Eating LA
all the best places to grab a bite
Los Angeles gets a lot of hate. The exact issue with this city, and California in general, is always changing but the complaining never stops. I grew up in the Bay Area, but I have spent most of my adult life in Southern California. I am a Californian, through and through. When I was growing up, the main complaints you heard about LA were around the smog, and the general fakeness people assume oozes down from Hollywood. Now the discourse has shifted to homelessness, but as always, the complaints about fakeness remain. It gets old. LA County is home to 10 million people, not counting the millions who flock here every year on vacation. That means more people live in my county than live in whole states. In fact, LA County has a larger population than 40 states in the US.
You cannot understand this place after spending 2 days in Santa Monica. You had a layover once in LAX and wanna complain about California? Please don’t. Naturally, the people who complain the loudest are the people who’ve never been here. In my last 15 years in LA, from The Recession to whateverthefuck is going on now, I’ve watched this city change a lot but the one thing it has always had going for it is amazing food. Our untouchable produce, year-round growing season, and extremely diverse population means that Angelinos have some of the greatest food you can find anywhere in North America. This week I am going to share with you some of my favorite places to eat here in LA so that the next time you’re visiting, you can get to see a little bit more of this giant, unwieldy, complicated but dearly beloved city.
As many of you know, I am not a fan of most fake meat, so you won’t see a lot of places on here where that kind of stuff dominates the menu. It’s just not my thing so they don’t get to be on my list. I didn’t include any large chains like Planta etc. because they don’t need the coverage and they aren’t part of a unique LA experience. Same goes for all the mediocre and downright disappointing 100% vegan spots that cover this city. In addition to my top ten favorite spots, I have included a map of most, if not all, of my favorite places to eat in LA County and nearby cities. There are 84 spots (!!!) all with notes about what I like to order or my general thoughts. That way, next time you are visiting Los Angeles, all you have to do is pull up the map and see what’s nearby when you get hungry. Easy as hell.
My Top 10 (in no particular order):
Neighborhood: Venice
This is plant-based Thai food like you’ve never had before. If you are only able to go to one Thai restaurant when you are visiting, make it Satdha. Chef Gunn Pankum’s puts so much care into everything her kitchen turns out that you’ll be dreaming about this meal long after it’s over. Menu standouts are the beet-dyed noodles and catfish eggplant. Don’t let either of the names put you off, both dishes are craveable as all hell. I never order eggplant out in the world, but you cannot stop me from getting it here. It isn’t like anything you’ve ever eaten, I promise. The dining room is very laid back, but the food could easily be at home in a white tablecloth setting. I have loved them since they opened over 10 years ago and they’ve never disappointed.
Neighborhood: Culver City
Run by sister-duo, and IRL friends of mine, Heather and Jenny, Hey Sunshine is the newest restaurant on this list at just over a year old. It’s 100% vegan and the perfect fast casual spot to grab a bite while you dart all over the city. Everything is non-gmo and made with so much love. My current favorite menu items are their chickpea nuggets, Caesar bowl with avocado (the dressing is made with pistachios from their cousin’s farm!!!), spicy jackfruit carnitas tacos, and their blueberry lemonade. Even the meat-eaters in your group will find something love and you won’t feel dragged down after eating there. They were just voted the #1 woman-owned restaurant in the US on Yelp so you don’t need to take my word for it. The votes are in. This place is great.
Neighborhood: Highland Park and Pasadena
This small spot is quickly expanding over Southern California and for good reason. Their dumplings always deliver. They only have one vegan dumpling but it’s so good that they don’t need another. The lotus root and bok choy sides are also delicious and the perfect way to round out the meal. I’ve been eating here for years and despite the small menu, I’ve never once wished for more. When you do it right, you don’t need more than a handful of items to satisfy everybody.
Neighborhood: Inglewood
This place is special and has a menu that’s all its own. You won’t find another spot like this anywhere. I’ve been eating here since I first moved to the city and it’s constantly delicious and a balm for your soul when you are having a rough time. Everything is fresh, bright, and deeply satisfying plus the portions are very generous. The soul bowl and carrot untuna with chips are fantastic but my true love is the Kilimanjaro quesadilla. It’s piled high with beans, salads, greens, and wild rice that you basically have to see to believe. The flatbread is flaky, the homemade cheese sauce melts into everything, and despite having about 100 things on it, every bite is balanced and amazing. Their hours are limited to make sure to check them before you head over but trust me, you need to head over there ASAP.
Neighborhood: Silverlake
This is my favorite pizza place in LA, hands down. Owner Alex Koons makes all the vegan cheese in house and the flavor combos show how much love he puts into each pie. Of course, there are appetizers like garlic knots and a great vegan Caesar, but let’s get real- we’re all here for the pizza. They sell slices and whole pies but no matter what you get, I know you’ll be happy. I love their buffalo pizza and pan-baked Sicilian but just go with your gut. All the vegan options, which are plentiful, are clearly marked and always deliver. The décor is irreverent, like a 90’s Taco Bell, Bayside from Saved by the Bell, and your old Sega Genesis all got together and had a baby. I mean this as the highest of compliments.
Neighborhood: Silverlake
This Taiwanese spot stole my heart a decade ago and won’t give it back. Chef Vivian Ku is extremely talented and her story is amazing. The dan dan noodles, scallion pancake, three cup mushroom, bamboo shoots from the deli case, and rotating list of greens never, ever get old. The flavors are so craveable and always perfectly executed. I have taken out-of-town guests here for years and inevitably I get a text a month or two after they leave complaining that they can’t stop thinking about their meal here. No joke. Pine and Crane doesn’t take reservations and the line can get a little long, but service is fast and the food is worth it. If they have the sautéed pea shoots when you visit, order those and thank me later. They have expanded in the last couple years to a location in Downtown and a sister restaurant, Joy, in Highland Park but the original location here in Silverlake is always my favorite.
Neighborhood: Culver City
This is my favorite Indian restaurant in the city. They focus on southern Indian food which means you are legally required to order a dosa. It’s all vegetarian but the staff is very knowledgeable about what is vegan, which is tons of stuff. I love the Mysore marsala dosas, bhel puri, and tamarind rice but you can’t go wrong here. The setting is very casual and family-friendly, but the food is always exceptional. They do a lunch buffet which comes with a complimentary dosa and then reopen for dinner at 5:30. The portions are generous so order with a little restraint. That being said, I never follow my own advice. You’ll probably be the only tourist there but that means you’re doing it right.
Neighborhood: Koreatown
Los Angeles is home to the biggest Salvadoran population in the country and is so much better for it. There are countless places in LA to grab some pupusas, the national dish of El Salvador, but Jaragua is my favorite. It’s a great family-friendly spot with ample seating and a parking lot just for the restaurant, which is a rarity in LA. They don’t have ton of vegan options but their bean pupusas, offered in both rice and corn masa, and endless jars of curtido keep me coming back again and again. Seriously, I’ve been eating here since 2009 and won’t stop unless I move away. Grab an ensalada for a refreshing fruit drink with plenty of herbs for a sweet end to your meal.
Neighborhood: Santa Monica and Venice
This is a classic spot to grab great Mexican, specifically Puebloan, food in the city. Founded by Atilano Sanchez in the 90’s, this place is family run with his son Hector now working right alongside him to manage their multiple Westside locations. They don’t use lard and have lots of vegetarian options that are easily veganized by leaving off the cheese or sour cream. The staff is very knowledgeable if you have any questions. Like all my favorite spots, it’s very laid back. In pre-pandemic times, they had a huge salsa bar where you could load up on pico, other salsas, and their amazing pickled carrots but now you just have to ask, and they’ll add it all to your order. I know taco is right in the name, but I am a burrito lover at heart, so my go-to order is a veggie burrito plus potatoes with a watermelon agua fresca if it’s summertime. If you are traveling with a group, this is a great spot because their menu is huge which means even the pickiest of eaters will find something to love. Grab a burrito and take it to the beach for a classic Southern California day.
Neighborhood: Atwater Village, DTLA, and a brand new Mid-City location!
You might want to dismiss this as a typical Mediterranean spot cranking out falafel plates but you’re wrong. This restaurant is from the same team that used to run my favorite spot, Elf, which no longer exists but trust me, they know how to make food sing. Everything you order here is made to deliver maximum flavor. There are lots of clearly labeled vegan options, so you really have your pick of what to eat. All their plates are fantastic and falafel lovers won’t be disappointed, but I encourage you try out their more unusual offerings. My favorite thing is their pickled beet sandwich with some amba smeared on for good measure. I am not a big fan of beets so the fact that I willingly order this again and again should really tell you how amazing it is. The tapenade, toum, and shoestring crispy potatoes all come together to make one of my favorite sandwiches in LA. The Atwater location is small but it’s great to grab a quick bite and then walk up and down the block window shopping at the cool boutiques that line the street. The DTLA location is even smaller so just grab you food to-go and get outside and enjoy the sunshine.
Is there some famous LA spot that is missing from my list that you want to know about? Ask me in the comments and I will be honest as hell. No time for a vacation and are just drowning at home? Download a copy of my July Meal Manager for three weeks of recipes all planned out for you, Sunday-Friday, that build and blend into one another for maximum flavor with minimal effort. And yes, all the recipes are included. Click below to grab your copy now!
Tomorrow recipe club subscribers are going to learn all about the internet’s current favorite ingredient: rice paper. Not on the list?
xoxo,
Michelle
I have to give you gigantic ups for this article. I lived in Los Angeles - in several different neighborhoods for 23 years.
I met someone who went there with his sister for five days and came back and was all, "In L.A., they do this..." "In L.A., the store are that ..."
Just the other day, I heard a joke about the plastic L.A. people.
No one ever talks about the breathtaking beauty you are surrounded by on a daily basis. No one talks about the vibrant immigrant culture or the deep history. They say there are no seasons. All you have to do is live there to notice the change from January to April.
I am so, so sick of the cheap shots people take.
And, yes, you can find ANY food, including food you didn't even know you wanted.
LOVING you comment about not too many beets ...
I hate it here!! Whatever beauty is talked about is invisible due to the 11 million people here! Yes the food is good and all that but the city's traffic takes that away! You can't do anything without loosing 5-7 business days in traffic. 😂