A health foodies dream, LA is the place to be if you live and breathe health + wellness. We visited the city over the long weekend and have written up a guide to some our favourite plant-based places to eat and shop in the city!
TOP BRUNCH SPOT
Gracias Madre
8905 Melrose Avenue, West Hollywood // @gmweho // graciasmadreweho.com
A favourite brunch destination with locals and tourists alike, everyone we met on our trip told us we needed to visit Gracias Madre (and thank god we did!). Gracias Madre offers 100% organic, plant based Mexican cuisine. If you’re having trouble deciding from their extensive brunch menu, go for their $30 brunch chefs tasting menu. An absolute bargain and you’ll leave more than satisfied. The restaurant inside has a laid back, funky vibe and the outdoor patio is the perfect place chill under the shade of the trees. Brunch is served all weekend from 10am-3pm. Get there early to snag a good table.
Our Top Picks:
Our top recommendations would be their infamous Jackfruit Tacos (barbecue jackfruit carnitas, cashew crema, pickled cabbage, crispy onion, black beans), the Ensalada Del Mar (sea vegetables, kale, tahini, hearts of palm, fresh herbs, coconut, avocado) and for dessert you can’t go past the Warm Lemon Scone with berry jam and a coconut cashew cream that melts on just like butter.
TOP JUICE BAR
Moon Juice
Various locations // @moonjuiceshop // moonjuice.com
With 3 locations around LA, we visited the Venice branch (our first stop off the plane!). 100% organic, cold-pressed juices, milks and tonics, Moon Juice is your one stop shop for liquid nutrition. We sampled our way through most of their juice range and were pleasantly surprised by the wide variety of nut mylks on offer. The also have a killer retail wall selling adaptogenic ‘dusts’, plant based protein powders and everyday superfoods, and a grab and go fridge with a variety of raw desserts.
Our Top Picks:
Thick, creamy and delicious we fell in love with Moon Juice’s nut mylks. Our top recommendations, Silver Strawberry (alkaline water, strawberries, activated almonds, coconut nectar, colloidal silver, pink salt), Berry Good Looks (alkaline water, activated almonds, strawberries, coconut nectar, lucuma, schizandra berry, pink salt) and Vanilla Fig Fix (alkaline water, activated almonds, dried turkish figs, coconut nectar, cordyceps, vanilla, chaga, pink salt).
TOP PLACE FOR A DRINK
Cafe Gratitude
Various locations // @cafegratitude // cafegratitude.com
Cafe Gratitude is a west coast institution serving up plant-based food that supports the health and sustainability of both the community and the planet. The cafe uses local and organic produce where possible and serves up breakfast, lunch, dinner and treats. Superfood smoothies, cold-pressed juices and herbal elixirs round out their extensive menu offering. With friendly and attentive staff and a chilled vibe, it’s a great place to spend a lazy afternoon.
Our Top Picks:
We absolutely loved the herbal tonics and superfood smoothies. Our top picks, the Immortal Ayurvedic Latte (chaga, shilajit, mucuna, he shou wu, cinnamon, raw honey, almond milk), the Vibrant Matcha Latte (ceremonial grade matcha, raw honey, almond milk), the Decadent Almond Butter Cup Shake (coconut cashew ice cream, almond milk, cacao nibs, almond butter, vanilla bean, coconut bacon) and the Cool Mint Chocolate Chip Shake (cashew coconut ice cream, mint, cacao nibs, almond milk, kale).
TOP HEALTH FOOD STORE
Erewhon Market
Various locations // @erewhonmarket // erewhonmarket.com
Erewhon is a natural and organic, food and wellness store in LA (Think Wholefoods but 10 times better!). Erewhon’s ethos is based around making healthy, pure, nutrient-rich foods and products available to all, and to inspire people to eat better, eat less and live longer. The grocery store is packed with the top health food products from all around the world. You’ll also find multiple grab and go fridges stocked with cold pressed juices, nut milks, health drinks and packaged snacks, a salad bar, hot foods bar with an amazing variety of healthy cooked organic meals, a tonic & juice bar and an organic beauty section that you’ll have fun playing in for hours.
Our Top Picks:
We sampled many things from Erewhon market and these were some of our faves… The Vegan Eggplant Lasagna from the hot food bar, Pesto Kelp Noodles from the grab n go fridge, the Chagachino Latte (coconut milk, maca, mesquite, changa, dandy blend) from the tonic bar, Blue Pearl Almond Mylk (almond mylk, honey, tocotrienols, pearl powder, e3 live blue majik, pink salt) and the Matcha Mint Pumpkin Seed Milk (pumpkin seed milk, honey, matcha powder, mint extract, pink salt).
TOP FINE DINING
Plant Food and Wine
1009 Abbot Kinney Blvd, Venice // @plantfoodandwine // plantlab.com/plant-food-wine-venice
Situated on the quieter end of Abbot Kinney Blvd in Venice, Plant Food and Wine offers an amazing whole foods, plant based dining experience. Using a selection of locally sourced fare, the innovative menu will have you struggling to make a decision on what to order. Think house-made breads and nut cheeses, simple but tasty salads and veggie based entrees and decadent plant-based desserts. The patio out the back is a great place to relax on a warm summer’s night too.
Our Top Picks:
Simple vegetable dishes done extremely well! Our fave dishes were the Little Gem Caesar (sea beans, capers, dulse, sunflower seed caesar dressing), Whole Avocado (wasabi nori, radish, miso tahini) and the Kelp Noodle Cacio E Pepe (snap peas, pea sprouts, crispy oil cured olives).
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