Let me start out by saying how happy I am to have stumbled upon the lovely Araya's Place on a free 'self-care, me-day' type of afternoon!
I had just finished getting a facial and was looking for something healthy I could grab for lunch nearby, and decided to give Araya's Place a try since I noticed that it was a vegan spot!
Now, I'm not personally vegan, although I try to eat healthier and more plant-based, and have a lot of experience with vegan food, as several family members of mine are vegan!
So, let me just start out by describing the food as most DEFINITELY hitting the spot!
But let's back track a little bit first!
When I entered, it's a very small space but with plenty of tables and seating available.
The lady inside was very attentive and sweet and had me seated and my order taken in no time at all!
There was a great lunch special for around $12 that they have during the afternoon all week, and includes a spring roll, salad, rice, soup, and entree of your choice.
My soup was piping hot and out in no time at all after ordering!! It was soothing, light, and very delicious with a good amount of spice and chunks of mushroom and some other healthy protein inside it.
The rest of the lunch special was similarly tasty and out really quickly! It was beautifully and very aesthetically presented on the plate as well (check the photo for reference).
Perfect crunch to the spring roll, well cooked rice, and a light salad with some dressing on the side.
For my entree I had some green tofu curry that similarly to the soup had a good amount of heat without being overpowering and was deliciously creamy and soothing. The tofu on other bits of carrot and zucchini provided a great crunch and texture to the curry.
This is a bit of a hole-in-the-wall type of place that can be easy to overlook, situated right next to a Supercuts.
I'd advise you to not miss out on it though, whether you're vegan or not, and give it a try!
I had a great lunch here and I highly recommend!
A Mixed Experience at This Cozy Thai Spot
I recently tried out this Thai restaurant in Hollywood for a takeout order via DoorDash. The restaurant itself is quite small, but it has a charming atmosphere.
As someone who isn't strictly vegan but leans towards a more vegetable-focused diet, I was excited to explore their menu. We ordered a variety of dishes, including veggie cakes, papaya salad, Tom ka soup, and pumpkin curry.
Let's start with the highlights. The pumpkin curry was absolutely delightful – rich, flavorful, and a real winner. The Tom ka soup also impressed me with its deliciously balanced spiciness at level 4.
However, not everything hit the mark for me. The papaya salad left me a bit disappointed. The papaya lacked the thickness and flavor I expected, and it fell short of my expectations. As for the veggie cakes, they were decent but didn't quite stand out.
In summary, this Thai restaurant offers a cozy ambiance and some standout dishes, particularly the pumpkin curry and Tom ka soup. However, there is room for improvement in some of their other offerings like the papaya salad and veggie cakes. If you're a fan of Thai cuisine, it's worth giving them a try, but be selective with your choices.
Yummy vegan Thai food.
Attentive, nice staff.
Great selection of spicy side sauces if the people you're with want to share food, but don't tolerate the same heat level.
Only downsides: Curry and veggie main dishes don't come with rice, so you do have to pay for that separately. Small indoor area.
If you are looking for Vegan Thai cuisine near Beverly hills, or surrounding areas like Griffith Park etc.. you should definitely go for it. Although, please be aware that the complex in which the restaurant is situated has limited parking. But, you can park just couple of blocks away. I tired the ginger tea and spicy noodles. It was delicious and filling.
Best Thai Food Ever ( and I am a carnivore)! I had lunch here today with friends and the food , was all so delicious, I didn’t miss having animal proteins added to any of the dishes. I never knew that Thai Vegan food could taste so amazingly delicious. It’s my new favorite Thai restaurant!!!!!!
It was an incredible food experience and the service and atmosphere was amazing-
Thank you for opening my eyes and introducing me a healthier style of Thai food and living!
Zahava
We loved the Thai place here. We came for dinner
Pad Thai - awesome
Green curry - great
Papaya salad - great
Pad sew noodle - great
Tom yum soup - awesome
Immensely delicious food and really nice hospitality. The server was really kind and recommended some good options from their vast variety menu. Got the food quickly and it tasted great! I had fresh rolls appetizer and Spicy noodles.
Delicious Thai food with a large menu to choose from. I got the panang curry and drunken mushroom dishes and enjoyed both. The owner is very friendly and accommodating. They lean on the healthier side which I love. Their seitan is homemade gluten free with oats. I definitely recommend visiting.
First time here, I’m not vegan, and couldn’t tell the difference, the food was delicious, full of flavor. Easy parking, large menu, very clean, highly recommend. Even had Thai tea with almond milk, that was a first and it was still delicious.
Thai classic done in vegan style. When you what something that is like any of your favorite dishes without a lot of artificial plant protein substitutes the veggie forward elements of this menu are nice. The avocado curry is the crowd pleaser.
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