Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal and kosher options across San Diego.
Vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, halal and kosher options across San Diego. including where to go and what to order.
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, with inventive cocktails.
Tip: Death-metal soundtrack and gothic decor are the room's signature; reservations recommended weekends. Late-night vegan kitchen, full bar.
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 Italian comfort food.
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 in La Jolla is the rooftop vegan and organic cafe atop the Girard Avenue yoga studio, with 100 percent plant-based plates, pizzas, smoothies and ocean views.
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 in Ocean Beach is the original San Diego location of the 100 percent plant-based burger-and-shake chain, opened 2015 on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard.
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.
Kindred in South Park, an entirely vegan room, is San Diego's premier vegetarian-friendly destination, drawing both flexitarians and committed vegetarians to its menu.
Tip: Entirely vegetarian and vegan kitchen since 2015. The seasonal tasting menu and the inventive cocktails are the canonical experience. Reservations recommended weekends.
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.
The Gluten Free Baking Company in San Diego is a dedicated gluten-free bakery in Hillcrest, opened February 2020 with a vegan and gluten-free pastry program, cakes a speciality.
Tip: Pre-order cakes for pickup at BCB Cafe on University Avenue; The GF Collective handles the Clairemont facility. Check social before visiting; bakery operates limited hours.
Kabob House in San Diego is a Broadway fully-halal Mediterranean counter, with shawarma, sheesh tawook, gyros and falafel served Arabic and Greek style, certified halal.
Tip: All meat certified halal; alcohol served on premises. Lunch specials are the value pick; the lamb shawarma plate is the menu anchor.
Aladdin in Hillcrest is San Diego's fully-halal Lebanese room on University Avenue, certified halal with mezze, shawarma, kebabs and Lebanese-Mediterranean classics.
Tip: All food certified halal; alcohol served on premises. The mezze platter for two is the strongest table share; lamb shawarma anchors the menu.
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.
Peak food season in San Diego is year-round.
Local dining hours: lunch around 12:30, dinner from 19:30.
service is typically included; small extra is welcome but not expected.
Ask the next local you meet what they would order. San Diego rewards trust.