Image via Gracias Madre Facebook
Yes, there is such thing as vegan Mexican food! Gracias Madre in West Hollywood serves up 100 percent organic plant-based goodness while artfully capturing the authentic, bold flavors of Mexican cuisine. Start off with their Quesadillas de Calabaza, made with butternut squash, caramelized onion, cashew nacho cheese and pumpkin seed salsa. Then, try their Enchiladas con Mole Negro made with fried plantains, cashew crema, black beans and sautéed greens. You also might want to make sure that your phone is fully charged because Madre’s house is so beautifully decorated that you’ll find yourself snapping pics of everything. Check out their Instagram to see the vibe.
Image via @thekindsage Instagram
If you decided to cut back on chicken but crave the flavor of wings, you need to try Sage’s 3 Wing Platter: an assortment of buffalo, sweet and sour and barbecue cauliflower wings. You’ll get that same tangy flavor of wings but in a much healthier alternative. Our favorite thing about Sage is that their menu is extensive; they have breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, family style, beer and wine menus! Try anything from the mac ‘n’ cheese pizza to the amazing ginger broccoli fried rice. Sage has four different locations: Culver City, Echo Park,Downtown L.A. and Pasadena. Closing hours vary from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. on weekends if you’re trying to catch a late night bite.
Image via Yelp
It doesn’t get much better than authentic, 100 percent organic and plant-based Japanese cuisine! This Huntington Beach gem is owned and operated by Akira and Ana, two vegan chefs who moved from Japan with the mission of spreading health and happiness to California. When you come and eat here they’re the ones that are in the kitchen cooking for you. Yup, there are no other chefs, waiters or bussers so it truly feels like you’re being welcomed into their home! Their corn chowder is a famous menu item; customers come and order tubs of it to take home. Try out their Japanese curry, ramen and Kobe BBQ bowl and you’ll be wowed. So the next time you visit Surf City, stop by VegiLicious for a unique experience with delicious food and A1 hospitality.
Image via Yelp
Mark Sunday mornings on your calendar because those are the only days that you can catch real delicious vegan brunch served at The Wild Chive. With options such as the Monte Cristo sandwich, stuffed French toast and Wild Chili Waffelito (a cornbread Belgian waffle with tofu scramble, avocado and chili) to name a few, it’s no wonder why it’s already an acclaimed vegan brunch spot in Orange County. Try the Bonjour Manh Mi, a fusion French-Vietnamese sandwich that combines sweet, savory, sour and salty all in one baguette!
Image via Yelp
Lactose intolerant? No problem. Behold, Hug Life, a hip 5-star ice cream parlor in Garden Grove that offers a wide array of fun dairy-free flavors for you to enjoy! The consistency of ice cream here is just as creamy and rich as your Ben and Jerry’s or After’s Ice Cream, you wouldn’t believe it was house-made with 100 percent plant-based ingredients.
Hug Life says that their shop wants to create a movement, “being the change in the world by transforming the way we eat, the way we live our lives and the way we treat each other.” Sound familiar? The store has lyrics from 2Pac’s “Changes”plastered on the wall. Now do you get why they call themselves “Hug Life?”
Which vegan spot are you most interested in trying? Be sure to share your photos and experiences with us by using the hashtag #CampusCropChat on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram, and remember to follow us on Snapchat @ASICPP!
