I went vegan in 2010. It was actually a really simple story. I saw a documentary about animals, got scarred, and never went back. However, when I went vegan, it wasn’t as popular as today. There weren’t many restaurants (maybe a literal couple), and preparing food wasn’t as easy as it is now with faux cheese or meat.
However, my Veganism was, like many other people’s, excitement about anything being vegan. It didn’t really matter what the thing was. If it was vegan, I wanted to try it. But since 2010, Veganism has grown a lot, and vegan restaurants in LA have started to pop up from everywhere and perfected their skills in food and meals. Being a part of that growth allowed me to truly experience what tastes good compared to what is exciting to try because you’re vegan. Because once you become vegan everything is fantastic because it is possible to try. So, if anyone came to LA asking for an excellent vegan experience, these are the top 5 places I would take them.
- Gokoku Vegetarian Restaurant- 4147 Lankershim Blvd- During the early aughts, sushi was the latest craze in LA. Now, sushi is the epitome of LA. People flock to sushi places for smaller meals and lower calories. However, vegan sushi in LA during 2010 was just cucumber and avocado rolls. Not even miso soup was safe. Even though there are a lot of vegan sushi spots in LA, Gokoku Vegetarian Restaurant was the first restaurant I went to that made genuinely exceptional dishes. Located on the side of a random side of Lankershim, this restaurant isn’t the prettiest place to be, nor is the area an easy place to hang out and explore, but the restaurant becomes a must for the flavor and tastes behind it. Vegan or not, this is the place to bring anyone. Ranging from ramen to sushi, this place offers options, each of which is good. If you want sushi, try the popcorn sushi, the lightly fried oyster mushrooms on rice are chef’s kiss. Even though most fried concoctions tend to be good, this one makes it exceptional with the umami flavor and vegan (I assume it could be a different kind of sauce) oyster sauce. The dish is more than just a fried experience. It is a flavor combination of taste and delight. For ramen, you can’t go wrong with the mushroom one. Wood ear mushrooms aren’t really common in the supermarkets I go to. Trying them in the soup stands out far beyond the usual “here are a ramen” ramen. The noodles used in the soup are chewy and big, and the broth is flavorful and rich. For me? I always order the salt and pepper tofu with a side of wood ear mushrooms and onion. The tofu is perfectly lightly fried, and the incorporation of garlic and peppers give it a light kick. The wood ear mushrooms and onion offset that kick with a refreshing delicate taste. Gokoku Vegetarian is a must for those who want to experience good flavors while being caring. With Gokoku, you can share a genuinely exceptional vegan experience while feeling like “vegan food isn’t that bad.”
- Cruzer Pizza- 5051 Hollywood Blvd- Cruzer’s has been around since the start of my vegan journey, and despite all the years, they’re still good. Their mozzarella sticks are the absolute best, offering actual gooey vegan mozzarella sticks instead of flakey ones. My experience with go-to pizzas has changed a bit, starting with the infamous Quarrygirl (a mushroom and vegan sausage pizza named after the famous vegan blogger in the mid-aughts to 10s), to the pesto and artichoke pizza, to the BBQ chicken. I have had the calzone and the Philly Cheesesteak, which were great but don’t really compete with the vegan pizza. While there have been more vegan pizza joints coming out of the cracks of the cemented streets, Cruzer’s, in my opinion, is still the best. Trusting a place that knows how to make their dishes good is always comforting. They don’t need gimmicks. They just need to give you good food.
- Plant Power Fast Food- 776 Vine Street- I think Plant Power will be the only franchise I will mention in this post. Even though I want to offer unique restaurants, Plant-Powered Fast Food is my favorite vegan joint in LA. I didn’t think I would like it as long as I have, but their constant menu changes and genuine interest in new vegan styles make it fresh and exciting. First and foremost, their milkshakes are #1 in LA, hands down. I genuinely order the Horchata one. Every time I order it, I drink almost all of it before I even reach the car. The milkshakes are creamy but not thick. There aren’t any weird aftertastes of any nut milk used. Regarding their standard sandwiches, the Big Zac is a copycat of the Big Mac, offering two plant-based patties and Big Zac sauce on a sesame seed bun topped with pickles, shredded lettuce, chopped onion, and melted American ‘cheese.’ It is a substantial sandwich making me feel genuinely full once I have all of it. Their fish fillet is weird but also a must. It tastes like the real thing, and any form of diet gratefully goes out the window once you try it. I have gone there repeatedly, and I haven’t felt anything but happy. However, one of their many game changers and something of note is their breakfast menu. Their Vegan bacon and egg sandwiches come in an English muffin or a croissant. The cheese is gooey, the egg is just like a cheap breakfast fast food egg, and their bacon is flavorful and chewy in a fatty bacon sense. Also, finding a vegan croissant is hard, so this is a unique dish for your early bird vegan. The bacon used in most of their sandwich meals is outstanding, and I am still trying to find out where they get it. Even if it is a franchise, Pant Powered is the place to go for those that want a delicious meal and for those that want something low-key but welcoming to the vegan world.
- Dear Bella Creamery- 1253 Vine St.- I found Dear Bella Creamery during the pandemic and fell in love with their ice creams. I was a Scoops fan for the longest time, thinking it was the best ice cream place in Los Angeles, but Dear Bella Creamery stole that title. The owners are women of color, offering rotating unique flavors that stem from the usual Western tastes of vanilla, chocolate, and rocky road. Flavors like Black Sesame or Mango Chamoy allow customers to experience a flavor they have never had. Similar to LA culture Dear Bella Creamery is a mixture of everything interesting, forming a unique fantastic flavor. As well as creating artisan-tasting ice cream that changes every season, Dear Bella is entirely vegan, a completely different story from Scoops. They have some staples like a Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough, Cookies and Cream, and my favorite, Cookie Monsta, a cookie butter blue coconut milk ice cream with chocolate chip cookie and chocolate sandwich cookie crumbles. It is creamy, not overly sweet, but sweet enough to make it a good dessert, and more importantly, blue! Places like Dear Bella Creamery are what LA has always been about, various cultures coming together to make something unique.
- Crossroads Kitchen- 8284 Melrose Ave- Even though Crossroads Kitchen is the most Hollywood-like restaurant, I can’t deny it is simply the best. If you introduce someone to LA and LA culture, you can’t deny Crossroads Kitchen because it is Hollywood. It is a place where you will see a celebrity. But ignoring that, it is undeniable that Crossroads Kitchen understands food, especially understands vegan food. Chef Tai Ronnen is an artist. He creates delicious mouthwatering unique textures and tastes that cause you to question whether it is vegan. Ingredients are cherished here, causing food that breaks you entirely. When I had the carbonara, I was blown away. It was savory and cheesy, and even though I can’t compare it to the original (I am not a pasta person), I bet it tastes like the original. They also change up their menu to make it fresh and exciting. Once, I had a pasta dish that was $27, and while the price was so outrageous, I was fuming. Once I tried it, I accepted my hubris because it was outstanding and worth every penny. Some of my most romantic moments happened here; taking my husband here on a date when we were just getting to know each other, my husband taking me here on our second Valentine’s Day date, and both of us came here in celebration when my husband proposed to me. Crossroads Kitchen might be a stereotype of vegan Hollywood, but it is more than just a stereotype. It is always a welcoming place to experience all the joys of being vegan.
Los Angeles has become a welcoming home for the vegan community in the last seven years. As the community started to grow, creativity in food and art also grew. However, we’re way past the at least it’s vegan mentality and now we need to try and support good nutrition. If someone was going to go to LA, these are the five places I would take them to show them the skills, culinary ability, and culture LA can bring. LA is a city of culture and craft, and these vegan restaurants are a way to show that.
*I wanted to write about Donut Friend because it was one of my favorite donut places in LA. However, because of the controversy with Donut Friend, I left it off the list. Don’t skip paying your employees.
