You can’t go a mile in any direction of LA without running into a new vegetarian/vegan cafe or restaurant. I am guilty of thinking all of them were essentially a variety of the same salad menu options. That sounds absolutely stupid of me, but I grew up in an LA where the only real vegan option at a Mexican restaurant was a plate of Roma tomatoes and iceberg lettuce. Seeing that sad plate placed in front of my vegan cousin scarred me for years. When I stepped foot into the new generation of vegan spots, I was floored. When did vegetables start looking so good? After lots of experimenting, I curated a list of my favorite vegan spots, and my authority on this is solely based on the fact that I am not vegan and I still think these spots are the bomb. Your welcome.

Breakfast with the Cousins
Leonor’s Vegan Mexican Restaurant 
Studio City & North Hollywood

Bring your phone charged when you come here because the decorations are beautiful and Instagram content in the making. They have Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera artwork on the walls, sarapes on the backs of chairs, and succulents potted in El Pato sauce cans. Open the menu and you see enchiladas, burritos, gorditas, tacos, empanadas… the list goes on. The meat is a substitute but the texture is pretty spot on. Does it taste exactly like a normal chicken enchilada? No, but it’s the closest I’ve ever seen someone get to replicating the entire menu of a typical Mexican restaurant. Then for dessert, they have flan! The people that run the restaurant are super sweet and patient when you ask what everything tastes like and they’ll steer you in the right direction. My hands-down favorite thing was the fresh juices, especially the Vampiro which is a mix of carrot and beet juice.

Come here if you want to impress your vegan cousin with your new expanded palate while downing a monster-sized vegan burrito without having to worry about indigestion.

Late Lunch                                                                                                                                                                                                                      SunCafe 
Studio City

After a perfect LA morning, replenish yourself with a relaxing lunch at SunCafe. The spot is hidden behind thick, green shrubs so the restaurant feels private and exclusive, which is probably why lots of actors hang out here. I always see a handful walking in, out, or picking up an order. Like any good native Angeleno, I leave them in peace but it is nice to know they can afford to eat anywhere else, and yet we’re noshing on the same nachos. The Super Sun Nachos are pretty dope. They taste like regular nachos but with substitutes like soy cheese and SunChorizo. You can’t go wrong with any of their tacos options: potato, BBQ jackfruit, or mushrooms with onions. My favorite reason to come here is their drink menu. They have fermented vodka which is less strong but just as tasty. Their cocktails always arrive looking like a celestial gift and are perfectly sweetened.

Come here for lunch on a sunny day with the girls to enjoy the lounge seating with drinks and to casually check out that guy at the next table that looks very much like the new character on Euphoria.

Date Night
O’cado 
Sherman Oaks

O’cado is an intimate little date spot where you can lean close to one another as you share embarrassing stories. The plates here are great because the portions are petite and aren’t very cumbersome so you don’t look like an ogre trying to stuff down a massive piece of eggplant. Think refined tapas with cute drinks to sip on. The falafel bites are delicious but my favorite is their brussel sprouts. I know they aren’t cute to eat and you have to watch out for leftovers in your teeth, but they’re perfectly tender and sprinkled with fake bacon and balsamic vinaigrette. It’s the brown sugar that pulls it all together and makes the risk of greens in your smile completely worth it. Your date will be too enrapture in the food to notice anyways.

Come here when you get to the point of dating when you can admire your incredibly attractive and intelligent companion up close without coming off as creepy.

Movie Night At Home
H.O.P.E. 
Studio City

Order two orders of nachos here. Just do it. They are mindblowing because they taste like regular nachos. You never want to go into a vegan spot expecting the same flavoring but this dish absolutely delivers. Even when it comes to the cashew cheese which is not always the best at some spots. Here there is no doubt you will taste the satisfying crunch of fresh nachos with the mounds of fresh toppings and rich, hearty protein. After you devour the first plate and realize you didn’t share, you’ll realize why I said to order two dishes. This is a vegan Thai place and everything on the menu is perfectly sauced, toasted, or fried. What makes the nachos special is that the owners know they make the nachos so well, they keep them on the menu even if it doesn’t match the theme of the place. I’m also a fan of the savory satay (protein replacement), crispy spring rolls, and fresh papaya salad.

Order here when you are having a movie night and want to impress your friends with your culinary taste to make up for the film you picked, which they all hated.

Dining Downtown
Little Llama
Downtown L.A.

We live in the land of cheap tacos, so whenever I bring my friends to this spot, I warn them that the tacos are a bit pricier than what we’re used to, but it’s worth it. Little Llama isn’t strictly vegan but it had my favorite vegan/vegetarian tacos: Shiitake Saltado and Papa a la Huancaina. Simply put, they are different versions of potato tacos but what is served actually resembles art with bright huacatay aioli sauces and sprinkles of seasonings like olive powder on a canvas of thick, handmade tortillas. My friends see the $6 per taco price, side-eye me, and order only two tacos. The tacos arrive and they dig in… and then they go back for two more orders. The chef is a Peruvian mastermind and to top it all off, they have Inca Kola and Quezquena beer.

Come here to grab a delicious dinner downtown before you start your bar crawl through the area. Photo Op:: Little Llama has an adorable neon photo wall with the perfect lighting to show off your makeup before you get all tipsy and shiny.

Drinks with CoWorkers
Sage Plant Based Bistro and Brewery 
Echo Park/Agoura Hills/ Culver City/ Pasadena

Going to a vegan spot with people you don’t know can be tricky due to food preferences. This is when Sage comes to the rescue with their massive menu: pasta, tacos, salads, soups, sandwiches. I went with their artichoke pizza which was filling and didn’t leave me with the heavy, gross feeling when you eat regular pizza. I will say their small pizza was actually huge, so don’t try to go at it alone, sharing is caring! The cocktail menu is spot on and they actually brew their own beer and have rotating flavors. Sage also has lots of seating space and an upstairs area if you want some privacy as you and your coworkers vent about the needy new client your boss just assigned the team. Come here if you have a big group of diverse palates and the stomach space to try what everyone else ordered.

I just gave you six reasons to treat your tastebuds and support local businesses while trying a healthy alternative to meat. If you need any more reasons, Lent is right around the corner, so you can impress your devoutly religious Abuela when you take her out for “carnitas” tacos on Friday and indulge without all that Catholic guilt.