There are few food combos more iconic than a burger, fries and a shake, and in L.A.—the vegan land of plenty—there are a growing number of restaurants serving it up plant-based. Funnily enough, the city's latest just found a home in a meaty chain's first location: Meet NOMOO, the vegan burger shack that opened over the weekend in Johnny Rockets' former first storefront.
The diner vibes live on with NOMOO's pared-down menu of shakes, malts, fries and double cheeseburgers, but get a modern spin with add-ons like truffled cheese sauce and even CBD.
While it relies on Impossible Foods and Chick'n for their between-buns "meat," NOMOO does much of their menu in-house, making their pickles, sauces and even their own cashew-based soft serve—a process that takes 18 hours—and when they don't, they've tried to partner with local outlets such as Rockenwagner Bakery, who bakes custom vegan brioche buns for the operation.
The format is simple: Order up at the counter, then take a seat either at the few stools overlooking the kitchen's flat-top, or out on that 40-seat patio under the umbrellas just tucked away from Melrose.
Photograph: Stephanie Breijo
Sides are just as straightforward as the choice between either a burger or the Nashville-style hot Chick'n sandwich: Opt for shoestring fries or a salad (a miso caesar or some superfood slaw), or go half-and-half. Of course there are those aforementioned add-ons, including avocado or some truffled cheese sauce for $3, and if you're sipping an organic soda or vanilla lemonade, you can throw CBD in there for around $6.
And because this is an all-vegan joint, you can expect at least some form of clear conscience every time you dine there: Each month, NOMOO will donate 10 percent of its profits to a different charity aimed at eliminating animal suffering. First up is Mercy For Animals, a global nonprofit whose political, environmental and educational programs work toward ending animal cruelty.
Photograph: Stephanie Breijo
NOMOO is now open at 7502 Melrose Ave with hours of 11:30am to 10pm Tuesday to Sunday.