L.A. Green Restaurant Guide

Proving that vegan dining can be an utterly satisfying experience even for carnivores, this eco-friendly mainstay (the original location is in WeHo, but we love this laidback beachy outpost) is where to go for a yummy cruelty-free grubdown. Nachos with cashew cheese? Yes, please.

Authentic Persian home-cooking that's good for the environment is what you'll get at this hidden find in Culver City. Organic ingredients are used in every dish, and everything is made from scratch (you won't find any cans in the kitchen) using alkaline Kangen water, which is said to restore the body's proper pH level.) Try the eggplant puree, homemade hummus, aush vegetrian soup and chicken and salmon kabobs.

Part of the local Chaya empire, this macrobiotic cafe whips up yummy vegan and macrobiotic dishes (no refined sugars, eggs, dairy, red meat or poultry) like scrambled tofu with tempeh bacon and sushi rolls--try the spicy shrimp avocado and sustainably sourced tuna.

Downtown L.A.'s workweek crowd can't get enough of this ?eco-artisan sandwich concept? that puts fresh, organic and seasonal ingredients into dynamic creations like Kobe meatloaf, steak BLT, vegetarian and vegan sandwiches, homemade soups and organic salads.

This cool Eastside spot might be strictly vegetarian (save the cows, spare the greenhouse gases!) but don't tell your meat-eating friends. They'll never know that popular dishes like the mushroom-packed Zeppelin sandwich and soy Sloppy Joes are made using nothing with a face.

Planet-saving pizza? Oh yeah. Whether you're looking for a sausage pie, farmer's market pizza, salads, sandwiches or organic brews (there's even beer floats!) this eco-friendly pizza place is just the ticket. All ingredients are organic, the entire space is LEED-certified and the delivery vehicle is a hybrid.

This affordable Silver Lake newcomer is literally an urban forage find. Not only does the kitchen harvest food from local farms and ranches, but it also actively seeks out produce from anyone who'd care to share. Have extra avocados hanging from your tree? Forage will hold a tasting in the kitchen and then figure out how best to use them in the menu.

This airy strip mall cafe just a couple of blocks from the beach serves up a host of tasty macrobiotic, vegan and organic cuisine. (The BBQ tempeh burger will make you a believer of the fake-meat stuff.) The space itself is eco-friendly with reclaimed wood furniture, energy-efficient lighting and compostable corn-based servingware.

This sceney earth-conscious eatery serves organic, sustainable food and wine. All fish, meat and poultry are sourced from certified natural farms and there are plenty of vegetarian options as well. There's also a bakery that serves tasty sweets and locally roasted fair-trade coffee.

Long before other restaurants jumped on the organic, farmer's market-driven bandwagon, this irresistibly romantic hideaway was serving up sustainably-sourced Mediterranean-inspired delicacies from the kitchen of chef Nicolas Peter. Worth every penny.