Vincybie Lee
Google
We walked for 30 minutes from our hotel, filled with high hopes for our meal at Vegetarian House Vegan, which boasted an impressive 4.6 rating on Google Reviews. Upon our arrival, however, we were informed that indoor dining was only available on weekends, leaving us with the outdoor seating option. Initially, we tried to remain optimistic and chose a table, but to our dismay, we were met with a strong smell of urine in that area. We quickly moved to another table, hoping for a better experience.
Next, we attempted to place our order via the QR code, but the process proved frustratingly slow. After about 20 minutes, we still encountered issues with card payment, adding to our stress as we were on a tight schedule for medical appointments.
To make matters worse, our meals were served on disposable plates, bowls, and utensils—something we hadn’t anticipated based on the reviews we read. Regardless of whether these disposables were biodegradable, it detracted significantly from the dining experience. Eating from proper plates and using real cutlery enhances the enjoyment of a meal, and the use of disposables reminded me of the less favorable takeaway experiences during the pandemic. Thankfully, we always carry our own stainless steel chopstick set, which at least provided some comfort.
Now, let’s discuss the food itself. We ordered Bun Hue, stir-fried mixed vegetables, and Malaysian fried curry noodles. As someone from Malaysia, I was particularly looking forward to the curry noodles, but I was disappointed to find them overly saturated with coconut milk—far from the authentic flavors I know. Both noodle dishes were excessively soggy, and the Bun Hue soup had a taste that was quite peculiar. The only redeeming dish was the mixed vegetables, which were nicely prepared.
Overall, the experience felt more like dining in a national park without proper amenities, rather than enjoying a meal at a well-reviewed restaurant. It was disheartening to miss out on what could have been a wonderful dining experience in San Jose. 😕😕😕