Black-Owned Vegan and Vegan-Friendly Restaurants, Food Trucks, and Pop-Ups to Support in LA
From mac ‘n’ cheese and fried chicken to donuts and banana pudding, this list covers it all!
Given the racial inequalities 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.
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 last November. 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!
Since 2008, the oh-so-vibrant Babette Davis has been spreading her positive energy and knowledge of health in the form of vegan food at her restaurant, Stuff I Eat. One of the hottest items on the menu is the Lava Burrito! It’s a wet burrito topped with sautéed crimini mushrooms, broccoli, signature sauce, salsa, guacamole, and vegan cheese sauce.
From vegan jerk chicken, coconut curried shrimp, and oxtail to vegetable rice, fried plantains, and vegetable patties, Jamin Vegan is making waves in the plant-based scene with their vegan Jamaican food. What are you grubbing on first?
This spot is the answer to all of your aesthetic coffee spot dreams! With lattes, lemonades, pastries, and sandwiches on the menu and 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!
Tamearra Dyson, the owner and head chef of Souley Vegan, just won the vegan episode of Beat Bobby Flay, so you know her food is fire! “Gator” bites, gumbo, jambalaya, and etouffee, are just a few of the veganized Louisiana-inspired dishes you can order from this ghost kitchen.
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 credit: @livinginthesprawlpodcast on Instagram
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!
This inviting eatery is one of the best vegan spots on the West Side! 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.
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.
Whichever way you like your jackfruit, Chef Angela Means Kaaya has you covered! In the style of birria tacos, carnitas, and BBQ, get ready to obsess over the many ways to enjoy Jackfruit Cafe’s namesake ingredient. Other dishes to try include smoothie bowls, burgers, crab cakes, and more.
Where are all our East Coast natives at? Happy Ice’s colorful, refreshing scoops of Philadelphia water ice are so nostalgic! Their scoops are 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.
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! Stop by Compton Vegan’s new ghost kitchen in Long Beach or track down their food truck at events across Los Angeles.
If you ever see this food truck at a vegan event, drop what you’re doing and order their vegan mac ‘n’ cheese! While you’re at it, you might as well get the taquitos too … and the po’ boys. Heck, why not order one of everything? Life’s too short to not go all out at Kick Ass Vegan!
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. Chicken Satay, Tom Yum Soup, Pad See Ew, Fried Banana Rolls—all of the classics!
Vurger Guyz was started in 2018 by four former NCAA athletes. 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!
When Azla’s six children transitioned to plant-based eating, she began modifying traditional Ethiopian recipes for them to enjoy. In 2013, Azla and her youngest daughter, Nesanet, opened this vegan restaurant in South Los Angeles. Since then, they’ve been feeding the LA community with nourishing vegan Ethiopian noms like Kik Wot (curry split peas), Dinich Wot (spicy potato and cabbage), and Shimbra Salad (kale, curry chickpeas, dates, and pickled onions).
Where can you order house-made vegan breakfast burritos, mozzarella sticks, and huge milkshakes? Munchies Diner! Everything on the menu looks and tastes amazing, so good luck choosing! While you’re in Santa Ana, be sure to check out Munchies Diner’s sister restaurants, Naughty Vegan Panda and Secret Vegan Pizza!
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!
This new 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 as well as a new dessert rendition that’s filled with peach cobbler and paired with a side of date caramel sauce. Word has it, the food truck also has a secret menu item called the Loaded Massive AF Roll. Other street food-inspired noms to try include loaded fries and banana pudding!
Don’t get us wrong, vegan Buffalo wings go hard but sometimes it’s nice to dig into other wing flavors. Lemon pepper, Nashville hot, St. Louis BBQ, and garlic parmesan are just a few of the flavorful varieties to order from this Black-owned food truck. With a side of elote fries, ranch, and an alkaline lemonade to drink? Absolute perfection.
Chef Velvet Jacobs recently relocated her California-based vegan soul food joint to the Silver Lake area. Cajun Shrimp, Bourbon Baked Ribz, West African Peanut Butter Stew, and Krab Cake Sandwiches are just a few of the dishes you can indulge in. On top of those drool-worthy lunch and dinner plates, The VTree recently launched a weekend brunch with Irish Creme French Toast, Shrimp & Grits, and Chic’n & Waffles on the menu.
If you’ve attended a vegan event and seen people walking around with glorious platters of crispy fried oyster mushrooms, chances are they got them from Centric Eats! This Black-owned food truck has been wowing the masses with its vegan soul food. Be sure to track it down so you can get in on the deliciousness.
This pop-up is proof that vegan food isn’t boring in the slightest! Whether it’s crispy shrimp, lobster mac ‘n’ cheese, chili and cornbread, or bright blue banana pudding that you order, get ready for a vibrant, scrumptious experience from the first to the last bite.
This pop-up turned brick-and-mortar 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!
Co-owned by Tabitha Brown, Kale My Name’s Los Angeles location is a place for community, good vegan food, and all-things-Tab! The globally inspired menu hosts a variety of delectable drinks and dishes, like lavender lemonade, empanadas, jackfruit lox bagels, tacos, wraps, and cheesecake.
This Black-owned pop-up is taking to LA with craveable vegan cheesecakes and cobblers! From blueberry, apple, and peach to sweet potato, their cobblers are a dream come true. Whether you’re ordering for one or forty-five, My Daddy’s Recipes can make whatever size cobbler you need.
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.
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.
This health food store and restaurant is your ultimate destination for everything from sea moss and vitamins to vegan Jamaican patties and croissant breakfast sandwiches! 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.
Whether you’re wanting to pick up a box of vegan donuts for a work meeting or special order a vegan cake for a birthday party, Lêberry Bakery is the place for you! The Plant-Based Blueberry Bar and Apple Fritter are two of our favorite vegan yeast donuts in the shop.
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. The newest addition is their Geaux Plant-Based Menu, featuring 100% vegan Louisiana-inspired dishes. The fried oyster mushrooms, gumbo, jambalaya, po’ boys, and red beans & rice are a few of our favorites.
Brothers Duane and Cary Earle are the owners of 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 has it vegan! Fun fact: The only burger on their menu is a vegan one.
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!
Allie is a writer, musical theatre performer, yoga instructor, and walking vegan restaurant directory. On any given day, you can catch her making tofu scramble, scouring Trader Joe’s for new plant-based products, or watching The Lizzie McGuire Movie! Visit her website at alexandrammitchell.com.
Tikkā is a northern Indian dish involving marinated protein or vegetables cooked in a tandoor, or clay oven. My version is made with marinated tofu baked on skewers in a conventional oven to mimic the traditional cooking vessel, which adds a char and smokiness to the dish. Using smoked paprika further pays tribute to the traditional cooking technique. This tikkā is best served hot with cooling mint chutneys and is delicious in lettuce wraps as well. For lettuce wraps, dice the tofu and vegetables into smaller pieces after cooking and fill the lettuce leaves just before serving.
The vegan singer appeared on the latest episode of Hot Ones, where she enjoyed vegan chicken from popular brand Daring and talked about her newest album, Special.
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