Seed Kitchen

Just a few blocks away from the coast, this compact Venice eatery always has customers gathered around its communal tables, sharing sweet potato fries and tips on nearby surf spots. Chef Eric Lechasseur began exploring macrobiotic cooking when his wife was diagnosed with ovarian cancer (she has since recovered) and continued with it when his celebrity clients (Madonna, Gwyneth, to name a couple) requested the same healthy meals. There are some Japanese-influenced dishes here, but the real draw is the list of burgers—choose tempeh, seitan or bean and grain—that provide all the full-flavored drip and crunch of an In-N-Out run, along with vastly superior fries (cooked in rice bran oil, no less).