Araya's Place Los Angeles

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!

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.