Along with Au Lac’s other tofu-based staples (“beef” with watercress, tofu and bamboo shoots with lemon grass), the Vietnamese plates at Au Lac have driven the place to vegetarian fame. But just recently Au Lac has grown beyond that, adding an entire second menu full of raw vegan eats so good they could easily be annexed to form a whole separate restaurant. One of the best dishes for an introduction to the raw menu is the humanese soup, a room-temperature mix filled with zucchini, avocado, coconut, cilantro and a drizzle of olive oil. Without a boiling broth, the soup seems an odd one, but it quickly makes sense—the cubes of avocado approximate the creamiest soup spoonfuls; the coconut and cilantro help take it to enjoyable tropical tastes. There are also bits of Au Lac’s omega chips for a break in texture. The chips are ground down from golden flax seeds, cilantro and kelp—they’re crisper, thicker and better than almost any corn chip.

AU LAC 16563 BROOKHURST ST | FOUNTAIN VALLEY 92708 | 714.418.0658 | AULAC.COM | OPEN TUES-THURS&SUN 11:30AM-9:30PM | FRI-SAT 11:30AM-10PM | FOOD FOR TWO $20-40

Tags: dinner, fountain valley, lunch, vegetarian, vietnamese