Vegan Meals Close to Me: 16 Should-Strive Spots in Orange County

Orange County occupies 42 miles of shoreline in between the vegan mecca of Los Angeles and the extra laid-back vibes of San Diego. It’s a largely suburban county that encompasses a handful of personal and state faculty campuses, a hippy seashore vibe, and simply sufficient pretension to be worthy of its personal actuality present. 

Regardless of its common health-and-fitness-oriented residents, this family-centric space has by no means matched the vegan improvements of its neighbor to the north (LA). Nonetheless, that’s to not say that the OC doesn’t have its vegan hidden gems and downright vacation spot eateries. It is usually value noting that Orange County is dwelling to The Happiest Place on Earth, which has been regularly upping its plant-based choices over the previous a number of years. In addition to the boutique seashores, sunny climate, and Disneyland, listed below are 16 vegan eating places that make Orange County a plant-based vacation spot. 

Orange County vegan meals occasions and pop-ups 

Previous to 2019, OC residents needed to make the trek as much as Los Angeles to take part in vegan neighborhood occasions exterior of the annual SoCal Vegfest (a large-scale pageant held in Costa Mesa, CA). Nonetheless, starting in 2019 and following a pandemic hiatus, vegan pop-ups starting from a handful of distributors to dozens turned “a factor” in Orange County. 

The Plant District held common month-to-month occasions in Santa Ana in 2022 (2023 dates are but to be introduced), that includes native OC distributors equivalent to Two Birds Baking Firm and the Donuttery alongside LA favorites like Cena Vegan. 

We’ve additionally seen established vegan eating places partnering with non-vegan popups, permitting them each house and plant-based substances to succeed in a brand new demographic of veg-curious eaters. In January, Baked Pizza partnered with Vegan by El Zamorano. The omnivorous, cellular pizzeria pops up Monday nights on the patio of El Zamorano with its transportable pizza oven and slings Neapolitan-style pies utilizing the eatery’s do-it-yourself vegan cheese. 

With regard to meals vehicles, you possibly can repeatedly discover Tabay’s Aware Kitchen parked on the 76 gasoline station in Capistrano Seaside Wednesdays via Saturdays from 11 AM to six PM. 

16 vegan-friendly eating places in Orange County

It’s turning into more and more simpler to dine out at any given restaurant in Orange County due to the rising inclusion of vegan-friendly dishes in omnivore eating places, however if you happen to’re searching for actually standout vegan spots, these 16 plant-based eating places ought to all be in your “must-visit” listing. 

Au Lac

1 Au Lac

Fountain Valley is dwelling to the unique Au Lac—a Pan-Asian vegan restaurant serving each cooked and uncooked dishes within the OC since 1997. Its sister restaurant—Au Lac in Downtown Los Angeles, does have a extra complete menu, however we should pay the unique its due respect. 

The red-hued principal eating room is all the time packed, and to-go orders of BBQ Pork Spring Rolls, noodle soups, and uncooked Sea Salads are persistently ticking away. This place is greatest loved with a gaggle in an effort to strive probably the most number of dishes. Native tip: they pay particular consideration to birthdays. For these celebrating, they’ll deliver out an outsized plate of their well-known uncooked cheesecake with the particular person’s identify written out in chocolate.
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Gracias Madre

2 Gracias Madre

Whereas technically a transplant from LA, Gracias Madre in Newport Seaside has lastly satisfied the “I purchase natural rooster and bone broth” crowd that plant-based delicacies could be cool. The combined indoor/outside ambiance is purpose sufficient to seize a drink or brunch right here. Pricing-wise, it’s on the upper finish, however the expertly crafted cocktails and cast-iron skillet of stretchy, gooey, molten queso fundido are greater than value it. 

Native favorites embrace the Caesar Salad, Chef’s Salad (add marinated tofu), enchiladas verde, and the colossal Crunchwrap. It doesn’t matter what day of the week it’s, you’re certain to be within the firm of a handful of birthday celebrations. Gracias Madre is the place to go away your stress at dwelling, get pleasure from good meals and firm, and simply go in figuring out you’ll be a few twenties shorter on the finish of the evening.

Craving dessert? Go for the pineapple upsidedown cake, or take a really quick stroll to the close by Salt & Straw for a vegan scoop or two.
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VIbe

3 Vibe

Now with three places in Orange County, this informal, allergen-friendly eatery is proving that wholesome vegan meals could be satisfying and craveable. Vibe is an all-day spot serving up juices, smoothies, hefty Buddha bowls, and jaw-unhinging sandwiches to the office-working lunch crowds and post-spin class teams. All the things is do-it-yourself, gluten-free, and natural, with a number of soy-free choices as effectively. 

For lunch or dinner, the Mediterranean Bowl crafted with greens, scratch-made chickpea frittata, hummus, cucumber, tomato, avocado, black lentils, and tahini is the factor to order for first-timers, although the burgers and all-day breakfast sandwich are strong contenders. These brunching on the weekend should order the cauliflower-based Rooster and Waffles with roasted vegetable cashew gravy and sriracha maple syrup. It’s the healthiest and but one of the best plant-based rooster and waffles we’ve ever had the pleasure to devour.
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Seabirds Kitchen

4 Seabirds

Seabirds Kitchen put Orange County on the map so far as vegan eating is anxious. The wildly common Costa Mesa restaurant (with different places in Lengthy Seaside and Los Angeles) acquired its begin as a meals truck, even showing on the Meals Community’s The Nice Meals Truck Race in 2013. The place is thought for its breezy outside seating, scratch-made menu, and elevated but acquainted dishes. 

Whereas the place nails each brunch and dinner, the distinctiveness of the brunch choices can’t be beat. Order a fried pickle-garnished Birdy Mary and the Biscuit Bomb—a savory (albeit small) sandwich made with a fluffy rosemary cheddar biscuit, addictively good tofu, and maple tempeh, wilted spinach, aji yolk sauce, and a lightweight maple drizzle. We begin occupied with that dish on Mondays, simply ready for Saturday brunch. 

Through the night hours, you possibly can’t go mistaken with any considered one of Seabirds’ tacos, Outdated City Grilled Cheese, or the Native’s Bowl (ask so as to add jackfruit, they do it rather well right here). End the evening by splitting the Chaffle—a large, fluffy, cinnamon sugar-coated Belgian waffle topped with vanilla ice cream, chocolate sauce, and toasted walnuts.
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FreeSoulcaffe

5 FreeSoulCaffe

Situated in Outdated City Orange, this ethereal bistro is ideal for lunch, dinner, and Saturday brunch. FreeSoulCaffe is a vegan gateway restaurant; it’s a spot to take the omnivorous dad and mom or your non-vegan couple associates. The kitchen affords soups, salads, sandwiches, and ramen—all of that are spectacular—however the pizzas are the crowning glory of this place. It’s painfully onerous to determine which taste to order, however the Brussels sprout pizza with the speckled, puffy crust and luxuriously creamy white sauce has grow to be a favourite of ours. Don’t fear, you possibly can’t go mistaken right here. 
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Vegan by El Zamorano

6 Vegan by El Zamorano

Not like many vegan eateries, this fast-casual Mexican joint makes its personal dairy-free cheese, and it melts and stretches like none different. Sure, it affords the usual Latin meats like carne asada, pollo, chorizo, and carnitas, however the profitable protein in our minds is the seasoned hibiscus choice. It’s not like any seitan or mushroom-based meat we’ve ever had, and we find it irresistible. Strive the Hibiscus Burrito or the Quesadilla Plate—it comes with incredible refried beans and a facet of Mexican rice.
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Kensho

7 Kenshō

When Naughty Panda shut down its flagship Santa Ana location and moved to Pasadena, CA, we needed to discover one other vegan sushi spot within the OC. With places in Westminster and Yorba Linda, Kenshō has addressed our yearning for plant-based spicy tuna and spider rolls. The cooks have mastered vegan fish pretty effectively—it’s not rubbery or mushy like some fake fish renditions and it’s not bland within the slightest. Additional, the eel sauce is effectively balanced and the spicy mayo offers sufficient taste with out blowing your head off. 

Native tip: whereas we do encourage ordering a number of totally different rolls to separate, a non-negotiable is the I Lava You. It’s a California roll topped with seared oyster mushrooms and a beneficiant drizzle of spicy mayo, sriracha, and eel sauce. Should you’ve by no means had torched sushi, you’re in for a deal with.
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Veg’d

8 Veg’d

This vegan drive-thru took over a dormant constructing of a former Del Taco in 2021. Imagined by celeb chef and restaurateur Matthew Kenney, Veg’d serves up health-minded variations of vegan fast-food classics together with burgers, sandwiches, nuggets, and some contemporary bowls and salads for good measure. The drive-thru additionally operates a breakfast program for these craving breakfast burritos and smoothies within the AM. 

Native tip: the traditional fast-food combo is the best way to go right here. Order a burger, fries, and a cup of decadently creamy and nostalgia-inducing tender serve.
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Good Guys

9 Good Guys

Good Guys is the form of place you’d uncover on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives. It’s a tiny storefront in Costa Mesa with a cramped car parking zone and some lined tables exterior. The dive focuses on unpretentious and old-school quick meals, together with super-stacked, greasy burgers; fried rooster sandwiches, and traditional malt shakes. OC residents have come to find it irresistible, and the corporate has expanded into Stanton, Santa Ana, and Lengthy Seaside. Native tip: if you happen to’re in want of a late-night meal after an evening out, go to the Santa Ana location. It’s open till midnight. 
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Pricey Bella’s Creamery

10 Pricey Bella’s Creamery

This VegNews editor whooped with delight when this Hollywood vegan creamery arrange store instantly throughout the road from her daytime workplace. Now with a location in Costa Mesa (steps away from the unique Seabirds), Pricey Bella has introduced its modern scoops and drool-worthy ice cream creations to the OC. Stroll by for an off-the-cuff double scoop of Peanut Butter Cup, have fun a minor event with an ice cream cookie sammie, or be the MVP of any get together by exhibiting up with a Cookie Monsta ice cream and brownie cake. 
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7 Vegan Market

117 Vegan Market

Orange County’s very personal vegan grocery retailer could be present in Backyard Grove, an inland metropolis with a predominantly Asian inhabitants and several other vegan eating places (Saigon Vegan, Hoa Sen, and Thuyen Vien, simply to call a number of). The boutique store itself resides in the identical buying middle as Sub Vegan (a sandwich store), Vegan Pizza, and Loving Hut—a worldwide vegan restaurant chain. Earlier than you cease into any of those institutions, stroll via Seven Vegan Market to surprise at the entire vegan improvements. 

From sauces and meats to snacks and cheeses, this place packs a dizzying quantity of vegan merchandise in such a small house. Be warned: the freshly baked cake slices located proper subsequent to the register are not possible to withstand. Our two favorites are the pandan and carrot cake. We’ve undoubtedly bought considered one of every on a number of events. 
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@meatlessmolly/Instagram 

12 Zabb Thai Delicacies

Search for the elephant on PCH in Newport Seaside, and also you’ll discover this Newport establishment. Nice for dine-in or takeout (sure, even on holidays like Christmas and the Fourth of July), the decades-old restaurant affords a devoted vegan menu with a variety of satisfying choices. We by no means tire of the Vegan Rooster Satay and Backyard Rolls, and the Pumpkin Curry is usually a weekly factor. Noodle-lovers will delight within the traditional pad thai or vegan drunken noodles. If ordering on a Friday or Saturday evening, plan forward, because the place could be packed. 
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The Stand

13 The Stand Natual Meals

Regardless of the lavish wealth related to this coastal metropolis, Laguna Seaside has hippie roots, and nonetheless reveals it right now. The Stand is an genuine illustration of this laid-back, creative vibe, serving up sprout-stuffed sandwiches slathered with do-it-yourself hummus since 1975. The menu is old-school vegan. As an alternative of plant-based meat and cheese, you’ll discover an ample quantity of beans, hummus, guacamole, and brown rice served up each which manner—in a sandwich, as a burrito, and loaded onto a salad. It’s easy meals, but it surely’s simply what each pottery-making, dawn browsing, seashore cottage-residing Laguna Seaside resident wants. 
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Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen

14 Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen 

A go to to Giselle’s Vegan Kitchen is like strolling right into a fairy story. Sure, the partitions are painted pink and there’s a literal outsized storybook on a pedestal, however the true magic lies within the vegan baked items. All the things made on this wonderland of a bakery is gluten-free, refined sugar-free, and surprisingly low in energy whereas excessive in protein. We don’t know the way she does it, however her fudgy vegan brownies, tender icing-topped espresso cake, and wealthy tiramisu don’t style “wholesome” or gluten-free in any respect. Those that stay exterior of the OC space can get a style of this magic anytime they need. The bakery ships all of its choices nationwide. 
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Hug Life

15 Hug Life

Orange County’s first dairy-free scoop store has made a reputation for itself in SoCal. Now with three places spanning Orange, Backyard Grove, and Lengthy Seaside, Hug Life has confirmed that vegan ice cream could be simply as candy as its dairy-based counterpart. The chain affords traditional flavors like cookies and cream, chocolate, and rocky street intermixed with conventional Asian flavors equivalent to Vietnamese Espresso, Yuzu Creamsicle, Taro, and Matcha Monster. Clients can order by the news, with a brownie, or in considered one of Hug Life’s completely balanced (and sizeable) milkshakes. It doesn’t matter what time of 12 months, OC residents could be discovered closing the place down at 10pm each single evening. 
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VegOut

16 The Donuttery

Think about a spot the place the vegan doughnuts are stacked excessive on eight-foot bakery trays, out there 24/7, together with holidays. Such a spot does exist, and it’s proper off Seaside Boulevard. in Huntington Seaside, CA. Whereas not all vegan, the plant-based choice of no-frills vegan yeasted and cake doughnuts is sufficient to incite main choice paralysis. Should you’re not buying for a crowd, listed below are absolutely the must-trys: vegan blueberry cake doughnut (glazed, not frosted), sprinkles cake doughnut, and jelly-filled. Shopping for for a gaggle? Get a baker’s dozen of glazed twists, maple bars, pistachio cake, and various Lengthy Johns. 
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