The Ultimate Guide to Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Ventura

Looking for a vegetarian or vegan restaurant in Ventura? The city is full of delicious restaurants with meatless options – from breakfast, burgers, sushi, to tacos, you name it.

Ranging from entirely vegan establishments, special menus, to secret menu items, here is a long list of just some vegan and vegetarian-friendly places to eat divided by neighborhoods in town that are welcome to all, regardless if you’re a diehard vegan or simply curious to try something new.

Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants in Downtown Ventura:

Not only does the heart of Ventura offer the largest variety of vegan-friendly restaurants, but there are also many things to do downtown. After your vegetarian meal, you can explore various activities such as taking a walk down to the Ventura Pier, hiking the Ventura Botanical Gardens, exploring the Museum of Ventura County, and of course tons of shops along the Main Street such as B. on Main for artfully curated goods and Ecu Green.

Get a vegetarian flatbread at Rumfish y Vino

Enjoy happy hour and vegetarian bites at Finney's

For some vegetarian favorites, start the day with Busy Bee Cafe. The retro-themed diner has its own vegetarian & vegan menu. From the portobello mushroom burger to veggie burrito, it’ll sure hit the spot.

If you’re looking for more vegetarian restaurants in Ventura, you can never go wrong with Asian food for lunch. Along Main Street are Rice by Mama, Rice by Mama 2, and Kao Ramen by Mama, which all have different cuisines. Rice by Mama serves Thai food, where you can find roti yellow curry and vegan thai pad upon request. Rice by Mama 2 is also Thai, but offers more dishes such as satay tofu. Lastly, over at Kao Ramen by Mama, you can order the vegan “Go Green Ramen” or choose from three different broths (pro tip: ask for kale ramen noodles).

Taj Cafe is another great restaurant. The best part about Indian food is how many vegan and vegetarian options there are. Masala dosas and samosas can be found here.

More Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Downtown Ventura

There are plenty of vegan and vegetarian restaurant options in Downtown Ventura. Just up the corner is Finney’s Crafthouse on Main Street. Recommended for vegetarians, chow down on their impossible meat tacos or impossible burger while dining on the dog-friendly patio. If you’re craving Mexican dishes head to Blue Agave Restaurant for some vegan tacos with butternut squash or mushroom while sipping on some margaritas.

Finally, there is Rumfish y Vino, a more upscale restaurant that specializes in Central-American cuisine. The baja cauliflower tacos and vegetarian flatbread pizza are a must. There are plenty of vegetarian and vegan appetizers, salads, and more tacos to customize upon request.

Looking for a meatless restaurant that offers live music or a place to spend the night out with pals? Check out Limon y Sal during Mariachi Mondays between 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm to listen to some mariachi while grubbing on the restaurant’s vegan favorites such as the fajitas with the choice of portobello mushroom or vegan chicken and stuffed quesadilla to name a few. The Saloon is another option that hosts live music regularly, check out their website for the schedule. No night out sounds better than some vegan banh mi and chicken baos while singing some karaoke, offered every Thursday night.

Prefer a tiki inspired bar instead? At Ventiki, a Polynesian-inspired tiki-bar, you can order the tofu musibi, which is tofu on a block of rice wrapped in nori served with teriyaki, sriracha sauces, and garnished with green onions. Accompany your tofu protein bowl with a fun drink during happy hour.

Must visit Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Midtown Ventura:

Home to the Midtown Ventura Certified Farmers’ Market, open on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM since 1989, you can also explore the Pacific View Mall, listen to live music at the Ventura Music Hall, and hike Harmon Canyon. Shopping is a must in Midtown; Dexter’s Camera is a photographers’ heaven. Laguna Vintage and Poppies Vintage are the perfect spots to find vintage clothing.

Vegan friendly chocolates are sold Voto Chocolates and confections ranging from passionfruit, hazelnut, and red wine

Looking for a sweet treat while in the area? Treat yourself with some artisan hand-crafted vegan bonbons from Ex Voto Chocolates and Confections. Their daily rotating menu of gelato always includes vegan flavors. You can also find McConnell’s Fine Ice Cream on East Main Street. A 70-year-old, sustainably sourced, and family run business that offers six dairy-free flavors such as salted caramel chocolate swirl and passionfruit lemon, is best recommended for vegetarians.

Check out flavors from across the globe at the Green Olive, a Mediterranean and Middle Eastern restaurant found inside the Santa Cruz Market. Various items such as the eggplant wrap, tabbouleh, hummus, and signature green sauce are vegan. Another great Thai restaurant in Ventura with its own vegan menu is Chili Basil Thai Cuisine. You can never go wrong with chili basil fried rice along with a dairy-free Thai iced tea.

If you’re seeking vegetarian restaurants that are more budget-friendly, Danny’s Deli & Grill may be up your alley. Don’t be intimidated by the name, there are plenty of options to choose from on its dedicated “Meatless Meals” menu such as the vegan burrito bowl and luigini & meatless meatballs. In case you prefer a brewery to sip on some beers, watch the big game, or play some trivia, Rincon Brewery is excellent. Order a Rincon IPA beer while munching on one of their vegan options such as the Mediterranean quinoa (without crumbled feta) and house-made guacamole & chips.

Last but not least, Cafe Nouveau is a great quaint eatery for breakfast, brunch and lunch, and the vegan buddha bowl is a must. Alterations can be made to various meals in order to meet your dietary needs.

Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants to Check Out in Industrial Ventura:

Unwind at one of the many breweries, wineries and coffee roasters found in this part of town. Grab a beer at Topa Topa Brewing Co. or play some trivia at Poseidon Brewing Company. For a more family-friendly activity, head over to The Varsity Club for a combination of restaurant, golf simulators and a HitTrax Suite.

Choose from Caribbean Haven's dedicated vegan menu ranging from caribbean, filipino, to desserts

Choose from breakfast, sushi, mexican, pizza, and more at Seed Ranger– The Great Vegan Food Station

Located inside the Northbank Plaza & Cafes shopping center on Johnson Drive, you can find the largest and locally beloved vegan restaurant called the Seed Ranger– The Great Vegan Food Station. With an extremely diverse and entirely vegan selection, you can find almost anything you’re craving here: breakfast, Mexican food, sushi, pizza, fish & chips… you name it. Found in the same shopping center, head to Missy’s Cupcake Creation, a bakery that offers fresh vegan donuts and cupcakes daily. Cakes, croissants, and cookies are available by pre-order only.

Another highly acclaimed restaurant found in the neighborhood is Caribbean Haven, a restaurant that combines Caribbean and Filipino delicacies. There is a dedicated menu for vegan entrees which includes curry channa & potato and red bean & squash stew. Their cassava pie dessert is vegan and the popular Filipino dessert halo-halo is vegetarian.

This list isn’t complete without adding a brewery to the list of vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Industrial Ventura. At Bright Spark Brewing, their menu makes it easy for you to find some vegan and vegetarian options. Think about ordering the snack plate that comes with fried pita, hummus topped with almond sesame dukkah, fried chickpeas, housemade pickles, and fresh veggies. All of the pizzas can be ordered vegetarian and four pizzas can be made vegan for an additional two dollars. And don’t miss out on everything going on at this east end brewery: from musical bingo to trivia, this is a fun place to hang out with all of your friends.

Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in Ventura: The Ventura Avenue

Located on the westside of Ventura, you can explore the rich history of this side of town that celebrates its Hispanic roots. Murals can be found throughout the neighborhood and visit any of the six galleries along the Avenue all within a two mile walk that includes: Bell Arts, Vita Art Center, Art City, Stoneworks Studio, Working Artist Ventura (The WAV) and Studio 1317.

Indian rasoi offers a menu dedicated for vegan and vegetarian options called veggie a la carte

Recognized as a vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant, The veggie tacos are amazing and come with mushrooms, pineapple, cheese, onion, bell pepper and avocado.

Mexican Restaurants with Vegetarian Options

The Avenue is most notable for its wide selection of Mexican restaurants. At Taqueria Tepatitlan, the potato tacos are a favorite among the locals, just make sure to ask for no cheese to make them vegan. The rice, guacamole, and tanya beans serve as the best sides for this meal. Recognized as a vegetarian and vegan-friendly restaurant, Taqueria Cuernavaca is also worth checking out. The veggie tacos are amazing and come with mushrooms, pineapple, cheese, onion, bell pepper, and avocado.

Indian Restaurants with Vegetarian Options

Prominent Indian restaurants can also be found on the Avenue. Repeatedly voted as the “Best Indian Food in Ventura County”, Himalaya is a great option that also serves cuisine from Tibet and Nepal. There are approximately 17 vegetarian and vegan curries to choose from, and, of course, a wide variety of appetizers to dig in on. Indian Rasoi is also worth mentioning. Their “Veggie A La Carte” menu offers a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options including the chana masala, aloo matar, and yellow dahl.

Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants in Ventura Harbor Village:

There is so much to see and do at this family-friendly waterfront destination, including many vegan and vegetarian restaurants and places to eat. Serving as the launch pad to the Channel Islands National Park, you can partake in various activities such as kayaking through the marina and pedal boating on swan shaped boats through the Ventura Boat Rentals or simply spend a day on the beach across the way at Mothers Beach. If you want to stay inland, consider checking out the Ultimate Escape Rooms, The Loose Cannon, or visit Treasure Cove for handcrafted souvenirs.

Vegan dole whip sold at coastal cone at the ventura harbor village

Afternoon ambiance at the Ventura Harbor Village

With gorgeous harborside views, grab a bite to eat at The Greek Mediterranean Steak & Seafood. This restaurant offers a special vegan and vegetarian menu so you can partake in indulging in the harbor’s delicious food scene. Consider trying the vegetarian moussaka, a vegetarian combo platter that comes with an arrangement of Mediterranean goods and the impossible vegan burger served on a vegan bun with cheese. Make sure to save room for dessert and stop by Coastal Cone. The vegan vanilla oat or pineapple mango soft serve topped with fresh and locally sourced strawberries from Coastal Cone are perfect for a hot summer day, or anytime really.

Things to Do

Music & Nightlife

Pet Friendly

Outdoors

Biking & Hiking Trails

Food & Drink

Restaurants

Outdoor Dining

Wineries, Breweries & Distilleries

Happy Hours

Busy Bee Cafe 478 E Main St, Ventura, CA 93001

(805) 643-4864