Orange County is the second most populous county in California, though at any given time there are thousands of tourists at the popular theme park, the Disneyland resort. Add in the year-round beaches, the water parks Wild Rivers and Soak City, Little Saigon, and the television show "The Real Housewives of Orange County" and you have a large amount of visitors coming into the county at any given time. To accommodate its visitors, there are several vegetarian options available in the area.
Both a full-service health market and vegetarian deli, Mother's has a lot of choices to sink your vegetable-loving teeth into. Replacing meats with soy turkey, beans, tofu, and "fakin' bacon," you can get many of your favorite meals made in a vegetarian and organic-friendly style. Some menu items include the Tahini Fusion Wrap (made with tempeh), the California Club, and the soy "chicken" taquitos plate which includes organic beans, organic basmati rice, and fresh salsa. For friendly service with raw and gluten-free options, try Mother's.
Mother's Market and Kitchen
225 E. 17th St.
Costa Mesa, CA 92627
949-631-4741
mothersmarket.com
If you miss your meat days and crave some of your old meaty favorites, The Veggie Grill may be the spot for you. Featuring sandwiches and burgers like the Chipotle BBQ, Carne Asada, and Grillin' Chickin', you'll feel like you're cheating even though all of the items are meat-free. The hottest menu on the item may be the sweet potato Sweetheart fries, which are given in generous portions to those who order.
The Veggie Grill
81 Fortune Drive
Irvine, CA 92618
(949) 727-9900
veggiegrill.com
For vegetarians who are travelling with omnivores in tow, you may want to choose Rutabegorz as a compromise. Featuring vegetarian dishes like veggie enchiladas and meat dishes like garlic chicken salad, Rutabegorz can keep everybody happy. The salads are extremely large and the staff is friendly. Available as a vegetarian or meat option is the Mexican casserole, a dish with zucchini, olives, cilantro, mushrooms and rice topped with onions, cheese, and tomato, with chicken or shrimp optional.
Rutabegorz Tustin Restaurant
158 W. Main St.
Tustin, CA 92780
(714) 731-9807
rutabegorz.com
For those who like a little artsy vibe and espresso with their vegetarian meals, The Gypsy Den is the place. There are breakfast treats like the oatmeal creme brulee, lunch items like the zesty bean burger, and hearty vegetable chili available for dinner. The Gypsy Den has an open mic night on Thursdays and various performances throughout the week. Take in your veggies with a show for optimum enjoyment.
The Gypsy Den
125 N. Broadway
Santa Ana, CA 92701
714-835-8840
gypsyden.com
Greens Cafe has many Asian food favorites converted to soy and potatoes to satisfy your vegetarian ethnic food taste buds. It is well-known for its Crispy Stix, deep-fried soy protein strips with chipotle sauce, and its Jumping for Joy fried rice, multi-grain fried rice with heaps of vegetables and marinated soy protein cutlets. A Sunday buffet is available for those who have a hard time getting their fill.
Greens Cafe
15435 Jeffrey Road
Suite 110
Irvine, CA 92618
949-653-1241
thegreenscafe.com
