Gracias Madre is the place to leave your stress at home, enjoy good food and company, and just go in knowing you’ll be a couple of twenties shorter at the end of the night.Ĭraving dessert? Opt for the pineapple upsidedown cake, or take a very short stroll to the nearby Salt & Straw for a vegan scoop or two. No matter what day of the week it is, you’re bound to be in the company of a handful of birthday celebrations. Local favorites include the Caesar Salad, Chef’s Salad (add marinated tofu), enchiladas verde, and the colossal Crunchwrap. Pricing-wise, it’s on the higher end, but the expertly crafted cocktails and cast-iron skillet of stretchy, gooey, molten queso fundido are more than worth it. The mixed indoor/outdoor atmosphere is reason enough to grab a drink or brunch here. While technically a transplant from LA, Gracias Madre in Newport Beach has finally convinced the “I buy organic chicken and bone broth” crowd that plant-based cuisine can be cool. For those celebrating, they’ll bring out an oversized plate of their famous raw cheesecake with the person’s name written out in chocolate. Local tip: they pay special attention to birthdays. This place is best enjoyed with a group in order to try the most variety of dishes. The red-hued main dining room is always packed, and to-go orders of BBQ Pork Spring Rolls, noodle soups, and raw Sea Salads are consistently ticking away. Its sister restaurant-Au Lac in Downtown Los Angeles, does have a more comprehensive menu, but we must pay the original its due respect. It is becoming increasingly easier to dine out at any given restaurant in Orange County thanks to the growing inclusion of vegan-friendly dishes in omnivore restaurants, but if you’re looking for truly standout vegan spots, these 16 plant-based restaurants should all be on your “must-visit” list.įountain Valley is home to the original Au Lac-a Pan-Asian vegan restaurant serving both cooked and raw dishes in the OC since 1997. 16 vegan-friendly restaurants in Orange County In regards to food trucks, you can regularly find Tabay’s Mindful Kitchen parked at the 76 gas station in Capistrano Beach Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11 AM to 6 PM. The omnivorous, mobile pizzeria pops up Monday nights on the patio of El Zamorano with its portable pizza oven and slings Neapolitan-style pies using the eatery’s homemade vegan cheese. In January, Baked Pizza partnered with Vegan by El Zamorano. We’ve also seen established vegan restaurants partnering with non-vegan popups, allowing them both space and plant-based ingredients to reach a new demographic of veg-curious eaters. The Plant District held regular monthly events in Santa Ana in 2022 (2023 dates are yet to be announced), featuring local OC vendors such as Two Birds Baking Company and the Donuttery alongside LA favorites like Cena Vegan. However, beginning in 2019 and following a pandemic hiatus, vegan pop-ups ranging from a handful of vendors to dozens became “a thing” in Orange County. Prior to 2019, OC residents had to make the trek up to Los Angeles to participate in vegan community events outside of the annual SoCal Vegfest (a large-scale festival held in Costa Mesa, CA). Orange County vegan food events and pop-ups Besides the boutique beaches, sunny weather, and Disneyland, here are 16 vegan restaurants that make Orange County a plant-based destination. It is also worth noting that Orange County is home to The Happiest Place on Earth, which has been continually upping its plant-based offerings over the past several years. However, that’s not to say that the OC doesn’t have its vegan hidden gems and downright destination eateries. It’s a largely suburban county that encompasses a handful of private and state college campuses, a hippy beach vibe, and just enough pretension to be worthy of its own reality show.ĭespite its general health-and-fitness-oriented residents, this family-centric area has never matched the vegan innovations of its neighbor to the north (LA). Orange County occupies 42 miles of coastline in between the vegan mecca of Los Angeles and the more laid-back vibes of San Diego.
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