This new restaurant in Westlake, Ohio offers surprisingly great food

Orange "chicken," green beans, and lo meinPhoto bythe author

When I think of Westlake, I don't really think "hotspot for vegan food." However, a new restaurant with a 100% vegan menu called Bodhi Express recently opened its doors in Westlake inside Crocker Park at 135 Market St. Though I'm not a vegan - I love fried chicken and steak too much - I'm always looking for tasty meatless alternatives to cut down on my meat consumption.

And I found exactly that at Bodhi Express.

I would describe the Westlake restaurant as a vegan version of Panda Express. The restaurant's menu included items like plant-based versions of orange chicken, kung pao chicken, and beef & broccoli as well as vegetable dishes like black pepper cauliflower and Szechuan green beans.

I ordered a large combo meal ($14), which came with 2 small sides and 3 small entrees. For the sides, I got 2 servings of lo mein, and for the entrees, I got orange chicken, Beijing mushroom, and Szechuan green beans. I also ordered a cold tea ($3).

The lo mein wasn't bad. It wasn't as greasy as the lo mein you would find at your average Chinese takeout place - and in my opinion, it also maybe wasn't as tasty as your average Chinese takeout place's lo mein. However, it was still tasty, and I had no trouble finishing all of my noodles. In addition, Bodhi Express's lo mein left me feeling better than your average Chinese takeout place since it wasn't as greasy.

I liked the orange Gardein "chicken," though I could tell from its soft, slightly mushy texture that it was not real chicken; however, the texture was not unpleasant and was similar to chicken nuggets. However, it had great flavor, and the orange sauce had a nice combination of sweet and spicy (but not too spicy). I also liked the Szechuan green beans, which were well-cooked while maintaining a great crunch.

Beijing mushroomsPhoto bythe author

But my favorite main course was the Beijing mushrooms. If you didn't look too closely, you could think that the mushrooms were thinly sliced pieces of beef (however, they definitely didn't taste like beef). The lightly breaded mushrooms were covered in a delicious sweet and savory sauce, and had a nice chew without being rubbery. If you're a mushroom lover like me, you would definitely enjoy the Beijing mushrooms.

The cold chrysanthemum tea was very lightly sweetened. As a sugar fiend, I could have gone for a significantly sweeter tea, but I still found it to be a refreshing beverage and pleasant enough to get a few refills.

All in all, if you're looking for vegan food in Westlake, Bodhi Express is a great option.

If you want to try the restaurant for yourself, you can find it at 135 Market St, Westlake, OH 44145.