Los Angeles is a city filled with healthy hotspots, so as you can imagine, there is nothing I enjoy more than discovering a new health-focused restaurant that is really, really good! Given that I am always seeking out restaurants that focus on health, I was surprised that I hadn’t discovered Golden Mean Café sooner. With a humble exterior and relatively small space, Golden Mean is one of Santa Monica’s hidden gems. This completely vegan establishment serves delicious and affordable food that will make your mind and body feel great after just a couple of bites…
Going NOBREAD at Golden Mean is easy because the gluten free menu options are clearly noted on the menu. The menu is essentially gluten free, except for a few select ingredients, like the vegan sausage and vegan chicken. These faux-proteins contain gluten, but they are easily avoided if you ask for a substitution. Golden Mean has a unique mix of Mexican, Italian, and Mediterranean influences. For example, the gluten free tortilla is made with corn and cactus; cactus is a highly nutrient-dense food and makes the tortilla taste amazing. I love the tortilla in the Garden Vegetable Wrap. The wrap is made with homemade greens, tomato, avocado, cucumber, carrots, and bell pepper. You can also find the tortillas baked as chips in the nachos plate and smothered in salsa, black beans, guacamole, sour cream and melted daiya cheese. Golden Mean offers salads that are packed with super-foods and nutrients. The Golden Ratio Salad is my favorite and it has a dynamic mix of marinated tempeh, kale, quinoa, candied walnuts, red bell peppers and seasonal squash, dressed in a Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette. Golden Mean Cafe also has its fair share of Italian comfort food; I am dying to try the GF vegan pesto pizza on my next visit. Fresh-pressed juices, super-food smoothies, teas, and coffees are all offered, as well as mouth-watering GF cakes, cookies and pastries (the coconut Blondie is out of this world!)
I appreciate Golden Mean’s dedication to serving healthy food in innovative ways. The location is casual and quaint, but the food speaks for itself. The health-conscious and gluten free crowd will be making Golden Mean their staple spot for grabbing quick, nutritious meals in no time, and I’m excited to go back time and time again!