Amazing amazing gem in the heart of LA! Food is DELICIOUS, staff is attentive and kind, & the restaurant itself is beautiful. Highly recommend for amazing vegan soul food!

Ok this place is absolutely incredible. As someone from the FL Panhandle who used to frequent New Orleans, I miss soul food something fierce. Unfortunately, I'm celiac & can no longer enjoy much of it anymore. I came across this place looking for a good date night spot with someone who is vegetarian. Finding a place that has both gluten free & veg options can be tricky, but Crystals Soul Cafe hit the spot. The service was excellent, the food impeccable, & it was so cozy inside. They were out of something in the dish I ordered, but were able to substitute it & it was some of the best gumbo I've ever had -- period. I also had enough leftovers for days. I don't know what magic they use to make gluten free, vegan fried shrimp, but they deserve the utmost respect. Highly recommend to anyone with dietary restrictions who is looking for an authentic soul food experience. I'll be back again.

Great experience and the food is delicious. Only thing is we had to sit outside due to the smell was incredibly powerful. Would definitely go back to try more of their plates.

**Review for Crystals Soul Cafe** Crystals Soul Cafe is an absolute gem! The ambiance of the place is perfect and pleasantly unexpected, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere. The food was nothing short of delicious. From the collard greens to the fried catfish nuggets and cornbread, everything was cooked to perfection. The customer service was outstanding, making the dining experience even more enjoyable. I highly recommend Crystals Soul Cafe for anyone looking for a delightful meal in a wonderful setting. Five stars!

Plate CLEANED! This was the rib platter with greens, fried oyster mushrooms, Mac n cheese, and cornbread. Everything was delicious! Enough food for 2!

I wish I would have took pictures. The wait was well worth it. The food was amazing, flavor On POINT. so much variety. Be sure to tip the friendly staff. I will have pictures next time because we will definitely return. This place is it!!!!

Must-try for vegan soul food lovers~~ Crystals is a lush, misty oasis on the outskirts of LA proper. You should honestly take your non-vegan friends (myself included) here to convert them, the food is that good LOL We got in around 9 pm to place a takeout order-- would've def dined in if we arrived earlier. This is a whole ass greenhouse. Plus little water features, spirituality books, mood lighting, and crystals curate a serene, bohemian vibe. TACOS (asada): The "meat" is uncannily meat-like. They have this down to an art. On top are avocado, vegan cheese, and tomato generously laden. At $16 it's a little over $5 each (kinda steep for tacos ngl) but very worth the flavor & quantity STRAWBERRY MILKSHAKE: Hmmmmm this tastes like a smoothie ;u; Not much milk-like thickness but still delicious & fruity My bf basically inhaled his catfish soul plate LMAO. 10/10. The variety is wild (the dessert list....!!). Need to be back to try the rest of their menu. NOTE: At the time of visiting (Mar 2024), their card reader was down so only taking cash or Venmo.

I love this place. Wanted some clean and tasty plant based food. No processed stuff, but great tasting food that makes you believe and that's exactly what I found here. Came all the way to LA from Lake Elsinore for this. The hours on the site were a bit inaccurate-think it said they open at 4pm but they opened at 5pm. The yelp reviews prepared me for the wait so that was no biggie for me, I placed my order online ahead of time. For quality, whole food made well, I don't mind waiting. Especially if I'm told ahead of time of the wait. Such was the case here. I was told it would take awhile, especially for more food and so I adjusted my expectations accordingly and my food was out on time. It was also nice to hear crew members in the back discussing orders and getting out each customers order. The place is not huge, but it's all the vibes. There is a table for 2 outside on the patio, two tables for 4 inside and then a few bar stools. Plants everywhere with colored lights and fish tanks and tvs. If you're claustrophobic, you may want to order to go. The restrooms are small but in my experience they were nice and clean. It also had a diffuser or something in there for a nice touch. When going out of my way to try a place, I get a bit of everything to make the drive worth it. I got the Lion's Mane Rib plate and the Meatloaf Soul plate-I forgot what the actual names are. The meatloaf is on point. If they made this out of mushrooms, I'd be hella shocked. The ribs you can tell are mushroom based but still have a great texture to them and were satisfying. Came with fried shrimp in the form of mushrooms that were also satisfying The mac tastes maybe more like stroganoff which is not an issue, it's a good pasta dish. The corn cakes are moist and in good portions. Greens were good and the mashed potatoes I ate cold but were still good the next day. Nearly forgot I had the jambalaya. It was amazing. Wish I ordered it to eat there but I'll have it again next time. Looking forward to trying more and bringing someone special here with me

This place is a hidden gem. I will return again. This is soul food. The two plates we ordered made me, my friend, and my brother full. Each plate comes with two sides. Lions Mane Rib Soul Plate: This dish is a must. The way they cooked the lions mane is absolutely delicious. Caribbean Shrimp Soul Plate: This dish is tasty. I found that there was a lot of sauce on the shrimp. It was still very tasty though! Cajun Lobster Mac: So delicious! Candied Yams: Best yams I have had as of 8/20/23. It tastes like a heartwarming whole thanksgiving meal. Corncake: So moist, deliciously sweet. Collared Greens: Tasted delicious. Definitely not cooked typically like other collared greens. They really know what they are doing.