I was today years old when I realized that some of the best vegetarian food (period) is beyond the Orange Curtain. 

I have my partner Michael to thank for that. 

When we met, we hit it off immediately. But when he told me he was a vegetarian, I thought perhaps I should delete his number and download Hinge or something. On one of those apps, I’d specify that I couldn’t live without Korean BBQ and sushi dates. Could I actually do without late-night birria (and consommé!) from El Sauz?

And then he brought me to his hometown. Give or take 30 minutes from Long Beach is Stanton. It’s Anaheim’s charming cousin, and it’s home to Irrawaddy Taste Of Burma, where you can find the freshest and most flavorful pile of food on God’s green Earth — the tea leaf salad. 

On another day (perhaps the next day), we bounded up the street to Little Arabia where we devoured Za’atar Mana’eesh in the corner of a little strip mall. It’s Palestinian flatbread topped with a mixture of the herb zaatar and olive oil. I wondered how I ever lived without it. 

So, I did become a vegetarian, who becomes a pescatarian occasionally (I can’t quit you, sushi), but I think it had less to do with my S.O. and more to do with a diverse world of food I didn’t know existed (forgive me, I’m a white girl from San Luis Obispo). 

Whether you’re doing the whole “veganuary” challenge, scouting for a unique Valentine’s date idea or you’re just looking to try something new — I know just the place, err places, where you can taste food from all over the world. You won’t break the bank, and you will say, “I can’t believe it’s not beef!” 

Here’s a few to start with.

Kenshō – 16511 Magnolia St., Garden Grove

We did have that sushi date. It was in Garden Grove, within another strip mall, of course. There’s something to be said about finding gems in “the sprawl.” Kenshō offers a huge menu of 100% vegan sushi rolls made from plants — many of which will leave you puzzled that you aren’t biting into the real deal. 

We tried I Lava You, a California roll with “baked oyster scallops”, dynamite sauce, spicy mayo and unagi sauce ($16). Then there was the Yoga Fire: Shrimp tempura, avocado, cucumber, spicy tuna and “spicy AF sauce.” Oh and don’t forget to start with a tempura blossom — miso-cream cheese stuffed blossoms with jalapenos and onion. 

And in case you were wondering, yes, it’s cute in there — sleek and chic. Bring your date here. 

Sababa Falafel Shop – 11011 Brookhurst St., Garden Grove 

OK, all right, this Palestinian-owned restaurant does have actual meat options, but they also make the best falafel I have ever had in my short life. Actually, they make the best bowl of anything I’ve ever had in my short life — this I declare after every visit. 

They’ll likely offer you a sample of that falafel as you’re pondering the made-to-order options, say yes. 

Their menu boasts pita filled with goodies and your choice of protein, but I prefer their bowls, which you can build yourself (sort of like poke bowl style). You can fill your bowl with pickled cabbage, onion, cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce, humus and more. Plus of course those tender falafels. 

Au Lak – 16563 Brookhurst St., Fountain Valley

Two words: Living foods. Wait, don’t go! It’s not what you think, they won’t get up and walk away. Au Lak specializes in raw vegan, which isn’t merely a menu full of salads, and they do also offer cooked foods. 

And if you are searching for that date idea your doe-eyed date probably hasn’t heard of, this must be the place.

If there’s anything that I’ve learned over the last two years that’s worth noting, it’s that vegetarian food makes up a huge part of Vietnamese cuisine. Most Vietnamese meat and seafood dishes can be made vegetarian. Yes, even shrimp is expertly imitated. Almost any protein you can think of can be reconstructed with plants — it must be sorcery. 

Recently, Michael brought me on a date here for the first time. This place is almost as old as I am and it’s quite cozy and charming inside. But you won’t notice your well-decorated surroundings once you take a bite of the eggrolls (and spring rolls) you’ll start with.

Eggrolls come with an eggless wrap with mushroom, carrot, jicama, clear rice noodles, taro and almond filling served with lettuce, mint and vegan fish sauce. Spring rolls are made with vermicelli, vegan shrimp, chive, lettuce and mint wrapped in brown rice paper served with peanut sauce.

For our entrees, we shared two dishes, one cooked, one “living” (raw). Of the cooked variety, we got the Royal Noodle Soup (Bún Bò Huế): Lemongrass broth with round rice noodles, bologna, mushroom and beef served with bean sprouts, mixed herbs and cabbage. Off the raw menu, we ordered the curried rice: wild rice, broccoli, cauliflower, peas and corn in spiced macadamia sauce served over avocado, olives and cucumber, and topped with marinated mushroom, dehydrated crisp onion, fresh carrots and cilantro.

I won’t waste any more words trying to describe how much I loved each of these orders. Just go there. 

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I have so many more places like this to share with you, but we both have places to be. I’ll bet many of you have your own hidden kitchens to recommend in the OC. Do share.