From mac ‘n’ cheese and fried chicken to donuts and banana pudding, this list covers it all!
Given the racial inequities in the United States, it’s more important than ever to support Black-owned businesses. This is often referred to as voting with your dollars. If you’re wanting to show up for the Black community (and for your taste buds!), here’s a list of Black-owned vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants, pop-ups, and food trucks to support in Los Angeles.
Baba’s Vegan Cafe
Chesterfield Square
After wowing South Los Angeles with their vegan Jamaican patties and African diasporic food via pop-up, Baba’s Vegan Cafe opened a brick-and-mortar. With fillings like curry potato, soy beef, sweet yam, and cabbage, this plant-based restaurant is winning over new customers, one patty at a time!
Photo by Chelsea Clark
Stuff I Eat
Inglewood
The oh-so-vibrant chef Babette Davis spreads her positive energy and knowledge of health in the form of vegan food at her restaurant, Stuff I Eat. The Organic Soul Food Sampler Plate is a great order for first-timers. The meal includes yams, mac ‘n’ cheese, BBQ tofu or jackfruit, kale greens, black-eyed peas, potato salad, coleslaw, and a cornbread muffin.
Courtesy of Stuff I Eat
Coffee and Plants
Pasadena & Studio City
Coffee and Plants is the answer to all of your aesthetic coffee spot dreams! With their lattes, pastries, and sandwiches on the menu—as well as plants all over the place—you won’t ever want to leave. Pro tip: The Blue Lavender Latte is the most Instagrammable beverage to order!
Courtesy of Coffee and Plants
Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine
Little Ethiopia
All our OG vegans know a thing or two about Rahel Ethiopian Vegan Cuisine! This spot is home to some of the most epic vegan Ethiopian platters in all of Los Angeles. Don’t skimp out on their delectable stews, soups, salads, sambusas—and of course, injera.
Photo by Amanda Schaible
Hart House
Multiple Locations
In case you missed it, Kevin Hart owns a vegan fast-food restaurant! The first location opened in Westchester, a convenient pit stop for locals and travelers heading to and from LAX. And most recently, the team opened a restaurant near USC, another area lacking vegan options. We can’t wait to see where Hart House expands from there—because once you try the food, you’ll wish for a location on every corner.
Courtesy of Hart House
Cobblermania
Pop-Up
Shae Seward’s handmade vegan cobblers are available in all of the iconic flavors—peach, apple, berry, and sweet potato, among others. These fresh-baked beauties are packaged for pickup at farmers markets across LA. Grab a pint of vegan ice cream while you’re out so you can enjoy a slice a la mode!
Photo by Tyler Kim
Berbere
Santa Monica
This inviting eatery is one of the best vegan spots on the Westside! The founder and head chef, Tete Alemayehu, specializes in plant-based Ethiopian recipes with a Western twist! Whatever you do, order the ET Twist Tacos. You’ll thank us later.
Courtesy of Berbere
Lettuce Feast
Food Truck
Lettuce Feast is hands down one of the most sought-after vegan food trucks in Southern California! Their vegan fried chicken tenders, sandwiches, biscuits, and Cajun fries hit the spot every time. For dessert, this food truck sometimes offers cups of banana pudding, strawberry shortcake, and peach cobbler shortcake.
Courtesy of Lettuce Feast
Happy Ice
Melrose & Food Trucks
Where are all our East Coasters? Happy Ice’s colorful, refreshing scoops of Philadelphia water ice are so nostalgic. Each flavor is nut-free, fat-free, vegan—and so bright, you can’t help but smile. If you’re at the brick-and-mortar in Melrose, be sure to get a swirl of oat milk soft serve on top of your water ice.
Courtesy of Happy Ice
Compton Vegan
Food Truck & CSU Dominguez Hills
In response to the need for accessible plant-based food in inner-city neighborhoods, Compton native Lemel Durrah started Compton Vegan to serve vegan comfort food to the masses. From BBQ Wingz, Fried Chik’n, and Ribz to Buffalo Chick’n Mac, these dishes will blow your mind!
Courtesy of Compton Vegan
Lotus Vegan
North Hollywood
If you’re longing for vegan Thai food, Lotus Vegan is the place to go! From breakfast to dinner, their menu has a vast variety of dishes that’ll please your taste buds. Enjoy Chicken Satay, Tom Yum Soup, Pad See Ew, Fried Banana Rolls—all of the classics!
Photo by Duncan Calladine
Vurger Guyz
Food Truck
Four former NCAA athletes founded Vurger Guyz in 2018. After the four opened their eyes to the possibilities of plant-based eating, they began grilling up Beyond Meat patties to show the world you don’t have to give up the tastes you love. And once you try the burgers from this truck, you’ll never need to be convinced of that again!
Courtesy of Vurger Guyz
Voodoo Vegan
Food Truck
Voodoo Vegan highlights the flavors of Creole and Cajun food with a plant-based twist! We’re talking about seafood gumbo, potato salad, po’ boys, Louisiana fried shrimp, and some seriously dreamy mac ‘n’ cheese. Chef Whitt does not hold back in the kitchen!
Courtesy of Voodoo Vegan
Vegan AF
Food Truck
This vegan food truck offers an insanely innovative dish that the plant-based food scene has been lacking—loaded egg rolls! The crave-worthy rolls are available in Philly cheesesteak, pizza, and cheeseburger flavors. There’s even a dessert rendition filled with peach cobbler with a side of date caramel sauce.
Courtesy of Vegan AF
Centric Eats
Food Truck
If you’ve attended a vegan event and have seen people walking around with glorious platters of crispy fried oyster mushrooms, chances are they’re from Centric Eats! In Soul Food platters, in sandwiches, or straight up with a side of fries, these mushrooms shine through in every format.
Courtesy of Centric Eats
Devi’s Donuts
Long Beach
This vegan donut shop makes a plethora of satisfying vegan donuts! Piña Colada, Strawberry, Creme Brulee, Lemon Pistachio, Oreo, Chocolate Coconut—the list goes on and on! Have a special event coming up? Devi’s Donuts can cater your event with a donut wall!
Courtesy of Devi’s Donuts
Champignon Eats
Pop-Up
Champignon Eats’ claim to fame is their vegan crispy enoki chicken sandwich! It’s made with fried enoki mushrooms, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, and house-made vegan aioli on a beautifully buttered, toasted bun. Try it in its original form or with spicy Buffalo sauce, if you dare.
Courtesy of Champignon Eats
(abeautifullife) Jamaican Kitchen
Downtown LA
Vegan-Friendly
Looking for vegan food in Downtown LA? This Jamaican restaurant has several vegan dishes worth indulging in! The following dishes can be ordered vegan upon request: jerk Bolognese, curry chicken bowl, wings & waffles, chicken wings, fried plantains, and golden fried sweet festival bread. Please note: These dishes are available at the S San Pedro Street location only.
Courtesy of (abeautifullife) Jamaican
Simply Wholesome
Windsor Hills
Vegan-Friendly
This health food store and restaurant is your ultimate destination for everything from sea moss and vitamins to vegan Jamaican patties and crab cakes! A large selection of the products sold at Simply Wholesome are made in the US by small, Black-owned independent manufacturers. They also offer on-site nutritional counseling and information.
Photo by Sarah Jay
Harold & Belle’s
Jefferson Park
Vegan-Friendly
After opening in Jefferson Park in 1969, this highly acclaimed Creole restaurant has gone through three generations of owners and a number of space and menu additions. One of the latest additions? The Geaux Plant-Based Menu features 100% vegan Louisiana-inspired dishes. The fried oyster mushrooms, gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, and red beans & rice are a few of our favorites.
Courtesy of Harold & Belle’s
Earle’s on Crenshaw
Leimert Park
Vegan-Friendly
Brothers Duane and Cary Earle own this vegan-friendly restaurant in the heart of Crenshaw. Jamaican patties, chili dogs, burgers, loaded fries, and cake slices—you name it, Earle’s on Crenshaw makes it vegan!
Photo by Allie Mitchell
Café Ruisseau
Multiple Locations
Vegan-Friendly
The next time you need some caffeine, pay a visit to Café Ruisseau. Not only does this Black-owned coffee shop use locally roasted organic coffee, but they allow you to order a drink with plant-based milk at no additional cost. Almond, oat, soy, or coconut? Your choice!
Courtesy of Café Ruisseau
