Casual restaurant located across from Mariachi Plaza / Boyle Heights station. Offers eclectic menu of dishes from Latin American and other parts of the world. Items include breakfast foods, fried plantain, quinoa tabbouleh, tacos with nopal cactus, red pozole, tofu saltado, ghormeh sabzi, vegan enchiladas, potato taquitos, pupusas with beans, and vegetable soup. Tofu and mushrooms are available as extra add-ins. Beverages are watermelon aqua fresca, hibiscus flower tea, shakes and thai iced tea with optional almond milk. Reported fully vegan December 2021. Open Mon 12:00pm-8:30pm, Thu-Fri 12:00pm-8:30pm, Sat-Sun 8:00am-8:30pm.
-
1818 E 1st St, Los Angeles, California, USA, 90033
-
Loading...
-
- Outdoor seating
- Accepts credit cards
-
-
Last update on 14 Apr 2024 by geometric-noise
Update business info
-
-
33 Reviews
First Review by SonjaCPA
anne1
Points +183
Lovely place - Edit
We had dinner here before a show at the Paramount. We ate the enchiladas and the Anti-Chilaquiles (I added extra rosemary potatoes which I ended up regretting!). The owner/proprietor was really helpful and friendly.
Read morePortions are large! The food was really tasty and we will definitely return.
Great location just opposite Mariachi Plaza subway.
Pros: Tasty, Great food
Guest
novabird
Points +70
Bad service dry stale food, never again - Edit
Title says it, this place was hostile, slow, and we didn’t even get past the chips and salsa, they charged 7 bucks for this stack of bland paint chips and a tiny dish of watery bland salsa. Rude service garbage food
Read moreGuest
anitadharod
Points +20
Healthy food! - Edit
The food was 11/10! Everything tasted really healthy and the spices were great. I got the Sandra's Ghormeh Sabzi Bowl, Al pastor bowl, Kheer and corn tortillas! The kheer was great :)
Read moreService was very fast and the owner was friendly
Inside of restaurant was cozy and good for sitting with a friend.
For sure I will be back if I'm in the area! Alot of other vegan food is deep fried or has a lot of processed stuff but this place was cool bc they make food that is good for you :)
Pros: Affordable, Healthy, Friendly
Guest
T-Bob
Points +22
Fresh, Affordable, Vegan - Edit
Not only is all the food made from whole foods , but isn’t overpriced like so many vegan places. Add to this the amazing owner Carlos’ commitment to doing good in the community, and you get a place that is worth revisiting and telling others about.
Read morePros: Fresh, quality ingredients , Reasonable Price, All vegan
Cons: Small space
Guest
klierrobert
Points +33
So, So Very Good! - Edit
Loved the food, so tasty and amazing. Chill place with great service, right across the street from the Boyle Heights/Mariachi Plaza Metro train station.
Read moreWe had the chips & guac (chips are so simple and so tasty!), the Anti-Chilaquiles (fantastic), and the Saltado (which I found incredibly delicious).
Everything is well-prepared and so, so tasty. The menu has so many choices.
We will be back, again and again.
Guest
Cathy133
Points +87
Incredible! Go now if you haven’t been! - Edit
My husband and I stopped here in a whim when we were DT LA for an event- - everything we had was fresh, flavorful and delicious. What is incredible is that it is also really healthy. The owner told us about how he tries to cook without oil and how everything is organic. It tastes like fresh home cooked food - It literally could not have been better - I have eaten in all the LA vegan restaurants and I would say this is easily top 5 - note we took the train to mariachi plaza stop and it is right across the street !
Read morePros: Delicious , Flavorful , Traditional
CAO
Thank you very much for reviewing un Solo Sol and highlighting what we are really striving for.
Read moreGuest
Banangela97
Points +2648
Wholesome - Edit
Made with care. All vegan and good for holistic health. Felt very good afterwards & the owner Carlos has great customer service 👍
Read moreCAO
Thank you so much for your review. I am glad to read the holistic purpose behind the business was well-conveyed on your first visit.
Read moreGuest
Jiinjiin
Points +11
Solid Healthy Latin+ Food - Edit
This is a great spot to come to when you feel you need some good quality healthy food with flavor. I think non vegetarians and vegetarians alike would enjoy the food here! Enchiladas plate was delicious as was the gormeh sabzi!
Read moreCAO
Thank you so much for your review of .Un Solo Sol and all your remarks in it!
Read moreGuest
juanderfulworld
Points +13
Fresh and heartful - Edit
What can I say, I felt love in the food. The fresh ingredients, the perfect crunch of the cucumbers, the wholesome notes in the salsas.
Read moreThis is real food made with love.
Pros: Enchiladas, Pupusa
CAO
Thank for your visit and your review! Hope to see you again soon.
Read moreGuest
regijane
Points +128
Best in LA - Edit
This may be the best vegan restaurant in LA!! I’d give it 10 stars if I could. The food is excellent, and the staff makes you feel like you’re eating at a friend’s home. It’s a tiny “hole in the wall” type place across from Mariachi Plaza Station with the authentic flavors that location demands. The pupusas were the best I’ve ever had, the hot sauce was freaking hot, and the service made us want to hug the owner and the cooks! It was also hella cheap for LA!! I might go back again tomorrow it was that good!!
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-06-18
Pros: Delicious food, Service that makes you feel like family, Inexpensive af
CAO
🙏🏼
Read moreGuest
nessywessy
Points +111
Delicious - Edit
Worth it! This is my second time here. It is close to Adventist Health White Memorial. Last time, I ordered the enchiladas- delicious. This time I ordered the pozole and tacos mea. Soo good. Little family business with the taste of authentic home cooked Mexican food. Love this vegan restaurant.
Read moreGuest
Zombiecynthia
Points +5513
Madre Tierra Eats in Boyle Heights - Edit
Wonderful service and fresh home style cooking - that I ate way too fast while I listened to the owner Carlos explain the beautiful mural by Rafael Escamilla (as the focal point of the establishment): Un Solo Sol.
Read moreIt felt like such a special experience because Carlos took the time to explain the vision/art of Un Solo Sol but also acknowledged that art can be interpreted differently by others with their own life perspectives/experiences. It felt really special and I appreciated the candidness of the owner and even met the chef Mari.
Would recommend and come back, I even got to witness a vibey sunset with the LA skyline walking out.
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-20
Pros: Vegan | Plant-Based (Unprocessed Whole Foods), Friendly and Super Attentive Owner/Personnel
theNumberOfTheBeast
Aww! I rode my bike all the way there last year and they were closed, it looks soo nice!
Read moreCAO
Thank you so much for taking the time to review us! It was a pleasure to serve you. You did capture the essence behind our little restaurant. ❤️
Read moreGuest
Musicman33
Points +22
Amazingly Fresh, Incredibly Curated - Edit
Overall, this restaurant exceeded my expectations. It has a quaint charm that is inviting and enjoyable. The food was phenomenal. Everything tasted like it was just picked from a garden. You don't get that sort of taste I feel like anywhere in LA. The service was prompt and helpful, the prices were affordable (especially for most if not all being organic), and there were a few highlights that really stood out to me. Firstly, there is a huge emphasis on the fresh aspect of things, but what I thought was very important was the dedication to health. Every option was curated in a way that assists your body in its ability to digest, absorb and enjoy every bite. For example the chips are baked and not fried, as indulging in fried foods increase the risk from free radicals, which can be harmful. The dishes were very low in sodium, which is completely over-done in the vegan cuisine, and everything was made in house. No impossible burger this, beyond beef that, just pure hand-crafted goodness that people seem to be missing lately. Being vegan or even entertaining the idea of a predominantly vegan diet can be difficult as everything is so heavily processed nowadays. Finding a place like Un Solo Sol that keeps prices low without compromising the integrity of real food was a pleasant surprise. We can't wait to go back and try something new! I highly recommend taking the trip just East of Downtown to enjoy authentic, fresh vegan cuisine. Cheers!
Read morePros: Unbelievably Fresh, Great Portions, Extremely reasonable price points
Cons: My stomach ran out of room
CAO
Thank you for taking the time to review us, Musicman33.
Read moreWow!
You did summarize most purposes behind our menu.
Guest
thefugitivekind
Points +59
An East Los Angeles treasure - Edit
Un Solo Sol is a very special place. The owner, Carlos, has a vision of a better world where humans respect the earth and share her gifts of love. We had taquitos, pupusas, pozole, and avocado toast. Everything was delicious, fresh, unprocessed, and perfectly seasoned. The pozole was the best vegan pozole I’ve ever tasted, and I tried several in Mexico City. If you’re ever in LA don’t miss the blessings of Un Solo Sol.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on 2023-04-07
Pros: Perfectly seasoned and delicious, Wide variety of Mexican and Salvadorean dishes, Positive vibes
Guest
vegandiver
Points +62
Tasty and Clean Food - Edit
I really enjoyed both the service and food here.
Read moreThe presentation of the dishes was well above average for a restaurant like this and the variety of food styles was a huge plus.
I really liked that many of the dishes here were low or no-oil, yet the food was still very tasty and fulfilling.
Parking looks like it could be tricky, but it has very close access to the subway station. I came on a Sunday and was able to park about a block away.
Pros: Healthy Food, Tasty Food, Good service, friendly owner
Cons: Minor: Parking...
Guest
fij
Points +24
Favorite place - Edit
No other place leaves me feeling so energetic and light!🌟
Read moreBeautiful art reflecting their mission.
Organic food inspired by naturopathic medicine. 🌎
I got the nopalitos first which has green cactus,prickly pear,!look it up! in its dry form used to balance insulin levels.🌵
The owner was so accommodating even tho I came in right when they were closing.👣
I am so grateful he gave me so many cool facts about the food I was eating!👀
I try to eat here every day, when ever I'm around.🪷
They don't even use any canned food.
Everything fresh and I love to see the love they put into every meal.
I got enchiladas today and I want to eventually try everything on the menu but the prickly pear dish was so amazing. Look...
I'm already thinking about my next order 😆
Updated from previous review on 2023-04-03
Pros: Something for everyone and large portions, Exotic dish you can't find anywhere else, Leave feeling healthy and fresh. welcoming service
CAO
Thank you for your repeated visits already! We do appreciate your support. All the best for you!
Read moreGuest
LawrenceG
Points +65
Delicious Enchiladas! - Edit
Delicious Enchiladas with Green Sauce and Potato Taquitos!
Read morePros: Fresh guacamole made to order, Friendly Mom and Pop Restaurant, Excellent veggie stir fry too!
CAO
Thank you so much for your visit and for taken the time to review us!
Read moreGuest
babypix
Points +38
This is a very special place for vegans. 100% vegan menu! - Edit
Large menu of exotic cuisine dishes healthfully prepared. Don’t miss this place, it’s unusual and unique.
Read morePros: All vegan, Intriguing exotic cuisines, Mom and pop/homemade deliciousness
Cons: Parking can be challenging, but worth it!
Guest
SAC43
Points +11
Wonderful experience - Edit
Forgot that the spot I normally hit up in this area was closed on Mondays and happened upon Un Solo Sol. Owner(?)/chef was extremely courteous and friendly, gave us some recommendations. Ended up getting the enchiladas and Ghormeh Sabzi along with plantains. Delicious, filling and energizing. Will be returning
Read morePros: Variety, Flavors, Ambiance
Guest
themuppetlibrarian
Points +2742
Healthy and flavorful - Edit
Healthy and flavorful food, in an area that’s nice to walk around and soak up the culture.
Read moreCAO
Thank you so much for your visit. Your much appreciated review reflects our sincere intentions with the type of food we provide to all of you.
Read moreGuest
MatthewHarnack
Points +91
Whole food prepared with love - Edit
This place is so delicious. I tried to nopalitos and the enchiladas. Both were fantastic. The owner was a gracious host and made us feel right at home. Thank you so much for a delicious meal and fellowship. #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
AlisonCogan
Points +67
Excellent! - Edit
We were in the area and ended up stopping in for lunch. I had the enchiladas. Everything was delicious and very fresh. Guacamole was delicious. Will definitely be back.
Read morePros: Fresh, Delicious
Guest
Forakora
Points +566
Pozole, Pupusas, Plantains - Edit
I tried all 3 and was not disappointed
Read morePozole comes in green and red. I tried the green, and it was beautifully fresh and spiced
Pupusas. So many options! I got beans one on and loroco for the other. Both were great
Fried plantains for dessert with mango jam. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing that mango jam was. Made my day
Pros: Whole menu is vegan, Fantastic food
Cons: Parking is difficult; bring quarters
Guest
jhouska
Points +16
Healthy, interesting and tasty; nice experience - Edit
This place is a gem! I found it here on Happy Cow and this was my first of (I hope) many visits, although I live and work quite a distant away. There are many vegan options, which are simply vegan wihtout modification.
Read moreThe food was excellent in taste and appearance, as well as made with healthy wholesome ingredients. The prices were excellent as well. I believe the lunch menue had nothing over $6. I enjoyed the Carribean Bowl ($6) which was black beans and brown rice with cooked banana (or perhaps plaintain). It had some onions and I found it quite filling. But having arrived ravenous, I also ordered a pupusa ($3.75) (kind of a stuffed pancake, which offered 3 different filling option. I choose loroco flower buds, which I was unfamiliar with, but quite tasty. So happy with all this, I just wanted more of this food. I I got the Fruit Bowl ($6), which came with a variety of raw nuts. I chose pecans, pepitas, and cashews.
(I went home overly stuffed and took a nap!)
My waiter, Carlos Ortez, turned out to be the owner. We had a very pleasant conversation, during which I learned that he was a mechanical engineer, who had a lifestyle change after experiencing being healed of physical ailments by healthy eating. When I return, I hope I get a chance to interact with Carlos again. BTW he seems to be well-received in the community. He told me that he's what I'd summarize as a community activist (not his words) and a couple people said a very friendly hello to him as they'd walk past down the sidewalk.
The restaurant is in a vibrant cultural setting that has roots back to the beginning of the City of Los Angeles. I sat at a sidewalk table across from the Mariachi Plaza with a view of the picturesque Boyle Hotel completed in the year 1889. The place is small with modest tables and chairs, offering indoor and sidewalk dining.
Wow! Come and enjoy!
Updated from previous review on 2022-03-04
Pros: Excellent value, Good, healthy, attractive, wholesome, vegan food, Cool urban location
Cons: I ate too much! It's too good!
CAO
Thanks for your visit and shoutout, jhouska! It was a pleasure to have met you. Likewise, I enjoyed our conversation.
Read moreGuest
LoveRonin
Points +21
Excellent frijolies - Edit
Frijolies were excellent so was the service. #Veganuary
Read moreGuest
JuliaBennett
Points +33
AMAZING - Edit
It was my first time so I had a lot of questions and needed recommendations and they were so helpful. I got the enchiladas with veggies and vegan cheese and it was SO GOOD. Great prices, too! I highly recommend this restaurant!
Read morePros: LOTS of vegan options , Friendly and helpful staff , Affordable
CAO
🙏🏼
Read moreGuest
sofia.kitsch
Points +25
So yummy! - Edit
We went to un solo sol to celebrate September 16th and our whole experience was great. We ordered the red pozole with mushrooms and the tofu saltado. The food was really good and perfect amount and the service was amazing. We will be going back!
Read moreGuest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business
See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 15160 times.