8 of the Best Dishes at These Top Los Angeles Vegan Restaurants

Los Angeles has been the center of the plant-based restaurant world and, just these past few decades, the city has seen a massive growth of purely plant-based restaurants along with those offering plant-based menus (alongside their regular menus). From casual restaurants to fine-dining establishments to burger joints, here are eight of the best dishes at some of Los Angeles’ best vegan restaurants.

Pura Vita © Oliver Barth

Pura Vita

Chef Tara Punzone brings her passion for healthy southern Italian food and 30 years of vegan cooking experience to the first 100 percent plant-based Italian restaurant and wine var in the United States. Her Black Magic Lasagna is definitely the star of the show, made with fluffy cashew ricotta; spinach and mushrooms inside; and topped with besciamella, black truffle cream and pesto.

Doomie’s Home Cookin’

When craving some good ol’ home cooking, there isn’t a better spot in Los Angeles than Doomie’s for some hearty junk food. Chef Doomie and Sarah’s top seller is their handmade fried chicken with a juicy fatty layer of schmaltz in between the skin (the only one out there with a layer of ‘skin’) and the meat, served with your choice of two sides. If you have some room, try one of their super-thick, hand-scooped milkshakes, too.

Margo’s Santa Monica

Serving brunch daily and a happy hour Monday–Friday from 4 to 6 p.m., Mango’s boasts local favorites like jumbo French toast sticks. Made with brioche, it is then soaked in homemade custard (vegan cream, vegan eggs, sugar and vanilla) and topped with a fruit medley of blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, bananas and a heaping serving of maple syrup, cinnamon and sugar.

Crossroads Kitchen © Jakob Layman

Crossroads Kitchen

Crossroads has been a staple of Los Angeles vegan fine dining since 2013 and has since opened a restaurant in Calabasas and Vegas. One of Chef Tal Ronnen’s new fall dishes is the lion’s mane short rib ravioli, made with homemade pasta, lion’s mane mushrooms and topped with a Madeira glaze, Parmesan cheese and chives.

Plant Food + Wine

Matthew Kenney’s renowned vegan restaurant moved to the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, where guests can dine alfresco with views of Los Angeles. Alongside the hotel’s pool, take a bite out of the chipotle-glazed maitake mushroom, served over a sesame mole and charred sweet corn.

Hey, Sunshine Kitchen

New to Culver City from the Spork Food sisters Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, Hey, Sunshine Kitchen offers deliciously vibrant and healthy meals. Healthy, flavorful and colorful, its Mediterranean chickpea bowl has either a Sunshine rice, brown rice or fresh salad greens base topped with a griddled house-made chickpea patty, massaged kale, house pickles and more, all topped with lemon herb aioli.

Craig’s © Craig Susser

Craig’s

Craig’s has been a mainstay on Los Angeles’ famed Melrose Ave, serving American cuisine since 2011 steadily adding more vegan items to its menu. Whether indoors or on the back patio, take a bite of its large vegan chicken Parmigiana made from Gardein “chicken,” homemade marinara sauce and vegan cheese.

SunCafe

Presenting a unique take on rustic world cuisine, this Studio City restaurant makes its dishes from scratch using fresh organic ingredients. For a hearty meal, stop by for its mushroom Bordelaise, set on top of truffled mashed potatoes and candied carrots, sautéed green beans and a savory au jus sauce.