Vegan food at its best can be found here at The Veggie Grill. Their dishes are colorful, healthy, and tasty. Their salads are incredible. They look like works of art, you’ll want to take a picture before you dig in and scarf it all down. The Santa Fe Chicken Sandwich is so delicious that it’s hard to believe that it’s not chicken. LA Mag has even named it one of the best “cheap-eats” around. As if that’s not a good enough reason, then check out their website for more info about their mouth-watering dishes.

Although it’s a cheap place to eat, they also serve beer and wine, so you can dress it up a bit. Their tomato soup is perfect for a rainy day and will take you back to your mom’s home cooking. They’ve got a tortilla soup that tastes like a tamale crossed with veggies and some spices thrown in for good luck.

Best of all, you can customize your food to make it just how you want it. Vegetarianism is becoming more and more mainstream and it’s no wonder. With places like The Veggie Grill, many meat eaters will cross over to the other side. The downside? Parking is hard to find or expensive. But, hey, this is LA, what do you expect?

The Veggie Grill
www.veggiegrill.com
(323) 822-7575
8000 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
Mon-Sun 11am to 11pm

Govinda’s has got a restaurant, gift shop, and museum all in one here. Their all-you-can-eat buffet is only $7 and the proceeds go to maintaining the temple, so it’s for a good cause. If that’s not enough reason to try their buffet, their delicious food and constantly changing menu are two more reasons. They’ve got the week’s menu posted online, so you can see what’s on the menu before you go.

They’ve got a special on Sunday where customers can eat the food that has been prepared in their Deity’s Kitchen. Rice, Indian lentil soup, Chutney, Halava and other Indian dishes are on the menu. If you’re looking for some American food, they got that as well. They have a sandwich bar and even pizza.

The prices are fantastic and their mission is great, it’s all for a good cause. It’s vegetarian as well, so you know it’s got to be good for you as well. They treat their employees and customers well. You can even read a bit about the employees on their website. Definitely a five star restaurant.

Govinda’s Natural Food Restaurant
www.govindasla.com
(310) 836-1269
3764 Watseka Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90034
Mon-Sun 11am to 3pm. 5 to 8.30pm

A hot dog cart with a twist, everything’s vegan, and the food is Halloween themed, The Frankenstand is sure to be a hit for vegans and non-vegans. Cheap and delicious, you can’t go wrong. As with all hot dog stands, you can find your favorite condiments, such as onions, pickels, relish, sauerkraut and even vegennaise, their version of mayonnaise. Following their Halloween theme, you can choose from three vegan sausages: the witch, the franken, and the wolf. Scarily enough, they actually taste like meat.

A true hot dog stand, The Frankenstand moves around LA, so keep your eyes peeled and when you see it, order a hot dog or two. Thank goodness for modern technology, you can find them by following them on twitter. Or try going to their MySpace website.

The one downside to The Frankenstand? They move around, so one day they might just be right outside your door and the next you might have to drive a bit to find them. Either way, when the craving hits for a vegan hot dog, you know the place to go. Go to Twitter and MySpace and find out where The Frankenstand is.

The Frankenstand

http://thefrankenstand.blogspot.com/

Los Angeles, CA 90046

Health nuts take heart, more and more restaurants are opening up that cater just for you. Cru serves raw food, which is believed to be healthier and more satisfying than cooked food. Squimish people need not worry, you’re not going to be served sushi or raw meat. Raw food refers to vegan, uncooked food, so there’s no need to worry about salmonella. Though technically not completely vegan, they do use honey, you won’t find diary in their dishes, but you will find creative and innovative dishes. Their vegan lasagna uses cashew cheese and mushrooms rather than the traditional meat and cheese filling. Once you try it, you’ll see why people say different is good.

Unlike many of the new-aged, vegan restaurants, Cru is far from pretentious and pricey. The casual, laid-back atmosphere goes hand in hand with the friendly staff. Fast service can’t be added to the list, so you might have to wait a bit for your order, but that will just give you more time to appreciate the ambience.

Don’t know what to order? Ask the wait staff, they’ll be sure to offer a couple suggestions to help you out. In addition to the lasagna, try the raw spring roll, or raw noodle bowl. There’s vegan ice cream on the menu and free truffles that the waiters pass out at the end of the meal. After your meal, you’ll feel full, but not heavy. That along with the tasty treats you’ve had to eat should be enough to convince you why Cru has become so popular among the vegan and non-vegan crowds.

Cru
www.crusilverlake.com
1521 Griffith Park Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 667-1551
Mon-Sun 11am to 4pm
Mon-Sun 5:30 to 11pm

While bland and boring may come to mind when you think of vegan food, Flore Vegan Cuisine located at 3818 W Sunset Blvd will have you changing your mind in a heartbeat. Laid back with sidewalk seating, the staff will happily offer you suggestions on what to order if you have a tough time making up your mind. Portions are more than generous and dressing is often included for free.

Tofu is often a staple for vegans and vegetarians alike and rightly so, because by combining it with veggies and spices, you’ll get a perfect blend that creates a wonderful dish. There’s a wide variety of veggies, such as green, beets, peppers, zucchini, and whole grain rice. Their drinks may sound a bit odd, but once you try them, you’ll be going back for more. The tonic juice is a combination of fruits and veggies and is definitely a power drink. If you’re looking for something more traditional, try the PB banana smoothie. They even have desserts, try the chocolate cupcakes, they’re divine.

The staff is young, hip and very helpful. It’s got a boho feel perhaps due to the local musicians and artists that gather there to enjoy the good food and just catch up with friends. It’s just for people watching as well; you might even spot an actor or actress there. Flore Vegan Cuisine is a great place for health conscious diners to go and enjoy a tasty meal.

Flore Vegan Cuisine
www.florevegan.com
3818 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
(323) 953-0611
Mon 11am to 4pm
Tues-Fri 11am to 10pm
Sat-Sun 10am to 10pm

Located on 4822 Laurel Canyon Blvd in Valley Village, this pizza joint is superbly popular and rightly so. Never soggy and always with a crisp crust this restaurant has traditional as well as newer toppings, such as corn, yep, that’s right – corn.

The choices are fantastic and you can create your pizza just how you like it and even order one half one way and the other half of the pizza another way, perfect for a family or group of friends who can’t decide pizza they should order. Vegans will love Danielle’s Wood Fired Pizza as the crust is vegan. So if you order just sauce and veggies, and eliminate the cheese, then you’ve got a perfect vegan pizza.

Despite being overwhelmingly popular, the owners are still concerned about what their customers think. If they make a mistake, they’ll apologize profusely and they’ve even been known to offer customers freebies while they’re waiting for their food. More than one person has been given a free slice of pepperoni while they wait. Perhaps it’s a combination of the friendly, generous owner and the mouth watering food. Whatever it is, Danielle’s Wood Fired Pizza is here to stay.

Danielle’s Wood Fired Pizza
www.daniellespizza.com
4822 Laurel Canyon Blvd
Valley Village, CA 91607
(818) 980-8555
Mon-Sat 11am to 10pm
Sun 11.30am to 10pm

Indian food, fit for vegetarians and a buffet with loads of dishes to choose from is what you get when you go to India’s Tandoori. Located at 4850 W Rosecrans Ave this restaurant is warm and inviting. The décor is wonderful complete with beautiful Indian art. The rich aroma of Indian spices and curries will hit you once you walk in the door. Despite being a buffet, the service great and the staff will make sure you’re happy with your order.

The prices definitely won’t break the bank, but if you’re looking to save a bit more, comb your mail for coupons. The buffet itself is a bargain at about 10 bucks a person with a variety of hot dishes, salad, dessert and samosas. Keep in mind that as an Indian restaurant, many of the dishes are spicy, so if you don’t like spicy food, you’re probably better off just ordering a dish and asking them to make it mild.

Some of their specialities are the Saag Paneer which is a rich blend of spinach and cheese, The Tandorri Chicken, and the sweet pistachio yogurt. And of course, you can’t forget the samosas and naan, which are warm and delicious. Prices are mid-ranged for the dishes, but the buffet is a perfect way to save and have a wonderful Indian meal.

India’s Tandoori
www.indiastandoorilax.net
4850 W Rosecrans Ave
Hawthorne, CA 90250
(310) 675-5533
Mon-Fri 11am to 10pm
Sat-Sun 11.30am to 10pm