Native Foods- Best Vegan Restaurant in Orange County

if you have never been to Native Foods in costa mesa, you must try it. they have a huge menu of organic, vegan favorites and have rightfully earned a reputation as one of the best vegan spots in the country. this week I dined there and ordered the soy amigo salad ($7.95) a taco salad with greens, cabbage, soy taco meat, salsa, tortilla chip croutons, corn, cilantro, green onion garnish and creamy chipotle dressing. i also added avocado...what an amazing salad. some of the best soy meat i have ever had. my husband ordered the bali surf burger (it is one of their specialties) with grilled tempeh, lettuce, carrot, red onion, vegan mayo, and a side of their fries. ($7.65 plus $1.35 for the fries). once again outstanding...the tempeh was great and the fries were second to bouchon (thomas keller's restaurant). i really couldn't believe how much potential vegan food actually has...it set a new standard for all of my former favorites. to finish i had a piece of the carrot cake with dream cheese frosting. nothing fancy, served in a to go container with the icing on the side. the cake was decent and the frosting was really good. not the best carrot cake i have ever had (that award goes to Avanti Cafe) but a good compliment to the rest of the meal. Orange County is luck to have Native Foods!