Eve in Encinitas has closed but its crew has reassembled under a new name and is operating out of the Living Tea Kombucha tap room where they serve a menu of vegan burgers, tacos, and pizza. Those nostalgic for their former restaurant can find comfort in the familiar Havana Affair bowl with coconut rice, stewed black beans, plantains, and mojo sauce.

Founded by San Diego power couple Jessica and Davin Waite, this Oceanside spot offers dishes built on vegetables that still satisfy even the staunchest omnivore. Start with dishes like the lion’s mane mushroom “crab cakes” or a kale salad topped with pastrami-spice marinated beets. But be sure to save room for entrees like the shepherd’s pie which, even meatless, is one of the best versions in San Diego.

Mexico City natives Mario and Veronica Cabrera bring vegan favorites to their corner of a Vista strip mall. Starting at 8 a.m., find organic coffee and filling vegan breakfast offerings like their Morning Glory breakfast burrito, beetroot hummus toast with micro greens, or arguably the best vegan chilaquiles in San Diego.

Complex spices thread throughout each of Kanta Jina’s dishes at this Miramar spot. Thalis change daily but might include seasonal curries like corn methi malai (fenugreek and corn curry) and achari aloo gobi (spiced cauliflower). The generous chaat menu (Indian street food and snacks) ranges from samosas smothered in chutney to vada pav, a potato patty sandwich with cilantro, garlic, and tamarind.

Tucked between storefronts, a long hall leads into the cozy covered patio at this La Jolla cafe where chef Martin Hall whips organic vegetables into soups and sandwiches that showcase seasonality, from the popular Bombay burger to the loaded Full Tank spicy hummus sandwich. Even the side salad accompanying most dishes is boldly crafted, with dressed cabbage, delicate pea tendrils, and a scattering of roasted fennel, sesame, and sunflower seeds.

Though Maya’s Cookies is renowned nationwide, local folks are lucky enough to purchase these stellar treats directly from the bakery. Favorites include the Chocolate Chip S’mores and Brown Sugar Butterscotch which are available individually or as boxed sets. The bakery also offers Oatly soft-serve ice cream with an array of toppings that include a mini chocolate chip cookie.

If your local coffee shop serves vegan pastries, there is a good chance they come from the kitchen of Vanessa Corrales. The talented baker turns out trays of fresh, seasonal creations, from mango blackberry kouign twists to classic chocolate or almond stuffed croissants.

Lumi alum Justin Ramirez produces a stunning array of vegan sushi from his College Area ghost kitchen. Though there is no dining in, pick-up or delivery is seamless. The menu ranges from classic rolls with avocado or shiitake mushrooms to intricate creations like the Ritz with “shrimp” tempura topped with a hyper-realistic “smoked salmon”, spicy mayo, and thin slices of lemon.

When the daughter of Pimwara “Patty” Thongchua, owner of the Thai Joint, went vegetarian, she created this spot that serves meat- and fish sauce-free creations. Plumeria’s menu is filled with all the familiar Thai dishes, from pad thai to Panang, veganized (except for one vegetarian appetizer). The mock duck larb is a standout starter, with lime and soy sauce-soaked seitan tossed with onions, chilies, cilantro, and a dusting of roasted rice powder.

There’s no such thing as too many tacos, especially vegan ones. Expanded from Las Vegas in 2022, this North Park hotspot serves house-made seitan al pastor and mushrooms asada tacos folded into corn tortillas. The menu also offers flautas, burritos, and quesadillas plus margaritas (or aguas frescas) to top off a meal.

A steady presence at a North Park gas station, this popular food truck serves affordable and filling vegan street food, including classic, jalapeno, and Korean (studded with chopped fries and panko and rolled in sugar) corndogs along with unique burgers smothered in chili cheese or kimchi with pickled jalapenos.

After a flood shut down the bakery for six months, it finally reopened in March 2023. The fully remodeled Hillcrest bakery turns out top-quality vegan versions of classic pastries, from almond croissants to chocolate brioche knots. If you spot the croissant muffin, crowned with caramelized sugar and seasonal fruit, be sure to order it.

Scratch-made sauces and seasonal vegetables fill the menu of chef Roy Elam’s restaurant. Crushed California tomatoes and local Scratch House cheese are featured on pizzas, the centerpiece of the menu. Not to be missed are the seasonal pastas, like hand-rolled strozzapreti with broccolini and white wine garlic cream, or the Really Good Salad with pickled raisins, shaved carrots, radishes, and toasted pistachios.

One of San Diego’s oldest vegetarian restaurants went fully vegan during the winter of 2020. Centered in the heart of Balboa Park, it offers an array of vegetable-based soul food via dishes like Jamaican veggie patties filled with spicy cabbage or jerk tofu or Louisiana Creole gumbo with collard greens and salad.

The recently-revamped menu adds more shareable dishes, like the hexagon of black marble holding BBQ yuba, shawarma-style Impossible, and house-made classic seitan skewers and torched carrots with cannellini pate. Cocktails (or mocktails) are a must. Both offer curious creations with titillating ingredients like their pineapple turmeric shrub and ktult plum tincture.