Adam B.
Yelp
Now, it's no more and I'm far from confident that there will be another place like Ricchardo's the Total Vegetarian, formerly Orean, where I have been a regular for some thirty years.
Originally, there was one in Hollywood, which didn't last. Then I discovered this location and drove from my parent's house on the Westside, when vegetarian options in L.A. were few. Later, I lived five minutes away on Los Robles and would drop in all the time. I once interviewed Orean, the owner, for the L.A. Weekly and he wouldn't reveal the ingredients to the African salsa.
Eighteen years ago, I moved to Atlanta, Georgia, but when back in town, I was at that drive thru window. Orean, the owner, passed away and Ricchardo took over, always working with the guy with the black fingernail polish. I never saw another employee. The menu was largely the same. Their knockout peanut butter shake was on the menu, but then disappeared. The soy tacos arrived and were simple and perfect. The cheeseburger was the best vegetarian cheeseburger I have ever had. And the hot-o-dog. What can one say about a hot-o-dog? It was nuts-o-yummy.
Considering the popularity of veganism, charging more for vegan cheese was not going to endear the place to the young'uns. But, for whatever reason, they kept that. The owner definitely rubbed some folk (foolish, whiny and, easily bruised customers) the wrong way. They left embittered reviews. Too bad, that, as the place didn't survive.