Climate-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles | Plant-Forward Dining Guide | Balanced

Climate-Friendly Restaurants in Los Angeles: 5 Plant-Forward Spots We Love

Published for LA Climate Week • April 8–15, 2026

Food systems are responsible for roughly one-quarter to one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions. Animal-based foods account for nearly twice the emissions of plant-based foods. But you don’t need a research paper to take action — you just need a good restaurant.

Los Angeles is home to some of the most innovative plant-forward dining in the country, and LA Climate Week (April 8–15, 2026) is the perfect moment to spotlight it.

At Balanced, we work to improve school meal quality, close the fiber gap, and advance plant-forward food environments nationwide. We know that what we eat matters, for both our health and the climate.

Here are five climate-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles

Hey, Sunshine Kitchen — Culver City

Hey, Sunshine Kitchen is a 100% plant-based, non-GMO fast-casual restaurant in Culver City, founded by sisters Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel. The duo spent over 15 years teaching vegan cooking classes through their company Spork Foods before opening the restaurant in 2023.

The menu is approachable and craveable with vibrant bowls, tacos, and sandwiches. My go-to favorite is the Build Your Own bowl with a base of sunshine rice and fresh salad greens, the chickpea patty for my primary plant protein, and black beans, roasted sweet potato, diced cucumber, sautéed cauliflower, caramelized onions, and marinated beets, topped with the tangy carrot vinaigrette, and served with a slice of lime and pickled veggies. I also find myself craving their Spicy Carnitas Tacos stuffed with the most delicious jackfruit regularly. I always order it with a side of sunshine rice and black beans. My husband is a big fan of their Hot Chicken sandwich, featuring their spicy plant-based crispy chicken that delivers serious flavor without the cholesterol from animal protein.

The restaurant also partners with South Bay Parkland Conservancy for pollinator conservation and gives away free pollinator plants every Monday — a small but meaningful commitment to the local ecosystem.

Climate connection: Shifting from animal-based to plant-based proteins is one of the highest-impact individual actions for reducing food-related emissions. Hey, Sunshine Kitchen makes that shift easy and delicious.

3863 Overland Ave, Culver City | heysunshinekitchen.com

Pura Vita — West Hollywood

Pura Vita is the first 100% plant-based Italian restaurant and wine bar in the United States. Chef Tara Punzone, a Brooklyn native who went vegan at age 12, opened the West Hollywood establishment in 2018, serving her family’s traditional Southern Italian recipes with a new spin: every dish is made entirely from plants.

Chef Tara prides herself on making everything from scratch using the highest quality organic and sustainable ingredients, ensuring every bite is good for your body and the planet. I am so fortunate to have shared many meals with loved ones at Pura Vita over the years. Some of my favorite dishes include the Greek Goddess salad with Za'atar Bread, Grilled Broccolini, Cacio E Pepe, Black Magic Lasagna, and their Neapolitan-style San Gennaro pizza. My mom is a fiend for their Polpettine and gluten-free Chocolate Fudge Cake served with raspberry coulis. Keep your eyes peeled for their rotating specials, as you may be lucky enough to experience their unforgettable handmade ravioli dishes featuring peak-season produce.

Pura Vita has been recognized as the Best Italian Restaurant and Best Pizzeria in America by VegNews readers for good reason.

Inspired to make your own plant-based Italian meals at home? Chef Tara recently released her first cookbook, Vegana Italiana, which is filled to the brim with more than 100 recipes!

We're honored to include her family-inspired Giambotta recipe in our Fiber-Rich Meal Guide (download your free digital guide)

Climate connection: There is a misconception that traditional Italian cuisine is dairy and meat-heavy, when the truth is that many regions prominently feature plants. In fact, Sardinia is considered a Blue Zone, with one of the highest concentrations of centenarians in the world! The Sardinian diet is fiber-rich by nature and is centered around legumes, whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and olive oil, with animal products used in small quantities, usually for special occasions.

Pura Vita demonstrates that authentic flavor and cultural tradition don’t require animal agriculture — and the environmental savings are significant. Producing one kilogram of cheese generates up to 21 kg of CO₂ equivalents, whereas plant-based alternatives produce a fraction of that.

8274 Santa Monica Blvd, West Hollywood | puravitalosangeles.com

Cafe Gratitudé — Larchmont Village & Venice

Cafe Gratitudé is an organic, plant-based restaurant with two locations, Larchmont Village and Venice. The restaurant first opened its doors in San Francisco in 2004. Over the last 15 years, Café Gratitude has been a fixture of LA’s plant-forward dining scene, centering seasonal, locally sourced ingredients and a wellness-driven ethos with frequent menu collaborations with incredible folks like Radhi Devlukia. Every dish is named after a positive affirmation, and when dining in, your server will prompt you with a thought-provoking question of the day.

The standout for us is the fiber-packed I Am Grateful bowl, loaded with shredded kale, black beans, and your choice of brown rice, quinoa, or a mix, served with garlic tahini sauce, available at a lower cost than other menu items to ensure access to healthier meals for community members. That deeply resonates with Balanced’s mission: nutrition security means ensuring everyone has access to food that nourishes, regardless of income. In a country where over 95% of Americans fall short on fiber, this dish is a statement about what food access should look like.

Other menu favorites include a wide variety of their bowls, I Am Whole (macrobiotic bowl), I Am Humble (Indian bowl), I Am Loving (veggie grain bowl), as well as their I Am Glorious (blackened tempeh caesar wrap) with a spud-based side. They also feature a range of fresh juices, smoothies, and raw desserts!

Climate connection: Legumes like black beans are among the lowest-emission protein sources available. They also fix nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for synthetic fertilizers — another major source of agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

639 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles | cafegratitude.com

Kitchen Mouse — Highland Park

Kitchen Mouse has been an Eastside neighborhood staple since 2014, and has been described as "part café, part cult classic." With two locations a few doors down from each other, The Cafe is a gluten-free vegetarian full-service restaurant serving breakfast and lunch, and The Bakery boasts gluten-free and traditional pastries, sandwiches, beverages, and more. Owner Erica Daking transformed a former check-cashing storefront into one of LA’s most beloved plant-forward breakfast and lunch spots, with a fully gluten-free kitchen and a menu built around quality produce.

When dining at their café, I opt for the poblano potato mash loaded Breakfast Tacos with a side of cashew queso or their signature Huevos Rancheros, both with their tofu scramble option. Other highlights included their Avocado TLT, Jackfruit Tacos, and Horchata Latté with oat milk and a shot of espresso. My favorite offering at the bakery around the corner is their gluten-free focaccia with plain schmear (cashew cream cheese), cucumber, tomato, and onion.

Kitchen Mouse has drawn a loyal following from families to celebrities, quietly normalizing plant-forward eating as the default — not the exception. They have successfully crafted a vibrant community "where everybody knows your name."

Climate connection: A gluten-free, plant-based menu built around whole grains, legumes, and seasonal vegetables represents some of the lowest-footprint eating available. Kitchen Mouse shows that climate-friendly food can be a neighborhood institution, not a niche concept.

5904 N Figueroa St, Los Angeles (Highland Park) | kitchenmousela.com

Shojin — Culver City

Shojin has been pioneering vegan Japanese cuisine in Los Angeles since 2008, making it one of the city’s longest-running plant-based restaurants. Chef Jun Matoshiro exceptionally leads the kitchen, and the menu is entirely vegan, gluten-free, and organic, rooted in the Japanese Buddhist tradition of shōjin ryōri — the meditative, plant-based cooking practice of Zen monasteries.

Shojin prides itself on making food that is healthy for the mind, body, and soul. Every dish is made from scratch with love, and you leave feeling the difference of functional nourishment. This isn’t vegan sushi trying to imitate fish. Shojin takes the techniques of Japanese cooking and applies them to ingredients like tofu, mushrooms, lotus root, and seasonal vegetables, resulting in dishes like their blowtorched mushroom-based Spicy Baked “Scallop” Roll, Lion's Mane Karaage, Kimchi Lettuce Wraps, and a rotating omakase tasting menu.

Shojin will forever hold a special place in my heart and is the ultimate spot for celebrating special occasions, such as birthdays and anniversaries. It's my absolute favorite place to take people when I want to show off what plant-based eating can be like. My top sushi recommendations are the Dynamite Roll, Purple Treasure Roll (simply the best melt-in-your-mouth miso-glazed eggplant I've ever had), and Pirates of the Crunchy.

The humans behind the restaurant elevate the experience further with their kindness and compassion. It is an experience that is not to be missed! Fun fact: in 2024, I had the honor of winning a customer contest where they featured my Wonderland roll on their menu for a month!

Climate connection: The shōjin ryōri tradition is built on a philosophy of minimal waste and reverence for ingredients — principles that align closely with sustainable food systems. Shojin proves that plant-forward fine dining can be inventive, elegant, and deeply satisfying.

12406 Washington Blvd, Los Angeles (Culver City) | theshojin.com

Why Plant-Forward Dining Matters for the Climate

Plant-forward diets are one of the most effective individual actions for reducing food-related greenhouse gas emissions. Research published in Nature Food found that animal-based foods generate roughly twice the greenhouse gas emissions of plant-based foods. A separate study in Nature Climate Change estimated that global food consumption alone could contribute nearly 1°C of warming by 2100 — but that more than half of that anticipated warming could be avoided through improved production practices, healthier diets, and reduced food waste.

These are the numbers behind every restaurant on this list. And they’re the same numbers behind Balanced’s work to close the fiber gap, improve school meal quality, and expand plant-forward food environments across the country. Climate action isn’t just about energy policy. It’s about what we grow, what we serve, and what we eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does eating plant-based food help the climate?

Eating more plant-based foods reduces demand for animal agriculture, which is responsible for roughly 57% of food-related greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. Plant-based proteins like beans, lentils, and whole grains produce a fraction of the emissions associated with beef, dairy, and other animal products. According to research from the University of Illinois published in Nature Food, shifting toward plant-forward diets is one of the most impactful changes individuals can make to reduce their food-related carbon footprint.

What is the carbon footprint of the food system?

Global food systems are responsible for approximately 25–34% of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, depending on the methodology used. This includes emissions from farming, land-use change, processing, transportation, packaging, and food waste. Within food production, beef is the single largest contributor (roughly 25% of food emissions), followed by rice, dairy, and pork. Reducing consumption of the highest-emission foods — particularly beef and dairy — has the greatest impact on lowering the overall carbon footprint of your diet.

What are the best climate-friendly restaurants in Los Angeles?

Los Angeles is home to many climate-friendly, plant-based restaurants. Standouts include Hey, Sunshine Kitchen (Culver City), a fast-casual spot with non-GMO plant-based bowls and tacos; Pura Vita (West Hollywood), the first all-vegan Italian restaurant in the U.S.; Cafe Gratitude (Larchmont Village and Venice), known for its organic menu and I Am Grateful bowl; Kitchen Mouse (Highland Park), a beloved vegetarian cafe with a fully gluten-free kitchen; and Shojin (Culver City), which has offered vegan Japanese fine dining since 2008. Each restaurant centers on plant-forward ingredients, reducing the carbon footprint of dining out.

Balanced is a nutrition security nonprofit working to improve school meal quality, close the fiber gap, and advance plant-forward food environments.

Learn more at balanced.org.