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This is a great vegan place... Being vegan it is hard to find a good restaurant with vegan options that don't wind up tasting flavorless. Not so here - the dishes are all flavorful and actually quite creative. I had the Buddha Bowl, and I don't believe I've ever had anything like it before: blackened tempeh, steamed vegetables, and basmati rice all in a curry flavoring. Excellent and I would definitely return, even though it is a tad pricey (but then again, it's all organic so they probably aren't overcharging). One thing though... the "dining in" space is pretty small, probably about 15x15, so it is kind of cramped and noisy. But then again, some people might find it to be cozy.

Don't let the "Vegan" label fool you...this is just plain old great food. From bowls like the "Mad Cowboy" and "Soul Bowl" to yummy soups to great specials, it's awesome for vegans and non-vegans alike. We will drive from the valley just for this restaurant (please put one in Studio City!). I often drive across town "for a meeting" on the Westside just so I can have lunch here. Don't miss it.

Native has a few locations; I've been to both the Westwood and Costa Mesa ones, but I'll talk about the Westwood one since I work up the street and go there frequently. I'll say straight off that my ratings for service and atmosphere shouldn't be taken the wrong way - the service and atmosphere are fine, but it's not a sit-down restaurant - you order at the counter and get a number. The Westwood location is pretty small, and the tables are above the cooking area, so it can sometimes get a little hot - it's nice to watch your food being prepared, though. This is a great vegetarian restaurant to bring omnivores to. I have met very few people who don't think it's at least pretty good. I highly recommend: * Bali Surf Burger, blackened, substitute fries for slaw, add caramelized onions, Native Cheese. * Jerk Burger. Most of the bowls are pretty good (esp. the Soba Dan-Dan, the Soul Bowl, and (if you're into macrobiotic type food) the Macro bowl), and the pizzas, well definitely not traditional pizza, are actually not too bad, as long as you're not expecting a great East Coast / Chicago style pizza, and understand that the cheese is going to be soft, nut-based cheese and not melty cheese-like cheese. Daily specials are often worth checking out. Several of my friends swear by the Chili Cheese Fries, which are pretty good. Their hibiscus iced tea is great. Most of the desserts are good, including the fake cheesecake. If you're vegan (I am) and miss cheesecake, definitely get that. If you're not vegan, go get yourself some real cheesecake. I do /not/ suggest any of the tacos or the Philly Peppersteak Sandwich. One other minor complaint - the greens (served in some of the bowls, and also available as a side) are almost /always/ swiss-chard - they rarely or never have Kale or collards. This is probably because they take much longer to cook, however I'd like to see a better variety of dark leafy greens. Price is one area where Native kind of stinks