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Cafe Gratitude Arts District
Cafe Gratitude Arts District
Wonho Frank Lee

Essential Los Angeles Vegetarian Restaurants

LA is a mecca for plant-based dining

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Cafe Gratitude Arts District
| Wonho Frank Lee

Los Angeles has always boasted a great vegetarian and vegan dining scene. It's even been lampooned in Woody Allen films. But while the hippie vegetarian restaurant might be a thing of the past, chefs and serious restaurateurs have embraced LA's dining scene, bringing thoughtful and well-crafted dishes that would stand up to any top notch restaurant in the city. Here now, LA's essential vegetarian and vegan restaurants, in no particular order.

Removed: The Gadarene Swine (closed)

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Crossroads Kitchen

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At Crossroads on Melrose, chef Tal Ronnen is elevating vegan fare to an artform. Since 2013, the team there has been turning out some of the most inventive and intelligent meat-free food in Los Angeles, making it not only a haven for the upper echelon of vegetarian fine-diners, but for anyone curious about how important (and delicious) vegan food can be.

Elf Cafe

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Echo Park's Elf is a bistro gem that just so happens to not serve meat. Chef David Martinez finds easy ways around animal proteins in ways you won't even notice, like hearty tagines with curried potatoes or plates of gnocchi piled high with shaved asparagus and mint.

Plant Food and Wine

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Matthew Kenney's newest vegan restaurant in Los Angeles is a Venice stunner with one hell of a back patio. Good-looking types flock to the Abbot Kinney address with alarming regularity, though the comfort of the place — and the ease of the meatless food — make it a destination for just about anyone.

Gracias Madre

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The more laid-back counterpart to Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre is a drinker's paradise that also happens to serve high-level vegan Mexican fare. You'll find great batched cocktails and a worthwhile margarita from the bar, then settle into the patio for a round of Mexican-leaning plant-based food that doesn't lean too heavily on the fake cheese.

Green Temple Vegetarian Restaurant

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Holding it down for the South Bay is the much beloved Green Temple. Nestled in a hidden courtyard in Riviera Village, the quaint patio offers plenty of feel-good vibes along with its insanely delicious tofu sauce, white lasagna, and pies.

Sushi-craving vegans are lucky to have Shojin, where spicy tofu replaces tuna in the restaurant's take on sushi. Beyond rolls, there's even a vegan ramen burger to assure there's a little something for everyone (well, at least every vegan).

Samosa House

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While it seems that the quality has been on and off over the years at this Culver City restaurant, it's still a mainstay for Westsiders wanting a heavy dose of vegetarian Indian fare at a bargain price.

Cafe Gratitude

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With inspirational names and beautiful people all around, it's easy to fall in love with the plant-based lifestyle at Cafe Gratitude. The healthy-eating mini-chain of all-vegan options turns out some of the most popular meat-free food in the city, with thousands of meals served weekly.

The Vegan Joint

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This humble Palms corner shop sports four other outlets around town. The fare is on the eclectic side, with everything from burritos and Southeast Asian curries to salads and burgers. There's a bit of everything on the menu, which should make it easy to please your vegan friends.

Flore Vegan Restaurant

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Silver Lake's Flore vegan restaurant is what happens when you remove the stigma of vegan food and just decide to make a casual neighborhood restaurant. The menu is full of reasonably-priced takes on American comfort food, all done with a meatless bent and a casual smile from your server.

Seed Kitchen

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This fine Venice neighborhood restaurant has been churning out creative vegan fare since 2008, with chef-driven food by Erik Lechasseur. The affordable menu boasts burgers, salads, panini, and tacos, along with some fancy desserts to finish the meal. Try the sansai donburi macro bowl, a Japanese-inspired creation chock full of healthy ingredients.

Real Food Daily

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Although the Santa Monica branch of Real Food Daily has shuttered, the outlet on La Cienega in West Hollywood has been a standby for Hollywood hip kids who appreciate the restaurant's dishes like tempeh bacon, vegan nachos, and salads.

Mohawk Bend

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Echo Park has come to love Mohawk Bend, thanks to its large indoor-outdoor space, lean on California craft beer, and dual vegan and non-vegan menu. Regardless of where you stand on the side-by-side menus, you'll likely end up with a plate of the insanely popular buffalo cauliflower.

Little Pine Restaurant

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Not only did Moby decide to open an all-vegan, all-day restaurant on a humble stretch of Silver Lake, he did so by actually showing up to neighborhood council meetings and working with locals on what's best for the area. The result is a charming music box of a restaurant doing breakfast through dinner, with all proceeds going to various animal rescue causes.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

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This sizeable 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.

If you're looking to skip meat but craving affordable dishes packed with flavor, Satdha Thai in Santa Monica can't be beat. The fried catfish eggplant with red curry paste is a must with its flakiness reminiscent of actual battered catfish. Finish off the meal with the sticky rice and mango and you'll be craving it both again next week.

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Crossroads Kitchen

At Crossroads on Melrose, chef Tal Ronnen is elevating vegan fare to an artform. Since 2013, the team there has been turning out some of the most inventive and intelligent meat-free food in Los Angeles, making it not only a haven for the upper echelon of vegetarian fine-diners, but for anyone curious about how important (and delicious) vegan food can be.

Elf Cafe

Echo Park's Elf is a bistro gem that just so happens to not serve meat. Chef David Martinez finds easy ways around animal proteins in ways you won't even notice, like hearty tagines with curried potatoes or plates of gnocchi piled high with shaved asparagus and mint.

Plant Food and Wine

Matthew Kenney's newest vegan restaurant in Los Angeles is a Venice stunner with one hell of a back patio. Good-looking types flock to the Abbot Kinney address with alarming regularity, though the comfort of the place — and the ease of the meatless food — make it a destination for just about anyone.

Gracias Madre

The more laid-back counterpart to Cafe Gratitude, Gracias Madre is a drinker's paradise that also happens to serve high-level vegan Mexican fare. You'll find great batched cocktails and a worthwhile margarita from the bar, then settle into the patio for a round of Mexican-leaning plant-based food that doesn't lean too heavily on the fake cheese.

Green Temple Vegetarian Restaurant

Holding it down for the South Bay is the much beloved Green Temple. Nestled in a hidden courtyard in Riviera Village, the quaint patio offers plenty of feel-good vibes along with its insanely delicious tofu sauce, white lasagna, and pies.

Shojin

Sushi-craving vegans are lucky to have Shojin, where spicy tofu replaces tuna in the restaurant's take on sushi. Beyond rolls, there's even a vegan ramen burger to assure there's a little something for everyone (well, at least every vegan).

Samosa House

While it seems that the quality has been on and off over the years at this Culver City restaurant, it's still a mainstay for Westsiders wanting a heavy dose of vegetarian Indian fare at a bargain price.

Cafe Gratitude

With inspirational names and beautiful people all around, it's easy to fall in love with the plant-based lifestyle at Cafe Gratitude. The healthy-eating mini-chain of all-vegan options turns out some of the most popular meat-free food in the city, with thousands of meals served weekly.

The Vegan Joint

This humble Palms corner shop sports four other outlets around town. The fare is on the eclectic side, with everything from burritos and Southeast Asian curries to salads and burgers. There's a bit of everything on the menu, which should make it easy to please your vegan friends.

Flore Vegan Restaurant

Silver Lake's Flore vegan restaurant is what happens when you remove the stigma of vegan food and just decide to make a casual neighborhood restaurant. The menu is full of reasonably-priced takes on American comfort food, all done with a meatless bent and a casual smile from your server.

Seed Kitchen

This fine Venice neighborhood restaurant has been churning out creative vegan fare since 2008, with chef-driven food by Erik Lechasseur. The affordable menu boasts burgers, salads, panini, and tacos, along with some fancy desserts to finish the meal. Try the sansai donburi macro bowl, a Japanese-inspired creation chock full of healthy ingredients.

Real Food Daily

Although the Santa Monica branch of Real Food Daily has shuttered, the outlet on La Cienega in West Hollywood has been a standby for Hollywood hip kids who appreciate the restaurant's dishes like tempeh bacon, vegan nachos, and salads.

Mohawk Bend

Echo Park has come to love Mohawk Bend, thanks to its large indoor-outdoor space, lean on California craft beer, and dual vegan and non-vegan menu. Regardless of where you stand on the side-by-side menus, you'll likely end up with a plate of the insanely popular buffalo cauliflower.

Little Pine Restaurant

Not only did Moby decide to open an all-vegan, all-day restaurant on a humble stretch of Silver Lake, he did so by actually showing up to neighborhood council meetings and working with locals on what's best for the area. The result is a charming music box of a restaurant doing breakfast through dinner, with all proceeds going to various animal rescue causes.

Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

This sizeable 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.

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Satdha

If you're looking to skip meat but craving affordable dishes packed with flavor, Satdha Thai in Santa Monica can't be beat. The fried catfish eggplant with red curry paste is a must with its flakiness reminiscent of actual battered catfish. Finish off the meal with the sticky rice and mango and you'll be craving it both again next week.

Related Maps