Countries 
Before we begin, I have to give a shoutout to my (literal) bro on the West Coat, Naveen. One of the things I admire most about him – aside from his uncanny ability to put up with my nonsense and shenanigans – is his commitment to healthy living. That commitment is evident in his natural skincare business, as well as his diet and lifestyle. I wish I had his willpower. Luckily, I do have him as a culinary guide, whenever I’m out in L.A. Here are some of the best health food spots that he turned me onto.
Honey Hi
To me, Honey Hi, in the trendy Echo Park neighborhood, epitomizes L.A.’s health food scene. This is a sunny, friendly cafe that is committed to organic sourcing and clean eating. The food here – served every day from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., tends to be fresh and seasonal. And super local: much of their produce is grown on small farms within Echo Park! They also avoid additives and refined sugar–my kind of place! And while you can find meat on the menu, there are also plenty of vegetarian/vegan dishes. Honey Hi has something (healthy) for everyone.
Tulsi Indian Eatery
With three locations in Greater Los Angeles (downtown, Westwood, and Northridge), Tulsi Indian Eatery is building a local culinary empire, one healthy Indian dish at a time. Most Indian restaurants have a long list of vegetarian options (one of the reasons I love the cuisine so much), but at Tulsi, everything on the menu is plant-based. You’ll find all regions of India represented in the dishes at Tulsi, as well as some items that are unique to the restaurant. The latter dishes are called “influencers” on the menu, and include such stellar creations as Paneer Tikka Tacos (say that three times, fast) and french fries smothered in tikka masala sauce. Whatever you order here, you can be sure that it will be fresh and healthy.
Forage
Located in the hip Silverlake neighborhood (Naveen takes me to all the coolest places), Forage is another restaurant committed to fresh, seasonal produce. Forage’s eclectic menu features dishes like Korean Fried Chicken, Salmon Belly Tacos, and a vegan Yellow Coconut Curry, just to name a few. Forage is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, meaning you can eat healthy for every meal in Silverlake. And once you’ve had the fresh, flavorful food at this family-owned restaurant, you will probably want to return for your next meal.
Sun Cafe Organics
Sun Cafe Organics, in Studio City, is one of my new favorite spots in Southern California. For one thing, I like to eat outdoors as much as I can when I am in LA, since I hardly ever get to see this much sun in New York. True to its name, Sun Cafe has some beautiful outdoor seating on its sunny patio. It also has a “100% plant-based dairy-free menu,” exactly what I am looking for in a restaurant! And this restaurant is proof that a vegan menu doesn’t have to be a culinary snoozefest. They serve colorful, creative dishes like Tomato Veggie Risotto; a margherita pizza with cashew cheese (yum); and a spicy take on a sushi roll, complete with cucumber, avocado, and mushrooms. And best of all, nearly all of their vegan substitutes are scratch-made.
Sage Plant Based Bistro & Brewery
Beer and health food rarely go hand-in-hand, which is why it was so refreshing to see a place like Sage. With locations in Pasadena and Echo Park (as well as a takeout spot in Culver City) this Southern California gem shouldn’t be too hard to find. And, let me tell you, this place is committed to organic eating: they even use their food scraps as compost in their organic farms! The fun menu of plant-based pub food (think Cauliflower “Wings” and Jackfruit “Crab” Cakes) goes great with their organic, seasonal beers. Naveen and I washed a couple down after a long day of exploring LA.
I expect to get a text from Naveen with at least three more awesome LA health food spots that he’s discovered since I returned from my trip. In the meantime, I am glad that these places are now part of my LA repertoire. I would love to know some of your favorite spots!
If you enjoyed this article or have suggestions on how we can improve it, please leave us a comment below. Also, make sure to check out other articles I’ve created or stories I’ve written about food culture – here.
