by Geo Ong

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m moving to New York City this Friday. There are a lot of things I’m going to miss about Los Angeles, and it’d be impossible to name them all unless I narrow down the list. And seeing as though I’m quite hungry right now (tip: never blog on an empty stomach), I thought I’d say thanks and goodbye to all my favourite vegetarian/vegan restaurants in Los Angeles. Hopefully, my absence will soon be filled by new customers who’ve never known these places existed. To those people, I say that you won’t be sorry!

Before we get started, I’d be remiss in not mentioning my two absolute favourite vegstaurants, but I also don’t want to be repetitive. So allow me to direct you to previously written blog posts (also the result of empty stomachs) about Green Peas (who also wins for best restaurant name) and The Veggie Grill. Now, onto the list!

A Votre Sante

A Votre Sante
Brentwood

A restaurant devoted to healthy eating, with a large menu and enough options for both herbivores and omnivores. Located just a stone’s throw away from DIESEL, A Bookstore, so after buying yourself a book, walk across the parking lot and treat yourself to a tofu garden wrap, easily the most tasty wrap I’ve ever had about twenty times (and I don’t even like wraps!)

Green Leaves
West Hollywood, Los Feliz

I’ve only been to Green Leaves once, but my experience there was so enjoyable that I’m confidently including it in this list. My brother, a fellow vegetarian, said the three magic words (vegan onion rings) and I found myself in the corner booth the next day. Vegan onion rings.

The Green Temple

The Green Temple
Redondo Beach

The Green Temple is worth going for two reasons off the bat: the decor and the tofu sauce. With an enchanting outdoor seating arrangement, you’ll feel like you’ve stumbled upon some sort of vegan Shangri-La. The tofu sauce is just as mystical, but the good thing is that they put it in nearly every dish.

Happy Veggie
Redondo Beach

Perhaps the only place in the South Bay where you can get vegan phở! The family-owned Happy Veggie specialises in Vietnamese dishes, along with a few Thai and Chinese-inspired dishes as well. They have one of the friendliest staffs as well. One of them gave me a hug simply for showing up one time!

Real Food Daily

Real Food Daily
Santa Monica, West Hollywood

A veggie must, plain and simple. Real Food Daily takes its food quite seriously, with some of the best-tasting dishes I’ve ever had in my life (including my omnivore days). But above anything, I’m a man of simple tastes, and Real Food Daily boasts perhaps the best plate of vegan nachos this side of the Mississippi. (Somehow I feel very confident saying that.)