Forget the music, go for all the vegan options at Coachella

Grab your crop tops and sunglasses – after a mandatory two-year hiatus, Coachella is just around the corner. This mainstream music festival in the California desert is famous for its mainline headliners and all-day parties, but since Nic Adler took his place as culinary director, the multi-weekend event ends has also quickly become a destination for food lovers. Vegan and co-founder of Monty’s Good Burger, Adler ensured an abundance of equally exciting vegan options at Coachella. Check out these vendors and surrounding vegan spots when you need to refuel between standout performances.

Coachella kicks off festival season starting April 15. Between the stalls of Indio’s Central Market and the elaborate Outstanding in the Field dinner, there will be a tantalizing and satisfying vegan option at every price point and every craving.

indo central market

Cena Vegan

1 Cena Vegan

This family-friendly vegan pop-up dominates the food scene in Los Angeles, so it’s only fitting that it has a place at the state’s biggest music festival. Go for Cena when you crave vegan tacos, nachos, or a comforting burrito the size of your head.

2 All Dim Sum

When the sun goes down and the weather turns cool, warm up with a moist and moist vegan bun. Stuffed with meaty mushrooms and other veggies, these comforting handfuls will get you through the day or into the night.

3 Bright cafe

Give adult beverages a break for a carefully crafted dairy-free latte. The coffee supplier will have their expert baristas and a professional-grade espresso machine ready to meet your caffeine needs.

4 Bar Boba Milk Box

Technically a snack and drink, these vegan-friendly milk boba teas are great for keeping cool and satisfying those little hunger pangs. Don’t worry if you can’t fit this one in – the brand sells DIY boba boxes in linealso!

Ramen hood

5 Ramen hood

Days can be sweltering, but desert nights are bound to be a bit chilly, especially for those flip-flop tank tops and cut-off shorts. Cozy up to a comforting bowl of vegan ramen with a vegan egg.

6 Vegan slut

Finally, Californians and out-of-state West Coasters can try this legendary vegan burger joint. Plan your visit accordingly, as there is bound to be a very long queue. Don’t be surprised if it’s over an hour.

7 Sumo dog

You’ll find this unique hot dog pop-up conveniently located next to the beer garden inside the Indo Central Market. Top your Field Roast Vegan Sausage with any number of preset toppings like Sumo Dog (wasabi condiment, pickled peppers, teriyaki, furikake, and minced onion) or Romeo (guac, pico de gallo, tempura crunchies, and cilantro).

8 Sus Arepas

Sink your teeth into a super-stuffed vegan arepa at least once during your festival experience. The portable masa sandwich is packed with sliced ​​avocado, seasoned black beans and fried plantains. You won’t find anything else like it at the Indio Food Tent.

9 Poke Sweetfin

Looking for a meal that won’t slow you down? Fuel up with a vegan poke bowl. Layered with tender sushi rice, sweet potato, avocado, carrots, cucumber, and edamame, this daytime meal will keep you hooked through the afternoon encores.

VanLeeuwen

ten Van Leeuwen ice cream

Reminder: you are in the desert, and it will be hot. Cool down with a scoop or two of sweet dairy-free ice cream. Range of flavors, but Van Leeuwen is sure to have favorites such as Planet Earth, Mint Chip and Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough.

12 VIP Peaks

Vibe

1 Vibe

Those with food sensitivities, rejoice! This healthy vegan chain is known for its allergen-free meals that deliver taste and satiety. You can’t go wrong with the Mediterranean bowl.

2 Craig’s Vegan

Craving something sweet? A scoop of Melrose Mint Chip or Sunset & Strawberry will fix everything.

3 garden bowls

Need something refreshing but not quite ready for ice cream? Embrace this acai bowl and smoothie concept for an energizing bowl of mixed fruits and crunchy granola toppings.

4 El Chino Grande

Check out this culinary fusion concept from chef Chris Yang for an exceptional Yuba ‘N Rice dish featuring Hodo Foods tofu, sesame yuba, short grain rice and crunchy coleslaw. Who knew festival food could be so magnificent?

lettuce festival

5 lettuce festival

Sometimes all you want is vegan fried chicken. If that feeling hits you while strolling through Coachella, take a break from the music for a plant-based fried chicken sammie at this legendary local vendor.

6 maningplant

Go there and enjoy deliciously spicy noodles in front of thousands of people. One bite and you don’t care if you have chili flakes all over your face. The less daring can take the safer route: puffy bao buns stuffed with fried mushrooms, cilantro and chili oil.

7 Ronan

There’s a reason this Neapolitan-style pizzeria is in the VIP section. Don’t expect a cheap slice operation here – it’s high quality ingredients and multi-day fermented batter at Ronan. The vegan option – Tomate, Tomatho – features bright cherry tomatoes, squash blossoms, garlic and oregano on a super-thin, puffy crust.

8 Tacos 1986

If you’re comfortable in the VIP area and don’t want to cross the grounds to get to Cena Vegan, this taqueria will have options for you. Seasoned mushrooms are the vegan star, served with guacamole, onions, cilantro and salsa ranchera on a handmade corn tortilla.

sunny blue

9 sunny blue

When it’s not quite time to eat but you desperately need a substantial snack, grab a plant-based omusubi from this vegan vendor. Street food consists of a furikake-dusted rice ball stuffed with your choice of vegetable-based filling. We’re big fans of the Miso Mushroom, a filling of king oyster mushrooms and enoki mushrooms in a homemade miso glaze.

VIP Rose Garden

1 post and beam

Serving high festival rates only for weekend 1, grab your plant-based crab cakes while they last! We guarantee these are not like the frozen variety you find at the store.

Bridgetown Roast

2 Bridgetown Roast

Attention: this supplier will only be on site during weekend 2 (sorry for the participants of weekend 1). The Chana and Sweet Potato Roti Vegan Wrap will fill you up for hours after the sunset on the California desert scene.

Terrace

1 Salt and Straw

Coachella is big enough for more than one vegan ice cream vendor. Salt and Straw changes its vegan flavors seasonally, but you can always count on the Freckle Mint Chocolate Chips and Marionberry Coconut Sorbet in stock.

Monty’s Good Burger

2 Monty’s Good Burger

No music festival would be complete without the vegan rendition of In-N-Out. Grab yourself a plant-based Double Burger with fries and a shake for the ultimate Californian experience.

Coachella Court

Trill Burger

Sample this Houston-based burger smash concept while you can. Order the somewhat secretive Vegan Trill Burger for a super juicy and crispy double patty served with grilled onions and dairy-free cheese on a chewy burger bun.

Exceptional dinner on the ground

In celebration of Earth Day, this transcendent table-to-farm dining experience is plant-based. On April 22, Outstanding in the Field will host Chefs Ayinde Howell and Makini Howell from Plum Bistro to prepare a four-course vegan dinner for 275 guests. Tickets are going fast, so secure yours today.

Chica Tacos

SOHO house

You’ll need a pass to enter this exclusive celebrity-studded tent, but if you’re lucky enough to get one, you’re in for a treat. According to co-founder Chris Blanchard, Los Angeles taco chain Chica’s Tacos will serve an all-plant-based menu on-site that pays homage to Mesoamerica. He gave us the rundown of the entire menu: “We are honored to have our plant-based ground meat partner in Abbot’s Butcher powering our award-winning Crispy Taco topped with Chicas Taco Sauce, Citrus Lettuce, radish and grated Daiya Cheddar cheese. Other offerings include a fajita-style jackfruit taco, plant-based queso, guacamole, plant-based paletas (popsicles) from Daiya, assorted salsas, and non-GMO corn tortilla chips. Our late night menu will include plant-based nachos with Abbot’s Butcher. Be warned, with a lineup like this, you might not want to leave the tent.

Vegan options nearby

Breathe a sigh of relief. There are vegan options outside the festival site. On your way to Coachella, the first sign of vegan civilization you’ll encounter is Chef Tanya’s kitchen. The Native Foods founder sold the business in 2012 and moved inland. Its signature restaurant has two locations — one in Palm Springs and one in Palm Desert — and offers hearty plant-based sandwiches, bowls, desserts, deli sides, and more. Take advantage of refrigerated take-out options to store at your hotel or Airbnb. Closer to Indio, you won’t find any completely vegan places other than a handful of juices, but there are some vegan dishes. Your Pie and Cork and Fork both offer vegan pizzas with non-dairy cheese (the latter even offers a full vegan menu of appetizers and entrees). For decent Thai, search for My Thai and tick the vegan box when you place your order online – guaranteed animal free!

For more vegan dishes, read:
The 12 Best Vegan Products Coming in 2022
The winners of the 2022 Veggie Awards are here
The 100 Best Vegan Products of All Time