FreeFromFinder/ eat safely with references

Best vegan restaurants in San Diego

15 venues in San Diego rated S to B for vegan, every tier backed by cited sources.

01
Donna Jean restaurant, photo: Mayan Patel

Donna Jean

San Diego · Vegan · Vegetarian
VeganA+
GF·CoeliacB
VegA+
NutD
DairyA+
EggA+
SoyD

Donna Jean operates as a fully vegan restaurant. All ingredients are 100% plant-based, and no animal products are used. That makes the space effectively dedicated for vegan, dairy, and egg. The restaurant's vegan status is confirmed by the official menu and by multiple independent sources.

02
Peace Pies restaurant, photo: Alec Smith

Peace Pies

San Diego · Vegan · Vegetarian
VeganA+
GF·CoeliacA+
VegE
DairyA+
EggA+
SoyE

100% vegan restaurant serving raw organic cuisine. The entire menu is plant-based with no animal products whatsoever, confirmed by multiple independent sources. Dedicated vegan kitchen with no animal-derived ingredients on site.

03
Plant Power Fast Food restaurant, photo: Plant Power Fast Food

Plant Power Fast Food

San Diego · Vegan · Vegetarian
VeganA+
GF·CoeliacB
VegA+
DairyA+
EggA+

The entire kitchen is 100% plant-based, with no animal products anywhere on site. Every menu item is vegan by design, so no modifications are necessary. Cross-contamination with gluten or nuts is possible, but this does not change the vegan status.

04
Thanh Tinh Chay Restaurant restaurant, photo: Thanh Tinh Chay Restaurant

Thanh Tinh Chay Restaurant

San Diego · Vietnamese · Vegetarian
VeganA+
GF·CoeliacD
VegA+
DairyA+
EggA+

The restaurant is 100% vegan, with all menu items plant-based. Multiple independent sources confirm the venue is strictly vegan and no animal products are used. The kitchen is entirely vegan, providing a dedicated environment free of animal-derived ingredients.

05
KINDRED restaurant, photo: Eduardo Fierro

KINDRED

San Diego · Vegan · Vegetarian · €⁠€
VeganA+
VegA+

HappyCow lists Kindred as a fully vegan restaurant (category 'Vegan'). The venue's own website and all 225+ HappyCow reviews confirm the entire menu is plant-based. No animal products are used in any dish, making it structurally impossible for non-vegan ingredients to appear.

Mon4:30pm-10:00pm
Tue4:30pm-10:00pm
Wed4:30pm-10:00pm
Thu4:30pm-11:00pm
Fri4:30pm-1:00am
Sat10:00am-2:00pm, 4:30pm-1:00am
Sun10:00am-12:00am
EvidenceOpen evidence file
06
Veganic Thai Cafe restaurant, photo: Govind Sah

Veganic Thai Cafe

San Diego · Thai · Vegan
VeganA+
GF·CoeliacC
VegE
DairyA+
EggA+

The kitchen is 100% vegan and has no animal products on the premises. Every dish is plant-based. Cross-contamination from animal products is not a concern.

07
Val's Vegan Kitchen restaurant, photo: Val's Vegan Kitchen

Val's Vegan Kitchen

San Diego · Vegan · Vegetarian · €⁠€
VeganA
GF·CoeliacE
VegA
NutD
DairyA
EggA
HalalE

Val's Vegan Kitchen is a fully plant-based diner. All dishes are vegan, making it reliably free of animal products. The entire kitchen operates on a vegan basis, though there is no external accreditation to formally verify the separation.

08
Civico 1845 restaurant, photo: Civico 1845

Civico 1845

San Diego · Italian · Vegan
VeganB
GF·CoeliacB
VegE
DairyC

Civico 1845 offers an extensive plant-based vegan menu with dairy-free mozzarella and Parmigiano. A dedicated 'Plant-Based · Vegana' menu section is available, and the restaurant claims to be the first in the US with a vegan-Italian menu since 2015. The kitchen is shared with non-vegan items; confirm cross-contact practices with staff.

09
Ristorante Illando restaurant, photo: Ristorante Illando

Ristorante Illando

San Diego · Italian · €⁠€
VeganB
GF·CoeliacC

The official menu contains a dedicated 'VEGAN MENU' section featuring four pasta and risotto dishes. No information is provided about a dedicated prep area or separate kitchen, indicating shared facilities with potential cross-contamination.

Mon12PM-10PM
Tue12PM-10PM
Wed12PM-10PM
Thu12PM-10PM
Fri12PM-11PM
Sat12PM-11PM
Sun12PM-10PM
EvidenceOpen evidence file
10
Extraordinary Desserts restaurant, photo: Basawaraj Mannangi

Extraordinary Desserts

San Diego · Bakery · Cafe · €⁠€
VeganB
GF·CoeliacD
VegA
DairyC

Vegan items are listed clearly on the menu. They include cookies, cakes, scones, ice cream, and savory dishes. The kitchen also prepares non-vegan food and meat, which introduces a risk of cross-contamination. HappyCow and other reviews confirm that the vegan dishes are available and of good quality, though the selection is smaller than the non-vegan offerings.

Mon11AM–9PM
Tue11AM–9PM
Wed11AM–9PM
Thu11AM–9PM
Fri11AM–11PM
Sat11AM–11PM
Sun11AM–10PM
EvidenceOpen evidence file
13
VeganB
GF·CoeliacE
VegB

The restaurant is marketed as vegan-friendly, with many vegan options on the Sunday brunch menu such as Vegan Tofu Scramble and Vegan French Toast. Non-vegan items like scrambled eggs and cow milk are also served, and the kitchen is shared. No information is available about dedicated equipment or staff training for vegan preparation. Confirm with staff about cross-contact before ordering.

14
Pizza and Pasta on 5th restaurant, photo: Pizza and Pasta on 5th

Pizza and Pasta on 5th

San Diego · Italian · Pizza · €⁠€
VeganB
GF·CoeliacB
VegB

The official menu banner states 'Now offering gluten-free & vegan pizzas – vegan cheese available!'. This indicates vegan options exist, but the menu does not mark individual dishes as vegan, and there is no information about dedicated preparation areas or staff training for vegan cross-contamination. No independent vegan review or accreditation is cited.

Mon11am-3am
Tue11am-3am
Wed11am-3am
Thu11am-3am
Fri11am-4am
Sat11am-4am
Sun11am-3am
EvidenceOpen evidence file
15
Underbelly restaurant, photo: Andreas Steiner

Underbelly

San Diego · Ramen · Japanese
VeganB
GF·CoeliacC

Two clearly labeled vegan ramen options (charred kimchi ramen and vegetable ramen) are available; diners must specify vegan noodles and broth to ensure no non-veg ingredients. The shared kitchen serves meat, so cross-contamination is possible. Reviews confirm items are labeled and staff accommodates requests.

Mon11:30am-11:30pm
Tue11:30am-11:30pm
Wed11:30am-11:30pm
Thu11:30am-11:30pm
Fri11:30am-11:30pm
Sat11:30am-11:30pm
Sun11:30am-11:30pm
EvidenceOpen evidence file