Venice’s Butcher’s Daughter opened the plant-forward De Buena Planta in 2020 where the beachy vibes are met by gorgeous cocktails, mezcal, aguas frescas, gluten-free options, and plenty of tacos with options like the cauliflower, potato, or mushroom.

While Gracias Madre has always been known for its cocktails and its scene, lately the food has been getting even more of its own attention. New group executive chef Justin Haefler, who formerly ran Red O in LA — and cooked for one of Hong Kong’s bigger hospitality groups — revamped the entirely plant-based menu with comfort foods and healthy fare that doesn’t feel bland or basic. And yes, the cocktails are still a hit.

As LA’s oldest vegan restaurant, Real Food Daily cranks out an all-day menu featuring chocolate chip and banana pancakes or the creamy alfredo pasta recipe with cashew “cheese” sauce that’s been tested and perfected over the decades.

Nic Adler maintains a strong presence in Los Angeles with Monty’s Good Burger, but his sit-down restaurant in the former Terrine space is worth visiting. With an all-day menu (brunch on weekends), there’s always something interesting and completely animal-free with the chilaquiles, pizzas, or “fish” and chips.

Fairfax fast-ish food option Vowburger is one of a handful of spots offering fully vegan burgers, fries, ‘chicken’ sandwiches, and more — but the group differentiates itself in part by making its own faux egg in house. Add to that the simple, affordable menu and give-back initiative that sees Vowburger donate thousands of meals to those in need, and it’s hard not to root for this young upstart operation.

Souley Vegan started out of Oakland, and now its soul food favorites like cornbread, gumbo, and (seitan) chicken and waffles are available for pickup out of East Hollywood, or via delivery app.

Vegan A.F. founder Chanel Goodson launched her food truck last June, and started selling savory vegan egg rolls and loaded fries from the bright pink vehicle. Mostly parked near the intersection of Melrose and Fairfax, and other points throughout the city, there’s a uniqueness to her food like the loaded Nashville hot fries with vegan shrimp.

After a successful pop-up run at Yamashiro in 2020, Charlotte-native chef Velvet opened her first LA plant-based restaurant in March. VTree’s bright space in central Silver Lake, located directly across the street from Millie’s, serves soulful with “crab” cakes, mac and cheese, and yams. Velvet expanded her comfort food options with the new space, including a chickpea tuna wrap, vegan cinnamon rolls, and a West African peanut butter stew.

Frogtown’s cozy bakery/cafe Just What I Kneaded gets points for a punny restaurant name, but owner and head baker Justine Hernandez prepares fantastic galettes, cookies, and scones with coffee until everything is sold out. Not to be missed: her plant-based take on a BLT.

Chef Matthew Kenney’s Long Beach restaurant is an elegant yet casual stop in Long Beach. There’s plenty to make one forget that there’s no animal products at Hungry Angelina, just flavor like the bowl filled with imitation/vegan poke, avocados, citrus, seaweed, and brown rice.

When a Vietnamese restaurant can make nuoc cham without traditional fish sauce, it’s safe to say that the remaining menu will impress. Try the broken rice and classic noodle soups. The formica tabletops are plentiful, so sit back and watch the gorgeous dishes arrive at everyone’s tables.

Green Green Trees Your Vegan Kitchen owner Carol Tsang has one of the most inspiring stories surrounding her restaurant. After her husband died in 2020, he left her with a sum of money to start her dream in the US: to open a vegan restaurant. The food is equally heartening, with Taiwanese favorites lining the menu with Taiwanese kimchi, braised “beef” noodle soup, and a Guangdong porridge with corn, cabbage, peas, carrots, mushroom, and parsley.