Est. 1970. A vegan natural foods market & vegan restaurant. Has a 1960s-1970s kind of vibe. Serves breakfast, lunch, dinner and brunch. Has counter seating, indoor tables and a front shaded patio (total seating for 67). The market sells a wide variety of food including packaged, frozen & refrigerated, plus a small produce section. Also sells supplements, books, gifts and health & personal care products. Turned fully vegan November 2022 (after having been mostly vegan since 1970). CAFE HOURS: Mon-Sun 11 am to 9 pm (last seating 8:30 pm) and Sat & Sun brunch 9 am to 3 pm. Open Mon-Sun 9:00am-9:00pm. (Market hours.)
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21825 Sherman Way (at Topanga Canyon Blvd), Canoga Park, California, USA, 91303
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Last update on 15 Oct 2024 by metalcoast
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114 Reviews
First Review by eric
serrarose
Points +532
Heaven on Earth! - Edit
I love this restaurant and the joining food market.
Read moreSo many of my favourite food items are available for purchase in the store its hard to decide what to buy.
The small but busy adjoining restaurant has a extensive menu and we couldnt decide what to eat! I ended up going for the Nutburger Supreme and my boyf went with the Zorro Burrito that came with a soup of the day (lentil and vege). Both meals were massive and so tasty! Our waitress was very friendly and assumed we wanted vegan(which was wonderful to hear). Both meals could have been made non vegan (with cow cheese), so be sure to confirm vegan, however most everything is easily vegan - and many Gluten Free options!
If this restaurant and food market was completely vegan I'd give it 5 stars but I give it 4 because its not.
Updated from previous review on Sunday December 27, 2015
Pros: Wonderful selection in the food market, Extensive restaurant menu, Lots of parking
Cons: Offers dairy products
Guest
TracyTheVegan
Points +20
the best!! - Edit
Almost everything on the menu can be made vegan! The vegan chocolate mousse is to die for! There are so many items on the menu it is always hard to decide what to order. The store is amazing and they carry everything vegan you could ever want.
Read moreGuest
LeySauce
Points +31
This place is WONDERFUL. - Edit
Everything you could need or want is in their market and its worry free. my favorite are dairy-free ice creams, kombucha, crystals and organic clothing. The restaurant has great food and staff. The market has a wide range of organic drinks, snacks, and even a book shelf. i spend about an hour looking at cool stuff every time i visit.
Read moreGuest
MikariLuna
Points +78
great vegan options! - Edit
I love all the variety of vegan foods they have to offer. Everything is delicious! And good prices too. The portions are pretty big too :) gluten free options available. And very friendly staff.
Read moreGuest
LarisaValerievna
Points +35
coming back here all the time! - Edit
This place is so great! They have really good vegan/vegetarian dishes and the store has a lot of interesting foods. I can literary spend hours here looking at all the items they have.
Read moreGuest
superveggies
Points +33
Great restaurant, great food - Edit
Homestyle vegan and vegetarian food.
Read moreIt's delicious. Wednesday nights they have a guest chef. I recommend the vegan pot pie. Last time I was there they said they no longer served the dairy dressings.
Get the milkshakes, they are delicious.
Pros: Homestyle Food, Veganizable Milkshakes, Cute Grocery Store
Cons: Small space
Guest
heathera75
Points +343
Wish it was all vegan; Store is good though - Edit
I love the store here...but sadly the restaurant is not all that people make it out to be. I will say it has character. I had food here twice and both times I thought it was good! But not overwhelmingly delish. I was hoping to see many more vegan options since they make vegan cheese. But they do make many dressing with dairy milk products. Also they arent very organic...soo what can I say? It IS decent. And Vegan options. Store is cool.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Tuesday March 17, 2015
Pros: Store, Vegan options
Cons: not very organic, too much dairy for a company that big.
Guest
Veg4ever
Points +32
When in the LA area You have to Visit this Place! - Edit
Friendly employees, funky and fun grocery store, & a variety of vegetarian/vegan foods on their menu. I particularly like their sprout/tomato/avocado sandwich, their potato salad, and their vegan mac and cheese meal. They also make baked goods that are off the chain! I wish that I lived in LA just so I could frequent this place.
Read moreGuest
brandalock
Points +173
The Real Hippy Deal - Edit
This place is a cafe/restaurant located within a health grocery store. Follow Your Heart is responsible for products like Veganaise.
Read moreI have been here a few times and enjoyed myself every time. The food has always been good when I dined there and the service has been extremely friendly.
I am also a fan of the story of this restaurant/grocery store and how long they have survived. You can see the authentic story of this place the minute you sit down to eat.
Their soups are always delicious and I love, love, LOVE their sandwiches and their original burger.
The prices are comparable to most LA vegan restaurant/cafes. I usually spend $15 a meal there (but I also get their soups on the side).
There is free parking on the side and behind the building. You pay at the cashier on your way out.
For all you hipsters out there looking for a legit step back in vegan time, this is the place to go.
Pros: Authentic ambiance, Solid food, Service
Guest
Dalia23
Points +44
My favorite Vegan Restaurant - Edit
From the vibe to the food, FYH is one of my favorite places to eat--I can even go there to eat lunch alone without feeling awkward or lonely since the staff is so friendly! The 'Chicken' Pomodoro Panini is a favorite of mine; I've also tried the portobello panini as well as the vegan meatball sub and the tempeh tacos. All of them tasted great. If you want dessert -- which I highly suggest-- try the fruit torte or vegan 'cheese' cake.
Read morePros: Friendly Staff, Fun atmosphere
Guest
VeganMarr
Points +73
The FIRST veg store ever in LA & it has survived! - Edit
FYH goes back about 40 yrs...amazing! They pack soooo many cool choices in this small store. The restaurant has tons of vegan choices, including soups & desserts. Great people run & work at the store. They also carry cool gift items like unique wind chimes & crystals & scarfs etc. I wish I lived close to this store/restaurant, I'd shop there all the time.
Read morePros: all veg, lots of variety of items, great restaurant too
Cons: far from where I live!
Guest
Lily925
Points +129
not so yummy.............. - Edit
We've eaten there for years, atleast 20. Long before there was any other like this in the valley. Consistantly good. I want to try everything but it's hard to get away from the best vegan Reuban. It's delicious and huge. It's made with tofu cottage for vegans and the rye bread is homemade. They have always had those dumb carrot chips with the sandwitches but oh well. Most everything can be made vegan and the staff is happy to help.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday March 23, 2013.
After writing this review I had to go back and get a Reuban sandwich. It's changed. No longer grilled and yummy but dry toast and not so yummy. I contacted them right away to find out about it and never got an email back. Maybe just not a good manager. I'll go back but it's not the same and not for the better and not for my Reuban.
Pros: vegan food, good value
Cons: not all vegan, a little noisy
Guest
RhobertTachamet
Points +30
BEST VEGGIE EATERY!! - Edit
I have eaten here several times since I became a veggie in 1995. I am never disappointed. Their "RUBEN" sandwich is a pleaser as is their "burger". I am never disappointed with their food. You may have to wait a while before you get your food but you won't leave disappointed. IT is more of a fast food type of atmosphere but it is worth the visit. Another veggie eatery to put on your list if you live in or visit the Los Angeles area.
Read morePros: wonderful veggie burgers/sandwiches, Good selection on the menu, Easy to find
Cons: Very slow service, Can be crowded at times, Not enough tables/ space to eat
Guest
pgnlvr22b
Points +113
no thanks - Edit
eaten here twice and all I can say is overpriced, no flavor, lots of fluff. Don't waste your time eating at the restaurant or shopping here for that matter. The items that they make themselves are actually cheaper at whole foods and that is just sad
Read moreCons: Expensive, Flavorless, Not Vegan
Guest
·X·
Points +22351
Follow Your Heart - Edit
This is a cozy little restaurant and store, I decided to check out both aspects of it.
Read moreRestaurant: The food was good, I went with the vegan pesto pasta and also got the tofu cottage cheese on the side. I would probably pass on the cottage cheese next time, but would definitely get the pasta again. The bread served with it was also really good. My bf got nachos which were not vegan, he seemed to have like them.
Store: Given that this is home of Vegenaise, they had a lot of items made with it (hooray). I purchased a side of potato salad and fell in love with it, it was so good. It even had vegan bacon bits in it, highly recommended.
Overall, I really liked this place and would definitely return.
Guest
StacyOwens
Points +273
Yum! - Edit
One of a kind market, recipes and more.
Read morePros: Parking, Outside seating
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Always feels great to be here - Edit
I had read about this place on happycow and have eaten here several times over the years. Here's my Follow Your Heart Restaurant review.
Read moreFollow Your Heart market & restaurant has been operating for so many years in Canoga Park. It's considered by many in the vegetarian community as a landmark.
The market is in the front, and the restaurant in the back. There is also a covered patio area in the front for seating.
My husband and I have tried and enjoyed a good majority of the menu offerings. The Mexican style dishes are always good. The sandwiches are all right. The full size salads are huge. The baked goods and cakes are excellent. They are famous for their soups.
For our meal time on the last trip, we shared a pizza which features their own brand of vegan cheese. It was nice and hot with lots of melted cheese over assorted veggies. The crust is just a bit thick and crunchy on the edges. We also shared the tempeh tacos which came with black beans and rice on the side, plus salsa, guacamole, and vegan sour cream (dairy also available).
The menu marks which options are vegan and which are gluten-free. It's very vegan friendly as Follow Your Heart makes their own brand of vegan stuff (veganaise, vegan cheese, vegan sour cream, salad dressings...). For dessert, we grabbed a couple yummy vegan muffins and a small tub of raw ice cream from a freezer in the store.
The store is well stocked with all kinds of food, snacks, and health products. Also some children's toys, clothing, crystals and jewelry. Very relaxed vibe.
The only suggestion for improvement I have would be for them to freshen up the main dining area a bit with better lighting and perhaps a remodel. It gets a bit smoky in there from the kitchen. But Follow Your Heart is charming and wonderful in it ways.
Pros: positive vibes, country market feel, been here forever
Guest
Fritz
Points +66
Still Very Good - Edit
We were delighted to have lunch at Follow Your Heart again for the first time in 31 or 32 years! Not all that much has changed since then, and the food was still very good. My partner and I both had the Reuben sandwich, and he also had fries with his. The sandwiches were very large, tasty, and satisfying, but would have been even better had the rye bread been grilled in butter or margarine instead of just being toasted. I enjoyed the carrot chips that accompanied my sandwich and my partner really liked his baked fries. The garlic dill pickles were great!
Read moreOur server was pleasant and efficient, and didn't mind bringing a salt shaker to the table at my partner's request. I thought about requesting sweetener for my iced tea, but decided to skip it, and fortunately the tea was still quite good anyway. The server did ask if we would like mustard and ketchup, which we appreciated.
We were both very impressed with the cleanliness of the restroom, and of the entire restaurant and market. All of the employees we encountered were polite and helpful.
It would have been nice to have had a little more privacy, as the tables are fairly close together and, by the time we left, there were people seated on both sides of us. But, since no one was rude, we still enjoyed the atmosphere overall.
Pros: tasty, satisfying food, large portions, very clean restroom
Cons: no salt, pepper, or sweetener on table, not much privacy, tables close together, sandwich bread not grilled in margarine
Guest
SharonaLA
Points +41
Great mock meats and pizza - Edit
Delicious meal, big portions, daily specials are great. A nice, ethical company to support.
Read moreGuest
SonjaCPA
Points +5270
one stop lunch and shopping - Edit
We hadn't been to FYH in years, but decided to make the drive today for a late lunch since we wanted to shop there as well afterwards. It seems nothing has changed though. The cafe area looks just the same. It was still quite busy, so we had to wait a bit, but we got a table inside.
Read moreWe ordered the reuben sandwich and the omelette (with mushrooms, spinach, and avocado). The reuben was huge and quite tasty. I liked the rye caraway bread they used. The omelette was good too and a nice change from just a scramble. However, we both ordered non-dairy shakes (a chocolate mint and a coffee), but they forgot them. We had to ask about them 2 or 3 times before we finally got them and by then, we were almost done eating. They were quite good though and they brought them out in the metal mixer, so we got 2 glasses out of each one.
As for the store, it's small, but it has a lot of great stuff, so I really had to look at the shelves carefully to make sure I didn't miss some great find! :-) They had a lot of variety for some items that can't be found elsewhere. You pay for both the cafe and the store up front.
Overall, I wish FYH was all vegan and since they make so many of their own vegan products, it would seem like a logical choice, but alas, no, so they don't get five cows from me although it was really nice to shop at a store that didn't sell meat.
Pros: very vegan friendly cafe and store, has own brand of products, easy parking
Cons: sells dairy and eggs, forgot shake order
Guest
Colinski
Points +110
Very good Vegetarian diner and health food store - Edit
Great restaurant, and particularly vegan-friendly for being a lacto-veg place. Then again, these are the people who gave us Vegenaise, so why should we be surprised? I think the food is a little pricey for what it is, but it is very good so perhaps I'm being overly critical. The nutburger is delicious, and perhaps the best use of FYH vegan cheese in the world, but for the best value go for Lorenzo's breakfast sandwich - their version of an egg mcmuffin which is mysteriously listed as a starter, and yet comes with fries (unlike the burgers) and easily makes a complete meal.
Read morePros: Tasty, Vegan-friendly
Cons: Often crowded, Overpriced
Guest
samanthamuffin
Points +139
Vegan Paradise - Edit
FYH was a dream come true. I visited my sister in LA and managed to go there twice, although I could have gone there every day and been perfectly happy. On our first visit, I got the reuben. It was delicious! The sandwich was huge and came with a side of carrot chips. Usually, I'm like "Cut the crap! No one wants carrot chips!" but they were really crisp and perfectly complimented the sandwich. The waiter was really funny and attentive. We sat out on the patio both times.
Read moreThe second time I ordered the Grilled Chicken Sandwich. What can I say...I like sandwiches! It was very similar to the reuben, but I would say the reuben was better. Still came with carrot chips. Still huge. Still delicious.
If I lived closer I would go all the time. The food was sooooo good!!!!
Pros: Parking, Yummy!, Big portions
Guest
dancingvegan
Points +854
Follow your HEART to "Follow Your Heart"!!! :) - Edit
OMG!! Love it!!! Two thumbs (and eight fingers) up!!!
Read moreYou walk into the door and it's like walking into the 60s!! Cool hip hippies working there. All kinds of spiritual stuff in the store by the produce section. The only thing missing is the black light!! LOL!!!
The restaurant has indoor and outdoor seating. In the summertime, they have a mister that sprays water and makes it more comfortable. It does get to be in the 100s there!!
The Vegan Reuben has got to be one of the BEST meals I have ever had. Seriously. I just savor every bite, anticipating the next until voila... the whole thing is in my tummy!!! (Sometimes I will take the other half home for another meal.)
I follow MY heart to "Follow Your Heart" as often as I can and I suggest you do the same!!
hugs to all!!
dancing vegan
Pros: great food!! , cool atmosphere, hip staff
Guest
Star and Max
Points +22
Without Follow Your Heart, - Edit
There would be no Tofu A Go-Go!
Read moreI went to brunch at Follow Your Heart every Sunday for YEARS!I would have gone for lunch every day if it had not been so far from my job.The brunch was great, even back in the 80's they had non dairy soups and sandwiches.I was eating Macrobiotic for many years, and Brunch was party day.The staff was great, the food wonderful and believe it or not, the store had the organic rice and organic produce I couldn't find any place nearer to my home. I moved to the Cape in '93 and I am still talking about Follow Your Heart. Donna was our favorite server. She was there for years! Somebody tell her hello from Star. Thank you Follow Your Heart for setting such a good example for me. It's been 3 years since my last visit but I'll be there the next time I am out west. Readers, if they still make the Tofu Ranchero, order it!
Pros: Vegan , Brunch, Store
Cons: 3000+ miles away
Guest
The Veggie Cook
Points +1201
Good Vibes - Edit
Follow Your Heart oozes good vibes everytime I visit. The store is well-stocked with a wide range of vegetarian and vegan food, and it offers a good selection natural supplements and remedies.
Read moreThe restaurant is a causal and cozy with bar seating, table seating, and patio seating. My friend and I came here yesterday for lunch and enjoyed our meal.
The vegan muffins at $1.75 each, were very moist and super good (we got chocolate chip, blueberry, and coconut). For our meal, we shared a vegan pizza, and a plate of tacos with dairy on the side that came with a choice of soup (we got the split pea). Everything was good, except for the soft taco tortillas - they tore easily and could not hold the marinated tofu taco filling - it got messy but tasty.
This is a long time favorite spot for many people, and I can certainly see why. A good choice when in the area.
Pros: varied menu, vegan and vegetarian, relaxed space
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2369
Great Reuben - Edit
Not bad for solo dining, there's a bar where you can sit. I like how they give carrot chips instead of potato chips! You order and then pay at the GROCERY register. They ask you at the register if you want to add a tip (which is probably why the servers are pretty lax! but still good)
Read morePros: can shop after eating, reuben, carrots!
Guest
beitme
Points +149
good food, great people - Edit
this place has an excellent atmosphere and a very progressive vibe. people are nice and the store sells quality food. the restaurant can be a bit pricey, but well worth it if you feel like indulging in unique dishes.
Read morePros: friendly staff, quality food, wholesome atmosphere
Cons: limited options in grocery, bit pricey
Guest
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