3 Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Orange County, CA

Vegetarian food isn't everyone's favorite fare, but if you're in the mood for "rabbit food" or if you're a vegetarian/vegan like myself and you're in the O.C., check out these favorites of mine and my family.

This small SoCal chain also has locations in Westwood and Palm Springs, but this location is unique in the building's shape - a giant octagon. (Probably some architectural travesty from the 1970s but they've made the quirky shape work; it feels like a circular diner.)

The food is great, with both vegan and vegetarian options, mostly twists on American and California favorites (like burgers, tacos and pizzas) with a health vegetarian twist. There are also a few raw options if you're trying a raw food diet, and a nice bonus is their unique iced tea, a nice blend of hibiscus, lemon and apple juice.

Here are some of the dishes I've had here:

• Farrah's Fattoush - great Middle Eastern salad, big enough to be a meal
• Scorpion Burger - seared tempeh burger with a spicy chipotle sauce
• Hollywood Bowl - steamed veggies, tofu & spicy peanut sauce over brown rice

  The menu and Google map.

This is where you go if you want to try unusual, but really extraordinarily tasty raw vegan food. Chef Ito's raw menu is separate from the usual Vietnamese food served here (which is also really good), but despite the prices (up to $20 per entree) the food is really worth it.

If you're scared at the thought of eating raw food...don't! Not here, at least. I've been to several other vegetarian restaurants (including Cafe Gratitude, Parawdise, and Raw!) and none are as good as this one. Au Lac's dishes are really rich, flavorful and deeply satisfying.

Here are some of the dishes I've had here:

• Pistachio Bread - more like a soft cookie, but really delicious
• Raw Spring Roll - tasty spring rolls using thin zucchini slices as the wrapper
• Pasta Primavera - pasta is thin strands of zucchini; rich and suprisingly flavorful tomato sauce with "not cheese"
• The Green Pyramid - highly recommended! two pyramids of soaked rice, cashews, avocados, corn, seaweed and flax crackers. It sounds a bit weird, but everyone who's tried this has loved it. Tons of food so you'll be fighting over leftovers the next day.

The raw menu (and traditional vegetarian Vietnamese menu) and Google map.

I've only been to the one in Huntington Beach, but there are also locations in Costa Mesa, Irvine and Laguna Woods. This is a natural foods market with a kitchen off to the side. It, similarly to Native Foods, offers twists on American favorites, with a slightly more "granola" feel to it. But you get generous portions for a very reasonable price, and the quality is excellent.

• Veggie BLT - my mom's favorite; veggie bacon but otherwise a great BLT
• Ma's Lentil Nut Loaf - my dad's favorite; very similar to meatloaf, with gravy & mashed potatoes
• Thai Tofu with Udon Noodles - delicious! one of my favorites

  Their iced chai latte is delicious, too, and they also serve Virgil's microbrewed rootbeer, which is an authentic rootbeer that tastes great.

  Links to their menu and Google map.