Post Punk Kitchen Forum

A friend is taking me to see the Monkees' dress rehearsal for their upcoming tour this week, and we're trying to find a place that's ideally both vegan- and omni-friendly* and doesn't take us a million miles out of our way. We haven't decided whether to take the inland route or the coast; answers to this question could determine that,

*Friend is a really picky eater, and the one time I took her to a vegan restaurant it was dreadful (although I've eaten there for decades and this was the only time it sucked) so I'm trying to manage her vegan-food introduction very carefully. If the only vegan-friendly places are entirely vegan that's OK though.

I find that it's really hard to find vegan food in the Inland Empire if you take 15. Corona/Elsinore/Temecula, not so vegan friendly.

There is a Rutabegorz right off the 5 in Orange County that is supposed to be vegan & omni friendly. http://www.rutabegorz.com/

And there are a couple Native Foods in the OC as well.

I would probably stop in orange country. There's are Veggie Grills right off 405 by UCI and Irvine Spectrum & there is also a veg Thai place called Wheel of Life in Irvine. Several other restaurants are veg in OC as well -- Loving Hut in Huntingon Beach, and Mother's (vegetarian) which has 2 locations in both HB and Irvine. These are all vegan or vegetarian but I think theyre very safe bets for omnivores. I lived in Vista...there are not a lot of veg friendly options in North County. There's a place in Oceanside called Hill St. Cafe (on Hwy 1) that is veg and omni friendly and sorta crunchy hippie. I used to go there all the time. It's very cute and would be on your way. I think all the places I mentioned have an online presence so maybe you and your friend can look at their menus and figure out what would satisfy you both.

Everything I mentioned is the coastal route. I dont think youll have a lot of options off 15. Maybe someone can pipe up about options in Riverside or Temecula. I know there are veg friendly places there but I've never tried them.

ETA: I really like the Native Foods in Costa Mesa but any picky omni I've taken there has not been too happy. I think it's too vegan, ifyaknowhadimean.

This is incredibly helpful - thanks, you guys!

I think my favorite thing when visiting is Soup Plantation but that is because I love salad that I don't have to chop. They usually have a vegan soup and their sourdough bread is good. Escondido and Carlsbad have one. But if neither of you like soup or salad then...

There is a Colima's in Vista off of 78 that swears that their beans are lard free. Their rice is made with chicken stock so if you wanted a quick burrito that could be an option.

I just noticed that Wahoo's fish tacos have tofu? They used to be my favorite place to go in college and beyond. They have a variety of locations (mostly in OC) so that might be an option as well.

Looking at Happy Cow, I don't see anything else that really sticks out.

My parents live in Temecula (I grew up in Wildomar a couple towns over). Going out to eat there is a pain in the butt. You ask the waiter if they have anything vegan friendly and they look at you like you just sprouted horns out of your head.

There is one vegan friendly place off of Winchester on the 15 but I do not recommend it. The service was awful and the food was not good at all.

I do remember now that there is an Italian place in old town Murrieta who told me back in Feb that they would be adding a few vegan items because the owner had recently gone vegan. Not sure where they stand with that now. At the time they were very nice to make me an awesome off the menu pasta dish for me. I think it was called Anthony's.

Thanks!

I think the veg san diego website might have some escondido options

http://vegsandiego.com/

Thanks, everyone! A plan is slowly coming together...

I live in Orange County, and I live with an Omni that hates going to all-vegan restaurants. He does not like Veggie Grill or Native Foods. (sucks for me, those places are great)

He does love the pho at Loving Hut though.

Well crepe. I just wrote this huge thing about all these awesome vegan friendly Omni places in South Orange County, and I just realized you will be going to Escondito, and not coming this way.

If you can make it all the way to Escondido, I would recommend Stone Brewery.
http://www.stonebrew.com/
AMAZING beer. Great location (it is actually IN Escondido), and the garden is really beautiful. We always eat out there.
And they have a vegetarian menu, and can very easily accomodate Vegans.
They even have a Tempeh Shepherdess Pie on the menu, which I am 99% sure is the recipe from Veganomicon.

Thanks again! We ended up at Hill St. Cafe, where (after all that) my omni friend ended up ordering accidentally vegan anyway (mushroom stir-fry; I got the potato-spinach wrap). We were both very happy with our meals!

Cool, I might have to try that place. I always see it but wouldn't think of going there. It is a shame they renamed the street, I liked when it was called Hill St.

Glad it worked out for you guys. I ate there a lot as a baby vegan and then would go down the street to buy nooch at Cream of the Crop. Good memories!