The Best Vegan Restaurant in Los Angeles (For People Who Aren’t Even Vegan)
When I tell you guys that Banana Froyo tastes exactly like real ice cream or that a Grain-free English Muffin is just as good as a the regular carb-filled ones, you know that the information is coming from someone who is used to eating healthy foods.
Therefore, if you are someone who eats pretty healthy yourself, you’re likely to appreciate the taste and can trust my judgment. However, if you eat McDonald’s everyday, then my comparisons likely won’t hold true for you.
So when a vegan tells you that a new vegan restaurant in Los Angeles has “the best food ever” — and you’re not vegan — then you’re likely to think, “Yeah, for a vegan.” But, when someone with no dietary strings attached tells you some new vegan restaurant has “the best food ever”… you can take that advice to the bank table.
Let me just say, it’s an understatement when I declare that Gracias Madre is The Best Vegan Restaurant in Los Angeles. Period.
I recently reviewed the hip, West Hollywood Mexican joint for my new column on Fab Fit Fun, Hot & Healthy L.A. Eats.
Within two weeks I’d been in three times — a record for me at any restaurant other than Echi Sushi, especially a vegan one.
The first time I went was to find out what all the fuss was about. People had been buzzing for months about this south-of-the-border style sister restaurant to LA’s favorite, Cafe Gratitude (I mean, even Jessica Alba told me she was itching to try it out).
The food at CG is pretty amazing so a couple of girlfriends and I decided to give it a shot.
The moment we stepped in the door, we knew this was not your average farm-to-table spot. Unlike Cafe Gratitude, with it’s small interior and laid-back hippy vibe, Gracias Madre is a sprawling restaurant with vaulted ceilings and an upscale rustic decor.
Considering the spot was absolutely packed on a Tuesday night at 6 p.m., we knew were were at a place to see and be seen.
Everything on the menu looked amazing so we had to narrow it down and decided to split three dishes: Repollitos Fritos, Enchiladas con Mole, and the Tacos. Oh, and guacamole, you cannot have Mexican food without guacamole. It’s a sin.
While everything tasted phenomenal, I have to note here: just because something is vegan, does not mean it’s diet-friendly.
Gracias Madre found a way to make brussels sprouts (repollitos) appealing to the most picky of eaters, by frying them.
I don’t know what kind of oil they used, so it may be a heart-healthy one, but still. Frying = dietary disaster in my book.
Something you can count on here is that all of the ingredients will be fresh, organic, and locally sourced. They even make their own corn tortillas in the back from stone-ground masa. Which is precisely why the Tacos were my favorite dish of the evening.
With their fresh corn tortillas, seared cauliflower, and cashew cream sauce, they seem like a pretty good option for those watching their waist line. However, I wouldn’t advise going overboard on the cashew sauce.
The next time I visited Gracias Madre was with my friend CJ, a fellow blogger over at The Vegetarian Dude. He too had heard the rave reviews and was dying to check it out.
Again we decided to spilt: the Flautas de Camote and the El Plato.
The flautas were out of this world. Filled with melt-in-your-mouth baked sweet potatoes and oozing with cashew nacho cheese, they were seriously the most amazing dish I’ve had in a while.
And then I realized I’d made the same mistake as the brussels sprouts the time before. They were fried. Drats!
Oh well, the plato — packed with roasted veggies, brown rice, and black beans — balanced it out.
The third time I visited was to impress another vegan friend of mine and show her how ‘in the know’ I am about veggie hot spots.
“Oh, I went here last week,” she told me as we sat down. I guess I should have figured that someone who’s actually vegan has been to the hottest restaurant in town.
This time we gobbled down our dishes — the Tamal and the Insalata Del Invierno — too fast to snap any pictures. She had experienced the same fried guilt I had on my previous visits, so we mutually agreed to get healthier dishes.
A massaged kale salad and a tamale stuffed with butternut squash were the perfect choices for a delicious, but diet-conscious, meal.
As we sipped our wine on the busy outdoor patio, engulfed in twinkly lights and surrounded by an excited crowd of vegans and non-vegans alike, I was thrilled to realize that I now have new staple in my repertoire of healthy restaurants.
Unlike some of my favorite places to eat (like Whole Foods and Erewhon — fancy, huh?), this restaurant actually has enough ambiance to bring friends to, who aren’t simply concerned with the nutritional information on the menu. But, it also has the dishes for those who are.
To sum it up, if you’re looking for flavor, I highly recommend the Flautas or the Mole Enchiladas. Looking for something ‘To Live & Diet in L.A. Approved,’ get the Plato, Tacos, or the Insalata Del Invierno.
Don’t live in L.A. and want a healthy dish at home? Check out the fantastic Greens Con Chile y Ajo recipe that Gracias Madre shared with us at Fab Fit Fun.
Or, make my Mexican Baked Sweet Potato:
Happy Meatless Monday!
*Note: these meals all clearly fall under the “loosely-based” part of my recent grain-free diet attempts.
The vegan 8 says:
I’m soooo jealous and wish I could go there, but I’m in Texas!! :( Everything looks incredible and I will definitely go next time I’m in that area. Thanks for sharing your awesome review!
Whitney English says:
Thank you!!
GiGi Eats Celebrities says:
Echi is feeling incredibly neglected!!!!!! You need to make up your cheating to “him” immediately – And I will come! ha ha ha ha ha!
Do you think if I went to a Vegan restaurant, and brought a can of fish with me… They’d be pissed? LMFAO!
Whitney English says:
Please don’t tell Shane, I don’t want to get blacklisted :)
Ashley @ Brocblog says:
This place looks phenominal Ill have to check it out soon!
Whitney English says:
You do! It’s a MUST in L.A. right now :)
Camille @ Challenge Mantra says:
Great review! My in laws are vegetarian so we’re always looking for a great restaurant for when they visit. We’ll keep this one in mind!
Whitney English says:
This is a good one for impressing in-laws :)
Louise@FitRadiance says:
I’m hoping to visit LA next year at some point (if I can get saving :p), so this list is perfect!! I just wish we had places like that here in Scotland. I don’t know of one vegetarian/vegan place in my small city. Boo!!
Whitney English says:
Aw sad :( Well, in the meantime you should make some tasty vegan at home!!
Ellen says:
I need to get there! Currently my favorite LA spot is Sage…
Whitney English says:
Ohhhh, I’ve heard of Sage! I need to get over there too :)
Ellen says:
Seriously, we gotta get a meal together one of these days! I’ve only been to Sage in Echo Park, we should check out the Culver City one!
Alex @ Kenzie Life says:
Oh wow. That food looks so good that I’m tempted to lick the screen. That was weird. But it really does look fantastic! I love Mexican food and I love it even more when it’s vegan :)
Bethann says:
Gah! I still need to try your Mexican Sweet Potatoes! Also, this place looks AMAZING… like, can-not-really-be-vegan amazing. Where was this place when I went vegan! AZ vegan restaurants have a long way to come! xoxo, BA
Dale Janee says:
Yum! This looks so good Whitney and there are so many times where we’re eating some place new or while traveling and I always order soup or a veggie dish because I’m weird about meat sometimes so Vegan sounds really good to me and all these dishes I’d definitely eat. I like that you point out just because a dish is Vegan doesn’t mean it’s low cal. Congrats on the FabFitFun article too.
xoDale
http://www.savvyspice.com
Lee says:
Hot Damn. I need you to give me a restaurant recommendation list for when I am in LA in 2 weeks!!!!!!! The first photo in this post reminds me of a dish you can get at French Meadow here in Minneapolis. #ILoveFood
Brittany says:
I would do a back hand spring for this food. I don’t have any declared vegan spots in my town, so I venture to Seattle when I need a fix. Mostly for donuts though, always for donuts.
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table says:
That all looks insanely good. Whenever I make it back to LA, I’m going there for sure. And eating the brussels. YOLO! ;)
Kristina @ Damn Ten Pounds says:
LA has all the good stuff! I haven’ found a vegan restaurant in San Diego that I love. To be fair, I haven’t looked that hard. But there was a year where I didn’t eat meat and I wasn’t impressed with the Vegetarian restaurants I did find. They all served mock chicken and other fake meats, instead of being creative with real ingredients. Another reason why LA > San Diego :) And I’ve been to Cafe Gratitude! I’ll put Gracias Madre on my list for next time. Do they allow pregame beers in their parking lot, though??
Courtney Ray says:
This looks delicious! Crossroads restaurant on Melrose is also an amazing vegan option, you have to try it!
Whitney English says:
I’ve been to Crossroads! It was really good and I loved the creativity in their dishes. Only gripe was their portion sizes were a little small for the price. But they had amazing cocktails!
Taylor says:
This looks absolutely amazing and could not have come at a better time. I’m actually making my first trip out to LA this week! :)
Dr. J says:
Well Tastee Buddha was my favorite until a few weeks ago when the owner declared bankruptcy and the Buddha went a very large belly-up lol!
We do have many restaurants that serve vegan entrees, but making it as pure veg. is not an easy thing to do in the South, even in my town.
Brittany @ Barr & Table says:
Oh my gosh I need to come to LA and try all of this! And I definitely think you should come to SF and we can find some fun places to try here too :)
A. Lie says:
Lets be honest this place is sexy yes but food the best ever ??? NOOO WAY it all tastes the same. every dish! Sorry this is not good Mexican food even though it is vegan.
Whitney English says:
We must agree to disagree! This place is my fav. I mean, what other Mexican place is serving up butternut squash?!?!