9 Allergy Friendly Los Angeles Restaurants
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Sage Organic Vegan Bistro offers fresh, quality vegan options that are also often gluten-free, and free of many other allergens (@SageVegan/Twitter).
There are those who are diagnosed with life-threatening allergies, such as peanut allergies, which can cause throat-swelling and other complications when the offensive food is consumed. These require vigilance due to common cross-contamination in restaurants and dangerous errors that are made by friends and family members.
Other allergies are not necessarily diagnosed by a doctor, but are foods that people have decided to avoid because they have determined these foods do not sit well with their digestive systems. While not as dangerous or problematic as a diagnosed allergy, these food sensitivities can still cause complications when eating out.
There are many common food intolerances and allergies at this point, leading many restaurants to figure out ways to accomodate sensitive diners. Many chain restaurants have taken up creating separate menus for gluten-free eaters, and others have coded their menus to indicate different options that are vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free, gluten-free and soy-free. These are the most common dietary issues, and restaurants have taken note.
Smaller restaurants have jumped on the bandwagon as well, some opening exclusively to tend to food allergies. Many gluten-free and vegan restaurants have opened, as well as those catering to the macrobiotic lifestyle and the raw diet.
Los Angeles, a city both famous and infamous for its health-conscious attitude, is at the epicenter of this restaurant takeover. From Culver City to Santa Monica, the L.A. area is entrenched in dietary-issue-friendly eateries. Some cover the whole gamut, while others specialize in certain areas.
Here are nine L.A. restaurants that will cater to your allergies and food preferences, doctor-recommended or not.
Note: Each restaurant will be labeled with the following when applicable. These labels do not indicate that the entire menu of the restaurant is free of these allergens, but that the restaurant has options for diners with these specific food sensitivities. Also, many of these places are not free from cross-contamination. If your food allergy is severe, contact the restaurant directly and be sure the food they are serving will be safe for you to consume.
GF: gluten-free
VG: vegetarian
VGN: vegan
DF: dairy-free
NF: nut-free (mainly peanuts, not necessarily tree nuts)
SF: soy-free
1. Sage Organic Vegan Bistro (GF/VG/VGN/DF/NF/SF)
As the name suggests, this casual eatery offers plant-based meals, and specializes in vegan cuisine. Knowledgable on food allergies, this restaurant is happy to accommodate any food sensitivity to the best of its ability. Eager to be upfront, it places a disclaimer at the bottom of its menu, stating that food may be cross-contaminated with gluten, soy and nuts. If your allergies are not that severe, this place may be safe for you.
2. Hugo's Restaurant (GF/VG/VGN/DF/NF)
Hugo's has a handy code on its menu which allows any customer to ascertain with ease which menu items contain allergens. Many of its menu items, if not inherently gluten-free, vegan or vegetarian, can be altered to fit these needs. The allergen-friendly favorite is the vegan mac and cheese, which can be made using gluten-free pasta.
Matthew Kenney specializes in raw foods, making nut-based cheese the star of many appetizer platters (@MKlifestyle/Twitter).
3. M Cafe (GF/VG/VGN/DF)
Focusing on the macrobiotic diet, M Cafe adheres to a strict whole-food policy. All of its gluten-free menu items are labeled, and its kitchen never touches refined sugar, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry. There are many Los Angeles locations, ensuring your healthy fix in whichever area of the county you happen to be.
4. Breakaway Bakery (GF/VG/VGN/DF/NF/DF)
Breakaway Bakery prides itself on its allergen-friendly facility. It is both Gluten-Free and Kosher Certified. Its kitchen is also "dedicated," meaning it is free of cross-contamination from peanuts, gluten and dairy. Tree nuts and soy are not present in any of Breakaway's baked goods, however there is a chance of cross-contamination from its flour processor (though the chance is quite low). Its products are also organic, trans fat free and free of any preservatives or GMOs.
5. Real Food Daily (GF/VG/VGN/DF/NF/SF)
What began as a vegetarian restaurant has exploded into plant-based cuisine of all shapes and sizes. Having a handy menu code, Real Food Daily is very well aware of all kinds of allergies, and each appropriate menu item is labeled gluten-free, nut-free, soy-free and even raw. Though it is not an allergen-free facility (cross-contamination issues, as per usual), Real Food Daily is happy to accommodate to the best of its ability.
6. Crossroads Kitchen (GF/VG/VGN/DF)
Mediterranean cuisine rules this house, and it is completely farm-to-table. It is also completely devoid of meat. Other food lifestyles are welcome here, with vegan options such as almond cheese. The restaurant also offers gourmet cheeses of the non-vegan persuasion, and labels all gluten-free items or items that can be modified to be gluten-free accordingly. Definitely more of an upscale environment, Crossroads won the Restaurant of the Year award from VegNews in 2013.
7. EVO Kitchen (GF/VG/VGN/DF)
Priding itself on being accessible to meat-eaters, gluten avoiders and vegans alike, EVO Kitchen has options for every diner in your entourage. This restaurant focuses on vegan and gluten-free options, though it is open to accommodating any allergy (with the issue of cross-contamination in mind). Bonus: they have gluten-free pizza. Score.
8. Cafe Gratitude (GF/VG/VGN/DF)
Exclusively vegan and organic, Cafe Gratitude prides itself on fresh ingredients and quality food, creating menus daily and changing with seasonal availability of ingredients. Mostly raw but open to all taste buds, the cafe has many locations, two of which are in California and others that are outside the state. Focused on more than just healthy food, Cafe Gratitude promotes a healthy mind. Stop by for some inspiration.
M.A.K.E. will titillate your tastebuds and makes veggies glamorous (MKlifestyle/Twitter).
Run by the raw food chef Matthew Kenney, M.A.K.E. introduces plant-based, raw foods to the masses. Raw cuisine is inherently free of animal by-products, meat of any kind and most forms of gluten. It is not, however, free of nuts or soy. Many of M.A.K.E.'s menu options are free of these ingredients, however nuts and natural soy are pervasive in raw food and those with these allergies should be careful.
Honorable Mentions:
A very prominent chain in Los Angeles, Veggie Grill has plant-based options up the wazoo. Its menu consists of meals made from whole grains and plants, and includes gluten-free, vegetarian, vegan, dairy-free, nut-free and soy-free options.
The famous cupcake bakery offers vegan and gluten-free options of its popular red velvet cupcake.
A famous Asian restaurant chain, in league with the Cheesecake Factory, has been offering an exclusively gluten-free option for diners for the last few years. From classic fried rice to a flourless chocolate cake, gluten-free diners will be more than satisfied.
Keep in mind: most places have allergen-free options, they just don't advertise them or even realize that by modifying their menu options, they could accommodate a whole community. Get innovative; replace burger buns with lettuce; ask for vinaigrette instead of ranch; replace the chicken breast with avocado. There are options everywhere, you just have to look for them.
Reach Staff Writer Ashley Seruya here or follow her on Twitter here.
