5 Vegan Restaurants You Have to Try in the Los Angeles Area
Have a plant based outing and feast!
Plant-based/vegetarian eating has been my only way of eating for over 20 years now. In that time, I have tried almost every plant-based restaurant Los Angeles has to offer. And I am here to tell you, there are some real gems out there! I am also a foodie and like to try new restaurants …maybe too much??$$ (according to my husband)..perhaps.
But I also love that we live just a short drive from Los Angeles and can go there anytime to grab some yummy food and fun.
My husband is vegan and the kids love to eat at any restaurant in LA. Especially now that they are getting older, they totally appreciate all of the good food we make and the restaurants we take them to.
So if you live in the Los Angeles area or you are coming to Sunny SoCal for a trip or vacation…these gems are truly my favorites after years of sampling some of the best LA has to offer. And again, these are all kid and family friendly.
Here are my top five picks for the best Vegan restaurants in LA.
This is part 1 of a 4 part series so stay tuned for more!
#1: Seabirds
Seabirds is one of those restaurants that manages to be both delicious and environmentally conscious. They were originally a food truck, but have since expanded to several locations including the Los Felis area in Los Angeles. Hey, while you are in that area, visit the Griffith park Observatory or just beautiful Griffith Park for a full day of beauty and fun.
Seabirds is committed to vegan and plant-based eating, and it shows in their menu. The vegan grilled cheese is a personal favorite of mine, and their tomato soup is the perfect comfort food for a chilly day.
Seabirds' Brussels sprouts have been featured on Yelp's list of the best dishes in Los Angeles….because they are to die for!
And they usually have fresh kombucha on tap which is crazy good.
I also love their jack fruit. I have had their jack fruit tacos and jack fruit bowls, but recently they added jack fruit nachos…give it a try!
You might want to call ahead with this one though and make reservations since they tend to get really busy.
You can give their menu a gander here.
You can view their address, hours and more below.
Los Feliz, Los Angeles
2138 Hillhurst Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027
Located on Hillhurst between Los Feliz Blvd and Avocado Street (between Starbucks and Little Dom’s).
323-407-6034
HOURS
Mon-Thur 11:00am - 9:00pm
Fri 11:00am - 10:00pm
Sat 10:00am - 10:00pm // Brunch 10:00am-3:00pm
Sun 10:00am - 9:00pm // Brunch 10:00am-3:00pm
Call ahead to order take out, or order and pay ahead through our CHOW NOW app.
PARKING
Parking lot is FREE and located behind our restaurant and can be accessed by Hillhurst or Avocado Street.
jackfruit from seabirds
#2 Udupi Palace in Cerritos
Udupi Palace is my hands-down favorite vegetarian restaurant in all of Los Angeles. It isn’t in LA proper, but in Cerritos in Los Angeles county.
Now, I didn’t say this place was healthy….but sometimes it's okay to splurge:) It's not super unhealthy either, but definitely a lot of salt and oil…but so many restaurants are even worse so don’t let that deter you.
The food is fresh, flavorful, and there is a great variety to choose from. They will tell you which of their dishes are vegetarian or vegan dishes, so you can be sure that there will always be something delicious and vegan-friendly for you to eat. The restaurant is completely vegetarian but sometimes ghee is in some of the dishes but for the most part, you can get about everything completely vegan.
It is very traditional South Indian with to die for dosas and thalis. If you are not sure what a dosa is, it is a crepe made from rice and lentil flour that is served with a variety of savory fillings and chutneys. Pictured below.
Dosas!
And if you are not sure what a thali is, it is basically a generous sized sampling of all the dishes. The pakoras and samosas are also not to be missed - they are crispy fried fritters filled with potatoes, onions, and spices.
For children, I recommend the Chana Masala with no onion topping (its raw onions which my children hate) and some papadams (little crispy fried breads).
The food is perfectly spiced, but do note that you will probably get a runny nose if you are not used to eating this kind of food…don’t worry, it’s just a brief heat that doesn’t cause pain..because you are so busy devouring your meal.
Even if you're not a vegetarian or vegan, I think you'll enjoy the food at Udupi Palace. It's just that good.
An Outing in Little India
In addition to going to Udupi, Cerritos is a fun outing if you’ve never been. It is also called Little India. Pioneer street is the main street where you can walk up and down for miles and look at store after store.
They have tons of Indian grocery stores, Indian snack shops, Indian clothing, decor, and cookware stores. I spend hours there every time I go. Lots of great clothing finds! It’s always a great place for a girls outing so you can shop and eat and shop and eat:)
So if you're ever in the area, be sure to stop by and give it a try. You won't regret it.
If you are in the mood for trying your own hand at Indian food and want to know what to buy while you are there shopping, check out my Getting Started with Indian Food post.
Address
Hours
Tues -Sun:
11:30 AM - 9:00 PM
Mon:
Closed
Contact
Phone: (562) 860-1950
Email: udupipalace@gmail.com
#3 Native Foods Cafe in Westwood
Native Foods Cafe is a chain restaurant with several locations throughout Southern California. They’ve been around for a long time and have a very devoted following. They serve American comfort food classics like burgers and fries, but with a vegan twist.
They closed the location that was right by my house…sad face. So I love that this one in Westwood is a thriving vegan joint with tons of yummy options.
My go-to’s are always the fish tacos and their veggie burger…it’s basically vegan comfort food with a dash of gourmet.
Their burgers are made with meatless patties and their fries are crispy and delicious – seriously the best fries!
Westwood is also a fun place to hang out. You’re not too far from the Getty if you want a museum day or from the beach in Santa Monica.
Here is a bit from their website about their mission:
“Herbivore since ’94.
At Native Foods, we believe you can stay healthy, respect the Earth, and share a great meal with your friends – all of them. Our chefs have been crafting 100% plant-based and 100% craveable dishes since 1994. It’s the world’s comfort food at home in your community, rich with bold flavors, and served up by good people”
Location:
1114 Gayley Avenue
Los Angeles California 90024
Get Directions (310) 209-1055
Hours:
Sat-Thu 11:00am–8:00pm
Fri 11:00am - 09:00pm
#4 Au Lac in Downtown Los Angeles
Au Lac is another one of my favorite vegan restaurants in Los Angeles. This plant-based restaurant offers a unique take on Asian fusion cuisine, and the ambiance is simply amazing. The restaurant is located in downtown Los Angeles, and it offers a great vegan menu with gourmet flavors.
The menu features a wide variety of vegan dishes, including soups, salads, noodle dishes, rice dishes, and more. But they also feature raw dishes that are to die for.
BBQ pork rolls from Au Lac
Au Lac also offers a full bar, and the service is always stellar. I highly recommend Au Lac to anyone looking for a fantastic vegan meal in Los Angeles with a downtown Los Angeles vibe.
Also, you are right next to the Los Angeles Philharmonic so make it a night and hear a performance after you eat at Au Lac. Out of all of the restaurants I have mentioned, this one is the most “fancy” so it would be great for a special occasion.
I love their spring rolls and honestly any of their main courses. But I really have a fondness for one of their raw dishes that has black rice and avacado called curried rice pictured below. I can’t even describe it other than it is amazing and one of my most favorite dishes ever from any restaurant…and its healthy!
This is also a place where we like to get lots of appetizers and share instead of a main entree because they are just divine. My favorites are the bbq pork rolls and the salt & pepper shrimp.
Here’s a sweet video of the owner. She really believes in the healing power of plant based foods. You can really feel that too when you visit. The location in Orange County had their famous chef Ito at its head. He was a silent spiritual practionar. He always just smiled and communicated with hand gestures. I heard he has been silent for decades.
#5: Samosa House in Los Angeles
Samosa House in Los Angeles is another amazing find for vegetarians and vegans alike. While some items on the extensive menu do contain ghee, most of their delicious dishes are completely vegan. It is definitely a bit of a hole in the wall, but that is what I love about it.
This Indian faire is specifically from the Gujarat region which is totally different from South Indian food at Udupi Palace that I recommended earlier in this post.
The Thali plate is definitely a must-try! You can literally pick your dishes from behind the counter as you can see all of the available offerings for the thali. This traditional plate offers patrons the perfect opportunity to try plant-based eating in the Los Angeles area.
The thali is a large platter of basmati rice is accompanied by various tasty sides, including curries and chutneys which offer a mix of both sweet and savory flavors.
For those looking for a truly unique culinary experience in Los Angeles, a visit to Samosa House is a must. The restaurant is also located inside their own grocery store. Last time I visited they also were building and expanding an Indian Imports/Hindu Spiritual giftshop inside as well.
But you absolutely must try the samosa chat when you visit! Its out of this world! It is a samosa covered with some vegan curry sauce and toppings and chana masala. Yum!
Caution: They have 3 locations so make sure you visit the one I have listed below for the best experience as well as getting to visit the grocery and giftshops inside:
11510 W Washington Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 398-6766
Mon-Sun: 10.30 am to 9.30 pm
Final Thoughts
Los Angeles is fun and sun, movies and music, poverty and crime, dirt and glitter. LA has it all, but it also has my heart. It is a special city. All of the cultural offerings are my favorite part, there is something for everyone. And whether you are a lifelong vegetarian or just trying to eat more plants, all of these restaurants I picked for you will be sure to impress you!
Head to Cerritos for an all day fun of Indian faire at Udupi Palace, or Downtown LA to vibey Au Lac or Westwood for some comfort food classics at Native Foods Cafe. Trust me, your taste buds will thank you! Your companions will thank you more for finding the 411 on the best Vegan restaurants.
Read my post on how to vibe out in Los Angeles for more LA fun here.
Leave some comments if you tried any.
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Heather Hathaway, M.Ed.
