Los Angeles has now developed into a center of plant-based restaurants, with options that compete with any large food city. Between premium tasting menus and vintage vegan comfort food, the eclectic neighborhoods of LA present creative and delicious food options to all types of palates. Whether you are vegan or just exploring, here are seven restaurants that represent the finest in the City of Plants in LA.
Crossroads Kitchen
As a chef, Tal Ronnen has created something memorable at Crossroads Kitchen, where fine dine and plant-based creativity merge. This West Hollywood restaurant goes to show just how fine dining can be as vegan as it can get.
The menu will vary according to the season, but some of the best items in the menu are their legendary artichoke "oysters" topped with kelp caviar, as well as their wood-fired vegetable plates which feature the best produce California has to offer. The quality of ingredients used in the restaurant, as well as the source of ingredients, is excellent and can be seen through in each dish.
The difference between Crossroads and others is that it produces the flavor one is used to by fully vegetarian means. Even the toughest critics have been deceived by their scallops which are made of king oyster mushrooms and that deepness of flavor is phenomenal.
Shojin
Shojin introduces the Buddhist temple food to this current Los Angeles. It is not merely a matter of eliminating animal products but rather a matter or establishing a balance between ingredients, presentation and the dining experience.
The restaurant follows the traditions of old shojin ryori i.e. it should not have any garlic, onion or another provocative dish. Instead, they combine technique, vegetables in the season, and high amounts of umami in ingredients like miso and seaweed to create complex and full-satisfying flavors.
The entire experience is provided by their omakase tasting menu, which contains dishes which are changed according to the season. It has a presentation that is as good as the food in that every plate is displayed as a form of art. Their home-made tofu is made of their own so there is no reason why you should miss the tofu they offer which is has a silky texture anyway.
Sage Vegan Bistro
Sage has learned how to prepare plant-based versions of foods that people want to eat. They have created a cult following with their buffalo cauliflower wings and are always ranked as one of the best burgers in LA--vegan or not.
Some of the menu includes a mix, such as their version of fish and chips includes banana blossoms and their own seitan, which features in numerous courses: with curry bowls or Philly cheesesteaks, among others. The one special thing about Sage is that they are investing their heart and soul in satisfying vegan and omnivores with the type of food they prepare.
Their brunch on weekends is particularly worth noting, with offerings such as stuffed French toast and breakfast burritos designed to show that being vegetarian does not mean sacrificing decadence. The customers are large and the tastes are strong and decisive.
Plant Food
Chef Matthew Kenney's Plant Food occupies a stunning space in Venice, complete with an outdoor patio perfect for LA's year-round sunshine. The restaurant focuses on raw and minimally processed foods, creating dishes that let natural flavors shine.
They focus on creativity and presentation in their approach to plant-based eating. Courses such as beet tartar and cashew cream and kelp noodle cacio e pepe, demonstrate how basic ingredients approached inspire new concepts that culinary art can create.
The program is fully organic and biodynamic and offers selections that are well paired with the plant-led menu. There are absolutely no dishes to leave without their own homemade nut-based cheeses which have contributed to a fresh future of what can be made in vegan cheese.
Republique
Republique has gained recognition as a culture that takes the idea of plant-based dining seriously. Their vegan menu is not a footnote--it is an extensive, well-planned, set that can be on par with their classic products.
Because the restaurant is dedicated to local and in-season products, their vegetarian dishes will continue to change over time, but you will always have attentive food selections that bring out the best in the vegetables. their roasted vegetable dishes are particularly deserving of remark, and they exemplify the kind of technique-based cooking which places the vegetable in the limelight.
Because the restaurant specializes in local and seasonal food, their vegan dishes will continually change over time; though, the vegetables will continue to be creatively prepared in a way that highlights their finest qualities. Their roasted vegetable products deserve special mention, too, and what they appear to do is inform the type of technique-based cooking that shifts vegetable ingredients into the lead.
The space alone is beautiful, being located in an old building with high ceilings and lots of natural lighting. It is the type of environment where you can enjoy a business meal or a special occasion and eat exceptional plant-based food.
Gracias Madre
Gracias Madre is a vegan restaurant offering high-energy Mexican cuisine that celebrates tradition and creativity. Their home recipes of cashew cremas, walnut chorizo, and cashew queso have revamped what Mexican plant-based cuisine can do.
The dishes include enchilada, tacos, and quesadillas that are prepared with innovative plant-based alternatives that do not alter the original flavors. They also have a great cocktail program that consists of fresh juices, high-quality spirits, and house-made syrups.
The restaurant encourages organic/local ingredients even in their tortillas, which are prepared daily out of organic/heirloom corn. What comes out is a cuisine that feels fresh and colorful, as well as respecting classic methods of cooking used by Mexicans.
The Butcher's Daughter
The Butcher's Daughter describes itself as a "vegetable slaughterhouse," and their playful approach to plant-based eating shows throughout the menu. This airy Venice location serves everything from green juices and smoothie bowls to more substantial plates.
They have an all-day menu so you can have avocado toast and cold-press juice in the morning, and go back to have dinner to taste their cauliflower steak or even their mushroom burger. The restaurant achieves the ultimate balance between healthy/health); and pleasure food.
The atmosphere is as distinctly Venice as you can get, and the abundance of natural light, the presence of hanging plants, the relaxed vibe encourages working on your computer or meeting friends over brunch.
Final Thoughts
The selection of vegan restaurants in Los Angeles is incredibly diverse, and each place has its own flavors and atmosphere. Whether it is only trendy cafes or expensive restaurants, the city offers everything to plant-based palates. These seven vegan restaurants are believed to be the best in LA because they show creativity and devotion to veganism and healthy food. As a lifelong vegan or even as someone just looking to explore the vegan world, these are the places that are bound to attract, delight, and amaze your palate.
