I’m consistently amazed at the vegan culinary options available in Los Angeles, and despite not being a vegan, a meatless meal can be a refreshing and lighter alternative to animal sustenance.  I was lucky enough to happen upon the organic and vegan Japanese eatery Casa de Tree in my neighborhood, nestled unassumingly next to the post office on Motor Avenue in West Los Angeles.

This restaurant-bakery serves food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that is free of animal products, refined sugar, yeast, MSG or preservatives. Enter, and you’ll feel charmed by the inviting and cozy atmosphere as well as the friendly employees.

You can partake of the lunch buffet between 12 noon to 3PM, and help yourself to the always rotating menu of soups, salads, stir-fried dishes, dumplings, croquettes, pastas and curries at $7.99 per pound.  You can also order off the menu, which offers a variety of dishes, including the Katsu sandwich ($8.95), Pesto ala Genovese pasta ($11.99), vegetarian Caterpillar Roll ($9.85) or Loco Moco Rice Bowl ($9.25). If you can’t decide what to get, a Bento Lunch Box ($7.50) is offered, with 8 different daily deli dishes and brown rice.  Finish off your meal with an iced tea or coffee and a Cocoa Cupcake ($3.85) – it’s even gluten-free!

With food this approachable and delicious, we think Casa de Tree is a great choice for vegan food – I’m sure even your carnivorous friends would enjoy accompanying you for a yummy Mini Croquette ($4.50 for 5)!

Casa de Tree
3741 Motor Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90034
310-559-8183

Tags: Casa de Tree, gluten-free bakery, japanese vegan, Organic, organic bakery, Organic Restaurant, Vegan, vegan deli, vegan restaurant