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A platter of colorful Ethiopian stews on injera bread.
Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
Wonho Frank Lee

18 Essential Plant-Based Restaurants in Los Angeles

LA’s plant-based restaurants bring big flavor and wonderful vitality to the dining scene

by Mona Holmes Updated
6 comments / new
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Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
| Wonho Frank Lee
by Mona Holmes Updated
6 comments / new

While the rest of the nation continues to grow in its fascination for vegan food, Los Angeles maintains its status as the center of the plant-based restaurant world. Thank goodness the scene has advanced beyond bricks of tofu sprinkled with nutritional yeast, growing to include everything from casual restaurants and burger joins to an unexpected five-star dining experience.

The last half-decade in particular has seen an explosion in plant-based restaurants around the city, with DTLA’s Beelman’s converting to a fully vegan menu, Nic’s On Beverly opening, and expanded fare at Crossroads in West Hollywood, to name a few options — and that’s to say nothing of the longstanding vegan food found in Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian cultures. Perhaps the best thing about LA’s vegan scene? Omnivores will enjoy the meals as much as those who choose to avoid meat altogether. Come take a closer look at these 18 essential vegan restaurants in Los Angeles, ordered from west to east.

ADDED: Bulan Thai, Crystals Soul Cafe, Flore Vegan, My Vegan, Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine, Seabirds Kitchen, Wild Living Foods

REMOVED: Gracias Madre, Hungry Angelina, Souley Vegan, V Tree (closed), Vowburger (closed)

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De Buena Planta

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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. If heading to the Westside is not feasible, a gorgeous Silver Lake location opened in March 2022.

1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Tres leches sin leches at De Buena Planta

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Real Food Daily

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With locations in West Hollywood and Pasadena, 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. (Note: RFD owner Adaline Hobbs plans to open a new plant-based restaurant in Silver Lake called Junkyard Dog later in 2022 as well.)

414 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 289-9910
(310) 289-9910

Crossroads Kitchen

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Chef/owner Tal Ronnen elevates vegan fare to an art form at Crossroads. The restaurant has been creating some of the most inventive and thoughtful meat-free food in Los Angeles since opening in 2013 with a new Vegas location opening earlier in 2022. Crossroads experiments and changes the menu regularly with dishes designed to wow, including a seafood-inspired tower.

8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 782-9245
(323) 782-9245
A layered tower with vegetables, fruits, and dips.
Seafood-inspired tower at Crossroads Kitchen
Crossroads Kitchen

Nic's On Beverly

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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. He recently hired the former Taco Vega owner/chef to fortify the menu of all-plant eats across brunch, lunch, and dinner.

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 746-5130
(323) 746-5130
Deep-fried oyster mushrooms, potatoes with gravy and greens.
Southern-style fried oyster mushrooms with dashi braised collard greens, and gravy over a potato puree at Nic’s On Beverly

Also featured in:

Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine

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Open for 22 years, Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine is a gem within Little Ethiopia. Go with a friend or group and order the generous combination platter with fava bean ful, lentils, zucchini, mixed vegetables, and as always, injera.

1047 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 937-8401
(323) 937-8401
A platter of colorful Ethiopian stews on injera bread.
Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
Wonho Frank Lee

Also featured in:

Stuff I Eat

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Chef Babette Davis’s Inglewood run began nearly two decades ago, where her restaurant brings plant-based options to historic Market Street. Step up to the counter for ordering, then wait for staff to bring out soulful dishes like greens, mac and cheese, yams, quesadillas, and a hearty tamale pie.

114 N Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 671-0115
(310) 671-0115

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Vegan AF Food Truck

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Vegan A.F. founder Chanel Goodson launched her food truck last June, selling savory vegan egg rolls and loaded fries from the bright pink vehicle. Though mostly parked in and around Downtown, check Goodson’s Instagram to find out where to nab her loaded Nashville hot fries with vegan shrimp or the loaded cheeseburger roll.

411 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(323) 347-4970
(323) 347-4970
Loaded Nashville hot fries with vegan shrimp at Vegan A.F. truck in Los Angeles, California.
Vegan A.F.
Kristal Douglas

Seabirds Kitchen Los Feliz

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Seabirds owner Stephanie Morgan opened a bright new location in in Los Feliz in 2022. Head to the Costa Mesa or Long Beach locations for her signature blackened beet taco and filet o’cauliflower.

2138 Hillhurst Ave Suite B, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 407-6034
(323) 407-6034
An outdoor patio with light wood tables, plants, and a doorway.
Seabirds Kitchen in Los Feliz
Dylan James Ho

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Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen

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Bulan Thai had a front seat while Silver Lake changed over the decades. It’s been churning out excellent plant-based Thai long before Erewhon moved in across the street, and diners can still find the restaurant’s mock duck curry, roasted kabocha squash with Thai spices, and the specialty inferno chicken that packs heat and flavor.

4114 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 913-1488
(323) 913-1488
An assortment of dishes from Bulan Thai
Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen
Bulan Thai

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Flore Vegan

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Flore Vegan was pushed out of its original location in early 2020, but has since landed in a delightful nearby spot that comes with a perfect patio to eat sliders, salads, bowls, and a blta pizza with tempeh bacon, avocado, tomato, and lettuce.

2943 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 953-0611
(323) 953-0611

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Crystals Soul Cafe

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Compton’s vegan staple is Crystals Soul Cafe, a neighborhood restaurant that makes some of the city’s best cornbread along with soul platters that include options like greens and black eyed peas and the choice of vegan shrimp or barbecue chicken. Staff also sell a bonus item: actual plants.

12823 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061
(424) 292-3378
(424) 292-3378
A substitute chicken with sauteed greens and black eyed peas on a white plate.
Crystals Soul Cafe
Crystals Soul Cafe

Also featured in:

Wild Living Foods

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Downtown’s Wild Living Foods is one of the few raw food restaurants throughout the city. Staff prepare foods between 104 to 118 degrees emphasize the natural form of vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. The tacos are particularly delicious with a pumpkin seed ‘chorizo’ in a lettuce wrap, drizzled with a decadent cashew cheese, avocado, crispy walnuts, and a spicy creamy sauce.

760 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 266-8254
(213) 266-8254
A colorful restaurant counter with a display case.
Wild Living Foods
Wild Living Foods

Beelman's

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Back in 2017, Golden Road Brewing founder Tony Yanow and the Artisanal Brewers Collective switched Beelman’s into an entirely plant-based menu. As a longtime vegan, meatless fare is a common practice for Yanow, and Beelman’s diners can expect an exceptional food menu with a fried green tomato po’boy, a Vietnamese-style wrap, and a corn and potato chowder.

600 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 628-3313
(213) 628-3313
An assortment of menu items from Beelman’s in Downtown Los Angeles.
Beelman’s
Facebook Official

Also featured in:

Just What I Kneaded

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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: a plant-based take on a BLT and the excellent coffee with a cozy patio.

2029 Blake Ave #104, Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 522-3340
(323) 522-3340

My Vegan

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Stationed in both Eagle Rock and Pasadena, My Vegan is one of LA’s many Thai plant-based restaurants. Staff are very friendly when serving Thai iced coffee, papaya salad, tom kah soup, and a dazzling stir-fry with pumpkin, eggplant, mushroom, onion, bell pepper, and basil.

1759 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 739-0285
(323) 739-0285

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Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant

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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.

10345 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733
(626) 579-1050
(626) 579-1050

Also featured in:

Chicana

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Chicana settled nicely into Downtown Fullerton in 2020. This family-run business offers some of the region’s best plant-based food with dishes like the massive loaded nachos, taquitos, street tacos, burgers, and sopes.

113 E Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 519-3380
(714) 519-3380
Chicana Vegana restaurant’s jackfruit sopes in Fullerton, California Mona Holmes

Green Green Trees Your Vegan Kitchen

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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 American dream: 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.

4141 S Nogales St B107, West Covina, CA 91792
(626) 667-8880
(626) 667-8880

Also featured in:

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De Buena Planta

1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291

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. If heading to the Westside is not feasible, a gorgeous Silver Lake location opened in March 2022.

1118 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice, CA 90291
Tres leches sin leches at De Buena Planta

Real Food Daily

414 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

With locations in West Hollywood and Pasadena, 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. (Note: RFD owner Adaline Hobbs plans to open a new plant-based restaurant in Silver Lake called Junkyard Dog later in 2022 as well.)

414 N La Cienega Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(310) 289-9910
(310) 289-9910

Crossroads Kitchen

8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046

Chef/owner Tal Ronnen elevates vegan fare to an art form at Crossroads. The restaurant has been creating some of the most inventive and thoughtful meat-free food in Los Angeles since opening in 2013 with a new Vegas location opening earlier in 2022. Crossroads experiments and changes the menu regularly with dishes designed to wow, including a seafood-inspired tower.

8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 782-9245
(323) 782-9245
A layered tower with vegetables, fruits, and dips.
Seafood-inspired tower at Crossroads Kitchen
Crossroads Kitchen

Nic's On Beverly

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048

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. He recently hired the former Taco Vega owner/chef to fortify the menu of all-plant eats across brunch, lunch, and dinner.

8265 Beverly Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323) 746-5130
(323) 746-5130
Deep-fried oyster mushrooms, potatoes with gravy and greens.
Southern-style fried oyster mushrooms with dashi braised collard greens, and gravy over a potato puree at Nic’s On Beverly

Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine

1047 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Open for 22 years, Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine is a gem within Little Ethiopia. Go with a friend or group and order the generous combination platter with fava bean ful, lentils, zucchini, mixed vegetables, and as always, injera.

1047 S Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019
(323) 937-8401
(323) 937-8401
A platter of colorful Ethiopian stews on injera bread.
Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
Wonho Frank Lee

Stuff I Eat

114 N Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301

Chef Babette Davis’s Inglewood run began nearly two decades ago, where her restaurant brings plant-based options to historic Market Street. Step up to the counter for ordering, then wait for staff to bring out soulful dishes like greens, mac and cheese, yams, quesadillas, and a hearty tamale pie.

114 N Market St, Inglewood, CA 90301
(310) 671-0115
(310) 671-0115

Vegan AF Food Truck

411 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020

Vegan A.F. founder Chanel Goodson launched her food truck last June, selling savory vegan egg rolls and loaded fries from the bright pink vehicle. Though mostly parked in and around Downtown, check Goodson’s Instagram to find out where to nab her loaded Nashville hot fries with vegan shrimp or the loaded cheeseburger roll.

411 Normandie Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020
(323) 347-4970
(323) 347-4970
Loaded Nashville hot fries with vegan shrimp at Vegan A.F. truck in Los Angeles, California.
Vegan A.F.
Kristal Douglas

Seabirds Kitchen Los Feliz

2138 Hillhurst Ave Suite B, Los Angeles, CA 90027

Seabirds owner Stephanie Morgan opened a bright new location in in Los Feliz in 2022. Head to the Costa Mesa or Long Beach locations for her signature blackened beet taco and filet o’cauliflower.

2138 Hillhurst Ave Suite B, Los Angeles, CA 90027
(323) 407-6034
(323) 407-6034
An outdoor patio with light wood tables, plants, and a doorway.
Seabirds Kitchen in Los Feliz
Dylan James Ho

Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen

4114 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

Bulan Thai had a front seat while Silver Lake changed over the decades. It’s been churning out excellent plant-based Thai long before Erewhon moved in across the street, and diners can still find the restaurant’s mock duck curry, roasted kabocha squash with Thai spices, and the specialty inferno chicken that packs heat and flavor.

4114 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029
(323) 913-1488
(323) 913-1488
An assortment of dishes from Bulan Thai
Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen
Bulan Thai

Flore Vegan

2943 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Flore Vegan was pushed out of its original location in early 2020, but has since landed in a delightful nearby spot that comes with a perfect patio to eat sliders, salads, bowls, and a blta pizza with tempeh bacon, avocado, tomato, and lettuce.

2943 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 953-0611
(323) 953-0611

Crystals Soul Cafe

12823 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061

Compton’s vegan staple is Crystals Soul Cafe, a neighborhood restaurant that makes some of the city’s best cornbread along with soul platters that include options like greens and black eyed peas and the choice of vegan shrimp or barbecue chicken. Staff also sell a bonus item: actual plants.

12823 Avalon Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90061
(424) 292-3378
(424) 292-3378
A substitute chicken with sauteed greens and black eyed peas on a white plate.
Crystals Soul Cafe
Crystals Soul Cafe

Wild Living Foods

760 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Downtown’s Wild Living Foods is one of the few raw food restaurants throughout the city. Staff prepare foods between 104 to 118 degrees emphasize the natural form of vegetables, fruits, seeds, and nuts. The tacos are particularly delicious with a pumpkin seed ‘chorizo’ in a lettuce wrap, drizzled with a decadent cashew cheese, avocado, crispy walnuts, and a spicy creamy sauce.

760 S Main St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 266-8254
(213) 266-8254
A colorful restaurant counter with a display case.
Wild Living Foods
Wild Living Foods

Beelman's

600 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Back in 2017, Golden Road Brewing founder Tony Yanow and the Artisanal Brewers Collective switched Beelman’s into an entirely plant-based menu. As a longtime vegan, meatless fare is a common practice for Yanow, and Beelman’s diners can expect an exceptional food menu with a fried green tomato po’boy, a Vietnamese-style wrap, and a corn and potato chowder.

600 S Spring St, Los Angeles, CA 90014
(213) 628-3313
(213) 628-3313
An assortment of menu items from Beelman’s in Downtown Los Angeles.
Beelman’s
Facebook Official

Just What I Kneaded

2029 Blake Ave #104, Los Angeles, CA 90039

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: a plant-based take on a BLT and the excellent coffee with a cozy patio.

2029 Blake Ave #104, Los Angeles, CA 90039
(323) 522-3340
(323) 522-3340

My Vegan

1759 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041

Stationed in both Eagle Rock and Pasadena, My Vegan is one of LA’s many Thai plant-based restaurants. Staff are very friendly when serving Thai iced coffee, papaya salad, tom kah soup, and a dazzling stir-fry with pumpkin, eggplant, mushroom, onion, bell pepper, and basil.

1759 Colorado Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90041
(323) 739-0285
(323) 739-0285

Related Maps

Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant

10345 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733

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.

10345 Garvey Ave, El Monte, CA 91733
(626) 579-1050
(626) 579-1050

Chicana

113 E Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832

Chicana settled nicely into Downtown Fullerton in 2020. This family-run business offers some of the region’s best plant-based food with dishes like the massive loaded nachos, taquitos, street tacos, burgers, and sopes.

113 E Commonwealth Ave, Fullerton, CA 92832
(714) 519-3380
(714) 519-3380
Chicana Vegana restaurant’s jackfruit sopes in Fullerton, California Mona Holmes

Green Green Trees Your Vegan Kitchen

4141 S Nogales St B107, West Covina, CA 91792

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 American dream: 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.

4141 S Nogales St B107, West Covina, CA 91792
(626) 667-8880
(626) 667-8880

Related Maps