Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles (Top Spots for Every Craving)
If you’re on the hunt for vegan friendly restaurants in Los Angeles, you’re in luck. LA is honestly one of the best cities in the country for plant-based eating.
Forget boring salads and sad tofu bowls. This city’s got everything from full-on vegan tasting menus and comfort food to Ethiopian platters and raw food joints, all scattered across a bunch of neighborhoods.
Maybe you’re vegan, vegetarian, or just want a solid meal with good plant-based options—LA’s got you covered. Some spots have been around for ages, while others are newer and more experimental. There are also plenty of mixed-menu restaurants where the vegan food isn’t just an afterthought.
This guide sorts things out by restaurant type, cuisine, neighborhood, and occasion. Instead of just rattling off names, you’ll get enough context to actually pick a place for date night, group hangs, casual lunches, or a quick bite.
Details like reservations, menu tips, and drink pairings are in here too—because those things can make or break a meal.
Key Takeaways
- LA has both fully vegan restaurants and mixed-menu spots with great plant-based options, covering almost any cuisine and price range.
- Your choice depends on neighborhood, occasion, and if you’re dining with non-vegan friends.
- Extras like vegan wine pairings, brunch menus, and late-night options make LA’s vegan scene pretty unique.
Best Vegan-Friendly Spots to Book First
The top vegan spots in LA range from full-on plant-based kitchens like Crossroads Kitchen and Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine to mixed-menu restaurants with vegan choices that’ll satisfy just about anyone.
Top Fully Vegan Restaurants for a Safe Bet
When the whole menu’s vegan, you don’t need to scan for labels or double-check ingredients. Just pick what you want—easy.
- Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose does upscale vegan food without trying too hard to impress. The French onion soup, spicy rigatoni, and Neapolitan-style pizzas are favorites—even non-vegans get into it.
- Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine in Little Ethiopia has been open for over 24 years. Their combo platter—lentils, fava beans, injera—is hearty and full of flavor.
- Beelman’s in Downtown LA serves vegan comfort food like buffalo cauliflower, veggie burgers, and totchos loaded with soyrizo and cashew cheese.
- Stuff I Eat in Inglewood is all about soulful dishes—collard greens, mac and cheese, and tamale pie have been on the menu since 2008.
If you want a place where you don’t have to worry about what’s in your food, these are safe bets for vegan restaurants in Los Angeles, CA.
Best Mixed-Menu Restaurants With Strong Plant-Based Options
Not everyone you eat with will be vegan, and that’s fine. Mixed-menu restaurants make things simple. Planta (Marina Del Rey and Brentwood) does plant-based sushi, Mexican plates, and American classics in a modern space.
Bacari’s another good call. They do Mediterranean small plates, with enough vegan choices and a great vibe.
These vegetarian and vegan-friendly spots make it easy to bring friends who aren’t plant-based, without anyone feeling left out.
Best Picks for Date Night, Groups, and Special Occasions
For date night, Crossroads Kitchen and Justine’s Wine Bar both have the atmosphere dialed in. Justine’s serves vegan pizza and Moroccan cigars with wine cocktails, all in a space with pink chairs and Art Deco floors.
If you’re with a group, Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine is perfect since the platters are made for sharing. Planta’s big menu is great for groups too.
For something more laid-back, Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park has a chill vibe, an all-day menu, and even a vegan market up front.
Where to Go by Cuisine and Dining Style
Looking for a specific cuisine? LA’s covered—think Italian comfort food, Thai curries, Ethiopian platters, and Mexican street tacos.
Italian, Pizza, and Comfort Food
Craving pizza or pasta? Crossroads Kitchen does Neapolitan pies and spicy rigatoni that people rave about. The menu looks like any Italian spot—just fully vegan.
Beelman’s nails the comfort food thing. Crispy cauliflower, loaded burgers, hearty totchos—this is food that actually hits the spot.
Want something lighter? Wild Living Foods in Downtown LA is all about raw food, with dishes prepped between 104 and 118 degrees. The pumpkin seed chorizo tacos with cashew cheese and avocado are a solid pick.
Asian and Thai Plant-Based Favorites
Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen in Silver Lake has been doing vegan Thai for years. Mock duck curry and inferno chicken are both must-tries. The space is cozy, too.
Thien Tam Vegetarian Restaurant in El Monte focuses on Vietnamese classics. Their broken rice and noodle soups (like spicy bún bò huế and tomato-based bún riêu) skip the fish sauce.
Green Green Trees Your Vegan Kitchen in West Covina does Taiwanese favorites—think plant-based braised beef noodle soup and Guangdong porridge.
Mexican, Ethiopian, and Globally Inspired Meals
Chicana in Downtown Fullerton is a go-to for vegan Mexican food—nachos, street tacos, sopes, all from a family-run kitchen.
Berbere in Santa Monica serves up Ethiopian staples like shiro, azifa, and tofu tibs with injera. The teff tortilla tacos with berbere-spiced mushroom lentils are definitely worth a try.
Crystals Soul Cafe in Compton brings vegan soul food—Cajun fried oyster mushrooms, lion’s mane ribs, plus sides like collard greens and mac and cheese.
How to Choose the Right Place in Los Angeles
With so many vegan-friendly restaurants in LA, it helps to narrow things down by neighborhood, menu style, and what kind of experience you’re after.
Finding Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Different Neighborhoods
LA’s huge, so location seriously matters. Here’s a quick cheat sheet for where to look:
| Neighborhood | Notable Spots |
|---|---|
| West Hollywood / Melrose | Crossroads Kitchen, Justine’s Wine Bar |
| Silver Lake | Bulan Thai Vegetarian Kitchen |
| Downtown LA | Beelman’s, Wild Living Foods |
| Little Ethiopia (Fairfax) | Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine |
| Santa Monica | Berbere |
| Canoga Park (Valley) | Follow Your Heart |
| Inglewood | Stuff I Eat |
| Compton | Crystals Soul Cafe |
No matter where you’re staying or wandering, you’re probably close to a solid vegan option.
What to Check on Menus Before You Go
Always check the menu online before booking. Look for vegan labels or a dedicated plant-based section. Sometimes you’ll see a “V” or “VG” next to dishes.
At mixed-menu places, double-check if sauces, broths, or dressings are vegan. Thai and Vietnamese spots sometimes sneak in fish sauce even if everything else looks plant-based.
If you have allergies, it’s worth calling ahead—better safe than sorry.
When to Prioritize Reservations, Price, and Atmosphere
Hot spots like Crossroads Kitchen and Planta fill up fast, especially on weekends. If you’re planning a special night or a group dinner, book ahead.
For something easier on the wallet, counter-service spots like Stuff I Eat and Chicana keep things affordable and tasty.
If you care about atmosphere, Justine’s Wine Bar and Crossroads Kitchen both look and feel special inside.
Extras That Elevate the Experience
Sometimes it’s the little things—brunch menus, vegan cocktails, or late-night hours—that turn a meal into something memorable.
Brunch, Fast-Casual, and Late-Night Options
Follow Your Heart in Canoga Park is a brunch favorite for vegans. Weekends mean rocket cakes, chilaquiles, tofu rancheros, and you can shop for vegan groceries at the attached market afterward.
Crossroads Kitchen does a relaxed brunch too, with fried “chicken” and waffles and a plant-based Benedict (the “egg” yolk is actually tomato-based, which is kind of wild).
For fast-casual, Chicana and Stuff I Eat both use counter service—quick, affordable, and tasty. Need a late-night bite? Downtown LA spots like Beelman’s usually stay open later than most.
Vegan Wine Los Angeles and Drink Pairings
Not every wine out there is vegan. Some winemakers still use animal-based fining agents, which feels a bit outdated if you ask me.
Justine’s Wine Bar gets it right, though. They focus on vegan wines, plus beer and wine cocktails, all matched up with plant-based food.
It’s tucked next to Just What I Kneaded—a vegan bakery—so dessert is just a few steps away. That combo? Hard to beat.
Crossroads Kitchen has a drink menu that’s been put together with care. Their selections are meant to go hand-in-hand with the Italian-inspired dishes they serve.
If vegan wine is a non-negotiable for you in Los Angeles, don’t be shy—ask your server about how the wine is filtered. More and more spots around the city are happy to talk about it these days.
Nearby Searches and Similar City Terms to Ignore
When you search online, it’s easy to get results for “vegan restaurants Port Angeles” tangled up with Los Angeles listings. Port Angeles, by the way, is just a small city up in Washington State—definitely not part of LA’s dining scene.
For the best results, stick with searches that mention “Los Angeles” or just “LA” plus your neighborhood. Tossing in your cuisine preference or words like “fully vegan” can help weed out spots that only have a couple of plant-based dishes.
