San Diego has recently seen a surge in the number of vegan pop-up markets and restaurants opening up, catering to the city’s growing plant-based community. Read on for our round up of some of the newest vegan eateries in San Diego that are worth checking out!
The Plot | Instagram
San Diego Vegan Festival
Vegan in San Diego is hosting the first annual San Diego Vegan Festival at Waterfront Park on Saturday, April 15 from 11am-4pm with over 50+ vegan vendors from Southern California and special speaker panels. It’s free to attend! Vegan in San Diego also hosts the First Friday Night Market each month at Grossmont Center in La Mesa.
Vegan Food Pop Up: Three Locations + San Diego EarthFest
This plant-based pop up has expanded from its original location in Encinitas to three spots across San Diego County: Vista, North Park and the newest location, Mujeres Brew House in Barrio Logan.
Vegan Food Pop Up is also the organizer of San Diego EarthFest, a free Earth Day event on April 22 in Balboa Park featuring over 100+ vegan vendors.
Vegan Depot San Diego
After starting out in Balboa Park, Vegan Depot has found a new home at the Moonlight Marketplace in Encinitas, featuring many of your favorite local plant-based vendors along with vegan businesses from OC and Los Angeles. Follow their account on Instagram for the next event.
459 S Coast Hwy 101, Encinitas, Ca 92024
The Radical Beet
The Radical Beet is returning to a new location after temporarily closing its operations at SDSU. The Radical Beet will now serve its burgers, fries, nachos, salads, sandwiches and more alongside Veg’n Out at the San Diego Vegan Market in Mission Gorge.
The Radical Beet, 4606 Mission Gorge Pl Ste A, San Diego, CA 92120
Reda’s Ethopian Cuisine at The Nat
A local market and pop-up staple, Reda’s Ethiopian Cuisine will now be serving its delicious vegan fare at San Diego’s Natural History Museum in Balboa Park starting at the end of April. Stop by to sample plant-based soups, salads + wraps with an Ethiopian twist!
San Diego Natural History Museum, 1788 El Prado, Balboa Park, San Diego, CA 92101
Peace Pies
After a neighboring fire burnt down their Leucadia location in 2019, Peace Pies kept up its operations at its main location in OB, serving unique plant-based raw food pies, sandwiches, salads, desserts and more. Peace Pies plans to return to their Leucadia location in the next few months.
Want to give them a successful start to their return to North County? You can contribute to their GoFundMe to help them get back in business.
The Plot
The popular regenerative farm-to-table restaurant with hearty plant-based dishes is expanding beyond its flagship location in Oceanside. The Plot is opening two more locations, one in Costa Mesa and another in Carlsbad.
The Plot, 1733 S Coast Hwy, Oceanside, CA 92054
Restaurant Closings
Two staples in the plant-based community are shutting their doors. Nomad Vegan Eats, well loved for its gooey vegan cheeze, is wrapping up its business after serving its loyal customers at farmers markets this month. Milo’s Plant-Based Kitchen, one of many popular plant-based bakeries in San Diego, is closing after nearly two years in business.
Ben and Esther’s vegan Jewish deli is also closing its Oceanside location on May 1 but will continue to serve its plant-based bagels, matzo ball soup + more at its San Diego location on El Cajon Blvd near SDSU.
Babe Kombucha is closing its Linda Vista tasting room but will continue its wholesale operations.
El Avocado in La Jolla has also undergone rebranding and is now Banksy Cafe. The restaurant is no longer 100% plant-based but will have some plant-based menu items.
Have a San Diego healthy living news story to share? Send us your tips at hello@locallywell.com
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