August 6, 2025

San Diego Vegan Favorites You Might Already Know (And What’s Next)

Shoutout to the legends—now let’s go find the hidden gems!

Okay, let’s get this out of the way: there are some incredible vegan and vegetarian restaurants in San Diego. You probably already know them. You’ve probably already eaten at them. And yes, they’re awesome.

But for now, you won’t be seeing them featured front and center on Sunny Bites.

Why? Because this site isn’t about listing what everyone already knows, it’s about helping you discover plant-based options at places that don’t always show up on vegan guides. It’s about digging a little deeper, celebrating progress over perfection, and proving that you can eat deliciously plant-based food in any corner of the city, even at restaurants that don’t scream “vegan.”

To be clear, I love these places. I support these places. I eat at these places! They’re just not the focus of Sunny Bites right now.

San Diego Plant-Based Faves

Here are a few local legends you’re probably familiar with:

Kindred – goth vibes, great cocktails, and over-the-top vegan fare
Vulture – new kid on the block with some high-end gorgeous food
Tacotarian – delish vegan tacos done right
Evolution Fast Food – comfort food vegan that’s been around forever
Donna Jean – wood-fired pizza and next-level comfort food
The Plot – a zero-waste, fully plant-based experience in Oceanside
Mothership – intergalactic cocktails + Kindred-style fare
Plumeria – a Thai vegetarian staple, always reliable

And if you’re just starting your plant-based journey and want to explore the scene, check out these excellent roundups:

Happy Cow – still the OG vegan/vegetarian restaurant finder
Eater’s Guide to San Diego’s Best Vegan Spots – great list of faves and must-visits
This super recent roundup from GarethEats featuring some of the top vegan restaurants in town

So what will I be covering?

Think:

That taco shop with one secretly amazing cauliflower option
The Italian spot where you can hack the menu into something surprisingly good
That sushi place where the veggie roll doesn’t taste like a sad afterthought
And yes, the places that are trying, even if they’re not quite there yet

This is where the fun is. Be surprised and delighted! And honestly, this is where more people live. This is for those of us figuring it out, one meal at a time, in a non-vegan world.

So don’t worry, legends. I see you. I love you. I’m just headed off the beaten path for now.

And if you ever put something brand-new and mind-blowing on your menu, I might just come running back with a full review.

Stay tuned for the first round of hidden gems—coming very soon!

‍

San Diego Vegan Favorites You Might Already Know (And What’s Next)

Latest Posts