Elana Lavine

Each year the list of Thanksgiving vegan options gets longer, and each year the options extend beyond the traditional feast. Omnivores and vegans can in fact dine side by side—a concept once thought impossible. It’s not an ideal situation for most vegans, but as times have changed and chefs have begun to blur the lines, the concept is not as uncomfortable as it once was. Politics aside, we are functional co-habitants who can dine together in harmony when delicious fare is present.   Enter the diverse town of LA, filled with talented chefs that cater to both parties. This year they have succeeded in producing phenomenal dishes, plates and even entire take-out feasts for you to bring to a pre-arranged turkey dinner.    Here are some personal favorites ranging from traditional to experimental:  1. RFD Real Food Daily (Santa Monica, West Hollywood, Pasadena) One of the first mainstream vegan restaurants to pave the way was Real Food Daily. It’s a landmark in a town that’s not known for stability. Their menu has expanded over the years to provide an array of healthy favorites and comfort food classics. This year they added a hearty Thanksgiving option that is gluten-free and nut-free, but not flavor-free. It’s the type of plate that allows you to walk away from the table without the added heave-ho assistance.     <img id="d3ecc669-316b-b490-0378-7f3d5b2acb0d" data-caption="" data-credit="Courtesy: @VeganFatKid " data-width-class="" type="image/jpeg" total="9