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An ancient cuisine is hoping to attract new fans in downtown Los Angeles: Shojin, an organic Japanese restaurant whose menu is inspired by Buddhist vegetarian principles, has opened in Little Tokyo. Traditional "shojin" cuisine is a plant-based, essentially vegan diet, which Buddhists adhere to as a form of spiritual discipline. So, of course, what better theme for a trendy new Downtown restaurant?
I kid, I kid: but the menu is bound to appeal to L.A.'s many many green beans. Instead of meat, entrees are loaded with tofu and seitan. Instead of real cheese, you can enjoy cashew cheese (one of our editor's favorites!). You've got your miso soups and your veggie sushi rolls, but there are some dishes that might even appeal to a more omnivorous crowd, like vegetable curry stew, kabocha pumpkin chowder, and a garden club sandwich (this one's got soy cheese!).
The restaurant, which had planned a January premiere, finally opened its doors in early March. Vegan Los Angeles-based blog To Live and Eat in L.A. is giving the place a rave review, while early reports over on Chowhound are more restrained: "the place is a bit expensive for what it is, but the food overall was decent. Even though I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, I enjoyed dessert the best here." Overall, though, it's good news for Downtowners who've got a hankering for fresh, organic, healthy food, heavily seasoned with spirituality.
Photo courtesy of the Shojin website.
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I like my restaurants when they serve things that used to have souls
OK, nice review.
OK, I'm always looking for new, and interesting places to take my vegan and and vegetarian friends.
However, none of us are wealthy, the on-line menu doesn't have prices listed. The reviews don't have prices or even price ranges.
I'd like to at least get an idea.
jrb, you're absolutely right. I felt the same way. I'm guessing it's probably akin to Real Food Daily, which is to say, it's probably delicious, but a financial rip off.
Um 27% of the LAist demographic makes over 100k per year. I don't get it.
Anyway back to slaving over a blog that is entirely a labor of love for me even though my efforts at being the best I can be are clearly not enough. Depressed now. Thanks.
ok now I hate all of you.
Fuck yes!!! I live close to downtown and the place is dearly lacking in vegan options.
I think I'll splurge tonight and try this place out. Thanks for the tip!
I'm heading down no matter what to try this out. Thanks Carrie!
Sounds like an interesting place, would like to check it out but sadly I'm not in the 27% (where do those numbers come from anyway?)
Partially joking, I can't imagine it's THAT expensive people! I will def. go here and report back in this space on the prices.
Don't be hate'n Carrie. It's a great review. But amongst us 'po folks knowing if your going to have to eat ramen noodles the rest of the week is important.
I don't know what prices they settled on as the prices on the menu I saw were from before their public opening. What I can tell you is that prices listed at that time were surprisingly low for the quality and quantity of food. I can't imagine that they raised them by that much more.
I ate here the other day. Most entrees are in the $10-16 range. If that is a "rip off" to you for a nice dinner, I don't know what to say. If you really need to get the most possible food for the least possible money, go to the Carl's Jr. salad bar.
The food at Shojin food is well-crafted and well-presented. What I ordered tasted pretty good. I don't remember what it was, though. My g/f ordered different stuff (a wrap of some kind I think?) and liked it quite a bit.
The only serious problem this place has is location. It's in this mostly vacant mall with some fairly shady characters lurking around. It would be hopping if it was in the plaza, but in the mall, it seems like it might die on the vine.