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CLOSED: Bay Leaf
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9
Closed
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Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Chinese
Organic
Take-out
Asian
Dishes are prepared from fresh vegetables and some soy protein: sizzling tofu, mushroom crisps, lotus root delux, eggplant with garlic sauce; also organic tea, smoothies, vegan cakes, and more. Mostly vegan except some honey and dairy products used in the desserts and other menu. DEC 2013 REPORTED SHUT, phone and web not working.
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4768 SE Division St (at SE 47th St, Richmond District), Portland, Oregon, USA, 97206
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Last update on 20 Dec 2013 by Guest
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21 Reviews
First Review by ChristinaZ
cattyshedevil
Points +98
Vegan Chow Mein! no more Panda Express!! - Edit
Wow. AH-mayzing!! Slow service kinda but great food as always.
Read morePros: food, location , variety
Cons: slow service
Guest
mindymvegan
Points +85
Really great food - Edit
Great food and service. They were able to make my Thai tea with vegan milk & I had a great sweet and sour dish with tofu. yum.
Read morePros: Vegan Thai Tea, Great Service, Excellent Food
Cons: Street Parking
heathera75
Are you sure you are thinking of the right place?
Read moreThis place is more chinese food than Thai, also there is a pretty good size parking lot. Maybe you are mixed up with Vege Thai in Hawthorne?
Guest
justhefacts
Points +50
Some Light at The End of The Tunnel - Edit
I have eaten at Bay Leaf a few times and overall found the menu to be uninspiring and the service marginal at best. The dishes are hit and miss with some being deliscious and others resembling a mixture of oatmeal and baby food (peas). On my most recent visit with my youngest daughter I was pleasantly suprised with how efficient and courteous the staff was. Not only that, the food was brought out pipping hot and our dishes were promptly cleared. It is a bit creepy the way the man and woman (owners?) stand over by the "bar" area and give non-verbal cues via scowl and head rolls to the staff but if that is what it takes to get the service and food we had that night then so be it.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Sunday March 09, 2008
Pros: ample parking, good service, vegan
Cons: not organic, boring menu, no free tea
Guest
violentoceans
Points +20
Everything from Bay Leaf is excellent - Edit
I've eaten at Bay Leaf multiple times, always ordering different dishes, and everything is really excellent. The owners are very nice, and the atmosphere is quite pleasant. Bay Leaf never seems to be very busy when I go in (it's a little out of the way, so maybe that's why), but it's definitely one of the best vegan restaurants in Portland, and definitely the best serving Asian cuisine.
Read moreIf you have the time, you should definitely stop by.
Pros: Quality, Portion-size is very large, Nice ambience
Cons: Locations a bit out of the way
Guest
Took
Points +180
Lettuce Wraps are TO DIE FOR! :) - Edit
I tried the lettuce wraps and green curry. Everyone at the table agreed the lettuce wraps were unique, fresh and not one bit short on taste.
Read morePros: great food, healthy, good value
Guest
Tserisa
Points +70
Friendly Staff - Edit
The thing that stands out to me most about my visit to Bay Leaf was the wonderful, personal service. It was fairly empty at the time we visited, and the staff was very interactive, joking around and offering suggestions.
Read moreFirst we had appetizers of peanuts and edamame and tried not to make too much of a mess. We had tea and smoothies, all very good.
The food was excellent. I had the China Jade Fried Rice and it was fantastic. I had leftovers which were very good the next day! The people I went with all enjoyed their entrees as well, and we all shared. The flavors were complex and light.
We had absolutely decadent dessert.
I definitely can't wait to visit again. It's a bit far away for us, so I don't get out there as often as I do to many other restaurants in Portland, but I'm sure I'll make the trip soon!
Pros: Excellent Food, Great Service, Many Vegan Options
Guest
ingus
Points +36
Authentic Chinese Vegetarian Cuisine - Edit
I'm of Chinese descent and this restaurant serves authentic Chinese vegetarian food. They were yummy! Mu shiu vegetables were great. I couldn't get enough of the pickled mustard veggie and pine mushrooms. The mushroom crips were good too. For dessert, the avocado shake was awesome. Atmosphere was nice too. Great place to hang out with family and friends.
Read morePros: Excellent food, Nice music, Pleasing decoration
Guest
Petesternz
Points +1447
Very enjoyable - Edit
We had a lovely meal at Bay Leaf very recently. It may not have been the best Asian vegetarian we've ever had, but it certainly came close. The vegetable noodle dish was extremely good, and so was the eggplant with garlic. I liked the hot and sour soup very much, though I've had better. Overall, a worthwhile place to visit. Really warrants somewhere between four and five cows, but I'll err on the side of generosity on this occasion.
Read moreGuest
Lettuce Muncher
Points +393
Awesome Place! - Edit
How do more people not know about this place. We first went there on Valentine's Day, and didn't even require a reservation, although by the time we left the place filled up. Very clean, nice decor, simple. Off-street parking is a major bonus. I HIGHLY recommend the Sesame Tofu, a sweet and sour fried tofu with just the right amount of fried breading surrounded by perfectly steamed broccoli. I have been back since then and found the servers to be polite and friendly. I love this place! The only thing I didn't like were the dumplings, I was expecting more of a fluffy bread dumpling but it was more of a noodle and just like the ones I buy at the store in the frozen section.
Read morePros: Sesame Tofu, Affordable, Friendly
Cons: Dumplings
Guest
stokedonspokes
Points +81
mediocre pan-asian vegan food - Edit
Ate there tonite, and was utterly disappointed. Really near my soon to be new home so I was hoping for some good vegan food, but it was all just so blah. The seaweed salad was tiny and one that could be picked up at a nearby asian grocery for a fraction of the price. The entree I got had a really nasty aftertaste that didn't want to leave your mouth for a long time. The prices are pretty high for low quality food, I've been to vegan pan-asian all-you-can-eat buffets for a little more than half the price of an entree here that while they were mediocre in their own right, blew this out of the water. Avoid at all costs.
Read morePros: clean
Cons: bland food, over-priced, small portions for the money
Guest
alanflum
Points +31
Excellent Food, Wonderful Atmosphere, Great Value! - Edit
My wife and I both love Bay Leaf. The food is excellent and beautifully presented, the restaurant's atmosphere is clean, quiet, and pleasant. The service is great. You can tell that everything is prepared with great care. Lunch is a great value. For $5.95 you get a generous portion: soup, rice (choice of white or a mixture of brown and red rice), and your main course.
Read moreOur favorites are the spinach eggplant and the sesame tofu. Everything tastes fresh, with wonderful flavors. The hot and sour soup, the comes with the lunch special, is amazing! Probably the best hot and sour soup I ever had.
I am a vegan, but you don't have to be a vegan or vegetarian to appreciate the excellent food at Bay Leaf. We have brought many non-vegetarian friends and family and they all love the food
One of our favorites in Portland. I highly recommend it!
Pros: excellent food, friendly service and great atmosphere, good value
Guest
happyherbivore
Points +92
good but nothing special - Edit
I eat Thai fairly often so maybe I'm picky. My friends & I enjoyed our meals but it wasn't anything special. The presentation was lovely, they have A/C and the staff is nice.
Read morePros: affordable, parking, nice staff
kindlizard
quite a difference between Thai and Chinese, if that was your first time having Chinese food. It is not supposed to be Thai food, they are different. Your dissing them for not being Thai is not really pertinent. As far as Chinese food goes, it is fresh and light, a rarity in Chinese food, even veg Chinese, which often just deep fries frozen food into oblivion. Nor does it have a fishy taste, that over salty taste you get from Thai food when the fish sauce they say can be taken out of your vegan plate is left in and you drink water for hours after. Neither nor... you should review it for what it is and not what it isn't. Start by what it is you ate...
Read moreGuest
FullofBeans
Points +27
Long-time happy customer - Edit
This place is so awesome; the food is so delicious and fresh tasting. The ambiance is relaxing and beautiful. The service is extremely warm. I've tried many things on the menu and the only thing I wasn't crazy about was the green curry. The tea is served in these lovely little glass bubbles and the whole experience is elegant.
Read morePros: Delicious, Fresh, Over-all pleasant environment
Cons: They don't serve alcohol?
Guest
PDXVeganFamily
Points +156
Sad to Say Had To Change My Review - Edit
My family and I LOVED this place. It was hands down our favorite place in Portland. We have been vegan for many years and have discovered the Bay Leaf over a year ago. We would eat there at least weekly until this last experiance. From the moment we walked in the door the atmosphere felt different and customer service was not god as usual. My husband ordered one of those dishes that comes out served like a fajita (fire under the dish) and when the flame got out of control near our daughter and we ask they put it out the guy blew the flame out on the table in the direction of our daughter and to top that off blew black stuff into our food from the fire. When I tried to let the owner know I was unhappy at what just happened her attitude flipped a 180 and she acted like I was being rude to her. She ended up being extremly rude to my husband and sorry to say we will not go back. I understand people have bad days, but when you have a regular customer that has NEVER complained about anything before and then to bring up a safety and sanitary issue, I really was taken aback by her response. I am sorry that this happened and wish that she would have handled the situation better....Bay Leaf I will miss your hot and sour soup! :(
Read moreCons: Service, Service, Service
Guest
kindlizard
Points +1144
what a great place - Edit
Our first impression was a good one. There is off-street parking and nice little Japanese Maple Trees in front, possibly my favorite tree.
Read moreUpon entering, the place is very big, IMMACULATE, and updated. It looks as though it is either a new place or it was completely redone rather recently.
The menu is 100% vegan according to our server. We got steamed dumplings, I got Hot & Sour soup, and we shared the mu shu and sesame tofu dishes.
Though the dumplings were I think $6.50, they were all very good, and they seemed freshly made. What a refreshing change from normal West Coast Chinese. I would have ordered many more if they were a bit less money, though if they are making them fresh, with fresh ingredients, perhaps that's what they can do. No complaints.
The hot & sour soup was great. Not quite Philly Chinatown great, but I'd give the H&S a 4/5 happy cows alone. I love H&S soup and think it is importnat to try everywhere I go, although I have been so disappointed recently, all West Coast trips, I had almost NOT ordered it. I'm glad I did. It was very filling and tasted freshly made. My only point, though it could be a difference of philosophy, is I think they used white pepper, which I ma not a fan of, instead of black pepper, trad'lly what H&S is mostly seasoned with, though I know some people avoid black pepper not wanting to take in the black... I don't know if that's their case, but it needed some black pepper and maybe less white. Still very good, and it didn't overpower or ruin the soup at all, just took me a moment to readjust my taste buds.... I should mention that my partner loved her corn chowder. WE both got "cup" size, the small, and it was huge, possibly filling us for the rest of the meal.
The two entrees were great. Sesame tofu was sweet * sour, yet unlike most places, it was NOT too sweet, too fries or anything. It tasted freshly made, with a fresh sauce. The broccoli was a good accompaniment and it was very nice. Ample portion.
The mu shu was possibly the best I've had in memory. That was not greasy at all, it was certainly freshly made, and very certainly delicious. I really would love to have it all again, and again actually.
I have had no luck having good Chinese food in Oregon until I came here last night. This place rocks, does everything freshly. Everything is light, nothing heavy. They thank a few doctors for help w the menu. I would certainly suggest this place to all. Fresh, CLEAN, and yummy.
Pros: immaculate/ service/ parking, jasmine pearls!!!, clean, light, fresh food
Guest
bizarro
Points +28
Best meal ever! - Edit
I recently had the best meal of my life at Bay Leaf. This is not an exaggeration. The food was exquisite and the presentation was beautiful. You can tell the chefs are professionally trained and take pride in their work. We had the Mu Shoo Pancake, Tofu with Mango and Mushroom Crisps (as an appetizer). My husband is a very picky meat eater with little experience with Asian cuisine and honestly he doesn't usually like anything but fried rice. I am a long time vegan who loves Asian food. Every thing was perfect and the husband agrees. I could not believe how much he loved the food, it was miraculous. We also had dessert which was also perfect. Black Forest Cake and Chocolate Mint Cheesecake. The restaurant is very clean and comforting. The service is outstanding in every way possible. Even though we over ate we left feeling happy, healthy and very satisfied.
Read morePros: Excellent wholesome organic cuisine, Outstanding service, Exceptionally clean
Guest
groovyvegan
Points +299
Delicious, organic and vegan. :-) - Edit
I've been to Bayleaf several times, and every item I've eaten was quite good, except for the squash soup which was ridiculously bland and devoid of flavor. The two best dishes I've had there are the seaweed salad and the dong po tofu (stir-fried green pepper, basil, and fried tofu in black bean sauce). I had broccoli substituted for the green pepper in the dong po tofu. I've also enjoyed the mu shui vegetables. My partner enjoyed one of the specials, the red curry, but that was too spicy for my liking. The vegetable dumpling appetizer was good, but very doughy.
Read moreSome other things about Bay Leaf:
* Portion sizes are noticeably smaller than a typical Chinese restaurant, particularly lunch portions, yet prices are comparable to a typical Chinese restaurant. At first glance it appears the value is not as good as a typical Chinese restaurant, but the woman running the place told me the food is organic.
* All but one menu item is vegan.
* Service time was quicker than typical for a Chinese restaurant.
* They have their own parking lot.
* Wait staff is competent and not flakey.
Bottom line is that food and service are reliably good, and I look forward to eating there again.
Pros: All but one item vegan, Organic, Parking lot
Cons: Bland squash soup.
Guest
Eddie
Points +34
I like the atmosphere - Edit
It's calm, friendly and a great place to take a date. The wait staff is excellent, and the food is pretty good if somewhat bland and overpriced. There are some very interesting selections on the menue, and a lot of choices for a vegan. $5 for a cup of tea is a little over the top though. The atmosphere is very nice.
Read morePros: atmosphere, waitstaff, interesting selection
Cons: a little spendy, bland
Guest
baruchadam
Points +418
High end experience - Edit
An interesting menu, stunning creations, great atmosphere...a winner. Strongly recommended.
Read moreGuest
junkfoodvegan
Points +169
I love this place - Edit
Bayleaf is very vegan friendly and the staff is friendly and prompt. The asparagus soup, lo mein, and anything with tofu is great. Nice dining atmosphere and the food is well presented.
Read morePros: Great food, Great service
Cons: Not vegan
Guest
ChristinaZ
Points +32
I'd go back - Edit
Recommended by the guys at Food Fight! and I'd return. Prices are average, food is good but not amazing. I think the dish I chose looked better than everyone else's at the table come to think of it.
Read morePros: Nice staff, large portions, Fair price
Cons: Typical fare
Guest
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