Vegetarian dining with an Asian theme

If you’re the type of person who makes New Year’s resolutions and you’ve been thinking of going for a healthier diet, Bodhi Tree Vegetarian Café is a stop you should make.

Everything on the menu is vegan -- meaning it’s not made with meat, dairy products or eggs -- but it’s otherwise like many Asian restaurants, serving various kinds of stir-fry, soups and rice as well as sandwiches and desserts.

It’s located just past the busiest and most congested blocks of Main Street, near Sixth Street. The restaurant was favorably reviewed by the Independent when it opened two years ago -- the review is framed and hanging on the wall by the door -- and a second visit to see how things are going didn’t disappoint.

On a recent weeknight, the small restaurant wasn’t busy, so the food came quickly.

I started with an appetizer of cold spring rolls -- you can order two or four -- that were quite tasty. The translucent spring roll wrappers were a little chewy, but the rolls were filled with a delicious mixture of greens, noodles, carrots and a hint of what tasted like mint.

They were served with a sweet peanut dipping sauce that was a bit mild for my taste, but luckily the café’s tables are stocked with Sriracha hot chili sauce, which a friend who once worked as a sous-chef has assured me is the stuff to use.

For the entree, I ordered a stir-fry of vegetables and cashews. It included small rectangles of tofu, green beans, broccoli, carrots, mushrooms and celery in a tangy brown sauce -- again, a mild but tasty dish. The plate of stir-fry didn’t look incredibly generous, but when spooned over an order of steamed rice it was quite filling.

In fact, following the spring rolls with the stir-fry left me fairly stuffed. The restaurant also offers stir-fries made with soy “meats,” so you can order faux chicken or beef if you don’t think vegetables will fill you up.

As I was eating I looked around the dining room. It’s small but open, with only about a dozen tables arranged around a peacefully trickling fountain. The walls are decorated with paintings of lotus flowers and Asian country scenes.

Starting this week, Bodhi Tree will be closed on Tuesdays. But try it for lunch or dinner the rest of the week, whether you’re thinking of going meatless or just want some delicious Asian food.

IF YOU GO

*WHAT: Bodhi Tree Vegetarian Cafe

*WHERE: 501 Main St., Suite E

*WHEN: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily; closed Tuesdays

*INFO: (714)969-950020051124hm1sd4kfKENT TREPTOW / NDEPENDENT(LA)Huong Pham, left, and brother Quoc of Bodhi Tree Vegetarian Café hold, from left, shrimp spring rolls, a jackfruit salad with sesame chips and orange chicken. The restaurant is open every day but Tuesday.