As far as the United States is concerned I think Los Angeles has the most vegetarian and vegan restaurants by far. It’s also the home to many of the finest and diverse ethnic foods. They’ve got it all! Here are HappyCow’s top-rated ethnic restaurants in Los Angeles.
Shojin
333 S Alameda St Unit 310 (at 3rd St, in Little Tokyo Square 3rd floor above supermarket)
Los Angeles, California 90013
213-617-0305
For gourmet, organic Japanese food with a macrobiotic twist go to Shojin in Little Tokyo downtown. It’s one of my favorite places for a special occasion or date night. There aren’t many places in town where you can get sushi made with brown rice or tempura not made with eggs in the batter. The sushi list is mouth-watering and unique, which means you must try at least 2 rolls during your visit.
Rahel’s Ethiopian Cuisine
1047 S Fairfax Ave (at Olympic)
Los Angeles, California 90019
323-937-8401
Some of the best Ethiopian food I’ve ever had can be found at Rahel’s. It’s rare to find a purely vegan Ethiopian restaurant, but the team at Rahel’s understands the importance of good quality plant-based food. I like the Veggie Paradise Combo Special, which includes nine different dishes, all of them very tasty. They also perform a traditional coffee ceremony and have a delicious array of other Ethiopian drinks and desserts.
Vegan Glory
8393 Beverly Blvd (at Orlando, near Beverly Center)
Los Angeles, California 90048
323-653-4900
For delicious and inexpensive vegan Thai food, Vegan Glory is my go to place right in the center of town. They have the best Pad Thai and the curries are delish too. They have the best lunch special deal that includes entree, brown rice, salad, and a spring roll. If you aren’t in the mood for Thai they will make you a fake chicken sandwich and french fries. Very kid-friendly. So there is something for everyone!
Paru’s Vegetarian Indian
5140 Sunset Blvd (at Normandie)
Los Angeles, California 90027
323-661-7600
One of the first vegetarian Indian restaurants to open in LA is Paru’s and it’s highly rated on HappyCow. It’s known for it’s cozy and dim interior and South Indian grub. Reviewer favorites are the dosas, dahl, and chickpea curry or just opt for the Thali which is a feast of different dishes.
Stuff I Eat
114 N Market St (at S La Brea)
Inglewood, California 90301
310-671-0115
If you’ve got a craving for soul food the only place to go is Stuff I Eat. This is one of my fave restaurants in all of town. The food is not only delicious, but made with love and care with the best ingredients possible. Portions are large and you can’t go wrong with anything on the menu (though my faves are the Carrot Untuna Salad for an appetizer and the Soul Food Platter). They also have a selection of divine raw desserts. Definitely worth the drive if you are in town.
3 Comments
Chuck Dishmon (5 comments)
August 16, 2011 at 10:12 pmAwesome guide! As a newbie to Los Angeles I thank you, and I’ll be trying them all =)
Chia (324 comments)
September 6, 2011 at 3:05 pmI live in the Los Angeles area and have been to all the the above restaurants at least a few times each (or more). Shojin is great for more fine dining feel, clean food. Vegan Glory is great for a quick flavorful bite of Thai food. Stuff I Eat dishes up very wholesome fare with good vibrations. Paru dosas are YUM! Rahel’s is a unique experience in Ethiopian vegan cuisine.
LA has so many more restaurants that the handful listed on here. Check HappyCow’s “Los Angeles” pages, and you can read reviews for so many more.
dcavila (1 comments)
September 10, 2011 at 8:30 amI have to agree with Chia. These places above are good but you need to try the Silver Lake area and Echo Park. Kindkream has great food. I love it!