Orange County California, a Veritable Vegetarian's Delight!

Craving a really good vegetarian-based meal? HavingWhen I went there "way back when", my college
trouble getting anyone in your family or line-up ofdance buddies and I could feel good eating the whole
friends to join you in a meal? In Orange Countywheat bagel with avocado, tomatoes and soy
California you can "have your cake and eat it too"!cheese. Wish they still had it on the menu! Besides
While I may not be a total vegan (a girl's gotta haveFullerton, they also have one in Orange and Tustin
a good BBQ'd rib sometimes), I do prefer eating aZinc's Cafe and Market-Laguna Beach. Great
vegetarian meal most of the time. Problem is mybreakfasts. Terrific baked goods. Salads are
family and friends think this type of cuisine is notwonderful. Some very interesting lunch choices. Menu
something they wish to share with me! They think ofis always changing, but the coffee is gourmet and
soy based foods as something meant for me andsmells wonderful.
me alone.Native Foods-the new kid in town, sort of speak.
Fortunately, I have found mighty fine restaurants inLocated in Costa Mesa, this is turning into quite a
our wonderful Southern California home that try verywonderful destination spot for vegans. Semi-casual,
hard to cater to all concerned! So meat-eaters take aupscale menu-they have some faux meat dishes that
seat, even you will find something tasty in these funfrom what a couple of diners said-had someone
places!ordered their meals for them without telling them
Mother's Market and Cafe-Mother's has a wonderfulwhat kind of restaurant this is, they would have
vegan menu, but since they also are a completenever guessed that they weren't eating "the real
organic and health food market, the cafe serves upthing".
fish and chicken dishes as well. At least it was on theVeggie and Tea House-This is just what it says,
menu at the one I went to in Laguna Hills-which ismainly a tea house that happens to serve vegetarian
one of the smaller units. Mother's has severaldishes. While this place is charming and the food quite
locations throughout the county.nice, in all honesty, this is probably the least likely of
Rutabegorz-This restaurant has a warm place in myall the recommended places that might pass muster
heart. Before it grew to the 3 locations it has today,with the meat eating crowd.
it had just the one in Fullerton. Okay, this was in theOther suggestions? Most Asian restaurants are quite
'70's and I was but a young college student, but Ivegan/vegetarian friendly! Jade Palace in Aliso Viejo
was into healthy eating even then! Why I lovewill substitute tofu for any meat in any of their
Rutabegorz is the atmosphere is relaxed, the bakeddishes.
goods are made on the premises (low fat, low/nonSo fellow vegetable lovers take heart, we can go
sugar and tasty too!), the menu eclectic and myout for a meal with our carnivore mates and we all
husband doesn't mind the tuna and salad dishes.can enjoy!