Welcome to San Pedro! The vegan food scene has changed a bit since I moved here eight years ago – we’ve lost some of my favorites, but gained some new ones, and there are still even more places for me to try. We don’t have any exclusively vegan restaurants at the moment, but many places have dedicated (and delicious) vegan options on their menu. Some spots also have vegan options you kinda have to know to ask for, so my goal with this post is to make some of those a little less secret menu and a little more accessible.. while supporting our local San Pedro businesses!

This guide will continue to evolve, so make sure to check back often, subscribe below, or follow me on Instagram @vegan.dynamite for updates.

DINING 🍴

The Chori-Man

I love everything I’ve ordered from Chori-Man, including their soyrizo burrito, soyrizo chilaquiles, seasoned house-made potato chips (don’t skip these!), agua fresca, and rotating seasonal soups. Their vegan soups are so good I’ve asked if they ever make them in summer, but apparently I have to wait until soup season. 😂 Then I usually order a burrito AND chips AND soup and have leftovers to enjoy!

Saigon Oi Café

Like Chori-Man, you can’t go wrong ordering either of the vegan options at Saigon Oi. I love their tofu banh mi is equally delicious to their vermicelli noodle bowl, it just depends on what I’m in the mood for. They also have Thai tea and Vietnamese iced coffee with non-dairy milk options available – again, depends on what caffeine level I’m in the mood for. 🤪 I love this place, I think my record eating here is 3x in one week, but I’d be willing to break it.

Rumor has it that they may introduce vegan pho at some point, and I’ll be there to try it when they do!

La Siciliana

I have not been here yet, but an online menu shows vegan pizza and pasta with marinara options. The vegan baciata sounds especially interesting: a Sicilian sandwich with arugula tomatoes, olives, artichoke spread & calabrian chile spread.

Omelette & Waffle Shop

I haven’t made it to Omelette & Waffle Shop yet and their extensive menu intimidates me, but I know they’re a San Pedro fixture so I will have to check them out soon! It looks like they offer items such as vegan soyrizo, tofu scramble, and possibly vegan waffles.

Sebastian’s Mediterranean

Hummus, falafel, and tabbouleh are labeled vegan on their menu. So are their roasted brussels sprouts, but I assume you would need to omit parmesan.

The Corner Store

Bummed that I didn’t make it to The Corner Store in their era of vegan cinnamon rolls and meatball subs – I popped in one day and the only vegan item left was the Slim Sailor, an english muffin with tofu, avocado, spinach, cucumber, bell pepper, tomato, and onion. I’ve actually heard within the last couple of weeks, they have updated their menu again and included a couple more vegan-friendly items, so I will update when I’m able to try them.

Baramee Thai

I think this was the first restaurant I tried in Pedro when I moved here, because they were the first one I found with a clearly-labeled vegan option! The classic Thai vegan dish is steamed tofu, spinach, and peanut sauce – I really like it, but my go-to order these days is the drunken noodles with fried tofu, no fish sauce. The last time I ordered, I was told the drunken noodles aren’t made with fish sauce, which is the first time I’ve been told that in years of ordering, so I feel like this might need a follow-up conversation to be sure. They also offer a basic vegan pho with tofu, rice noodles, bean sprouts and onion, but it’s not a must try for me. I also regularly get the fresh Buddha rolls or triangle tofu as an appetizer.

Rex’s Cafe

I haven’t tried Rex’s yet, but they have a few items that can be made vegan (may require modifications) including a veggie burger, breakfast burrito, tofu scramble, and non-dairy milks for coffee.

The Neon Sun

This is a newer spot in town, and I honestly can’t believe I haven’t been here yet – I look forward to trying their vegan empanadas and cauliflower tacos soon! It looks like they’ve also had some rotating vegan items including couscous.

Francesco’s Cafe Italia

They only have one lonely vegan-labeled item on the menu, HOWEVER this is a family-owned business with a vegan in the family, and they do have other vegan options available if you ask. I look forward to dining in next time and reporting back! Until then, Francesco’s bruschetta sandwich is a nice option for a light lunch on-the-go.

Rock’n Juice

They offer smoothies, juices, shots, smoothie bowls, avocado toast, energy balls, and coffee. Some options include honey, but agave is available instead. I usually go for the groupies smoothie with agave, rehab juice, avocado toast, or stage/backstage bowls with agave.

COFFEE & SNACKS ☕️

Sirens

Sirens is a coffee house, but they almost belong in the dining category because they also have pretty tasty and filling vegan breakfast burritos! The two burrito options offered are soyrizo or bulgogi, and they are available in whole or half-portions (shown). I’ve also seen a vegan breakfast sandwich that comes and goes, but I haven’t tried it yet. They also have oatmeal on the menu. My go-to drink orders are the iced vanilla latte with soy, or iced mint tea if I’m feeling a little over-caffeinated that day.

Colossus

Colossus is a woman-owned bakery known for their house-made sourdough bread and pastries, with two locations in San Pedro and one in Long Beach. Some vegan options on rotation include the vegan chocolate chip olive oil cookie, double chocolate cookie, and mixed berry corn cookie – check their online ordering before you visit for a heads up on what they have at the moment. They also have great coffee and teas with almond, oat, and soy options. Several of their breads are listed as vegan including the country levain, cinnamon raisin levain, and olive cumin levain. The staff was very helpful in pointing out vegan options for me, so even though I’m the type of person who likes to know exactly what I can order ahead of time, the rotating menu surprise wasn’t really an issue here – and worth it to try something new!

I can’t find the salad I ordered on their current menu, so I think it may have been seasonal for spring. It was delicious and so pretty, but more of a side salad than a meal (which is why Colossus is in the coffee/snacks section for now – I wouldn’t show up too hungry). I do look forward to popping in more often to explore more of their menu, and see what else might be veganizable.

Hojas Tea House

I usually come here for a lavender iced latte (with soy or oat milk), and their vegan chocolate chip cookie – which is sprinkled with just the right amount of sea salt. It seems like they have a veggie sandwich, possibly salads, and avocado toast that could potentially be made vegan with modifications. I will report back when I find out!

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE..

These didn’t quite fit into the other categories, but there are a few more you should know about:

Crafted at the Port of Los Angeles

Crafted is a maker’s market, and a great spot to just wander and get some steps in. Stop by Crafted if you need a gift or something for yourself, and want to support small businesses – or just browse like you’re in a museum (though you will probably leave with something). Food-wise, my must-try is Salsas Chingona: I love their salsa roja, but their seasonal cranberry chutney in the winter is one of the best things I’ve ever tasted. Don’t forget to grab a bag of their house-made tortilla chips; they’re better than whatever chips you were planning on eating it with at home.

San Pedro Farmers Market

This is a small farmer’s market that takes place on Fridays from 10am to 2pm. I have seen dedicated vegan vendors here in the past, but I’ll need to plan a visit to see what the current options are. Salsas Chingona is also a regular vendor here.

Subterranean Hair

Having a vegan stylist is great when you need vegan hair product recommendations. I’ve seen Mitchel at Subterranean for about a year, and he’s also great if you just want to yap about vegan food, the local music scene, or vegan athletic endeavors. Also love the vibe of the salon, the complementary teas, and I’m always happy with my cuts!

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I hope you found this guide helpful. I will continue to update regularly as I visit more of these restaurants, and find new ones. If you have any local hidden gems I should know about, or would like me to write a guide for another South Bay city, please let me know!