Long Beach Vegan Food Guide

My grandfather lived in the same house in Long Beach my whole life. But I started looking at it a little different when I went vegan – I started looking for options! I’ve been at different points in my life and for varying amounts of time. Two years ago, I was there for a week and I tried a few of the vegan restaurants in Long Beach. But I was most recently there for six months and tried new and old places, so I’ve got experience!

With that said, if anyone ever tells you eating vegan in x city is impossible/difficult/unlikely, they haven’t been looking.

When I was in Long Beach for six months, I had an acquaintance ask me – genuinely – if I had been to “that one vegan restaurant downtown.” After some coaxing, I figured out she was talking about Seabirds Kitchen, which I had been to years prior (and again that trip). But during our conversation, I figured out she thought that was the only vegan restaurant in Long Beach I could eat if I ever wanted to eat out. Oh, that and Plant Power, which was right down the street and hard to miss as a vegan spot.

She’s not the only person to express such a sentiment to me anywhere, but it struck me as particularly odd in somewhere as large as Long Beach, California. Vegan in Long Beach is far from difficult, and there are more restaurants opening and offering options as time goes on. For example, Hungry Angelina wasn’t open at the beginning of my stay – but by the end, I got to try some of their menu items! There’s even a vegan festival in Long Beach.

Here’s just a few of the many options (in no particular order) I went to for vegan food in Long Beach, California! I’m a proponent of honesty and transparency, so if I didn’t like an item or location, I will be honest. I want you to have a comprehensive understanding without unrealistic expectations. But that’s doesn’t mean I don’t think you should try it for yourself – I do! Additionally, unlike all my other posts, most of these images were collected via the respective restaurants’ social media – the images I took simply didn’t do the food justice, and I thought readers would enjoy beautiful food photos.

Staying in Southern California for a long period of time and looking for things to do? Why not visit Joshua Tree for 1, 2, or even 5 days?

Table of Contents

1. Seabirds Kitchen
2. Ahimsa Vegan Cafe
3. Plant Power Fast Food
4. Veggie Grill
5. Hungry Angelina
6. The Grain Café
7. Under the Sun
8. Rainbow Juices
9. Devi’s Donuts and Sweets
10. Plant Alchemy
11. Pizzanista
12. More Options

1. Seabirds Kitchen

Seabirds makes food people dislike into mind-boggling yumminess… read on for some examples because it wasn’t just me!

Seabirds is one of the best (arguably the best for many people) vegan food in Long Beach. Their base is in Newport Beach, and they started as a food truck. It wasn’t long before they opened their first and second fronts. Once you taste their food (a mish-mash, but the tacos get the classic praise), you’ll understand why.

Two years ago, the first thing I tried was their beets me burger. I was on the fence about it because it contains mushrooms, which I tend to be averse to, but after a conversation with the server (and seeing it go past!) I decided to go for it. I took the server’s suggestion and added vegan cheese and had it on sourdough – OMG I think it might’ve been the best burger I’ve ever had. A year and a half later, I tried to recreate it, but forgot to change the bread and it just wasn’t the same. It was still delicious, but I loved my modified version!

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That same trip, Seabirds also compelled me into liking brussels sprouts with mustard, both of which I abhor. Not here guys, not here! I swear these were delicious, and I was amazed. (For the record, my mom is pickier than me and she dislikes all these things as well. But she liked all this stuff and more!)

Going off their ability to make people like food they typically don’t… my mom routinely ordered their grilled cheese, which has avocado and basil. She hates avocado and basil, but she loves their grilled cheese!

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Other foods I tried during my stay included the purple taquitos, warm cauliflower salad, and various case specials (i. e. whatever baked good they had on display, like their morning glory muffin). The salad was too spicy for me because of the chiles, but it was so yummy I still ate it all. When we left, there were still things on the menu I wanted to try, like the chaffle, mac and cheese, and zippy bowl – needless to say, it’s hard to go wrong here, and I would love to return.

2. Ahimsa Vegan Café

Ahimsa’s has great food, but I want to start with their cookie dough milkshake because it was perfectly creamy, cold, and sweet. Vegan milkshakes are deceptively difficult to master (at least to my picky palate), but I really liked Ahimsa’s version. And this summer they are having a mint chocolate chip milkshake! Jeez.

Ahimsa is special to me because they have a seasonal menu, so you can always try new things from them! Plus, their sauces are made from scratch (most things on the menu are), desserts are house made, and they introduce new items often! They always have burgers, sandwiches, and salads, though.

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I’ve had the roots bowl (yams, butternut squash, carrots, and kale with tofu, veggies, and almond gravy) off the fall/winter menu (the gravy was unique – in a good way!), the hemp tempeh salad, and the ahimsa burger with modifications. All were yummy, but I like that the ahimsa burger has a house made patty – those are always my preference at a restaurant, and I try them whenever I can. I’m not a big fan of the meat emulation substitutes like beyond or impossible.

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My mom had the BBQ bacon beyond burger and the BBQ chicken sandwich (without the BBQ!), and she enjoyed both. We also had the spring rolls. They were a little boring, but exactly as described – veggies in a rice wrap!

Some of their past offerings: vegan orange creamsicle cheesecake, vegan fish and chips with banana blossoms, and a quesadilla plate. I look forward to seeing what they offer in the future.

3. Plant Power Fast Food

I love having a “fast food” vegan option. This one has burgers, chicken, and salads. Plant Power has multiple locations throughout the state, and we happened to have one two blocks away from my grandfather’s house while we were staying in Long Beach.

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My mom loved their vegan fried chicken wrap (most times – I’ll explain later) and the cookies and cream milkshake. She typically got it without the wrap to cut down on gluten. It was her go-to meal many times, but I usually opted to eat food at home (it’s not the cheapest fast food out there!). When I did eat out with her, I usually got the BBQ grilled chicken salad – the rancheque dressing was creamy and rich with flavor, which made the salad satisfying. It’s really what made the salad.

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I also tried the rambler at one point. It was a pleasant change of pace – for those of you who know me, you know I eat very minimally processed food and lots of veggies! I do wish I knew what brand of patty and chicken (for other things) they use, or if it’s made by them though – that would clear up a lot of questions I personally have.

I do want to mention that their quality wasn’t consistent. The texture and flavor of the chicken seemed to fluctuate – sometimes my mom loved it in her wrap, but sometimes it was squishy, which fried chicken shouldn’t be. We even took it apart a few times to make sure it was the fried version, not the grilled, so we can’t figure out why it tasted weird. It wasn’t just one instance either. And even though my mom frequently drank their shakes, I found it to be icy and lacking flavor. She always loved their fries, though! Obviously, you should still try it, but I aim to be transparent in everything I write!

4. Veggie Grill

Veggie Grill is another fast food-type of vegan restaurant in Long Beach with a plethora of options like burgers, salads, and sandwiches. My food choice will be boring for most people, but I love their All Hail Kale salad without walnuts. I had been craving a good salad for over a month and couldn’t find what I was looking for anywhere! I discounted Veggie Grill because it was a more popular place, so I thought their salads would be boring and basic. Basic, yes, but boring no! There’s just something indescribable about the flavors, but it’s bright and crunchy.

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They also have a seasonal menu, which I just love. In the fall, I tried their turkey dinner sandwich, which is basically a Thanksgiving meal in a sandwich! It was roasted ‘turkey,’ apple sausage stuffing, gravy, and cranberry sauce with a side of mashed yams. There was mayo on my sandwich, which I would have liked less of, but otherwise I was pleasantly surprised! I didn’t think mayo came on it, so it might’ve been something else (or a mistake). I had no expectations for this sandwich because I hadn’t had anything like it before, but I’m glad I went for it.

Other notes: The crispy cauliflower was bland, and their mac and cheese was too spicy for my mom. The creaminess was good, though! My mom also tried their Santa Fe crispy chicken sandwich, which she enjoyed. Her favorite thing is their choco-churro sundae. I tasted it, and whatever ice cream they use is creamy and full of vanilla flavor. Combined with the warm cinnamon crunch, I understand the allure.

5. Hungry Angelina (Closed until further notice)

I won’t lie, I have mixed feelings about Hungry Angelina. Matthew Kenney is a popular, famous, and renowned chef with restaurants all over the world. There’s no question he is good at what he does. However, this place has pervasive high prices, a hidden fee, and “nickels and dimes” customers. Their menu has changed completely since December when they opened and I first went, so I do not know how the food is or if the prices have changed, but originally, they were costly. They started out as mainly burgers and fries. One basic burger with $15, nothing included. Sides like fries were extra, sauces were extra, and you had to pay a 3% sur charge that isn’t mentioned until the bill is brought to you. That fee isn’t a tip and doesn’t go to the staff – it’s explained as “a fee to help pay for the rising cost of doing business in California.” If you choose to do business in California (and pay the rent), you shouldn’t charge customers that fee. Either increase your base prices or make the money a different way.

As I mentioned, the menu has completely changed. It has a variety of plates, breakfasts, and handhelds. You can look at reviews from December and their early days and tell. The reviews now are consistently more positive, while in the past they were up and (very) down. The burger I had was pretty good, but certainly not worth $15, and the fries we ordered on top of that were soggy. We had to bake them longer at home. (Their new Hungry Burger looks loads better than the one I had.) We also had a different version of their Caesar (not what’s on the menu today), and it just wasn’t good. The sea beans and capers are not widely accepted for most people’s palettes, and the dressing was lack-luster. The redeeming item was the fry bread and marinara it came with, which had a bright and rich tomato, basil, and oregano flavor.

Again, don’t let me experience deter you at all. I’m just here to tell you how I had it and give you options! With the newer reviews, I would even consider trying it again, but with so many other options, I’d have to think about it.

6. The Grain Café

The Grain Café is a nice all-around vegan restaurant in Long Beach. It has breakfast, crepes, Mexican, American, pizza, and their signature “grain food/meal.” It has something for everyone, which is why I’m convinced I just haven’t found my “thing” there. I’ve tried many items, which I’ll go into, but I was never quite in love with any of them. I generally liked them, but I wasn’t impressed enough to consider getting them again.

My first foray was two years ago with the breakfast burrito. As I said, it was in no way bad! But it was a standard burrito with tofu, cheese, and veggies. I couldn’t even really taste the cheese, and the flavor was one-note. The different textures of the tempeh, tofu, and veg were pleasing. My mom had the waffle for breakfast instead! We ate at home, and we agreed that the waffle would have been much better at the restaurant fresh.

The next thing I tried was the grain salad. I love that it has spelt berries because they are rare – I didn’t even know they were edible (outside of ground as a flour) until I saw it on their menu! It was a standard salad, and the tempeh on it was yummy. I think I would have been more impressed had I not been craving a specific salad flavor – this salad was good; it just wasn’t the “right” salad!

Of course, I had to try their Cobb salad as well. In case you hadn’t notice, I’m kind of a salad person. I think this salad was great too – the tofu added that nice “egg” texture, the tempeh had a good flavor, and the chicken was a good bite. However, the tempeh bacon didn’t taste much like bacon – it was missing the smokiness and the layers – and there is something in the dressing I am not a fan of. I definitely think it could be a great salad for most people, though.

Another item I tried was their torta, which is no longer on the menu. For a restaurant that doesn’t change their menu, that’s pretty telling. It wasn’t bad, but there was too much bread, and the flavor was completely lost. I think it just needed more filling.

The final item I tried was the build your own grain bowl, which became a standard bowl style meal you can order many places. Satisfying, but not a wow-inducing dish.

The people at the Grain Café are pleasant and professional, and their food is worth trying. I firmly believe they have something for everyone, and they have desserts I never tried to boot!

7. Under the Sun

I’ve had quite a few raw vegan meals and been to many restaurants (around the world), but they’ve got flavors and food down pat at Under the Sun. They have a fairly set menu with specials, a case full of treats, and a small store-like area.

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A few things that aren’t my favorite before I get into the best things: their hummus dip has a weird flavor to me. It has sunflower seeds in it, and I think that’s probably it. In the almond butter cups, they must use oil in the chocolate, and I can taste it because the almond butter cups are too oily for me. From the pictures, I really think it was just too hot and melty. If it was colder, I wouldn’t have noticed the oil! The cucumber cream cheeze roll is bland as well, but worth a try. I enjoyed it, just not as much as their other items!

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Some mid-range items: the original superfood donut bites are made from spirulina, chlorella, chia, cacao nibs, hemp seeds, and maca. Somehow, they are sweet with a strong earthy flavor, and I am super glad I tried the two versions they had (the other has goji berries). Honestly, I am not sure I would get them again, but I would recommend other people try them at least once! Another item I think deserves a mention is the blue moon smoothie. I was obsessed with trying it because it’s blue and uses blue majik powder. It was cool when I had it, but unfortunately completely melted so I didn’t get the full, fresh experience.

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Now on to my favorites! I was intriqued by the idea of a raw BBQ cheezburger – the “Ish” burger! I had one while I was traveling (I think it was in Rome, but I can’t remember), and I hated it. It was dry, brittle, and tasteless. But Under the Sun knows how to food! Yes, that’s being used a verb for impact. The BBQ burger is a mix of textures and flavors and is a fun raw food experience. The same can be said for their amazing crunchwrap.

Alongside the hummus, the double dip came with guacamole, raw chips, and cucumber. My mom liked the guacamole – it wasn’t too spicy, and she was pleased with the texture. She isn’t a fan of raw chips, so she didn’t like those, but I did! They also have specials sometimes, and the time I had them it was tacos. It was called something like 4th (maybe 5th?) street tacos, and I don’t remember the details – but I do remember enjoying them!

The pièce de résistance is their TOS-TA-DA!s. If you recall, my mom can’t handle spice, and many things are too spicy for me too. And these have a kick, but the flavor is so balanced and pleasing that we both love them. There was always at least one tostada on our order, and I rarely wanted to branch out because these were so good (obviously I did!).

8. Rainbow Juices

Rainbow Juices is owned by the same lovely couple who started Under the Sun – I think the juices came first. I don’t typically drink juice, but my mom tried their Green Means Go juice once when she wasn’t feeling well. It has various greens with lemon and parsley. It was different from anything we’ve had, but it made her feel good! For people who like juice, this spot is my choice. Additionally, they have some snacks and packaged goods. I picked up the kale chips (which they also have at Under the Sun) and liked the flavor and crunch.

9. Devi’s Donuts and Sweets

While not technically a vegan restaurant in Long Beach, Devi’s is completely vegan company and they make various vegan donuts and treats. They set up weekly at the Farmer’s Market, and they must be doing something right to still be in business years after I first tried them! We only had Devi’s two years ago, not on the recent trip. But we picked up an Oreo donut at the Sunday Farmer’s Market, and everything about it was good!

10. Pizzanista (omni)

Pizzanista is what it sounds like; a pizza place. Like many pizza places, they also have salads and garlic knots that can be vegan. My mom was craving pizza, and this was the only place open at the time. They have multiple locations, so we thought it would be a safe bet, but we were disappointed. There’s no way to sugar coat it. She had the gluten free vegan cheese pizza and garlic knots (don’t ask me why she had gf pizza, but regular knots… I don’t understand my mom sometimes lol). She didn’t like her pizza crust, which made it hard for her to enjoy the cheese, but I didn’t think it was bad. It definitely didn’t live up to the price tag, though! The knots were oily with no garlic flavor and dry. We couldn’t finish more than half of one each. I got two slices of their special vegan mac and cheese pizza and was disappointed too. I’ll admit, I’m picky about my vegan mac and cheese. I don’t like most versions that I have had. But this one was worse because it was dry, flavorless, and just tasted like oil and noodles on a pizza crust.

Given their success, I must hope this was a fluke. They also charged us extra for pineapple on my mom’s pizza, but we didn’t get any, so maybe something was just off with the staff that night. If you do try it, I hope you have a better experience that’s in line with their reviews!

11. Plant Alchemy (potentially permanently closed)

Plant Alchemy is a pop-up specializing in small batch artisan vegan cheeses, seitans, GF protein substitutes, and more. I learned they are on a hiatus, but I’m not sure how long, so hopefully they come back. We first tried Plant Alchemy at OC VeganFest, but learned they were Long Beach-based! They only had their cheese when we were there, and my mom absolutely loved their cheese spreads, specifically the sharp cheddar and cream cheese. The cheddar was too sharp for me, but it lived up to its name! I wish I had a chance to try their other food, but hopefully they will return from hiatus and you can tell me about it!

Staying in Southern California for a long period of time and looking for things to do? Why not visit Joshua Tree for 1, 2, or even 5 days?

More Options

1. The HipPea

Everything on their menu is vegan, but I never tried them simply because I like my falafel baked, and I assume they fry theirs! It’s a straightforward stop with falafel, hummus, fries, veggies, and cookies made from chickpeas rounding out the full menu.

2. Appu’s (vegetarian)

Appu’s is a vegetarian café that gets rave reviews. They have typical café fare such as soup, salad, and sandwiches with a few Indian/Mexican fusion twists! I’ve read very good things about the lentil soup, and the fusion elements are intriguing.

3. The Wild Chive

I had one chance to try their food, and I missed it. I’m still sad about it. My mom and I drove to Santa Ana for the OC Veganfest, and they were a vendor. They also had an extremely long line, so we decided to visit them another time since they are based in Long Beach. Somehow, despite five more months of being there, we were never able to get food from them. I believe they were working on a storefront location during this time instead of relying on pop-ups, which we didn’t know at the time. From their monte cristo, waffleito, and grilled burrizo creations to standard (not so standard) BLT and breakfast skillet, they are packed with unique dishes, flavor combos, and ideas. I’m jealous of anyone who gets to go to their now-open storefront!

4. Plant Junkie

It’s a juice/smoothie/bowl bar, but it’s all vegan! In addition to the typical juice bar fare, they carry some packaged vegan food as well.

5. VBurger (see, another new place!)

VBurger is an all vegan restaurant in Long Beach that uses popular substitutes like Beyond Meats, Impossible Foods, Just, and Violife. With their punky vibe and dedication to animals, it draws my attention and interest despite preferring housemade patties. They add their own spin on things, though, so let me know how it goes when you visit!

6. Ike’s Love and Sandwiches (omni)

A northern California-based shop that’s made its way throughout the state (and beyond!), Ike’s has sandwiches and options for vegans and omnivores alike. (However, they don’t seem to have a gluten free bread…) They have hundreds of sandwich options that vary by location.

7. Hug Life

Hug Life originated in Garden Grove, but they now have a front in Long Beach – good news for LBC because they have some interesting and unique flavors! Honeydew? Sesame street? How about taro? Cookie butter?? They’ve got all those and more (like the staple chocolate, strawberry, vanilla), and with three locations, I am thinking they have to be doing something right.

8. zpizza (omni)

Another option for vegan pizza in Long Beach is the chain zpizza. Of course, there are many vegan pizza options, like LW pizza, MOD Pizza, and Fat Tomato Pizza, but I delivered zpizza’s on-menu vegan pizza to someone. It smelled great, so I chose to point this one out as another option!

9. Anandamide Psychedelicatessen

They used to be a storefront that sold chocolate and various foods and beverages, but they have since closed. I never tried any of their products, but they are still sold around town (like at Under the Sun) and online, so if you are interested in unique “high vibe” chocolates like maca, hemp, mushrooms, coconut, and more, this place is for you.

10. The Caffeinated Kitchen

I just found out about this wholesaler as I was doing some brushing up for this post, but I wish I had known about them before! Baked vegan donuts made with applesauce? If you try it, let me know. They are found throughout Long Beach and Los Angeles, and you can read exactly where on their site.

11. Fox Coffee House (vegetarian)

Coffee’s vegan. Surprise, right? (Well, most of it is… there’s some made from civet poop. Not sure about the ethics on that one). But the food and pastries are all vegan or vegetarian at Fox Coffee! Usually, all the pastries are vegan, but some of their savory food items have feta or non-vegan dressing.

12. Long Beach Beer Lab (vegetarian)

I love supporting a local establishment, and this one fits the bill. I didn’t visit the Beer Lab because I hadn’t yet found it, but they are an all vegetarian brewery with a menu to go alongside the drinks. There menu is rotating and seasonal, so I don’t know what their typical fare is, but Harmony’s (the chef) bio is enticing and makes me sad I didn’t get to stop by.

13. Salud Juice (vegetarian)

Another juice/smoothie/bowl bar, but this one makes the list because it has a few savory options listed on the menu. I never went, and they do have honey, but their food looks and sounds like it’s worth a try!

This list isn’t exhaustive of options for vegan in Long Beach, California. Rather, it’s a list of my experiences at various vegan restaurants in Long Beach and vegan options. I chose 13 other restaurants to highlight to help get you going farther for being vegan in Long Beach!

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