50 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Santa Monica

“Easily my wife and I favorite restaurant. We come here about 2-4 times a year anytime we have an excuse to celebrate something. Literally everything in the menu is top notch and won't disappoint. Owner is very kind and present, staff offers amazing service, and the restaurant strikes a perfect balance of high end without feeling snooty.“

“Excellent food and fantastic service😊“

“Beyond expectations! Best meal & service in at least 10 years. I’ll be back!“

“I keep going back to this place, and usually try something new. Every single dish is delicious. This place is owned and run by people who love to eat fresh, nutritious, delicious food. And it shows. 100% recommend“

“Yum! I have to admit, I did not realize it was vegetarian when I walked in. I decided to give it a try anyway. I ordered the mato monster. The flavor was amazing! I couldn’t tell if all of that flavor was coming from the bread or the sauce on the sprouts…but it was amazing. Service was great too.“

“Stopped by for dinner to check out the place. We are having an event there in a few weeks. AWESOME EXPERIENCE. Food was wonderful, service was perfect, management went out of their way to be gracious and welcoming. Can't wait to return in a few weeks.“

“The pasta was delicious, but we had to wait 15 minutes to be acknowledged, and when they did take our order, it was for everything and they “ran out of bread we run out all the time” at 7pm on a saturday. Restaurant 101: greet guests quickly, offer them some wine / drinks, even if you’re delayed on taking their order. Also offer more salad options or appetizers and we would’ve easily ordered dessert if it was offered.“

“Amazing experience! The food was absolutely delicious, everything we ordered was fresh and full of flavor. The atmosphere was welcoming and enjoyable. A special thank you to our server, who was friendly, attentive, and made sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. Great service and great food — we’ll definitely be back. Highly recommend!

And big plus to David our server“

“Such a fun spot with a playful vibe. We tried the fries and they definitely did not disappoint—crispy, well-seasoned, and perfect for dipping. The variety of sauce options is a huge plus and makes it easy to customize your order. Great place for classic vegan fast food when you’re craving something indulgent and satisfying. Updated from previous review on 2026-01-04“

“Always a great experience and meal at Orto, strongly recommended!“

“Great food and service. This place never disappoints.“

“Went here for Easter brunch and was surprised I hadn’t heard of this place before. The food was great! I ordered the steak and eggs and while my steak wasn’t a perfect medium rare, the flavor and portion size made up for that immensely. The cocktails were delightful as well! Pricing was as expected for the area and quality. We were seated outside in a makeshift patio in the parking lot, but it was well done and the service was quick and attentive. Next time I would probably try to eat inside or in the smaller patio by the entrance, where the vibes and decor are beautifully done. There is ample free parking in the back as well. I will be back!“

“I have had many souffle in my life , I personally travel around the world trying the best of the best souffle . This far is the best I have ever had !“

“Best steak and service . Say hi to Hillary she is the best !!!“

“Loved the cozy environment especially in the patio area . Food was great! The potato cakes with apples was amazing . Our group of 9 loved all of the food ! Would recommend to others“

“Delicious food and drinks“

“We had an amazing experience at this restaurant! The food was fresh, flavorful, and pancakes were fluffy, the eggs were perfectly cooked, I had chilaquiles it was delicious 😋 and the coffee was always hot and delicious. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel right at home. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming perfect for starting the day off right. I’ll definitely be coming back!“

“Great place and a fun place to be“

“The chef's restaurant is upscale but cozy, with only 5 tables, all across from the open air kitchen. The chef and waiter collaborate to serve you each dish, telling you the ingredients that go into each dish... like little stories. Such a special experience!“

“Excellent service, amazing lobster 🦞 with crab rice. I just wish I was given the prices before agreeing on the upgrade. I ordered a family for 2 and CJ server offered to make it 3ppl. I was kinda surprised with my bills and how the restaurant dictate the gratuity %….Overall, I love dining in this restaurant because we were welcome and were given a great and warm reception. Thank you to the staff who made us feel special especially to CJ she was amazing. Indeed, the most expensive meal I have eaten lol it’s worth it.“

“They are by far the best steak I have ever had. We went there on a whim and they were booked but found a cute table for us by the fire. It was the most memorable meal with my husband. We are eternally grateful for the experience and service we received.“

“Amazing Japanese restaurant! The food was absolutely delicious and full of flavor. The atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and very inviting, making the whole dining experience even better. Everything we tried was fresh and well prepared. Definitely a place we would happily visit again and recommend to anyone looking for great Japanese food.“

“Very great convenient location, definitely not a place you pop in for a quick meal.. plan to spend a couple of hours if not the whole day here if you go. Seems our waiter was a little busy with larger groups and forgot about us. But he was very friendly and luckily we had no where to hurry off to. Burger was okay, chicken was dry. I appreciated the scenery and vibes though.“

“Hi I loves it thanks again so much“

“The food and service was awesome. The millionaire bacon is just the bees knees. My small gripe is that all the food leans more sweet than savory but it's literally called sweet maple. I'd lean straight into their sweet oriented food because it's soooo good.“

“Nice place 😋😎 fast service 👌“

“Good fare at a fair price...“

“My whole family loved the food and we had great service!“

“I've been several times now, and it is still my favorite restaurant when I visit family in Santa Monica. I've tried many restaurants in SM, from inexpensive to expensive. For me, Library has the best combination of unique atmosphere, friendly and efficient service, lively but casual vibe, excellent food, and good value. I love the Cowboy Burger, but everything we've tried is good. And good beer too.“

“My dinner at Kanpai Sushi in Santa Monica was nothing short of extraordinary. Chef Yoshi is a true master sushi chef. While he may not be new to the craft, his skill, precision, and deep understanding of traditional sushi brought me back to a time when sushi was simply done right.

In fact, Chef Yoshi could probably serve me a shoelace, and it would be the best thing I’ve ever eaten.

Everything was exceptionally fresh. The wasabi had a vibrant freshness that elevated every bite, and the ginger practically melted in my mouth. I sampled as much toro as I could possibly eat, along with an incredible selection of fish that showcased Chef Yoshi’s mastery and attention to detail.

The Kumamoto oysters were so delicious they made me want to kiss my fingers and thank the heavens. The uni was phenomenal and remains one of my favorite bites of the evening. However, the biggest surprise was the seared salmon belly. It was my first time trying salmon prepared that way, and it absolutely blew my mind.

Instead of ending the meal with dessert, I finished with a hand roll that combined fresh tuna and crispy shrimp tempura, topped with eel sauce. The contrast of cool, fresh tuna and warm, crunchy shrimp tempura created an unforgettable bite and was a complete game changer.

I’ve been eating sushi since I was 18 years old, and now well into my 50s, I can confidently say this is the best sushi restaurant I have ever experienced. Beyond the incredible food, the staff was attentive, professional, and genuinely respectful throughout the entire evening.

I have officially found my favorite sushi spot.

Thank you, Chef Yoshi. I’ll be back very soon.

— Linda“

“Great food and even better service.“

“Great place for delicious breakfast, after a good brisk morning walk.
I had a fresh omelet, with mushrooms, onions and cheese. I added fresh toasted slices of sourdough bread and a cup of Americano coffee (stronger than regular coffee). Not a long wait, comfortable seating, attentive server, made it a complete pleasant meal.“

“The food was really good. Big menu. The service was excellent. Our waitperson was friendly and knowledgeable. It looked like a fun neighborhood place. There was a bar (excellent drinks!), and tvs for watching sports. The only reason I gave 4 stars under atmosphere, was it was extremely loud in the place. Hard to talk to your table buddies and it was hard to hear the waiter. Otherwise it was a good place.“

“This was my second time at Shunji and since it was so consistent, I thought I should give it a shout out. You may miss it if you aren’t paying attention, nestled behind a non-discrete door on Ocean Park Boulevard in Santa Monica, Shunji Japanese Cuisine is a Michelin-starred gem that redefines the art of sushi dining. Chef Shunji Nakao is a legend and this intimate restaurant offers an omakase experience that is as unforgettable as it is refined.

The heart of Shunji’s allure lies in its sushi, which showcases decades of expertise as one of Los Angeles’ sushi pioneers. Each piece of nigiri is a testament to his meticulous attention to detail, with fish sourced primarily from Japan to ensure unparalleled freshness. Shunji’s (somewhat new Santa Monica location) is a departure from its former chili bowl-shaped home on Pico Boulevard, embraces a minimalist aesthetic that keeps the focus on the food and quaint experience. The space is divided into two small rooms, each with a blonde wood counter that seats just seven, creating an atmosphere of exclusivity and intimacy. Soft jazz hums in the background, and a wall of orchids adds a touch of elegance, celebrating the restaurant’s decade-long legacy. The service is impeccable, with staff (one Shunji’s wife) moving gracefully to anticipate every need, from refilling sake glasses to presenting dishes on stunning ceramic plates.

Shunji is more than a restaurant; it’s a destination The sushi is exceptional, the ambiance serene, and the overall experience a masterclass in hospitality.“

“Fantastic food from the scallion pancake, seaweed and tofu salad, fried rice, sautéed broccoli, and the most stand out - the Dan mein noodles. All of this was a perfectly filling meal for two people.

The service is fantastic and Mason was the best server we could ask for. So friendly, helpful, and kind.

Worth a stop in if you’re in the area. They get pretty busy at peak times so worth coming a little before or after the main lunch and dinner rushes.“

“I would give via Venetto five stars based on their delicious food alone, but unfortunately it took forever to get served. I realize it was a Saturday night and they were busy, but it took quite a bit longer than it should have. The food is top-notch- and I'm super picky especially about Italian food. “

“Delicioso!!!!! Muy recomendado“

“Great service and great food ! The chicken and waffles are the best and the Nutella waffles to die for!“

“😍😍 😍pretty Tasty Pizza😍😍😍“

“old school~ great food~ great host~ a treasure~“

“Atmosphere, food on point“

“Located conveniently close to Santa Monica Pier, but not your typically tourist trap. Bruno’s is a cute little restaurant serving great Italian food in an intimate setting. The employees are kind and attentive. The open kitchen allows you to see the care taken in preparing your meal. Highly recommended.“

“The perfect burger and delicious fries. 100% delicate... 👍“

“Fabulous hyper-farm-to-table food by a creative chef, on Main St in Santa Monica. I’ve tried the Gazpacho, the many Danish Rye toasts with what is fresh that day: eggs, salmon roe, avocado or ....? They also have baristas that make all type of drinks. My fab place to indulge healthy and fresh“

“Food & service was over the top amazing !“

“10/10 Recommend. When I’m in the area, I always gravitate to this spot. I love everything on the menu.“

“AMAZING food and drinks. Purely fresh and tastes fantastic. I can’t wait to come back. ♥️♥️♥️“

“Great food and drinks 🍹 really good 👍🏾“

“Absolutely brilliant. Great Guinness“

“Love that Michael’s has a new front patio bar. Great food and drinks. A classic!“