Vegan Guide to Joshua Tree

Having traveled extensively with a vegan friend, I know how important it is to earmark the spots to have plant-based protein lined up after a day on the road. For a California destination, Joshua Tree is still expanding it’s vegan options, but I really wanted to highlight what we think are some of the best.

Full disclosure, I’m NOT vegan, but always enjoy a well prepared vegan meal.

1. JT VEGAN
   Saturdays at Joshua Tree Certified Farmers' Market in downtown
   Okay, yes JT Vegan isn’t a ready prepared meal or restaurant, but this wonderful couple makes such fantastic nut cheeses and plant-based meats that they totally deserve to top the list. You’ll find their booth on Saturday at the Joshua Tree Farmer’s Market. Get there early because they do sell out! Their Tuscan Mozzarella is amazingly melty for pizza and their Pepper Jack is great shredded for nachos or burritos. Pick up some sliced meats and grab a loaf of sourdough from the next entry, head back to your Airbnb and you’ll have incredible sandwich to build when you get there.

2. Boo’s Organic Oven
   61675 29 Palms Hwy Unit 3, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
   It’s such a gift to have a great local bakery. Boo’s specialty is a variety of primarily vegan Sourdough loafs and an incredible array of tasty pastries. Her vegan brownies are a staple at our home. There’s more than one in the fridge right now. I don’t know what she puts in them, but they’re a pretty perfect brownie. Additionally, she has a great vegan Pasties to take a bake. They’ve also got amazing vegan apple pie to die for.

3. Natural Sister’s Cafe
   61695 29 Palms Hwy, Ste B, Joshua Tree, CA 92252
   I’m going to be honest, this place is so popular I haven’t enjoyed it enough for a really extensive personal review, but it is THE place for made to order vegan sandwiches and salads. OH, and juices and smoothies. Come early and expect to wait a bit, but it’s worth it.

4. Crossroads Café
   61715 29 Palms Hwy Joshua Tree, CA 92252
   The JT Village mainstay has great vegan offerings for any meal of the day from a Tofu Scramble for breakfast to The Hell Burger with grilled seitan for lunch or dinner. And they’ve got all the milk alternatives for coffee in the morning.

5. Pie For The People!
   58960 29 Palms Hwy, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, United States
   I love pizza and this place never disappoints. Most places go too heavy with the vegan cheese, and they’re no different, so I suggest asking to go light on it. The crust is delicious New York style, they’ve got a wonderful red sauce and diverse veg toppings like roasted potato, black garlic and pickled veggies.

6. La Copine
   848 Old Woman Springs Rd, Yucca Valley, CA 92284
   I will have this restaurant on any list for the high desert, because everything they do is done well with intention and love. There is no half-assing here. They don’t have a ton of vegancentric options, but again, whatever they make will be well worth it. This is the first entry outside of central Joshua Tree and is about 30 mins away in neighboring Flamingo Heights north of Yucca Valley. Come early and stop by Moon Wind Trading on the way to find unique art and vintage pieces and then enjoy a finely selected wine on the patio while you wait for a table. We fell in love with this place when they opened and had a (vegan) melon gazpacho that was so impactful we try to recreate it every summer. Their menu is seasonally rotating and may have more or less vegan options depending on when you go.

7. Sam’s Indian Food & Pizza
   61380 29 Palms Hwy Ste 13 Joshua Tree, CA 92252
   This Indian restaurant adjoining Sam’s Market that also sells deli sandwiches and pizza seems suspect with the variety of their offerings, but is kind of an unsung gem of the high desert. There’s no ‘for the desert’ modifier when you say it’s a good Indian food. It’s good Indian food. They have a great Channa Masala, Saag Aloo, Daal Makhani and other veg favorites.

8. Red Dog Saloon
   53539 Mane St, Pioneertown, CA 92285
   So the iconic Pappy and Harriet’s isn’t going to be super vegan friendly with the bellowing BBQ smoke, but as Pioneertown is an high desert sight not to be missed, the newly opened Red Dog Saloon has Mushroom Rajas Tacos that can accompany a delicious Mescal Margarita while you survey Mane Street.

9. Roadrunner Grab+Go
   6554 Park Blvd Joshua Tree, CA 92252
   When one thinks of a spot to grab a pre-made sandwich in a park visitor’s center, quality isn’t the first thing to come to mind. This little cafe shatters that paradigm. From great vegan wraps to cookies and kombucha this grab and go spot exceeds expectations.