Good Girl Dinette 
110 N Ave 56
Los Angeles, CA 90042
Neighborhood: Highland Park
(323) 257-8980
www.goodgirlfoods.com
They've been open in my neighborhood for maybe two years I think and I'm surprised at that, not because they're bad, but because their high quality is out of place for the neighborhood. We enjoy their pho and spring rolls and pretty much everything else we've tried. The atmosphere is very minimal: no art on the old brick walls. They concentrate on what they do best: everything is cooked fresh (their pot pies take a half hour). Their ingredients are from local sources and you'll be happy there whether you're vegetarian or not. The meat is good quality from Neiman Ranch. Many people consider it pricey for the neighborhood, but it is not pricey for what they serve. If you were to sit down in this place in Pasadena you wouldn't think twice about the bill. In fact, I've run into Pasadena friends dining there, so it's worth the trip to eat at a place like this and be able to park.
Viet Noodle Bar
3133 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 906-1575
I absolutely LOVE this place. Before I had gone here I only ate noodles from one other place in the neighborhood and was convinced that nothing could be better or as good. I was definitely wrong. Viet Noodle Bar has become a part of my life now and I'm pretty happy about it. I typically order the #12 Vegetarian Lemongrass Pho. If I'm really hungry I will start with the #3 Jicama Fresh Rolls. The pho is perfectly and simply flavored and being the spicy food lover that I am, the only thing I add (and feel like I need to add) is a little Sriracha. The Jicama Fresh Rolls are crisp and refreshing and served with a delicious peanut sauce. A perfect appetizer that isn't too filling before your meal. Oh, and they also have Mexican Coke here which is pretty swell. Some people may complain that the service can be slow and less attentive at times, which from time to time it might be slower...but for the most part the people who work here are very sweet and efficient.
Vietnamese Soy Café
1997 Hyperion Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
(323) 663-7888
www.vietnamesesoycafe.com
Been wanting to go here for years but their hours were always weird. After a hiatus, they re-opened last December with more regular times. FYI - it can be hard to find and the place is teeny tiny!!! We took a seat at the counter, where maybe 6 people total could fit comfortably. There's also no bathroom, so I was grateful to see a huge container of Hand Sanitizer by the window. We split 2 of the 3 Vegetarian Banh Mi options - One with tofu the other with lemongrass soy beef. One of them was vegan, the other wasn't (it had mayo). I can't remember which because I ate them both at the same time. Overall, I liked the tofu one better (while my husband preferred the soy beef). We asked what the delicious sauce in the vegan one was, and he showed us - Skippy PB with Hoisin! Who knew?! Even though you could get 6 sandwiches in Little Saigon for the price of 2 at Vietnamese Soy Cafe, we preferred the latter. The bread was chewier and we preferred the fillings. Good thing for us, since Silver Lake is a lot closer. A top Banh Mi contender for my blog's Best Veggie Sandwiches in LA list so far!
Indochine Vien
3110 Glendale Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 667-9591
www.indochinevien.com/
Totally fresh and tasty. I'm not that familiar with Vietnamese food, and so I'm not a pho phanatic. I had a big bowl of vermicelli with lots of different kinds of veggies, tofu, ground peanuts with a dipping sauce. Really good! I couldn't finish it all and took the rest home. Sachi had a pho bowl which I tasted, and found the broth very interesting. (I like the way they use fresh peppermint and cilantro.) For dessert something that I think must be an American/Vietnamese hybrid: apple fritters, which looked like egg rolls, but tasted like very tasty apple pie. It was dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, and drizzled with honey. Sachi had a banana version of the same, which was drizzled with maple syrup. She liked it "...all right. It'll do in a pinch." She's not a big dessert person (I am.) And I must mention their lemonade: delicious! And one thing more: the place looked and felt REALLY CLEAN. Cleanliness is VERY reassuring to me in an eatery.
Gingergrass
2396 Glendale Blvd
Silver Lake, CA 90039
Neighborhood: Silver Lake
(323) 644-1600
www.gingergrass.com
The food is delicious and the service always friendly and efficient. If I don't feel like cooking which is most days, this is at the top of my list. I usually opt for the chicken bowl with brown rice instead of noodles. The ingredients are so fresh and simple which is great if you want to monitor calories and nutritional content. The limeade is delicious, it's great after the meal to cleanse the palate. I tried the fresh rolls last time; a delicious, healthy alternative to their fried thai/chinese counterparts. And if the weather is nice try sitting outside, its easier to have a conversation and not as noisy as inside.
