Where To Get L.A.'s Best Meatless Meals

LOS ANGELES, CA – Meatless Monday is an international nonprofit initiative of The Monday Campaigns that encourages people, organizations, and communities to reduce meat consumption by 15 percent – around 3 meals per week – in order to improve health, promote environmental consciousness, and save money. If you're not gung-ho to jump right in to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle, why not take a baby step with lunch or dinner tonight?

The Los Angeles area has some great vegan/vegetarian restaurants – here's a round-up of some of my favorite plant-based restaurants near you:

1. Gracias Madre

• Gracias Madre is the restaurant to go to if you think you can't last a day without meat. Featuring Mexican-inspired cuisine, 100% of their produce is organic and plant-based. They have lunch, dinner, and even weekend brunch, along with an extensive drink menu – including cocktails infused with Cannabidiol to combat pain, anxiety, and stress. They also offer Gluten Free options.
• Recommendations:
  • Quesadillas de Calabaza with butternut squash, caramelized onion, cashew nacho cheese, pumpkin seed salsa
  • Biscuits & Gravy with tempeh bacon, caramelized onion, cracked pepper
  • Tofu Ranchero Scramble with broccoli, spinach, onion, mushroom, pesto cashew crème, avocado, salsa ranchero, black beans, tortillas
  • Enchiladas Verdes with tomatillo, zucchini, avocado, potato, cashew crema, black beans
• Hours: Weekdays 11 am - 11 pm, Weekends 10 am - 11 pm
• Location: 8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood, CA 90069
• Website and Yelp Page

2. Cafe Gratitude

• A sister restaurant to Gracias Madre, Cafe Gratitude features more locations with the same plant-based dishes and organic produce. They have locations in Los Angeles, the Arts District, Venice, Beverly Hills, and more. Every dish is named after an affirmation, such as "Humble" or "Loving," and it's within restaurant culture to order your dishes using the statement "I am ____." They also offer Gluten Free options.
• Recommendations:
  • Sharing/Nachos with black beans, cashew nacho cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, spicy pepitas, escabeche
  • Eclectic/Buffalo Cauliflower with flash-fried cauliflower, adobo buffalo sauce, celery, spicy cashew aioli
  • Gracious/Summer Grain Salad with heirloom cherry tomato, green beans, cashew mozzarella, avocado, basil hempseed pesto, arugula, balsamic reduction, choice of sprouted brown rice, quinoa or a mix
  • Whole/Macrobiotic Bowl with braised garnet yams, adzuki beans, sea vegetables, sautéed greens, kim chee, garlic tahini, teriyaki almonds, with choice of sprouted probiotic brown rice, quinoa or a mix
  • Warm Hearted/Polenta Bowl with braised summer squash, roasted tomatillo sauce, sautéed kale, salsa verde, cashew queso fresco, spicy pepitas
• Hours: Varies by location
• Location: Varies by location
• Website

3. Sage Vegan Bistro

• Sage Vegan Organic Bistro has two locations – one in Echo Park and another in Culver City – with the same mission: feeding customers local, organic, plant-based meals. With a wide variety of vegan dishes and cocktails, it's a quaint restaurant to have a great Meatless Monday dinner at. Sage Vegan Bistro offers breakfast, brunch, dinner, family style plates, as well as pizzas and pretzels. They also offer Gluten Free options.
• Recommendations:
  • Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza with Buffalo Hot "Wings" with pesto, Follow Your Heart mozzarella cheese, fresh arugula and ranch sauce
  • Indian Pizza with lentils, eggplant, tomato, onion, potato, corn, fresh cilantro, mint chutney, tamarind and pickled jalapeño
  • Bowl of Soul with roasted sweet potato, black beans, quinoa, grilled corn, sautéed kale, polenta cake, horseradish, and a gluten-free mac & cheese ball tossed in spicy buffalo sauce with spicy pickled jalapeño cabbage and a side of gravy
  • Hours: vary by location
  • Location: 4130 Sepulveda Blvd, Culver City and 1700 W Sunset Blvd, Echo Park
  • Website

Veggie Option Coming Soon To BurgerFi Malibu

• BurgerFi in Malibu will offer The Beyond Burger starting Monday, September 4. The Beyond Burger has 20 grams of plant-based protein and is free of GMOs, soy, and gluten. The burger will be topped with pickles, onions, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup and American cheese – for the vegans, ask for the burger without mayonnaise, cheese, and lettuce wrapped. Tasting similar to beef, The Beyond Burger is being sold in the meat section of major grocery stores including Whole Foods.
• Hours: 11 am - 9 pm
• Location: 3939 Cross Creek Rd, Suite D-200, Malibu, CA 90265
• Website and Yelp Page

Got more vegan restaurants for Patch to try out? E-mail your suggestions to emily.holland@patch.com with the subject "Vegan Meatless Monday"

Images by Patch staffer Emily Holland at Gracias Madre