Studio City: Girasol

WHAT: GIRASOL (Studio City)

THE GIST:
When you want to dine all fancy like but still hold onto the option to run across the street to the uber vegan-friendly Cactus Tacqueria for your REAL dinner (it's so worth it).

GOOD FOR:

• Itty bitty appetizers
• Dinner for the wealthy
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Having a really cute chef. I mean look at this guy

TIP:
The food is seasonal and it's bound to differ from what I've listed below. Ask your server, though, because they know the food well and will be able to tell you what's a-ok for you. Also, try the Sorrel Pine Gimlet (cocktail). They make the pine syrup in house, apparently. Delicious.

VEGAN FOOD:

-Salad of black eyed peas and blueberries
-Mushroom dish with cauliflower
-Many other dishes are veganizable by request

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS
11334 Moorpark Street
Studio City, CA 91602

PARKING
Valet, some metered street parking
Parking in the surrounding neighborhoods is illegal without a permit after 6pm. Boo.

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
OpenTable: Yes

West Hollywood: Zinque Coffee & Wine Bar

WHAT: ZINQUE (West Hollywood)

THE GIST:
Zinque is great for when you want to pretend to be classy. Grab a glass of wine and laugh heartily.  If you sit outside, try to nab a seat by the fire.

GOOD FOR:

• Appetizers
• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Coffee
• Chit chat

VEGAN FOOD:

-Fries
-Olives & Almonds
-Avocado Arugula Salad without cheese (recommended that you add quinoa)
-Le Bowl with brown rice and no chicken, egg, comte or parmesan
-Pan Con Tomate (although they were unsure of whether the bread was 100% vegan)
-Soupe Au Pistou is made with vegetable broth, but contains noodles which they weren't sure about being vegan.

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

8684 Melrose Ave
West Hollywood, CA

PARKING
Metered street parking

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
OpenTable: Yes, but only on weekends (listed as Le Zinque)

Echo Park: Mohawk Bend

WHAT: MOHAWK BEND (Echo Park)

THE GIST:
Are you young, fun and too cool (vegan) for school? Come here! Mohawk Bend is overflowing with vegan love.

GOOD FOR:

• Brunch (weekends)
• Lunch
• Appetizers
• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine on tap
• Cocktails
• Getting really fat, oh my god

VEGAN FOOD:
There's too much!! It's no joke here. There's so much that they don't mark the vegan items on the menu... they mark the NON-vegan items! Like, what??

Some highlights:
-Buffalo style cauliflower (with vegan bleu cheese dressing)
-Sweet potato fries
-Hearts of palm "crab cakes"
-Chili cheese fries (vegan optional)

-Avo and chips (deep fried avocado is always a yes)
-Vegan burger

-Pizzas can be made vegan, as well

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

2141 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026

PARKING
Street

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
OpenTable: No

West Hollywood: Crossroads

WHAT: CROSSROADS (West Hollywood)

THE GIST:
This fancy joint from Chef Tal Ronnen is all about completely vegan small plates. You're supposed to go in and try a little bit of a lot of stuff. As an assistant, this can get really expensive if you're not splitting the bill between a few people. Keep it a bit cheaper by avoiding drinks and having sparkling water instead (we so fancy).

Try the crabcakes and at least one of the flatbreads. Also, if you're a fan of Kite Hill cheese (the nut cheese from Tal Ronnen that's made like classic dairt cheese, just from nutmilk instead of dairy milk), order the cheese plate. They throw in an additional cheese made in-house that is super yumballs.

Sometimes paparazzi hang out outside. Suggest leaving the restaurant after sundown with a big coat and sunglasses just for funsies.

GOOD FOR:

• Appetizers
• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Being fancy

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

8284 Melrose Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90046

PARKING
Valet all the way! Street parking may also be available somewhere, but I don't even try.

Yelp Reviews - Go Here!
OpenTable: Yes!

Sherman Oaks: Blue Dog Beer Tavern

WHAT: BLUE DOG (Sherman Oaks)

THE GIST:
Come here to be surrounded, no joke, by pictures of dogs. They're everywhere and it's amazing. The name of the place is Blue Dog Beer Tavern, so don't bring people here if they (a) hate beer or (b) hate dogs.

Note that it can occasionally take a while to get seated and they do not take reservations. But my friends participated in an impromptu arm wrestling match with James Marsden here once. Basically what I'm saying is it's worth the wait.

GOOD FOR:

• Appetizers
• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Arm wrestling

VEGAN FOOD:
-The "Q" Vegan Special. This is a really great sandwich, not something that was just slapped together to satisfy the desperate lonely vegan. Made with hummus and love, I highly recommend it!
-Fries. Fries are thin and their fried level is: delicious
-Garlic fries. See above. Add lots of garlic. LOTS. Only get these if you're sharing, because damn.
-A Hum-must. Hummus and pita.
-Salads: Happy Cow! and Spa Salad are 100% vegan.
-Vegan chili


LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

4524 Saugus Ave
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403

PARKING
There's a small private lot that never has any open spots and street parking in the surrounding neighborhoods

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
OpenTable: No Reservations in general

Sherman Oaks: The Local Peasant

WHAT: THE LOCAL PEASANT (Sherman Oaks)

THE GIST:
It's dark in here, but I like it!

GOOD FOR:

• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Having an excuse for not recognizing someone (it's so dark!)

VEGAN FOOD:
-Vegan vegetable burger with fries. It's a little messy, and there's a tad too much bun, but it's good! The fries are THICK. Just don't eat the dipping sauce.

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

14058 Ventura Blvd
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

PARKING
Valet and street parking

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
OpenTable: No

West Hollywood: Open Air Kitchen and Bar

WHAT: OPEN AIR (West Hollywood)

THE GIST:
Formerly Fatty's Public House, Open Air seems to be where everybody's going for a quick sit-down these days. Nothing on the menu is labeled as vegan, but with some alterations, there are actually a few things that they've told me are suitable.

GOOD FOR:

• Dinner
• Drinks
• Beer
• Wine
• Cocktails
• Being the difficult vegan (see below)

VEGAN FOOD:
Per the waitstaff, the following items are or can be made vegan.
-Hummus Plate. This came with a side of pita that looked like it had butter on it, so I'll need to check on that next time. The bowl of hummus comes filled with vegetables for dipping, however, so the pita is not entirely necessary
-Pizza with marinara and veggies. Order without cheese.
-Truffle fries. Order without cheese.
-Brussels sprouts. Order without bacon. Ask about other necessary alterations.
-Kale salad. Order without cheese.

LOGISTICS:

ADDRESS

829 N La Cienega Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069

PARKING
Valet and metered street parking

Yelp Reviews - Keyword: Vegan
Additional Yelp Reviews - Fatty's Public House
OpenTable: No