VegOut Magazine

And the winners are… You have the Grammys, the Oscars, the Emmys, and then—you have the VegOut Awards! Each year, we open up the polls to let our readers vote on their favorite restaurants across the country. From best pizza, burgers, and fried chicken to ice cream, donuts, and more, the results are in! In this issue, we spotlight the top overall winners and highlight the leaders in select categories. Hungry for more? Head to VegOutMag.com. You’ll also find all of our regular features, including wellness tips and recipes, sustainable apparel essentials, the latest vegan news, and Products We Love! Special for this issue, I interviewed AFI’s Davey Havok (page 20). I’ve been a fan of Havok since high school and couldn’t pass up the chance to chat with him. I find his…

MANAGING EDITOR Tammie Ortlieb (she/her) @TAMMIEORTLIEB STAFF WRITER Anja Grommons (she/her) @VEGCENTRICDIETITIAN CREATIVE DIRECTOR Kimberly Tran (she/her) @KILLAXKIM STAFF WRITER Cayla White (she/they) @CAYLA__WHITE DESIGNER Jerry Ng (he/him) @JERRYMANDERNG BRAND PARTNERSHIPS MANAGER Laurie Chin Sayres (she/her) @ROCKYMOUNTAINDREAMIN SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR & STAFF WRITER Allie Mitchell (she/her) @ALLIEMITCH MARKETING ASSISTANT Tina Gibbs (she/her) @TINATINANOELLE SUBSCRIPTIONS VEGOUTMAG.COM ADVERTISING ADVERTISING@VEGOUTMAG.COM QUESTIONS HELLO@VEGOUTMAG.COM PO BOX 34682, LOS ANGELES, CA 90034 VEGOUTMAGAZINE VEGOUTMAG…

LAUREN TOYOTA (she/her) Lauren is the author of two bestselling cookbooks Vegan Comfort Classics: 101 Recipes to Feed Your Face and hot for food all day. She’s been named one of Canada’s Most Influential Vegans (Impact Magazine) and has appeared on many national television programs sharing her expertise for making vegan food fast and fun. Lauren’s YouTube channel, Instagram, and website have amassed millions of views and devoted fans. @laurentoyota JARED CROSS (he/him) Jared’s passion for travel and culture are fueled by his upbringing near the Mexican-American border in San Diego. He is in constant pursuit of ways to reduce his carbon footprint, and dreams of owning a cocktail bar. @crossjared REBECCA GADE SAWICKI (she/her) Rebecca lives in Metro Detroit and is the creator of the vegan travel blog Veggies Abroad. Born of her love for travel…

BEST VEGAN RESTAURANT CROSSROADS KITCHEN LOS ANGELES, CA Crossroads Kitchen’s head chef and owner, Tal Ronnen, has curated a menu of outstanding upscale dishes, including Artichoke Oysters, Calamari Fritti, and Spaghetti Carbonara. BEST VEGAN-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT CHICAGO DINER CHICAGO, IL Chicago Diner serves up vegan versions of classic diner dishes like Reuben sandwiches, breakfast platters, and milkshakes, to name a few. BEST UPSCALE RESTAURANT VEDGE PHILADELPHIA, PA At Vedge, vegetables are number one! With a menu curated by Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, this high-end restaurant showcases seasonal produce in some of the most elegant dishes. BEST NEW RESTAURANT OBON SHOKUDO PORTLAND, OR From onigiri, noodles, and soups to curries, bento boxes, and even a katsu burger, Portland’s Obon Shokudo is proof that vegan food is more than just veggie burgers and fries. BEST FOOD TRUCK WORD OF MOUTH LOS ANGELES, CA This iconic vegan food truck is a Los…

Crossroads to Open Three New Locations This Year The “Best Vegan Restaurant” winner in the 2022 VegOut Awards is expanding! The Los Angeles based upscale vegan restaurant will have debuted three new locations in 2022. Crossroads Las Vegas—a full-service experience similar to the Los Angeles location—opened May 28 at Resorts World Las Vegas. Crossroads Burgers—a fast-casual concept serving up burgers, milkshakes, and fries—also opened May 28 at Resorts World. This fall, Crossroads is slated to open its third new spot, and second LA location, at The Commons at Calabasas (a Mediterranean-inspired outdoor shopping center and entertainment complex). Vegan Babybel Cheese Now Available at Costco, Whole Foods, Sam’s Club, and Fresh Thyme The nostalgic mozzarella cheese wheels coated in red wax are now available in a vegan version! Babybel Plant-Based was crafted to look,…

ON VEGANISM, BLAQK AUDIO, AND HIS PUNK LEGACY Maggie Ortlieb (MO): When did you first go vegan, and why? Davey Havok (DH): I went vegan 24 years ago. In the ‘90s, the straight edge movement was largely vegan. Being a part of it, I was surrounded by many animal rights activists and thus educated on both the perils of factory farms and the healthfulness of a plant-based diet. I was vegetarian for two years before reading Diet for a New America. After that, I did the right thing. MO: Wow, so you were vegan “before it was cool.” What was that like? And did you find it difficult to find options while eating out and touring? DH: To be fair, it was very trendy to be vegan in the community in which I was…