Veggie Grill opens today in Long Beach

The latest Veggie Grill opens in Long Beach today and I was there yesterday for a sneak peek of the new location. I’ve always been a fan of Veggie Grill from its inception in Irvine on the UCI campus to its many expansions. Long Beach is the 10th location and has adopted a stunning new look. The interior is reminiscent of a diner with booths, a counter and the addition of red to its ubiquitous orange and green color scheme.

We decided to order new menu items I hadn’t tried before, but began with the Tomato Basil soup ($2.95/cup and $4.50/bowl), a really delicious soup filled with tomatoey goodness and hints of basil.

Crispy Chickin’ Plate ($9.95) offers my favorite steaming kale as a side with the delicious sesame dressing drizzled on top. A fried chickin’ cutlet is cooked to perfection and honestly, tastes just like a piece of fried chicken to me but without all the calories and cholesterol.

VG Rollers ($7.95) are like mini wraps stuffed with blackened chickin’, cabbage, creamy Santa Fe spread and rolled in flour tortillas. A salsa is served on the side, but I love their housemade tomatillo sauce even more on these.

My favorite was the “Crab” Cake ($9.95). I was so blown away by the taste and texture I was honestly shocked that this was a faux crab cake. A spiced tartar sauce, pickles, tomato, lettuce and red onion is served on the sandwich.

The Buffalo Wings ($6.95) aren’t new, but they are so delicious that I had some of those too. My son eats two orders of these on his own.

End with a dessert like the Chocolate Pudding Parfait ($3.50) with their made-from-scratch pudding topped with chocolate sauce, crushed cookies, walnuts and VG crema. For a non-dessert lover, I totally love this one. Their chocolate pudding has always been one of my favorites with its rich chocolately taste and smooth texture.