Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal and kosher options across San Diego. including where to go and what to order.

Vegan in San Diego

Kindred ★ 4.6

Kindred in San Diego's South Park is a Victorian-gothic vegan cocktail salon and restaurant since 2015, the city's most distinctive plant-based room.

Tip: Death-metal soundtrack and gothic decor are the room's signature; reservations recommended weekends. Late-night vegan kitchen, full bar.

Donna Jean ★ 4.6

Donna Jean in San Diego is Roy Elam's rustic plant-based Italian room on El Cajon Boulevard, voted Best Vegan Restaurant by local press, with seasonal.

Tip: Closed Tuesdays; dinner six nights, brunch Saturday and Sunday 11am-3pm. The wood-fired vegan pizzas are the canonical order, plus seasonal pastas.

Trilogy Sanctuary ★ 4.3

Trilogy Sanctuary in La Jolla is the rooftop vegan and organic cafe atop the Girard Avenue yoga studio, with 100 percent plant-based plates, pizzas.

Tip: Boho-chic rooftop with ocean views; the raw lasagna and acai bowls are the strongest plates. Options gluten-free, soy-free, refined-sugar free.

Plant Power Fast Food ★ 4.0

Plant Power Fast Food in Ocean Beach is the original San Diego location of the 100 percent plant-based burger-and-shake chain, opened 2015 on Sunset Cliffs.

Tip: Open daily 8am-10pm. Vegan breakfast served all day; the Big Zac burger and the chicken sandwich are the menu anchors. Multiple San Diego locations.

Vegetarian

Kindred (vegetarian menu) ★ 4.5

Kindred in South Park, an entirely vegan room, is San Diego's premier vegetarian-friendly destination, drawing both flexitarians and committed vegetarians.

Tip: Entirely vegetarian and vegan kitchen since 2015. The seasonal tasting menu and the inventive cocktails are the canonical experience. Reservations recommended weekends.

Gluten Free in San Diego

Starry Lane Bakery ★ 4.5

Starry Lane Bakery in Hillcrest is a dedicated allergen-free bakery: gluten, soy, dairy, egg, tree-nut, peanut, sesame, fish and shellfish free, also vegan.

Tip: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; open Thursday-Sunday 9am-3pm. No external food allowed in the bakery to protect the safe space. Reservations recommended.

Halal in San Diego

Kabob House ★ 4.0

Kabob House in San Diego is a Broadway fully-halal Mediterranean counter, with shawarma, sheesh tawook, gyros and falafel served Arabic and Greek style.

Tip: All meat certified halal; alcohol served on premises. Lunch specials are the value pick; the lamb shawarma plate is the menu anchor.

Aladdin ★ 4.0

Aladdin in Hillcrest is San Diego's fully-halal Lebanese room on University Avenue, certified halal with mezze, shawarma, kebabs and Lebanese-Mediterranean.

Tip: All food certified halal; alcohol served on premises. The mezze platter for two is the strongest table share; lamb shawarma anchors the menu.

Kosher

Hamitbach ★ 4.0

Hamitbach in Mission Valley is San Diego's kosher Mediterranean and Israeli street-food kitchen, opened 2023, certified by Vaad Harabanim of San Diego.

Tip: Closed Saturday for Shabbat; Friday 10am-3pm only. The shawarma, sabich and Yemenite breads are the menu anchors. Family-friendly room, customisable bowls.

Dietary in San Diego, FAQ

Does San Diego have good vegetarian or vegan food?

TableJourney's San Diego dietary chapter covers vegan, vegetarian, gluten_free, halal, kosher venues, each editor-picked with what to order and how to ask.

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