By 
This post was originally published in 2020. It was last updated in June 2022.
What better place to navigate the vegan eating scene than Los Angeles? The city may be the mecca of the film industry, but it also ranks as one of the world’s top foodie destinations. In the last few years, but especially more recently, the city has made a name for itself as the pioneering center of vegan restaurants. Many people, including me in the beginning, steered clear of vegan food, thinking it was bland and tasteless and not exciting enough. The places you’re about to read about offer mouth-watering dishes, big portions enough to make the most starved person satisfied and bursts of flavors that will convince any non-vegan to eat at vegan restaurants for the rest of their life. (Okay maybe that’s a little exaggerated but you get the picture).
A cursory glance on Google will let you know the hottest vegan restaurants in LA: Crossroads, Gracias Madre, Café Gratitude among others can be found at the top of every LA food blog. However, if you read my blog you’ll know that I like to dig deeper and explore the hidden gems. While many of the restaurant on this list are very famous, many of them were a surprise find.
From a hipster vegan pizza joints to the oldest restaurant in Southern California tucked away deep within the San Fernando Valley, I hope you enjoy this list:
Hot Tongue Pizza
2590 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Hot Tongue is the restaurant sister of Purgatory Pizza. Founded by former musician Alex Koons, Hot Tongue is a new plant-based pizza joint in Silver Lake. I found this place thanks to Sean, founder of Secret Pizza. Hot Tongue offers vegan pizza by the slice or full pies. If you’re going by yourself, I recommend getting 3-4 slices. I had a slice of the Buffalo, the Supreme and the Classic. They were amazing! I loved how the flavor of the pizzas were not compromised by being vegan. Oftentimes, vegan pizza can be very bland, but at Hot Tongue the vegan pizzas are the star of the show. Regardless if you’re vegan or not, I can assure you’ll love it!
I loved the decor, the pink neon sign out front and the tongue logo.
They also make breakfast bagel sandwiches on the weekends, as well as Vodka Rigatoni pasta on Mondays.
Jewel SILVER LAKE
654 N Hoover St, Los Angeles, CA 90004
This gem nestled in the heart of East Silverlake is worthy of a visit. I’ve been meaning to go there for weeks. I finally put an end to my procrastination and headed there for lunch on a Sunday afternoon. The place was full but not super packed and the service I received was impeccable.
The food here is stellar. I’m a sucker for veggie burgers and I’ve had my fair share of them; Jewel’s definitely has my seal of approval. You can definitely feel the taste of the quality of each ingredient.
The Impossible burger: red onion, heirloom tomato, market lettuce, beet 1000 island (this was pretty much the main kick of the burger, delicious). On the side, you can choose either papas or slaw. Cashew Cheddar cheese is an additional $2, but for me, nothing else was needed. It was perfect the way it was.
Besides the amazing burger, the real star of the place for me was the façade and the décor. It was very homey and cozy, very Silverlesque. The blue jewel sign on the roof matched perfectly with the classic bright blue LA sky. My vegan Instagram follower saw my photo and told me that she went there for her birthday and had the best time. Seriously, this place exceeded my expectations. Did I mention how lovely and down-to-earth the staff was? If you live in LA and like vegan food, Jewel is a must-stop. I can’t wait to go back. Just FYI, Jewel is plant-based and not strictly vegan.
Kitchen Mouse
5904 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90042
The neighborhood of Highland Park is truly a gem filled with art galleries, vegan places and bars. Think of it as an extension of Silverlake and Los Feliz. I’m going off track here, but expect a dedicated blog post about Highland Park very soon!
The décor at Kitchen Mouse is super quaint and vintage, it will make you feel like you’re in your grandma’s house. They even have their own bakery next door, where they offer vegan bakery goods. I went there after a workout on the day after Thanksgiving around 1 o’clock….not a good idea. I thought that this place wouldn’t be full, given that’s in Highland Park, which is nowhere near as popular as other LA neighborhoods. I was wrong, the place was jam-packed.
I’ve also read Yelp reviews where customers complain about the long lines. The line wasn’t that long, but my order took at least 45 mins and the seating was scarce. Luckily, I snagged a table outside. As I was people-watching, I saw a beautiful brunette with bold red lipstick in a beautiful red dress stepping out of the attached bakery. It was none other than the gorgeous Mandy Moore holding a box of what I presumed were cupcakes. At her side was her husband Taylor Goldsmith. Not bad for people-watching huh?
Twenty minutes passed and my food had yet to arrive. One of the servers was super nice and gave me a complimentary vegan cinnamon cookie which was delicious. As I was feeding the meter, I saw him making eye contact with me as he placed the food on my table. Finally!! This is what it looked like:
Since they were super busy that day and had run out of many ingredients, they were out of quite a few menu items so I went with the Phychedelic Daallipop. I admit I was a little disappointed by the look of it. But as the saying goes, looks can be deceiving, right? It was spectacular. I would never have ordered this, but I’m glad I did. The subtle spiciness of the cucumber mint salad and the cilantro mint chutney added a special depth of flavor.
For those of you with kids, Kitchen Mouse is kid-friendly with a playground area on the other side of the restaurant.
Kitchen Mouse offers an incredibly extensive variety of guilt-free, healthy dishes for vegans and non-vegans alike. Their pancakes are also one of their most popular. Along with this, their crazy-affordable prices and huge portions, who can resist going there?
True Food Kitchen
Locations: Pasadena, Santa Monica, El Segundo
In 2018, Oprah made headlines when she made a significant investment in this healthy restaurant chain which has 3 locations spread across LA – Santa Monica, Pasadena and Manhattan Beach.
“I love bringing people together over a good meal,” Winfrey said in a statement. “When I first dined at True Food Kitchen, I was so impressed with the team’s passion for healthy eating and, of course, the delicious food, that I knew I wanted to be part of the company’s future.”
The staff genuinely embraced the brand in their hearts. It was my Dad’s and my first time and the lady who took our order took us through the menu sharing her recommendations as well as listing the ingredients contained in the dishes we were interested in. We started off with the hummus, which by the way was exquisite. My dad ordered the poke and I ordered the veggie burger because I’m basic and can’t seem to branch out from veggie burgers whenever I go out to a vegan place. All the dishes were phenomenal. The atmosphere was just gorgeous: modern patio with a courtyard and an electric fireplace. The kitchen is separated from the dining room with a window that lets you see the hustle and fast-pace of what’s going on inside.
The food is on the pricier side, but the décor and everything mentioned above regarding the quality of the ingredients, make up for it.
Sage Organic Bistro
Locations: Pasadena, Echo Park, Culver City
Another vegan place that has won my and my dad’s hearts while he was visiting LA. There’s also another location in Culver City, but the Echo Park location feels more authentically LA. Because of the atmosphere and the fun we had people-watching the hipster locals, this was my dad’s favorite place during his visit in LA!
First of all, the décor is above and beyond. Very industrial-like with high ceilings and visible plumbing. There’s also a bar area so the establishment functions as two businesses. It was surprisingly big.
I had a vegan bowl and my dad had an Indian-inspired vegan plate with curry. Both dishes were amazing. The portions here, again, are enormous. Although it is not as cheap as Kitchen Mouse, is reasonably priced and worth the money.
The person next to me was having the pasta (called the Broccoli Pasta Bowl), which I couldn’t stop eyeing. Months later I went to the Culver City location and they were super nice to serve it to me, despite it being only available on the dinner menu. It was delicious!
Again, even if you’re not vegan, you will fall head over heels for this place. Service is fast and will take you through the menu swiftly.
Flore Vegan
New address: 3818 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90026
This was another place that kept popping up on my Instagram feed. I went there on a leisurely Sunday. I was super hungry and ordered the Comfort Food Bowl. The photo doesn’t look super pretty but I promise you it was so filling and delicious. The price is very decent for such portions. The inside of the place is very old-school and will make you feel like you’ve just been transported to the set of Bewitched. They have a huge display case with pastries and cakes to indulge in after a delicious hearty meal. Overall, this is an excellent option if you’re in the Silverlake area and you’re in the mood for tasty vegan comfort food.
Note: After thirteen years, Flore Vegan recently relocated less than a mile away on the same street. The new address is 3818 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, California 90026.
SunCafe Organic
10820 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604
The atmosphere alone is a winner for me: beautiful outdoor patio with fireplace and ample seating. The inside of the place is also super cozy and it feels like you’re inside a cottage house. At night, the lights are dimmed, so you’ll get a really nice dining experience. Suncafe is tucked away on Ventura Blvd, so it will be really easy to miss if you’re not paying close attention! There’s limited parking space in the small lot they have, so you’re better off parking on the street.
Every time I go there, I have a satisfying experience. So far I’ve tried the Supersun nachos (only to share because it’s massively big), the mac and cheese with soyrizo , the tempeh (ideal for one person) and their pizza. They also have a very wide range of smoothies and desserts, and if you’re lucky, you might even spot Miley Cyrus! One of the times I went there, actor Nicholas Hoult, the guy from Skins, was right next to me with his girlfriend Bryana Holly. The servers always friendly and will promptly seat you.
Monty’s Good Burger
516 S Western Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020 (Koreatown)
1533 W Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026 (Echo Park)
8432 W 3rd St, Los Angeles, CA 90048 (West Hollywood)
In the last year, there has been an influx of new fast food vegan joints. If you want to read my thorough review of Monty’s Good Burger, read it here. Not only do I mention how amazingly good their Impossible Burger is, but I also emphasize how unbelievable good their shakes are. Yes, vegan shakes! Their shakes are blended with soy from A’la Minute ice cream. You will hardly tell the difference between this and a regular milkshake! Their Impossible Burger is the best plant-based burger you will have in LA. Although many of the places that are listed here also offer incredible Impossible Burgers, the one at Monty’s stands out as the winner for me. I also mention in the post that as soon as I left the establishment, two girls asked me if the shake tasted any different from a regular shake and I responded that I genuinely couldn’t tell the difference. A few months ago, I casually stumbled upon Haley Bieber’s Instagram stories, and she also couldn’t believe that the shakes were dairy-free.
If you love vegan burgers, also check out Honey Bee Burger and Burgerlords .
Pura Vita. I wrote this review on my other post “Where To Find The Best Pasta in LA”
Locations: West Hollywood, Redondo Beach
For the life of me, I could not believe that this place was vegan! Pura Vita is the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the US. Since they have limited pasta options during brunch time, I promptly ordered the Spaghetti Pomodoro and I have to say that it ranks as one of the top 2 best pastas I’ve had in Los Angeles. The taste of the sauce was pretty close to the one my mom used to make when I lived in Spain. To say that I was completely mesmerized is a big understatement. The noodles were perfectly fresh and the almond ricotta it came with was also a big winner for me – how did they make it so creamy and flavorful? How?! And on top of that, vegan?! I wish they would let me know the sorcery behind this! Every bite was a taste of pasta heaven and my only regret was not to have added the meatballs. Pura Vita is on the smaller side and there aren’t a lot of tables, however, there is ample seating space available at the bar. The exposed brick-wall and the cozy atmosphere was very reminiscent of gastropubs in New York City.
Pura Vita is located on the busy stretch of Santa Monica Blvd in West Hollywood. If you blink you might miss it! There is ton of available parking on the residential streets.
If you want to enjoy delicious and hearty vegan plates in West Hollywood, Pura Vita awaits you! If you’re planning on going there for dinner, make reservations because that’s the time it gets the busiest!
On May 8th 2020, Pura Vita opened up Pura Vita Pizzeria, which is located right next door and offers 100% vegan and organic pizzas!
L.O.V.E Organic Cafe
8205 Santa Monica Blvd, Unit 5. West Hollywood, CA 90046
LOVE is the newest vegan addition to West Hollywood. I found this place thanks to Genelle Seldon, an influencer I follow. She shared their mouth-watering Crispy rice on her Instagram stories and swore by it.
Intrigued by this place and the awesome reviews on Yelp, I went the following day. I can’t believe they’ve only been open since February! I ordered the Crispy Rice for takeout (because quarantine). It’s a little bit spicy, but it was pretty subtle and manageable. I’m super sensitive when it comes to spicy foods, but I knew I had to try it since the cashier encouraged me to order it, assuring me that it was their most popular menu item – it was delicious! My only regret is not having ordered something else. Prices are on the high side but they use organic ingredients and high quality oils. You get what you pay for, right? Although I couldn’t enjoy the dine-in eating experience due to the lockdown and business restrictions, I waited for my food inside and the atmosphere was lovely! Other menu items include the typical Thai cuisine dishes, vegan sushi rolls, soups and rices. I’m very excited that this restaurant is in my neighborhood as I’m looking forward to going back very soon!
Sugar Taco
7257 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
Thank you Sophia Esperanza for posting Sugar Taco on your Instagram story! Sugar Taco opened last year in the heart of Melrose Avenue and offers authentic, plant-based and vegan Mexican dishes. Despite living in LA and spending summers in Mexico growing up, I’m not crazy about Mexican food (insert surprised emoji face). However, this place completely surpassed my expectations. I also want to thank Sophia for recommending specifically the Pollo Quesadilla because it was absolutely phenomenal! This was another instance where you couldn’t really tell if the quesadilla was vegan or not.
It was super light and I didn’t feel bloated or full afterwards! Another sign that Sugar Taco was the real deal was seeing Postmate drivers pull up left and right on the deserted Melrose Avenue to pick up orders.
It is a bummer that I just found out about this place after walking and driving by so many times because everyone on Yelp praises the good service and the bright colorful décor. I only needed a quick glimpse on their Instagram feed to know this will be the first place I’ll be eating at once restaurants restart their sit-down service. On top of that, the owner of Sugar Taco is no other than ex-Nickelodeon actress Daniella Monet! Not only has she been plant-based for 17 years, but she also created Sugar Taco with a big sustainability focus which is great.
Green Table Café
5998 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90035
It’s always the places that are in the most inconspicuous parts of the city that have the best food. This Italian plant-based restaurant is a complete gem! What a great find. They offer multiple menu items such as soups, burgers, superbowls, sandwiches, pastas and even pies to satisfy your sweet tooth cravings! I had the BLoved sandwich. Mind you, I’m not a sandwich person at all, but that one blew me away. The tofu eggs in the sandwich had an incredible taste – I couldn’t believe they weren’t real eggs!
Follow Your Heart
21825 Sherman Way, Canoga Park, CA 91303
If you’re vegan or like vegan food, you will probably know about the world’s best mayo alternative, Vegenaise. Almost every review I have come across, attests to the fact that it tastes even better than real mayo. This health food store/restaurant has been around 1971 and was LA’s first vegan restaurant! This place should be a must for any foodie regardless of whether they’re vegan or not. Don’t expect to go there and find the same vibe you will find at another upscale trendy vegan place in West Hollywood. The regulars that frequent this place are middle-aged hippies, which is a breath of fresh air. The first time I stepped into this place, it felt like traveling in a time machine to the 80’s.
To read my full in-depth review of Follow Your Heart, check out my post here.
Stamp Proper Foods
4500 Los Feliz Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90027
As someone who frequents Los Feliz pretty often, I couldn’t believe this place had been off my radar for so long. In one of the celebrity blogs I follow, I saw Emma Roberts leaving this restaurant. I had never heard of it before, which prompted me to look further into it – and what a find! I ordered one of the sandwiches and the side of spinach quinoa recommended to me by the lovely cashier, but because I went there a few months ago and I didn’t take a photo of my food, I don’t remember which sandwich exactly. If you go there, you’ll notice are the several communal tables and people working on their laptops. The extensive menu offers a handful of different sandwiches and hearty salads. In close proximity to Griffith Park and the Griffith Observatory, this is the perfect to replenish your energy after a hike or stroll. It has a small parking lot on the side, however, you can easily find parking on the surrounding streets.
M Café de Chaya
7119 Melrose Ave #7617, West Hollywood, CA 90046
One of my favorite places. Not only is it super conveniently located for me, but their food is always a hit. Whenever my dad comes to LA and we don’t want to go grocery shopping, we walk over to M Café. Since I’ve tried several things on the menu, I could ramble on about what to order, but my favorites are the following: teriyaki bowl with salmon (so good!), the macro burger and the Penne Truffle Vegan Bolognese. As far as their soups go, the miso soup is incredibly delicious and savory. Furthermore, at the bar you will find a wide array of cold pressed juices, herbal teas, vegan sushi and cold salads. I love this place so much and it’s probably the place I frequent the most out of all the restaurants listed here! The parking is a complete mess, so I suggest parking your car on one of the side streets.
Little Pine
2870 Rowena Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90039
Every cool girl in LA can be seen at Little Pine. This organic vegan restaurant was founded by Grammy-nominated singer/songwriter Moby in 2015 and has been a success ever since. Located in the hipster neighborhood, Silverlake, Little Pine’s cozy patio with an airstream in the back is the perfect place for an exceptional vegan meal among friends or family. Although it’s a high-end vegan restaurant, everyone raves about the extensive menu options and the outstanding combination of flavors in every item. You will definitely want to come back for more.
De Buena Planta
1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
De Buena Planta is a newly-opened, plant-based Mexican restaurant located in the patio of The Butcher’s Daughter. They’re open Wednesday-Friday from 4 pm to 9 pm, and Saturdays and Sundays from 11 am to 9 pm. Besides being vegan, every item at De Buena Planta is gluten-free. My hat goes off to the designer team. The patio design was intended to recreate Tulum’s beachy atmosphere, and they have achieved that in an exceptional way! Look at this patio! I seriously can’t tell if it’s Venice Beach or Mexico!
Plant Food + Wine
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Plant Food + Wine was opened by plant-based chef and lifestyle guru Matthew Kenney and offers an incredible fine dining vegan experience in their dreamy garden. If you’re looking for innovative and creative plant-based cuisine, look no further. Browse their eclectic wine menu and savor the unique flavor combinations and nuances of their cleverly presented dishes. It is pricey, but the experience, from the beautiful garden to the quality of the food and wines, make up for it. It is highly recommended to make a reservation before you go.
Double Zero
1700 Lincoln Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Double Zero is a plant-based pizza concept from Matthew Kenney. The pizza is prepared in a wood burning oven. Besides pizza, the menu includes handmade vegan pasta, vegan ice cream and organic wines. Double Zero showcases Matthew Kenney’s delicious, beautiful, vibrant, and nutritious cuisine in one of LA’s favorite neighborhoods. Even non-vegan say this place is a must-try! The Truffle Pizza is highly recommended.
Real Coconut Kitchen
The Park at Cross Creek, 23401 Civic Center Way, Malibu, CA 90265
Founded by Daniella Hunter, The Real Coconut brand has expanded from its flagship location in Tulum, Mexico, to Malibu, California.
“Daniella’s commitment to a menu free of gluten, grain, dairy, and refined sugar, coupled with a no compromise commitment to only cook with avocado oil, and defining a plant-focused menu featuring small amounts of impeccably sourced animal protein, is the core of what the Real Coconut represents today.” – Website
Purgatory Pizza
1326 E 1st St, Los Angeles, CA 90033
This unassuming pizza joint should be a must-stop on your list whether or not you’re vegan. The exterior graffiti walls and the quirky décor match perfectly with the urban pizza aesthetic of the place. If you love the 90’s, the artwork and elements of the place will remind you of Beavis and Butthead. The cool staff and the excellent music playlist were the cherry on top. I even felt sorry for throwing out the beautiful artwork on the pizza box! While Purgatory Pizza is not strictly vegan, it offers a wide variety of vegan pizza types and deep dish. I had the Sloppy Pig slice (not vegan) and the Sloppy Vegan Pizza (vegan). Both pizzas were out of this world. I’m not a pizza person, but that pepperoni pizza was the closest thing to heaven on a grim day.
The sloppy vegan pizza was super rich in taste. I’m not vegan, but there are a few times where I have ordered vegan pizza from delivery apps and while they weren’t terrible per say, there were just bland in taste. Purgatory Pizza nailed it taste-wise and crust-wise. The place is not cheap, but hey, you get what you pay for.
El Cocinero
6265 Sepulveda Blvd UNIT 12, Van Nuys, CA 91411
El Cocinero was founded by Alex Vargas, one of the owner of Vegantinos, a vegan Mexican pop-up. In Summer 2020, he opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Van Nuys, where he uses his Mom’s and Grandma’s authentic recipes from the Mexican state of Jalisco, but completely vegan. El Cocinero is the first vegan Mexican restaurant in the San Fernando Valley! Instagram
Just What I Kneaded
2029 Blake Ave #104, Los Angeles, CA 90039
My favorite bakery in LA!! 100% vegan!! Other celebrities that are also fans include Kate Mara, Finneas, and Lizzo.
This place blew my mind in every single way: the cool gentrified neighborhood of Frogtown, which I had never been to before, the sleek exterior, the decor, and the sinfully good cinnamon roll made the drive to this place worthwhile.
Just What I Kneaded is a vegan bakery, operated by the lovely owner Justine Hernandez. They don’t offer vegan donuts every day, but soon they’re going to start making them on Fridays and Sundays. Here’s the ordering process: you go to their Instagram where they upload a story every day at 8 am with the menu available that day. After you choose your pastries, you go to toasttab, and place your order so that when you get to the store, it’s ready for you. Believe me when I tell you the pastries of this place sell out fast. You can also walk up to the store, but if there’s a specific pastry you have in mind, it’s best to order it through the website so they hold it for you.
The day before I went there was the day they made passion fruit donuts with toasted coconut! I can’t believe I missed them. And not too long ago, they also made plum donuts, which people went nuts for so they sold out extremely fast! This picture is actually how I found them. “They were so good!” said Justine.
The next day was Friday and they had them! Of course, I went there as soon as my schedule allowed. I’m here to report that they are as good as they look in the pictures! They are really big, light and soft. The plum glaze was outstandingly delicious as well, my goodness! Absolutely worth the drive. They’re a very small team so they make the batches in limited quantities. This is why I can’t reiterate enough to place your order right away if there’s something you like so when you go there it’s not sold out.
I also tried their signature dessert, which is the cinnamon roll, and it was such an unforgettable experience. The cinnamon was really flavourful without overpowering the glaze, which was not excessively sweet. The texture of the roll was melt-in-your-mouth fluffy yet softly firm inside. After every bite, I was left in awe at how exceptionally good it was. My taste buds were shaken to their core and will never forget that experience. Luckily, the cinnamon rolls are their signature pastries and are an everyday menu item! As I’m typing this, I’m already planning my next trip just for that cinnamon roll. They also make creative Pop-Tarts from scratch!
Julie Goes Green
11140 Palms Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90034
Another great vegan Italian restaurant. They have many gluten-free options available!
“Julie Goes Green is the new and improved iteration of Julie’s pizzeria. Our compassion for nature and animals is the primary reason for converting to a first plant base Italian food /Pizzeria restaurant in LA. The purpose behind it is to provide an accessible, healthy and green alternative for our customers through dedication, innovation and passion.” – Juliegoesgreen.com
Thai
If you love Thai food, I recommend Vegan Glory (Beverly Blvd) or My Vegan (Eagle Rock and Pasadena). The latter supposedly has the best vegan Pad Thai. I tried it out at the Pasadena location and it was really good. I didn’t do a full review on it because Thai food is not one of my favorite foods. However, the pad thai was scrumptious, really flavorful and the portion was so big that there was more than enough for leftovers. If you love Thai food, this place is a must!
Something Vegan in Toluca Lake is a great option for vegan Thai food if you’re in the valley. Besides Thai food, they have so many amazing varieties in their menu like meatball bolognese pasta, soups, salads and burgers. If you go this hidden gem and you’re in the mood for Asian food, I recommend the Jade fried rice with soy chicken!
Café Au Lac is another plant-based Asian restaurant with two locations: one in Downtown and one in Fountain Valley. From the reviews, the one in Fountain Valley seems more authentically Vietnamese. I haven’t been there but it’s on my list.
If you have any other recommendations to share, please do so!
