Downtown Los Angeles is a vibrant and diverse area, offering a wide variety of dining options for local Downtown loft-dwellers following a plant-based diet. Guests and visitors can also find an authentic DTLA experience for vegans, vegetarians and carnivores alike.
While it may seem daunting to find meat-free options at carnivore establishments, with a little bit of creativity and know-how, it’s entirely possible to enjoy a delicious and satisfying meal without compromising your dietary choices. We’re going to show you how, and give a few examples of Downtown LA cuisine that won’t leave you feeling hungry – or missing out on the culture.
First things first, don’t be afraid to ask for substitutions or modifications to menu items. Many restaurants are more than happy to accommodate special requests, and you’d be surprised at how easy it is to make a dish plant-based. For example, instead of ordering a meat-based burrito, ask for it to be made with beans or tofu instead. Or, if you’re at a steakhouse, ask if they have a vegetarian option such as a portobello mushroom steak. One simple tip to remember at steakhouses is the bountiful salad bar with plenty of pastas and starchy vegetables. Most plant-based eaters can fare quite well at even the most rustic of steakhouses.
Another great way to eat plant-based in Downtown LA is to seek out ethnic cuisine. Many cultures have a rich tradition of plant-based dishes, such as Indian dal, Ethiopian injera, or Vietnamese pho. Not only will you be able to indulge in delicious meat-free options, but you’ll also get to experience the flavors and traditions of different cultures.One of the most offensive options you can offer a vegan at a carnivore restaurant is a salad. Today’s plant-based eater wants a hearty meal, and ethnic cuisine serves up some of the most hearty dishes a plant-based aficionado could desire.
If you’re looking for a quick bite, look for food trucks and street vendors. For the most part, many of them offer vegan and vegetarian options such as falafel, veggie burgers, or tacos with mushroom or jackfruit fillings. In general, these options are not only delicious but also easy on the wallet.
Finally, don’t be afraid to try new things. Many carnivore establishments are starting to incorporate plant-based options on their menu, so don’t be afraid to ask your server about them. And who knows, you might even discover a new favorite dish. To get you started, we’ve carved out a few nearby restaurants that offer plant-based options among their carnivorous menu items.
Yuko Kitchen, the eponymous Japanese restaurant owned by a sushi chef, makes several plant-based sushi rolls, an amazing peanut-sauce tofu rice bowl with the usual edamame plant-based finger-food. Wash it all down with a Yuko favorite, mint lemonade.
Woodspoon, located at Main and 9th is a Brazilian restaurant that doesn’t shear slabs of meat right at your table. While they do serve many animal-inspired creations (like their famous chicken pot pie) restaurateur, Owner and chef Natalia Pereira often has a plant-based soup, and her veggie grill is a very hearty meal, especially when paired with her yuca fries or fried plantains. The only modification you’ll need to ask is – hold the farofa, it’s made with egg.
Silverlake Ramen, recently added their downtown location and they have a vegan ramen that already on the menu. There’s also a great tofu rice bowl that comes in two sizes, so if you’ve got an appetite, this will hit the spot. Of course, add an order of edamame and you’re all set.
Tocaya Modern Mexican, actually boasts a menu that starts off vegan with extras allowing your carnivorous dinner guests to add on the animal proteins and cheese they prefer. For vegetarians, carnivores, the health-conscious and purists alike, Tocaya has got something for everyone, and it’s right across the street from Downtown LA’s Whole Foods Market.
Little Llama, Peruvian Tacos takes the exotic ingredients and flavors of classic Peruvian dishes and serves them up in familiar, accessible and beloved formats: TACOS, BURRITOS AND TOSTADAS! They can whip up a plant-based version of each, and their order of chips and guac is one of the most hearty servings in downtown.
Suehiro Cafe, perhaps the most carnivorous of all, this family-owned Japanese restaurant in nearby Little Tokyo has served mouth-watering dishes from tonkatsu to their beloved House Special for over 40 years. Unfortunately, neither of those is vegan, but their extensive menu already has plenty of starters and noodle dishes that come-as-they-are, already vegan.
Vurger Guyz, ok – this one is completely vegan, but their burgers (vurgers) and double vurgers are certain to fool you. They won’t give out their faux-meat recipe, so nobody knows whether they’re Beyond, Impossible or just beyond impossible, but they taste just like one of those flame-grilled small-town hamburgers you’d get at the Frosty stand stand on the corner. If your timing is right; they might have their deep-fried Oreo sundae, but they sell out quick.
In conclusion, while it may seem challenging to eat plant-based in Downtown LA, with a little bit of creativity and know-how, it’s entirely possible to enjoy delicious and satisfying meals without compromising your dietary choices. So, go forth and explore the diverse culinary landscape of Downtown LA and discover all the delicious meat-free options it has to offer just around the corner from your Downtown Los Angeles loft.
