Green Temple

Well. It’s been 9 days since I’ve lived here FT and I think that given that we started din by chin-​chining with Dragon Shots (herbal extracts, obs made with chemical free herbs) made to open our hearts to beauty, love, strength, and… immunity… rather than clinking with Basil or Bulleit indicates that I no longer remember I spent the 26 of the last 30 years living anywhere but SoCal.
Strolled in at 7p on a Friday, easily sat on their back patio — vibe very much «my wealthy aunt went through a Zen phase, tricked out her house with subtle mandalas and heat lamps, and has now reverted to embrace her WASP roots and we have decorated a resto with the spoils of her adventures» — in short, clearly I loved it — cozy without being cluttered — perfect backdrop for kvetching abt how we will both die intern year.
As is not atypical for a veg place, menu reads a bit disjointed — If you want to continue in the spirit of hippie-​eats (which, I guess is normal here… so I have to just say… if you live in CA and want to eat), start with organic hummy, a «hand-​torn» green salad, a temple bowl (a bunch of veg and non-​animal protein on a plate, smother with tofu sauce, put a bow on it), or… veg nachos… and entrees range from tofu steamers (veg mix, brown rice, tofu, veg) to veg burgers to avo melts, to enchiladas (veg, tempeh, pintos) and veg tacos… but I have to say, the Mexican may not bear any resemblance to much south of the border, dear Lord did that mound of guac do my body right.
Service friendly but absent. Flavors fresh, wholesome, in need of a bit of salt — but all sins absolved with use of Tapatio. Portions come in ½ and full — though I didn’t see a huge size different btwn myself and A’s plates, for a veggie place, price to portion ratio was better than expected — I was full for like 90min after eating rather than like no time at all.
Starters $ 7−10ish, entrees $ 9 – 13. Will obs be back to continue to conquer the menu one strand of organic spelt pasta at a time — though no booze, so I’ll have to find another watering hole to whet my whistle.

I love this place, first time to vegetarian restaurant.
Friendly people there. I had Spicy Tempeh and brown rice and collard green are tasty. Nice little garden setting in the back and cute little fountain. Also they have detox teas and juices which are great for your health, you need it once in a while. Definitely will come back again to check out the rest.

Best effing restaurant in all of the South Bay! I’m not even a vegetarian and I will choose this place every single time. The tofu sauce is addictive and I can never stop drinking the apple cider. My only complaint is that they’re closed on Mondays! I wish you’d be open ²⁴⁄₇ so I could get your amazing food at all hours.

Never had a bad meal here and always appreciate the atmosphere. It does get crowded for lunch and, relative to other places, seating is limited due to is popularity. I had the avocado melt. Everything tasted fresh and the portion size was perfect. Service is timely and attentive. The atmosphere in the courtyard is really what sells this place. I felt bad for looking at my phone as if it should be frowned upon in such a reflective setting. Redondo is a walkable town so any meter parking in the surrounding area will do.

Imaginative fusion dishes in a funky, cool atmosphere at this lovely vegan restaurant!
The service was friendly. Had an interesting hot herbal ginseng sake shot. Corn quesadillas, tofu curry, veggie burger. And a ridiculously good peanut butter chocolate cake.
Love it!

I’ve been here 5 times and always ordered the large Babamut with asparagus instead of corn. I wish I could give a 5 star rating but the lack of consistent portion size has bumped this review down to 3 stars. My first experience was amazing and there was no issues. However the last ¾ times, the «large» portion was so pathetic that I don’t even want to know what the junior size looks like. If I wanted broccoli and asparagus with a few pieces of noodles, that’s what I would order. They spread out the food on a large plate so it looks like a lot but when rearranged, you can see the rip off.

Omg… *chews* dude this food is freaking wonderful. Me and my gf got the babamut and white lasagna and it’s so good!
Brb I’m going to continue eating.
Okay back. *continues to chew*
I love protein and whenever I’m brought to a vegetarian place in always like («so I’m just going to be eating vegetables?. -.- how is that supposed to be good? «). But omg it is so good!!! I could eat here regularly for years and years *chews* brb
Okay back, sorry lol. YOU SHOULD COME HERE!!!##29#&%9x»?%£$&!!!

03/​03/​2016
First time here:
On the veggie menu:
Lasagna special
Walnut loaf veggies n mashed taters
Parking is limited in front of the restaurant but there is metered parking. Lasagna special was excellent but a little burnt on the bottom. Walnut loaf is their version of meat loaf. It’s still good. The walnut loaf side order was deelish and super light. It’s definitely a comeback spot.

I give this place 3.5−4 stars and I’m not a vegetarian. So no, you don’t have to be a vegetarian to enjoy this place! Was this the best food I’ve ever had? No, not really, but I think this is a great place to try if you are vegetarian or are in the mood for more healthier options.
I came here with a friend/​old-​coworker this past weekend (Saturday). She is a vegetarian and was visiting the area, so I suggested to come here after reading the highly rated Unilocal reviews.
PARKING: We found metered parking close to the restaurant pretty easily (free after 6pm).
AMBIENCE: After walking along the beach and watching the sunset (which is walking-​distance away), we got seated at a table outside. WARNING: This restaurant does not have much indoor seating (maybe 3 or 4 tables max?), but they do have heaters outside. I would recommend coming on a warmer day/​night. The ambience of this place is very … yoga-​ish? I don’t know how to describe… kind of hipsterish, reminds me of fortune tellers for some reason, hahaa. The ambience is kind of fitting for the food they serve.
FOOD: I ordered the Tofu Steamers (larger dish was $ 13) and my friend ordered the White Lasagna (also $ 13 I believe). The portions were decent and both of us ended up taking some of our leftovers to go. The tofu was interesting, but a little bland and maybe too healthy for my liking. It came with brown rice and lots of steamed veggies. My friend’s dish was a little tastier. It didn’t really taste or look like lasagna at all, but it was still yummy and interesting. She also ordered the Green Juice which came in a tall, narrow glass and tasted like apple juice (but with a little oomph). The BEST and most memorable part of the meal, however, was the strawberry pie slice the two of us shared. Mmmm. It was so unique and delicious. The pie filling was like this strawberry jelly thing which was so good with the nutty/​coconut crust. I would come back just for this!
SERVICE: Pretty good. Waiter came to check up on us a few times. No complaints here.
I probably won’t be back in a while, but this place was nice to try :)

Reserving this spot to share with my vegetarian friends, I ended up coming here on Valentine’s sharing with the Man.
We came in during lunch time. It wasn’t too busy, but most of the tables were filled. We tried our luck without reservations and was granted a nice table for two next to the fountain with koi fishes.
There was only one server taking orders, so we waited a good while before she came to us. But she is the sweetest, soft-​spoken gal, you just could not get fussy about the wait.
We ordered:
Green juice to share: Refreshing! Good strong hint of ginger, you know it’s a healthy drink.
Avocado Melt w/​cheddar cheese served with a side of garden mix vegetables topped with organic tofu sauce. The Man enjoyed it very much. The side of mix veg comes warm.
The 4 Temple Bowl: garden mix, Organic brown rice, baked tofu, and hummus, over their amazing tofu sauce.
I was surprised at how delicious this meal was. I can easily be a vegetarian if I knew how to make that tofu sauce. The boyfriend really loved the sauce as well. He started dipping his sandwich in my plate.
Lovely people working there. My body thanks you, Green Temple, for nourishing it!

Seriously doesn’t get better! Best vegetarian restaurant in the area, don’t know what I would do without them!

Came for lunch and was perfect to sit outside and enjoy the relaxing ambiance!
Ordered the nachos-​delicious! My boyfriend got the pita sandwich, he really enjoyed it. I ordered the 4 item bowl with brown rice, tempeh, guacamole & black beans topped with tofu sauce-​really delicious. I had ordered the large size bowl, but probably could’ve done with the junior size. Would definitely come back.

This is probably my favorite restaurant ever. The setting and décor is so beautiful with indoor (not that large) or outdoor seating near a fountain with fish. The service is so warm and attentive. The food of course, so nourishing and good. I have my favorites on the menu, like the bowls with the famous tofu sauce. It’s the whole package for me, the food + setting + the service that makes it 5 stars for me.

Awesome place! If you’re in the area, it’s a great lunch/​breakfast spot if you’re looking for a place that has many healthy options.
I would recommend the avocado melt (of course mine was vegan style), because it’s hearty, delicious, and doesn’t leave you feeling sloth-​like after your meal.
Definitely on the more pricey side, but that’s what you get when you have organic, local, ingredients on the menu.
Totally coming back! :)

I enjoyed this place! Nice atmosphere outdoors, we sat next to the heater so it was just right. The décor is very rustic and pleasant. I had the garden salad with olive oil and balsamic vinegar which they brought bottles of each for. Excellent service that was very friendly and relaxed. The Jamaican tea was sweetened with agave, light and refreshing. Vegan strawberry cheesecake with a nut crust of almonds, cashews, and macadamias. Not the typical cheesecake but different and tasted good. I would go back again!

What a great find! We’re rarely in So Cal but found ourselves looking for some flavorful vegan food this evening.
After consulting with Unilocal we chose Green Temple, a quick 29 minutes from our hotel in Torrance.
A super cute little place, we couldn’t quite tell how big it is because of all the little rooms. We were greeted by a very friendly hostess/​server and were seated right away.
After perusing the menu it wasn’t easy to make a decision– so many options!
We shared a dinner salad with shaved carrots and beets, then my husband chose the Golden Shepherd, while I had the Tofu Steamer. His was a Yukon gold potato base, topped with an assortment of fresh veggies and a delicious mushroom sauce. The tofu steamer had brown rice, steamed garden veggies, delicious baked tofu topped with a creamy tofu sauce. I could eat this every day!
We were very happy that we had the option of a «junior» size serving, the portions are very generous.
I’m very sorry that we live 7 hours away, I would be eating here on a regular basis.

After an energy healing session, I decided to go vegan/​vegetarian for a week or more. My first meal was at Green Temple. It was a good spot. I had the tofu steamer over vegetables and rice. The combination was just okay and quite pricey for what it was, but the sauce on top was delicious. I would come back to try something else.

Soooooo freaking amazing! I’ve been coming here for a good 5 years, ever since my father in law introduced me to it, crave it everyday! Love all the employees especially the owners are super sweet and so helpful, my favorite things are the tofu steamers! That tofu sauce is like crack to me! The salads are amazing, basically every single thing I’ve tried I loved! The desserts, omg even better than your normal overloaded with sugar diabetes induced, please of u ever go, leave room for dessert, thank god I live 5 mins to this place because I’m obsessed.

I love this place! If you want to calm down and relax just come here and eat anything. I’ve been a regular for about OVER 10 years and they know my face there. Only thing negative is that they raised their prices and took away some extras. For instance Sproutata salad used to be about 7 bucks and came with a side of veggie bean soup and home made bread but not anymore. Its much more pricy now and no sides.
My favorite is the walnut loaf with a side of broccoli, mashed potatoes in mushroom sauce. If you like to eat meat this is your dish. Also get the hibiscus ice tea with free refills, so good. For dessert I can’t get enough of the chocolate mousse pie with hazelnut cream. Anything there is just plain good even if you are not a vegetarian. And the décor is so peaceful and tranquil. Oh, did I mention right outside their door you have a great view of the ocean.

go here and get Shepards gold covered in the tofu sauce. I don’t know what’s in that heavenly sauce (besides tofu) but it’s glorious.
I get the same thing and my boyfriend typically gets the special every time we go. his favorite so far has been the polenta tamales (they were delicious)
remember — tofu sauce!
this place is adorable and every server is so nice. this place is a gem whether you’re vegan or vegetarian. my boyfriend isn’t and he loves it.

So amazing! Food, dessert and drinks are all killer! I highly reccomend them! A little pricey but worth the investment in wholesome food

So, you know when you stuff your face with a lot of crap for days on end and you feel the need to eat healthy so you opt to go to Veggie Grill or Native Foods to feel better about yourself? And you do feel good about yourself, because you went to a restaurant that’s specifically vegetarian, so it must be healthy, right? Well it’s not completely. It’s high in sodium. There’s a reason why you’re not craving real meat instead of that chick’n patty.
Green Temple is not one of these places. Green Temple legitimately serves tasty, healthy food. But it’s definitely not rich, and it won’t fill you up if you’re used to stuffing your face for each and every meal. I know that because I ordered the veggie quesadilla and lentil soup combo, and I felt full for a bit but got hungry after, but that’s because it’s the holiday season and I’ve been eating to max capacity for the past few days.
The veggie quesadilla was served with guacamole and a salsa that made it taste kind of like pupusas. The lentil soup was okay. I ordered a organic green lava juice which, despite being a blend of spirulina, chlorella, barley, oat grass, organic apple juice and water, was both sweet enough and mild enough to drink as I ate my meal.
I live pretty far from the restaurant so I wouldn’t trek all the way out just to eat there again, but if you find yourself in need of balancing some heavy eating with something healthier, Green Temple is your place.

Awesome little local spot. I’ve loved everything I’ve tried so far. So far I’ve been thru the blue plate, their white lasana, and a tofu curry, all totally worth eating again. If you’re in the mood for and easy light and healthy meal this is a good local spot.

Great atmosphere and I can in the middle of the day! I got the soup and it was so colorful. Love the tea. I got the special of the day and it’s perfect portion size. So hearty and amazing

Amazing service, good food, I love the tofu dressing. It’s one of my fav spots. I always get the same thing what’s it’s basically the 4 bowl, rice corn asparagus and broccoli

One of my favorite spots in the South Bay! My boyfriend and I come here all the time. We normally sit in the back by the cute little fountain. The entire place is adorned with lanterns and pillows.
The service is always so good. They’re very friendly and sweet.
I always get the green steamers. The tofu sauce is incredible! Here are some other must tries; white lasagna, savory bowl, avocado sandwich, shepherds gold, and the blue plate.
Enjoy!

I have to admit I wasn’t expecting much from this place. But I was very pleasantly surprised and ended up having a great meal there. Their corn quesadillas were amazing and their tofu sauce is seriously like crack. So good! They make great hearty soups too. I wasn’t the biggest fan of their homemade bread, which I thought was a tad dry, but that would be my only criticism here. Service was excellent and staff were the nicest I’ve met. Overall an amazing vegan restaurant and I would definitely go back!

Star for the super attentive and fast service.
Star tor the typical hippie, Buddhist temple and zen feeling of the place.
Star for the location. The breeze from the ocean of Redondo Beach was perfect.
The food lacked flavor. I can’t say «yum» each time I had a bite. I just swallowed probably. We had the CORNADILLA, WALNUT LOAF AND TOFU STEAMERS. All organic as claimed. The main ingredient of the tofu and the loaf was brown rice. Bland and forgettable brown rice.
The super citrus could have been served a little colder. Street parking.

I have a hard time judging American vegetarian because it’s one of few cuisines that feels intentional. American vegetarian often feels like the meat is obviously missing or removed, and it’s that perception of absence that tends to cloud my judgement.
Even the Jamaica Tea tasted a little bit diluted. The root flavor was new and refreshing, but it also tasted a bit watered-​down.
The Green Mix was easily one of the best veggie bowls I’ve ever had, and the tofu sauce was so unique — I’ve never had anything like it! Plus it was out-​of-​this-​world good. Unfortunately, I didn’t think a plate of steamed vegetables was quite worth seven dollars.
The Tostaditas were basically gigantic, glorified nachos that needed more salt. The vegetables remained infallibly fresh, but the combination was a bit bland.
I’m a bit torn about Green Temple. The food is impressively fresh, but I could have done it myself for less than half the price. I liked the food, but I’m not sure it was worth paying someone else to make.

My first visit to the Green Temple and first visit to a vegetarian restaurant. The space is really cool, located inside a courtyard, outside a bookstore that supports an organic lifestyle.
I started with the hummus appetizer, which comes with whole wheat pita, carrots, and celery, which was quite tasty. For the entrée, I had the enchiladas filled with vegetables which comes with a side of beans and brown rice. It wasn’t the tastiest enchiladas I’ve ever had but it was still quite good and it was good for me to recognize that I could, actually, eat a completely vegetarian meal.

Delisoiso todo estuvo extraudinario la comida estuvo delisiosa y me encanto la jamaica y los tamalitos muy rico el servisio al cliente estuvo de lo maximo se lo recomiendo tienen que venir y probar esta rica comida saludable.