With one of the most diverse and expansive dining scenes in America, Los Angeles has a restaurant to fit every foodie’s preference. Plant-based diets have exploded in popularity and many Black-owned restaurants are jumping on this trend, successfully proving that soul food staples can be translated into delicious meat-free meals.
Fill your belly at these Black-owned vegan restaurants next time your travels take you to Tinseltown:
1. Stuff I Eat
Perhaps the most well-known vegan restaurant in Inglewood, Stuff I Eat specializes in plant-based soul food, with specialties that include BBQ tofu, kale greens, yams, and mac ‘n’ cheese.
2. Simply Wholesome
In business since 1981, Simply Wholesome is a neighborhood convenience store where you can grab groceries or sit down for a quick vegan meal. They offer on-site nutritional counseling and information for customers who want to make a healthy change, but don’t know where to start.
3. Vurger Guys Food Truck
Vurger Guyz was founded as a project to promote healthy living without compromising taste. All of their products are 100% plant based cand cooked in avocado and rice bran oils. They also offer a one-bite guarantee on all of their burgers and if you’re not satisfied after the first bite, you get a full refund!
4. Lettuce Feast Food Truck
Lettuce Feast grew from a plant-based cookbook to hosting vegan pop-ups to a food truck that can often be found at various vegan-based festivals in and around LA. Some of their favorite dishes include a crispy “chicken” sandwich, cajun fries, and tangy apple slaw.
5. Compton Vegan
If you’re in the mood to eat vegan from the comforts of your couch, place your delivery order with Compton Vegan, which has a vegan menu that rotates daily and includes dishes like black bean enchiladas, pizza and wings, and jambalaya. They also offer meal prep services!
6. Azla Vegan
You can find Azla in the Mercado Paloma food hall near USC, serving up authentic Ethiopian food in a casual setting that allows local students to grab grub in between classes. The mother-daughter owners earned the stamp of approval from Diners, Drive Ins and Dives, and offer the perfect pitstop when you need to escape bumper-to-bumper traffic.
7. Jackfruit Cafe
Jackfruit Cafe began as a food truck, but will reopen this September in a permanent location in West LA. As the restaurant’s name suggests, jackfruit is their specialty and they offer menu items that range from jackfruit smoothies to cheesy jackfruit nachos to their specialty jackfruit bowl.