If I had a Native Foods around the corner, I’d be there like every day.
Add this to the list of restaurants where I’d be every day if they were around the corner from me AND I could afford it: Le Pain Quotidien, M Cafe de Chaya, Interim Cafe, Tender Greens, Real Food Daily, etc….
Anyway — when I missed one Flyaway bus, I was sorta psyched to have the time to drop into Native Foods in Westwood and get a Jerk Burger to go.
Here’s a vegan, organic-friendly restaurant trying to go zero-waste, as stated on the new menus. Which explains the biodegradable food container and fork and the napkin made of high post-consumer content paper.
However, the plastic bag was still — plastic. Recyclable, yes, but not easy to recycle, and not made of a renewable product. Plastic recycles, but doesn’t biodegrade –
Which is why getting things to-go’s a bad idea. Say even the bag was bio. We’re still talking ’bout a one-use product. And even if we got all plastic baggers to become bio baggers, we’re talking about A LOT of bio bags –
Then again — Did I mention I had a bus to catch on my way to the airport — where there’s pretty much no eco options whatsoever, for the food itself or the container encasing it?
Suffice to say next time I’ll pack myself a PB&J. To be honest, the oddly-sweet Jerk Burger didn’t work for me. However, I’m still a diehard Native Foods fan — I really love the Bali Surf Burger.
What’s your fave Native Foods dish?
Native Foods. 1110 1/2 Gayley Ave. Los Angeles. 310.209.1055.
I ate at the one in Costa Mesa. I got the Congo Bongo thing. It was pretty good, but the skewers weren’t heated all the way through. Which makes me think it was all microwaved.
Still, it was pretty tastey and fresh.
Comment by Rafi — August 23, 2007 @ 2:34 pm
Those little plastic bags aren’t one-use in our household. They end up holding slightly used cat litter before heading to the landfill. If I knew a more eco-friendly alternative, I’d use it.
Comment by don hosek — August 23, 2007 @ 4:24 pm
I like the Tijuana Tacos. Actually, that’s the only thing I’ve had there–not because I’ve only been once, but because I like them enough to keep ordering them.
Comment by Kate — August 23, 2007 @ 7:00 pm
The Chicken Run Ranch Burger. The cheesecake is pretty good too. Their booze selection, at least the one in Costa Mesa, can be hit-and-miss depending on how recently they’ve restocked.
Comment by Brian — August 23, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
How funny! I just had Native Foods for dinner last night. I LOVE the Ensalada Azteca and Alex tried the Mad Cowboy which was delicious and hearty. I also really love their chai. Yum
Comment by Hannah — August 24, 2007 @ 11:40 am
I LOVE this place! I used to go to the one in Palm Desert when I lived there.
Their tempeh is wonderful. The portobello sandwich was great. I think they had a seitan dish with yummy spicy BBQ sauce.
yummy.
Comment by Summer — August 24, 2007 @ 2:25 pm
what are the food container and fork made out of? I couldn’t find any info on their site.
as for the bag, you could tell them you don’t want one. (I do this all the time.)
the food looks yummy.
Comment by mollie — August 24, 2007 @ 5:36 pm
I love the scorpion burger with fries, or the faux chicken wing things :)
Comment by jessica — August 24, 2007 @ 6:33 pm
Cheesecake? Really? I’m surprised. I haven’t had good experiences with vegan cheesecake.
Faux wings sound much better. With real buffalo sauce…. mmmm… I bet soy ranch dressing would complement it perfectly.
Comment by Rafi — August 25, 2007 @ 11:36 am
I don’t think the Westwood one has a booze license, unfortunately :(
All the suggestions’re making me wanna go over for dinner tonight — Congo Bongo’s first on the list of dishes to try, on account of the fun name –
Comment by Siel — August 25, 2007 @ 1:14 pm
Hmm, this is the place where this eco-naut will suggest that you buy a small portable carrybag, one that can be carried in your purse/backpack.
Target, 99 cents, rignt next to the checkouts. Zips up into a wallet size thingy, and washes well. Downside? It’s made of woven plastic fiber. Upside? No logo, very roomy and sturdy,m and I like the manufacturer’s mission statement. http://www.greenbag.info
Comment by Diane — September 21, 2007 @ 11:11 am
azteca salad from the one in westwood! mmmmm.
unfortunately, NOT mina’s macro from costa mesa. : P
Comment by meli — February 23, 2008 @ 6:22 pm