As 2015 was winding down, M Café was revving up for a strong year-end. They are heading into 2016 with a new look, new menu items and an expanded to-go section.

M Café is a macrobiotic restaurant with four locations in Southern California –Melrose being the flagship. Currently, the only one to undergo an interior revamp is Melrose, but the other locations have introduced the new menu items and the revised branding design.

In accordance with macrobiotic cuisine, M Café serves dishes without refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry. Before jumping to conclusions they are not a completely vegan restaurant, they do serve fish–per the fundamentals of a macrobiotic diet, but everything on the menu can be made vegan or has a vegan alternative option.

M Café has taken the basics of macrobiotic cooking and elevated it to a contemporary, indulgent affair while still holding true to their morals of quality and nutritious ingredients.

Kelp Noodle Salad

The simple, yet spirited styling from Creative Director C.S Valentin, has molded the restaurant into a pleasantly inviting garden-themed brunch, lunch, snack and dinner spot–a multifaceted place where you can venture after a hike or for a cozy dinner for two.

From the front of the house to behind the scenes, Chef Atsushi Kenjo is not only kind; but also a genius in the kitchen. His attention to flavor profiles and textures is excellent. What he can do with cha-shu style home made seitan is just magical.

Along with the addition of cha-shu seitan, other new menu items I favored were:

M Banh Mi - cha-shu-style seitan, sliced cucumber, pickled daikon and thai basil
Gobo Fries - burdock root tempura, aonori & lemon
Kelp Noodle Salad - kelp noodles, mizuna, napa cabbage, avocado, cucumbers, tomatoes, fried tofu & creamy sesame dressing
Breakfast Enchilada - brown rice tortilla, scrambled tofu, tempeh bacon, spicy pinto beans, avocado and soy cheese
MacroMakis - hand rolled sushi burritos

Gobo Fries

Thankfully personal past time favorites like the M Chopped Salad, the Madras Tempeh Wrap, The Big Macro and the Kale Salad with Peanut Sauce all made the new menu cut.

I’m elated to see a go-to spot of mine making advances in the competitive Los Angeles scene.