Those looking to adopt a more sustainable diet or limit the amount of meat they consume can participate in Meatless Monday, a campaign developed to improve both the health of individuals and of the planet. Many San Diego restaurants offer hearty and flavorful vegan dishes, making cutting out meat a lot easier. Here are some of the very best vegan options around the city!
Kick off meatless Monday with a healthy, hearty breakfast at Breakfast Republic. Each of their seven locations across the city, from Carmel Valley to Ocean Beach, serves the Soy Chorizo Vegan Bowl. The combination of Mexican rice, black beans, soy chorizo, corn, onions, cilantro, guacamole, pico de gallo and mung bean egg substitute is both filling and oh-so-tasty!
City Tacos has turned up the heat on innovative, delicious and unique bites, including their variety of vegan-friendly tacos. Both the North Park and La Mesa spots feature tacos like the Coliflor, which consists of sautéed spinach, cauliflower, green beans, arugula and garlic topped with tomato and cilantro on a jicama root tortilla. Another meatless option is the Portobello & Vegetables made with grilled baby portobello mushroom, corn, black beans, pasilla chilies, arugula and tomato.
Indulge in Pacific Beach AleHouse’s Vegan Bolognese, a dish so flavorful you won’t believe it doesn’t contain any animal products. Just one taste of the bowl filled with Impossible “Meat,” zesty tomato sauce, garlic, oregano, red pepper flakes, fettuccini and cashew “parmesan” and you’re sure to be hooked.
Typically, Tuesdays are for tacos, but meatless Monday is made easy at South Park’s Del Sur Mexican Cantina. This family-friendly spots strives to offer quality Mexican cuisine with plenty of vegetarian and vegan-friendly options for everyone to enjoy. Stop in to savor the adobo marinated Jackfruit Tacos, which can be prepared vegan upon request. Del Sur also serves veggie burritos, grilled cactus tacos, vegetable enchiladas and Vegan Ceviche, made with pickled cauliflower in a citrus marinade with cucumber, peppers, red onion, sliced serrano peppers and avocado.
Celebrate meatless Monday near the beach by enjoying lunch or dinner at Miss B’s Coconut Club! This island-inspired eatery and bar takes pride in their many savory seafood plates, but also offers options for those who don’t consume meat. Try the Coconut-Mango Rice and Beans Bowl. Sofrito rice and seasoned black beans are served with house chipotle sauce, caramelized onions and peppers, and chipotle salsa.
East Village’s newest addition, WhipHand American Brasserie + Beer Bank, also boasts delicious vegan dishes. Chef Quinnton Austin added a Vegan Double Cheeseburger Wrap to his menu, made with ground impossible beef, bibb lettuce and cashew cheese. Swing by during their newly established happy hour, which is Monday through Friday from 3 p.m. 6 p.m. for food specials and $6 house cocktails or $5 wells and house wine.
Mendocino Farms Del Mar is celebrating “Meatless Monday” by launching their La Reina Impossible Burger, a new vegetarian option that will make any one want to cheat on beef. The burger is made with their house made southwestern spiced Impossible burger vegetarian patty topped with tomato cayenne Chao cheese, chipotle thousand island, candied fresno chilis, tomatoes, red onions, and butter lettuce on a toasted plant-based brioche bun. Impossible meat boasts comparable protein and iron as beef while containing 0mg cholesterol and 35% less fat.
