OJAI, CA
Fresh, colorful, mindful. The food at Hip Vegan is loaded with clean plant energy. Soups, salads, wraps, and sandwiches. Always delicious, never boring. Everything from the tempeh to the sauces is packed with flavor.
Old Fashioned Burger
All items on the menu are satisfying yet light, even the burgers, which can be ordered in a gluten-free green wrap. This classic comes two ways:
🍔 Old Fashioned Burger: marinated tempeh patty, lettuce, tomatoes, caramelized onions, 1000 isle dressing, and melted cheese stacked on a wheat bun
🍔 Warung Burger: wheat bun loaded with breaded and fried tempeh, peanut sauce, lettuce, tomatoes, and onions
Garden Salad with Miso Ginger Dressing
Veggie Sandwich
There are several bowls to choose from, like the Black Bean Bowl (featured image), made with brown rice, lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, grilled green onion, avocado, and cilantro pepita dressing. And one day, when I’m on my best behavior, I might try the Caesar Salad or Izakaya Salad: lettuce, cabbage, carrots, yam noodles, ginger tofu, sesame, and aonori tossed in a shio koji dressing and topped with mayo.
This outdoor cafe is super casual, complete with picnic tables and the occasional four-legged guest. Yes, furry best friends are welcome. AND, they serve beer, wine, and clever cocktails. 😎 Follow Hip Vegan on Instagram for daily specials and mouthwatering glamour shots.
⭐️ Must Try: Torta with Gunpowder Fries ⭐️
Libbey Park
EXPLORING THE CITY
As many Southern Californians know, Ojai is the perfect weekend destination. Gorgeous scenery, small-town vibes, art galleries, and quaint boutiques where you can find all the little trinkets you don’t need but just gotta have.
Bart’s Books
To say I am obsessed with books is an understatement. If you share my affinity for good reads, you must vist Bart’s Books. This unique treasure trove of written works came to fruition in 1964 when the owner’s personal collection grew so big that he decided to sell them along the sidewalk using the honor system. Find a cool book, drop your money in a coffee can, and off you go!
Bart’s Books, 302 W Matilija St, Ojai, CA 93023
For nature lovers
Ojai has beautiful areas to enjoy hiking, camping, and bike riding. Before one of many meals at Hip Vegan, my cousins and I trekked along North Fork Matilija Creek Trail for over four hours. Lunch that day was well deserved!
What made the end of our journey extra special was the sight of several peacocks flaunting their iridescent feathers. I used to worry about this species being exploited or hurt by people looking to profit off of their radiant blue and emerald plumage. The good news is that although they might be kept on farms, they are not killed for their feathers. They shed them and grow new ones every year!
Meditation Mount
If you have time left in your day and the sun has yet to set, I highly recommend heading over to Meditation Mount for a blissful rendezvous with nature. The center, founded in 1971, sits atop a mountain overlooking the Ojai Valley. Within this space, created with loving intention, you’ll find yourself a world away from the noise and rush of life in the city.
Each month, Meditation Mount hosts a full moon celebration—a group meditation that focuses on the spiritual energy of the astrological sign the moon is aligned with. Sounds magical, right? Check out their events calendar for other guided meditations and classes.
For more on this fab city, peruse my sample one-day itinerary: Day Trippin’: 8 Hours in Ojai, CA.