Happy New Year! Whether you have been clean eating for years or are looking to make a fresh start in 2018, dining opportunities abound. While vegan and gluten free options were once unheard of, many establishments have now built a solid reputation, providing customers with world class options that are delicious and meet specific dietary needs. Here are five of the best clean eating restaurants in the Los Angeles area.
Sqirl

Photo courtesy of Sqirl
Sqirl started as a preserves company in 2011, and over time added breakfast and lunch dining to their 800 square foot space in Los Angeles’ Silver Lake Neighborhood. The selection varies by season, but items to tempt your palate include Gravenstein Apple Butter, Moro Blood Orange Marmalade, or Blenheim Apricot preserve. All of the preserves are made on site using copper jam pans and following centuries old techniques. A variety of fresh drinks, pesto dishes, and vibrant salads round out the menu, which includes vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options.
M Café

Photo courtesy of M Cafe
Drawing on the executive chef’s Japanese heritage and love of world cuisines, M Café is a pioneer of Contemporary Macrobiotic Cuisine. Celebrate the health of the body and mind with this plant focused way of eating. When this cafe opened over a decade ago, kale and quinoa were not the dining staples that they are today. M Café helped change that with dishes like chilled kale salad with spicy peanut dressing. The menu focuses on local, organic, and sustainable sources to create dishes that are creative and flavorful. No red meat, poultry, refined sugars, dairy products, or eggs are used in their cuisine.
Baroo

Photo courtesy of Baroo
Their website explains that “Baroo” means a bowl that Buddhist monks are allowed to possess and use for their every meal throughout their life. The idea is to invoke the notion that food here is served with respect and love for both nature and for people. The restaurant uses local, sustainable, and organic ingredients in their free style experimental kitchen. Dishes are prepared “with wit, open mind, free spirit, and fermentation as much as possible.”
Everytable

Photo courtesy of Everytable
This is food that not only makes you feel good, it helps communities. Everytable’s mission is to provide nutritious fast food at prices that are set by location. The goal is to make healthy food a reality for everyone. The idea grew from founder Sam Polk’s nonprofit Grocerships, which teaches family food providers how to make healthy food shopping choices. The program directors kept hearing that while participants wanted to make healthy foods a part of their lifestyles, fast food was often the quickest, most affordable option for them. Everytable was developed so that community members have access to fast, fresh, healthy food at low prices. Tasty gluten free and vegetarian dishes are on the menu which features a large selection of salads along with delightful international cuisine like Smoked Salmon Bibimbap.
EVO Kitchen

Photo courtesy of EVO Kitchen
This family run restaurant is a locally owned small business that prides itself on being a place where families with all kinds of diners (like their own family) can enjoy a meal out together. Vegans, meat eaters, and gluten free diners are assured that there is something on the menu for everyone. Built to eco-friendly specifications, the business supports organic farmers, local craft beers, and sustainable wineries. The restaurant has made the top ten lists in various local publications, such as Eater LA and LA Weekly. Vegan diners will enjoy the dairy free cheese options as well as the dessert menu, which includes a Vegan Brownie a la mode with Coconut Sorbet.
Did I leave your favorite LA clean eating restaurant off this list? Let me know what it is in the comments so I can give it a try.
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