Au Lac Dtla Reviews

On a recommendation of a friend of a friend, we had lunch at Au Lac in downtown Los Angeles. It is vegetarian themed. But like no vegetarian restaurant you have been to, probably ever. Full disclosure: I am not a vegetarian but after eating here I could become one. The food was excellent. The Yam Shrimp is Amazing. You would never know you were not eating real shrimp. The sauteed Red cabbage with Cilantro is unlike anything I have ever had. I ordered more as a side. The Tostada made with sauteed mushrooms was an excellent choice. Tyler, our waiter was knowledgeable and very attentive. The restaurant is beautifully decorated, with a comfortable yet intimate feel. Do not let the fact that it is in a strip mall influence your decision to visit. You'll be sorry you didn't go in.

When you are an omnivore (guilty) and someone suggest, “How about vegan?”, it is natural to feel a brief quiver of culinary fear. But, during two weeks of travel thru the US of A, and this was our best meal in a restaurant. The food was creative, beautiful, and delicious. My dish of Shiitake tempura was outstanding. Our waitress was helpful and super-friendly, and we all enjoyed the complimentary shot glasses of fresh coconut juice. When the bill arrived I was genuinely shocked by how cheap it was. Note to Chef Ito: Could you please, please, open a branch in Sydney?

I have eaten at the orange county several times. The DTLA version is good too, with a different menu. The yam "shrimp" is amazing. I also liked the stuffed mushrooms.

A small hidden gem, this restaurant was really a highlight of my stay in LA. I tried a raw asian inspired bowl and my girlfriend went for a vegan "fish" and we were both extremely pleased. The dessert just confirmed the quality of this restaurant. All dishes were visually stunning and had a very refined taste. As a bonus, chef Ito came towards the end of the meal and shared his very communicative enthusiasm and happiness.

Great vegan restaurant behind the Walt Disney music hall and the Ahmanson. Try the soups, any soup is delicious. The decadent chocolate dessert was a great last touch.

We've been here before, but only for a late night dessert after a concert at Disney Hall. This 2nd visit was for dinner, and we enjoyed the stuffed mushrooms, the eggrolls, and the pho. All so yummy and satisfying on a cold winter night, especially the eggrolls which came out crispy and piping hot, and the soup which has an amazing flavor of herbs and spices. We shall definitely return again and again. It's such a great location, too; we can come here for dinner right before a concert as it's just across the street from Disney. The staff is warm, friendly, and helpful; and the ambiance has neat lighting. I also like that there is comfy bench seating available. Looking forward to our next visit! Lots more good-looking stuff on the menu to try!

Looking for something different? This place has got you covered. Fusion is just one way to describe the vegan and living foods offered here. According to our great server, one chef features Vietnamese flavors while another one is amazingly talented with the raw foods. I would recommend all of the items we ordered from their large menu. From stuffed mushrooms with micro-greens and raw lasagna, to the octopus and BBQ pork roll with a brown rice paper wrap and almond hoisin sauce. Top all that off wit a Tirawmisu and we went home stuffed and satisfied. I would highly recommend this restaurant for vegetarians and all culinary enthusiasts.

The decor is nice, but the food is outstanding! All the same, I'm so in love with the Ito Burrito that I find it difficult to order anything else. This is food prepared with love. Don't pass this place up if you're lucky enough to have the opportunity to go here.

Tasty tasty tasty! Get the octopus, spicy Tempe, seaweed salad, curry rice or garlic noodles. We actually ordered the octopus twice we loved it so much! 🙃

Chef Ito terrific. We had two appetizers and four meals, and all were excellent. The food presentation was appetizing; the various dishes were creative and tasty. The service was top notch -- our waitress explained the various dishes we asked about, helped us make decisions, and checked on us regularly (it is true that the restaurant was not full when we dined).

We went here before the Opera. The atmosphere and service was excellent. The pasta and rolls, as well as my "oyster sandwich" was delicious. The rice curry that my wife ordered seemed a bit "blah."

great food and great ambient. the dish is cooked with nice blend of fresh vege, herbs, spice and soy based mock meat. i love the kelp noodle with macademia nut paste.

Au Lac was a highlight of our trip to the USA from Australia. Every dish was sublime, as was the service. My partner is vegan (I'm not) and he called it the best restaurant meal he has ever had EVER. I have to say I could go vegan if I could eat at Au Lac every night. It started with their signature coconut/lime popcorn and just got better and better. We were so effusive with our praise that I got a personal, very sincere hug from the chef. We wanted to return for our final night in the US, but we mistimed, so very disappointed not to get back, but can't recommend this place enough.

The location is much nicer than any vegan restaurant I have ever been to. This alone made it worth the trip, but, the fresh and innovative raw food made it a must see. Be sure to try the Shrimp made out of Yam!!!

The menu offers all vegan food that you won’t find anywhere else. More of a fancy place with good portions and good food. Not too expensive either.

unusual menu items featuring such things as macadamia cheese in a burrito made of not your Abuela's usual tortillas. yummy smoothies & outrageous desserts.

This place has a bunch of five-star aspects to it. The fact that it exists, all vegan with lots of options - 5 Stars...the beautifully presented food - 5 Stars. The atmosphere - you feel like you've walked into a slightly different world - 5 Stars. The food itself was pretty good but I'm sticking with a 4 on this one. Portions were generous...we had Sie Mai Dumplings, and Lemongrass "Fish" - both of which were more than enough to fill up my wife and me. I'm a sucker for vegetarian fish...good veggie burgers abound but, not so much fish...this lemongrass fish did a pretty good job of approximating the experience of eating fish. The dumplings were plentiful and presented beautifully but maybe only a 4 in terms of flavor. We also dug the fancy looking infused water container, and they took good and quick care of us after we told them we were heading to a show nearby with limited time to linger. Obviously, as it's an all-vegan spot, there is PLENTY to choose from for our diets. We'd definitely give it another try and especially appreciated its proximity to the music center where we were seeing a show right after dinner.

This place is such a gem. The service was thoughtful, attentive and friendly without hovering. And the flavor profiles of the dishes were truly delicious. I wish I had taken pictures of the entrees which were presented like works of art. I will definitely go back here again and again.

Yes it is crazy great to have a wonderful restaurant (and vegan adds a positive dimension) literally across the street (Hope St) from Disney Hall and the Music Center in DownTownLA (DTLA, wink). Food was full of fine surprises, service was helpful and attentive (my aunt who was eating with us said "he had the cutest smile"). Decor was both fresh and gracious (that means classy + welcoming). Value was high: we over-ordered, see below, and 2 of 3 of us had wine (I had the refreshing Kombucha ginger ale); and the bill including tip was only $40 apiece. And--here's some good news--none of us had stomach/gut trouble after the meal, in spite of the unfamiliarity and rawness of the food and spices. Noise level might get high at some times, as the sound inside is very bright; however, we could talk easily at 6-7:30 on a Saturday night.. Here's what we ate. I'd endorse each dish as crazy great adventure. The list that follows is coupled with the menu description found online: Salt & Peppered Yam Shrimp {as many reviews have said, this yam-based dish is amazing in how it gets the texture as well as the artful recreation of the look of shrimp} lightly battered and sautéed with jalapeño and cilantro. Crimini Pesto: stuffed mushrooms with Thai basil, pine nuts, bell peppers, sprouts Cali Roll: nori sushi with fresh coconut, dulse, pine nuts, cucumber, bell pepper. served with pickled ginger and tamari sauce (Raw) Green Pyramid: wild rice, Thai basil pesto, coconut, zucchini, corn, bell pepper, with dulse and flax crackers. (Raw) Bombay Mix [a bowl of] rice crisps, lentils, almonds, fennel, curry leaf and mustard seed. Cheesy Noodles [no description in menu or online yet. It's ersatz with substance]. My iPhone app said it was a 1 minute walk from Disney Hall; you might want to double that if you miss the crossing light the first cycle.

I came here for a quick meal based on the reviews and was disappointed. I had the bun33 and the ginger tea and both were very average in taste. And it wasn’t cheap either! Not sure I would visit here again or recommend it.

Here's a vegan restaurant that's number one in my book. The curry rice, stuffed mushrooms, eggplant/fish soup and Cali roll were fantastic. The sauces made this meal pure heaven. Close to Disney Hall and the Music Center

My grown daughter and I ate here our first night in LA. We ended up at the bar after we were seated then promptly forgotten, apparently because of a show in an adjoining room. The bartender served us well. The sweet and spicy tempeh was excellent and the curried rice was absolutely delicious.

We had to double check - are you sure it is vegan - the shrimp were so authentic but even better than the real thing. I had been here before but this time we dined for pre-theater curtain time at Ahmanson Theater, a short walk away. I got the curry rice dish, heart shaped and unbelievably tasty. Daughter had the ramen - huge and wonderful blend of veggies and tofu, son-in-law raved about his claypot fish. Interesting cocktail offerings too. We had a 5:00 reservation which was perfect for 6:30 tickets. This place is a must-go and I am sure people of all dining preferences will be pleasantly amazed.

I'm not usually a fan of vegetarian/vegan food, but the Pho soup had interesting flavours and textures, and the chocolate cake was just incredible. It's also a rather quiet place.

I'd eaten lunch at Au Lac while on jury duty in October and really enjoyed the "yellow" noodle soup. My husband and I had tickets for Disney Concert Hall and decided to have an early dinner there beforehand. The restaurant is very comfortable and calming, decorated in subdued colors and soft lighting. My husband had the "raw" lasagna and I had the basil rice noodles. Both dishes were delicious and nicely presented. Au Lac offers interesting vegan takes on both Vietnamese dishes and more familiar dishes such as sushi, burritos, and even fries. Their version of tiramisu was fun and a great way to end the meal. The service is pleasant and helpful. I'm looking forward to dining there again soon...

I wouldn't normally step inside a vegan restaurant, but when a friend insisted we give Au Lac a try after a matinee at the Los Angeles Opera, I went along not quite knowing what to expect. Glad I didn't put up much of a fight, as the meal turned out to be one of the most satisfying I've had in Los Angeles. The curried rice is especially recommended, a hearty, flavorful combination of vegetables and spices that will satiate any appetite. The decor is surprisingly elegant for a restaurant located in one of downtown LA's ubiquitous corner strip malls, and the atmosphere is conducive to spirited conversation. The only drawback -- and it's a big one -- is the service, which on the night we dined proved to be alternately inept or non-existent. More adult supervision of the wait staff would be helpful.

Had a delicious vegan dinner here and a lovely, peaceful dining experience! Loved the Taco (think lettuce wrap) and Yam Shrimp. We walked across the street from the Music Center. A great find pre or post concert/theatre. The restaurant is relaxing, comfortable and unique with a great decor and terrific service.

This has to be THE destination for Vegan Gourmet Foodies! World Famous Chef Ito has created some remarkable dishes that no other vegan restaurant has to offer. The Yam Shrimp looks and has the consistency of real shrimp - "I can't believe this isn't real shrimp" we said over and over again. We loved the cabbage bed they were presented on - should be a side dish all its own. The Raw Lasagna has a perfectly tomato, spicy taste. The Tostada is delightful. The signature, Ito Burrito, is so light and satisfying with a spicy dipping sauce - YUMMY! The wait staff is attentive and knows their vegan stuff to answer any questions.

Tucked into a commercial corner near Music Center and Walt Disney Concert Hall, this vegan and vegetarian restaurant that prides itself on "plant-based food & drink" is a welcome surprise in the neighborhood. The food tends to be Asian-inspired and includes a lot of variety. But some of the flavor and quality can vary widely too: from overly salty to fully developed. But there is enough here to sample over time or shared with a group. The back room of the restaurant also hosts live performances in a cabaret-style setting.

Simple but eclectic Thai inspired vegan food was an amazing experience. We just lucked upon it while visiting City Hall environs. Would visit again for the next visit.

What a great meal we had...the food was of the highest quality and tasted awesome. I thought it would be kinda like cardboard, but it was so good I wanted more. They are within walking distance of the Music Center and Disney Concert Hall, so it's really nice to be able to street park or park under the restaurant and wander over to your show in a few minutes. Great ambience...very "hip 'n' trendy" but we're old and still liked the decor.

Plusses: Excellent service, nice decor, parking, some dishes good Minuses: Lots of salad dishes...some unclear if they are salads. Soup lukewarm as it's raw; vegan prawns good; vegan tiramisu ok. My partner ordered chinois chikn...and thought it was a hot dish..it was a pretty ordinary salad..not the best for a cold evening in LA. We wouldn't return.

I came here with a friend and enjoyed it so much, I convinced my meat eating hubby to bring me here for our anniversary. Made a reservation on line and drove 40 miles for dinner. The food was pretty good. But the service was TERRIBLE. We were stuck in the back and absolutely IGNORED. We were prepared to try everything on the menu. We ordered a few starters, which they dropped off. And they never came back . After 30 minutes waiting and trying unsuccessfully to waive down every person we could think of , still no service. We even joked that I should call up front and place a to go order but hubby said that would be rude, LOL . The place was empty ... I don't know who they were helping, cuz they sure as heck weren't serving us. So we paid our $60 tab and went to the Biltmore for dinner. What a colossal waste of our time. You've lost a good customer. Folks, don't come here for special occasions.

It was a perfect dinner with my girlfriend. All was tasteful and delightful. Highly recommended to visit this restaurant!!!

We shared a salad, 2 main dishes & chocolate dessert for $21 each (with tax & tip). It was a good meal - forgot to ask for specials.

We went before a concert at the Walt Disney Concert hall. The first thing we were told that they lost their liquor license as they had problems with loud patrons after dining there. We got pitched on the "elixirs/concoctions" (which did not turn out) We had the Cali Roll, Crimini Pesto, and Lasagna. Our friends ordered the cheesy noodles (which I had read that they were not great, and they were not).

The food was excellent and the service was perfect. We parked at the theatre and walked over. There are many options downtown but the food is so unique that I can't help but return every opportunity.

Every dishes we ordered were delicious. Wish the restaurant was closer to my house. The service staff was very friendly but their kitchen was a bit slow but the exellent dishes were saving grace. I would recommand this restaurant to anyone I will come back soon.

Au Lac has a great plant based menu. We loved the salt & pepper tofu and the other dishes we ordered. The one odd thing about our visit was the music. They were playing a lot of 90s pop, which just felt out of place for a fancy vegan place with lots of animal activism campaigning. Also note that they only appear to serve non-alcoholic wine & beer. It’s all good for your body but good to know before you go.

A very handsome restaurant walking distance from the Music Center, Disney Hall, and The Broad Museum. As people note, the “shrimp” is excellent, and uncannily like the real thing. Garlic noodles were good, as was the “octopus.” The spring rolls were very tasty. This restaurant s a good alternative to the overpriced food vendors around the Music Center and the precipitous decline of Kendall’s Restaurant.

Delicious, healthy, vegan food served by attentive staff in a quiet, elegant setting. It’s difficult to find good pho where I live and worse trying to find it without meat in the broth. I expected bland, tasteless pho, but to my surprise it was flavorful and filling. They honored my special requests for no raw onions or cilantro, even coming out to check whether cooked onion in the broth would be okay. The portion was just perfect for healthful eating, but may be on the small side for some. It came with thinly sliced strips of vegan chicken, sprounts and on the side, lettuce mint, basil and jalapeño slices. I requested chili paste because I like extra spice, but it would be fine as is too. The food is a bit pricey, but worth it for me. They seem to have many non Vietnamese options as well as other Vietnamese inspured ones. Can’t wait to come back!

Great spot for dinner before heading to the Ahmenson. The servers are very friendly, the prices reasonable and the food delicious. My partner does not eat plant based and thought it was one of his best restaurant experiences in a long while. Gotta try the rosa ravioli... So good!

I had never been to this location before but had fantasized about it for years! I have been a fan of the other location but hadn't made it here yet. I ordered the Friend Fries that were out of this world scrumptious! I also had the Ito Burrito! Yum!! I absolutely could taste the Love! Best Ever!

The first time I dined here there was a Comedy Show called "Uncabaret" featuring 3 celebrities who tell funny stories, and a live band which you can listen to and laugh while you're eating some extremely tasty, guilt free vegan food. Im not "a Vegan" but I love tasty healty food of all kinds. I highly recommend eating there on Sunday NIghts and watching the Uncabaret SHow in their special room thats closed off to the main dining room where all the entertainment happens. I got discount tickets to the show on Goldstar and watched some of my favorite comedians do their shtick. I would definitely eat there again. Its pricey...but the Rainbow Fruit Pie for desert os like eating tiny bites of heaven. Insanely tasty!!

We got there on a Saturday night, starved. Everything is prepared to order so we starved a little longer, but left satisfied. That part of downtown LA was swept clean of people. We sat outside and it seemed we had the security guard watching our table only. Behind there restaurant there is a burlesque show, so some interesting looking characters started trickling in soon. Delicious wholesome food and delicious not-so-wholesome people watching. The vegan tiramisu is an acquired taste; it can't really compete with the oritinal. Kale nooldes and curried rice hit the spot.

Our server Sam gave us recommendations for an appetizer and two entrees to share for a late lunch. A home run for sure. Very flavorful dishes, all vegan. Even a carnivore, omnivore, pescatarian and vegetarian will enjoy this restaurant. Service was great and so was the atmosphere.

I met some friends here for lunch and was a little anxious about it being vegan. However, I was incredibly impressed and would return without question. Have to say the yam "shrimp" were amazing, both in terms of taste and texture. The garlic basil pasta was also delicious, though my friend's cheezy lime popcorn was divine and well worth an order, if even for the table. Service was very friendly and prompt and the decor created a very inviting atmosphere.

We went to Au Lac for lunch. We had the Eggless Rolls; Friend Fries; Garlic Noodles; and Ginger Mint Rice; and Rainbow Flan for dessert. This has become my new favorite vegan restaurant in LA. Everything well plated; amazing flavors and aromas; and excellent service.

Vegans, vegetarians and clean eaters will especially enjoy this reasonably priced fine dining establishment. The dining area and the bar are refined modern. The food was enjoyed by all and two in our party were meat eaters, but both cleaned his/her plate. We enjoyed our cocktails and the desserts were beautiful. It is located two doors from a Subway sandwich shop, but as soon as you enter the door, you are fine dining.

Au Lac is my favorite restaurant in downtown LA. The food is creative, delicious and surprising. The restaurant is a great place to meet friends. It has a chill relaxed vibe, and we all appreciated that the music was not too loud. I hate going places where conversations have to be shouted over loud music. Try it!

If only Au Lac was in San Francisco, I could eat delicious and healthy meals from a menu of a hundred mouth watering vegan dishes within organic wines. Who knew that food heaven was in DT LA.

After visiting the Cathedral Los Angles, I and my cousin decided to have lunch at Au Lac Restaurant.First of all, the first impression was good. The restaurant and Bar were clean, cozy. We ordered Pho and Banh My. And we waited 45 minutes for our lunch even the Restaurant was very quiet at that time. We asked the Waitress 4-5 times when our food was ready. She always said that the food was coming in 4-5 minutes. When the food was served, Pho bowl was small size with 3 thin sliced of chicken. However, the soup was good ( hot and tasty). Banh My was average quality. And we paid 13 USD for Pho and 14 USD for Banh My. That was the double and triple price as compared to the Authentic Vietnamese restaurants in Westminster. In general, I do not recommend this place. It was not worth my waiting time and money at all.

Really incredible food. It's plant based but the shrimp is so realistic people allergic to shellfish thought they were getting hives

Au Lac is a restaurant where vegetables play a star role. Do not expect the ordinary - the cuisine is definitely gourmet. The food is plated elegantly with an artistic flare. I will be dreaming anout the yam shrimp (which of course were not shrimp) for a long time. The eggrolls were wonderful and the basil-garlic noodles with sausage divine. The raw curried rice with vegetables was a taste sensation. Although we will be in LA for only a short visit, we are already deciding what to try on our return.

Wonderful space and ambience. Comfortable. Good service. Good very tasty although wasn't always sure what was eating. Enjoyed and then at the end of the Neal went into the back room and saw wonderful cabaret called uncabaret. Music and comedy.

Au Lac is by far the best Vietnamese restaurant, whether you are vegan or not. They have creative dishes. Their presentation and flavor is superb. I asked our waiter what his favorite dish was. He suggested an "Octopus" dish that was made with 'shitake mushrooms battered with tapioca flour with a sweet and savory tamari-sesame glaze, topped with jalapeño, bell pepper and chives, served over black rice and cucumber.' It came at the perfect temperature. It was decadent. I crave it and have gone back for more on other visits. I went with a two friends for lunch the first time. One ordered pho and the other ordered a delicious noodle dish. We came back later that night for desert, since we left with no room for dessert at lunch. We were glad to go back that same night. Their deserts were just as decadent and satisfying. The space is large, elegant, in a clean modern design. The atmosphere is open and the service is great. The wait staff is very friendly. Can't wait to go back for more. I'll take my husband next time.

We ordered the friend fries (yucca fries) as an appetizer and the curried rice and Banh Mi as our main plates. The yucca fries were delicious and set the standard high for the rest of the meal. Unfortunately our plates didn’t make the cut. The meals were missing an extra kick, spice and any type of flavor. I am not sure why this place has a high rating. It doesn’t deserve it.

Even though Im not vegan myself my friend urged to come to this place and it was really worth it! Great food, good service, ok prices and I didnt really mind it being vegan or not, because it was just delicious!

We have been recommended this vegan place. We have been told that it is the No 1 vegan restaurant in Town. For us the crowd is right. Fantastic meals, ethically and nice presented. Lovely even for meat eaters. Check it out sometimes.

Returned after 2 1/2 years. It's a crazy great as it was before. My mate and I thought the "Octopus" was the most amazing find (though the "Ti-raw-misu" was a fabulous low-fat desert creation). The Octopus, of course, had no such thing in it--it was a rice, spice, and shitake mushroom creation with a hard lobster-sauce-like glaze that made the dish have the chewy octopus texture. Wait staff was delightfully helpful. Negative is that it is NOISY (Saturday night 7:30-8:30).

I can't rate this highly enough. All vegan. All delicious. You leave here feeling great. Decent-sized portions. The 'shrimp' is amazing--better than real shrimp for sure, but strangely identical in taste; it's mind-boggling. 'Octopus' is also amazing.

Accidentally stumbled upon this restaurant after visiting Walt Disney Concert Hall. Friendly staff and great location. This is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant with Vietnamese influence. We had the crispy fried “shrimps” aka yam as appetizers. It was very tasty but the batter was slightly thicker than I liked. I ordered a “catfish” pot with the eggplant as the “catfish”, tofu and broccoli. Flavorful and went well with rice. My husband had the “octopus” aka shiitake mushrooms fried. It was glazed with a spicy sweet sauce and fried. Interesting but tasty. Ordered the tirawmisu with nuts for dessert. Service was impeccable. I went during lunch and I didn’t have to wait long to be seated. Coffee was served with almond milk. A great place for vegan and veterinarians. Weekend nights are super busy. Reservations recommended.

What a find! We were going to a jazz performance in a venue that we had no idea was inside this restaurant. It was great!!!!!!!!!!!!! We didn't realize that the menu would be vegan that night but we were able to find some dishes that we liked. We are definitely planning to go back again.

Returned after a good experience earlier this year before concert at Disney Hall. Nothing particularly memorable but fresh and fairly tasty. This time we ordered the egg rolls which were good, as was the taco salad. The Cali roll was an arbitrary mix of vegetables and coconut and the Sweet and Spicy Tempeh was an inedible mass of tough cubes of tempeh and over-cooked vegetables swimming in a cloyingly sweet sauce. Wait for food was 40 minutes, so no time for reorder to make concert. Will not return. Think we're spoiled by Real Food Daily, which unfortunately closed in Santa Monica.

Many people are very skeptical of vegan food. Hopefully, this restaurant will put all fears to rest. This is a trendy Vietnamese vegan restaurant with outstanding food. I can't see how anyone who enjoys Asian food could not enjoy the wonderful dishes. My wife and I started out with the egg rolls, wrapped in lettuce and mint with a wonderful dipping sauce. Some of the best I've had in any restaurant. I ordered curried rice and my wife ordered the garlic basil noodles. Both dishes were presented beautifully and tasted wonderful. And both were very filling. We were in L.A. to go to a play at the Ahmanson Theater, and this restaurant is walking distance, just a block away, and right across the street from Disney Hall. We will be back next time we're in L.A.

We chose Au Lac because it was the only place to eat a real meal near the Walt Disney Concert Hall without breaking the bank. And it turned out to be excellent. Our server helped us understand the menu; that is, that "raw" means cold or room temp. Cool evening and we wanted hot; and we got excellent noodle soup with faux shrimp and incredibly fresh bean sprouts and bok choy. The egg rolls were also outstanding, especially wrapped in lettuce and mint, as advised by a waiter. My garlic & basil dish had very persuasive faux sausage and lots of garlic cloves. However, the noodles were very soft. The organic Malbec was excellent, really first rate for any restaurant. We also had the special appetizer, fried shitake mushrooms impersonating octopus. Completely delicious, and, like most of the dishes, very spicy. We were quite full and definitely warmed up by the time we finished. Au Lac is not cheap, but compared to the other options, it's a great deal, and (mostly) healthy. Comfortable seating and excellent, friendly and knowledgable service, too. I wish they'd had more dishes with vegetables without noodles or rice. My only complaint was way too many carbs on this menu. Kind of surprising they don't have more just real veggie dishes that are cooked to a hot temperature.

I went to Au Lac the other night to get take out. Honestly I was going to leave a 2 star review until I got home and actually ate the food. I got the coconut curry rice and it was amazing. I also got one of their drinks, which tasted great but was a little too chalky for me. The reason for initially wanting to leave 2 stars was that the kitchen here is incredibly slow. My group had three people, and we ordered an appropriate amount of food for that size group. Nearly an hour later we were still waiting. There were maybe ten tables, most of which already had their food when we arrived. I have no idea what was going on in the kitchen, but it was an absurd amount of time to wait for the food we ordered. That being said, the food was so good I would actually go back here again. Although next time I'll call in my order and leave plenty of time before I go to pick it up. I don't think I would eat in, since I can't survive another wait that long when I'm hungry. On the bright side, the hostess was really nice, brought us water while we waited, let us sit at a table. I just can't get over the speed of the kitchen.

My wife and I celebrated my birthday with a pre-concert dinner at 5 PM. It was the second visit to the restaurant. We had an equally (if not better) satisfying dining experience this time. The server was pleasant, knew the ingredients of every dish and was consultative enough to suggest dishes and / or substitutions. Ambience: Friendly, clean and attentive. Music volume was a bit too high. Selection of music I would question given the proximity of the restaurant to this highly sophisticated center of LA Classical Music. Food: CREATIVE PLANT BASED

I visited Bar Fedora which is located in the rear of the restaurant. PL Brown was performing to a packed house. With the fine help of the waitress I ordered Da Bowl, Yucca Fries and glass of wine. After the music began my drink and music arrived. The taste of Da Bowl which was a salad was so enjoyable I truly want to return to this location. I live in Pasadena which was within a fifteen minute drive to the restaurant. Oh the Yucca fries hit the spot. And the music and song selection was superb. I plan on driving over to the restaurant with in the week.

The Curried Rice (Living Food) was excellent. "Living Food" here means the food is raw or not cooked above a certain temperature. The Sweet & Spicy Tempeh was very spicy. I can usually handle medium, and I was done after one bite. My friends powered through sweating. We agreed we would each come back again. Atmosphere was quiet, sit-down with oldies music playing softly in the background.

This place had fantastic vegan dishes. Very unique, creative and the taste was out of this world. The rice dish was made uncooked and stayed soaked for 3 days. You couldn't even tell. We also had a vegan sushi dish and a spicy noodle dish. Don't recall all the dish names but almost everything would be great there. Must visit.

Shrimp and steak at a vegan restaurant? It looks like shrimp, it tastes like shrimp, but it is not shrimp. It is a cocktail of yams and spices that looks and feels like grilled shrimp. This is a step beyond food, it is entertainment of the mind of the culinary type. Visit, eat, and enjoy.

This is one of the best restaurants in Los Angeles! Vegan, healthy, organic. The flavor of food is so much better when it's natural, gluten free full and pure. Get the octopus, the curried rice, the exorbitant teas which are TOTALLY WORTH IT and healthier than the average smoothie. The service is kind, efficient and knowledgeable of the menus wide array of vegan cuisine. I have never enjoyed a meal more.

A great vegan restaurant - 2 of my family are fussy eaters and we all enjoyed it. I wish there was an ‘au lac’ in Australia!

Tostada. Octopus. Pork chop. Orgasm of the palate. Divinely inspired chef Ito took a vow of silence 15 years ago. I was inspired by his culinary creations 5 years ago and then travelled the word over and found nothing to compare to these delights.

AuLac has wonderful, fresh food with something for everyone. The environment is bright and pleasant with great, friendly, helpful service.

I couldn't find the restaurant I was looking for, so "settled" on this one. WOW! Never been to a veggie restaurant before, and didn't really know what to order. It was terrific. Full of flavors. The beautiful woman who waited on me was very kind, patient and helpful. Stumble on it by "accident". You won't be disappointed.

Found this place on Happy Cow.com when in DTLA for work. Needed a late night dinner and this Au Lac is open until 11 PM. I've eaten at vegan restaurants all over the world but never encountered anything like the salt and pepper shrimp... I have no idea how they've managed to recreate the texture of a shrimp that way. Really interesting. The basil noodle dish with apple/sage "sausage" was great too but the noodles were ever so slightly over cooked. I'd revisit for sure. Also, great place for a romantic dinner or for business since it feels upscale and fine dining without being super expensive.

Our server didn't get us water for half an hour, talked too much about how he was a genie and would 'poof!' reappear - when he never did. Was supposed to bring plates for our shared meal...and after 10 minutes we just ate across the table and spilled the soups all over the table making a mess. Clearing the table was a churned up mess inferno of us. Took ages for our cheque when we eventually started to feel quite sick and wanted to leave, then had to cancel the uber as he was so slow bringing the bill...THEN the server chased us down the street because he wanted a bigger tip for the shockingly appalling service.

I went here because my colleagues who are vegan wanted to go there. Overall I enjoyed the food. I had Pho and the (small) "octopus". I like the latter much more. The food was a bit pricy, but given the location and the uniqueness of the menu, this is acceptable. One thing I don't like about this place is that they usually don't want you to split the bill (unless you want to divide the whole cost equally).

Absolutely delicious creative vegan food. I never thought vegan food could taste so good. Vegan octopus, Vegan shrimp, Vegan fish dish made and created with mushroom and other creative ways to make it look like it an d taste like it. The service the second time around was not so great but the food standard was the same For example to create cheese flavour they use macademia nuts puree them and add flavour through herbs and spices

This is one of the best restaurants I have ever been to. And it is vegan, organic and mostly gluten free. The presentation is gorgeous, and each dish is amazing. I am particularly partial to the yam based prawns and the "octopus" -- this restaurant has given me a new reason to come to DTLA!

The atmosphere is great with classy, minimalist decor, and the hostess and wait staff were attentive. But the food is bland and expensive. The salads were ordinary, and the fake shrimp was rubbery. The desserts were the the worst: absolutely lacking in flavor. At this price, I expected more.

I don't even know where to begin. The salads are extremely plain and grossly overpriced. The tempeh was like eating wood chips and rocks. Don't get me started on the service..... The servers had no idea about any wines nor seemed like they had tasted any of the food or were familiar with the dishes. Everything was way over spiced with red pepper flakes and ground black pepper. Everything is served at room temperature because the food is "raw". The hot soup they did have was very salty. The service was absolutely so slow and finally when we asked them to clear our dishes a waiter brought out a huge plastic dirty bin from the kitchen and dumped all the dishes in the bin at our table. The ambience is very pretty, and they try to give off a vibe of being very posh and special but there are 1 million other places to eat where the food is decent, the service is good, and it's not so expensive.

Wonderful place for dinner. Nice decor, great service, diverse vegan menu options. Cocktails, appetizers, main courses and dessert were all great. I would definitely return.

I’m a meat eater but my girlfriend is a veggie. She wanted to find a good vegan restaurant in LA during our visit and we came across Au Lac online. And we have to say we were very happy with our choice! Our waiter Phillipe went above and beyond to cater to our needs. Not only was the food sensational, (the shrimps fooled me) but the service was amazing. Would definitely recommend

I was amazed at the dishes here. I went twice during my 4 days stay in LA. Next time I want to visit Bikram Yoga next door.

My wife and I were lucky enough to be in this restaurant for their grand opening last night. We knew it would be great - we are already huge fans of the first location in Fountain Valley - but Chef Ito and crew have taken this place to another level. Immediately behind Disney Hall, this is definitely the place to go before or after any concert. Speaking of concerts, Au Lac DTLA also has a super nice intimate night club behind the main restaurant. Last night the best band in L.A., Purple Mountains Majesties, performed for the grand opening. What a treat! Fresh healthy music and fresh healthy cuisine under one roof - how often does THAT happen? Even if you are not a vegetarian you will love this food. This is not your normal tofu-and-wheatgrass unsatisfying vegetarian cuisine. Ito refers to his style as 'humanese cuisine'. A perfect description. Extremely inventive, highly tasty, filling, and good for you 100%. Can't beat that with a carrot stick.

We went to Au Lac toward the end of our evening out and were pleasantly surprised by the excellent food and service. Vegan food has never tasted so good. The atmosphere was wonderful, too.

Wow! Eating VEGAN deliciousness at AU LAC PLANT-BASED FOOD AND DRINK in Downtown LA lastnight. After an afternoon/evening of being in the “Live” studio audience of “So You Think You Can Dance”, we worked up quite the appetite with all that clapping and cheering. From the Gold and Green Veg/Fruit Juices, to the “Octopus” (truly “to Live for” - We BOTH HIGHLY recommend!!) Spicy Rice Noodles, and Salad w/Lime Leaf Dressing, nothing better to top it off with but a Vegan Baklava! And Tera had an up-close-and-personal moment with CHEF ITO himself. OH! And our waiter, Michael! He was so personable and generous! What a glorious vortex of a day manifested! We felt Esther Hicks Abraham “vibe” of being live in San Diego, all the way up to Los Angeles and back! CHEERS!

We were going to the LA Opera and wanted a nice dinner before the show. And nice it was. I read a lot of reviews about food there before we went to save time and it worked. We had yam shrimp, anise broth with mint and rice noodles and basil garlic noodles. The food was delicious although the shrimp weren't my favorite, I had higher expectations for it after a few raving reviews I read. It wasn't full of flavor and it was tough to chew. We loved our pilsner draft beer served just at the right temp. Unfortunately, the service was not great. We were seated in a back booth while the restaurant was maybe a quarter filled, yet the waitress wouldn't show up for ever. The main dish selection arrived while we barely started our appetizer and got cold before we could eat them. The dishes didn't get cleared of the table at all. I had to get up and ask them to clean. Also, while the rest of the restaurant enjoyed a perfect air temp, we were overheating in the back. I also had to ask for them to turn the air but nothing changed. Hope this was just an odd day for the service to be that bad and will give the restaurant another try because of the wonderful vegan selection.

I really Enjoy my dinner at Au Lac, Downtown Los Angeles in a small strip mall behind Disney Concert hall All Vegetarian or even Vegan as I do not really care if it Vegan or vegetarian but the foods was fantastic I had the Octopus tenderized shiitake mushrooms battered with tapioca flour with a sweet and savoury tamari-sesame glaze. served over black rice and cucumber & Curried Rice wild rice, spiced macadamia sauce, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, corn, avocado, cucumber, olives, onion, marinated mushroom, carrots, cilantro (Raw) + the best kumbutcha on tap ever, the Service was a bit snob but I did not care I was not there to make friends but to have great food and do they ever deliver on the taste I will be back.

Like everyone says it doesnt taste like plants and it was very tasty - we had excellent egg rolls, cilantro coconut avocado soup (my wife said it was excellent) and noodle with faux meat. The decor is ok, we had a nice booth - it feels slightly empty - maybe needs some plants to soften it. The only problem is its slow when you have a hard deadline (like i think most diners had ) for the opera last night. And the waitress had no idea - she said she wondered why everyone asked for their cheque at 7pm....We got in and out in an hour - but it wasnt relaxed eating which was a pity. Management wake up - you could ask people if they are going to Disney or the opera and expedite things - you need to do something. With some plants and faster service it would be 5 stars. Oh and there is a jazz club hidden away at the back for weekend jazz. We will try that when we dont have to throw our food down.

We took a large group of people to Au Lac as we had been there before and loved the food. Unfortunately, while the food is great, the service is terrible. The waitress took our orders but then forgot to place the orders for part of our group. Most of us got our food while about 5 of us watched the others eat. We had to struggle to get any service for drinks. After we complained about the terrible service, the 5 people without food finally got some and the manager gave us a couple of extras on the house which we felt didn't really make up for the truly dreadful service. When we came to paying the bill, they said they couldn't split it between more than two checks. We were very surprised but we arranged to have two people in our party pay. However, the restaurant charged us a 40% service charge for having a large group. This was totally unbelievable, particularly after the incredibly poor service we received. We won't be returning to Au Lac.

I am not a vegan, and my husband is a carnivore, but yes 5 stars for great food and beautiful decor. Kendall Brasserie was packed before the opera, and I was intrigued by the elegant chandelier and bar advertising 'cocktails and vegan' located in a strip mall near a Subway, kittycorner from the Dorothy Chandler so we headed in. We were impressed with the upscale bar area and opted for one of the indoor/outdoor tables facing the fountain and courtyard. Menus were already on the table, and our organic wine arrived within minutes of ordering. My sauvignon blanc was chilled and tasty. We took our time over the menu because the choices were all new to us, and the waitress checked back with us at reasonable intervals. I am not a raw foods fan unless it is a salad, so I opted for cooked foods and we picked winners.The salt and pepper shrimp is fabulous, and I can't wait to go back and have more. We swear the shrimp was real, not yams, but no matter what, they were delicious with a light tasty batter. I loved their rice noodles with basil, even though I don't normally care much for spaghetti or rice noodles. Their noodles had the right texture and complemented the light garlic sauce. My husband enjoyed his tempeh, and raved about the vanilla gelato. The shrimp kept calling us so on our next opera night 3 weeks later we ate here again and it was just as good as the first visit. Do not miss the yam shrimp.

This was the highlight of our trip to California. You have to make a reservation because this place is always crowded. We had the most delicious Vietnamese food in the city! We also had the rare opportunity to meet Chef Ito, who took a vow of silence more than 10 years ago. His concentration is amazing, also his talent to master vegan cooking like no one else in the world. He runs the restaurant and his kind ways and peaceful personality are worth the trip to LA. Order shrimp!

Vegan French Vietnamese? For the adventuresome vegan or vegetarian this place is not only a spectacular plant-based restaurant, but simply a spectacular restaurant. Our service was outstanding. Even my carnivore son was impressed and satisfied. Must stop in downtown LA.

Popped in after collecting my brother from Union Station. Near enough and easy parking in their lot, they validate the first hour, so remember to ask. Food was tasty BBQ pork rolls are a must, the Pho was delicious. The curried rice was nice but nothing to write home about. Drinks match the cost of starters! Over all a very good meal, it is very convenient DTLA location and the piano music was also good!

I have visited this wonderful vegetarian/vegan restaurant twice for dinner. Go in a group so you can try the items your friends order! Both times our group enjoyed the faux shrimp appetizer (its one of their signature appetizers so the staff will likely recommend it) made with vegetables and sweet potato. It has the consistency of shrimp but not the cholesterol! I also enjoyed the pho noodles as well as the curried rice which had very little rice in it, but a lot of veggies and nuts. Their kale salad was huge and the beverages are also interesting. A great experience for all.

As it is within walking distance from the Ahmanson, we came over here after a matinee show. It does appear to get busy later, so we made reservation. At 5:00 on Saturday it appeared to not be needed. Higher end Vietnamese food is the draw here. It is a little expensive, but the quality of the food is worth it. We started with the fried (fake) Shrimp as an appetizer and noticed that most tables did so as well. Very flavorful and the first time my Vegan wife has had this treat since shunning meat. Not a large enough dish for a meal, but a great starter. The (fake) octopus dish was our favorite. Battered Shiitake mushrooms in the shape of octopus with a sweet glaze over rice. The jalapeño and bell pepper gave it the kick we wanted. Their signature dish of curried rice is less spicy than we prefer. I am sure this is fine for most patrons.

Loved everything. Food, atmosphere and service were great. Would definitely recommend this restaurant for a date or business meeting.

Oh my stars... this place is delicious. If you like Asian-fusion, try it. If you're vegetarian, you gotta try it. If you're gluten-free, just try it already! We came here for dinner before going to the Ahmanson and were so delighted with this place. It is beautiful, upscale without being too stuffy. We were seated promptly by a friendly hostess, and our waitress came right over with some fresh mint water, menus, and great gluten-free suggestions. I loved the Mint Margarita - so fresh and crisp, and the mint added a burst of cool. The blood orange added a gorgeous sunset hue. Think margarita-mojito lovechild. The Cucumber Mule was also outstanding; it had a lovely fresca vibe, cool and crisp. This was a great balance of freshness, cool cucumber and booze without being over the top. I could sip these all day on the porch, in the sun... kinda of a grown-up ginger cucumber lemonade. We also tried the Avatar - it was yummy but a little too sweet for my taste. The cremini mushrooms were yummy, the pesto so fresh. I might have liked it better if the mushrooms were cooked or at least warm ... but hey, this is a raw dish. Healthy and flavorful. We also had the taco, which was delicious. But don't think of it like a taco. It does not have a Mexican, southwest, tex-mex, or taco flavor palette. It is an outstanding cabbage wrap (not a lettuce wrap as listed on the menu). The flax crackers are seasoned so well, and the shredded young coconut mimics the texture of cheese. It is an outstanding cabbage wrap. My favorite thing was the yam shrimp. The texture of the yam - tapioca morsels PERFECTLY mimic the texture of actual shrimp, but it's vegan! Oh my stars, I could eat this all day. It's battered in tapioca, ehich yields a light batter with a definite crunch ... it is also gluten-free. This could pass as shrimp -- your carnivore friends will not know the difference! For dessert we had the chocolate ecstasy and tirawmisu. Both were pretty good, but not as earth-shatteringly foodgasmic as that yam shrimp. The tirawmisu does not taste like tiramisu in my opinion. It was good, with a beautiful presentation, and it is sweet. But the whipped macadamia cheese was not a similar substitute for marscapone... not in flavor or texture. This item, like the "taco" needs a name change. Both were yummy, but the flavors and names don't match. We allocated 1 1⁄2 hours for our visit, but we could have easily stretched it to 2 hours enjoying the bites we tried. Less than 1 hour is too short for dinner here given the vibe, flavors, and fresh preparation. Location : this place is conveniently located at 1st and Hope, right across from the Disney Concert Hall and the Ahmanson theater, about 1 block from the Museum of Contemporary Art and Mark Taper Forum. It is just a 2 minute walk from Ahmanson (maybe 4 minutes if you have to wait for the light at 1st & Hope). Park in the music center parking, which is $9 flat rate, and you can dine at your leisure before the show.