Californian$main-streetDaytime daily; breakfast through late afternoon
Alfalfa on Main Street in Santa Monica builds vegetable-first farmstand plates, salads and breakfast burritos that keep vegetarians fully fed.
Tip: The Ancho Potato breakfast burrito is the local order; it travels well for the four blocks to the sand.
Poke$downtownMon-Fri 10:30-22:00; Sat 11:00-22:00; Sun 11:00-21:00
Sweetfin on Broadway in Santa Monica runs a fully gluten-free poke kitchen, every bowl base, sauce and topping built without wheat from the very start.
Tip: Every bowl base swaps free, so try the kale noodle base; the whole menu is gluten-free by default.
American$$montana-avenueBreakfast and lunch daily
Breakfast by Salt's Cure in Santa Monica griddles gluten-free versions of its oatmeal griddle cakes, ordered like the originals on Montana Avenue.
Tip: Gluten-free and vegan versions of the griddle cakes exist; the counter sells the mix to take home.
Japanese$main-streetTue-Sun 11:00-20:00; closed Mon
Sunny Blue in Santa Monica marks gluten-free omusubi on its Main Street menu, the miso mushroom and spicy salmon rice balls leading the list.
Tip: Miso mushroom is vegetarian and gluten-free; get one spicy salmon for the walk down to the beach.
Mediterranean$ocean-parkDaily 10:00-22:00
Pita House grills certified halal Mediterranean plates on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica, shawarma, falafel and kebabs late into the evening.
Tip: Everything on the menu is certified halal and there is no alcohol; the mixed shawarma plate feeds two.
Middle Eastern$picoDaily 11:00-22:00
Z Garden plates certified halal Middle Eastern food on Pico Boulevard in Santa Monica, Muslim-owned and generous with kebab plates, hummus and saffron rice.
Tip: Portions run huge; a single mixed grill plate with extra garlic sauce covers two people at lunch.