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| - Fresh Mint may be my favorite vegetarian restaurant in town. However, it's important to note that it is not 100% vegan, and the menu doesn't mark the non-vegan items but I believe it is just the shell of the imperial rolls (egg rolls). Ask before ordering!
Beyond that - Fresh Mint is one of the rare veg. restaurants in town that clearly make every meal with love. I say that, because I've observed Chef Mai Ly and her husband for many years, and the tenderness and respect they have for each other is so touching.
While I've had many favorite items over time, my current go-to is the veggie kabob to start, with the golden soy chicken delight for my entree. The kabobs are all about the BBQ peanut sauce - it's lick-the-plate good. I might actually try to get a different starter served with it next visit, because I love all of the rolls, but the regular peanut sauce is just good, not amazing.
Fresh Mint uses a lot of "mock meats" but to me they are much better than the mock meats served in other restaurants in town. The "chicken" in the golden soy chicken delight is thinly sliced and textured like real chicken - including a bumpy skin! It's almost too real! But the most important part is how it absorbs the soy ginger sauce. I worship this sauce. It's slightly sweet, but has the ginger snap to it. It's served with bountiful steamed rice (or brown if you prefer) which I use to mop up the left-over sauce. It's also served with fresh, lightly steamed broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, squash and carrots. I eat those if I get around to it at the end...
Other favorite items include the fresh cucumber rolls, the spicy lemongrass noodle soup (especially if you have a cold!), the sesame soybean, the spicy ginger soy beef (probably my 2nd favorite entree), the black pepper steak, and the stir fried noodles. I used to get the chow mein all the time, but then I found out the crispy noodles its served on (like a bird's nest) are not vegan. I could still get it with soft noodles, but that would be less fun.
My husband loves the fresh lemongrass tofu - which is a very unique dish. It's little pinwheels of rolled tofu and seaweed, served with a ginger sauce.
For desert, anything with their tapioca is great, but ask to make sure it's vegan (if you are a plant-based diner). I think the fritters may not be vegan.
Service is usually great, unless they are slammed. Mai Ly's husband Michael is usually the only waiter, or sometimes he has a couple of people to help in both the front and back ends of the restaurant. Mai Ly makes everything to order, so don't expect instant delivery, but I've never waited excessively. Expecting a little wait is also a good excuse to get an appetizer! The restaurant is clean and casual, and for some reason their water tastes very good to me. Maybe they add cucumber?
In summary - if you are vegan, vegetarian or veg-curious and want a healthy, flavorful meal, give them a try! Mock meats can be a challenge for some people, but they have plenty of veg-only or tofu items as well to pick from. And Michael can help you find something on the menu for everyone.
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