The Best Vegan Restaurants In Los Angeles, CA

I 💜 LA! And I love LA’s vegan restaurants.

I love the weather, I love the west coast vibe and I especially love all of the amazing vegan restaurants. 

Los Angeles has always been a very progressive & an ahead of the times state where even years ago when veganism wasn’t as popular, LA already had lots of vegan restaurants to scope out. 

I’ve been to Los Angeles for work & leisure nearly every year for the past 10 years. My first few trips were work related where I was able to have friends tag along and make some incredibly fun trips out of it. 

The very first restaurant I ate a vegan dish in LA was from Tender Greens. They have limited vegan items but at the time I was just so happy to see the words “VEGAN” on the menu. If you’re looking for quick healthy food & going with nonvegans this is still a great option. 

Another great spot for a group to enjoy is Blu Jam Cafe. They have some great vegan options for brunch/lunch style dishes. 

As fun as Los Angeles was to explore with my friends, there’s nothing like travelling to LA with my husband. We honestly have the best time exploring new and old favs vegan restaurants. 

1. Veggie Grill

Atmosphere: Fast paced, order at the counter, they give you a number & bring your food when it’s ready. Very casual low key vibes. I have seen a few celebs in here from time to time if you’re into star sightings. 

The Food: Always spot on. This isn’t gourmet cooking and we don’t always have time for those sit down meals. So when you’re looking for a healthier vegan fast food, this is the place. Everything is super tasty and I’ve tried the entire menu nearly. 

Overall Rating: 5/5 Always a must visit whenever I’m in town

Get The: The VG Classic Burger or the Reuben on Rye

One of my most recent trips to LA was a work trip for my husband & I was lucky enough to be able to tag along. Aaron was actually nominated for an MTV Video Award & he ended up winning a Moon Man 🎉 (that he never physically received 👎 but still won). He was also there to shoot a French Montana music video. And of course, we checked out all of the vegan restaurants too.

Most of the time when I’m travelling to big cities I like to rent Airbnbs. I love to have access to a kitchen because checking out the local grocery store for their vegan options is always so much fun. 

I also love finding unique hidden gems. Usually I end up staying in West Hollywood but this past time Aaron and I stayed in the hills & got to experience an incredible view that also led to an amazing hike around the Hollywood Reservoir. 

One of our go-to breakfast joints on all of our LA trips…

2. Real Food Daily 

Atmosphere: Chill hippie vegan joint. Has a very painterly earthy vibe with multiple locations in neighbouring cities. 

The Food: Everything is very tasty. They have all day menus but I tend to only visit during the brunch/lunch hours somehow, haha. The food also tends to be on the healthier side with fresh juices and smoothies. They also have a ton of gluten free & soy free options. 

Overall Rating: 5/5 I hope they never change. They give you everything you need. 

Get The: The Weekender (Choice of 2 pieces of french toast or pancakes served with cheesy tofu scramble, choice of tempeh bacon or chipotle sausage, and a choice of hash browns or fruit.) Need I say more?

One of my fav things to do with the hubs when we’re travelling is finding some nicer vegan restaurants to go on cute date nights together. Anything for an excuse to dress up in a foreign town & try some fancy vegan dishes. 

3. Crossroads

Atmosphere: I highly recommend making a reservation beforehand as this place is more upscale and fills up quickly. They have a trendy bar and a ton of seating but because this is a celeb co-owned restaurant (Travis Barker) there tends to be a lot of other celeb guests which attracts a ton of people. 

Aaron and I have seen Ringo Star, Russell Simmons, & even Travis Barker himself, along with all of the paparazzi waiting outside to get any photos and interviews that might be leaving the venue. 

The Food: Incredible! I have not had a dish that I didn’t enjoy. Their chef is on another level and makes everything from scratch including all of their cheeses. They make this incredible vegan camembert that even has the outside soft skin layer. It blew my mind the first time I had it. (My pics don’t do the food justice because it’s always so dark inside to help set the romance)

Overall Rating: 5/5 One of my fav restaurants ever!

Get The: Cheese plate, Impossible Cigars, Calamari Fritti, Charred Ricotta (Honestly I could eat off the appetizer menu alone and be completely satisfied)

4. Gracias Madres

Atmosphere: Stunning! A Spanish/Mexican style tapas bar and restaurant. The decor is Spanish boho & I would literally copy everything in my own home. There is a ton of seating indoors with a massive surrounding bar. But because LA has such beautiful weather, their outdoor patio is where it’s at and it is massive & whimsical. 

The Food: As mentioned the food is Spanish/Mexican style Tapas, small sharing plates, tacos, etc. They also have an impressive Mezcal & Tequila bar if you’re into that. My husband loves a good spicy Margherita. 

Overall Rating: Another 5/5 for atmosphere alone. The yummy food is just a bonus. 

Get The: Crab Cakes and the Wet Burrito

My 1st trip to LA was super cool because my friend Cam and I decided to go on a Hollywood Death Tour & to go visit where Jim Morrison lived during most of his time in Los Angeles. 

One of my absolute favourite vegan dessert/indulgences are donuts and it just so happens my all time favourite vegan donut shop is in Los Angeles too!!! 🍩

Donut friend is unlike no other vegan donut shop. Donut Friend is so incredibly delicious that anytime my husband is in LA for work, he will bring a box home on the plane. This amazing man will sit with these on his person without even attempting to eat a single morsel. I don’t know how he does it but I appreciate it every time! 

Donut Friend is an absolute must visit! Also, you can make your own customized donut & I highly encourage you to do so. 

We would be here all day if I kept on about my past adventures to LA so I’m going to wrap this post up by doing a quick honourable mentions/roundup and some travel pics. 

If you make your way to any of these please let me know how you enjoyed them in the comments down below! 💜

Sugar Taco Vegan Taco Joint 

My husband was actually just here before the pandemic hit. 

Café Gratitude 

Same owners as Gracias Madres

One of our visits to LA, just before we got married, we got matching finger tattoos of our first letter in our first names. 

Checkout my latest article reviewing Mad Hippie’s gentle vegan Microdermabrasion Scrub here.

Vegan Restaurants – Los Angeles – A Blog About Stuff