Those who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet will be pleased to know there are many dining options in the area. For those who may not be familiar with these terms, vegetarian food contains no meat, poultry, or fish and vegan food contains no animal products whatsoever including no meat, dairy products, or eggs. Even if you do not follow a strict vegetarian or vegan diet, why not give a new cuisine a try at one of the restaurants listed below!
University Center
University Center is located in Irvine, connected by bridge to the UC Irvine campus. It features popular chain restaurant Veggie Grill, where everything on the menu is fully vegan! Veggie Grill offers a variety of sandwiches, salads, and bowls. Other restaurants that offer vegan and vegetarian options include: Blaze Pizza, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Mendocino Farms Sandwich Market, and Tender Greens. Mediterranean restaurant Luna Grill is rumored to be coming soon. For a refreshing smoothie or juice, try Nekter Juice Bar. Those craving dessert can check out Stax Cookie Bar or Yogurtland, which both generally offer at least one vegan option.
Orange County
Those who can venture beyond campus can find excellent vegan and vegetarian options. Freesoulcaffé in Tustin offers pizzas, pastas, burgers, paninis, and salads made in-house from plant-based ingredients. My favorite dish is the Potato Pizza, but don’t miss out on the large selection of vegan desserts as well! Mother’s Market has seven locations in Orange County, including Irvine and Costa Mesa. Each location features a full grocery store where you can find meat and dairy substitutes and other specialty products and organic produce. Each location also has a restaurant featuring a diverse menu, most of which can be made vegan. Best of all breakfast food is available all day! Try out vegan versions of biscuits and gravy or cinnamon French toast. In Costa Mesa, check out Seabirds Kitchen or Native Foods. For Asian cuisine, try Wheel of Life in Irvine for Thai and Chinese dishes, Bodhi Tree Café in Huntington Beach for Chinese and Vietnamese entrees, or Loving Hut in Orange. For Vietnamese food, also check out Thuyen Vien in Anaheim, located just 10 minutes from Disneyland and 15 minutes from Knott’s Berry Farm. If you’re looking for a sweet treat, check out the vegan donut selection at The Donuttery in Huntington Beach.
LA
If you’re willing to make the trek to Los Angeles, you can find some of the country’s best vegan cuisine. With two locations in Downtown LA and Culver City, Shojin offers high quality Japanese food, including a variety of unique sushi rolls. Little Pine in Silver Lake offers Mediterranean-inspired cuisine. It is owned by the musician Moby, and all profits are donated to animal welfare organizations. Doomie’s Home Cookin’ is located in Central Hollywood and offers American diner-style favorites such as burgers and mac n’ cheese. Just a short walk away from Doomie’s, check out the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Real Food Daily offers locations in West Hollywood, Pasadena, and inside LAX Airport. SunCafe is a fine dining option, located less than a mile from Universal Studios Hollywood. For upscale vegan dining, try Crossroads Kitchen on Melrose Avenue, owned and operated by celebrity chef Tal Ronnen. For a delicious, but more affordable option, try Stuff I Eat in Inglewood. For a fancy treat, check out the gourmet donuts at Donut Friend.