Daily Juice Cafe

Hello! I’m Lisa, and I’m often mentioned as one of Lyssa’s “companions” when she blogs. I’m now getting my own voice!

I started counting down the days to the Daily Juice Café opening last spring, after a Daily Juicer on a party boat told me about the plans for a full restaurant. Daily Juice smoothies are original, brilliant, and delicious, so I couldn’t wait to see what they would come up with outside the blender. Plus, all the food is vegan and raw- a tough find at a restaurant, even in Austin.

My first visit did not disappoint. My friend and I stood at the counter reading and rereading the menu aloud, unable to decide what to order. Fortunately for us, the staff was all too happy to help. One guy recommended the cheese enchiladas and a BBQ coconut sandwich. After a debate over cheese vs. mole enchiladas, we settled on one order of each. Plus a side of chips and salsa, two cups of butternut squash soup, and two shots of locally made peach-habanero kombucha. (Note: This was definitely way too much food, but that’s what happens when you’re indecisive!)
Kombucha shots in hand, we happily made our way to a table to wait for the rest of our meal. The chips and salsa came first, and I immediately declared them to be my favorite chips ever. They were unlike any chip I’ve had before: made of some magical combination of yams and other root vegetables, they were thin and crisp, but not quite crunchy, with just a touch of sweetness. The salsa had more of a pico de gallo consistency, but was delicious as well.

Next came the soup and enchiladas. I am sorry to say that I was not a fan of this soup. It was thick (ok for butternut squash soup), but with an almost gritty texture (not ok). It seemed like there was too much of a certain spice, but we couldn’t quite put our fingers on what it was.

However, the enchiladas more than made up for the soup. Each plate came with two enchiladas topped with sauce and a generous heap of fresh guacamole. Under the sauce, they were virtually the same: coconut-cilantro tortillas stuffed with kale, onion, and zucchini. This cheese- which was really not cheese at all (remember, all vegan!)- tasted better than actual cheese. Smooth, creamy, and light- it complimented the flavors of the enchilada without taking over. The mole was a bit heavier and spicier, but still delicious.

As I mentioned, this was definitely more than enough food. But that didn’t stop us from clearing our plates (except for my soup) and finishing off the last little bits of heavenly chips. The menu is a bit on the expensive side ($9-$13 for entrees), but I think it’s well worth it for a delicious, healthy meal. In fact, I can’t wait to go back to try the Texicali Tacos (made with walnut chorizo!), or possibly the BBQ coconut sandwich that we passed up last time.