Restaurant: Vinh Loi Tofu
Address: 18625 Sherman Way, Suite 101 Reseda, CA 91335
Phone: (818) 996-9779
Price Range: $8-$11 per person
Rating: 3 out of 5
When I’m introduced to new people, and the first thing they tell me is “I’m a vegan,” I want to hit them upside the head.
Honestly, I don’t care.
It’s great that you’re eating healthier than 99 percent of the population, but you don’t have to shove it in their face. We get it, you’re a vegan. Personally, the smell of bacon is euphoric and unrivaled. However, there are rare occasions when I feel the need to branch out and embrace my inner herbivore. In such cases, I tend to venture into the deep, dark nether of vegan cuisine.
Eating vegetables doesn’t have to be a chore, and there are plenty of options in the SFV for patrons to enjoy a vegetable-laden meal. Vinh Loi Tofu, located at 18625 Sherman Way, Suite 101, is a self-professed “no meat zone” that caters to “a better way of life.” The Vietnamese vegan restaurant and tofu house specializes in meatless soups, salads, stir fried noodle and brown rice dishes and spring rolls. The majority of entrees are big enough for two to share, like the Udon Stir Fry with curry “chicken,” or grab a to-go box to shuttle home leftovers. Their spring rolls are made fresh every day and they have pre-packaged selections for patrons to grab a bite on the run. Vinh Loi Tofu’s Vietnamese flair can be sampled throughout 60-plus dishes, including the Curry Duck Soup and Vegan Pho (Hu Tieu). The restaurant also offers some uniquely vegan options, all made with certified non-GMO soybeans, and prides itself on sourcing organic produce when available.
Although Vinh Loi Tofu doesn’t use monosodium glutamate (MSG), both the Vegan BBQ Duck fried rice and seaweed rolls with brown rice and vegan ham were incredibly salty. The abundance of salt could be attributable to the vegan “meat,” which could benefit from the addition of natural sugars and citrus fruits. Friendly owners and expedient service make this meatless restaurant locale a favorite among SFV foodies. There is ample, non-metered street parking on Sherman Way if you can’t find a spot in the crammed private lot, or order for pick-up.
