Question: I am a raw vegan and I am taking a 3 week tour of cali so i thought you may be able to tell me some restaurants to go to! I would love your help! Thanks! Penny
Answer: I am not a raw vegan, but I can recommend raw vegan restaurants I like!
My favorite raw vegan organic restaurant of the moment is Better Life Cuisine, which offers yummy soups, salads, smoothies, juices, wraps, and entrees at affordable prices. Try the Fiesta Platter to get a sense of what the casual place has to offer — and be sure to save room for the sumptuous raw desserts.
Want wine with your raw dinner? Try Juliano’s Raw, which as far as I know, is the only raw vegan restaurant that serves alcoholic drinks. I also love the tasty salmon rolls and chocolate mousse — but I’m not a fan of the overly fruity and sweet appetizer plate.
Also in Santa Monica is Euphoria Loves Rawvolution Cafe, a neighborhood favorite that hasn’t yet pleased my taste buds — but perhaps I should give another try. I’ve had friends rave about the restaurant’s onion “bun” and though I’m not a big fan of the thing, I did enjoy Euphoria’s no-bean hummus — nevermind that I have nothing against eating cooked beans.
For raw Asian dining, visit Cru in Silver Lake for bento box style meals and tasty raw sorbet desserts. I’d visit Cru more if it were on the westside, but for now I just mostly ogle the photos of the restaurant’s raw organic dishes.
Finally, visitors to L.A. will be amazed to see the variety of yummy raw vegan foods available at local Whole Foods. My favorites are the Notchos raw kale chips!
Enjoy your Cali visit. Readers: If you have other L.A.-area raw vegan restaurants to recommend, share your reviews in the comments.
Raw updates:
>> SunPower Natural Cafe: An organic vegan spot makes kale delicious
>> Raw Living Vegan Bazaar: Free monthly raw organic food fest
We reviewed a place called “Planet Raw” in Santa Monica:
http://theactorsdiet.wordpress.com/2010/01/23/christy-friday-night-raw/
Comment by The Actors Diet — March 21, 2010 @ 5:08 pm
I HIGHLY recommend Leaf Cuisine in Culver City. It is simply amazing and by far my favorite raw vegan restaurant. Their gazpacho is to die for. Other notable menu items are the Hale Kale Salad, Wakame Seaweed Salad, Corn Chips, and their tacos and nachos. It is an amazing, affordable restaurant that I really hope you go to.
Comment by jessie — March 21, 2010 @ 10:53 pm
Correct me if I’m wrong, but as far as I know, all Leaf Cuisine locations have closed. I did visit the Culver City location back in the day — and found it very kale heavy.
The Actor’s Diet — I’ll definitely try Planet Raw soon!
Comment by Siel — March 21, 2010 @ 11:16 pm
I like SunPower Natural Cafe in Studio City. Not all of their stuff is raw, but you just need to specify you want it raw or just keep an eye out on the menu for the raw items.
M´s last blog ..downtown LA
Comment by M — March 22, 2010 @ 6:36 am
Thanks for the recommendations siel! ooo, those look good!
Comment by jeannie — March 22, 2010 @ 8:28 am
California has a ton of awesome raw vegan restaurants, and Siel mentioned some of the more popular ones. Most raw vegan restaurants are concentrated in LA and the Bay Area.
FYI, “Juliano’s Raw” and “Planet Raw” are the same restaurant. Juliano has renamed the place. :-)
Emily Rutherford´s last blog ..Healthy Restaurants & Raw Food Dining Choices Are Expanding
Comment by Emily Rutherford — March 22, 2010 @ 9:11 am
Emily — Thanks for thanks for the note! I guess I already have tried Planet Raw :) And for anyone who missed the post, I took M’s advice and tried out SunPower Natural Cafe. Yum!
Comment by Siel — April 14, 2010 @ 10:08 pm
I agree with Emily and Siel, for my money, SunPower Natural Cafe is the best raw in L.A. Love the Raw Supreme Pizza and the Pesto Salad. Raw Nachos are awesome too.
Comment by Raw Restaurants Los Angeles — May 5, 2010 @ 7:04 pm
I agree with Emily and Jessie, SunPower Natural is the best raw food in Los Angeles. Supreme Pizza, pesto kelp noodles, raw nachos, cookie dough pie, and their amazing shakes.
Comment by Karen - Best Raw Food in Los Angeles — June 18, 2010 @ 9:27 am
Love your site.Even I do like eating raw food as this is very helpful to our health.
I frequently go to Culver city cuisine.They are good at making raw food.
I suggest this cuisine.
Hannah Hamilton@Suit garment bag´s last blog ..Samsonite DKX Wheeled Garment Bag – Keep Your Clothes Secure
Comment by Hannah Hamilton@Suit garment bag — November 11, 2010 @ 4:05 am
LOVE Better Life!!!! Didn’t know Juliano’s was only raw with booze, a good selling point for our friends! And Liked Euphoria as well!! Had an awesome seaweed salad there.
Better Life was the least pretentious place with the best food & prices though.
Euphoria is right across from Natural High hemp clothing store, which is a selling point. Plus, it is a major people watching place. The who’s who of everything……..
Get Skinny, Go Vegan.´s last blog ..Raw Vegan Hemp SunBurger from Ani Phyos Raw Food Essentials
Comment by Get Skinny, Go Vegan. — March 17, 2011 @ 11:24 am
SunCafe (formerly SunPower Natural) is the hands down winner for raw food in Los Angeles.
5 Star Items:
Pad Thai
Pesto Pizza
Kale Colossus
Fiesta Burger on raw buckwheat bun
Cacao Shake
Cookie Dough Pie
Comment by Karen Vegan L.A. — December 28, 2011 @ 10:39 am