Sunshine is the main ingredient

Just steps from where a salty mist cloaks the coastline and sea lions fight for space on a floating wooden dock, wholesome vegan meals are served in a small hip space in Morro Bay.

Though the sun typically battles to break through the thick whipped topping type clouds, Shine Cafe brings a burst of light and vitamin C to lunch with fresh juices, smoothies, and vegetable-focused bowls, sandwiches, and wraps.

The restaurant itself appears to have sprouted out of the Earth, which its uneven wooden window frames and pale sea foam color exterior. Tempeh, hummus, and quinoa are common ingredients in many of the menu options, which includes offerings such as a tempeh reuben sandwich, hummus wrap with veggies, and tamarind vinaigrette topped kale salad.

At the end of a long narrow corridor, a long-haired man wearing a loose fitting t-shirt takes lunch orders and turns around in between customers to prepare fresh smoothies. The mudslide smoothie includes banana, almond butter, carob, dates, and almond milk for a combination that's satisfyingly creamy and dense with flavor and protein. The dates lend a sweetness to the smoothie and goes down like a chocolate milkshake. If chocolate isn't your craving, other options include a mix of berries, or a pina colada style drink, or even a somewhat radical detox that mixes lemon juice, strawberries, apple juice, apple cider vinegar, maple syrup, and cayenne. The options are practically unlimited and you can't go wrong, whether the selection is sweet or tart.

Everything served in this restaurant is vegan, meaning any menu item that sounds like the cream-based dish that's can be found in other restaurants is made with nut-based milks and nutritional yeast combinations instead. For those concerned a bowl of vegan tomato bisque can't possibly taste as hearty and homey as a can of Campbell's, rest assured that this savory soup has an even more mouth-watering texture and taste than any dairy-infused stew. Small chunks of tomato in the bisque are a nice reminder that real produce was used to create this exquisite mid-day marvel. The soup is offered in two sizes and whether you'd like it to be the star of the show or a nice compliment to your main event, the soups here are a delicious addition to lunch that can help warm you up on a typical chilly, foggy day in Morro Bay.

A build-your-own burrito or bowl option allows you to mix and match an assortment of fresh organic veggies with tempeh, black beans, or Beyond meat when it's in stock. Because I am a firm believer in leaving no vegetable behind, my bowl included red peppers, yams, carrots, tomato, black beans, and avocado overtop a bed of spinach and brown rice. The bowl is served with a vegan chipotle mayo that is out of this world. The cashew-based sauce is pleasantly smoky and the texture spreads out much like mayonnaise without the same risk of artery blockage. The portion size cannot go unnoticed, as this heap of food likely clocks in at about 3 lbs and packs flavor down to the last bite. Whether you're vegan or otherwise, there's no denying the incredible flavor that's perfectly executed in each dish at Shine Cafe. No sacrifices are made in preparing each of these plant-based meals and an afternoon spent here is sure to inject a ray of sunshine into your day.