What is it? Vegan food that appeals to omnivores, plus whimsical cocktails and chic death metal decor make for a dining experience unlike any other.
Why we love it: All hail seitan at Kindred! This singular cocktail bar has exceptional vegan dishes, Victorian elegance and ravishingly sinister heavy metal flourishes. Mixing equal parts heaven and hell—pink toile wallpaper is the background for a devilish wolf sculpture—Kindred serves divine vegan dishes such as char-grilled seitan skewers and battered hearts of palm flatbread alongside exquisite cocktails blackened with activated charcoal and served on pentagram coasters. A trip to the bathroom yields a virtual art gallery of malevolent dudes and their cats.
Time Out tip: The barbecued jackfruit at Kindred will make lifelong carnivores question whether it’s actually pulled pork on their sandwich. Order it with one of their spirit-forward or refreshing non-alcoholic cocktails.
Address: 1503 30th St, San Diego, CA 92102
Opening hours: Mon–Thu 5pm–midnight, Fri 5pm–1am, Sat 10am–1am, Sun 10am–midnight
Expect to pay: Both entrees and cocktails run $15 to $20 each, so plan for at least $30 to $40 per person.