Amber Gibson

This is L.A., where the word vegan hasn’t raised eyebrows and prompted jokes about nut loaf for years, which means that there’s a smörgasbord of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in L.A. slinging slices of pizza piled high with veggies; upscale Mexican food; and even takes on the traditionally egg-laden Italian classic, carbonara. Here are the very best of the best, all 100-percent vegan.  RECOMMENDED: The best restaurants in Los Angeles

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Even as the most cheese-loving omnivores, we think about the vegan pizza at Nic’s on Beverly a little more than we’d care to admit. The fluffy-doughed square pies still feature cheese, though it’s nut-based, and the satisfyingly crisp edges of each slice only prove that Detroit-style pizza can be made—and made well—totally vegan. But Nic’s on Beverly is so much more than the pizza: The plant-based American restaurant from Nic Adler, Jason Eisner and chef Steven Fretz also serves house-cut fries, Southern-style fried oyster mushrooms with silky potato purée and gravy, and piled-high burgers in both a meat-inspired and a truffled falafel version. When it’s open, the back patio feels like a secret garden—and the perfect place for a glass of frosé or three. Since Chef Jared Simons, formerly of cult-favorite Taco Vega, took over the kitchen, this restaurant is a solid number one.

One of the most reliable and consistent vegan restaurants in town, Margo’s is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner, becoming a cozy neighborhood haunt where everyone feels like a regular, especially during happy hour from 3 to 6 pm. Chef Blake Thorson is one of the most underrated vegan chefs in the city, creating new dishes weekly from the plumpest, freshest California produce from the Santa Monica Farmer’s Market just a few miles away. His menu is approachable, but familiar favorites are served with a memorable twist, like jalapeño mashed pea toast instead of ubiquitous avocado, or honeynut squash brushed with spicy Calabrian butter and crusted with fried pepita crumble. Pizzas are outstanding, with feather light cheese, and the Sicilian-style house made crust is insanely good—and gluten-free.

The original Fountain Valley location of this vegan Vietnamese restaurant opened in 1997, making it one of the oldest all-vegan restaurants in the country. A newer, more modern Downtown location opened in 2015. Chef Ito, who has taken a life-long vow of silence, oversees menus at both locations and is quite a character. While incredibly innocent and genuine, the chef’s interaction with patrons is comical and entertaining, like you’re in on the joke. The food is unique, thoughtful and always flavorful. Sweet and spicy root veggies and tempeh served with crunchy melinjo crackers and shredded tofu, soy pork and kelp noodle bánh mì are standouts.

This small vegan wine bar transports you to Naples with a warm, romantic ambience and traditional Italian classics so good that you might not even notice the meatballs are made from mushrooms and lentils rather than pork and sprinkled with macadamia parmesan. Italian American chef and owner Tara Punzone has been vegan for more than 30 years, and many of her best recipes—like the black magic lasagna bursting with cashew ricotta, mushrooms and black truffle cream—are vegan conversions of her favorite family recipes. Wash down her made-from-scratch Neapolitan pizzas and pastas with a juicy bellini or biodynamic wines from Italy and around the world.