10 of the very best vegan eating places in Lengthy Seaside to rejoice World Vegan Month • the Hello-lo
Personally, I pivoted to a vegetarian (often pescatarian) food regimen final November and I haven’t appeared again. Over the previous 12 months, I’ve been on a mission to discover every part plant-based Lengthy Seaside has to supply. And there have been a shocking quantity of locations that made that transition simple as pie.
Since it’s World Vegan Day and the remainder of November is World Vegan Month, I assumed I’d share a few of my favourite veggie-head eateries round Lengthy Seaside.
And in case you’re imagining biting right into a bland kale and sprouts sandwich or a kind of black-bean burgers that have been round lengthy earlier than the times of high-quality meat mimicry, hear me out, issues have modified.
Get with the instances by attempting one among these plant-based eating places listed beneath—in no specific order.
Vegan Citadel – 2400 Santa Fe Ave.
From the second I took a chew of sashimi at 15 years outdated, sushi turned my favourite meals. And I blame this glorious Japanese delicacies as my one holdout to totally claiming a strict vegetarian food regimen. That being stated, once I found Vegan Citadel on the Westside, it unexpectedly quelled that nagging sushi craving I’ve by no means been in a position to stifle.
This plant-based wizardry of a sushi restaurant actually hits the spot. If you happen to go, attempt the rainbow roll, the shrimpless tempura roll and the ocean roll. Plus, they’ve a terrific collection of beer and sake.
PlanTita’s – 1950 W. Willow Road
PlanTita’s (to not be confused with Plantiitas on Retro Row) is Lengthy Seaside’s latest vegan providing, and it’s additionally positioned on the Westside. Proprietor Aileen Castañeda has labored arduous to copy her grandmother and mom’s conventional Mexican recipes sans meat or dairy. PlanTita’s provides dishes just like the pozole verde made with jackfruit, aguachile utilizing hearts of palm as an alternative of seafood, elote fried “Ribbs,” queso-loaded fries with braised soyrizo and extra.
The Plant Butchers – 500 W. Broadway
Two phrases: vegan deli. Sure, it is a factor. The Plant Butchers, which opened on Oct. 1 in Downtown, is the place Lengthy Seaside vegans can lastly take pleasure in an entire spectrum of meatless meat and cheeseless cheese. They serve breakfast, salads, ribs, charcuterie, sandwiches, pastries and past. The deli opened subsequent to LA-based Sugar Taco (we’ll get to them subsequent), and each vegan ventures are co-owned by Nia Gatica Campos. Strive the Reuben: Home-made pastrami, sauerkraut, provolone cheese and Russian dressing on marbled rye—nut, dairy and meat free.
Sugar Taco – 500 W. Broadway
When the highly effective vegan taco craze swept Los Angeles, Sugar Taco was on the forefront in 2019. This spring, Gatica Campos and her fellow co-owners opened a 3rd location in Downtown Lengthy Seaside, the place they make their very own seitan—a key ingredient to mastering wholesome meatless meals. For starters, attempt their fish taco, which is served with a gluten-free tortilla, tofu-based breaded fish, chipotle crema, curtido and cilantro. For die-hard baja fish taco lovers, you’ll hardly style a distinction.
Wild Chive – 2650 E. Broadway
If you happen to haven’t heard of Wild Chive, you’ve both been hiding beneath a carnivorous rock or possibly you’re new round these components. If you happen to’re searching for some severe southern consolation meals or only a hangover-quelling brunch, that is your new spot. From the Monte Cristo to the Southern Fried Chick’n Sammie—that is the place you’ll discover a number of the metropolis’s finest vegan soul meals.
Hart and Soul – 3418 Lengthy Seaside Blvd.
And talking of soul meals, Hart and Soul is one other new-ish plant-based eatery in Lengthy Seaside. Listed below are a number of the mouth-watering menu objects I’m dying to attempt—Coulda Fooled Ya Chili Carrot Canine: two carrot chili canine with cashew cheese served with a aspect of tater tots, and Tony’s Nuggets: Fried oyster mushroom “rooster” nuggets with a aspect of tots. Additionally they supply taco Tuesday with jackfruit tacos.
Good Burger – 2620 Lengthy Seaside Blvd.
If you happen to’re searching for a concerningly convincing old school burger, Good Burger will likely be your new finest buddy. They’ve acquired 4 brilliant and colourful fast-food areas in Orange County and now they’ve acquired a spot in North Lengthy Seaside. They’ve menu objects that pay eerily related tribute to classics you would possibly discover at Carl’s Jr., McDonald’s, Burger King and extra. For breakfast, attempt the NiceMuffin: sausage, egg and cheese. Personally, I’m smitten with the Massive Man: cheese, lettuce, onions, pickles and Thousand Island.
VBurger – 420 Cherry Ave.
One other spot to get your guilt-free burger n’ “cheeze” repair is VBurger. House owners Paula and Alex Armstrong got down to open a vegan pop-up pushed by animal rights values in 2019 and ended up gathering sufficient of a following to open up their very own store. They’re now beloved for his or her traditional Past and Unimaginable meat burgers just like the Deuce Deuce and different objects just like the V Breaky Sando, the V Cali Burrito, Tremendous Nachos, asada fries and extra.
Seabirds Kitchen – 975 E. Fourth Road’
For no matter it’s value, Seabirds Kitchen will get my official date-night stamp of approval for these trying to go away animal-based proteins out of their outing. This cute little spot on Fourth Road does a lot proper. For starters, can we speak concerning the Bibimbap Bowl? It’s brown rice, steamed kale, Korean jackfruit, fermented cauliflower, fried kimchi, crushed peanut, gochujang, ali yolk creme and inexperienced onion. Their Beets Me Burger and jackfruit nachos are additionally scrumptious.
Vegan Dinner – Partake Collective, 456 Elm Ave.
And final however definitely not least, is Cena Vegan. Lengthy earlier than this taco stand began drawing lengthy, snaking traces when it appeared in Highland Park in 2016, Mike Simms instructed his spouse Carmen Santillan that he needed to transition to a vegan food regimen to reverse clogged arteries.
“If you happen to’re vegan, we’re vegan,” she instructed him.
And you may style the love that Santillan poured into veganizing the Mexican recipes of her late mom that now make up Cena Vegan’s menu. Years on, that menu has an enormous following, working out of three collective areas in LA County in the present day. This 12 months, they landed at Partake Collective in Downtown Lengthy Seaside. Take it from me, the Massive Vegan Burrito Bowl or the vegan barbacoa nacho boat will go away you mystified it’s not meat.
Facet notice: I do know I discussed Seabird Kitchen’s Bibimbap Bowl, however in case you’re searching for some genuine and extremely addicting vegan Korean meals, Sura in Downtown has a vegan menu. My Achilles heel is formally their Vegan LB Mushrooms Tofu Soup: Sign Hill cultivated seasonal oyster mushrooms, button, enoki onion, scallion, rice and banchan. You’re welcome.
Did I miss your favourite native vegan restaurant? E-mail me: (electronic mail protected).
