My San Diego Vegan Adventure
This past weekend I went to visit my friend Jenny for her birthday in San Diego. She recently moved there from Austin, TX and I’m oh so happy because we have been friends for over 10 years and having her closer is such a delight! We align on so many things and she’s always down for some good vegan food. Here’s a run down of our trip and all the amazing vegan food we got to try out. Let me know if you ever go to San Diego and try any of these spots!
Friday Night Dinner
What I Ordered:
Hibiscus Margarita
Hibiscus tea, tequila, lime juice, agave, and Orange Curacao by Stan
Vegan Gyoza
Edamame, peas, brown Rice, mixed Veggies
Vegan Ramen
Vegetable broth with sesame and spicy oil, tofu, seared veggies (cherry tomatoes, asparagus, cauliflower, grilled corn and broccoli)
What Jenny Ordered:
Lychee Tini
Fresh lychee puree, vodka, umeshu, sake
Vegan Tantan Ramen
Spicy Sesame vegetable broth with pan seared soy tantan, bok choy, and cherry tomato
My favorite thing about this meal was my vegan ramen, it was so delicious with a yummy creamy broth and lots of noodles. I tried Jenny’s tantan and the soy tantan was just so salty, but I loved the spice! The drinks were good and the gyoza was tasty, but very oily!
Saturday Morning Breakfast
What I ordered:
Cold Brew Oat Latte
Lightly sweetened Oat Milk is blended to perfection and topped with Peets original cold brew
Everything Plant-Based Sandwich
Seasoned Beyond Breakfast Sausage® is layered with fluffy JUST Egg Folded and melty vegan cheddar on a toasted everything bagel thin.
What Jenny ordered:
Golden Spice Cold Brew Oat Latte
Creamy plant-based oat milk blended with vibrant turmeric, cinnamon, a touch of honey over ice with a pour of smooth, refreshing Baridi cold brew.
I love Peet’s! Especially the cold brew oat milk latte and the fact that they have an everything bagel vegan sandwich makes Peet’s my go-to coffee shop now. Here’s a fun little story about the sandwich on my Instagram.
Saturday Afternoon Lunch
Scoliattolo Grilled Vegetable Organic Ravioli
Jenny made us this ravioli after our morning hike and it was delicious! She got it from Costco and topped it with spicy peppers in olive oil. So good!
Saturday Night Dinner
What I ordered:
Electric Mayhem Cocktail
Blanco Tequila, Mandarin Orange Liqueur, Tangerine, Lime, Rice Nectar, Arbequina Olive Oil
Fried & Pickled Appetizer
Beer Battered Dill Slices, Buffalo Pickled Cauliflower, Ranch Dressing
Babylon Burger
Impossible Kebab Patty, Gem Lettuce, Preserved Lemon & Castelvetrano Olive Relish, Whipped Garlic, Sesame Seed Bun, Potato Chips
What Jenny ordered:
Spinal Tap Cocktail
Gin, Strawberry Liqueur, Rhubarb, Pear, Key Lime, Tiki Bitters
Memphis BBQ Jackfruit
Pulled Soy Curls, Green Chili Aioli, Pickle, Onion, Dijon Mustard, Sourdough, Potato Chips
S’mores Sliders
Snickerdoodle Cookies, Marshmallow Fluff, TCHO Dark Chocolate, Maldon Salt
This place was a mixed bag. The cocktails were amazing and the appetizer fried pickles were divine. However, the entrees were just way too salty to enjoy. On top of that, they came with potato chips which just added to the salt factor. Overall, I can appreciate an aesthetically pleasing vegan restaurant and they really do try, but they need more entrees that aren’t sandwiches and to serve some damn fries if they’re going to have an impossible burger on the menu. :’) I think I would enjoy their brunch menu and wish we had gone there for brunch, maybe next time I go visit. The dessert was yummy, but left something to be desired. Probably because it was so small and there was no ice cream! :( What’s a birthday celebration without ice cream?!
Sunday Morning Brunch
What I ordered:
I am Grounded
Smashed red potatoes, smoked salt, with cashew nacho, cheese, pico de gallo, pepitas
Side of Tofu Scramble & Oat Milk Latte
What Jenny ordered:
I am Bright
Lemon Blueberry Coffee Cake
I am Nourished
Tofu scramble, potato, spinach, mushroom carnitas, pico de gallo, black
beans, spicy cashew aioli, avocado, pickled carrots, side of smashed potatoes
I’ve been to Cafe Gratitude many times and this did not disappoint! Their tofu scramble is so dang good, way better than I can make at home. And I never make potatoes so having these delicious ones was such a treat. Jenny shared her lemon blueberry coffee cake and it was the perfect sweetness to my oat milk latte.
Overall, I’d say the best meal I had while in San Diego was the vegan ramen. You really can’t go wrong with a ramen shop that has been awarded “Best Vegan Ramen” in San Diego! I can’t wait to go back again, especially to try Kindred’s brunch. Can anyone say vegan michelada?!