I went from being vegetarian back then to vegan now, and to my pleasant surprise, their yellow noodles are egg-free, so that makes it vegan! Everything is vegan apparently. I usually indulge in the soup noodles because nothing beats the Vietnamese style soup noodles... my go-to is the Hu tieu mi thap cam and the wonton noodle soup. But their spring rolls and egg rolls are top tier as well. It's a busy and quaint shop, so there's the usual bustle and hustle energy, but everyone is kind. The food comes out fast and even though there's a long wait time at lunch, they manage to be very efficient and clear the queue quickly! read more

MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE SPOT for me to get my craving of Bun Bo Hue or Pho, they make it to flavorful here with so many toppings! When you come here, be sure to come with an empty tummy because they are generous with their portions! My normal go-to order is either their pho or their bun bo hue, my partner gets their vermicelli with egg roll and soy meat, and their shredded pork spring rolls. We always have a food coma after we eat here and a nice nap suffices afterwards LOL They do accept card but would prefer cash if you have it! They also have some tasty side dishes you can buy as well by the window - they are a bit pricey but still tasty nonetheless. But I recommend you getting their entrees better since the value and quantity is much better! The workers here are so nice and are always happy to assist you in any way! read more

Never have I eaten at a vegetarian restaurant that I can honestly say I find it better than the traditional non-veg dishes. Veggie Life has a great variety of vegetarian friendly Viet dishes that are sure to please even the most strict carnivore. I often feel that vegetarian food doesn't fill you up the way meat-full counter parts do, but that was quite the contrary. Each dish I had was packed full of authentic Viet flavors where I was puzzled to taste a great amount of richness and savory notes. Their chicken and fish tofu substitutes were my personal faves along with the egg plant in a rich and velvety sweet sauce that gets soaked up by the red rice. The service was great! A real simple and straightforward shop. Do not expect fine dining level ambiance, but you will find the friendly staff working on tofu cakes in the back corner. Overall, if you are looking for a great meal regardless of food preferences, make your way to Veggie Life! *most interesting note is that NONE of the dishes have onion or garlic as they uphold what I believe is a type of Buddhist food restriction of cuisine that is absent of garlic and onion because of the strong smelling qualities. Def recommend the Banh Xeo and Ga Roti (red rice and chicken) read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - "Chicken" - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

This is my absolute FAVORITE spot for Vegetarian Vietnamese Food. They do not skimp out on flavor and portion sizes here. My recommendations are their Bun Bo Hue, Bun Mang Vit, and their Bun Nuoc Leo. I typically prefer these versions over the traditional meat versions as it's lighter without compromising the flavor. I typically go here when I feel like I've eaten particularly heavy the night before (especially after a feast of KBBQ) and I'm looking for something plant based. If you're in a quick pinch, I like to order their to-go Items as well. read more

I was so excited for this place. Who wouldn't be? 100% vegan Vietnamese food? That sounds awesome! To an extent, it was... The vegan Peking duck and vegan pork belly (secret menu item) were packed with flavor and fresh accompaniments. Warming soup, pickled radish and fresh veggies, crisp mantou... All wholesome sides for savory and satisfying meatless entrees. I wanted to give five stars for the food alone but the service is truly abhorrent. I don't think I'd even call it service, because service doesn't usually require I relive my childhood trauma. The lady doesn't speak a lick of English which is fine, but holy hell she was SO RUDE. She spoke full sentences in Vietnamese to me despite my confusion and made a face like I was stupid when I said I didn't understand. Then she reached some kind of conclusion on her own and screamed "Okay? OKAY?!?!? OKAY??!!!!?" 2 inches from my face, until I could only nod in terror. As I was packing up leftovers, she came over and saw me putting pork belly in the box she had apparently designated for the Peking duck. This lady, all too reminiscent of my mother, screams "NO NO NO NOOOO!!!" at me and gestures wildly to show me that I've put the wrong leftovers in the box.... I don't know if I'm making a big deal out of a language barrier issue, but I felt genuinely stunned. Like, I had wanted to order more but I didn't want to have to talk to her again, so I didn't. The cashier who spoke Chinese was nice though. In addition, the atmosphere and ambiance aren't any better. The restaurant frankly looks dirty. The lights are dim and flicker, and stains and debris litter the floor and walls. There was a customer who was sitting cross legged barefoot, and another who came in with a literal blood splatter on his pants (I guess I don't know if it was real but it looked really alarming????). I don't mind rustic or home style, even a little run down, but the atmosphere here definitely makes me not want to come back. Also, not that I was expecting anything, but others on Yelp mentioned a complimentary dessert-- I did not receive one. I also wasn't badgered to pay in cash like others mentioned. In short, order for pickup and you'll have a great time. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Peking duck - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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This is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants! Everything they serve is chay, Vietnamese vegetarian. They have everything! Soups, noodles, rice dishes, salads, street food. Their portions are very generous. The food is so fresh. They make it fresh to order. They do not skimp on anything. If your item comes with herbs, they're giving you a whole plate on the side. The food is so delicious! The staff and service is phenomenal. Everyone is so sweet and attentive. They're very friendly and can make adjustments to the menu. They just remodeled. The space is airy and bright. The parking is easy. There's a huge lot outside. I couldn't recommend this place enough. I always end up ordering the menu and taking food home. Even after being stuffed, I feel so good knowing that I'm nourishing my body with healthy food! read more

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Great food made by great people. 10/10. Such kind folks running this business. Everything i go, I leave feeling happier read more

Large portions of Vietnamese vegetarian dishes for a great value. Located in the plaza on the corner of Garvey and Rosemead, this place may be a challenging to get to because of the large intersection. But the parking lot itself is spacious (shared with Waffle Studio) and can be accessed through the small streets. The place is small, and on Chinese New Year it can be very packed here. We came for an early lunch on a Sunday but were seated quickly. The menu is pretty big with all types of Vietnamese dishes. They also have fruit smoothies here! Food: - Bun Bo hue: This was really flavorful! They give a large bowl with plenty of veggies to go with it. There's lots of veggie meat as well, but my favorite part is the broth, which reminded me of mama instant ramen broth. - Curry Vermicelli: This also came with a lot of veggie meat. The curry soup was sweet and creamy from the coconut milk. They also put a lot of potatoes in here. I would've preferred less potatoes and more variety of veggie meats. The portion was huge and I had to take it home. But just FYI the broth and noodles do not hold for very long, so don't keep it for too long! - Shredded Pork Skin Spring Rolls: These were really interesting. There was something gritty in there that imitated the shredded pork, I think shredded banana blossom? It didn't have much of a savory taste to it IMO but was still good, and even better with the fish sauce. A nice appetizer to share or even a good dish for a lighter meal. Can't wait to go back and try the other dishes ! read more

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Ask the prices before buying or ordering anything!!!! The lady who serve the combo section in the morning is the WORST! She's never happy and always count the pieces after she put it in the box. The price is always different! Omg. They charge by their mood. Sometimes the combo is $14 and sometime is $15. Last time they charged my aunt $14 for bun bo hue when it's clearly cheaper on the menu. read more

Honestly love this place, and my picky grandmother does too. Both of us aren't vegetarian, but we think the food is yummy. We always get the curry with vermicelli. One time when we had to wait longer than expected for a to-go order, the kind guy in the front gave us free dessert as an apology. Very good service even to people who don't speak Vietnamese read more

I'm not vegetarian, but I went because my boyfriend's mom is. Even though I'm not vegetarian, I would totally come back here. The food was more flavorful than expected! Plus, since it's all vegetarian, it makes me feel like I'm eating healthy! I got the Bun Bo Hue, less spicy. I definitely couldn't tell there was no meat! The soup was flavorful, and the different types of "meat" they included were delicious. I also got the Banh Cuon, which is freshly made, so the rolls came out warm and smooth! They fill it up with lots of ingredients like woodear mushroom, and it came with so many rolls that this dish alone was enough. I couldn't finish my Bun Bo Hue and took it to go. I would definitely get both dishes again! It's a mom-and-pop shop, and they definitely close on time, so if you don't want to be rushed, don't come close to closing time. The dishes come out super fast, so it's a quick eat. The inside is like a take-out place, so it's not for long seating anyway. I did notice a few people came in just to pay for take-out. read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - Bun Bon hue- less spicy - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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This place is a gem! Food is amazing definitely recommend this little hidden spot. Tried their lemon grass and their curry both dishes I give a 10. Very homie vibes. read more

The food is fantastic! My favorite vegetarian restaurant. I can't wait to go back. There are so many delicious selections. We ordered more than we could eat, but we were happy taking it home. read more

Visiting from San Francisco and this is Best one in California Food is delicious People are very courteous Every time I drive by LA we stop Gracias amigo read more

I've been going here since I was a kid. My dad use to take me on our vegetarian days of the month due to our religion! Now years later, I'm still going but as a full vegan! It feels like home every time I come in. They have great lunch plate deals and food quality is always on point. My go-tos are the bi cuon and/or the red rice with vegan fried chikn! Great stop if you want something quick, delicious, & vegan! read more

In fact does not have many vegetarian or vegan options They only have fried mushrooms. That being said once they are sold out they don't make more. Disappointing. The service was fine. And the vibe was fine. Overall score would be a 5.1/10 very basic vote food and you're probably better off looking else wear for a more vegetarian option. Aside from the vegetarian options the meat options were also just fine. read more

Best pho I've ever had in my life. There's so much in there I was full for 18 days. During this time I was transported to nirvana valhalla and Betelgeuse. I returned in our own time as if only a second had past. Damon the owner greeted me and offered my samples and told me their process for making all the delicious soy based nuggets, they have pictures of all the menu items so very easy to order. Good opportunity to use google translate and brush up on your Vietnamese. cảm ơn bạn từ tận đáy lòng read more

Veggie Life Restaurant - The menu for the day - Vegetarian Near Me - South El Monte, California

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I come here every now and then it's one of my favorite mom and pop shop restaurants in SGV. I recommend it for anyone who wants healthy vegetarian food. read more

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Been coming here for years and the good and service is always amazing. Delicious vegetarian food, welcoming space, and excellent service. Firm favorites are the lemon grass chicken, spring rolls, wontons, and noodle soups. Can't say there's anything I've tried that I don't like. They sell their wontons and egg rolls frozen, we buy 50 at a time to take home and always have in stock in the freezer. read more

The most delicious Vegetarian Vietnamese food in a fair price range Me and my friends and family enjoy the tasty food often

Amazing delicious and authentic Vietnamese vegan food Everything is great, the service is attentive, and the restaurant is never too busy. The prices are more than fair for what you get, definitely get a lot value for your moneys worth. My favorite is the rice with 6-7 different kinds of "meat". It's really good, and all vegan. All the ingredients are fresh and everything is always consistently good every time I go. I bring a lot of my friends here to try this place....vegan, non vegan, Vietnamese and non Vietnamese and they all love it. Come back here a few times a month. Love it and can't get enough. read more

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