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Loving Hut Express
Categories: Restaurants Vegan Restaurants Food Stands Vegan, Food Stands [Edit]
1200 Pacific BoulevardVancouver, BC V6Z 2V4
Neighbourhoods: Downtown, Yaletown
(604) 780-1029
- Hours:
Mon, Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
14 reviews for Loving Hut Express
14 reviews in English
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Review from Brando W.
Vancouver, BC
5/2/2012
First off, the reviews I read on here that were 3 stars or lower......please. These people have no clue all. The same people who likely give Wendy's, Whitespot, and KFC 5 stars. Yes, I am speaking my mind.
This place is outstanding!! Vegan food so good that you almost think it isn't vegan. I have had four things on the menu. All soo yummy. My least favourite being the BC Reuben, just my personal taste. There are fake meats and veganesque options out there, but these guys do it sooooo well. Worth every penny. -
Review from Megan S.
5/11/2012 2 photos
I agree so whole-heartedly with Meana K.'s review that I almost don't have to write my own.
Walking up to this place, all you can smell is the deep-fryer. I ordered the crispy chick'n burger and scanned the list of sides hoping for a salad, but all they offered were fries, yam fries, onion rings and cheese fries. Throwing any hope of having a healthy lunch out the window, I ordered the onion rings.
The chick'n burger was good - goopy, tasty sauces, soft whole wheat bun and a chicken patty that tastes pretty much identical to McDonald's...only I'm even LESS sure about what it's made of. Halfway through eating it, the nagging "no really, what the hell IS this thing?" thoughts got the best of me and I did some googling:
"gardein: water, soy protein isolate*, vital wheat gluten*, expeller pressed/canola oil, organic ancient grain flour (kamut®, amaranth, millet, quinoa), onions, natural flavors (from plant sources), yeast extract, sea salt, potato starch, organic cane sugar, pea protein, carrot fiber, organic beetroot fiber, garlic powder, onion powder, extractives of paprika and tumeric."
So, carrot and beetroot fiber sounds great, but I'm not so sure about soy protein isolate. Nor am I confident about oil being the fourth ingredient. But OK, yes, the thing was tasty. The onion rings? Not so much. Looked and tasted like standard Sysco onion rings; in other words, a big waste of calories. The aioli/tartar-ish sauce that came with them was quite good despite being too runny.
I really would love to see a vegan food truck thrive in this current craze and I wish good things for this cart. And who am I to question their business model (aside from being a paying customer?), but I'm confused as to who their audience is. Are they looking to attract vegans who eat healthy at home but are looking for a splurge? Or are they trying to convert grease-loving McDonald's junkies by showing they can have the same artery-clogging eats but in a more ethical fashion?
One thing is for sure, they're completely missing a key Yaletown market here - omnivores looking for a tasty, healthy food truck experience on their lunch breaks. -
Review from Meana k.
2/25/2012
I'm not vegan, but I've been intrigued by the Loving Hut Express food truck for months as they park just a block from my apartment and I often pass by on my way home from work. The smells wafting out their little window are inviting. The concept is appealing.
Still, it took me months of perusing their menu before I finally decided to order something. The reason for this is that I don't often like to eat fried food and quite frankly, nothing on their menu sounds super healthy. I suppose you could argue that vegan food is healthier than the meat/cheese alternatives. And I get it, they're out to prove you can have a hearty vegan meal that's not your typical salad but in some ways they've taken a step too far to provide only comfort food options.
After considering it for a while, last night I stopped by the truck to order myself the Cheesy Philly Sub with Mushrooms and Onions and an order of Sweet Potato Fries with Cheese. Along with a couple of beers, I had a vision of a nice cozy meal on a rainy cold night after a long week. I deserved something that's just a little bad while masquerading as something healthy and good for you.
I can honestly tell you -- that sandwich was amazingly good. I am a cheese steak fanatic, and I was very skeptical about this sandwich satiating my craving for the real thing. It tasted good in that I-want-another kind of way. And at some point, I probably will have another although I will try my best not to make it a habit.
It scares me a little bit that I don't understand what TVP (textured vegetable protein) really is. I mean, I get what it is but don't understand how it can have such a long shelf life and taste so good as a meat substitute when rehydrated and cooked up on a grill and slapped into a sub. I don't like the idea of processed foods, and TVP sounds just as nasty as McDonald's meat to me in the sense that it's entirely a product of food manufacturing and manipulation.
While the service was great and the food tasted really good, I just can't give them a 4 or 5 star rating because I get a feeling they use packaged ingredients. I would respect them a lot more if they used all natural ingredients and made all their own food instead of using so many processed ingredients. I love the idea of a vegan food truck, but sadly Loving Hut really isn't the answer for me. However, it is a very tasty option from time to time. -
Review from Alicia K.
5/21/2012
Stopped in Vancouver on a cruise and found this place on Happy Cow. So glad I did!
Super friendly service. Great food. Reasonable prices.
After a week of sautéed veggies and white rice, I was thrilled to find a BBQ burger and yam fries. Not exactly "health" food, but tasty and satisfying nonetheless. Even my omni husband was impressed! -
Review from Kristin H.
Vancouver, BC
5/13/2012
This place is awesome. I've been meaning to eat here for ages, but since I live in the west end, it's more of a destination than a convenient pop-by. However, for anyone who lives or works in Yaletown, or who gets off at the Yaletown skytrain station... it's super convenient & close!
I had the crispy chick'n burger, and all I can say is: yum. The spicy mayo gave it an amazing kick - and for you meat eaters, you can't even tell it's not real chicken unless you pull the cutlet out & eat is separately. The burger is very messy - so ask for a second napkin! The service here is friendly and very polite.
My only criticism is that all the sides are deep fried - it would be nice to have something healthier, but it's a food truck, so I'm not gonna go down to 4 stars because of it. I won't be eating here everyday, but as a treat, it is totally worth it! -
Review from steve c.
Updated - 11/20/2011
Just had their new onion ring burger and cheese yam fries... OMG! Best thing in town!!! And apparently they've already got plans to improve on the burger patty.
If only they were open 7 days a week.
Spot on for comfort food that's actually made from organic and vegan products. Extra props for their ongoing A+ customer service too.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/7/2011 First to Review
Best burger in vancouver! Super cool guys working the cart and really good food. Had the crispy… Read more »
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Review from Stephanie F.
Vancouver, BC
10/16/2011
..I can't believe I didn't find out about this sooner! My favorite American vegan chain restaurant has a food truck in Vancouver? Serving up vegan burgers and sandwiches? When the chain in the states serves up Chinese food?! Unbelievable. Right outside the Roundhouse Community Center in Yaletown, Loving Hut Express is making some delicious eats, including a Gluten-Free burger. I decided to take my mom here to try it with me, and celebrate a beautiful sunny autumn day.
I ordered the Crispy Gardein Chick'n Burger, with battered zucchini sticks on the side, and my mom ordered (and I ate a bunch of) the Healthy Grill Sandwich. The burger was fantastic. A bit messy, but with a heaping helping of chipotle mayo on it, it was bound to be slippery! The load of ripe avocado slices didn't help either, but I hope you can tell I was far from disappointed.
I loved the sandwich as well, and I'd honestly probably order that again before the burger. The "chick'n" was moist, and the spinach gave it tons of flavour. Not too dry, and not too messy with red onion, avocado, spinach and tomato, this was a great sandwich.
I love this place, and you bet I'll be back soon. If it isn't for the food, it's to see the amazing chef outfits the cooks have on in this epic yellow vegan food truck. -
Review from Derek W.
Vancouver, BC
10/8/2011
A vegan food cart, great idea... almost. I was so excited to hear of a vegan food cart opening here. After watching The Great Food Truck Race, I found myself fantasizing about eating food from the Seabirds Truck:
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I was hoping this food cart would bring that delicious and creative menu here to Vancouver, or at least something that resembles Seabirds. Well, this food cart doesn't, not even close.
First of all, the menu consists of basically junk food, albeit vegan. Basically, they strive to eliminate the stereotype of vegan food as "salads" by offering a menu that caters towards stuff meat eaters crave. There is a chicken burger, a rueben sandwich, and a healthy grilled sandwich with garlic cannelllini spread. More menu items are to come in time.
So basically, the only thing they make themselves is an apricot-jalepeno vegan mayo(store bought veganaise I assume). They take a Gardein patty which you can buy at the supermarket, deep fry that, throw it on bread, add toppings, and call it a day. The chicken burger and the healthy sandwich are the same thing but different bread and spreads more or less.
There were yam fries which tasted good. I'd hit that.
It would be so much better if they put more effort into their concept by making their own food. Buying store bought veg patties is pretty fail. Create your own veg patties for chr$#t sakes! Make them healthy! Make them taste good!Comment from Loving H. of Loving Hut Express 10/8/2011
Hello Dear Derek, Thanks for your comment on our new Vegan… More » -
Review from Sean W.
Surrey, BC
2/20/2012 1 Check-in Here
The burgers here are amazing. Superb place for vegans, always making me come back for more. The only downside would have to be the [winter] hours. At two days a week it's quite hard to find time for this amazing burger cart.
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Review from josey r.
Victoria, BC
4/3/2012
BBQ Onion Ring Cheese Burger. That's all you need to know.
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Review from Michele M.
Vancouver, BC
1/8/2012
Yummy Gluten free freshness! Love the Loving Hut Express, and so happy it is right across from where I work!
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Review from Matthew N.
Victoria, BC
11/12/2011
Delicious vegan comfort food with friendly service. What more could you ask for? I had a gooey, flavourful Reuben sandwich with sweet potato fries and a cookie.
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Review from Lauren M.
Vancouver, BC
11/9/2011
This is the best vegan food I've ever had in my LIFE. Incredible food for anyone, not just vegans. The lovely employees are super friendly, too! Absolutely fantastic, I'll always come back!
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Review from Kasun S.
Surrey, BC
11/24/2011
I'm so glad Vancouver finally has a vegan food cart! And they have done a great job to make delicious mouthwatering food. Best place to go looking for vegan comfort food! Great customer service too!
