Plant-Based 'Veggie Grill' Opens in Encino

Veggie Grill, the plant-based foods restaurant that started out with a single eatery on the UC Irvine campus and expanded into three states, has come to Encino.

The Santa Monica-based company is scheduled to open its 18th restaurant at 11 a.m. Wednesday on Ventura Boulevard.

Located at 16542 Ventura Blvd., at the Rubio crossing, the vegetarian restaurant will serve a variety of soups, salads, burgers, hot sandwiches and wraps, not to mention desserts free of eggs, dairy and refined sugars.

What sets Veggie Grill apart from other plant-based restaurants is that it serves all-American comfort food.

“You have your mashed potatoes, buffalo wings, crispy chicken sandwich—that’s our twist on things,” said Anthony Blanset, the restaurant’s general manager, on the eve of the restaurant’s opening. “A lot of times vegetarian food is very ethnic.”

All the “meat” dishes, such as buffalo wings, at Veggie Grill are a blend of soy, wheat and green pea proteins, Blanset explained, adding that the vegetarian proteins have the texture and flavor of real meat.

Are the proteins mock meat? "Please don't call it that," Blanset implored.

Capable of seating 115 people inside the restaurant and on the patio facing Ventura Boulevard, Veggie Grill has a kitchen staff of 15, plus two or three cashiers at all time. Customers are required to come up to the cashiers, order and sit down while they’re served.

“Premium fast casual” is what Blanset calls the concept, which has won a following in Southern California, Oregon and Washington state. The restaurant will also do take-out and accept phone orders.

Veggie Grill will validate for one-hour parking in a lot behind the restaurant, off Rubio.

Veggie Grill, 16542 Ventura Blvd. (818) 788-2621
Sun.-Thurs: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fri.-Sat: 11 a.m.-10  p.m.