Freesoulcaffé — Restaurant in Tustin

I found this place on Happy Cow and was sooo excited to try it but i was very disappointed. The food was just ok, the service was bad and the food was overpriced. The BLT sandwich wasn't really like a BLT...there are plenty of Vegan bacons out there that are crisp but they put thinly sliced, soft vegan meat similar to ham on the sandwich. It was very salty as well. It tasted ok but it just wasn't a BLT. In our group we had 2 vegans, one vegetarian and one person who is trying it. She's vegcurious. So she asked to try a bit of the mayo so she could decide on a sandwich. They said no. No one is allowed to try any of their sauces. We even asked the owner and explained that this customer isn't vegan so she wasn't sure if she'd like that sauce....and no point getting it on the side because if she didn't like it, then she wouldn't want to eat the sandwich dry and would order something else. They would not budge. So i ordered the sandwich and asked for my mayo on the side so she could try it that way and she'd just order afterwards. So i got a side of mayo (oh so they CAN put a swipe of mayo in a tiny cup?) and no, she didn't like it and ended up ordering something completely different. So in the end, they did not want to give a little swipe of mayo to a new customer to try...and by the time she got her food we were all done eating. Not a great first impression. Or last. It just kinda tainted our whole experience. Seems like just such a small thing- letting someone just sample a sauce and the whole experience would of been so much better. She could of ordered with us, ate with us and we'd be willing to go back again. The little things coupled with good service really do make a difference. I would not recommend this restaurant- find somewhere...

Whether you’re vegan or not, this place is an absolute gem. I’m not vegan myself—I still eat dairy and fish—but I keep coming back here because the food is consistently fresh, flavorful, and thoughtfully prepared. After years of visiting, it’s high time I left a review!

This visit was for lunch, and I ordered the vegan BLT sandwich, which came with a fresh side salad, and treated myself to an ice-blended coffee drink. Everything was simple yet spot-on—clean flavors, quality ingredients, and nothing overdone. I’ve also been here for dinner several times and can highly recommend their vegan fettuccine Alfredo and especially the green beans. Those green beans are next-level—bursting with flavor. I honestly wish I could get the recipe!

I walked over during my lunch break, since I now work in Old Town Tustin, and the setting really adds to the experience. I’ve included a few photos so you can see how charming the area is—think brick buildings, Victorian homes, and a vibe that feels more like a storybook town than Southern California. The restaurant’s outdoor patio is a perfect little oasis, complete with a cute fountain, leafy shade, and sunny spots for those who want them.

Service was quick and attentive, which I appreciated since I was on a tight schedule. The staff checked in just the right amount—present but never intrusive.

All in all, this spot is a long-standing favorite for good reason. Whether you’re plant-based or just looking for a meal that’s fresh and satisfying, you won’t be...

TOO LOUD FOR ME! 1st off, I'm not a vegan so I really have no compass to guide me to a fair comparison to how good this food is compared to other vegan restaurants. But, I didn't find my meal to be that amazing as many 5 star reviewers are saying. That said, I only ordered a Grilled Veggie Sandwich, which was very nice and fresh, the sourdough panini was tasty... but there was no "OMG! This is amazing!" factor to the meal. I think their service was very good and polite, timely and not annoying. Now, why only 3 stars? Because for whatever reason, the owners decided it is a good idea (or maybe it's a "cool thing" to do in the more hip places) to have their drink blender in the same area as the indoor dining. Soon after we were seated, we were treated to the raging 100+ db sound of their blender grinding out matcha drinks or whatever. Okay, that was 1 and it was over, right? No. Turns out their matcha drinks are super popular and they make one about every 3-5 minutes. After about the 4th one, we asked to be seated outside on their very nice patio. This would have been great, but of course they had a muzak speaker pounding out 'house dubstep techno' - "BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM BOOM!" I guess this is good to chew in rhythm to as you graze on their greens? So a 4 star place, but I can't get past 3 stars. Perhaps I've just gotten too old to hang at these noisy places? But why should a restaurant be loud? It's about food, not about drowning out your conversation and...