Back in the day, Woody Allen shot a scene in Annie Hall at The Source restaurant. The now-closed eatery was a legendary LA vegetarian restaurant from the good old glory days of veggie dining when it was all alfalfa sprouts and wheat grass. We've come a long way in terms of options, ingredients and palates in the cooking genre. There are still some old school vegetarian restaurants in Los Angeles. But there is also a slew of newer vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in LA to add to the growing list. A sub-genre of healthy pescetarian (fish and vegetables) has opened up as well.
A Votre Sante
This vegetarian-friendly health food staple once had a location near W. Hollywood. Now you've got to drive to Brentwood for their offerings. For many adherents of the option-rich A Votre Sante it's worth it. There are vegetarian tostadas and burritos for non-meat eaters. Then there are vegan dishes like the 'Black Tofu Feast.' The twist is that if you're a vegan or vegetarian, you can also enjoy a meal here with one of your carnivore pals as they have a chicken selection that includes 'Citrus Chicken' and 'Chicken Mushroom Risotto.' Similarly, lunch runs the gambit from the veggie burger and 'California Tuna Sandwich' to the 'Grass Fed Beef Burger.'
13016 West San Vicente Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90049
310-451-1813
Cru Raw Food Restaurant
Cru is one of the newer (though not newest) vegan eateries to open its doors. It's a delightful option for East Siders who are not only keen on meat-free dining but also ready to go raw. Dishes are aesthetically beautiful and tasty as well. Case in point: the gorgeous cucumber-wrapped spring rolls. If you're not too hot on some of their raw mainstays like the 'Asian Noodle Bowl,' fear not, there are cooked entree options as well. Try the gluten-free 'Asparagus Portobello Crepe,' for instance. All in all, a nice, casual and healthy dining experience.
1521 Griffith Park Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90026
323-667-1551
Euphoria Loves Rawvolution
A favorite with jogging, clean-living Santa Monicans, Euphoria Loves Rawvolution is a sparkling raw and organic cafe and market. They boast that all food is raw, organic, vegan, local and sustainable. They even have their own rendition of sushi on the menu--sans fish of course. Selections include: the 'Atlantis Roll' (a nori hand roll with Mock Tuna, pickles, greens and mustard) and the disturbingly named 'Californication Roll' (Cut nori roll stuffed with pine nut, cauliflower and hemp seed "sushi rice," avocado and spicy marinated mushrooms).
2301 Main St.
Santa Monica, CA 90495
310-392-9501
Inaka Natural Food Restaurant
I used to jokingly refer to their barley tea as 'Inaka your socks off,' because I got a natural high after drinking it. Since 1976, this classic natural foods restaurant has been knocking socks off and--in my opinion--knocking it out of the park. Some may find the offerings bland (especially in comparison with the new food trend of highly marinated vegetarian and vegan dishes), but I love it. The Asian inspired entrees--like the 'Veggie Combination' plate and 'Yakisoba Noodles' taste fresh and make me feel clean and purified. This vegetarian-friendly restaurant also offers 'Japanese Hot Pots' that include sea food options (like salmon and sea bass).
131 South La Brea Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-936-9353/p>
Inn of the Seventh Ray
Tucked away in Topanga Canyon, this little piece of Malibu/Southern California history is popular with the wedding set. Its romantic rustic grounds include a creek, and a tree-filled outdoor eating area (as well as an indoor eating area). Food is gourmet organic but not limited to vegetarian dishes--yet friendly to vegans and vegetarians. There is even a cute little spiritual bookstore on the grounds.
128 Old Topanga Canyon Rd.
Topanga, CA
310-455-1311
M. Cafe
This bustling healthy cuisine lunch room and deli cafe by the Chaya Brasserie folks, serves dinner and breakfast, but gets particularly packed with neighborhood locals and casual business diners around midday. The restaurant is largely vegetarian and macrobiotic (with contemporary creative touches). The eatery does not serve meat dishes but it does offer some healthy fish items including sushi.
About.com Restaurant Review of M. Cafe
9843 Culver Blvd.
Culver City, CA 90232
310-838-4300
9433 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310-858-8459
Native Foods
This micro-micro restaurant (with seating upstairs) has one of my favorite meal salads in town: the 'Ensalada Azteca.' It's made of currents, toasted pumpkin seeds, cilantro, avocado, cucumber and jicama salsa atop quinoa, romaine and mango lime vinaigrette (it boasts that the latter is award-winning and I can understand why). I would drive clear across town for this salad. There are of course other great dishes on offer at the organic, vegetarian, vegan restaurant. Their chili cheese fries (with 'Native cheese') and various vegetable-rich 'Earth Bowls' keep them coming back for more as well!
1110 Gayley Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90024
310-209-1055
Real Food Daily
RFD is an old vegan standby; always packed and popular, with plenty of options for those with dietary constraints. It certainly has some competition as new and inventive veggie spots are sprouting up like wheat grass. But with all those die-hard RFD fanatics, they're probably not too concerned. The restaurant's founder Ann Gentry has also been credited with raising the profile and caliber of vegan cooking through the use of organic ingredients, creativity and a California gourmet style.
About.com Restaurant Review of Real food Daily
414 N. La Cienega Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90048
310-289-9910
514 Santa Monica Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90401
310-451-7544
SunPower Natural Cafe
This cozy So.Cal owned vegan and raw foods restaurant opened in 2009, and has since greatly expanded its culinary scope through its menu, and through special guest chef events. The range of dishes on offer is quite eclectic--from Thai to Mexican, to Italian. And of course vegetarian eatery classics like veggie burgers are also part of the mix. SunPower Natural similarly nabbed its chef Joseph Waller from one of the oldest and best known vegetarian-friendly health food restaurants in LA County, The Inn of the Seventh Ray. Waller has also been lead chef at gourmet vegetarian restaurant Fatty’s Cafe in Eagle Rock.
About.com Restaurant Review of SunPower Natural Cafe
3711 W. Cahuenga Blvd.
Studio City, CA 91604
818-308-7420
The Veggie Grill
For years, folks have been saying that someone should open a convenient healthy vegetarian 'fast food' restaurant in Los Angeles, but the concept never seemed to take off in the right way...until now. The Veggie Grill is a casual, fresh and flavorful LA vegetarian food restaurant for health-conscious Angelinos on-the-go. With locations in Irvine, El Segundo, Santa Monica and West Hollywood, this laid-back and affordable So. Cal restaurant chain makes eating healthy accessible to all.
About.com Restaurant Review of The Veggie Grill
8000 W. Sunset Blvd.
W. Hollywood, CA 90046
323-822-7575
2025 Wilshire Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA 90403
310-829-1155
Plaza El Segundo
Allied Way
El Segundo, CA 9024
310-535-0025
