June 5, 2015

Good Vegan in L.A.

After watching Forks Over Knives on Netflix a couple of years ago, I have tried my very best to keep a vegetarian diet.  I don't prepare meat at home for Jose and I, but when we are out and he gets a big, juicy burger, I may or may not sneak a bite.  Then a little less than a year ago, my skin started to break out like crazy and I decided to give up dairy to see if that would help, and it really did! So, as sad as I was to say goodbye to Jarlsberg cheese and frozen yogurt, I'm happier with clearer skin and now here I am, sticking to a more vegan diet.  I do eat eggs every couple of days so I'm not totally vegan but hopefully one day I'll get there.  

In the meantime, I have reached out to my sister's friend Rose, who is vegan, to give me some recommendations for vegan restaurants in L.A.  I have been to a few of these places, but I'm excited to try out some new spots that will make it easy to stay vegan with delicious food.  Maybe next time you go out to eat, you can opt for something different and give one of these ten restaurants a try! 

Neighborhood:
Hollywood

Price Range:
$$ 

What you need to know:  
Pretty much everyone who has been here would agree this is a hidden gem in the middle of L.A.  It has live music, a great atmosphere, and delicious food.  Rose recommends the Banana Chocolate-chip Muffins. 



Neighborhood:
Fairfax

Price Range:
$$
What you need to know:  
This place has a great menu with lots to choose from, so you can go with vegans, vegetarians and people who eat fish.  It has a nice ambiance for being on such a busy street and they even have juice cleanses available! 

Neighborhood:
Beverly Grove 

Price Range:
$$$
What you need to know:  
This is a tapas-style restaurant and is a little more on the pricey side.  It has yummy desserts and might be good enough to sway any carnivore to the other side! 

Neighborhood:
Larchmont, Venice, and Downtown

Price Range:
$$
What you need to know:  
Cafe Gratitude has a unique way of serving you with every dish being named after a different affirmation.  It's great to get a conversation going about what you might be grateful for, why you are happy, or a reminder to feel present.  Rose recommends their cheese plate! 


Neighborhood:
Highland Park

Price Range: 
$$

What you need to know:  
This place gets pretty busy on weekends and for good reason.  The plates have a lot of flavor despite being vegetarian or vegan, and the Moros cakes get a lot of buzz.  Rose recommends the entire breakfast menu!


Neighborhood:
Beverly Grove

Price Range:
$$
What you need to know:  
This is an entirely vegan Thai restaurant so you can order anything on the menu and not have to worry about meat, fish, or dairy.  The Green Papaya Salad (the Som Tum) is my favorite here and the fried tofu bits on top add some great texture.  You can pick how spicy you want most dishes to be and I always go for medium heat, which still makes me tear up a bit. 



Neighborhood:
Santa Monica & Beverly Grove

Price Range: 
$$

What you need to know:  
This restaurant has a pretty big following with lots or recommendations from previous patrons.  The nachos seem to be what everyone is talking about, as well as the desserts.  Just remember, sugar is vegan! 


Neighborhood:
East Hollywood

Price Range: 
$$

What you need to know:  
The great thing about this restaurant is you get a lot of food for what you pay for.  It is recommended to get a few dishes to share between 3-5 people. 


Neighborhood:
Echo Park

Price Range:
$$
What you need to know:  
Try one of their bowls. The Soul Bowl is highly talked about!


Neighborhood:
West Hollywood

Price Range: 
$$

What you need to know:  
I first heard about this vegan, Mexican restaurant in San Francisco and was so ecstatic when they announced they were opening a location here in L.A. , which they made to be one of the most beautiful restaurants I have ever been to. You literally cannot go wrong with anything from here.  Try and get 3-5 dishes with a mix between starters, mains dishes, and sides just to get a great range of flavors and their margaritas are so refreshing! 




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