Raw Vegan Restaurants San Diego

Raw vegan diets incorporate organic vegetables in place of animal products. (Photo: Jupiterimages/Polka Dot/Getty Images )

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Raw foodism is a diet that promotes eating foods that are uncooked or not cooked at temperatures above 118 degrees. Followers of this diet believe that important nutrients in food are killed if food is heated at high temperatures and that whole, unprocessed foods are the best sources of nutrition. Most raw foodists are vegans, abstaining from eating any animal products and often using vegetables, sprouted grains or soaked groundnuts as replacements.

Evolution Fast Food

Evolution Fast Food (evolutionfastfood.com), located west of Balboa Park, serves vegetarian, vegan and raw fast food. All food at Evolution is made from scratch without the use of preservatives, white flour, animal products or refined sugar, which some vegans avoid because it may be processed using animal bones. Raw food selections include tacos, stuffed veggies and burgers topped with a raw cheese substitute made from cashews. Wraps with raw Thai filling or hummus are available, as are raw soft-serve ice cream and a selection of organic juices including the Daily Greens, made with kale, cucumber, apple, lemon and celery.

Peace Pies

Located in the San Diego community of Ocean Beach, northwest of downtown, Peace Pies (peacepies.com) offers a raw, vegan and gluten-free menu of food made from local organic ingredients. The menu includes salads and appetizers such as raw falafel, kale chips and flax crackers topped with hummus or nut cheese. Wrap and sandwich choices include mock tuna, mock carne asada and raw falafel. Peace Pies also serves raw pizza whole or by the slice and desserts such as raw carrot cake, cookies and apple pie. The restaurant also can make a wedding cake using only raw food ingredients. Customers who would like to use Peace Pie recipes at home can purchase the restaurant's cookbook, featuring 72 raw food recipes.

Greenery Raw Food Cafe

Greenery Raw Food Cafe (greeneryrawcafe.com) is about 25 miles north of San Diego in the beach community of Encinitas. The cafe is open for lunch and dinner, although there is no menu for the lunch crowd, which is served ready-made raw entrees, side dishes and desserts directly from the refrigerator. The dinner menu features options such as a burger made from vegetables and walnuts and served on a sprouted buckwheat bun or a raw version of pad Thai made with zucchini noodles and almond chili sauce. Stir-fried vegetables, marinated greens and lettuce salads are available as side dishes, and daily specials can include options such as lasagna, nachos and tacos. The cafe offers a selection of raw desserts and also sells whole pies in flavors such as saffron, key lime and vanilla pecan, although whole pies must be ordered three days in advance. Customers also can purchase supplements such as raw vegan protein powder.

Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Cooperative

While not a raw vegan restaurant, Ocean Beach People's Organic Food Market (obpeoplesfood.coop) offers food and services that support the raw food lifestyle. Open since 1971, the cooperative covers 6, 000 square feet and has more than 11, 500 members. It sells organic produce, packaged grocery items such as raw kale chips and raw cookies, perishables including raw milk and cheese, and bulk foods and herbs. The cooperative also has a sit-down deli that serves vegetarian and vegan entrees, sandwiches and desserts. Customers have a large selection of vitamins and supplements from which to choose and can attend workshops such as Raw Food 101, which explains the raw food diet and is led by a chef who specializes in preparing raw vegan food.