LA Eats: Plant Based Treats in LA

As Angeleno’s it’s safe to say we are health fanatics (for the most part). From the Celery Juice cleanse to a new vegan spot popping up every month, options are endless. Instead of sifting through your plant-based options, we’ve narrowed down the top choices throughout LA. Whether you reside in the 90210 or 91604, we’ve got you covered. Celebrate this earth day with 100% plant-based bites courtesy of Mother Earth (*suitable for herbivores and carnivores alike).

 Sun Cafe

Location: 10820 Ventura Blvd., Studio City

Not only is the menu 100-percent plant-based and dairy-free, but nearly everything is made from scratch including the cheeses, chorizo, mayonnaise, and butter. Everyone raves about the nachos.

Orean’s The Health Express

Location: 817 N. Lake Ave., Pasadena

Located on Pasadena’s fast-food restaurant row, Orean’s The Health Express has been around since the late ‘80s. The 100-percent vegan menu boasts a shockingly good Philly cheese “steak” sandwich and chili cheeseburger. Wash it all down with a strawberry, vanilla, chocolate, cappuccino, chai, or peanut butter milkshake.

Au Lac

Location: 710 W. 1st St., Los Angeles

Head here for Vietnamese vegetarian fare by chef Mai Nguyen. Regulars sing high praises for the restaurant’s salt and pepper yam “shrimp” and garlic basil noodles. As a bonus, the restaurant is a short walk from the Walt Disney Concert Hall and perfect for a pre-show meal.

Doomie’s Home Cookin’

Location: 1253 Vine St. #9, Los Angeles

Vegan food doesn’t always have to be healthy. Consider Doomie’s menu of nachos, animal-style fries, bacon cheeseburgers, mac and cheese, and the Big D, the restaurant’s version of a Big Mac. Open since 2010, Doomie’s is a charming place to bring carnivores and herbivores alike.

Crossroads

Location: 8284 Melrose Ave., Los Angeles

At Crossroads on Melrose, chef Tal Ronnen is elevating vegan fare to an art form. The team has been turning out some of the most inventive and thoughtful meat-free food in Los Angeles since opening in 2013. Crossroads it not only a haven for vegetarian fine-diners, but for anyone curious about how delicious vegan food can be. Get the Artichoke Oysters and thank us later!

Gratitude

Location: 419 N. Canon Drive., Beverly Hills

The newest addition to the Café Gratitude family of restaurants is the upscale offshoot Gratitude Kitchen and Bar. The restaurant boats a breezy indoor/outdoor space and a crowd-pleasing menu. The best seat in the house is at the bar, where beverage director Jason Eisner makes cocktails using ingredients like turmeric and ginger.

Equelecua Cuban Cafe

Location: 1120 W. Florence Ave., Inglewood

Owner Caro Lafaurie and head chef Julito Ortega launched Equelecuá Cuban Cafe with the idea of bringing a plant-based approach to traditional Cuban food. For anyone that’s eaten Cuban food, this might seem impossible, but try the ropa viejaarroz con pollo, or Cubano sandwich for a pleasant surprise.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

Location: 4130 Sepulveda Blvd., Culver City

This size-able eatery in Culver City has a wide menu of vegan comfort fare, from bowls and wraps to salads and burgers. The chainlet boasts Echo Park and Pasadena outlets for anyone on the Eastside who needs their vegan fix.

Plant Food and Wine

Location: 1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Los Angeles

Matthew Kenney’s vegan restaurant is a stunner with one hell of a back patio. Good looking diners flock to the Abbot Kinney address regularly whether they’re refraining from meat or not.

Seabirds Kitchen

Location: 975 E. 4th Str., Long Beach

Seabirds Kitchen in Long Beach — or the original Costa Mesa outpost — produces fresh and hearty dishes like purple potato taquitos, grilled mushroom tacos, and a Korean-inspired jackfruit bibimbap bowl. It’s all served in Seabirds’ beachy dining room, which is less than a mile away from the ocean.