Cuisine Scene: Vegan
It’s a measure of how big and varied the Long Beach vegan restaurant scene is that it is not only enjoyed by people who call themselves vegan, but also retains a robust local following among vegetarians and even (gasp!) meat eaters. They are too good, too sophisticated and too wide ranging to appeal only to vegans, offering everything from ethnic interpretation, strictly raw selections, to incredible sweets and desserts.
The Wild Brunch
Hyper-popular The Wild Chive (2650 E. Broadway) is the creation of beloved chef Soozee Nguyen, who has traveled a long road to get her innovative cuisine into a permanent space. After sharing space at coffee houses, gift shops, and farmers markets, Wild Chive now calls the Broadway corridor – well known for exceptional eateries – home. Its brunch has become the stuff of legend. Items such as French Toast stuffed with fresh strawberries, bananas, and house-made chocolate hazelnut spread, and a Breakfast Banh Mi filled with tofu, tempeh bacon and ham, and pickled veggies, just scratch the delicious surface.
The Classic
Celebrating its 10th anniversary at its current location, Seabirds Kitchen (975 E. Fourth St.) really brought vegan cuisine into the Long Beach mainstream. Though the restaurant boasts a wide-ranging menu including Mac and Cheese, Cauliflower Ceviche and Kimchi Tacos, what caught locals’ attention was the restaurant’s incredible brunch – maple drizzled, rosemary cheddar Biscuit Bombs, Avo-Lemon Toast with Broccolini – that’s rotated frequently to take advantage of the freshest ingredients.
Keeping it Raw
Creators Chrissy Cox’s and Dawna Bass’s desire to have Under The Sun (244 E. Third St.) be someplace that not only served raw food that was delicious but also supported health and happiness led to a menu of exclusively organic, living foods, consciously prepared under 118 degrees to ensure it is rich in enzymes, vitamins and minerals. That menu takes advantage of local produce and herbs. If it all sounds a bit academic, it won’t when you’re enjoying the Mango Taco, Papaya Sushi, or incredible Guava Cheesecake.
Fast Food
Growing vegan chain Plant Power (5095 E. Pacific Coast Hwy.) features fast food staples as “Bacon” Burgers and “Chicken” Nuggets, along with Avocado Wraps and Kombucha Floats. V Burger (420 Cherry Ave.), with a stated goal of bringing great vegan burgers to the masses without compromising on taste, is a recent addition to the Long Beach landscape and has Impossible Burgers, Vegan Hot Dogs, Mac and Cheese and Chili. HipPea (2023 E. Fourth St.) is a small shop connected to the Art Theater featuring a small menu of falafel – made fresh to order – hummus, and pita. Chef Vered Azari uses his grandmother’s falafel recipe – it’s Egyptian but served Israeli-style – of chickpeas, herbs and spices, with its green color emanating mostly from the parsley.
Wide Ranging
If you want a one-stop vegan shop, check out Ahimsa (340 E. Fourth St.) and Grain Cafe (4403 E. Fourth St.) which have a plethora of delicious choices. Ahimsa’s menu has rock-ribbed fare such as Buffalo Wings, Spring Rolls, Nachos, Burgers and BLTs. Grain Cafe reflects chef Myra Garcia Oaxacan roots – try the burrito drenched in Mole Negro – but also has burgers and pesto pasta. And it has plenty of sweet options including an incredible Strawberry Almond Cake.
The Sweets Life
Eating vegan doesn’t mean having to sacrifice anything when it comes to taste or fun. Hug Life (2707 E. Fourth St.) with everything from milkshakes to ice cream tacos – folded beauties filled with three scoops of ice cream and then topped with condensed coconut milk—proclaims itself the anti-dairy creamery and offers an array of flavors: Vietnamese coffee, mango and chamoy and roasted black sesame seed, among them. Baked Vegan Sweets (718 Orange Ave.) features not only cakes but daily items such as cupcakes, brownies and “cakesickles” as well as a Sunday Brunch menu featuring Pop Tarts as well as a Bacon Egg and Cheese Hot Pocket.