Trying to up the plants in your diet? Look no further than these LA vegan restaurants that our team at Parsley Health LA loves.
At Parsley, we’re really big fans of incorporating more plants into your diet. Looking at the big picture of research, including laboratory work, short-term human trials and population studies that follow large groups of people for many years, plant-based diets are overwhelmingly shown to improve health. Thankfully, Los Angeles is home to some of the best plant-based restaurants in the country, maybe even the world! Vegetarians, vegans, omnivores, herbivores, flexitarians, and those who don’t follow any specific eating pattern will find meals they enjoy.
Breakfast/Brunch
Little Pine
Need to get away but your bank is telling you a staycation would be better? Then why not head to Silver Lake for brunch at Little Pine? You’ll instantly be transported to a chic little ski lodge and feel like you’re far, far away from the hustle of LA. This little restaurant is the brainchild of singer Moby. His hope in creating Little Pine was to have a place for friends to enjoy some vegan fare while raising money for numerous animal rights organizations. In fact, 100 percent of their proceeds go to animal rights organizations. Brunch and a good deed? That’s a productive day.
My Pick: Gluten Free Avocado Toast with a side of Maple Tempeh Bacon
Sqirl
You cannot talk about breakfast or brunch in LA without Sqirl. What started as a jam business grew into one of the most popular brunch spots in Silver Lake (maybe even in LA). While not exclusively vegan (you will see things like smoked butter, eggs, and souvlaki turkey sausage on the menu), this hip cafe has a ton of great vegan offerings! You’re going to want to get there early though-oftentimes there is a line stretched around the block.
My Pick: The Stella
Flore Vegan
Getting a little bored with avocado toast for breakfast? Flore Vegan is taking vegan food in LA to the next level, creating plant-based versions of some classic comfort foods like Huevos Rancheros. They also have a variety of smoothies, cold pressed juices, and whole leaf tonics.
My Pick: Tofu Scramble with The House cold pressed juice
Lunch
Sage Plant-Based Bistro
With locations in Culver City, Echo Park, and Pasadena, Sage is one of the go-to vegan restaurants of choice for the Parsley Health LA team. Their menu is not limited to just lunch-check them out for breakfast, brunch, and dinner too. We love how committed they are to regenerative agriculture, locally sourced produce, and working with local farms to consistently deliver pesticide-free meals. Plus, every single thing on the menu is delicious.
My Pick: The Perennial Bowl with double greens
Cafe Gratitude
Looking for downtown LA vegan food? Hit up Cafe Gratitude, where you can get a healthy meal and a little motivational push all in one. Cafe Gratitude has a menu full of plant-based, organic, and self-affirming foods that will provide nourishment for your mind, body, and spirit. You can choose to be Devoted with an Indonesian Grain Bowl or Terrific with some raw Pad Thai kelp noodles. Additional locations are in Parchment and Venice. Stop by on Mondays, where to celebrate Meatless Mondays they offer special pricing on certain menu items.
My Pick: Humble-Indian Curry bowl
Native Foods
Native Foods is a restaurant chain that is on a mission to inspire the way the world eats. They create “cravable and delicious” food while upholding environmentally sustainable practices like using biodegradable packaging and making from-scratch meals daily. They’re one of the best fast-casual vegan restaurants in LA that refuses to use animal products of any kind. While not something we suggest for regular meals, having a quick, easy option is sometimes necessary.
My Pick: Sesame Kale Macro Bowl
Dinner
Crossroads
Crossroads serves upscale plant-based vegan cuisine. This is a great place for a date, special occasions, or when you’re trying to convince your friend that yes, vegan food can be really, really good. It’s also a favorite with celebs-Chef Tal Ronnen crafted meals for Oprah Winfrey’s 21-day cleanse and even catered Ellen Degeneres’s wedding. If you are really blown away by your meal (you will be) you can try your hand at the dishes at home with the Crossroads Cookbook. There are no obvious signs that the menu is entirely vegan, so it’s great for your flexitarian and omnivore pals too.
My Pick: Housemade Lentil Tempeh Piccata
Plant Food + Wine
Plant Food and Wine is creating the future of plant-based cuisine. Using “impeccable ingredients, innovative tools and techniques, and dreaming”, they strive to bring together culinary art and ultimate nutrition to create food that is vibrant, delicious, and nutritious. This is the place to try when you want to impress, just be sure to make a reservation ahead of time.
My Pick: Wild Plants Salad followed by the Coffee-Rubbed Beech Mushroom
Gracias Madre
This WeHo hot spot is *the* place for vegan Mexican fare. Gracias Madreserves organic, farm fresh, locally sourced food, full of flavor and love and is totally plant based. They also have an extensive menu of small-batch tequilas and mezcal for a treat that’s Parsley-approved.
My Pick: Suffering Madre cocktail with the Flautas de Camote
This blog post originally appeared on the Parsley Health blog. All content is created by me.