If you ever feel indecisive at this vegan Vietnamese spot in Reseda, the friendly owner will shout, “Brother!” and point to the wall behind him: “Welcome to Vinh Loi Tofu. I pick, you eat.” Luckily, neither he nor any dish on his lengthy menu has let us down. Vinh Loi’s plant-based food is too flavorful to do that. A quick, easy lunch here might entail juicy lemongrass “beef” banh mis with heaps of sweet pickled carrots and oriental duck spring rolls, which are, as the owner calls them, “the best ones.” They come tightly packed with nearly caramelized teriyaki mushrooms and a fried egg roll that lets out a loud crack as you chomp in. The House Special soup, with its sweet-spicy peanut broth, rightfully belongs on every table. You’ll see a revolving door of regulars popping in to grab their to-go lunch, but we suggest enjoying yours there and then if you have time. The food arrives hot and fast, and you can get a personalized recommendation from your new brother if you want to add on anything else to eat.
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