Another out-of-the-way spot, this one is also worth the drive, especially if you are visiting Joshua Tree. Featuring an eclectic menu with a slew of vegan and plant-based options, the food is truly out of this world, and the atmosphere is extremely welcoming. The chicken tacos are my personal favorite and, while no longer listed on the menu, are still readily available to patrons in the know.
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Located 30 miles north of Palm Springs, this eatery is a bit out of the way but is a must-stop if you’re heading to Joshua Tree or Yucca Valley. Boasting a vibrant and thoroughly unique high-desert vibe, the historical movie set turned biker/burrito bar turned bustling restaurant/fabled live music venue is hip, happening, and standing-room-only most days. And don’t let the place’s ramshackle appearance fool you – the food served on the premises is some of the best you’ll find in the entire greater Palm Springs area. As such, Pappy + Harriet’s has attracted the likes of everyone from Paul McCartney to Helen Mirren to Emma Stone.
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This beloved eatery started serving up savory crepes (or what owner Marcel Ramirez describes as a “French burrito”) in 2020 and quickly became a sensation, with Guy Fieri (who popped in to shoot an episode of his popular “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives”) deeming the BBQ chicken crepe a “destination dish.” And Gabino’s truly is a destination! Offering little slices of handheld heaven, Marcel’s crepes consist of incredibly tasty (not to mention hearty) fillings like pesto chicken and rib-eye cheese steak enveloped in a perfectly crunchy wrap crafted from flour, eggs and cheese. A meal at Gabino’s is truly like nothing else in the world! Bonus – there is also a sister location in Palm Springs for those on the west side of town.
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If you’re into franks, Sumo Dog is the place to be! Offering beef, pork, and vegan varieties accompanied by such accouterments as wasabi relish, miso mustard, guacamole, and katsu, the options are imaginative and delicious! My preferred order is an Angus beef frank, bacon wrapped with togarashi cheese sauce, but even the basic Chicago-style dogs make this spot worth a visit.
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Hands-down the Coachella Valley’s prettiest restaurant, The Pink Cabana is a designer’s dreamland! All soft blushes and subtle greens with incredible tilework, the newcomer (it opened in 2018) is gorgeous! And the food is fabulous, to boot! Go for the Instagram opportunities, stay for the Green Chile Chicken Tacos and Moroccan Club (my two favorite entrees).
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A beloved spot for burgers, this place is a mid-day go-to. With basic offerings like the American (topped with Swiss, onions, lettuce, pickles, tomato and special sauce) to the Fresno Fig (served with fig marmalade, melted goat cheese, bacon, tomato, onion, arugula, and spicy porter mustard) you can go high or low-brow here, and will not be disappointed. The salads are also exceptional and the beer and whiskey options plentiful.
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My monthly lunch group’s go-to spot, this vegan gem proves that plant-based can be downright delicious. Everyone I take here is bowled over by the fare, even the diehard meat-eaters. I’m partial to the Egg-y Salad, while my bestie Heidi swears by the Banh Mi & You sandwich. Don’t skip the onsite “kreamery,” serving some of the desert’s best ice cream, or the adjoining pet store, which regularly hosts cat adoptions.
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Vegan, gluten-free and, paleo friends – this is the spot for you! Owned and operated by functional nutrition counselor/chef Lorraine Ornelas, the eatery boasts a highly specialized menu offering smoothies, juices, elixir shots, and entrees geared toward every dietary restriction and preference known to man. Need a glow-up, toxin flush or immunity boost? Plant-based, low-carb, celiac? Lorraine has got you covered, no matter what ails you! And the fare is incredibly tasty, to boot!
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This gem sits tucked inside the Sunnylands Center at the fabled Sunnylands Estate, the former home of philanthropists Walter and Leonore Annenberg and a stomping ground of countless U.S. presidents. While the salads here are great and inexpensive, the real draw is the ambiance. Overlooking the spectacular Sunnylands Gardens, this place has views for days! Post-meal, be sure to explore both the Center (admission is free and exhibits change regularly) and the surrounding landscape – every inch of it is spectacular!
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Beloved for its formidable drink selection and award-winning American comfort fare, this spot is often heralded as having the best nachos in the desert – and that is not hyperbole! Served one-layer deep on a cookie sheet, allowing for an ideal chip-to-topping ratio, you will not find a better version anywhere else in the Valley! The eatery’s other menu items are just as tasty, with everything – and I do mean everything – made fresh in-house, and the craft cocktails superbly shaken and stirred by expert mixologists.
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