San Diego’s a city of people who hike, surf, skateboard, and brunch in their 365 days of sunny skies and ocean views. And luckily, we’ve got plenty of amazing restaurants to keep us fueled when we have the time to get out and enjoy the city, plenty of those being vegan and vegetarian options, some of the best in the nation.
For those who love health food, comfort food made vegan, or trying new things, these are the 7 essential restaurants in San Diego to try this January.
1. Sattvik Foods
Chef Kanta was born and raised in Africa but began her food career in San Diego in 1995. Her Miramar restaurant, Sattvik Foods, offers a more intimate approach to cooking, with a menu that changes daily, but that always serves delicious meals. Just for an idea of what they might be serving, this week’s meal includes things like Chilli Paneer, Aloo Gobi, Rimjhim Chana, Gujarati Dal with Basmati Rice and Whole Wheat Rotis (3) with Rice Kheer, Peas and Potato samosa or a Chana Masala.
Location: 8650 Miramar Rd B, San Diego
2. Phatties Vegan Mexican Restaurant
In North Central Mexico lies Queretaro, where Phatties’ food hails from. The Escondido restaurant has a brick-and-mortar place as well as a food truck that just reopened in 2023, which you can keep track of on their Instagram. Their menu includes vegan dishes like their California burrito made with beyond steak, delicious chilaquiles, and breakfast burritos.
Location: 242 W Mission Ave ste d, Escondido
3. Plumeria
Plumeria does vegetarian Thai food in University Heights, with dishes like vegetarian panaang and pumpkin curry, pad thai, and pad see ew, and for dessert, sweet sticky rice with mango, fried banana with agave syrup, or vegan ice cream.
Location: 4661 Park Blvd, San Diego
4. Kindred
Bar Kindred is a rebellious spot doing vegan renditions. The bar has won many accolades with EATER People’s Choice Restaurant of the Year and Zagat’s Most Important Restaurant Openings. Alongside their amazing list of signature and hand-crafted cocktails, they have an assortment of BBQ veggie skewers, assortments of fried mushrooms called their Doom n’ Bloom, their Double Cheeseburgers, or a Baklava Cheesecake, all vegan. Don’t miss their brunch as well!
Location: 1503 30th St, San Diego, CA
5. Grains
Their approach to vegan food is East-Meets-West with food like Toyko Fries that has crunchy tempura flakes, wasabi cream (contains cashew), sweet soy, sesame seeds, and seaweed, crispy tofu nuggets or buffalo cauliflower, salt and pepper calamari mushrooms, and tom kah soup, and a healthy grains garden with stir-fried cauliflower, cabbage, bokchoy, green beans, bell peppers, kale, carrots, onions, mushrooms, tofu, garlic in house special sauce on a bed of Jasmine wild rice.
Location: 2201 Adams Ave, San Diego
6. Trilogy Sanctuary
Award-winning Trilogy has a vegan cafe inside their yoga studio in La Jolla. They’ve got amazing smoothies and detox juices, entrees like vegan nachos or seared spring rolls, harvest or quinoa bowls, and green goddess salads, which are only a small portion of items on their menu. Just know that anything you order will be gluten-free, 100% organic, vegan dairy-free, and soy-free and can be enjoyed in an indoor setting or on their outdoor rooftop patio.
Location: 7650 Girard Ave #400, La Jolla
7. Gorilla Eats Sushi
Order an array of delicious 100% vegan sushi for pick up and delivery, with a menu that ranges from spicy tuna rolls, nigiri sushi like shitake mushroom and salmon, and eureka rolls with crab and avocado tempura.
Location: 6334 El Cajon Blvd, San Diego