Top Local Restaurants

Sometimes it seems as if there are more drawbacks to vegan dining than its perks, which is why I usually just cook at home. However, San Diego has a few things to offer the vegan community. Let us begin with the main drawbacks.

1. The drawback to eating out in general is that the food is likely to be generally unhealthy (ingredient-wise) and over-portioned. This too rings true even for vegetarian- and vegan-friendly restaurants that claim to have healthier options. Often times you will see the same enriched grains or processed ingredients being used, even in so-called healthy establishments. So, as a rule, dining out should not be done religiously; perhaps no more than once a week.

2. Price. I am a student, so I am cheap and do not like to sap my budget by going out to eat all the time. Unfortunately, one has to pay more for healthier foods, which doesn't make sense at all to me (the foods that will kill you are the cheapest -- population control?). But there are some restaurants around here that don't charge an arm and a leg for tasty meat-free dishes.

3. Location. With so few [healthy, cheap, and tasty] veg-friendly restaurants in the area, it is difficult to pinpoint one region of the city (San Diego is huge, by the way) where they might be concentrated. The fact is that there is no one area of the city where this occurs, but a safe bet would be either in the Hillcrest/North Park/Downtown area... or Ocean Beach.


Now for my list of my favorite restaurants in town. While I haven't been to every veg-friendly restaurant,* as new ones keep opening up, these get my pick based on the above criteria.

1. Ranchos Cocina
While they have three locations, I typically frequent the North Park one simply because it is closest. Sometimes I think that the food is better at the OB location though, so I go there once in a while as well. Anyway, if you want Mexican, this is the place to go. It is relatively cheap, the food is good, but it isn't too healthy. Portion sizes seem to have shrank over the years, so I'd say just be careful of how much you eat. They make the best salsa too, and if you aren't vegan then the shiitake burrito is probably the best tasting dish on the menu. They also have an array of vegan alternatives to cheese, sour cream, etc. I should also mention that I prefer Ranchos to the other Mexican vegetarian alternative, Pokez, down in downtown (which isn't too bad, I guess).

2. Veg'n Out
Again, this place is near North Park (closer to South Park actually), so it isn't too far from me. This place specializes mainly in veggie burgers and sort of "American" cuisine, you might say (including veggie dogs). Unlike most average restaurants that serve veggie burgers, Veg'n Out makes their own patties, uses whole wheat buns, and has a big variety of all-vegan burgers. My favorite is the Ultimate Vegan Burger with Follow Your Heart cheese. Prices are okay, and portions here can get big, especially with a side of potato wedges, so don't be afraid to bring some home.

3. Harrar Ethiopian Cafe
I was surprised to learn that Ethiopian food was vegetarian-friendly, so I had to try it out. Harrar is also in North Park, about a few blocks from Ranchos even. I'm not really sure how to describe the food, but it is sort of like a mix of vegetables that they serve on a doughy/spongy bread. You eat it with your hands too! They also serve various types of Ethiopian alcohol, which I have to try, and overall everything is relatively cheap.

4. Sipz Asian Fusion Cafe
What's with the Z's? This is so far down the list because I don't think that this place is all that healthy. When it first opened up, I was really stoked about it. Since then, however, the service has declined dramatically. It does have its merits though: If you crave Asian food that you can trust to be vegetarian, then this is your best bet. Most Chinese or Thai places claim to have vegetarian dishes on their menus, but some of them are still cooked with animal-based oils or fats, similar to how most taco shops use lard. Sipz does have a great vegan sushi menu, although it isn't very cheap. They offer brown rice for all of their dishes as well, but for an extra charge. Another drawback to Sipz is that it is precariously located in Clairmont Mesa. Supposedly they are planning to open up a new location soon.

5. Cilantro Live!
As its name implies, Cilantro Live! is 100% raw vegan. I remember trying this place out when they opened their first location in Chula Vista some years ago. Since then I have gotten into raw foods, and this place serves some really great dishes, but it is by far the most expensive vegan restaurant in the city. I liked how they opened up a location in Lemon Grove when I was living in La Mesa, but that closed down recently. They also have two other locations (in addition to Chula Vista), one in Carlsbad and one in Hillcrest. As you can tell, I probably don't go there much, but I still like the concept and their menu.


In addition to the aforementioned draw backs to San Diego's veg-friendly restaurant scene, there is one major one that I have forgotten to mention: There is nowhere to spontaneously get an awesome breakfast. Ranchos has a decent breakfast menu, but it is, of course, limited to Mexican food. This place called Spread in North Park also has breakfast, from what I hear, but they have weird hours are not cheap. I remember when I was in Providence or San Francisco and finding an awesome vegan breakfast was no problem. And this is why I see San Diego as very far behind in terms of its "vegan scene." I've even thought of opening up a restaurant myself, but then I'd end up just serving what I make/eat at home. So, as you can imagine, it can be a bit frustrating to stick to a healthy vegan diet in this city. Jess and I usually end up settling much of the time, as we can never completely satisfy our desires food-wise (e.g. breakfast).


* For a comprehensive list of veg-friendly restaurants in San Diego, see either VegSanDiego or the San Diego Natural Guide.