• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About & Contact
    • Work with Me
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
  • My Account
Vancouver with Love
  • Recipes
    • Mains
    • Desserts
    • Breakfasts
    • Sides
    • Snacks
    • Holiday Recipes
    • Drinks & Smoothies
  • How To Guides
  • Travel
  • Podcast
  • 20 Min Dinners eBook
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • Recipes
  • Travel Guides
  • How To Guides
  • Subscribe
  • About / Contact
  • Podcast
  • 20 Min Dinners Ebook
×
Home » Vegan Travel Guides » The 6 Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego

The 6 Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego

Published: Mar 21, 2019 Modified: Jul 11, 2023 by Elizabeth · Leave a Comment

San Diego has an abundance of plant-based food and some of the best vegan restaurants in California. Read on for my top 6 vegan restaurants in San Diego!

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Cafe Gratitude

Few cities in the world are challenging for vegans these days. With the rise of plant-based chains like Veggie Grill, Copper Branch and so many vegan foods widely available in supermarkets, plant-based travel is possible almost everywhere.

And then there are the cities in which it’s just a pleasure to be vegan. Places where the food options are so abundant that they’re actually confusing!

San Diego is one of these, with its plentiful vegan restaurants, juice bars and health food stores. I recently visited and was charmed by the city’s warmth and friendliness, its size (certainly not tiny, but not as immense as LA) and its abundance of quality plant-based food.

I thoroughly enjoyed its Southern Californian fare, and would really recommend visiting. Read on for my top recommendations for where to eat vegan in San Diego.

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Cafe Gratitude

BEST VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN SAN DIEGO

My suggestions below are my pick of the options available. I was only in San Diego for five days and was unable to try everything! But these were the favourites from my time there, and I’d heartily recommend each one.

First, one pointer:

I always use the Happy Cow app when travelling. I find it invaluable when it comes to looking for vegan/veggie places to eat. It costs a small amount to install, but is completely worth it.

You can view all nearby vegan-friendly restaurants in a list or in map format with reviews too. This post isn't sponsored by Happy Cow at all, I just honestly find their app saves me time when travelling!

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Cafe Gratitude

CAFE GRATITUDE

Possibly my favourite vegan restaurant in San Diego, Café Gratitude is not only beautiful (think lots of light, airy booths and gorgeous floor tiles) but the food is incredible as well.

All vegan except for bee products, you’ll find a mix of wonderful whole food options that also manage to satisfy those comfort food cravings!

Go for brunch and try their cast iron chickpea quiche with avocado. Also try the Cool – an amazing mint chocolate chip shake made with cashew ice cream.

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Donna Jean

DONNA JEAN

I discovered Donna Jean when wandering around alone, on my first day in the city. My man was ensconced in a conference and I was free to explore San Diego on my own.

I walked for what seemed like hours and ended up at this beautiful shaded outside courtyard. There was no one else there (San Diegans lunch LATE) and I sat in the courtyard soaking it in.

The server recommended one of the simplest options on the menu (a tomato and garlic socca flatbread pizza). It turned out to be utterly delicious – mouth-watering and juicy.

The calm ambience and moreish vegan food were just perfect, and I’d gladly go back in a heartbeat.

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Trilogy Sanctuary
The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Trilogy Sanctuary

TRILOGY SANCTUARY

Trilogy is an absolute gem, the sort of place that makes you want to move to San Diego instantly. A combination of yoga studio, store and rooftop restaurant, you could sit here all day enjoying the ambient atmosphere.

Located in nearby La Jolla (north of San Diego), the vegan menu is all whole food-based and delicious. We tried buckwheat crepes and avocado chocolate mousse and wanted to stay forever.

HAZEL & JADE

This cute little spot is very easy to miss. Totally unassuming, I stumbled across it and would have carried on walking were it not for the tiny sign.

A completely vegan bakery, Hazel & Jade are known in California for their croissants, and having tried a cheese and ham one, I can see why! The croissant was flaky, buttery and perfect. If I hadn’t known better I would have assumed it wasn’t vegan!

This little piece of deliciousness is the perfect place to stop for a coffee and pastry on a morning walk around the neighbourhood.

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Kindred

KINDRED

A must on any vegan’s list, Bar Kindred is one of a kind. To start with, the décor gets 10/10. Beautiful pink floral wallpaper is offset by a giant ram’s head on the wall, and finished off with fresh flowers and gas lamps on the tables.

The cocktails are reason enough to visit, with evocative names like Dripping Sun and Harmonic Blossom. You'll taste the quality in each one.

Finally the food menu, though small, is excellent. Try the Deli Battle (a vegan charcuterie board) and the Soul Crush (cornmeal crusted patty with parsnip potato mash, cashew beer mac and vegetables).

I genuinely wish we’d had more time here and will be returning when we’re next in San Diego!

The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Bar Kindred
The Best Vegan Restaurants in San Diego - Kindred

PEACE PIES

The perfect place to offset San Diego’s abundance of comfort food, Peace Pies is a fully raw, vegan café. Offering everything from smoothies and lasagnes to cinnamon rolls, it may be raw but it's all delicious!

The Bliss Burger and Loving Lasagne were incredibly filling and tasty, and the raw donut was incredible.

Raw desserts are often even more indulgent than cooked ones, and those at Peace Pies are no exception! We tried a 5-layer slice that contained raw caramel, chocolate, cashew-coconut cream and a biscuit base. Highly recommended.

San Diego - La Jolla

Want more? Check out my guides to the best vegan restaurants in Seattle, London, and Victoria, BC.

Follow Vancouver with Love on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook!

« Easy Vegan Chickpea Fritter Bowls (gluten-free)
Butter Tofu (vegan, gluten-free) »
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Email

If you're a brand and love my work, learn more about Working with Me and feel free to get in touch!

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Elizabeth Emery of Vancouver with Love sitting at a kitchen table eating a vegan dessert.

Welcome! Vancouver with Love is a plant-based food blog, sharing a love of vegan recipes and travel

Read more →

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Most Popular

  • Cookie Dough Overnight Oats in a glass jar with chocolate chips.
    Cookie Dough Overnight Oats (vegan, gluten free)
  • Stuffed dates with peanut butter, chocolate drizzle and sea salt flakes.
    Stuffed Dates with Peanut Butter & Chocolate
  • 3 Ingredient Oatmeal Waffles on a plate decorated with strawberries and coconut whipped cream.
    3 Ingredient Oatmeal Waffles (vegan, gluten-free)
  • Bowl of crispy tofu surrounded by green leaves, red cabbage and carrots. Topped with sesame seeds.
    How to Make Crispy Tofu (easy, healthy, no-fry)

Web Stories

Footer

↑ back to top

Contact

  • About / Contact
  • Work with me / Press

Newsletter

  • Sign Up! for emails and updates
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of use

  • Privacy policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of use

Copyright © 2023 Vancouver With Love