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Los Angeles vegan restaurant named best in the nation by Yelp

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Los Angeles vegan restaurant named best in the nation by Yelp

Perhaps no city in the U.S. has the abundance and demand for vegan cuisine like Los Angeles.

So it’s probably not surprising to see that the top ranked vegan restaurant in the entire country can be found in the L.A. area.

Yelp, the global online repository for business reviews and customer service watchdogs, has released its Top 100 list of the nation’s best vegan restaurants, and not only are three of the top 10 in the greater Los Angeles area, but No. 1 is right in the South Bay.

According to Yelp, the best vegan restaurant in America is lil’ Vegerie in Redondo Beach.

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The restaurant offers bowls, salads and juices that even the most committed carnivore would enjoy, according to Yelp. Opened in 2022 by chef and “former vegan skeptic” Jason Cervantes, lil’ Vegerie was founded with the mission to make vegan food “quick, clean, and delicious.”

Yelpers have praised the restaurant’s clean, wholesome menu and its robust flavors. One reviewer even said they would put lil’ Vegerie’s “Philly Cheesesteak bowl” against any other steak sandwich in the area and expect it to hold its own.

If you’re an avid Yelp user and the restaurant name sounds familiar, lil’ Vegerie was also named the No. 1 place to eat in Los Angeles in Yelp’s 2023 rankings.

“I’m not trying to make anyone vegan,” Cervantes said. “I’m showing people that this food can taste good.”

But Cervantes’ restaurant isn’t the only one making waves in L.A.; Hey, Sunshine Kitchen in Culver City came in at the No. 4 spot on the Yelp list.

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The Culver City vegan joint was opened last year by siblings Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel. The restaurant was also crowned No. 1 in Yelp’s 25 hot & new women-owned restaurants 2024 list.

Popular items at Hey, Sunshine include jackfruit carnitas tacos and a Mediterranean Chickpea patty sandwich, but Yelpers rave the most about the restaurants warm bowls, including vegan “beef” crumble and barbecue tofu.

“I am a major omnivore, but you wouldn’t miss the meat here,” one reviewer wrote of Hey, Sunshine.

Venture a little further south and you’ll stumble upon another of the Top 10 best vegan restaurant in the U.S.

Located in Garden Grove in Orange County, Yelp’s No. 7 vegan restaurant is Vegan Stops.

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Unlike many vegan restaurants, Vegan Stops doesn’t make mock meats or “fast-food dupes.” Instead, the restaurant crafts authentic Mediterranean dishes from the family’s Syrian roots.

Mohammad Takwa owns the restaurant and his stepmother is in charge of the kitchen. The menu is crafted with special care, Yelp said, with special attention placed on the veggies, legumes and healthy oils used.

Menu highlights include a roasted cauliflower dish drizzled with tahini sauce and a trio of bulgur pilafs topped with veggies like green peppers, sauteed mushrooms and caramelized onions.

Yelpers also praised the pasta, which reheats well if you have leftovers.

In total, nine California vegan restaurants made it in Yelp’s Top 100 list.

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The California restaurants that made the cut are below:

Rank Restaurant Name City
1 lil’ Vegerie Redondo Beach
4 Hey, Sunshine Kitchen Culver City
7 Vegan Stops Garden Grove
13 Thanh Tinh Chay San Diego
22 BeeWali’s Vegan AF Los Angeles
35 Chef Tanya’s Kitchen Palm Springs
38 Veg & Go Plant-Based Fast Food Riverside
45 Variable Cafe Los Angeles
51 Hijo de su Madre Los Angeles

For the complete list of America’s best vegan restaurants, according to Yelp, click here.

Los Angeles, Ca

Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him

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Pasadena motorist knocked unconscious in unprovoked assault after other driver flashes high beams at him

A motorist was rendered unconscious after what authorities are calling an unprovoked attack that occurred after another driver flashed their high beams at him, authorities say.

According to the Pasadena Police Department, the victim, a 63-year-old man, was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue near Washington Boulevard when a vehicle traveling in the opposite direction flashed him around 1 a.m. Saturday. 

“The victim reported that he was driving northbound on Raymond Avenue from Washington Boulevard when he observed a vehicle traveling southbound flashing its high beams at him,” a Pasadena Police Department spokesperson confirmed to KTLA. “The victim stated he stopped his vehicle and exited. He was then assaulted by an unknown suspect. The assault was unprovoked.” 

The attack left the man unconscious and with a three-inch deep laceration to his head, police added. Upon regaining consciousness, the man transported himself to Huntington Hospital, and it was around 1:20 a.m. when police responded there to a report of an assault with a deadly weapon and began their investigation.

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Upon arriving at the hospital, the victim told police that, due to his injuries, he was not able to provide a description of a suspect, vehicle or the weapon used, nor was he able to tell police the exact location where the assault occurred, although it was confirmed to be somewhere near Raymond Avenue and Washington Boulevard. La Pintoresca Park is located near that intersection.

No further details were immediately available.

Anyone with any information on the incident is asked to contact the Pasadena Police Department right away. 

Sofia Pop Perez contributed to this report.

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Los Angeles, Ca

Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

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Woman killed by driver while crossing PCH in Long Beach

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing the street on Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach.

On June 3, the female pedestrian was using the crosswalk at Pacific Coast Highway and Pacific Avenue around 4:50 a.m.

She had walked against a red light and was hit by a 19-year-old driver in a Chevy sedan, Long Beach police said.

Despite lifesaving efforts, the woman was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation.

A woman was struck and killed by a driver while crossing Pacific Coast Highway in Long Beach on June 3, 2026. (Long Beach Police Department)

“At this time, impaired driving, distracted driving and excessive speed are not believed to be a factor in this collision,” police said.

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The woman’s name is being withheld pending identification by the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner.

Anyone who witnessed the crash or has information on the incident is asked to call Detective Joseph Johnson at 562-570-7355. 

Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org.

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Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

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Man wanted for deadly Los Angeles road rage shooting extradited from Mexico

A man wanted for a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles was arrested and extradited from Mexico after fleeing the U.S. in 2024.

The suspect was identified as Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, according to the California Highway Patrol.

Authorities had been searching for him since the deadly incident on October 10, 2024. 

Rojas and a second suspect, Joshua Rojas Sr., 47, of Downey, were driving on the northbound 5 Freeway in Boyle Heights around 4 p.m. when they became involved in an altercation with another driver that escalated into a shooting.

  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Video obtained exclusively by KTLA shows the terrifying moment a road rage suspect opened fire the driver of another car on the 5 Freeway in Los Angeles, fatally wounding him and seriously injuring a passenger, on Oct. 10, 2024. (Credit: @hugoboss01)
  • Christian Rojas, 21, of Bellflower, was arrested and extradited to the U.S. from Mexico on June 2, 2026, in connection with a deadly road rage shooting in Los Angeles. (California Highway Patrol)

Video of the tense confrontation showed the suspects, who were driving a Dodge Durango SUV, opening fire on two men in a Cadillac sedan. 

The shooting forced the victim to pull over abruptly. That’s when a suspect ran up to the Cadillac, opened the passenger-side door and fired several shots at close range.

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In a panic, the Cadillac driver tried to escape by making a sudden U-turn and driving against oncoming traffic. He eventually crashed head-on into several vehicles.

The suspects ditched their SUV and fled toward a freeway exit on foot. The Cadillac driver was left with serious injuries and his passenger was killed. Their identities were not released.

The incident caused a miles-long backup that left thousands of motorists stranded on the freeway for hours and authorities worked to clear the scene.

Following an extensive investigation, detectives identified the two men as the suspects involved. 

Joshua Rojas Sr. was arrested in San Bernardino on October 22, 2024, on a murder charge. He remains in custody awaiting trial.

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Meanwhile, Christian Rojas had fled the U.S. and was hiding in Mexico, detectives said. A $4.3 million bail warrant was issued for his arrest. 

“Through a coordinated international effort, investigators determined that Rojas was living in Palomo de Arriba, Mexico,” CHP officials said. “The U.S. Marshals Service worked with Mexican state police to locate and arrest him on the outstanding warrant.”

On June 2, 2026, Christian was arrested and extradited to the U.S. to face a murder charge. 

“This arrest demonstrates that time and distance will not shield violent offenders from justice,” said CHP Southern Division Chief Chris Margaris. “For nearly two years, our detectives remained relentless in their pursuit of those responsible for this senseless act of violence. Through exceptional collaboration with the United States Marshals Service and our law enforcement partners in Mexico, we located and apprehended this suspect and brought him back to face the charges. We remain committed to protecting the public, supporting victims and their families, and holding violent criminals accountable wherever they may try to hide.”

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