40 Things I Desperately Want to Eat at Los Angeles’ Hottest Vegan Festival

When I first accepted an internship at VegNews in 2015, back when I was a fresh-out-of-college San Francisco transplant, I was beaming. I’d get to put my writing to the test for a national magazine. I’d be able to work for an all-vegan company working to mainstream plant-based living to the masses. But above all, I’d get to eat.

Fast-forward to 2018 and the VegNews editorial offices have moved to my native Los Angeles, where my passion for vegan food will be put to the ultimate test this weekend at Eat Drink Vegan. We’re the official magazine and media partner of the massive festival featuring more than 100 restaurants and food vendors, including big-time vegan names (like Minneapolis-based artisan meat and cheese-makers The Herbivorous Butcher; legendary Austin comfort-food cult-favorite Arlo’s; and all the way from London: Temple of Seitan—the masters of vegan fried chicken), local LA hot spots (such as makers of my favorite torta Vegatinos; vegan egg wizards Ramen Hood; and nacho boat-slinging rising stars Cena Vegan), as well as the one company for which I’m a certified groupie … Kelly’s Croutons.

But of course, it’s not just about my taste buds. I’m going to Eat Drink Vegan with a mission: to show off how mouthwatering, mesmerizing, satisfying, fun, and inventive vegan food is. You can follow the VegNews team’s coverage on Instagram, and if you want to send positive thoughts and energy to my waistline, I’ll take that, too. Here are 40 of the things I’m hoping to snag this year.

Photo courtesy of Charly’s Vegan Tacos

1. 12-hour-crafted vegan street tacos from Charly’s Vegan Tacos, of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula

 

Photo courtesy of The Herbivorous Butcher

2. The Country Fried Steak Doubles Down, with country-fried Ribeye Steak “buns” hickory bacon, eggy tofu, and sausage gravy, from The Herbivorous Butcher of Minneapolis

 

Photo courtesy of maloacamilee

3. Elote Dog, featuring a vegan frankfurter, grilled street corn, mayonnaise, cayenne, green onion, and lime, from Seattle’s Cycle Dogs

 

Photo courtesy of Shake Shack

4. Black bean vegan veggie burger from NYC mainstay Shake Shack

 

Photo courtesy of hibbyvegan

5. Popcorn chicken from London’s Temple of Seitan

 

Photo courtesy of vegangirl4ever

6. Organic almond-cashew soft-serve from Glendale’s Yoga-Urt

 

Photo courtesy of mirandasmunchies

7. Hot sauce-doused Nashville Hot Shrooms from San Diego’s Donna Jean

 

Photo courtesy of silviaryan

8. Mac Balls from the Pacific Northwest’s favorite vegan bar No Bones Beach Club

 

Photo courtesy of Virtuous Pie

9. Stranger Wings pizza from Portland’s Virtuous Pie, the 2017 VegNews Veggie Award winner for Restaurant of the Year

 

Photo courtesy of VegNews

10. Jackfruit rib plate from LA-based catering service Compton Vegan

 

Photo courtesy of Afters Ice Cream

11. Choco Monster Milky Bun with chocolate ice cream, housemade vegan chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, and chocolate fudge from SoCal ice cream shop Afters Ice Cream

 

Photo courtesy of Arlo’s

12. Mac and Cheeze Burger from Austin food truck Arlo’s

 

Photo courtesy of la_veganita

13. Toasted Ravioli from Orange County makers of “experimental plant-based dishes” Jayce Lab

 

Photo courtesy of charlieharrisphotos

14. Cheese whiz-loaded vegan cheeseteaks from London’s Jake’s Vegan Steaks

 

Photo courtesy of Mandoline Grill

15. Saigon Fries from LA-Orange County food truck Mandoline Grill

 

Photo courtesy of 

16. Nashville Hot ChK’N Fried Tofu from Chickpea and Olive in New York City

 

Photo courtesy of vegancatman

17. Thin-crust vegan pizza from the Pacific Northwest’s Sizzle Pie

 

Photo courtesy of Club Mexicana

18. Deep Fried Cheeze Fries from London’s Club Mexicana

 

Photo courtesy of losvegangeles

19. Miso Katsu Vegan Dog from LA’s Sumo Dog

 

Photo courtesy of shojinlove

20. Vegan sushi from Shojin in LA

 

Photo courtesy of Clara Cakes

21. Chocolate chip cannoli from California-based baker Clara Cakes

 

Photo courtesy of Nada Moo

22. Coconut milk ice cream from Austin ice cream company Nada Moo

 

Photo courtesy of maui_blu

23. Vegan brunch and breakfast sandwiches from Orange County-based restaurant Seabirds Kitchen

 

Photo courtesy of Donut Friend

24. Glazed doughnut ice cream sandwiches from Donut Friend in LA’s Highland Park

 

Photo courtesy of Vibe Organic Kitchen & Juice

25. Roaster butternut, ginger carrot, and avocado veggie bowls from Vibe Organic Kitchen & Juice

 

Photo courtesy of Monty’s Good Burger

26. Double Impossible Burgers from Riverside, CA’s Monty’s Good Burger

 

Photo courtesy of hardcoreherbivore

27. Sriracha-jalapeno-topped macaroni and cheese pizza from Long Beach’s Pizzanista

 

Photo courtesy of Vegatinos

28. CBD-infused flan from LA-based pop-up Vegatinos

 

Photo courtesy of Little Pine

29. Sausage breakfast sliders on za’atar pretzel buns from Little Pine in LA’s Silver Lake

 

Photo courtesy of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

30. Honeycomb-black ash Dark Matter ice cream from New York-based creamery Van Leeuwen Ice Cream

 

Photo courtesy of veganstreetfair

31. Plantain Picadillo Nachos from LA’s vegan Cuban eatery Señoreata 

 

Photo courtesy of Pomodoro E Basillico

32. The Brit, featuring kombuca and beer-battered fried tofu, “guaca-peas,” and tartar sauce from London’s Pomodoro E Basillico

 

Photo courtesy of Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

33. Jackfruit and fried avocado tacos from LA’s Sage Organic Vegan Bistro

 

Photo courtesy of The Vurger Co.

34. Chloe’s Truffle CheeseVurger, with truffle cheese, smashed avocado, and caramelized onions from London’s The Vurger Co. and Chef Chloe Coscarelli

 

 

Photo courtesy of meganmarlow

35. Coconut ice cream from Hollywood ice cream shop Cocobella Creamery

 

Photo courtesy of Sgaia’s Vegan Meats

36. Breakfast brioche with vegan bacon, panko-crusted egg, haggis, hollandaise, and watercress from Sgaia’s Vegan Meats in Scotland

 

Photo courtesy of adrianosis

37. Garlic ramen from LA’s all-vegan ramen shop Ramen Hood

 

Photo courtesy of nishabalsara

38. Mac and Cheese Bites from LA vegan food truck Word of Mouth

 

Photo courtesy of Charlie’s Brownies

39. Gourmet vegan brownie sundaes from Charlie’s Brownies in Los Angeles

 

Photo courtesy of forkmeetsfood

40. Fully loaded Nacho Boats from LA’s Cena Vegan

Richie Bowie is VegNews’ Associate Editor whose first three stops at Eat Drink Vegan will be Cycle Dogs, The Vurger Co., and Virtuous Pie.