9 vegan dishes and drinks that everyone in L.A. is obsessed with right now

Los Angeles has long been a trendsetter in plant-based cuisine, and lately the city’s vegan scene is on fire.

From reinvented street food to wellness beverages, Angelenos are embracing plant-based everything with gusto.

This isn’t just about following a fad – it’s about flavor, innovation, and a bigger mission to eat in a way that feels good (for us and for the planet).

Below, we dive into nine vegan dishes and drinks currently taking L.A. by storm, and explore why they’re capturing the city’s tastebuds and hearts.

1. Jackfruit birria tacos with rich consomé

L.A.’s taco culture runs deep in my veins — I grew up sneaking bites in my family’s taquería—so I was skeptical about a vegan birria.

But here’s the kicker: jackfruit birria tacos have arrived, and they absolutely slap.

El Cocinero in Van Nuys has mastered a slow-simmered jackfruit filling that’s generously spiced with chiles until it could fool even a goat birria purist. 

Each taco dorado comes with a cup of piping-hot consomé (broth) for dunking, so you still get that messy, juicy ritual of dipping and savoring.

Pro tip: don’t skip the trimmings – a squeeze of lime, some diced onion and cilantro on top – for the full experience.

2. Armenian lahmajune tacos and spiced lattes

Los Angeles is a place where cultures deliciously collide, and nothing exemplifies that better than the Armenian-Mexican fusion happening at East Hollywood’s The Moody Vegan.

This woman-owned vegan café is serving up next-level comfort food with Armenian influences – think lahmajune tacos that marry Middle Eastern spices with the hand-held joy of a taco.

The result?

A flavor bomb of spiced “meat” on soft tortillas, topped with herbs and veggies, that has the vegan community buzzing. It’s not just the food, either.

Their drink menu pays homage to Little Armenia as well — the “Little Armenia” latte (infused with hints of cardamom and sweetness) and a tangy raspberry iced coffee are both really different and bomb according to local fans.

Stepping into The Moody Vegan feels like walking into a friend’s kitchen – if your friend happened to be whipping up dairy-free pakhlava and frothy Armenian espresso.

3. Crunchwrap Supreme, vegan edition

There’s comfort food, and then there’s the Crunchwrap Supreme – a fast-food icon that vegans once only dreamed about. Well, pinch yourself, because the vegan crunchwrap is now a real thing and taking L.A. by storm.

Independent vegan spots like Vegan Hooligans and NextMex have been slinging their own plant-based crunchwraps (packed with seasoned “meat,” cashew queso, and all the fixings) for a while, earning cult followings. But the obsession hit fever pitch when Taco Bell itself began testing an official Vegan Crunchwrap in Los Angeles.

Yes, the meaty, cheesy handheld wonder we all know has gotten a cruelty-free makeover – featuring Taco Bell’s top-secret vegan beef, cool vegan blanco sauce, warm vegan nacho cheese, lettuce, tomato, and that signature tostada crunch layer.

The best part?

It’s 100% vegan as is, no custom hacks needed, and it’s “crave-worthy beyond compare” according to Taco Bell itself.

4. Nashville hot chick’n sandwiches

If you’ve noticed folks around L.A. with tear-filled eyes and big smiles, chances are they just bit into a Nashville hot vegan chick’n sandwich. This fiery handheld has become the stuff of legend, thanks in large part to pop-ups and food trucks like Lettuce Feast.

Their plant-based Nashville hot chick’n sando, for instance, has been voted L.A.’s best vegan chik’n by many a local foodie. 

One bite and you understand why: the chick’n patty is marinated, hand-breaded, and fried to golden perfection, then dunked in a spicy-hot “honey” glaze that drips down your fingers.

The flavor is so on point – a little Cajun spice, a little sweet heat – that one blogger said it reminded them of a vegan Popeyes.

 As someone who’s tasted the real Nashville deal in my pre-vegan days, I can attest: this version hits all the same pleasure notes, from the crispy batter to the juicy center, minus the bird. It’s indulgence without the sacrifice.

5. Fast-food nostalgia with a vegan twist

For anyone who grew up on Happy Meals and late-night burger runs, L.A.’s vegan fast-food joints are pure nostalgia – minus the meat.

At the forefront of this trend is Monty’s Good Burger, our homegrown answer to In-N-Out, where the Impossible patty double cheeseburgers, crispy “chicken” sandwiches, shoestring fries, and even thick shakes are 100% plant-based.

The first time I went, I literally had to ask, “Are you sure this is all vegan?” because the experience – from the melty Follow Your Heart cheese to the secret sauce – is indistinguishable from a classic diner burger.

Monty’s has multiple locations now and a devoted following (there’s a reason you’ll spot their cute bulldog logo stickers on laptops all over town).

It proves that we can indulge our fast-food cravings without the cholesterol or the carbon hoofprint.

And then there’s Mr. Charlie’s, the cheekily dubbed “vegan McDonald’s” that has taken L.A. by storm.

Decked out in familiar red-and-yellow branding, Mr. Charlie’s serves up Mr. Frowny Meals – complete with a plant-based burger or nuggets, fries, and a drink in a happy little box – giving you all the childhood feels without any animal products.

Their menu riffs on drive-thru classics: the “Not a Chicken” sandwich is a fan favorite, as is the Double Not (a double vegan cheeseburger loaded with pickles, onions, ketchup, and mustard).

Oh, and they even do a dairy-free soft serve cone, because what’s a fast-food meal without a sweet treat?

6. New York–style vegan pizza slices

Sometimes you just need a good slice – the kind that flops in your hand, with tangy sauce and melty cheese.

We’re not talking dainty health pizzas with whole wheat crusts and sprouts (though those exist too); we’re talking greasy, cheesy, late-night-approved pies that hit the spot for vegans and omnivores alike.

The now-iconic Forever Pie (a ’90s hip-hop-themed vegan pizzeria on Melrose) quickly earned a rep for slinging slices so authentic that skeptics were converted on the spot. Picture a massive pepperoni pizza with bubbly plant-based cheese and spicy vegan pepperoni, the crust perfectly foldable and just charred enough.

It was pizza that even non-vegans craved, thanks to bold flavors, gooey dairy-free cheese, and that classic New York fold. (Forever Pie became such a cult hit that when it closed its doors, you could hear the city’s collective wail of despair.)

The good news?

Plenty of other spots have stepped up to keep our pizza obsession fed.

From Pura Vita Pizzeria (the first all-vegan Italian restaurant in the U.S., right here in LA) serving vodka sauce grandma slices, to pop-ups like Hot Tongue slinging creative pies (Buffalo cauliflower pizza, anyone?), there’s no shortage of options.

7. Boba mania, now vegan-friendly

When it’s 4 p.m. in L.A. and you need a pick-me-up, chances are you’re in line for a boba tea. The city’s bubble tea craze shows no sign of slowing, and thankfully, it’s an obsession that vegans can join without missing a beat.

Many of L.A.’s hottest boba spots have embraced plant-based options, offering creamy oat or almond milk swaps and gelatin-free toppings.

Take Odd One Out Tea, for example – this West LA-born shop has gone viral for its inventive drinks made with small-batch tea leaves, real fruit, and none of the artificial junk.

Their menu is a playground of flavors: think jasmine oat milk tea with boba, strawberry matcha lattes with oat foam, or earthy oolong tea topped with dairy-free salted cream.

No wonder they’ve grown from a local favorite into one of the most popular boba spots in all of L.A.

8. Adaptogenic lattes and $20 super smoothies

Only in Los Angeles will you find people merrily shelling out $20 for a smoothie or sipping a neon blue latte spiked with mushroom extract – all in the name of wellness and trendiness.

The city’s current drink obsession is all about adaptogens and functional ingredients. We’re talking tinctures of ashwagandha in your cold brew, chaga mushrooms in your mocha, CBD in your seltzer – if it promises to de-stress, detox, or deliver glowing skin, Angelenos are drinking it.

Walk into any health-centric café and you’ll see a menu of “mood lattes” like lavender–ashwagandha latte, reishi-chocolate cold brew, or an “energy” latte with maca and cordyceps. These concoctions sound like potions (and cost as much as a lunch), but they’re wildly popular.

Why?

In part, a genuine desire for healthier alternatives to the usual caffeine and alcohol routine – research shows younger people are less interested in booze and more into wellness drinks, so the adaptogenic beverage market is booming. 

A fizzy drink that claims to enhance creativity and calm your nerves?

In this stress-case of a city, sign us up.

9. Decadent vegan croissants and pastries

If you had told me a few years ago that one of L.A.’s hottest bakery items would be a vegan croissant, I might have raised an eyebrow. (Croissants are basically butter-laminated butter, right?)

Yet here we are in 2025, and flaky plant-based pastries are the morning obsession across the city.

The gold standard is Chaumont Vegan in Beverly Hills, an all-vegan offshoot of a famed French bakery. They’ve managed to crack the code on viennoiserie without butter – their croissants are golden, shatteringly crisp on the outside, and pillowy inside.

In the case at Chaumont Vegan, you’ll find classic plain croissants, almond-filled ones, chocolate croissants, even inventive flavors like matcha and rose water. And they’re not stopping at simple pastries.

Their piece de resistance might be the Vegan Breakfast Croissant sandwich, which stuffs a giant croissant with a Just Egg scramble, plant-based chicken tenders, vegan cheese, tomato, lettuce, and even a drizzle of Cholula and sweet chili sauce.

It’s an absolute unit of a sandwich – the kind of indulgence that leaves your hands a bit messy and your heart extremely happy.

Final thoughts

Los Angeles’ vegan obsessions aren’t just flash-in-the-pan trends – they’re reflections of a bigger movement. From food trucks to fancy cafes, plant-based innovators are connecting taste with values.

The city’s eaters have proven they won’t compromise on enjoyment, whether that means finding the perfect meatless taco that honors tradition or sipping a state-of-the-art superfood latte.

Health, climate, community – these “bigger why’s” are all part of the recipe. And lucky for us, the execution of these ideas is delicious. In true L.A. fashion, what starts here often spreads everywhere.

So if you’re in town, dive into these dishes and drinks ASAP (you might even spot me at the taco truck or croissant line). You’ll be tasting the future of food – and trust me, it’s insanely good.