Cafe Gratitude: What’s Vegetarian Editorial Review

Cafe Gratitude is fully vegan, and that’s not a qualifier buried in the fine print. Every dish on the menu is plant-based, organic, and made without any animal products. You don’t need to ask your server to double-check anything. The chain started in the San Francisco Bay Area in 2004 and has since become one of the most recognized all-vegan restaurants in California, with the Larchmont location opening in 2010 as the first Los Angeles outpost.

The experience is a little different from most restaurants. Your server asks what you’re grateful for when you order, and every dish carries an affirmation name like “I Am Radiant” for the acai bowl or “I Am Caring” for the loaded nachos. Some diners love it. Others find it a bit much. Either way, the food holds up on its own.

What’s vegan and vegetarian at Cafe Gratitude

The entire menu is vegan. No animal products appear anywhere on it, so vegetarians and vegans can order without the usual menu scanning. Gluten-containing items are marked with a “G,” so most unmarked dishes are naturally gluten-free as well. Chef Seizan Dreux Ellis builds the menu around whole, organic ingredients with a focus on flavor alongside nutrition.

You’ll find smoothie bowls, grain bowls, tacos, burgers, pasta, and desserts, all plant-based, across breakfast, brunch, lunch, and dinner. Happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 pm with natural wine, draft beer, and small plates.

Signature dishes to order

The Indian Curry Bowl, red lentil dal with roasted garnet yams, spinach, and coconut mint chutney, comes up in reviews more than almost anything else. It’s filling and well-spiced without being heavy. The acai superfood bowl layers granola, cashews, coconut, banana, and berries over a thick acai base. For a savory brunch option, the pesto vegetable omelet with asparagus, broccolini, spinach, and edamame is a good call.

The loaded nachos with cashew queso fundido and black beans are worth ordering, especially during happy hour when they drop to $10. Waffles and pancakes have drawn consistently strong reviews for actually tasting like the real thing.

How to order

Reservations are available through OpenTable or the Cafe Gratitude website, and weekend brunch is busy enough that booking ahead is worth it. Pickup and delivery are also available if you’d rather skip the dining room. The allergy menu PDF on their website lists common allergens by dish, which is handy to check if you’re working around multiple restrictions.

What to watch out for

Cafe Gratitude states directly on their website that they can’t guarantee protection from cross-contact, and they specifically advise guests with nut or seed allergies not to dine there. The kitchen is entirely vegan, so there’s no animal product cross-contact risk. But shared prep surfaces and a shared fryer are a real concern for anyone with a severe nut allergy.

Prices run higher than a typical cafe. Expect to spend $20 to $35 per person for a full meal. The affirmation-based ordering experience isn’t for everyone, but it’s easy enough to just point at the menu if you’d rather skip it.

Is Cafe Gratitude worth it?

For vegetarians and vegans in Los Angeles, yes. You get a full chef-driven menu built entirely around plant-based eating, with no negotiating around a mostly-omnivore kitchen. The Larchmont location ranks in the top 1% of LA restaurants on TripAdvisor, and a 4.3 Google rating across more than 4,000 reviews points to a reliably good experience. If you want a no-compromise vegetarian meal in LA, this is one of the clearest options on the map.