When I first looked at Veggie Grill’s menu and saw items such as the “Santa Fe crispy chickin’ sandwich” and “buffalo wings,” I was excited. Then, when I learned that Veggie Grill was a vegan restaurant, I was intrigued. Affordable, quick, and casual, Veggie Grill is the closest vegan health food comes to “fast food.” Furthermore, Veggie Grill is expanding rapidly, and with 23 locations in California alone, it is clear that the concept of healthy “fast food” is the state’s next big thing…
For people who have food allergies, especially allergies to gluten, dairy, or soy, it’s hard to find cheap and fast meal options. Veggie Grill solves this problem, and not only do they have countless allergen-friendly options available, but they make ordering easy and note which allergens are in each dish. Gluten free options are clearly indicated on the menu, all items are dairy and animal product-free, and soy-free and nut-free menus are available upon request or online. The NOBREAD crowd will be pleased to hear that certain dishes that are typically off limits, like mac and cheese (no breadcrumbs) are gluten-free here! Veggie Grill does a great job of replicating animal-product based foods, like chicken, crab and bacon, and transforming them into a vegan form. To satisfy your junk food cravings, try the mac-n-cheese, nachos, cauli-mashed potatoes or the BTLA. The BTLA is a take on the classic BLT, but it includes smokey tempeh bacon, tomato, avocado, cilantro pesto tossed arugula and aioli mayo on top of a bed of steamed kale. If you’re in the mood for something a bit lighter, try the quinoa power salad, which has almonds, fennel, avocado, hemp seeds and cannellini beans, and it is delicious, too!
What sets Veggie Grill apart from other healthy hotspots is their vegan take on dishes that the LA health crowd usually won’t touch! Veggie Grill’s atmosphere is casual and bright; they focus less on frills and more on quality and affordability. Veggie Grill is the perfect place to go for a quick lunch or dinner, especially when you are on the go, or when you’re in the mood to sit down for a casual, yet feel good meal.