Native Foods Vegan Restaurant

Hey guys!  If you are in the Los Angeles or Orange County, California area, I highly recommend checking out Native Foods Restaurant for vegan dishes that could fool even the most stubborn carnivore into licking her chops!

Chef Tanya Petrovna opened her first Native Foods 15 years ago in Palm Springs and now has locations in Los Angeles and Orange County. She has written 2 cookbooks (The Native Foods Restaurant Cookbook and The Meat-Lover’s Vegetarian Cookbook) and has been featured on The Food Network. I was happy to see her hanging around the Tustin location, walking around greeting her customers and asking how the food tasted. I don’t get star-struck with Hollywood celebs, but I do with people I admire, so I, of course, jumped out of my seat when I saw her and exclaimed, “Chef Tanya! I’m Annabel!” Yep…I’m that girl.

The food tastes amazing, is filling, healthy, and artfully presented. After visiting both the Tustin and Costa Mesa locations, I have confirmed that it must be a requirement for the staff to be extremely friendly and attentive — the atmosphere was so pleasant and inviting at both locations. I feel this would be my ideal hang-out and study place (Chef Tanya — can we get some free wifi hook-ups and coffee? It’ll be a hit, I swear!).

Ok, let’s get to some of the eats:

BL Tease (pictured with a side salad)

“Creamy avocado slices, tempeh bacon, lettuce, tomato, carrot, onion, and mayo on sprouted organic whole wheat toast. The standard sandwich recreated by Chef Tanya and loved by Natives for over 10 years.” $7.95

This dish was *amazing*  I recommend that anyone who is hesitant to try vegan food start out with this dish — he/she will not be disappointed! Between the smokey tempeh bacon, generous slices of avocado, and thinly shaved red onion, I was in a state of vegan bliss.

Native Margherita

“Mama’s homemade marinara recipe, sliced tomatoes, pumpkin seed pesto, and melted vegan mozzarella.” $7.95

My omnivorous boyfriend got this dish and truly enjoyed it.  He couldn’t tell it was “fake cheese,” which anyone who has had dairy cheese and then tried a substitute knows is a feat!

Tijuana Tacos

“Two soft grilled corn tortillas filled with Native Taco Meat, Native cheese, salsa fresca, lettuce and guacamole. How the saying ‘Cravin Native’ started.” $ 7.95

Another dish I loved — The corn tortillas were soft and filled to the brim with all the fixins I love — guacamole and salsa! The taco “meat” was delicious and so was the cheese.  Our waitress gave me some restaurant-made green hot sauce to dip it in and it was heavenly!

Baja Surf Tacos

“Our sea-friendly ‘fish taco.’ Two soft grilled corn tortillas stuffed with crispy battered Tempeh, homemade surfer sauce, salsa fresca, shredded cabbage and guacamole.” $7.95

My boyfriend had these tacos and thought they were delicious. He did say that with all the cabbage and guacamole it was hard to taste the mock meat — though he later added that they tasted exactly like the halibut tacos from Claim Jumper…so…maybe he did taste the meat? Bottom line — Mr. Picky enjoyed them!

Desserts! Peanut Butter Parfait

Cardamon Rose Cupcake

Both delicious! I particularly enjoyed the rose flavor cupcake!

Additional Info. on Native Foods:

• Menus
• About
• Locations
• Events

Have you ever been to a live cooking demonstration? I can’t wait to go to one of Chef Tanya’s! Tried any new restaurants lately?

<3,

The Cranky One

Tags: native foods, vegan food, vegan restaurant