'Flower Burger LA' Brings Hippie-Hued, Vegan Fare To Westside

CULVER CITY, CA — Flower Burger, a vegan-friendly joint with eye-poppingly colorful burgers, opened a ghost kitchen last week in Culver City — the first U.S. location for the European-based business.

For now, it's "delivery only" from the Culver City site, with a brick-and-mortar restaurant possibly planned to open this summer in West Hollywood, according to LA-based owner and entrepreneur Elena Platt, who is working with consulting partner Barbara Lazaroff, co-founder of the Wolfgang Puck Food Co.

Platt's decision to venture into the restaurant industry came after discovering the vegan-friendly chain during a trip to Italy.

“I fell in love with Flower Burger when I first tasted one at their location in Rome,” she said. "I knew it was something I had to bring home."

Founded in 2015 by Italian entrepreneur Matteo Toto, Flower Burger aimed to fill the vegan-burger gap with sustainable, plant-based options, in eateries designed to evoke a hippie-inspired, inviting, inclusive vibe.

Flower Burger's menu offerings are short, but robust, with six plant-based burgers:

• The Jungle Burger features an oat-and-red-bean patty, zucchini and a green bun colored with spirulina powder and turmeric;
• The Classic Chickpea and Spicy Chickpea have chickpea patties with turmeric-colored yellow buns;
• Tangy Chickpea includes a chickpea patty with a Tartarella Sauce flavored with capers and pickles;
• The Cherry Bomb is a lentil-based patty with pink bun, colored with cherry and beetroot extract;
• And the signature Flower Burger includes a red kidney-bean patty and violet bun, made from purple carrot extract.

For sides, diners can select potato wedges, edamame, "Patatas Buenas" with Flower mayo (made with soy milk) or tomato-based, spicy sauce. And for dessert: rolled and sliced, "Chocolate Salami," made from dark chocolate and oat-based biscuits.

Flower Burger operates more than a dozen locations across Italy, France, London and the Netherlands.

“Opening in LA is a dream come true!” company founder Toto said. “We love that LA locals prioritize all the same values that we do, from inclusivity to conscious, sustainable eating.”

"The past year has been incredibly tough for LA," Platt added. "So we’re excited to launch a brand focused on fun, inclusivity and sustainability at a time when those are more important than ever.”

Flower Burger LA delivery can be ordered daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Grubhub, DoorDash and Uber Eats. Later hours are pending. Delivery is within a 15-20-mile radius from Culver City; no dine-in or pick-up options available. See link here.

------------

ALSO SEE:

• Acclaimed Chef Nancy Silverton Opens Hollywood Roosevelt Eatery
• Westside's Post & Beam Reopens With Southern Faves
• Hummus & Pita Co. To Open 1st CA Locale In San Fernando Valley
• Avocado's Time To Shine: New Recipes From CA Chef Brian Malarkey