Casa De Tree

I am so sad to hear Casa Del Tree has closed. I had only discovered this little west side gem a month ago and gone once.
I newly discovered that I am allergic to wheat, so I had my first sandwich in months here.
The vegan tuna fish on spelt toast was amazing, you didn’t even miss the tuna. The toast was warm and crispy and there was a yummy side salad with a light dressing. I also had a side of fries with the sandwich which were perfectly crisp.
I was really looking forward to coming back and hope they do reopen!

I am ashamed to say that I found this place months ago, but I put off coming here until the very last day they were opened :(Japanese Vegan food definitely intrugued me, I tried their vegan cheese cake tart awhile ago– but it was nothing special for the price.
I got their Famous Bento Box ($ 7.50) had eight little samples of their dishes and a generous side of prefectly cooked sticky brown rice. The bean salad surprisingly was my favorite part, there was a bit of sundried tomato pasta, pickled radish (sweet and crisp), and 1 veggie gyoza (filled with a tofu crumble mixture), soy meat, and a corquette (which disappointingly had the same filling as the gyoza…) It may have looked small but it was very filling.
I really wish I got to come here more often and ate here, there are some cool vintage looking couches and the whole place had a hippy-​shabby-​chic vibe to it– would’ve been a good place to study or chat about yoga and hugging trees. I hope this place opens again someday.

***CLOSED***
I stopped by right before they closed down. The owner is off to handle some family matters. I hope they reopen when the time is right. It was a cash only last week (1−15−09) and I only had $ 10 bills but this is what I got to sample;
Salad bar
they had a hot and cold section. Lots of fresh and tasty options. I opted for the pumpkin salad, with some tofu salad and radish dish. The match was super tasty. They had lots of dishes and sweets I wanted to try but for now– I just wish the owner and family lots of love and wellness.

Unfortunately last night was their last night. They are CLOSED. If they do reopen, they said it will be posted on their website. I hope they they do, because I will be here very often.
But it won’t be for their disappointing agave based pecan pound cake. Blah tasting, it was not worth the $ 6.00.
That said, my friend and I had an absolutely wonderful homestyle Japanese vegan dinner last night. My friend ordered curry which was vegetables and brown rice that arrived sizzling on a cast iron platter. The bowl of curry was to the side. The waitress encouraged him to pour it over his vegetables. He took a taste and then poured it all over and finished every last drop.
I ordered the nabuyaki udon which consisted of a wheat based miso soup, wheat noodles, napa cabbage, a few mushroom, age tofu and shredded carrots. It was presented in an earthenware lidded pot that held in the heat till the end. If it’s one thing I like, it’s the element of surprise, i.e., lifting the lid off a dish and seeing what is inside. Steaming hot colorful food, chock full of veggies, a winter winner. I would certainly order this dish every week if I could. Yes, it was that good.

I was really disappointed by a place that I had heard so many raves about. I sampled a little bit of everything from the lunch buffet and, while there was quite a sampling, it was tasted far too similar. I would have enjoyed a little more variety in the spices. The orange soy chicken was the tastiest of the lot, but it still wasn’t as good as California Vegan’s. I would have liked a wider variety of cold foods, as the options when I went in were limited to mostly overly vinegar’d items like seaweed and plain ol’ romaine lettuce. Not terribly exciting.
I might go back to try their sandwiches, which was the original intention of my visit, but unfortunately I’d have to put more planning into that than I’d like to: they’re cash only. Cash only! Hello, isn’t it 2009? I know it might cost a little for the store, but it’s a convenience for the customers. And I’m not going to frequent a place that’s not convenient for me. It’s not just that they don’t take cash — there’s no ATM nearby! I took off a whole star just for that, especially after I noticed another customer writing out a check after I’d walked all the way to 7 – 11 and got charged $ 2.75 to use the ATM there. Why was I not given that option?

Casa de Tree bills itself as an organic bakery and vegan deli. After stopping by, I’d think of it more as an eclectic vegan buffet that also happens to have some organic baked goods. That being said, beware as I didn’t have the buffet and am only reviewing the bakery part.
The rating is taking into account that these are specialty products, but still, these goods held their own with a normal bakery. The oatmeal cookie, in all its flaxy goodness, had a full grainy taste that somebody ordering a flax cookie would be seeking. The cupcake had a nice, smooth frosting on a slightly above average cake bottom, which was very thick and yet not gooey. The tart-​like cheesecake I’d eaten was the best part, creamy and smooth on a soft graham-​cracker crust. Considering that the buffet portion looked better than the bakery, my experiences with the bakery were a very good sign.

MMMmmmmm MMmmmmm YuMMMMMy goodness.
I am not vegan, I eat meat. But there are times I want to eat vegan food.
Finally came to Casa De Tree after numerous times passing it when I head to the post office and leave. This time I actually had time to leave work and sit down with my friend. She had already tried out this place twice before me and she knew how much I have been wanting to come here.
First thing I noticed was the scent of the place. It was familiar smell of a pure vegan restaurant. How do I know since Im a carnivore??? Well, I would go to a buddhist temple (hence i am catholic, not buddhist) far up norcal not too far from a town where I grew up. Mom has a family friend who is buddhist and suggested for us to go there to eat. And omg… that place smelled so yummy and the food was yummy. Reason I brought up the temple is because that is where the familiar scent came from. All the mock-​meat items tasted like meat, but u can tell its not meat by the texture. Oh, how that scent will open my eyes :)
Coming to Casa De Tree, the place is quaint and the staff is friendly. I didnt bring my wallet in that day and had floating money in my pocket from a client i worked on that morning ($ 10)…oh so much food that I wanted to try but so little money in hand. I looked and looked to see what I can get for $ 10 and what did i come across, was a sign to the right of my head on the counter saying «half sandwich, soup, salad, and deli or fries». TADA!!! all that for $ 7.50. heck yeah!!! I orded the Curried Tempeh Sandwich that came with walnut salad, miso soup, instead of fries i got sundried tomato pasta. So much food for little price. It filled me up and left me feeling satisfied and very content.
Good thing that I live down the street from there, and I would have to say this is a place I definitely have on my permanent foodie list :)

I can’t believe I drove by this place for so long without knowing what it was. Some of the best, healthy, macrobiotic inspired food I have ever had. Blows MCafe away… !!! Super cute place with great staff. Daily lunch buffet is quick and cheap and they offer alternative flours/​sugars in their baked goods. Can’t rate this place high enough!!! Keep up the good work. I am your new best friend.
Cash Only… Free parking streetside further up Motor Ave.

Super cute café, authentically Japanese owned and operated… the rarity of vegan + Japanese food makes this place special. If you’re vegan definitely try it. Yummy and healthy tasting. I’d like to go back there again and try more on the menu.
Remember to bring CASH and if you go on a day that’s not Sunday, park on the opposite side of the street because it’s free for 2 hours.

Visited this cute café on a Wed night and my friend and I were the only 2 guests for that evening. This made me nervous at first, but it turned out to be nice and relaxing — the hostess was very friendly and extra attentive.
Street parking was easy to find. After an initial panic because we both didn’t know this place was CASH ONLY, we managed to scrounge up enough $ from our pockets for a nice dinner (2 bento boxes= $ 18, tax+tip included). Neither of us are vegans or even vegetarians, but we both enjoyed the food.
The bento box came warmish-​cold. I’m not sure if this is typical, but the flavors were light and tasty so I enjoyed it. Didn’t fill overly full after and I could probably have eaten more, but it was satisfying and my body felt healthy and light after the meal.
Ambiance is very chic — girls will love it for a cute lunch date or more relaxed dinner out. (Think if «Anthropologie» was a restaurant this is what it would look like.) Waitress let my friend and I stay and talk forever after we had finished and 20 mins before the place closed — that was very cool of her. Looking forward to bringing more cash to try the baked goods next time.

I was looking for more local Vegan places & discovered Casa de Tree. Its a small place with a couple tables inside & a couple outside. The waitress was hard to understand, which sucks when you dont know exactly whats on the menu, so it was a bit of a guessing game. I ended up getting the sushi & the Gyoza Dumplings. Both were good, but the best part was the Vegan Cream Cheese Cinnamon Roll Bread! You get a whole mini loaf! So I had a slice theere & was able to bring the rest home & heat up later! It was very yummy!
Im excited to go back & try the vegan tunafish & get some more cinnaon roll!

I love this place. I really do love their famous bento box ($ 7.50)!!! I’ve also tried their cupcake and lemon cheese cake; both of them are pretty delicious. The lady who works there is extremely nice. I would like to try their lunch buffet next time.

I’m Japanese & I’m vegan just like Casa De Tree. So when I finally trekked over to the westside to Palms I was really happy to eat here. So many choices they sound so great. I had a matcha latte with katsu sandwich. The salad that came with it was really yummy & the katsu sandwich was pretty good too. I was so excited about the food I got a curry tempeh sandwich to go and a cupcake and cheesecake. I might gain a few extra by tomorrow. Oh well Its so worth it. I like the atmosphere of this place it is really quaint. There is a seating area with a coffee table and couches as well as regular tables and chairs. I think I will come back for the buffet next time. It looked really good.
Here is the bad news: Cash only & its super expensive. 2 things that don’t go well together. I’m still into it though. Where else am I gonna find a vegan Japanese place that’s actually decent.

Don’t ever go here hungry otherwise you will pay dearly if you get the lunch buffet, as in costo mucho dinero.
Everything looked pretty good on the buffet, though my only complaint would be all the fried foods.
Probably a better diet/​weight control choice would be their Bento boxes, which are about $ 9.

All I needed was a place to read and something yummy to drink. I’ve been there once before so I knew that they had comfy couches to sit on. Still unsure of the beverages they serve, I walk in and SCORE! They have kombucha!
They also have a great mix of music playing on the speakers. From bossa nova to Hawaiian chanting to my favorite Adele song «Melt My Heart To Stone».
Great place to take a book and relax. And they have wifi!
(btw, cash only)

I’m no vegan but I love this place!
I’m addicted to their ume-​shisho brown rice pasta… best ume-​shisho spaghetti I’ve ever had. Their tacos are friggin delish and their bento is a staple during my short lunch break. My friends and I scarf down their cupcakes. The only way you can get me to eat a salad is by using their dressing, which I bought for home hehe. It’s cash only so come prepared.

Stopped by today for the first time. I wanted a gluten-​free sandwich but they were temporarily out of spelt bread* so I tried their lunch buffet. Service was friendly, and when the woman behind the counter found out I’m on a gluten-​free diet, she accompanied me to the buffet to point out what was okay for me to eat. I loaded up on potato croquettes, beet salad, rice noodle salad, bean salad, and a few other things. Everything was fresh and yummy. The atmosphere was relaxing — a nice place to sit and read a book. What a great addition to the neighborhood!
* I am able to tolerate gluten in small amounts, such as in spelt.

Less words: Stellar vegan Japanese comida in a relaxing setting (no easy feat given its on Motor, and the post office is practically next door). Other Unilocalers have mentioned it but it’s muy importante — Cash Only!
Words Galore: The westside has its share of veg-​friendly restaurants but with many jumping on the healthy bandwagon you may be waiting for a table at crowded RFD or Urth. I prefer settings that leave me feeling a bit more zen when I leave them. Casa de Tree is bringing it.
Vegan. Mostly organic. Many items can be made gluten free. Buffet served during lunch (pay by the pound). All this wonderfulness and kindly service to boot.
I adore the croquette burger — potato croquette with finely shredded cabbage on a whole wheat bun (other bread options available). It’s incredibly tasty. The side salad deserves some luv too, it has always been fresh and just the right amount of dressing is delicately added to the greens. I’ve tried their brownie bites and the strawberry shortcake and I gotta be honest: if you are accustomed to conventional desserts this will taste «crunchy» to you. No refined sugar here. The shortcake is good but the croquette burger is what keeps me coming back.
The shop itself is comfortable and inviting. You can peruse Japanese magazines or kick back on a couch with an organic tea. There are glasses, silverware, and chopsticks available for eating in (hell yes to re-​usable utensils). My only (faux) beef is packaging up the bentos in plastic containers even if you’re dining in (Geh!). We were given the bento placed out for display, while it was fresh since they just started breaking down the buffet table, boyfriend was a bit disappointed that they didn’t serve it in a reusable wooden serving tray. He was pleased with the foods, but would prefer next time to get there in time to make his choices from the buffet options.
Service has always been gracious. Orders take about 5 – 10 minutes to come out but it is certainly worth the tiny wait. Parking situ: metered spots on Motor. I prefer walking or mass transit. Mostly indoor seating with a few small tables outside. Good for small-​ish groups.

This is one of my favorite places! They have a lunch buffet which I thought would be expensive, but it’s actually pretty reasonable for the quality and quantity. My favorite items in the buffet are the seitan katsu (the sauce is delicious too), hijiki salad, white stew, mini tofu burger patties, wakame salad, gyoza, broccoli with tofu, and the sushi. There’s actually a lot of variety in the buffet — way more items than I can even name, and it rotates, so different things show up from time to time. If you’re into variety, the buffet is the way to go. Everything I’ve tried has been really good and flavorful. It’s been a totally satisfying experience every time.
Other must-​eats include the curry-​pan (because you haven’t lived until you’ve had a curry donut, mmm!), an-​pan (red bean donut), the uncheesecake, and their freshly baked bread which you can buy by the loaf (they even have gluten-​free). It’s like the deliciously soft bread you can buy at the Japanese market except without the dairy and eggs.
Having a vegan Japanese restaurant in West LA is so awesome! Thank you, Casa de Tree!

This location is the long-​anticipated second eatery in the Casa de Tree franchise. I admit, I haven’t been to the original location in Torrance, but being that I am in West LA, this location in the Culver City/​Mar Vista area has been satisfying my craving just fine since I found this little joint several weeks back.
First thing first: I am not a vegan, nor am I a vegetarian. There, full disclosure out in the open. And for good measure, I’m also not a raw foodist, a food combiner, nor a macrobiotic. I’m a bonafide omnivore, and some days I’ll follow a vegetarian diet, but if I do, it happens to be totally coincidental.
So how did I find out about this awesome vegan café/​bakery? My friend, who is vegan, wanted to try this place out, so we ventured in together one day. I was amazed that a «vegan buffet» actually existed! This place is known for their vegan «deli» selection, and there are so many deli dishes all jam-​packed in this (dare I say) cute restaurant, that it absolutely blows my mind. Every nook & cranny is put to good use here and the vibe is a mix of cute and zen, if that makes any sense.
So onto the food: My friend and I both got the lunch buffet special. It’s $ 20/​per person, but given the quality of the food prepared, it really isn’t that expensive. There are vegan croquettes, vegan potstickers, vegan cabbage rolls, vegan tonkatsu… the list goes on and on. And the craziest part of all this is that everything tasted fabulous (this coming from an omnivore).
There is also a bakery section with freshly-​made tarts, brownies, cookies, cakes, and rolls, as well as ready-​made bento boxes if you need a quick to-​go lunch.
Everything is just so cute & painstakingly-​crafted that it won me over at first bite. I’ve gone here couple times now and I will be a faithful patron (though I doubt I’ll turn vegan).
Sidenote: I talked to the owner lady (or manager, not sure) today and she said that starting from this Friday, they’ll have live music playing there in the afternoon.