Vegan Dining in the OC: Seabirds Kitchen

Hello there! Last month I finally made it up to Seabirds Kitchen in Orange County & OMG, if you are in the So Cal vicinity….GET OVER THERE NOW!

Ever since I experienced my very first bite of their Beer Battered Avocado Taco from the Seabirds Truck at the LA Vegan Beer & Food Fest a few years ago, I’ve been dying for more. Since that magical day, I’ve tried a few others' attempts, but honestly, nothing has yet to compare to Seabirds’ creamy, crispy, crunchy goodness. Sounds like an oxymoron, I know. How can it be creamy, yet crispy? You must try it for yourself! Unfortunately for me, the Seabirds Truck was operating out of the OC, so when a craving hit, it wasn’t so convenient to get on the road & seek out the truck. And then, they, sadly, announced the truck’s retirement!

One of my favorite things about Seabirds is that they source their fruits & vegetables from local organic farmers, so they offer a varying seasonal menu, with a focus on “farm-to-plate.” Oh, & did I mention that Seabirds is 100% vegan? Since it opened last summer, Seabirds Kitchen has been in the forefront of my mind as a must-go-to, but even at a quick 1.5-hour drive away, I’ve had a hard time making time for a trip up there. So when I recently reconnected with my friend Angela, who is now living in Marina Del Rey, I suggested we meet up for a life update session over lunch at Seabirds. One look at the menu & she was in!

We began our meal by sharing a plate of Burnt Brussels Sprouts roasted & tossed with garlic, lime, & Dijon mustard. So delicious! It’s hard to go wrong with brussels sprouts, especially when roasted to a crisp!

Burnt Brussels Sprouts

Upon my vehement recommendation, Angela ordered the Beer Battered Avo Taco a corn tortilla filled with fried avocado, seabirds sauce, crisp cabbage, red onion & lime.

Beer Battered Avo Taco

Simple flavors, but just as ridiculously yummy as I had remembered it to be (of course I had to sneak a bite, just to make sure!). Such a wonderful contrast of textures – creamy, crispy, rich, yet light, along with great crunch from the cabbage & zesty zip from lime. It's seriously so good!

Deciding on an entree was not easy. Do I order a couple of tried & true favorites, or go out on a limb & try something new? While everything on the menu sounded amazing, one entree bowl, in particular, caught my eye…the Holy Smokes Bowl a hearty bowl filled with bbq jackfruit, sautéed greens, steamed cauliflower, pickled red onion, coconut bacon, Seabirds sauce & Kentucky bbq sauce on a bed of brown rice.

Holy Smokes Bowl

Oh, holy smokes, it was tasty! I was definitely intrigued by the bbq jackfruit, as it had been on my bucket list of unusual ingredients to try. I’ve heard it is the perfect vehicle for a flavorful sauce as it soaks it up like a sponge, & that its texture is similar to shredded beef or carnitas. I’ve never had either, so I cannot make a related comparison, but the texture was definitely tender & a bit stringy, & I can see how this could be a wonderful vegan substitute for a variety of recipes – from tacos & enchiladas to sliders, or a topping to a hearty bowl like this one, or a lighter salad. There were so many wonderful flavors & textures married in this dish – tender greens & cauliflower, crispy coconut bacon, piquant pickled onion zesty bbq jackfruit, plus more bbq FTW & a generous drizzle of creamy cool “Seabirds Sauce” (hint, hint: vegan mayo, cilantro, garlic, lime, jalapeño, salt & pepper, so a lithe bird told me!), & let's not forget the comforting bed of brown rice, which quite honestly I didn’t each much of. This bowl was generously portioned, full of flavor & super satisfying. I highly, highly recommend it!

Angela ordered the Locals Bowl, which I too was tempted to try, with brown rice, black beans, sauteed greens, pickled red onion, ancho salsa, fresh cilantro, tortilla strips, & chipotle sour cream. My photo did not do it justice, so it’s not pictured, but I can assure you that it looked as good as Angela said it tasted. I have a feeling that it's hard to go wrong with anything on the Seabirds menu!

I am so happy that I finally made it up to Seabirds Kitchen. This place is where it’s at! Casual, quaint, & comfortable with farm-fresh vegan cuisine that will knock your wool-free socks off. We need more places like this in San Diego! Oooh, writing this post has me craving MORE! I must return, ASAP. So if you are in the LA/OC area, do me a favor, & visit to your heart's content. I certainly would if it was closer to me.