Jan 2010

M Café de Chaya – Los Angeles (Beverly Hills)

M CAFE SIGNAGE

The letter “M” in M Café de Chaya stands for macrobiotic, a dietary approach of Japanese origins that is embraced by health nuts and Hollywood-types alike. At M Café, seafood, seasonality, and whole grains get the green light, while refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat, and poultry are given the boot. I prefer to simplify the matter and think of macrobiotics as veganism, but with a side of really fresh fish. The Astronomer and I met up with the lovely D takes a B for lunch at M Café in Beverly Hills last weekend.

SIGNAGE

Executive chef Shigefumi Tachibe provides a fresh take on the macrobiotic philosophies of Michio Kushi at all three M Café locations. What sets the Beverly Hills branch apart from the ones in West Hollywood and Culver City is its concise bill of fare and smaller space. Additionally, the “Little M” menu emphasizes convenience and affordability—to-go items are always available in the store’s refrigerator, and prices are a buck and some change lower across the board. However, considering that the typical clientele are lunching ladies taking a break from shopping on Rodeo Drive, I don’t think that prices or lack of free time are an issue. Zing!

M CAFE PATRONS

Whether I’m slumming it at holeinthewalls or breaking the bank at Michelin starred establishments, I generally feel at ease when dining out. However, a funny thing happened at M Café—I felt totally like a fish out of water. While eating healthfully has always been important to me, I was out of my element navigating a terrain of egg-less egg salads and dairy-free puddings. Thank goodness Diana was by my side to help shed light on the soy bean-intensive menu.

SWEET POTATO FRIES

When Diana suggested that we start with an order of sweet potato fries ($3.50), The Astronomer and I happily agreed. Dusted in chili powder and sea salt, the fries were well-seasoned and delightfully crisp. A squeeze of fresh lime juice added a pleasant tang. The fries were accompanied by a beet-tomato ketchup and a soy-based spicy yuzu mayonnaise. The faux mayonnaise was positively creamy.

TUNA TATAKI INARI

I snuck an order of tuna tataki inari ($2.50) all to myself. The slightly vinegary brown rice and sweet tofu pocket paired perfectly with the slab of sesame speckled tuna.

TEMPEH WRAP

Taking a cue from our M Café veteran Diana, The Astronomer settled on the Madras Tempeh Wrap ($9.75) with masala-baked tempeh, brown basmati rice, toasted almonds, raisins, frizzled onions, and crisp vegetables with curried soy yogurt dressing in a whole wheat lavash. From the nutty tempeh to the sweet raisins and creamy dressing, The Astronomer loved everything about the wrap.

QUINOA SALAD

I bullied The Astronomer into ordering the scarlet quinoa for his side item. The grains were visually and texturally interesting, but quite ordinary flavor-wise. The little chunks of beets weren’t enough to jazz up the salad.

TOFU SALAD SANDWICH

I ordered the dilled tofu salad sandwich ($8.25) with diced celery, dill pickles, sliced tomato, and mixed baby greens on sourdough bread. Following the savory fries and curry wrap, my sandwich tasted sadly bland. The notes of dill were too subtle to breakthrough the mildly flavored tofu. I wished I had consumed the sandwich before assaulting my palate with intense spices.

KALE

My side of kale greens was as tasty as Diana promised. Coated in a spicy peanut dressing, the crinkly leaves were a pleasure to eat.

STRAWBERRY CUPCAKE

To finish, we shared a strawberry cupcake. The cake was very moist and dotted with fresh fruit. The frosting wasn’t as smooth or as rich as a traditional buttercream, but it still had an appealingly airy quality about it. M Café’s cupcake ranks alongside Babycakes in New York City as exemplars of vegan sweets. We also shared a chocolate pudding that was nearly spot-on, save for its mildly toothy texture.

M Café de Chaya
9433 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-858-8459

M Cafe on Urbanspoon

M Café de Chaya in Los Angeles

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10 thoughts on “M Café de Chaya – Los Angeles (Beverly Hills)

  1. The lunch will forever live on an infamy as the meal where I dropped my camera into the toothy chocolate pudding.

    But I’m glad I was there to be your M guide! 🙂

  2. Lol D takes a B dropped her cam into chocolate pudding??!! This is for another sitcom episode. I still haven’t been to M cafe, sigh, looks delish. The cupcake looks healthy.

  3. Between you and D takes a B I feel like I need to run to M Cafe and see what i’m missing! The Tuna Tataki looks interesting, what is on the bottom? I want to try this cupcake and I completely trust you cupcake judgement even though the idea of vegan dessert does not appeal to me! Love it!

  4. This cafe is the antithesis of the run of the mill deep fried wanna-be-meat bullsh*t vegan outposts. I love the principle behind this. My wife and I are trying to adhere to all-vegetarian days at least twice a week. An option like this would rock the party.

    Great post and photos (as always). 🙂

  5. Nastassia – The bottom is a fried tofu skin pocket called “inari.” M’s cupcake can’t hold a candle to Sprinkles (or Joan’s for that matter), but considering there aren’t any eggs or butter in it, I was impressed 😉

  6. Hi Gastronomer,

    Thanks for the review on M Cafe (and great pics). I keep meaning to visit, but never get around to it. I have to get there soon… 🙂

  7. veganism w. side of fish. classic gastronomyblog breaking it down for the masses. and that kale and fries looks yummy. i’m getting an M-attack.

  8. Speechless and yes delicious looking. Do you guys ever eat anything that looks bad?I think never. Should have saved me a few fries.

  9. I wish you took a pic of D’s cam in the pudding! 😛

    On the side note, I don’t know about brown rice sushi? Something just seems, wrong….like my dinner tonight of fake chicken made of tofu…

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