I'm not one to go for vegan food, but my curiosity (and some really good reviews) made me want to check out Chay Corner inside Lazi Cow in Davis for some vegan Vietnamese food. I had to see if it was as good as people said it was. I have to say that I was surprised at how flavorful the food we ordered was. I was genuinely impressed!
Food -
Chay Corner offers up a small menu of vegan Vietnamese cuisine. There are appetizers, banh mis, noodles, and rice dishes, and drinks. On this visit I tried the five spice fried tofu, grilled goodness banh mi, and the pho. I also ordered a drink, but it was the Lazi Cow version rather than the Chay Corner vegan version of the drink.
Since appetizers come first, I'll start with that. The five spice fried tofu was excellent. The tofu cubes had a light fry to them and were covered with the five spice mix. I found myself enjoying the flavor of the spice mix quite a bit. It was pronounced, but certainly not overpowering. The tofu also came out piping hot and fresh. I love it when you know the food is prepared right to order.
The tofu came out pretty quickly, but the main order of pho and the banh mi took about twenty to twenty five minutes to get to the table. It was a little longer than I expected given that the restaurant wasn't at full capacity during our visit. In any case, I was very pleased with the food that came out.
The banh mi was large and reminded me of a subway sandwich. It came filled with the vegan 'meat' as well as traditional banh mi veggies. The 'meat' was surprisingly flavorful and juicy. It substituted extremely well for the real thing. Of course you can tell it isn't real meat, but it was enjoyable and I liked it!
The pho noodles were great as well. It came with the same 'meat' that the banh mi had. I tried the pho after giving the banh mi a try. The 'meat's' texture seemed a little different. I'm not sure if it was because it was sitting for a while before consuming or if it was because it was in broth - in any case, though it was the same, it definitely had a different feel than what it had in the banh mi. Overall I really enjoyed the pho - but more for the noodles and broth that were spot on.
Service/Atmosphere -
The atmosphere at Lazi Cow is very unique. It has a casual vibe with some unique decorations inside. The main people who come would be college students, and I believe it fits in with that demographic. There is an actual swing inside the restaurant! You won't see that very often!
Though the main items came out slower than I would have liked, I never felt that the staff at Chay Corner were negligent. In fact, the staff was very friendly and accommodating. We needed various things during our meal and the staff happily got us what we requested.
Price -
The vegan aspect of Chay Corner is what causes the price of the items to be higher than most. The banh mi sandwiches are nine dollars with the pho being eleven. That's quite pricey, but given that they are vegan, I think the cost of the food is justifiable. Vegan items are more difficult and costly to make, so there will certainly be a higher price for the food.
Special Tips and Recommendations -
Come for the Vietnamese food, but also try Lazi Cow's menu while you're here. There are a ton of things on the Lazi Cow menu such as milk teas and desserts. If you aren't vegan but have vegan friends, Lazi Cow is the perfect place to go as they can accommodate both preferences!
Bottom Line -
Tasty vegan Vietnamese food is here! Even if you're not a vegan, the food at Chay Corner is worth checking out. The food tastes excellent with good Vietnamese flavors in each dish. It's a surprising place to eat so come and check it out!
Letter Grade
A-
Five spice crispy tofu appetizer.
Pho with the vegan 'meat'.
The noodles have authentic texture and the broth is flavored nicely.
Pretty hefty banh mi sandwich.
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