Crossroads

You may have heard about Crossroads because of their beautiful book shown in the best bookstores. Or maybe was it thanks to a vegan friend who tagged you on an Instagram picture of vegan cheese that looked like the real thing. Or maybe you ran into Roy Choi in front of his food truck who told you that Tal Ronnen, the Crossroads chef, “is a plant-based food whisperer” [sic]. Whichever way you may have heard about Crossroads, you should not miss the lentil flatbread with pea pesto, the maitake tempura, the crab cakes which taste like the best crab cakes you’ve ever tried (thanks to the palm hearts’ stringiness), the oyster artichokes, or the fettuccine with smoked carrots. Unless someone told you beforehand, it is impossible to guess that the restaurant is strictly vegan – and Tal Ronnen is so surprising and gifted that some carnivorous diners end their meals without ever finding out the real truth. The Israeli chef (aka “the best vegan chef in America” according to Oprah Winfrey) opened Crossroads in 2013 after noticing that vegetarians were reduced to ordering sides in the vast majority of restaurants. Three years later, he can boast of having cooked for Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney and Beyonce, given a lecture at Yale, and written a best-selling book. Whichever way you may have heard about Crossroads, there is only one rule to follow: leave your expectations at home, because it’s time to turn over a new leaf.

Style: Vegan

Address: 8284 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90046 (West Hollywood)

Hours: Sunday-Thursday 10AM-2PM and 5-10PM, Friday-Saturday 10AM-2PM and 5-11PM

Menu: crossroadskitchen.com