Santa Monica offers a smaller but surprisingly dependable vegan dining scene, particularly for a coastal destination.
While it doesn’t have the same density of plant-based restaurants as central Los Angeles, what it does offer is a selection of reliable, easy-to-navigate options that work well for both short visits and longer stays.
Across the city, you’ll find a mix of fully vegan restaurants, casual cafés, and spots with clearly marked plant-based menus.
The overall dining style leans toward relaxed, daytime-friendly meals, with plenty of options for breakfast, lunch, and informal dinners near the beach.
What we noticed while exploring Santa Monica was how straightforward vegan dining felt.
Menus are generally clear, portions are satisfying, and there’s enough variety to avoid repetition, even within a compact area.
Below are some of our favorite spots to inspire you while you’re traveling in the area.
Quick Overview
Our top picks for vegan restaurants in Santa Monica include:
- Satdha Plant-Based Thai Kitchen: vegan Thai restaurant offering bold flavors and a strong sit-down dining experience.
- B&T’s Deli: vegan deli known for hearty sandwiches and rich, satisfying flavors.
- Mr. Charlie’s: nostalgic vegan fast food in a casual setting, ideal for quick, indulgent meals.
- Backyard Bowls: naturally vegan-friendly café specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, and lighter meals.
- Sweetgreen: fast-casual spot offering customizable vegan bowls built around fresh ingredients.
- Urth Caffé: popular café with plant-based milk options and a range of vegan-friendly dishes.
- Tender Greens: casual restaurant offering simple, well-prepared meals with vegan options.
These restaurants stand out for consistent menus, clear vegan offerings, and a mix of dining styles that make plant-based eating in Santa Monica easy and reliable.
What to Look for When Choosing Vegan Restaurants in Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s vegan dining scene is compact but varied, with a few useful patterns that stood out while eating across the area:
- Fully vegan restaurants are present but limited, making them easy to prioritize
- Several strong options are clustered around Main Street and the central areas
- Many restaurants focus on casual, daytime dining rather than formal evening meals
- Menus are generally clear and easy to navigate, even when not fully vegan
Best Vegan Restaurants in Santa Monica
Santa Monica’s vegan dining options are relatively concentrated, making it easy to move between locations without needing to travel far.
1. Satdha Plant-Based Thai Kitchen – Fully Vegan Thai Restaurant – 4.5*
Satdha Plant-Based Thai Kitchen offers one of the strongest fully vegan dining experiences in Santa Monica, with a menu built around traditional Thai dishes reimagined using plant-based ingredients.
The restaurant balances bold flavors with a relaxed, comfortable setting that works well for both lunch and dinner.
The menu includes curries, noodle dishes, stir-fries, soups, and rice plates, all clearly presented and easy to navigate.
Many dishes feature rich sauces, fresh herbs, and well-prepared plant-based proteins, resulting in meals that feel both satisfying and flavorful without being overly heavy.
When we visited, we shared the ‘Khao Soi (Thai Curry Ramen)’, some Thai spring rolls, and a number of sides.
The flavors were layered and thoughtfully put together, and the setting made it easy to enjoy a slower, more relaxed meal.
Tip: A must-visit for fully vegan Thai cuisine in Santa Monica.
2. B&T’s Deli – Fully Vegan Deli – 4.7*
B&T’s Deli is a fully vegan deli offering a more local, independent feel compared to larger restaurant concepts in Santa Monica.
It stands out for its focus on hearty, sandwich-based meals that feel substantial and satisfying, making it a strong choice when you’re looking for something more filling than the area’s lighter café options.
The menu focuses on delicious sandwiches and sides built around plant-based meats, house-made components, and bold, well-seasoned flavors.
Many of the sandwiches are generously layered, with sauces and toppings that add depth without overwhelming the overall balance.
When we visited for lunch, we chose ‘The Elpahaba’ and ‘The Susie Green’ sandwiches, as well as a couple of sides.
The portions were generous, and the flavors felt rich and satisfying, making it a standout stop for a more indulgent vegan lunch.
Tip: Ideal for a hearty vegan lunch with a local feel.
3. Mr. Charlie’s – Fully Vegan Fast-Food Restaurant – 4.2*
Mr. Charlie’s offers a fully vegan fast-food experience that recreates familiar burger-style meals using plant-based ingredients, making it one of the most approachable vegan options in Santa Monica.
The concept leans into nostalgia, with a casual, laid-back setting that feels instantly recognizable and easy to step into, even for those new to plant-based dining.
The menu includes burgers, fries, nuggets, and drinks, all made entirely with plant-based ingredients.
Most of the items are designed to closely mirror traditional fast-food flavors and textures that we all know and love.
You can expect bold sauces, soft buns, and well-seasoned components that create a familiar, satisfying experience.
We tried the ‘Not a Cheeseburger’ and the ‘Not a Hamburger’ meals, which came with fries and a drink, as you might expect.
The portions were generous, and the food felt indulgent and satisfying. We’d particularly recommend it as a quick, no-fuss meal between activities or after a day by the beach.
Tip: A great option for quick, nostalgic vegan fast food.
4. Sweetgreen – Restaurant With Vegan Options – 4.4*
Sweetgreen offers a reliable selection of clearly labeled vegan options in a casual, fast-casual setting, making it one of the easiest places in Santa Monica to build a plant-based meal without needing to adapt dishes.
While it is not fully vegan, the menu is structured in a way that makes ordering straightforward and consistent.
The menu focuses on salads and grain bowls built around fresh, seasonal ingredients, with a strong emphasis on vegetables, grains, and house-made dressings.
Vegan diners can choose from pre-designed options or customize their own bowls, combining roasted vegetables, legumes, and plant-based toppings to suit their preferences.
We created a couple of custom bowls with roasted vegetables and plant-based toppings.
The ingredients tasted fresh, and the meal was tasty and satisfying without being too heavy, making it a practical option during a busy day.
Tip: A dependable option for quick, customizable vegan meals.
5. Urth Caffé – Café With Vegan Options – 4.4*
Urth Caffé is a popular Santa Monica café offering a broad, well-established menu with several vegan-friendly dishes and plant-based milk options.
Its central location and relaxed atmosphere make it a convenient stop for coffee, breakfast, or a lighter meal during the day.
The menu includes organic coffee drinks, teas, pastries, breakfast plates, and light café-style dishes.
Vegan options are clearly identifiable, and there’s enough variety to put together a simple meal without needing to make multiple modifications.
We popped in for lunch and grabbed their iconic avocado pizza and an omelet with a plant-based egg substitute.
It worked well as a convenient break, especially when we wanted something quick without committing to a full sit-down meal.
Tip: A good choice for coffee and vegan-friendly café meals.
6. Tocaya – Restaurant With Vegan Options – 4.4*
Tocaya offers a modern, casual dining experience with a menu that includes clearly labeled vegan options inspired by Mexican flavors, making it one of the more straightforward places to order plant-based meals in Santa Monica.
The menu is designed to be flexible, with vegan proteins and clearly marked dishes that remove any guesswork.
The menu includes bowls, tacos, salads, and burritos built around fresh ingredients and plant-based options such as seasoned vegan proteins, beans, and vegetables.
The build-your-own format, alongside pre-designed dishes, makes it easy to customize meals depending on how light or filling you want them to be. Portions are generous, and the flavors lean toward bold, well-seasoned combinations.
We shared a selection of the vegan tacos, as well as a customized bowl with plenty of vegetables.
The food felt fresh and satisfying, and the variety made it easy to put together a balanced meal without overthinking the options.
Tip: A reliable option for casual vegan-friendly Mexican-inspired meals.
7. Kreation Organic Juicery – Juice Bar With Vegan Options – 4.3*
Kreation Organic Juicery offers a range of juices, smoothies, and light plant-based meals, making it a useful option for daytime dining in Santa Monica.
A large portion of the menu is naturally plant-based, and the options are clearly presented, which makes ordering straightforward.
The menu includes cold-pressed juices, smoothies, salads, and simple café-style dishes built around fresh ingredients.
Many of the options lean toward lighter, refreshing combinations, which makes it particularly appealing in the warmer coastal setting.
It works well if you’re looking for something quick between activities or a lighter alternative to a full sit-down meal.
When we visited, we opted for juices and a couple of salads. Everything felt fresh and well prepared, and it worked well as a refreshing break rather than a full meal.
Tip: Ideal for light, plant-based refreshments during the day.
8. Tender Greens – Restaurant With Vegan Options – 4.4*
Tender Greens is a popular casual restaurant in Santa Monica offering a menu built around fresh, seasonal ingredients, with several clearly identifiable vegan options.
It’s not fully vegan, but it provides a reliable and easy-to-navigate choice for plant-based diners.
The menu includes grain bowls, salads, and vegetable-forward plates, many of which are customizable and can be ordered vegan.
The focus on simple, well-prepared ingredients makes it a good option when you want something lighter that still feels like a complete meal.
We made some customized plates, as well as choosing their ‘Happier Vegan’ bowl to share.
The food felt fresh and satisfying without being too heavy, and the atmosphere was lovely.
Tip: A dependable option for a quick, balanced vegan meal in Santa Monica.
9. Backyard Bowls – Café With Vegan Options – 4.5*
Backyard Bowls is a popular Santa Monica café specializing in acai bowls, smoothies, and light plant-based meals, making it one of the most straightforward places to grab a naturally vegan breakfast or lunch.
The focus on simple, whole ingredients fits well with the relaxed, health-conscious feel of the area.
The menu includes acai bowls, smoothies, and juices, many of which are fully vegan without requiring any modifications.
Toppings such as fresh fruit, granola, and nut butters add variety, making it easy to customize your order depending on how light or filling you want your meal to be.
The overall approach leans toward fresh, refreshing dishes rather than heavier options.
When we visited, we shared their ‘Island Bowl’ and a ‘Green Bowl, along with a smoothie each.
We enjoyed everything. It all felt fresh and satisfying, making it an ideal stop earlier in the day or between activities.
Tip: A great choice for a light, refreshing vegan breakfast or lunch in Santa Monica.
Final Thoughts
Santa Monica offers a compact but reliable vegan dining scene, with a mix of fully vegan restaurants, casual cafés, and vegan-friendly menus spread across the city.
From indulgent comfort food and creative sushi to lighter café meals and desserts, there’s enough variety to keep meals interesting throughout your stay.
These restaurants make it easy to enjoy plant-based dining while exploring Santa Monica’s coastal setting.
