The Best Vegan Restaurants in Los Angeles

Plant-based diets are spreading like agave, and Los Angeles is fortunate enough to have vegan hotspots in every neighborhood. Wherever you may find yourself in this expansive city, the best fruits, veggies and nuts are never far away. Whether you're celebrating World Vegan Month in November, or just scrolling for the best vegan restaurants nearby, here are our picks for the best vegan restaurants across Los Angeles.

Tucked away in the Downtown LA Promenade Plaza, Au Lac (710 W 1st St., Los Angeles 90012) is an upscale gem that offers imaginative raw and Vietnamese fusion dishes. The salt and pepper yam “shrimp” are eerily real, while the rich desserts are perfect for sharing. It's a good place for celebrity sightings, but the true star is Chef Ito, who has taken a vow of silence and just might grace you with a visit your table. Don’t forget to ask the server about the “secret menu.”

While Ethiopian food is generally very vegan-friendly, LA is fortunate enough to have two 100% vegan Ethiopian restaurants. Azla (4309 Leimert Blvd, Los Angeles 90008) offers a walk-up window outside of Little Ethiopia, in Leimert Park. Their latest menu puts a Mexican spin on the tastes of the Horn of Africa, with dishes like Gomen Face Killah bowl and the sweet potato-filled Tsehai Burrito.

Voted Best Vegan Grocery Store in America by the VegNews Veggie Awards, Besties Vegan Paradise (4882 Fountain Ave, Los Angeles 90029) has a food scene that also makes this East Hollywood spot a popular local eating establishment.

Besties prides itself on being "the only ethical vegan grocery store in the world" - their products are 100% manufactured by ethical vegan brands that share their commitment to equality. They often spotlight Black-owned, woman-owned, LGBTQ-owned and local brands.

Living up to their name, Besties offers their own $8 daily lunch special combo that includes a vegan "Vrank" (hot dog), chips & soda - they also make some of the best vegan soft-serve in town.

Besties recently partnered with plant-based impresario Matthew Kenney to open Besties Venice (2524 Pacific Ave, Venice 90291) offering the same service with a smile, along with an extended menu.

For celeb spotting or a swanky night out, Crossroads Kitchen (8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles 90046) is the place to be. Opened in March 2013 by Chef Tal Ronnen (whom Oprah called “the best vegan chef in America”), Crossroads features a 7-course Fall Dinner Menu that includes a glass of champagne, signed Crossroads cookbook, and a meet & greet with Chef as he shaves truffles tableside for the 5th course.

Reservations for groups up to six are a must. The elegant private dining room is available for up to 20 guests and features an original Toulouse-Lautrec print.

There's no excuse for sad, plant-based pizza ever again - Matthew Kenney's Double Zero (1700 Lincoln Blvd, Venice 90291) has solved the problem for good, making quality pies with homemade cheese and quality ingredients fit for anyone who loves a good wood-fired slice.

Outdoor seating and an extensive list of organic, biodynamic wines make Double Zero a favorite for locals and visitors alike.

You can’t beat the healthy home-style cooking at this little Silver Lake favorite. The best vegan Biscuits & Gravy in the West, consistently great service, and the gluten-free friendly menu make Flore (3818 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90026) a cozy place for a rendezvous. It's easy to see why Zagat has called Flore a “vegan lover’s dream.”

Green Table (5998 W. Pico Blvd, Los Angeles 90035) lives up to its name with 100% organic fresh, whole foods in the Fairfax District. Juices, smoothies, bowls, paninis and hot daily specials with an Italian touch make it perfect for any food-centered meet-up. Plenty of gluten-free options, a filler-free almond milk and a fully stocked pastry case guarantee something for every healthy mindset.

For every vegan who ever wished for a veggie-based equivalent of In-N-Out Burger, Monty's is here to help. Founder Nic Adler made the dream a reality with a simple menu of decked out Impossible burgers, fries, tater tots, shakes and a vegan Caesar salad - all served under the banner of a cool logo (the restaurant's canine namesake), along with a consistently slamming soundtrack and streetwear-style merch. To date, the mini empire has locations in Koreatown, Culver City, 3rd Street, Echo Park and Riverside. For a more sit-down and savor-with-adult-beverages experience, get to brunch at Adler's lovely restaurant, Nic's on Beverly.

Premier vegan chef and plant-pushing impresario Matthew Kenney owns and operates the upscale Plant Food + Wine (1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice 90291), serving locally-sourced fruits, vegetables, nuts and legumes as the centerpieces of seasonally crafted dishes enjoyed indoors, outdoors or delivered right to your door if you order online. Also check out his nearby mini-mart New Deli, the perfect place to grab healthy snacks for the beach or chill outside on the pretty back patio with a smoothie.

See also: Sestina (Kenney's Culver City pasta bar), Folia (poolside at the Four Seasons), and Ladurée Beverly Hills, which offers a delectable selection of melt-in-your-mouth, exquisitely-packaged vegan macarons and a fully vegan tea salon.

The Plant Lab (5420 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90027) serves up light and tasty vegan Japanese food in the heart of Hollywood. Gyoza, curries, ramen, hand rolls, and special rolls - all for an affordable price in a no-frills setting.

The first 100% organic plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the US, Pura Vita (8274 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood 90046) does traditional Italian dishes right. A surprising number of gluten-free options makes this a nice night out for even the most sensitive of eaters. For take-out, don't miss their Pura Vita Pizzeria next door. And save room for dessert - the raspberry coulis-topped chocolate fudge cake is made for sharing.

Rahel (1047 S. Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles 90019) serves quality authentic Ethiopian food, right in the heart of L.A.’s Little Ethiopia district. All combo platters are shareable, the sambusa appetizers are crisped to perfection, and the all-you-can-eat buffet on weekends is dangerous. Large parties should sit in the hut and order the coffee ceremony for the full experience.

The first all-vegan Thai restaurant in Thai Town is here and it was worth the wait! Salaya (5185 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles 90027) serves up fanciful fusion ranging from Hawaiian "chicken" sandwiches to spicy pad pra krao and curries of every color make ordering from this woman-owned restaurant satiating and satisfying every time.

Satdha (2218 Lincoln Blvd, Santa Monica 90405) makes some of the best Thai food on the Westside. The 100% plant-based menu makes every palate happy with Northern Thai dishes, different from what's found at many of other Thai vegan restaurants across the city. Try the khao soi (Thai curry ramen), beet-dyed noodles or "catfish" eggplant for a taste of something special.

Shojin (333 S. Alameda St. Suite 310, Little Tokyo Shopping Center 3F, Los Angeles 90013) is perfect for vegan date night, offering macrobiotic vegan sushi in a fine dining setting in Little Tokyo. An extensive menu of flavor-popping creations and a large selection of sakes are sure to please even the pickiest palates. It's reassuring to see their “no chemical preservatives, no artificial color and no chemical seasonings” promise on the menu.

This vegan soul food / Cali-Mex restaurant in Inglewood serves up fresh comfort cuisine and "to-live-for" raw desserts. European-style communal tables, art by locals on the walls, and one of the best brunches in Los Angeles make Stuff I Eat (114 N Market St., Inglewood 90301) a mouthwatering experience. Chef Babette embodies the healthy vegan lifestyle and her menu is an extension of her vivacious spirit.

In an unassuming strip mall deep in the heart of Reseda, sits the small but mighty Vinh Loi Tofu (18625 Sherman Way, #101 Reseda 91335), a Vietnamese vegan joint so well-loved that regulars let owner Kevin Tran order for them. Just tell him what flavors or textures you’re in the mood for and he’ll suggest something "better than what’s on the menu." He’s embraced his eccentricity lately by way of his new t-shirts: "I Pick—You Eat" and "If You Want the Best, You Can’t Request…" Yes, the food is that good and we trust him that much.

If you've ever wondered whether there was fresh vegan cheese near you, you're in luck!  From the blond butcher block tables to charismatic cheesemonger Youssef Fakhouri running around behind the counter, Vromage (7988 W Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles 90046) puts the joy of eating front and center. Stop by L.A.’s first vegan cheese shop for lunch (the tiny menu offers pizza, salad and sandwiches) or grab a hunk of muenster, brie, "veganzola" or gouda to go. All cheeses are nut-based and dairy-free. Some are good for melting while others are best for party platters. Vromage ships internationally, too!