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Fresheast Serves Fresh Eats in West Hollywood
By Maya Meinert of ShopEatSleep/Special to LAist
Fresheast in West Hollywood is a newish fast-casual concept featuring a healthful pan-Asian menu. Located in a Pavilions shopping center - which means free parking, a rarity in WeHo - Fresheast offers dishes with Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai and Indian elements, but with a decidedly L.A. flair (quinoa, anyone?).
We were recently invited to sample Fresheast's dinner menu conceived by Executive Chef Jonathan Schwichtenberg. We appreciated the many options - you can choose from white or brown rice, baby greens or the fluffiest quinoa ever made to go with your proteins, which include the common chicken and beef to the less-common lamb, paneer cheese and tofu.
One of our favorites were the Spicy Garlic Noodles made with wheat noodles, seasonal vegetables, garlic, cilantro, sesame oil and chili garlic sauce topped with green onions. Another favorite was the Indian Vegetable Curry with tofu, seasonal vegetables, onion, tomato and red lentil dal. Both these dishes were flavorful without being overly spicy.
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From the meat dishes, our favorites were the Emperor's Lamb with California Pure lamb, onion, red bell pepper and green onion, and the Mongolian Chicken with Jidori chicken, green onion and ginger. These menu items were simple yet satisfying, especially the lamb, which had a nice mild flavor we appreciated since we're not the biggest lamb fans.
Some of the best parts of the meal came at the end with house-made Meyer lemon and mango sorbets. If Fresheast makes the fluffiest quinoa we've ever had, then it also makes the creamiest non-dairy frozen treats, which are produced in small made-to-order batches by infusing a ton of air into them. The Meyer lemon sorbet was a standout with its intriguing floral quality; it definitely left us wanting more. Not to be overlooked are the fresh-made juice combinations, especially the Fresheast Juice. Its mixture of orange, lemon, apple, cucumber, spinach, kale and red beets was delightfully refreshing - the juice alone is worth the trip here.
Also noteworthy is the restaurant's green philosophy. The plates and bowls are from VerTerra, disposable-yet-compostable dinnerware made from fallen leaves, and the space was constructed using recycled woods. All meats and seafood are sourced from certified natural purveyors, and produce is sourced locally and organic whenever possible. Fresheast will also reward you for being environmentally conscious. Ride a bike or drive a hybrid or electric car to the restaurant and get 10 percent off your meal. Same goes if you bring your own cups or containers. And on Monday nights, 10 percent of the restaurant’s proceeds are donated to Doctors Without Borders.
There's also a daily - that's right, daily - happy hour from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. that offers 50 percent off beer, wine and sake with the purchase of an entree. Fresheast’s private label cabernet sauvignon, produced by Eden Canyon Vineyards located just outside of Paso Robles, is a standout.
With nothing priced above $12.95, Fresheast offers well-priced meals with quality ingredients, a great option in an otherwise high-priced part of Los Angeles.
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