Sipz Fusion Cafe – Gentle on the wallet and big on portions

Orange chicken, spring rolls, and pad thai. Sounds like your typical Asian restaurant, right? Not exactly.

If you haven’t been to Sipz, you need to check out this vegetarian (and omnivore) friendly joint, where choices abound. Gentle on the wallet and big on portions, Sipz offers a menu beyond the stereotypical offerings of bean sprouts, tofu, and salad. For example, while ordering my Thai Spicy Fried Rice, I was asked if I wanted chicken, tofu, or beef. The difference? All the “meat” here is actually soy.

Sipz introduces vegetarian food in such a way that it is friendly for meat and veggie eaters alike. Their fusion menu offers Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Italian options that are 100% vegetarian friendly, with the majority being vegan friendly as well. Servings are hearty, and if you’re feeling more adventurous, give the more traditional family-style menu a try. Orders can be requested on a 1-10 spiciness scale, and while most orders come with a faux meat option, those wary of mock-meats can easily avoid them.

While the food here is great, I also have to mention the service: friendly and attentive, the server nicely offered to split our checks. We were a group of eight people.

Popular dishes include the Thai Curry, Drunken Noodles, and Spicy Thai Fried Rice, but make sure to leave room for dessert, too. Sweet rice and coconut are highlights next to their popular carrot and chocolate cakes. If you have any misgivings about a bland vegetarian spread, leave them at the door, because the food here is full of flavor, and can easily rival their carnivorous counterparts at your typical Asian restaurant. While I’m as carnivorous as they come, Sipz lets me know that I could be vegetarian.

I want to come back here and try everything on the menu- it all sounds extremely appetizing, and with the multitude of options, the biggest problem is that my eyes are bigger than my stomach. And the wafting aroma of vegan chocolate cake baking just behind the counter did not help matters any.

Sipz Fusion Cafe
5501 Clairemont Mesa Blvd
San Diego, CA 92117

Image by avlxyz via Flickr.