Vegan cuisine is growing in popularity among Los Angeles foodies and, lucky for us, the city boasts a treasure trove of delicious vegan options for both strict practitioners and flirts alike. Contrary to popular belief, vegan food doesn’t consist of raw vegetables and salads—while plant-based staples are common on the menus of these establishments, there are a wide array of delicious options to satisfy even the pickiest carnivore.
Whether you’re a long time vegan or looking to try something new, make sure to sample a bite (or two) from some of LA’s best vegan restaurants:
5. Floré
Courtesy of Flore Cafe
Located in LA’s trendy Silver Lake neighborhood, Floré may seem like an unassuming storefront, but step inside and you’ll find a vegan’s paradise. The café only uses organic ingredients and offers a gigantic deli case full of salads, sides and desserts.
Another major draw? Their brunch specials on weekends, which include “chicken and waffles,” breakfast burritos and pancakes. Not to mention, the popular hipster coffee haunt Intelligensia is just up the way, providing the makings for a perfect Sunday morning.
4. Native Foods
Courtesy of Native Foods
While their menu is all vegan, Native Foods targets the nonbelievers, focusing on imitation-style sandwiches and wraps. Think veggie burgers, crispy “chicken” and lots of flavor. If you’re in the Westwood area and looking for a delicious, healthy meal option, look no further.
Stop by for a bite and then take the afternoon to stroll through the surrounding neighborhood. Since your lunch was so healthy, you can feel a lot better about indulging in that Diddy Riese.
3. M Café
Courtesy of M Cafe
Despite the fact that M Café isn’t a truly vegan restaurant, they still make the list because their food is that good. M Café creates their menu based on the principles of macrobiotics, which focuses on minimally processed foods prepared with ingredients that are in season. There are no dairy, eggs, meat, or refined sugars on the menu, but fish does make an appearance.
With locations in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood, there are plenty of opportunities to give this café a try. And make sure to sample some of the gluten-free cupcakes from Babycakes NYC.
2. Veggie Grill
Courtesy of Veggie Grill
The ultimate vegan restaurant for the masses, Veggie Grill definitely won’t disappoint. Even hard core meat lovers will find something to please their palate at this joint, from the Santa Fe Crispy Chickin’ Sandwhich (you’ll never go to Carl’s Jr. ever again) to the Baja Fiesta salad. And, because it’s so reasonably priced, you can feel good about sampling a few different items on the menu.
With a convenient location at the Grove, you can fit your shopping and taste testing into one trip. Just make sure to save room for the vegan carrot cake!
1. Real Food Daily
Courtesy of Real Food Daily
Topping the list at number one is Real Food Daily, an almost 20 year veteran on the Los Angeles vegan scene. RFD spawned the concept of delicious, home cooked vegan food and certainly lives up to its stellar reputation. With locations in West Hollywood, Santa Monica and a newly opened Pasadena spot, there’s no excuse not to stop in for a quick bite. Not to mention, celebrity sightings are fairly common!
Hungry yet? What are you thoughts on incorporating vegan cuisine into your diet? Can you eschew steak for tempeh or will meat always hold a special spot in your heart?
