Taste of Beauty

The creativity manages to shine through the measly portion sizes at Taste of Beauty, which draws inspiration from Chinese tea ceremony but incorporates ingredients and flavors across Asia in a pair of mostly plant-based tasting menus ($99 each). There are both vegetarian and vegan menus are available, as well as additional à la carte desserts and a traditional tea ceremony that uses loose-leaf tea leaves. On my visit, I opted for the vegetarian menu, which included a delicate mushroom and quail egg broth served out of a teapot and a lettuce-wrapped fried oyster mushroom topped with a whimsical cutout of Peppa Pig (really). Although Taste of Beauty seems to have made little changes to the space's decor from its previous tenant, I still enjoyed my experience. At a time when L.A.’s vegan and vegetarian restaurants are closing at an alarming rate, my meal at TOB’s West Hollywood location was a refreshing reminder of the possibilities of meat-free dining; despite its shortcomings, I still consider it a worthwhile special-occasion spot for anyone who doesn’t consume meat or other animal products.