San Diego’s meals scene is usually neglected and underappreciated due to its neighbor to the north—the glittering vegan meals mecca of Los Angeles. Nonetheless, this SoCal metropolis’s burgeoning plant-based eating tradition helps California’s second-largest metropolis make a reputation for itself on the culinary stage. From high-end meals to the very best cookie you’ve ever eaten, peel off that wetsuit and park your bike at one in every of these vegan San Diego eateries.
Donna Jean
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Table of Contents
1. Donna Jean
Situated simply two blocks from the tree-lined streets of Balboa Park, diners of every kind flock to Donna Jean to get pleasure from selfmade vegan pizza and pasta. Named in homage to chef Roy Elam’s late mom, the restaurant boasts a spacious patio and herb backyard for purchasers to get pleasure from year-round. Locals love this spot for a date night time whereas others often order the speckled wood-fired pizza to-go. Made with a mix of vegan gouda, ricotta, parmesan, and mozzarella, the customer-favorite 4 Horsemen pizza has been on supply because the restaurant’s inception.
Kindred
2. Kindred
What do eclectic cocktail bars, steel tunes, and gastropub tradition have in frequent? Nothing, at the very least not till Kindred opened its doorways again in 2015. The LED-illuminated ceiling, vibrant pink partitions, and retractable garage-door-style window set the stage, however the meals and cocktails steal the present at this South Park hotspot. Start the night time with the tangy, spicy chargrilled seitan skewers earlier than grabbing maintain of the very best vegan barbecue sandwich west of Memphis. Come again for brunch on the weekend and luxuriate in pancakes topped with caramelized banana and bourbon butterscotch or the benedict served with luscious cauliflower hollandaise.
The Plot
3. The Plot
It’s not typically that something lives as much as the hype, however The Plot delivers with a menu that’s aware but approachable. Situated within the northernmost a part of the county, this restaurant focuses on native substances—from the onsite produce backyard to its secret San Diego provider of contemporary tofu. Velvety pink peppercorn cream sauce and lentil caviar give a nod to positive eating whereas the salty sweetness of hen and waffles floor the menu. The Plot is ideal for date night time or anytime you wish to deal with your self to a nourishing, hearty meal.
Maya’s Cookies
4. Maya’s Cookies
Not all pop-up meals retailers discover the success essential to graduate to a brick-and-mortar, however then once more not all pop-ups characteristic bites as decadent nor as memorable as Maya’s Cookies. Born out of the need to search out vegan cookies that handed the style, texture, and aroma check, proprietor Maya Madsen set to work crafting what would change into the nation’s largest and most profitable feminine and Black-owned vegan cookie retailer. Flavors range from White Chocolate Espresso to Birthday Cake and Brown Sugar Butterscotch to Basic Chocolate Chip with a number of gluten-free choices. Madsen developed a foolproof transport customary so even these outdoors of the San Diego space can get pleasure from her edible delights.
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Eve Vegan Eats
5. Eve
Crispy-thin cauliflower crust pizzas, hefty veggie burritos, and roasted butternut squash salads entice a gentle, beach-going crowd at Eve’s Encinitas and Oceanside eating places. Each places are all the time packed, however the wait is definitely worth the contemporary meals and beneficiant parts. Every eatery was designed as a group house, so when indoor eating is again in full swing, enterprise down the corridor into the again of the Encinitas location the place you’ll discover a vast, open house dotted with mix-matched couches, pillows, and a stage for the occasional improv troupe or open mic night time. Plop your self down with a guide or your laptop computer and benefit from the time spent ready on your order. It doesn’t matter what, it’s going to be good.
Grains
6. Grains
Sibling co-owners Napatr Chayodom and Katiya Hendricks borrowed inspiration from the brewery-centric College Heights and North Park neighborhood when planning out their enterprise. Grains’ craft beer choice enhances a flexible menu of Asian-meets-bar meals. Assume fried shiitake mushroom appetizers served with plum sauce; sesame balls crammed with crimson bean paste; pepper-glazed hen strips with scallions; and a traditional Philly cheesesteak sandwich thrown in for good measure. To pattern greater than your fill at a reduced charge, swing by for pleased hour (Monday-Thursday, 3-5pm) for 15 p.c off all meals and drinks.
The Yasai
7. The Yasai
Globe-trotting chef Junya Watanabe fuses meals and artwork with a westernized tackle Japanese classics at his Kearny Mesa and extra just lately opened Little Italy sushi eating places. Right here you’ll discover Instagrammers charmed by intricately constructed vegan sushi whereas hungry patrons slurp up silky, handmade ramen noodles floating in a creamy dashi. Have a good time seasonality with a chef’s choice bento field obtainable for take-out solely at The Yasai’s Little Italy location.
Break up Bakehouse
8. Break up Bakehouse
Proprietor Vanessa Corrales made the leap from promoting on to espresso outlets to organising her personal storefront in Grossmont Heart in February 2021. The worldwide choice of baked items encompasses ube-filled brioche, confetti-sprinkled scones, ache au chocolat, Thai tea pastry cream-infused cruffins, and a lot extra. The menu is repeatedly evolving, and contemporary pastries are made each three hours to ensure an excellent, just-out-of-the-oven high quality. Can’t determine? Let the baker select for you by pre-ordering the Chef’s Selection Selection Field. It’s an exquisite shock each time!
Cafe Gratitude
9. Cafe Gratitude
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Assume what you’ll about this affirmation-themed restaurant, however there’s no denying the meals is nice. Go forward and roll your eyes whenever you inform the waiter “I Am Humble” (translation: I’d just like the Indian dahl bowl) and “I Am Dazzling” (translation: “with the Caesar salad”)—you’re going to get pleasure from what you order even should you really feel a bit cringy asking for it. Maintain these affirmations coming to order dessert. The I Am Divine (strawberry shortcake parfait) and I Am Outstanding (uncooked mocha cheesecake) are actually worthy of their descriptions.
Q_Eats
10. Veganic Thai
The minute this plant-based Thai cafe opens, the inescapable aroma of drunken noodles and multi-colored curries flood the streets of Hillcrest and draw a combined crowd of plant-based and gluten-free eaters. Not like many different Southeast Asian vegetarian eating places in San Diego, this menu utterly omits egg and dairy, providing reduction to the cautious vegan by guaranteeing no modifications are vital. Seize your spring rolls, Tom Kha, and candy mango sticky rice to-go or benefit from the outside patio seating.
Peace Pies
11. Peace Pies
The fully uncooked menu is a mirrored image of this zero-waste restaurant’s bohemian Ocean Seashore neighborhood. Seashore-dwellers swear by the Mystical Mushroom Quesadilla, Loving Lasagna, and namesake Peaceable Pizza. Save room for dessert—the tiny spot dedicates a whole refrigerated part to its uncooked pies, brownies, truffles, and cheesecakes.
Trilogy Sanctuary
12. Trilogy Sanctuary
With a smoothie choice as expansive as its rooftop view of the Pacific Ocean, this yoga-studio-meets-all-day-eatery prides itself on natural and nourishing substances. Sit again with a plate of Buffalo Cauliflower Tacos and watch the aerial-silks class, or join a yoga session and refuel with the Nourish Inexperienced Bowl afterward. It’s not only a restaurant, Trilogy is really a vegan sanctuary.
Evolution
13. Evolution
As San Diego’s first vegan fast-food restaurant, Evolution has set the bar excessive. It was one of many first eating places within the metropolis to undertake utterly biodegradable packaging—what look like plastic utensils and containers are the truth is byproducts of wheat and corn which is able to ultimately be reabsorbed again into the soil. The acquainted fast-food favorites are additionally distinctive—from the flaky fish avenue tacos to the In-N-Out-style EVO Burger. Like every high quality fast-food restaurant, its shakes (each uncooked and traditional) are to not be missed.
Jared Cross is a author, avid traveler, and environmentalist primarily based in San Diego, California.
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