I’m in LA so frequently that my friends joke that LA is basically my second home. Happily, LA is one of the few cities that blows NYC out of the water when it comes to organic, local and healthy food. Since I travel to the West Coast so often for work, I’ve tried it all. So after hours and hours of arduous juicing and dining, here are my picks for healthy eats and drinks in LA; otherwise known as: places I go to in between my regular pilgrimages to Umami Burger…
Cafe Gratitude – I think of Cafe Gratitude as One Lucky Duck‘s prettier, brighter LA counterpart. This raw, vegan oasis has a really varied menu, which means that it can fulfill any sort of craving you may have. I personally love their garlic-tahini kale chips (I Am Vivacious) and their almond thai kelp noodles (I Am Terrific). Yep, all of the items on their menu are actually affirmations. It just doesn’t get more hippie than Cafe Gratitude but I think that’s okay because the positive, relaxed attitude is reflected in their staff who are always super cheerful and willing to answer my millions of annoying questions! 639 Larchmont Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA
Moon Juice - Conveniently located across the street from Cafe Gratitude, you can always find me at this teeny tiny, but adorable, juice bar after getting my CG fix. They have a lot of unusual juices with amazing but rare ingredients like turmeric, fennel and honeydew (…not all in the same drink). Definitely worth a try if you’re sick of the standard green juice offerings. 507 Rose Avenue, Venice, CA.
Pressed Juicery – NYC and LA seem to have new juice bars on every corner these days, but few juice bars rival Pressed Juicery when it comes to variety. They have about 6 different kinds of green juice alone and a ton of variations on root vegetable juices – my personal favorite is their Roots 1 juice which features beets and carrots. They already have 7 locations in Southern California and 3 in the Bay Area. If you can’t make it out to LA, they now ship their cleanses nationwide. Fingers crossed they will expand their juicing empire to NYC soon! See website for locations.
Sweet Rose Creamery – Ok, you got me. Sweet Rose Creamery’s organic, homemade ice cream is not especially healthy - it’s just the best damn ice cream in the world. I’m so obsessed that I trek to Brentwood at least twice every time in LA. I’m especially fond of their creative flavors (pea and mint anyone? it’s actually delicious, I swear) and their homemade whipped cream. I actually hate whipped cream normally but their version tastes like the nectar of the gods. 225 26th St #51 Santa Monica, CA
And speaking of LA, I’m going to be there again this week for work, so if you have any recommendations, please share. Currently on my to do list: M Cafe!
[Image Credit: RCH Studios]
