Review: Follow Your Heart Market & Cafe
21825 Sherman Way
Canoga Park, CA 91303
(818) 348-3240
The year was 1973. Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” was number one, CBS sold the New York Yankees to a 12 person syndicate led by George Steinbrenner for 10 million, and four hippies in Canoga Park, California created a dream: They opened a restaurant/health food store where there would be no meat of any kind. Because it was what they truly believed in, they named it Follow Your Heart.
There are two things you will not go to Follow Your Heart (FYH) for: the first is the atmosphere. When you walk into FYH, it is a super market with a small gift area to the left. Cool, hippie trippy gadgets like buddhas and incense holders line the shelves. Straight back, through the refridgerator section is the restaurant. There are only about twelve tables and a long counter. There is also an outdoor patio and if you consider Sherman Way atmospheric, by all means, have at it.
The second thing you should not go to FYH for is the service. Try to imagine snails on valium. That’s about the pace the servers work at. (However, everyone is very friendly and knowledgeable about what’s in each dish)
That being said…there’s a reason this place has lasted for more than 25 years-the food is fantastic. You can order anything on the menu vegan or vegetarian.
My favorite: The Veggie Reuben. This is served as two whole sandwiches. Fresh rye bread brimming with grilled wheat meat, melted swiss cheese, tangy sauer kraut and their very own version of Thousand Island. Sheer paradise. And truly, two meals in one.
The Nut Burger Supreme was my dining partner’s choice. Homemade and grilled, served on a fresh onion bun with lettuce, tomato, sprouts and raw cheddar cheese. “Phenomenal” was his description of choice.
Every night FYH features four different soups-dairy/non dairy and there’s usually one with no salt or oil. These soups are infamous-and the non-dairy creamy broccoli, well, you just can’t believe it’s without the sins of cheese and milk because it’s so incredibly creamy. Insider tip: You can ask for samples and they’ll bring you four spoons on a plate filled with each soup.
FYH has a large menu with everything from lasagne to banana milkshakes on it. They also have fresh squeezed juices as well. We got out of there for 25 bucks including tip.
This is one of my favorite places to go in the L.A. area. Whenever I go to FYH, I ask people why they eat there. Interestingly, very few are vegetarians. Most people I’ve spoken to said it’s because the food is so good, healthy and fresh. One guy said he’d moved around the corner and started coming on a weekly basis. He said it was his third or fourth time before he realized there were no meat products served!
And that’s what I love about this place-it doesn’t “scream” vegetarian/vegan food. It’s just great food at a great price.
Speaking of price, can you believe Steinbrenner got the Yankees for only 10 million dollars? There was definitely a lot to love about 1973.
jennelson18 // Other posts by jennelson18
Tags: cali vegetarian restaurants, California, follow your heart california, fyh california, fyh restaurant