Long-time established Santa Monica vegan restaurant offering choices from starters, salads, sandwiches and daily soups to hot plates featuring beans, tofu, seitan, and/or tempeh. Also fresh juices, coffee drinks, alcoholic beverages, and desserts. Brunch menu is available on the weekend. Cozy space and very busy on weekends. Prices moderate to expensive. Other location in Southern California. LAST DAY April 27, 2016, other locations remain open.
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514 Santa Monica Blvd (at 5th St), Santa Monica, California, USA, 90401
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Last update on 27 Apr 2016 by Guest
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59 Reviews
First Review by xtfrclqn
moretofuplease
Points +517
More Real Food, Please! - Edit
Our server, Emily, said we had chosen well. I opted for a caeser salad starter with a main course from their list of specials, jackfruit tacos. My wife got the Real Food Basic Three, where you can select three items from an extensive list of veggies (she selected Garlicky Greens), beans & Grains (she got Quinoa), and proteins (she loved the almond-based "Tuna" salad, saying "How do they do that?"). I could eat Garlicky Greens all day, almost put in a second order. The caeser was very good, and Bonnie said next time she'd order the tuna salad on top of the caeser. Jackfruit was OK, but then we have a favorite place back that makes outstanding jackfruit tacos (Shine Cafe in Morro Bay), hard to compete. It was Wine-Down Wednesday, half price on all wines, so I had the Malbec, which tastes even better at half price. We ate upstairs, away from the REALLY loud music, with a bit more room between tables, and we got excellent service from Emily. Overall, very good food, hope to make it back for brunch sometime.
Read morePros: Wide variety of vegan food, Tasty, Fully explained on the menu
Cons: Turn down the music!, Street parking can be difficult
Guest
StevieSurf
Points +1895
So lucky to have this in town! - Edit
So many fond memories of trips to this place.
Read moreSmart staff, great atmosphere, intense menu, healthy as well as comfy options.
Pros: Location up from the beach, Amazing variety, Superb qualify
Guest
Greyskies
Points +243
Lived up to expectations! - Edit
I was so looking forward to going to RFD having read about it from the UK. The food didn't disappoint - it was delicious and huge portions. I was too full after my burrito to have any chocolate cake but bought some to enjoy later. It was fantastic!
Read morePros: Food delicious, Lots of choice
Cons: Service a bit slow
Guest
mt19
Points +371
It's ok - Edit
It's great there are lots of choices in Santa Monica, maybe we were spoilt by the other places but we found this one to be average. Food was ok, portion size not great, service was really poor. It was kinda busy so maybe it's better at quieter times.
Read moreGuest
Tigra220
Points +10712
Try the Sea Cake! - Edit
I went for brunch on a Sunday morning and was seated quickly.
Read moreFor a starter, I ordered the Sea Cake, which I was hesitant to get because I thought it may taste like a crab cake and even pre-vegan I couldn't stand that taste. But the waiter assured me that it would taste nothing like a crab cake, and he was right. What an excellent dish! The flavor of the Sea Cake was not at all fishy, it was highly delectable. It was accompanied by a spicy aioli sauce, which was amazing, and it sat atop a bed of arugula with pesto. It's the type of dish that you'd lick the bowl if you weren't in public.
I ordered the Weekender entree, which included pancakes (I upgraded to blueberry pancakes for $1.50 extra), scrambled tofu, hash browns, and tempeh bacon.
The blueberry pancakes were large, fluffy, buttery, and simply delicious. I would never guess that they're gluten-free.
The tofu scramble was very tasty. It was seasoned very well, but I'd request no tomatoes for my dish next time.
Hash browns were extremely disappointing. Like, seriously... How can you mess up hash browns? They were too hard (and I like crispy papas) and they were flavorless.
Tempeh Bacon had a great smoky flavor but was too hard.
The dessert case housed a massive array of vegan sweeties, but I was too full this time to try any.
I would definitely return for more Sea Cakes!
Pros: Amazing Sea Cake dish!
Guest
Thunderbeest
Points +186
First Burito, Best Burito - Edit
Being my first time in North America, I had never eaten a Burito before and this place had some great offers.
Read moreI do not think I will ever eat a burtio as good as this one. The place was nicely packed and people very friendly!
Not the cheapest place in town though.
Pros: Friendly Staff, Big Portions, Great selection
Cons: Very busy, Price
Guest
Beccet
Points +20
delicious! - Edit
the quesidillas were delicious. many options!
Read moreGuest
Conniemm
Points +1772
Great meal at RFD - Edit
I have Ann Gentry's book, Vegan Family Meals, so I definitely wanted to visit her restaurant when we were passing through Santa Monica.
Read moreMy son had the Not-Chos and they were very delicious. The serving seemed generous and he really enjoyed them.
We had a very friendly waiter who recommended either the veggie burger (lentil and mushroom, I think) with the works or the club sandwich. I went for the burger. While it was good, the texture was softer than I would have liked and there was a spice that didn't work for me. I enjoyed it but would probably try the club or something else next time.
It's always so much fun to go to vegan restaurants because there are so many choices! RFD had so many items to choose from. I wish there was one closer to me so I could sample them all.
Pros: great menu, friendly staff, delicious food
Guest
Fit_Fathers
Points +307
A Vegan Classic - Edit
No matter if Fit Fathers is in Santa Monica or near the Beverly Center, Real Food Daily is always a must visit. In fact, we typically invite non-vegans here for meetings since the foods are so appetizing. The nachos for example are always a hit. Moreover, your children also have a range such as the kids vegan platter with Buckwheat soba noodles, black beans and steamed veggies. Smoothies and sweets are also available. Yum!
Read morePros: too much to choose from, smoothie bar, various locations
Cons: can get pricey
Guest
corinal
Points +1714
Mmmmm...the desserts :-) - Edit
We went for the desserts and were not disappointed. The brownie sundae bowl was awesome and plenty for two people. The salted caramel cupcake was amazing. Be prepared for varying levels of service from overly chatty about the menu items to forgetting to bring water after several requests. I was excited to try the fauxstess cupcakes, but they didn't taste like I remembered the real thing, though it's been about 20 years since I've had one.
Read morePros: Amazing desserts, Great selection
Cons: Service varies
Guest
Treebaard
Points +28
great quality vegan food - Edit
Ate here once with a group. Everything was fresh, tasty, and flavorful.
Read morePros: all-vegan, flavorful, reasonably priced
Guest
ShantiPeace
Points +496
Exellent! - Edit
Wish there was one in San Diego where i live now! When I lived in LA I would go to this place and pig out. Fun atmosphere, lots of fellow vegans, excellent, fresh, hearty, wholesome, creative food. What's not to like? With a tasty place like this, I wonder why in the world to people eat animals?!
Read moreGuest
steveveg
Points +2276
Great vegan choice - Edit
Real Food Daily was a great place for dinner. We were there late but still enjoyed a full meal. We had sea cake (croquettes) as appetizer - quite good, the real food burger with works - a generous meal, and the real food meal - somewhat uninteresting. The location downtown is convenient. Parking is not a problem, as the city garages are free up to two hours - so there is enough time if you just want dinner.
Read moreGuest
Nikki1801
Points +963
Yummy lunch! - Edit
This place was heaving..!! It took a while to get seated and be served but we didn't mind :) I had the tempeh/avocado burger/sandwich and it was lovely (see photo). There were several other things on the menu I wanted to try but sadly we could only visit once....we will return next time! :)
Read moreGuest
babcocklori945
Points +146
Love it!! - Edit
I make sure to go to Real Food Daily every time I'm in L.A. There are always a ton of vegan, gluten-free dishes and their desserts are divine. Great service, fun atmosphere, highly recommended.
Read moreGuest
AlessandraTaryn
Points +237
Never disappoints.. - Edit
Every single time I go I try something new and am NEVER disappointed! Even when I've been hesitant to order a dish, it comes out and it's amazing!! This place has great service & a great atmosphere, I recommend RFD to anyone. I stop by every time I'm in Santa Monica!
Read moreGuest
GardenTiger
Points +267
Best Sandwich and Salad I ever had - Edit
This restaurant is awesome! We ordered the Nachos as starter, then I had the chef sandwich, it was the best sandwich I ever had. They also have very good homemade lemonade. The Tiramisu we had for dessert was also delicious. Staff is very friendly and helpful and they have a good choice of vines. I can recommend this place to anyone and I would definitely go there again, don't miss out on this.
Read morePros: Great Food, wide choice, Friendly and Helpful staff, Nice atmosphere
Guest
DVegan
Points +32
The Best - Edit
This is by far my favorite vegan restaurant in the area. Friendly staff, great selection. We are always happy with our food. They are also very nice to our 3 year old and accommodating. Cannot recommend this place highly enough.
Read morePros: All Vegan, Delicious, Friendly Staff
Cons: Parking
Guest
ellumine
Points +82
A New Go-To Place for me! - Edit
LOVE their tempeh bacon!
Read moreTwo of my fav's:
SUPREME BURRITO- WET with CAESAR SALAD!
MEDITERRANEAN BOWL!
NOTE ON TAKE OUT: chefs have missed some key ingredient in 2 of 3 take-out orders. Mgmt has been helpful and credited me, but still frustrating so I would give advise (to myself and to you!) to double check order before walking out the door. Frustrating and disappointing to come home with no salad dressing or no feta :(
Pros: TEMPEH BACON
Cons: EXPENSIVE....but you are what you eat...
Guest
Inventor
Points +17
AWESOME! - Edit
I have been looking for a great vegan restaurant for a while and this is it! They have great food, especially their pastries!
Read morePros: great decor, awesome food, friendly staff
Cons: none
Guest
Ksheehy
Points +16
best vegan dining - Edit
Smoothies and grilled harvati cheese with tomato soup omgggggg
Read moreGuest
nsweeney
Points +165
Still fantastic - Edit
Enjoyed dinner and brunch at Real Food Daily last weekend during a California road trip. It had been quite awhile since I had eaten there (1-2 years?) as I live in AZ. They did not disappoint. The food was fantastic and flavorful and lived up to everything I remembered. It is nice to see consistency over time.
Read morePros: Food based on whole foods, Consistently excellent, Friendly staff
Cons: Parking
Guest
jdwarner215
Points +69
What's not to like? - Edit
Wish to echo praise of those before me.
Read morePros: Well prepared food., Good service., Desserts are great!
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Tasty Vegan Food - Edit
I had read first about this place on happycow many years back and have eaten here numerous times over the years. Was just here in Jun 2013, and here's my updated Real Food Daily review update.
Read moreI, with family and friends, have frequented this restaurant for years, and our experiences have been both good and so-so. The quality of the food is usually good though once in a while it's a hit-or-miss. If you stick to what you like, then you'll be okay.
For me the Mexican style food is always reliable and tasty--the guys in the kitchen are Mexican and Latin Americans. The nachos, tacos, enchiladas, and the burrito are yummy. The sandwiches are all right, too, like the reuben, the BLT, and the works burger.
The restaurant is often busy, and you probably would have to wait for a table on the weekends at meal time. However, once you've been seated, service is prompt.
Manu and Jeff are our preferred waiters. Cool guys.
Prices are more expensive than other veg restaurants around, but this is downtown Santa Monica.
Pros: fresh ingredients, yummy desserts
Cons: expensive, noisy
Guest
shirley1
Points +340
Really Good Food,Good Service,Interesting Menu - Edit
My wife and I had a wonderful lunch at Real Food Daily - our waiter was most helpful,the service was fast (it was lunch time and we were lucky to get a table)and the menu was extensive and allowed us many choices.
Read moreMy wife had the Tac O' the Town - a Moroccan stew that she wanted gluten free so they served it over quinoa and I had the Mexico City Tacos both of which we ample servings and very tasty.
I had the home made ginger lemonade which was really tasty and refreshing with the added bonus of one free refill - great beverage.
We were so pleased with our meal we went back to the restaurant after a few hours for a cup of tea and a cupcake and cookie - unfortunately the desserts we tried weren't all that tasy but they were gluten free which sometimes can be a challenge.
We would definately return for meal as the food was great.
Pros: Large selection, Tasty food, prompt and friendly service
Cons: Gluten free desserts not that tasty
Guest
jel172
Points +178
Loving Brunch at RFD... - Edit
My wife and I have eaten brunch here quite a few times over the past 6 months. We both love The Weekender (tofu scramble, tempeh bacon, pancakes or french toast, and hash browns or fruit). Yes, it's a bit pricey (at $14.25), but it's the prefect amount of food for us before setting out for a day in Santa Monica.
Read morePersonally, I love the pancakes. They're the best vegan pancakes I've ever had and traditional pancakes are something I miss after going vegan. For me, it's the perfect "dessert" to the brunch. I tried the Cinnamon Bun, but was unimpressed. The pancakes, doused with maple syrup, are all I need...
Can't speak to the rest of the menu, as we found something we like and get it every time. I've recently had to go soy-free, though, so that'll be changing for me when we come. Might just have to eat nothing but pancakes and fruit... Nothing wrong with that...
If you're a coffee drinker, be aware that they only do espresso drinks. So, an Americano (espresso with hot water) is as close as you get to a traditional cup of coffee. It's a big mug, so be ready for a buzz...
Pros: Great brunch, Friendly staff
Cons: Need more GF, SF brunch dishes
Guest
donnzpg
Points +31
Lunch/Dinner Fair; Brunch Awful - Edit
I have had dinners here that have been OK, but the entrees have yet to be unique and lack imagination. This morning I tried Sunday brunch which is offered from 10am to 3pm. I ordered "The Weekender" plate for $14.25 (ouch) which consists of a tofu scramble that comes with bacon plus either french toast or pancakes plus either hash browns or fruit. The portions are small which is fine, but the scramble was microscopic, and the onions and tomato were almost non-existent. The hash browns consisted of a pre-formed square patty that was virtually a giant Tater tot, and was a bit oily and not cooked through. The pancakes, made with almond flour, were tasty but slightly undercooked and pasty. A side of ketchup comes with this meal... really, ketchup!? So for lunch/dinner I'll be generous and give RFD three stars, but for Sunday brunch I'd give it one star if I could
Read moreNote to self: stick with Golden Mean Cafe!
Guest
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