LAGuide
The 20 Best Vegan Restaurants In LA
The spots so good even carnivores can find something to love.
Cutting out meat and dairy doesn’t mean you can’t have variety. The 20 spots on this list include fully vegan restaurants, vegetarian restaurants, and a couple of places that are just really into putting plants onto plates. Rather than asking, “Is this place good for a vegan/vegetarian restaurant?” We judged these spots in the same way we do all the places we eat—by asking “Does the food taste good?” And that means there’s something for everyone.
THE SPOTS
Bulan is a Thai spot in Silver Lake that serves some of the best vegan food on the Eastside—walk into their tiny dining room across from Erewhon and you’ll be instantly greeted by the smell of bubbling curry. Their massive menu includes pad thai, satay, and tom yum soup, all made with soy-based chicken, beef, or duck. The crispy, deep-fried orange chicken is spot-on tangy and sweet, and the duck curry is a whirlwind of red bell pepper, red chile, and lemongrass that never fails to cast a spell over us.
After a night out in Hollywood, Doomie’s Home Cookin’ offers the kind of vegan comfort food you need after a night of questionable decisions. Their extensive menu is a masterclass in plant-based junk food, from plates of flaky fried chicken with a side of mac and cheese to crunchy shrimp po’boys. If you’re over imitation meat, order the animal fries or some jalapeno bites with a strawberry horchata milkshake on the side. Doomie’s is open 24 hours on weekends, has a huge lot full of free parking, and even serves breakfast dishes like pancakes and waffles starting at 5am. If you like vegan fish tacos, check out Doomie's younger sibling Doomie’s NextMex located in the same Hollywood strip mall.
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Though Ethiopian cuisine is known to be very vegan-friendly in general, Rahel on Fairfax is the only all-vegan restaurant in Little Ethiopia, specializing in dishes like tender mushroom tibs and meat-free dulet. This neighborhood staple has developed a cult following since it opened in 2005, thanks to a menu of vegetable and legume-focused dishes like the chickpea-studded shiro wot that’s been dusted with the perfect amount of sweet paprika and spicy cayenne. They host a daily all-you-can-eat vegan buffet from 11am-3pm, but you can also stop for a casual weeknight meal and order the feast for two, which includes 11 slow-cooked sides on a massive platter.
Hidden in that two-story strip mall on the corner of Westwood and Olympic that hasn’t changed its decor since 1987, Hijo De Su Madre is a casual, counter-service vegan Mexican spot with creative flair. They’ve got a bahn mi-style taco with seared tofu, a bratwurst taco inspired by LA street dogs, and a deep-fried avocado taco called the “Phat Ass.” The best things here come from Yucantan-inspired side of the menu, including a fantastic spicy-sour jackfruit cochinita pibil topped with black bean and corn salsa. Our only issue is that the plant-based meats here are so juicy, the soft corn tortillas end up clinging to life by the time you finish. Still, we’d send anyone here for a satisfying and affordable lunch in West LA—vegan or otherwise.
This all-vegan Italian restaurant on Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood has tremendous pastas like shiitake bacon-filled carbonara, and a “Black Magic Lasagna” that’s made with cashew ricotta, bechamel sauce, spinach, mushroom, pesto, and black truffle cream (it ties the dish together without overpowering the rest of the flavors). Beyond what you’re going to eat though, Pura Vita is just a fun, casual place to hang out, drink way too much wine, and take in a neighborhood that’s never scarce on quality people-watching.
Extra Market fits in nicely on a particularly hypebeast-centric stretch of Fairfax. This plant-based cafe doubles as a merch shop where you can pick up a new skateboard or sneakers, but the focus is primarily on delicious food that isn’t even remotely healthy. You come here for chili cheese fries, Philly cheesesteaks, chicken nuggets, and hefty double cheeseburgers made with Impossible patties that rival the best vegan burger joints in town. Make it a priority the next time you’re walking around Fairfax and looking for a quick vegan bite that costs less than $10.
For those who eat fish, vegan sushi sounds about as exciting as cheeseless Cheetos. But at Shojin—a vegan Japanese restaurant with locations in DTLA and Culver City— the veggie-only menu works, mostly because they don’t try to trick you into thinking your vegan baked scallop roll is actually a scallop. You’ll find yourself ordering multiple rounds of mushroom and tofu-centric rolls, and at some point, you’ll realize that vegan food isn’t just fried fake meats.
Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli
Maciel's is your best bet for a vegan sandwich in Highland Park, and possibly all of LA. Here they blend Mexican ingredients with the kinds of cold-cut classics you'd expect from an old-school deli. And they make all of their own plant-based meats in-house, including bacon, pastrami, chorizo, and chicharrones. Their chorizo breakfast sandwich on a fluffy brioche bun is only available until 1pm, but you can order filling options like a juicy Mexican BBQ short rib or loaded Italian with meatless salami and chopped pepperoncini all day. Keep this spot in mind if ever want to bring a vegan charcuterie platter to a party, too—they sell a bunch of plant-based meats and dairy-free cheeses by the pound from their deli case.
We can’t think of a better option for a vegan date night than Olivia. This Koreatown spot has leather banquettes, bistro tables, and a menu of shareable dishes that are a bit more upscale and inventive than your average plant-based cafe. We especially love their crunchy fried green olives, served on a bed of creamy ricotta made from macadamia nuts and drizzled in honey. The rest of the menu is full of solid options like a Neapolitan-style pizza topped with sunflower seed mozzarella and a plant-based crispy chicken plate. You order everything tableside using a QR code and pay for it all on your phone, so be prepared to argue about splitting the bill with whoever you bring.
Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen Shop
Whether you’re craving meat-free ramen or just need a bowl of something warm to reset your mood, check out Gokoku in Studio City. Their curry ramen is a real standout with its spicy broth flavored with garlic and chili oil. But they also serve some fantastic fried cauliflower wings, bao buns, and vegetarian bento boxes. Gokoku’s casual dining room is perfect for a low-stakes solo meal, but we also vehemently support anyone who decides to take a piping hot order home to enjoy on their couch.
It’s easy to find a vegan burger in LA, but few of them measure up to what you’ll find at Honeybee. The burgers here are pretty close to the classic ones at In-N-Out, which is seriously high praise, and can be made with either Impossible or Beyond patties (although we like the Impossible best). The meat is crispy along the edges and the vegan cheese melts down the sides. With a dairy-free chocolate milkshake and some sweet potato fries and tots (aka “Frots”) on the side, you’ll feel like non-vegans are the ones missing out on the good life.
This BYOB counter-service spot in Santa Monica fills a massive Westside hole in LA’s Ethiopian restaurant scene. They’ve got a bunch of incredible plant-based Ethiopian dishes that you can eat with your hands for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. In addition to tofu tibs and creamy shiro full of tender garbanzo beans, Berbere serves Ethiopian twists on tacos, sliders, and breakfast burritos that’ll make you want to show up about as often as a mama bird returns to its baby’s nest.
Ever since Margo’s on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica pivoted from an all-day American restaurant to a counter-service vegan spot, the vegan pasta scene has never been the same. Their new menu covers everything from salads and sandwiches to vegan cocktails, but their dairy-free cacio e pepe in particular might just be our favorite vegan dish in the city. If the weather's nice, grab a seat on the string-lit sidewalk patio out front with a date or friend who will appreciate the comfort of al dente noodles.
With its pink neon signage and long menu of plant-based pies, this Silver Lake spot feels like a new-age nod to the classic pizza parlor. They serve both Neapolitan and Detroit-style pies, but we prefer the latter. The dough is nice and springy, slightly sour, and very thick with just enough browning along the edges. Their counter-service dining room is a great place to catch up with friends over garlic knots and chomp on a pan-baked masterpiece covered in garlic, red sauce, a pesto drizzle, and almond ricotta cheese.
BeeWali’s Vegan AF started as a pop-up but recently leveled up to a brick-and-mortar spot in Eagle Rock where you’ll find curry fries, kabob plates served over basmati rice, and tikka masala with a side of paratha bread. As you can probably tell from the name, all of the food is vegan. But you might not know that the space in Eagle Rock looks a lot like a classic diner, with globe lights, big red leather booths, and a long L-shaped bar lined with swivel stools. It's usually packed around dinnertime, and they also serve a special brunch menu on Sundays.
While you probably won't bite into a Monty’s Good Burger and think it’s meat, there’s a good chance you will have a newfound appreciation for Impossible patties. This small diner in Koreatown (they’ve also got locations in Culver City, West Hollywood, Echo Park, and Riverside) has a short menu with a single or double burger, fries, tots, milkshakes, and a kale salad (we’d advise you skip the latter). The vegan patties are griddled, the cashew cheese could almost pass for the real thing, and the non-dairy milkshakes are simply fantastic, which makes Monty’s a solid choice, whether you’re vegan or not.
Some people may think the words “gluten-free” and “vegan” have no business in baked goods. But those people are wrong, and obviously have never been to Just What I Kneaded. Besides excellent puns, this bright and airy Frogtown shop serves dairy-free scones, cookies, turnovers, and galettes, many of which are also GF. Expect giant cinnamon rolls that come with what feels like a pound of icing, and their signature Pop-Tarts decorated with horoscope designs.
Inglewood isn’t necessarily the best neighborhood to eat in if you’re a vegan, but luckily, Stuff I Eat is picking up a lot of the slack. This all-vegan restaurant in the heart of Market St. is one of the most popular places in the neighborhood, with lunchtime crowds to prove it. The menu leans mostly Tex-Mex, with everything from breakfast burritos to an enchilada pie. Our favorite dish is the soul food platter, complete with yams, mac ‘n cheese, kale greens, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and BBQ tofu. Also, if they have spicy chili on the specials board, get it.
After eight years of running a plant-based catering company, the owners of Baba’s Vegan Cafe opened a brick-and-mortar restaurant in the Historic Crenshaw District. It’s now a vegan powerhouse for the neighborhood—a place to eat BBQ tofu, lentil fritters, potato chowder, and chocolate cake slathered in cashew frosting. The specialty here is the vegan veggie patties—a Jamaican-style dish sold by the dozen and stuffed with fillings like curry potato, cabbage, sweet yam, savory hibiscus, and more.
Wolfie's is a counter-service vegan spot in Highland Park selling a menu of hot chicken dishes, street tacos, and more. You order everything from your phone, seat yourself, and someone will bring your order out to your table. The hot chicken sandwich is perfect for vegans (or really anyone) who wants a little spice in their life. It's piled high with juicy breaded chicken, housemade coleslaw, pickles, and garlic aioli on a soft, seeded bun. Enjoy one at a table on their front patio, which is one of the most pleasant places to hang out along York.
