The Best Vegan Restaurants In LA

Of all of the cities I’ve ever lived in, Los Angeles has the best vegan restaurants hands down. No contest! It’s a vegan or vegan food lover’s paradise, both in terms of quality and selection.

Ever since I moved to LA in May 2016, I’ve been trying out vegan restaurants all over the city and I have yet to be disappointed. Here are my top 5 absolute favorites so far, aka THE BEST VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN LA:

Suncafe Organic Cuisine

10820 Ventura Blvd, Studio City, CA 91604

Suncafe is such an adorable vegan restaurant! It has an outdoor patio decorated with twinkly lights and ornaments, an outdoor fireplace, and cozy booths inside. The vibe is very warm and inviting, and the staff is friendly.

The menu mostly consists of vegan comfort food: everything from vegan pancakes to mac and cheese, to BLTs, to pizza. The brunch menu at Suncafe especially impressed me with its great coffee (which they generously refill) and vegan eggs benedict aptly named the “Sun Florentine”. This was hands down the best vegan brunch item I’ve ever eaten. Dare I say it was LIFE CHANGING?

Trust me, if you’re in LA, go here for brunch. Thank me later!

Cafe Gratitude

512 Rose Ave., Venice, CA 90291

Cafe Gratitude is an organic, plant-based vegan restaurant with several locations across LA. My favorite is the spot in Venice near the beach! It has a very modern vibe with Pinterest-level decorations and inspiring quotes on the wall. The menu is written in affirmations, so, for example, when you’d order the “Humble” bowl you’d say “I am Humble”. The restaurant is comfy and bright and the waiters ask thoughtful questions to spark conversations at the table.

In terms of food, Cafe Gratitude offers a wide array of options. You can opt for more traditional dishes, like salads, bowls, or wraps. Or, you can try the more unique options, like Kelp Noodles, Southern Soul Food, or Barbecue Tempeh Scramble. From health food, to comfort food, they’ve pretty much got it all.

By Chloe

2520 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

By Chloe is a cafe-style vegan restaurant located in the quirky Silverlake neighborhood in LA. It’s connected to a Whole Foods Market and made for both quick pick-ups or leisurely meals. Even though the space is small, it’s fantastically decorated with swinging wicker chairs and colorful couches.

On the menu, it has a yummy array of salads, sandwiches, wraps, pasta, and brunch items. Everything from a Whiskey BBQ Burger, to Avocado Pesto Pasta, to a Smoothie Bowl. Plus, it has a pretty epic dessert menu with cupcakes, cookies, and vegan ice cream.

Gracias Madre

8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069

If you’re looking for a higher-end vegan restaurant, for a date night or brunch with your besties, Gracias Madre is the perfect spot. It’s located on the ever-trendy Melrose Avenue in West Hollywood and has a very chic atmosphere. I especially loved the outdoor patio, where you can sit out in the sun surrounded by umbrellas and flowers.

The menu is 100% organic and filled with Mexican-inspired dishes. They serve everything from Barbeque Jackfruit Tacos, to Quesadillas, to Black Bean Burgers. They also have a pretty amazing brunch menu, which includes traditional brunch items, like french toast and tofu scramble, along with Mexican fare. I’ve heard their cocktails are amazing too, so if you fancy a drink and a tasty bite to eat make your way down to Gracias Madre.

Mendocino Farms

175 S. Fairfax Ave Suite B Los Angeles, California 90036

Mendocino Farms is not a fully vegan restaurant, but I felt compelled to include them because they’ve been a long-time favorite of mine, even when I was just visiting LA. My favorite location is on 3rd and Fairfax (right next to the Grove, an iconic shopping area). The vibe is very friendly, with a big sign saying “EAT HAPPY” greeting you on the way in and servers offering up free samples as you purchase. There’s an outdoor patio that’s an interesting spot for people watching on Fairfax and a comfy area inside as well.

They have a full vegan section of the menu filled with 3 different kinds of wraps and sandwiches, which changes every once in a while. At the moment, they offer an Enlightened Falafel Wrap, BBQ Tempeh
Picnic Sandwich, and Vegan Banh Mi.