“Hey” in this place name is kind of nice, isn’t it? Sunshine Kitchen is a very typical name for a vegan restaurant adjacent to nature. But when you add “hey,” it becomes “Hey, Sunshine Kitchen” and suddenly it has a completely different feel. The atmosphere is bright and refreshing, and the conversation is fun and friendly. We had the pleasure of stopping by Hey, Sunshine Kitchen on a Sunday afternoon.
“??Sunshine Kitchen embodies all of our knowledge, love and passion for plant-based foods and brings it to you,” they say online. “We want to help all of our customers shine from the inside out through delicious, vibrant and healthy meals. I will.”
To be honest, and I say this with all my heart, this writer had no idea he was doing this. had Never mind the inner gifts, the inner gifts that have the potential to uplift the entire planet. That's the difference when eating vegan. Innerwear is considered a gift.
We chose the heart beef crumble bowl. “Seasoned plant-based beef crumble, caramelized onions, diced tomatoes, sautéed cauliflower, red onions, shredded carrots, shoestring onions, massaged kale, house pickles, lime wedges, and zesty carrot vinaigrette.”
It's the details that count. The sautéed cauliflower was perfectly cooked, seasoned, browned, and flavorful. The caramelized onions, red onions, and shoestring onions (that's three types of onions!) are tangy and sweet and complement the other flavors in the bowl.
The mashed kale wasn't bitter at all (there's always a risk with leaves), and the diced tomatoes and shredded carrots were crunchy, fresh, and vibrant.
But we have to talk about plant-based beef crumbles. It's amazing how close it is to real beef in taste and texture, but whether it's good or bad depends on personal preference. It was beautifully seasoned and the taste was really tender, which is an odd thing to say about plant-based food. But this trick is so convincing that it feels appropriate. Homemade pickles and a tangy carrot vinaigrette complete the dish.
I decided to add sesame-crusted avocado and sweet potato and both were excellent. Avocados in particular are dotted with black seeds, but they are rich and delicious.
It also came with carrot soup, which was hearty and comforting even on a warm afternoon. The spicy carrot soup brought deliciousness to every bite.
These were gifts that really made our week.
Sunshine Kitchen is located at 3863 Overland Ave., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-360-3620 and visit heysunshinekitchen.com.
