I’ve expanded vegan coverage beyond the San Fernando Valley. I’m now frequenting a new vegan restaurant called Pho Viet in Canyon Country (a city within Santa Clarita). It’s ten minutes North of the East San Fernando Valley; which is not a bad drive if you think about it.

I use to drive from Sylmar or Sun Valley to North Hollywood to eat at vegan restaurants. That drive is around 15-18 minutes. So, driving North 10-15 minutes is not a bad idea. Plus, the drive on the 14 North is scenic; the low foothills of the San Gabriel mountains appear in your rear-view mirror while you drive up towards Placerita Canyon, leaving behind the LA National Forest and smoggy plumes towering over our beloved valley. Los Angeles, San Fernando Valley, Santa Clarita–it’s still all part of LA County anyway.

Pho Viet is one of the few restaurants on this end of Canyon Country. This particular restaurant is as authentic Vietnamese as it gets. It’s family owned. The new owners just renovated and boosted the menu with comforting Vietnamese dishes.

There are two dishes that are Vietnamese vegan: Vermicelli bowl with Tofu and Grilled Tofu on a bed of broken rice or rice paddies.

The fish sauce is not vegan–so they give me a sweeter soy sauce in a dipping sauce bowl. On the tables, there is a plate that has a bunch of mouth-watering condiments: Siracha, Crushed Red Chili Peppers, Fresh grind of chilli peppers in olive oil, and Soy Sauce.