Best Vegan Restaurants in Hillcrest

Price

$$
$$$
$$$$

Cuisine

AmericanItalianSteakhouseSeafoodFrenchMexican

Regions

East CountySan Diego

Neighborhoods

Banker's HillBarrio LoganCollege AreaCoronadoDowntownHillcrest

Top Rated

CharmingDog-friendlyFancyGood for business mealsGood for groupsGood for special occasions

Dining Options

All dining options

Delivery only

Takeout only

Seating Options

BarCounterStandardHigh TopOutdoor

Award-winning

MICHELIN

Accessibility

Wheelchair access

92 restaurants available nearby

How are Featured results ranked

1. Cocina de Barrio

4.8

Exceptional(432)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Mexican • Hillcrest

Booked 12 times today

*Brunch hours are on a walk-in basis only. Thank you for your cooperation & support during this time!Cocina de Barrio by Chef Jose J. FloresBienvenidos a Cocina de Barrio, the newest modern-urban Mexican restaurant located in Hillcrest, San Diego! We are proud to feature the culinary richness of Oaxaca as well as other Mexican regions. Stop by and enjoy our bar stocked with plenty tequila and mezcal selections, MUCHA cerveza, and wines sourced from Valle Guadalupe. Don't forget to join us during our daily brunch (where we add a Mexican kick) and our happy hour every Tuesday-Friday from 3-5pm! Stay Chido!

2. KINDRED

4.7

Exceptional(257)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Vegetarian / Vegan • South Park

Booked 26 times today

Equal parts evil lair and Victorian cocktail salon, KINDRED has transfixed and beguiledall who step into its portal, with whimsical eccentricity, world class vegan dishes, and ambitiously inventive cocktails.Since opening its doors in late 2015 in the enchanting neighborhood of South Park, SanDiego, KINDRED has garnered recognition which transcends its plant-based credo,heralded as one of the city's premier dining institutions. It has been named EATER SanDiego's and San Diego Magazine's Restaurant Of The Year, topped Zagat San Diego'sMost Important Restaurant Openings, and earned an Orchid Award for interiordesign from the San Diego Architectural Foundation. KINDRED was also named within the Food Network's list of the best vegan restaurants in the country, was voted the Best Vegan Bar in the U.S. by VegNews magazine, and received regional honors from the Tales Of The Cocktail Foundation for Best Restaurant Bar in the West.

3. Madison

4.4

Awesome(3163)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Mediterranean • University Heights

Booked 56 times today

With their stunning design, classic cocktails & highly acclaimed fare, Madison finds itself among San Diego's can't miss restaurants! Serving many of Michelin recognized Chef Mario Cassineri classic dishes, perfect for Date Night of celebrating with friends. ʜᴀᴘᴘʏ ʜᴏᴜʀ - ᴇᴠᴇʀʏᴅᴀʏ 4-6ᴘᴍᴛᴜᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 7-9ᴘᴍᴡᴇᴅɴᴇꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅɪɴɴᴇʀ ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴅᴏɢꜱᴛʜᴜʀꜱᴅᴀʏ - ᴅᴊ ꜱᴘɪɴɴɪɴɢ ᴏʟᴅ ꜱᴄʜᴏᴏʟ ᴠɪɴʏʟꜰʀɪᴅᴀʏ & ꜱᴀᴛᴜʀᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ᴀ ᴘᴀʀᴛʏ ᴡᴇᴇᴋᴇɴᴅ ʙᴏᴏᴢʏ ʙʀᴜɴᴄʜ - ʟɪᴠᴇ ᴅᴊꜱꜱᴜɴᴅᴀʏ ɴɪɢʜᴛ - ʟᴀᴛɪɴ ᴊᴀᴢᴢ 6-8ᴘᴍ

4. Vulture

new

4.5

Awesome(49)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• Continental • University Heights

Booked 26 times today

Inspired by American mid-century continental-style fine dining, VULTURE is a resurrected institution of yesteryear, revisited through the eclectic possibility of today. Elegant, inventive plant-based dishes honor the sophistication of the past and reveal the daring potential of the present. Classic and forgotten cocktails are reclaimed and re-oriented, dignity intact but with charm and character amplified. VULTURE is a fertile oasis, a secluded nest amidst arid convention. You will be roused by its audacious originality and comforted by its strange familiarity. It is the home of the best dinner party of your life, and the most fussed over Martini in the city.To arrive at VULTURE, walk inside our storefront micro-diner named DREAMBOAT, where our Maître d' will be waiting for you in the back of the diner.

5. Civico 1845

4.5

Awesome(2520)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Italian • Little Italy

Booked 50 times today

A new generation of Italian cuisine - fresh, light and authentic. By using proper cooking techniques, our flavors are natural and pure. Our menu is a homage to our region Calabria and southern Italian roots reflecting what is being served in Italy today. You can also find an extensive vegan menu that incorporates many of the best Italian dishes. We have been the first restaurant in the USA to have a full Italian Vegan menu since 2015! We believe in sustainability, both in our food and in the design of our restaurant. While our menu focuses on locally grown and seasonal ingredients, our bar and dining areas were created using reclaimed, natural materials. Nothing goes to waste at Civico 1845!

A photo of Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego restaurant

6. Provisional Restaurant at Pendry San Diego

4.6

Exceptional(1064)

$$$$Price: Expensive

• American • Downtown

Booked 39 times today

Provisional Kitchen, Café & Mercantile, open for daily for brunch and select evenings for dinner. Provisional is a sprawling, sunlit communal dining space featuring a Vittoria Coffee espresso bar, bistro tables, and a retail space set within a greenhouse, where guests can shop a curated collection of homeware, ceramics, apothecary items, pantry staples, and jewelry.Provisional serves some of the best cuisine in the city, featuring favorites such as housemade pasta, woodfire-oven baked pizza and Italian-inspired entrées; our lively brunch features bottomless mimosas and seasonal creations.

A photo of True Food Kitchen - San Diego FV restaurant

7. True Food Kitchen - San Diego FV

4.6

Exceptional(1986)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Mission Valley

Booked 31 times today

True Food Kitchen is a chef-driven restaurant and scratch bar that was founded by Dr. Andrew Weil, the pioneer of integrative medicine, to provide food that tastes great and is good for you. At our table, delicious dining and conscious nutrition go hand in hand, without sacrificing flavor, creativity or indulgence. Our expertly trained chefs craft flavor-forward dishes, handcrafted cocktails and freshly pressed refreshers so you can enjoy epic food experiences that aren’t just good for you, but good to you. Join us in san Diego for lunch, dinner, or weekend brunch. Located at San Diego's Fashion Valley, a Simon Mall. Entrance from Friars Road at Avenida De Las Tiendas, use surface lot near Bloomingdale's. New flavors, new combinations, new obsessions. Come see us for something completely new and delicious.

A photo of Great Maple San Diego restaurant

8. Great Maple San Diego

4.8

Exceptional(4561)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• American • Hillcrest

Booked 136 times today

We Serve Dinner, Lunch, Brunch and Weekday Breakfast. We are a modern American eatery featuring seasonal fare, fresh house made pies, and local produce cocktails. We have a full bar and a social wine list. Open for Outdoor dining!

A photo of The Yasai: Vegan Japanese Experience at Little Italy restaurant

9. The Yasai: Vegan Japanese Experience at Little Italy

4.7

Exceptional(28)

$$$$Price: Moderate

• Vegan • Little Italy

Junya Watanabe, owner and executive chef of line-out-the-door Rakiraki Ramen & Tsukemen in Kearny Mesa and Little Italy, brings a new plant-based experience to India Street: The Yasai. We are located in the heart of the Little Italy District in San Diego.

10. Born & Raised

4.6

Exceptional(6853)

$$$$Price: Very Expensive

• Steakhouse • Little Italy

Booked 62 times today

The American steakhouse is an iconic restaurant institution. We’d wanted to tell that story for years, but waited until we had the skill, talent and ability to execute it properly, and the right space to be our canvas, an important corner in Little Italy, a neighborhood where we have deep roots. We brought an almost academic appreciation for steakhouse history and tradition to Born & Raised, while trying to stay relevant and authentic to ourselves and our city. Our dry-aged beef pays tribute to earlier, earthier, pre-government grading practices and is the centerpiece of a meal best savored at a slow pace. A timeless celebration of everything that makes restaurants so special. - Consortium Holdings. A 4% surcharge is added to all guest checks.

See what locals rave about

From verified diners like you

J
Janine
Orange County •7 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
It was Jazz night. The music was nice. We were seated by the band at first and found it to be too loud for us and wanted to have a conversation. We asked to be seated outside in front and that was perfect. It was a beautiful summer night and we enjoyed conversing with others outside. Our puppy dog was able to join us there to sit by our side. The food was good and we left with a positive feeling to return another time 👍
More info
MadisonPrice: Expensive• Mediterranean• University Heights
•
4.4
L
LeslieVIP
San Diego •3 reviews
5.0
Dined 4 days ago
The food was really good. I strongly suggest the crabcakes and the oyster Rockefeller. Our server was great definitely a place to visit..
More info
VulturePrice: Expensive• Continental• University Heights
•
4.5
A
Alison
New Orleans / Louisiana •2 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 21, 2025
A MUST when you’re in the area. Simply wonderful! A great location in Little Italy. The food was top tier and the service superb! We will be back whenever we’re in San Diego.
More info
Civico 1845Price: Moderate• Italian• Little Italy
•
4.5
A
Alex
San Diego •3 reviews
5.0
Dined on Jun 18, 2025
The staff are as equally as amazing as the food and ambience. This is our favorite place to eat and drink!
More info
KINDREDPrice: Expensive• Vegetarian / Vegan• South Park
•
4.7
T
TomVIP
Philadelphia County •12 reviews
5.0
Dined on Apr 5, 2025
Pretty pricey but good - the food was delicious but $30 entree is a little insane.
More info
Cocina de BarrioPrice: Moderate• Mexican• Hillcrest
•
4.8

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