5 Vegan Breakfast Spots in San Diego

When you think about breakfast, you may picture crispy bacon next to a pile of scrambled eggs and hashbrowns covered in shredded cheese. However, if you are trying to cut back on meat or other animal proteins, or are vegan or vegetarian, breakfast might look very different! Luckily, San Diego has several places where it’s easy to get a great vegan breakfast. 

Here are five places in San Diego county where you can have a delicious vegan breakfast:  

Kindred

South Park – 1503 30th St, 92102

Kindred is popular with both vegans and omnivores thanks to their whimsical ambiance, rock n roll playlist, and extensive craft cocktail menu. Vegan brunch is served Saturdays and Sundays from 10am to 2pm. Their brunch menu includes sweet items like pancakes topped with butterscotch and Banh Mi french toast sticks. If you prefer savory, try the country-fried breakfast sausage, biscuits and gravy, or the tofu benedict. If you need some caffeine, order the delicious Kiss of Steel, which is made with cold brew coffee, oat milk, cinnamon, and coconut.  

Plant Power

Locations in Ocean Beach and Encinitas

Vegan fast food chain Plant Power serves breakfast at their Ocean Beach and Encinitas locations from 7am-11am. (They currently do not serve breakfast at the SDSU location.) Their plant-based breakfast menu includes hash browns, a chicken & waffle sandwich, a breakfast burrito containing sausage, egg, and hashbrowns, and a variety of breakfast sandwiches with your choice of vegan canadian bacon or sausage. Whether you go to the Ocean Beach or Encinitas location, we suggest grabbing your order through the drive-thru and heading to the beach to enjoy a morning picnic — sounds like a great way to start the day!

Ben & Esther’s Vegan Jewish Deli

College Area – 6663 El Cajon Blvd suite Q, 92115

San Diego’s first all-vegan Jewish deli serves incredible homemade items all free of animal products. Their fresh baked bagels come in a variety of flavors including pumpernickel, jalapeno, and cinnamon-raisin. Top your bagel with one of their schmears in flavors like maple-bacon, peach, cardamom-pear, or classic plain. If you prefer your breakfast sandwiches to be assembled for you, try one of their bagel sandwiches like the egg + cheese, lox, or steak + eggs. 

Breakfast Republic

Locations throughout San Diego

You’ll almost always see a line outside of any location of popular brunch restaurant Breakfast Republic, but that’s a testament to how much people love their varied breakfast menu! Thanks to a special section on their menu, vegans can enjoy brunch at a local spot with their friends. The vegan breakfast items include a unique, blackberry-jalapeno jam infused benefit, omelet made from plant-based eggs, breakfast burrito bursting with veggies and faux meat, avocado toast, or a veggie & pesto frittata. 

Nutmeg Bakery Cafe

Locations in both Scripps Ranch and Sabre Springs

Nutmeg describes themselves as an “artisan bakery and café specializing in local, organic, and sustainable food and sweets.” They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner and also provide catering and special-order cakes. While they offer a large variety of egg dishes, they also serve a “vegan scramble” with black kate, onions, squash, mushrooms, and soy chorizo served over home fries. If you feel like something sweet, try a fresh-baked vegan lemon poppy seed scone or slice of vegan rum cake!