Eating Vegan in Los Angeles 2024

Jun 29

I recently went to Los Angeles and my sole purpose of the trip was to eat yummy plant-based food. We were successful in our mission and I thought I should share my list with you if you plan to visit LA soon.

First off, here are some tips for digestion and hormone health while traveling:

Slow down when eating, chew your food well. For me this was easier than when home because I wasn’t chasing a toddler. Consume mindfully ✨

Walk after meals, heck even while you’re waiting to board the plane
The toilet height at your destination and position of your body matters so this may impact your poops
Lower stress is common on vacation so sometimes our body functions better if cortisol is often high
That said, the body does crave routine so eating at similar times is helpful.

If you’re worried about your digestion, bring some bitters or probiotics you love. I only brought @needed prenatal powder and surprisingly felt great (code JORDANBRUCE). Sometimes, less is more.

In the order we ate:

Butcher’s Daughter is great for breakfast and brunch. We enjoyed these lemon lavender waffles and they were so good. That said, being a nutritionist, I went back to our loft and ate some smoked tofu for protein and to balance blood sugars a bit better. They have great elixirs for the morning and fun cocktails for the evening. Their dinner is good, but most of the items aren’t vegan. We had the spicy kale caesar with tofu and the cauliflower steak. The patio is a vibe and it’s right on Abbott Kinney so sit there if it’s warm out.
Holey Grail Donuts are vegan (not GF) and made with taro root and wheat flour. They make them when you order so it’s not only fresh, it’s warm. It’s also right beside the workout ‘The Class’ which I went to twice during the 5 days I was there (check out their promo, 2 classes for $40 if it’s your first time).
Tocoya is good Mexican food when you want a lower price point. It gets expensive eating out in LA. Note, it does not look like it does on their website, it’s a hole in the wall for sure. Takeout encouraged if you care about the atmosphere. We had the 3 vegan taco bundle and enjoyed!
Erewhon has a hot food bar, tasty protein drinks, smoothies, coffees and an all organic grocery store. The produce is full of colour and beautifully displayed. I love their vegan gluten-free organic sourdough bread - so much so I brought two loaves home to slice and freeze. They also have tasty green juice if you’re craving that while eating more indulgent restaurant foods.
Cha Cha Matcha is my go to for ginger turmeric matcha. It’s spicy and a little sweet from the oat milk. I wish they had soy milk! I tried their popular strawberry matcha and it was just too sweet for me. Matcha contains caffeine, but you don’t get jittery like coffee, thanks to L-theanine.
Gracias Madres is vegan mexican food and the patio is to die for. Always busy, make a reservation if you’re going at night. It’s in WEHO so we choose to rent a car, but uber is an option if you’re staying in Venice.
Crossroads is around the corner and it blew my mind! Italian vegan with gluten-free pasta options. In Canada, we just have vegan restaurants, none actually specialize in specific cuisines like Italian or Mexican. I had a starter salad for bitters (food for enzymes and bile flow), tofu with mushrooms and lots of sauce as well as a pasta dish. One organic wine choice if you’re into that. I did find the atmosphere a little depressing, it was just so dark. I would make a reservation here too.
Urth is a European style cafe and it seems to always be packed and there are a few locations. I admit, the soy matcha latte was very good. Lacked in customer service and vegan baked good items.
Cafe Gratitude has nutritious and delicious food. It has a nice patio and indoor seating area as well as great customer service. I love their I am Whole macrobiotic bowl, add tempeh for more protein. They have a great selection of elixirs for a non alcoholic options as well as your usual drinks.