Vegan Restaurants LA: An Insider’s Guide to Plant-Based Los Angeles
Looking for the best vegan restaurants LA locals swear by? You’ve come to the right place.
The Ultimate Guide to Los Angeles’ Vegan Scene
Los Angeles has long been one of the world’s most exciting cities for plant-based cuisine.
But this guide to vegan restaurants LA isn’t just written by someone who spent years eating vegan food all around the City of Angels. It comes from someone who was deeply embedded in the vegan LA community.
For many years I lived a vegan lifestyle, even starting a vegan business of my own.
Along the way I made countless friends in the vegan circles — chefs, restaurant owners, founders, activists, innovators and passionate diners who helped turn Los Angeles into a global capital of plant-based cuisine.
So I decided to put together all those insights into one comprehensive guide to vegan restaurants LA — highlighting the venues that shaped the scene, the dishes that became cult favorites, and the restaurants that continue pushing plant-based food forward.
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Best Vegan Restaurants LA Has To Offer
Here is a list of no fewer than 30 top vegan restaurants in Los Angeles local frequent, in no particular order:
1. Crossroads Kitchen
When chef Tal Ronnen opened Crossroads on Melrose in 2013, it changed the perception of vegan dining in Los Angeles.
Suddenly plant-based food wasn’t just healthy — it was elegant and luxurious.
Crossroads quickly became a celebrity favorite and helped elevate vegan cuisine into the fine-dining category.
Standout dishes include artichoke oysters, seafood tower, spicy rigatoni vodka, carbonara with an egg yolk that’s a bit too… yolky… and the impossible cheeseburger (they were the first to serve it).
2. Stuff I Eat
Founded by chef Babette Davis, Stuff I Eat is one of the true pioneers of the LA vegan scene.
Long before vegan dining exploded in popularity, this Inglewood institution was serving soulful plant-based comfort food rooted in wellness and community.
Try anything Southern-influenced, organic nachos, loaded tacos, soulful burritos and home made sweet potato pie.
3. Pura Vita
Chef Tara Punzone created Pura Vita to prove that authentic Italian cuisine can be vegan without sacrificing tradition.
It became the first vegan Italian restaurant certified by the Italian government outside Italy, serving dishes like carbonara, truffle lasagna, and wood-fired pizza.
The dairy-free mozzarella would fool an Italian cheese lover. Look out for the brunch menu and a well curated vegan wine list.
While the Redondo location sadly closed, West Hollywood locals still flock to the OG, which – pro tip – has a dog friendly patio seating approved by @sushithetraveler.
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4. Planta Cocina
Part of the global PLANTA Restaurants, Planta brought a sleek, upscale atmosphere to vegan dining in Marina del Rey.
Their globally inspired menu features favorites like bang bang broccoli, vegan sushi, and mushroom udon. Don’t miss portobello benedict at brunch.
It might also be one of the most beautiful restaurants interiors, vegan or not.
5. Gracias Madre
Few restaurants defined the LA vegan movement quite like Gracias Madre.
Serving plant-based Mexican comfort food in a beautiful patio setting, it became famous for jackfruit carnitas tacos, cashew-cheese quesadillas, and a strong tequila and mezcal program.
6. Doomie’s Home Cookin’
Doomie’s helped prove that vegan food didn’t have to be “healthy” to be good.
This cult Hollywood favorite became famous for indulgent comfort food like vegan mac and cheese, deep fried chimichangas, and massive late-night portions.
7. Shojin
Shojin introduced Los Angeles to high-end vegan Japanese cuisine inspired by macrobiotic cooking.
Their beautiful vegan sushi, ramen, and tasting menus helped redefine what plant-based Japanese food could be.
8. The Vegan Joint
Affordable and beloved by locals, The Vegan Joint serves massive portions of plant-based Asian inspired comfort food.
Favorites include orange chicken, gyoza dumplings, vegan omelette and fried rice.
9. Au Lac
One of the city’s oldest vegan restaurants, Au Lac pioneered Vietnamese plant-based cuisine in Los Angeles and OC.
Signature dishes include pho, garlic basil noodles, banh mi and lemongrass fish. They also specialize in all things “seafood” – try the calamari and octopus.
10. Hijo De Su Madre
A modern vegan Mexican restaurant known for bold street-food flavors. Their specialty is Yucatan cuisine.
Standouts: vegan tacos, loaded “fish” burritos, pumpkin seed dip, and creative plant-based Mexican comfort food.
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11. Vinh Loi Tofu
Chef Kevin Tran turned this San Fernando Valley spot into one of the most respected Vietnamese vegan restaurants in LA.
Known for house-made tofu and incredibly flavorful pho and banh mi. Be sure to check out the founder’s collection of running medals in the back.
12. Cafe Gratitude
Founded in 2004 by Terces Engelhart, Cafe Gratitude became a cultural icon in the vegan community.
The menu’s famous affirmation-style dishes — like “I Am Enthusiastic” fried chick’n sandwich and “I Am Whole” macro bowl — made it as much a philosophy as a restaurant.
Check out I Am Converted: How Cafe Gratitude Won Me Over for our in-depth review.
13. Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
Located in Little Ethiopia, Rahel’s serves the best vegan Ethiopian platter in LA. Expect injera bread with lentils, greens, and vegetable stews rich in traditional spices.
Their mid week lunch buffet is one of the best deals in the city. Don’t miss the vegan desserts, either.
Pro tip: Rahel’s traditional Ethiopian coffee ceremony is quite an experience. Go with a group of coffee loving friends and prepare to be amazed.
14. El Cocinero
A beloved vegan Mexican restaurant known for hearty comfort food, bold flavors and veganized meaty classics like al pastor and carne asada.
Popular proteins include plant based carnitas, jackfruit birria and soyrizo. Well worth the trip to the Valley.
15. Mr. Charlie’s
Sometimes described as the vegan answer to fast-food chains, Mr. Charlie’s gained viral attention for its nostalgic menu and playful branding.
Co-founded by Charlie Kim and Taylor McKinnon, it offers sustainable, plant-based burgers, nuggets, and fries, aiming to reimagine classic fast food, often using brands like Impossible Foods.
The menu includes parody items such as the “Not a Hamburger,” “Not a Cheeseburger,” and the “Frowny Meal” (a play on the McDonald’s Happy Meal).
The restaurant acts as a second-chance employer, partnering with the Dream Center to hire individuals transitioning out of homelessness, incarceration, or addiction.
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16. Monty’s Good Burger
Founded by Nic Adler, Monty’s became LA’s most recognizable vegan fast-food chain.
Expect vegan cheeseburgers, perfect tater tots, and thick milkshakes.
17. Sun Cafe Organic
A longtime Studio City favorite for organic vegan comfort and a sunny patio, Sun Cafe is known for their mac and cheese, lasagna and indulgent brunch options.
We may have ran into a celebrity or two there, thanks to the proximity to the studios. Awesome happy hour.
18. Vromage
This artisan vegan cheese shop became legendary among plant-based food lovers. In part thanks to Meghan Markle and Vromage reportedly catering to the Royal Wedding.
Their cashew-based brie and truffle cheeses developed a cult following.
19. Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen Shop
A haven for ramen lovers seeking a fully plant-based bowl. The vegan spicy miso ramen is especially popular.
Sushi lovers seeking plant based rolls are in for a treat. Expect all the usual suspects, veganized. Don’t miss the popcorn roll.
20. Cena Vegan
A vibrant Mexican vegan restaurant famous for plant-based street tacos, burritos, and other beloved Mexican street food classics.
Once only a delivery spot, you can now find them as part of a food court tucked away in Lincoln Heights.
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21. Olga’s Naturally Mexican Vegan
A longtime favorite serving authentic vegan Mexican home cooking. This unassuming strip mall joint produces some of the most hearty plant based burritos in the city.
Perfect refuel stop after hiking in Baldwin Hills nearby.
22. Follow Your Heart Market & Cafe
Opened in 1970, this legendary vegan market and cafe also created the iconic Vegenaise, one of the first widely distributed vegan mayonnaise brands.
Grab lunch or brunch (we swear by their Ruben sandwich!) and stock up on organic staples or well curated gifts and recipe books at the attached market.
23. Govinda at International Society for Krishna Consciousness
The Hare Krishna temple lunchtime buffet in Culver City has long been a beloved plant-based tradition offering comforting vegetarian and vegan dishes.
This might be the best kept vegan secret in Los Angeles. You heard it here first!
24. Word of Mouth Food Truck
A popular vegan food truck serving indulgent street food favorites. Their chick’n sandwich made with blue oyster mushroom has developed somewhat of a following.
Also try the cheeseburger and truffle fries. A portion of profits is donated to the homeless.
25. Holey Grail Donuts
Originally from Hawaii, Holey Grail’s taro-based gluten free donuts fried in coconut oil quickly gained a devoted following among LA’s vegan dessert lovers.
Look out for a daily flavor rotation, they never stop innovating.
Update: both Santa Monica and Larchmont locations have closed but the Long Beach one is still standing.
26. Samosa House
A Culver City institution known for its vegetarian Indian buffet, massive samosas, and a market filled with spices and imported goods. Many vegan Angelenos have been eating and shopping here for decades.
It’s one of the very few places in the city (maybe the only one), where you can taste the famed king of Mumbai street sandwiches, and one of my personal favorite foods of all time: the humble vada pav aka fried chickpea bun. You’re welcome! 😉
27. The Butcher’s Daughter
The Butcher’s Daughter became a Venice staple for bright, California-style vegan dining.
Originally launched in New York before expanding to Los Angeles, the restaurant built its reputation on fresh vegetable-forward dishes, house juices, and a breezy brunch atmosphere that fits perfectly with the Venice lifestyle.
Standout dishes: mushroom calamari, vibrant bowls and quinoa and beet burger alongside cold-pressed juices and smoothies.
28. Leonor’s Mexican Vegetarian
A true veteran of the LA veggie scene, Leonor’s has been serving plant-based Mexican comfort food in the San Fernando Valley since the early 1990s.
Long before vegan Mexican food became trendy, this family-run restaurant was introducing Angelenos to hearty meat-free burritos, enchiladas, and tacos.
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29. Plant Power Fast Food
One of the first vegan chains designed to rival traditional drive-through fast food, Plant Power Fast Food focuses on affordable, approachable plant-based comfort food.
With burgers, fries, shakes, and breakfast sandwiches, the concept aims to make vegan food accessible to a mainstream audience.
30. Beyond Vegan Eats
A creative family run plant-based concept near LAX known for macrobiotic inspired quesadillas, chillis and loaded sandwiches.
Vegan Los Angeles: Honorable Mentions
Los Angeles’ vegan dining scene is so vast that even a guide this comprehensive can only scratch the surface.
Beyond the main institutions that helped define the movement, there are dozens of smaller neighborhood favorites, casual cafés, and hidden gems that keep the plant-based ecosystem thriving.
Here are some honorable mentions in the vegan restaurants LA scene, each offering something unique to the city’s plant-based landscape:
Wild Living Foods
A Downtown LA pioneer of gourmet raw vegan cuisine, known for inventive dishes made entirely without cooking.
Grain Cafe
A casual plant-based café with multiple LA locations serving hearty breakfasts, burritos, sandwiches, and comfort food.
The Moody Vegan
Cookies, cakes, and breakfast burritos served daily at this joyful neighborhood cafe.
B&T’s Deli
A vegan deli concept offering classic sandwiches, comfort food, and nostalgic deli-style dishes.
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Julie Goes Green
A small plant-based café focused on healthy comfort food and wellness-driven meals.
Beelman’s
A lively vegan sports bar (yep) in Downtown LA known for plant-based pub food, burgers, and a strong craft beer selection.
Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen
One of the most beloved vegan Thai restaurants in LA, famous for flavorful curries, noodles, and mock-meat dishes.
VegainzLA
This hidden Inglewood gem serves generous portions of pasta, sandwiches and sushi burritos!
Justine’s Wine Bar
A cozy natural wine bar with creative vegan small plates in LA’s artsy Frogtown neighborhood.
Little Barn Coffee House
A charming neighborhood café serving vegan breakfast items, coffee, and baked goods.
Variable Cafe
A small family run Marina del Rey vegan café serving plant-based comfort food and coffee.
Real Food Daily
One of LA’s early pioneers of organic vegan dining, known for hearty bowls, salads, and comfort food.
Hinterhof German Kitchen and Beer Garden
A unique vegan German beer garden serving plant-based schnitzel, sausages, and Bavarian comfort food.
LA Vegan
A casual Asian-inspired vegan spot in Mar Vista, popular for fried “chicken,” rice bowls, and hearty comfort dishes.
Hey Sunshine Kitchen
A bright and cheerful café specializing in healthy vegan bowls, salads, and smoothies.
Green Leaves Vegan
A longtime vegan Chinese restaurant known for generous portions and classic takeout favorites.
Vegan Glory
A staple vegan Thai restaurant serving flavorful curries, noodles, and plant-based meat dishes.
Higher Taste Plant Based
A Long Beach vegan café serving hearty plant-based comfort dishes rooted in vegetarian traditions.
VE Station
A casual vegan eatery off Ventura Boulevard in the Valley serving Asian-inspired bowls, noodles, and comfort dishes.
Samata Vegan House
A fully vegan Thai restaurant known for rich curries, orange “chicken” and flavorful stir-fries.
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Satdha Plant Based Thai Kitchen
A stylish vegan Thai restaurant in Santa Monica serving elegant plant-based interpretations of classic dishes.
A Votre Santé
A health-focused café offering organic vegan salads, juices, and wellness-driven meals.
BeeWali’s Vegan AF
A playful vegan comfort-food spot known for indulgent burgers, fries, and street-food style snacks.
Love Organic Cafe
A wellness café in West Hollywood serving smoothies, juices, and organic vegan dishes like curry fries and mango sticky rice.
Thai Vegan
A neighborhood staple on Main Street, Santa Monica, serving vegan Thai curries, noodles, and stir-fries just blocks from the beach. Now also sushi.
Veggie Grill
One of the first vegan fast-casual chains to expand nationally, known for burgers, bowls, and comfort-food classics.
Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli
A cult favorite vegan deli famous for its house-made plant-based meats and massive sandwiches.
Coffee and Plants
A stylish café by Leona Lewis serving specialty coffee alongside vegan pastries and brunch items.
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RIP: Vegan Restaurants LA Lost But Won’t Forget
Los Angeles’ vegan dining scene has always been incredibly creative and constantly evolving. Unfortunately, that also means some beloved institutions eventually disappear.
Many of these restaurants played an important role in shaping the city’s plant-based food culture and left behind loyal communities of diners who still talk about them today.
Here’s a tribute to some of the vegan restaurants LA lost over the years, and what made each one special:
Plant Food + Wine
Created by celebrity vegan chef Matthew Kenney, Plant Food + Wine was one of the most ambitious plant-based restaurants Los Angeles had ever seen.
Located on Abbot Kinney in Venice, it focused on elevated raw vegan cuisine presented with fine-dining elegance.
Its romantic garden patio and beautifully plated dishes made it a destination restaurant for both vegans and curious food lovers alike.
Sugar Taco
Sugar Taco brought a playful, colorful energy to the vegan scene with its entirely plant-based Mexican menu and female-owned ethos.
Known for loaded nachos, vibrant bowls, lively Taco Tuesdays, strong margaritas, and a doggie menu to boot, it became a hub for vegan diners looking for classic foods with a playful twist.
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Nic’s on Beverly
When Nic’s on Beverly opened, it quickly became one of the most acclaimed upscale vegan restaurants in the city.
Created by chef Nic Adler, the restaurant combined refined plant-based cuisine with a lively bar atmosphere.
Its hearty vegan brunch and breezy patio helped push vegan cuisine deeper into Los Angeles’ mainstream restaurant culture.
Sage Bistro
For years Sage Bistro was one of the most beloved vegan comfort-food restaurants in LA, known for its vegan buffalo cauliflower and mac and cheese – on pizza!
When the restaurant later pivoted away from being vegan, it marked a symbolic moment in the city’s plant-based dining evolution — reminding many diners how difficult the restaurant business can be even for popular establishments.
Little Pine
Opened by musician and longtime vegan advocate Moby, Little Pine became a Silver Lake neighborhood favorite known for cozy European-inspired vegan dishes.
More than just a restaurant, Little Pine was part of Moby’s broader activism: profits from the restaurant were donated to animal rights organizations, giving every meal a philanthropic purpose.
Native Foods
Founded by chef Tanya Petrovna (these days of Tanya’s Kitchen), Native Foods was one of the first vegan restaurant chains in the United States and helped normalize plant-based comfort food long before it became trendy.
While most of its locations eventually closed, the brand still survives in Palm Springs — a reminder of its pioneering role in the vegan movement.
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Honeybee Burger
Honeybee Burger quickly gained a loyal following for its plant-based smash burgers, crispy fries, and perfect breakfast burritos.
It was part of the new generation of vegan burger spots inspired by classic American fast food.
O’Réan’s Health Express
O’Réan’s was one of the most unusual and beloved vegan institutions in Los Angeles — a fully vegan drive-through restaurant, something that was almost unheard of when it opened.
Known for hearty vegan burritos, burgers, and smoothies, it proved that even fast-food convenience could be plant-based.
Hart House
Backed by comedian Kevin Hart, Hart House aimed to bring vegan fast food to a mainstream audience with an approachable menu of burgers, nuggets, and shakes.
Although the concept ultimately closed, it showed how far plant-based dining had entered the cultural conversation.
Donna Jean
Donna Jean brought plant-based Italian comfort food to the San Fernando Valley when the San Diego restaurant expanded to Sherman Oaks.
Though the Los Angeles location eventually closed in 2025, Donna Jean left behind a loyal following and helped raise the bar for vegan pizza and pasta in the city.
Hug Life
Hug Life became one of LA’s most beloved vegan ice cream shops, famous for its creative dairy-free flavors made from coconut and cashew bases.
For many Angelenos it was proof that plant-based desserts could be every bit as indulgent — and nostalgic — as traditional ice cream.
Margo’s Kitchen
A cozy neighborhood café in Santa Monica, Margo’s Kitchen built a following for its comforting vegan breakfast and lunch dishes, from hearty scrambles to nourishing breakfast sandwiches.
Though it eventually closed, Margo’s represented the warm, community-driven side of LA vegan scene.
Plant Butchers
The Plant Butchers project in Long Beach was an ambitious concept focused on house-made plant-based meats and deli-style creations.
Designed to showcase the craft of vegan butchery — from sausages to sandwich fillings — it aimed to elevate the idea that plant-based proteins could be artisanal and chef-driven.
Although the project was short-lived, it reflected the growing creativity and experimentation happening in Southern California’s vegan food movement.
The Vegan Exchange
The Vegan Exchange in North Hollywood was less a single restaurant and more a plant-based street food market and community gathering.
Dozens of vegan vendors — from taco stands to dessert makers — came together, turning a parking lot into one of the most vibrant vegan food events in Los Angeles.
For many small vegan businesses, it served as a launching pad and an important hub for the local vegan community.
Even though these restaurants are gone, they helped shape the vegan restaurants LA landscape we see today.
Many inspired chefs, entrepreneurs, and diners who continue pushing plant-based cuisine forward across the city. Their influence lives on in every new vegan restaurant that opens its doors.
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The Future of Vegan Restaurants in LA
Los Angeles remains one of the most creative plant-based dining cities in the world.
But in recent years we’ve also seen many vegan restaurants close — a reminder that even the most passionate communities need broader support.
Here’s hoping that fewer vegan venues will be closing down in the future, because vegan food is not just for vegans — it’s for everyone.
The more inclusive the community becomes, the stronger these businesses will be. And the restaurants above prove that it’s absolutely possible.
Have you been to any of the vegan restaurants in LA from the list? Let us know in the comments or tag @eightyflavors on socials!
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