Simply put, there is no better time in human history than now to be a vegetarian or vegan. No longer relegated to mere fringe-health-cult or dietary-restriction status, eating without meat is the way to go for millions worldwide. It’s also sometimes the best way to eat your burger, whether you eat meat or not. Santa Barbara has a number of restaurants offering burgers that buck the beef for beans, grains, nuts, and unexpected ingredients like blueberries. Here’s a look at some of our favorites.
Good Karma, Natural, and Zen Burgers, The Natural Café
A Santa Barbara staple for years, the Natural Café has been serving up consistently great vegetarian and vegan options to thousands of loyal customers. Their string of vegetarian burgers are a lunchtime fixture for many, and it’s easy to taste why. You can get the Good Karma burger, made of tempeh, or the Natural Burger, made of soy, but the Zen Burger is by far the most popular. With onions, mushrooms, carrots, broccoli, bell pepper, and rolled oats among its wholesome ingredients, plus toppings made in-house, it packs in a lot of flavors, said Clay Adam, district manager, “and it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg.”
