By: Conchita Widjojo
New year, new me, right? That’s what I said to myself on the first week of January, when I decided to become a vegetarian. I lived all my life eating meat, and it was difficult for me to transition and find quality restaurants with tasty vegetarian dishes. After being vegetarian for a month now, I realized just how much flavor meat adds to dishes, but these restaurants have vegetarian/vegan alternatives that will make you happy you become a herbivore!
Cafe Gratitude is one of the happiest places a vegetarian or vegan could be. It is a small chain of organic plant-based restaurants with locations all over LA. Open from 8 am to 10 pm, serving gluten-free breakfast foods down to vegan gourmet dishes at night, Cafe Gratitude is always going to have you feeling some type of way, literally. Dishes are named with words such as “happy,” “glorious,” “whole,”“humble,” “magical,” and a whole array of other soulful slogans. Be sure to check it out, and going vegan for a day.
Tender Greens is always a favorite, vegetarian or not. Located in various locations throughout LA, including one in close to campus in Marina Del Rey, salads have never tasted better, favorites including the Tender Greens salad, Happy Vegan, or the Falafel salad. Beware: the mashed potatoes, bread, and delicious variety of guilt-free desserts are seriously to-die for.
Native Foods Cafe probably has one of the better tempeh dishes in the region. Tempeh is a soy-based protein that derives from Indonesia, and is a great alternative for meat. A glance at the menu will simply make your mouth water. I highly recommend trying a new dish at every visit. Located in Culver City and open from 11 am to 10 pm.
Superba Food + Bread has fantastic choices for not only vegetarians, but also a healthier alternative to any food favorite. The avocado toast is extremely rich and flavorful, with a side of a hearty salad. In addition, the Lots of Grains Hotcake is possibly one of the best pancakes I’ve ever tasted, with a hint of salt and pumpkin seeds in the mixture, and organic butter and syrup to serve. Plus, there’s a vegetarian prix fixe menu, and his and hers desserts. What more could you possibly want from this adorable cafe?
These are only a few of my long list of vegetarian or vegan favorites, but I hope you enjoy every bite as much as I do. Happy veggie eating!