Vegan-friendly
Lacto
Ovo
American
International
Organic
Delivery
Take-out
Open-air garden cafe in the South Bay. Menu features healthy salads, sandwiches, entrees, Mexican specialties, and herbal tea; desserts available (ask). Open Tue-Sat 11:00am-4:00pm, Tue-Thu 5:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 5:00pm-10:00pm, Sun 9:00am-4:00pm, 5:00pm-9:00pm.
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1700 S Catalina Ave Ste 103 (at Ave I), Redondo Beach, California, USA, 90277
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Last update on 19 Jun 2023 by vagovegano
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46 Reviews
First Review by jcpenick
Hungwy
Points +274
great setting - Edit
Island holiday setting. Nice servers. Home style cooking. Nice experience.
Read moreGuest
ArtVB
Points +332
Best in Redondo Beach - Edit
Vegan food in this restaurant is outstanding. Everything I have tried here from the soup to the strawberry pie have been delicious. Ingredients are fresh and everything has been perfectly cooked and seasoned. The bread is baked in-house and juices are freshly squeezed. Service is very friendly. The environment is incredibly relaxing.
Read morePros: Delicious food , Customer service , Location
Guest
Christyrose
Points +100
yummy and nice atmosphere - Edit
This is such a great place for lunch or dinner. The garden and beautiful and tranquil. I love the veggies with tofu sauce. My only complaint is that their soy cheese is not vegan!
Read moreGuest
Veggie Army
Points +107
Relaxing and comfortable dining - Edit
This beautiful, eclectic, and peaceful place is enchanting. Although it was a little hard to find even with google maps and then two different smart phones using their navigation. I recommend sitting next to the fountain as we did. It was one of those dining experiences that makes you feel centered after visiting. Along with the relaxing fountain with live gold fish, there is assorted meditating Budhas, South Asian style embroidered pillows, burnt orange sponge painted walls, mosaic tile bistro tables, wooden peacocks three dimensionally carved partition screens, and Sedona mixed chairs and benches.
Read moreWe order the Veggie Quesodilla as an appetizer. At first we missed the cheese, but then enjoyed the balanced flavors of stewed vegetables in a grilled hearty tortilla. I had mentioned to them that it was a little more accurately a grilled veggie wrap. After which I ordered the White Lasagna and my fried got the Babamut. At first, was disappointed that there was no pasta in the lasagna, but I quickly began to appreciate that the lasagna was more like a souffle or quiche covered with an Alfredo sauce. Unfortunately, unlike other dishes on the menu, this selection is not available in a "junior size" as the Babamut is. A little under seasoned, The Babamut's redeeming quality is its sweet corn.
If you're in the Redondo Beach area, this is definitely worth visiting.
Veg out,
Veggie Army
www.VeggieArmy.ccom
Guest
ASomerville
Points +512
Very Good - Edit
Good meal in a nice, quiet atmosphere. Friendly service.
Read morePros: Food quality and quantity
Guest
redharry3
Points +37
Excellent all the way around - Edit
Everything about this place was wonderful. Servers were friendly and knowledgable, menu is creative with lots of choices and the ambience perfect! Go veggie!
Read morePros: Creativity, Location, Service
Cons: None
Guest
kat_436
Points +28
ok food, service ugh - Edit
This restaurant has good veggie food and the ambience is very nice if you ignore the actual staff. I came in by myself an entire hour before they closed - was told in no uncertain terms they closed in an hour and did I still want to eat? Well depends on you - shouldn't take a single person more than an hour to eat unless you are super slow. Just really left a sour note to my meal - I felt pressured to eat and get out. I tried again to give them the benefit of the doubt but not near closing time - they just give off this pretentious not welcoming vibe. [edit by staff]
Read morePros: Food is good, Ambience
Cons: Pretentious and unwelcoming staff
Guest
m.rose
Points +108
Mixed review - Edit
The patio is charming, i much prefer to eat out there than inside. The food is pretty good; everything down to the ketchup tastes healthy. The salads are fresh, I'm a fan of sunflower sprouts, which they have. My daughter liked the veggie burger. The soups and the rice, bean and veggie bowls are just okay, I find them a little bland... But I won't be back any time soon, the wait staff was so unfriendly and unaccommodating the last time i was there. They acted put-out when I asked for menus, when I asked to substitute one salad item for another they said they don't do that; how easy is it to have a "no problem" policy when it comes to that kinda thing when I'm spending $40.00 on lunch. Also, they wouldn't let my daughter and I sit at the only remaining patio table (4 person table) i assume because there was two of us. So we ate inside, by the way no party of 4 came to occupy that 4 person table the whole time we were there.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday March 22, 2014
Guest
Chia
Points +3635
Beautiful Place Good Food - Edit
I had read about this place on happycow, and here's my The Green Temple review.
Read moreStepping into the Green Temple is like stepping into a garden paradise. Everywhere you look, you see something beautiful, from mosaic tile-top tables and Indian tapestries to stone buddha statues, colorful plants, a water fountain, and people enjoying themselves.
The menu is extensive and varied. We decided on two entrees: The Blue Plate and the Broccoli Loaf. The first consisted of a house-made veggie patty and mashed potatoes both generously covered in a rich mushroom gravy accompanied by steamed broccoli. The second entree was a tenderly baked Broccoli Loaf served with organic black beans, steamed greens, and a creamy dressing. Both entrees were very delicious, flavorful, and filling. The entrees also came with a choice of salad or soup. We chose the salad + an organic house-made tahini dressing, and that was yummy, too.
Although we didn't stay for tea, The Green Temple offers an extensive herbal tea menu which is perfect for a relaxing afternoon hang-out.
Highly recommended.
Pros: delicious food, friendly service, good value
Guest
gracerehaut
Points +13
One of my favorite spots! - Edit
Green Temple in Redondo Beach is one of my favorite vegetarian staple restaurants. I go there at least once a week and it never gets old. The creamed tofu sauce, their specialty, sounds weird but is eerily delicious, as is all the rest of their food. Watch out for a few rare entrees, though, because not everything is as amazing.
Read moreThe ambiance is great - a beautiful outdoor wonderland with a fountain and candles. The waiters are great too. They're all extremely friendly (and very cute!).
Pros: creamed tofu sauce, friendly staff, delicious!
Cons: none
Guest
gr8vegan
Points +2369
my new favorite place to eat! quintessential cali - Edit
If you are looking for the quintessential southern california vegetarian spot, look no further! I can't believe I haven't eaten here before. The menu is amazing, heathy mex, pita, salads, mostly organic, light and based on veggies! The atmosphere is a wonderful indoor outdoor eclectic blend of good karma. The serive is unbelievable attentive and poliet! I believe you can call ahead and reserve a table, its incredibly popular and you'll want an indoor or next to heater spot on a windy day. I wish all vegetarian restaurants were like Green Temple. Healthy veg is still alive and well here!
Read morePros: savory burrito, vegan soups, fun atmosphere
Guest
jamber79
Points +376
Nice place - Edit
This was a very cute little restaurant wth nice ambience. There are some tables inside, but it looked like most of the seating was on the patio which looked very nice. The food was good. I liked that a lot of the choices were organic and made with whole grains. The tosdatidas were very tasty, only would have been better if the beans were refried or mashed because it was very messy with nothing to make it stick together. Had potato soup that was very good. The spicy corn soup was just ok, pretty bland. My favorite part was the brown rice with creamy sauce on top that came with the tostaditas, so yummy! Everything was a little pricy, you do get a lot of food, but overall a little out of my budget.
Read morePros: Ambience
Cons: Price
Guest
abqtraveler
Points +33
Can't say enough good things. - Edit
What a relaxing, peaceful setting with plenty of outdoor seating. Wonderful, friendly staff. Great food and good portions at reasonable prices especially for a beach setting. We walked from the pier. You can either walk along the beach path or take the sidewalk overlooking the ocean if you choose. Both are a good walk, but well worth it. Ask any local where to find the "Village". They'll direct you.
Read moreBe sure to order something with the tofu sauce that comes on some salads and sandwiches. Don't let the name fool you. It's awesome! Too bad they don't serve it with a straw!
Pros: Peaceful setting, Friendly staff, Reasonable prices
Guest
THEMOVIERAD
Points +50
Saturday Morning Brunch - Edit
I highly recommend their Saturday Morning Brunch which is the only time you can get the fruit bowl with macadamia nut cream (vegan). It is very unique and tasty. If you can't make the brunch I say try the savory wrap. The creamy tofu sauce is so tasty it's unreal. The service has always been great and the owner seems genuine. The atmosphere is also tranquil. A fun place to enjoy some great food!
Read morePros: Savory Wrap, Friendly Staff, Saturday Brunch
Guest
VeggieMon
Points +274
Always hot, always fresh. Avoid cheese dishes. - Edit
I've been a GT regular for a few years and I really like the food and wait staff. I have nothing really to add to the existing positive reviews.
Read moreImportant - and shocking - note: a few weeks ago I went to the GT and their special was a "vegetarian" lasagna. OK, cheese, fine. Also listed on the special's ingredients list is "parmesan cheese." Uh...huh? ALL Parmesan cheese contains rennet which is definitely NOT vegetarian in any way, shape, or form. I needled the server about this and she was totally clueless. Of course I followed on by asking about the ingredients in their other cheeses and she couldn't answer the question. Naturally I was not thrilled, so caveat emptor. If you're a very careful vegetarian like I am you'll avoid any GT dishes that contain cheese.
Guest
skymonkey
Points +131
beautiful restaurant - Edit
the tranquil garden-like setting is definitely the best part about the restaurant. it is a beautiful place to have a pleasant meal and conversation. the food was good, but not exceptional. from previous reviews, the service seems to be hit and miss. we found the service to be quite good, as it wasn't too busy at the time.
Read moreGuest
happy veggie
Points +33
Green Temple Rocks - Edit
The trip by itself may be worth it. The beach in Catalina was beautiful...when you can see it. We spotted a public area and stayed there for about an hour. After we had our fill of the ocean air, we went looking for Green Temple, we found it ensconced in a forest of condos and chic beauty shops and streets lined with palm trees manicured to the exact height and shape.
Read moreThe restaurant is mostly an outdoor courtyard sectioned here and there with a small water fountain in the middle. That's correct, it is all outdoors, but it's very nicely covered. You do not feel cramped at all, but I imagine that the place will only sit about 40 people. Take a sweater or sweatshirt. The sea breeze can be brisk. The place reminded me of the courtyard of Kalachandji's, the vegetarian Hare Krishna restaurant in Dallas.
The "decor", what little there is of it, touches upon Indian themes, which makes me suspect that the owner, clearly British, is steeped in Eastern philosophy. His website talks about organic farming, sustainability, and helping local farmers. I love this "big picture" take. Many vegetarians, like me, are ethical vegetarians. We do it to promote animal rights and environmental sustainability. And, thus, we seek out vegetarian cuisine. But many restaurants that offer vegetarian food are not of like mind or spirt. They may be offshoots of a big corporations or they offer their foods with an attitude.
This place exudes peace.
Once we had a table, the service was wonderful (our waiter, a former surfer, was patient, polite, and smiling) and the food came in quick succession.
We dined here three nights in a row and each night the food was dreamy. There was a different house special each night, and we sample a couple. I would have to rank the following as our favorites: the enchiladas (My mom is Mexican, and I can't even approximate the sauce), the salads (all were generous and fresh, even the Sproutada), the burgers (homemade and with the consistency of a thick, moist cooky and with the slight taste of nuts), and dessert (a heavenly thick macademia nut cake/pie with chocolate and coconut topping). There is a ubiquitous tofu sauce that comes with just about everything. My wife and I liked it, but not our daughter.
Pros: Food and Ambiance, Owner/Wait Staff, Environmental Sustainability
Cons: Sometime Long Wait, Hard to Tell Seating policy
Guest
JenniferF
Points +60
Still think about it in NYC - Edit
Went to Green Temple on a visit to CA - I actually looked it up on Happy Cow before going. Lovely spot and seemed really peaceful, food was great. If I lived there I would definitely be a regular. Big portions and one of the dressings/sauces is among the best I've ever had. Shockingly clean bathroom.
Read morePros: great food, good selection/variety, atmosphere
Guest
jcpenick
Points +23
A sanctuary in Redondo - Edit
I've been going to the Green Temple with my family for years. The staff knows just how to make you feel comfortable and the food is delicious. In times of greatest sorrow they have been a comfort. In times of joy they've been there to laugh with you. I can't say more than what other reviews have already said. Please visit for yourself. The food is excellent. The atmosphere is happy and healing. You will leave refreshed, recharged, and renewed.
Read morePros: Vegan friendly, delicious, healthy food, relaxing atmosphere
Guest
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