San Diego in California, USA is a legit paradise for vegans - it's ranked the 9th-best city in the U.S. for animal-friendliness thanks to its abundant vegan restaurants and accessible grocery options! In this blog post, I'm going to touch on both restaurants and groceries and I'll tell you how to veganise traditional San Diegan meals! No matter whether you are travelling to San Diego as a vegan or living in San Diego as a fresh vegan, hopefully this guide will help you.
As always, if you have any tips of your own please contact me and I'll update this! This way we can help fellow vegans and ultimately the animals - cause that's why we do this. Okay, let’s dig into why this city rules for those who unapologetically love animals (and crave delicious eats).
Our Vegan Guide to San Diego
Some Must-Visit Vegan Restaurants & Food Spots
- Donna Jean: Elevated comfort food with generous portions and a rustic, cozy vibe. A local favourite for inventive Italian plant-based eats!
- Kindred (South Park): Gothic-chic bar and restaurant dishing out standout dishes like the ABBA Burger and Memphis BBQ Jackfruit; unforgettable ambiance included;
- Grains: Former vegetarian spot gone all-vegan (nice!) where East-meets-West dishes like noodle bowls and tofu nuggets done right;
- OneWorldbeat Café (Balboa Park): Longtime fixture, now fully vegan. Try Jamaican veggie patties, jerk tofu or Creole gumbo in a chill garden patio setting!
- Plant Power Fast Food: Classic fast food with a vegan twist: burgers, fries, nuggets - all 100% plant-based!
- Eris Vegan Food Co. (Oceanside): Bold comfort food in generous portions (Jughead Burger and adobado seitan tacos highlight the menu);
- Trilogy Sanctuary: Raw-vegan café offering pizzas, wraps, smoothies, and decadent desserts in a boho wellness setting.
Where to Stock Up: Tofu, Lentils & More!
- San Diego Soy Dairy: Local producer of high-protein homemade tofu and soy milk. Great quality and a local favourite!
- Vegan Grocery Store (!): In Hillcrest, XMarket (PlantX’s US flagship) stocks a wide range of vegan products - tempeh, cheeses, wellness items - with delivery available;
- Everyday Grocery Finds: Tofu usually resides in refrigerated “Meatless & Tofu” or natural foods sections - it’s all about checking the fridges!
- For lentils and dried goods any major grocery or health food store in San Diego will carry them; for packaged, ready-to-eat lentil meals, you can use the Lentiful store locator or explore health section racks.
Side note: due to poor public transit infrastructure, most people drive in the USA. With that in mind, it's worth knowing that if you happen to need car accident lawyers San Diego has plenty - just in case the worse should happen. It's better to be over-prepared than under!
San Diego cuisine is bursting with Mexican and coastal inspiration! Here are some iconic dishes and how to make them plant-based:
San Diego’s vegan scene is levelling up the plant-based game, from raw boho cafes to gothic chic burger joints and comfort-food diners! Whether you’re grabbing tofu from a local soy dairy, shopping at a full-on vegan market or enjoying a reinvented California burrito, this city has endless options to delight a discerning vegan palate - for real!
Traditional San Diegan Dishes & How to Veganise Them
San Diego cuisine is bursting with Mexican and coastal inspiration! Here are some iconic dishes and how to make them plant-based:
- California burrito: Replace carne asada with grilled tofu, seasoned jackfruit or seitan; use vegan cheese and sour cream and of course, load up with fries and guac!
- Baja-Style fish tacos: Swap fish for crispy battered cauliflower or hearts of palm strips; pair with tangy vegan crema, cabbage slaw and fresh salsa;
- Mexican pozole verde: A classic hominy stew can go vegan by using vegetable broth, white beans, squash, hominy and roasted chiles - heritage-inspired and perfectly comforting!
- Burger culture: From ABBA Burger at Kindred to Plant Power’s Chickpea Burger, San Diego’s vegan burger game is strong and thus I recommend going out for these instead of making them at home lol.
Wrap Up: Vegan San Diego Advice and Tips
San Diego’s vegan scene is levelling up the plant-based game, from raw boho cafes to gothic chic burger joints and comfort-food diners! Whether you’re grabbing tofu from a local soy dairy, shopping at a full-on vegan market or enjoying a reinvented California burrito, this city has endless options to delight a discerning vegan palate - for real!
