‘You’ll Swear It’s Real’: Plant-Based Burger Joint Honeybee Burger Offers Fresh Take on Veganism to Angelenos

By Susan Payne

No actual honey. More than burgers. 

A California restaurant is on a mission to make plant-based food more appealing to the public while saving the planet with its bee-centric branding. 

Honeybee Burger, located in Venice and Mid City, Los Angeles, was launched in 2019 by a group of passionate entrepreneurs with a history of operating and investing in food businesses. 

Conceived by Adam Weiss, an early investor in another vegan concept called Café Gratitude, Honeybee launched pre-pandemic, but fell under heavy restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Having found success despite those challenges, Weiss plans to open another location in New York this fall, serving New Yorker the best plant-based  alternatives to traditional fast food. 

Adam Weiss. Photo: Courtesy.

“After doing research and investing in (the vegan) space for years, I believe Honeybee is the restaurant that people need as their introduction to veganism. Not only is it better for the animals and the planet, but it’s also better for you, too.”

With Honeybee making its mark in California, Weiss wants to help lower the stigma on veganism, increase the popularity of plant-based alternatives and help the alternatives become a fixture in the community, from schools and hospitals to  catered events for the likes of Netflix and others. 

“There aren’t a lot of vegan options in LA with as low of a price point, especially in Venice,” he said. 

Customers of Honeybee aren’t typical vegan foodies, although the restaurant has won hearts across review pages online. The restaurant serves a range  typical of American fast food: burgers, sliders, fried chicken sandwiches, nuggets, shakes and sides without  a single animal  byproduct. 

Its most popular burger, awarded VegNews’ best vegan burger in LA, is the Honeybee, is made with a Beyond Meat or Impossible patty, house sauce, house-made onion jam, lettuce, tomato, a thin ribbon of onion and house-made pickles. 

Another favorite, the Queen Bee, is a double patty, double cheese, double delicious version of the Honeybee that can be made with the same vegan patty, or one of each. 

The Chick-A-Bee is Honeybee’s best-selling “chicken” sandwich served Buffalo or Nashville Hot style. Honeybee also has a rendition of popular fish filet sandwiches, Baja fish burritos and several different breakfast sandwiches, which have proven to be very popular.  

Honeybee’s milkshakes – also vegan – are made from Ripple, a pea-protein alternative dairy company that chose Honeybee to launch their amazing frozen dessert. Shakes come in four different flavors from strawberry to oreo.

Honeybee customers can try out new and innovative brands and products from the  likes of  Ripple and Daiya, a plant-based cheese company, and Nowadays, a plant-based chicken nugget company. 

“We are a very good point of exposure for companies that make innovative vegan products that can be sold in restaurants like Honeybee. We sell amazing plant-based food that you will swear is real,” Weiss said. 

The natural resources required  to make  plant-based alternatives are a fraction of their animal counterparts. In fact, just by choosing a plant-based burger over a cheeseburger, you are saving thousands of gallons of water, using less land reducing your carbon footprint, Weiss said.

As for the honey bee itself, no honey is available at the burger stop for good reason. 

“We are constantly trying to raise the awareness of how important the honeybee is. Honey isn’t vegan, but the insect is iconic and important to our ecosystem and agriculture,” Weiss said.

Related Posts

Santa Monica to Begin AI-Powered Bus Lane Enforcement in July

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The program follows a 45-day pilot conducted earlier this year along Lincoln Boulevard, where 511 potential violations were identified, though...

Sculptor-Designed Marina Del Rey Beach Home Hits Market for Nearly $10M

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

The four-bedroom, six-bathroom residence, known as Shore House, features black glass windows across two wings A 6,603-square-foot beachfront home, designed...

Real Estate Trends Emerge in Palisades as Rebuild Begins

June 23, 2025

June 23, 2025

With an estimated 2,000 properties affected by the fires, these initial sales represent only a fraction of what’s expected In...

LADWP to Host Virtual Town Hall on Santa Ynez Reservoir, Underground Power Lines

June 22, 2025

June 22, 2025

Residents can submit questions in advance through an online RSVP form The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP)...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Strongman to Pull 34,680-Pound Bus at Santa Monica Pier

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Licis, also the 2022 “Arnold Strongman Classic” champion, will undertake the feat to showcase his strength  Strongman Martins Licis, the...

Malibu Traffic Delays Expected: REPORT

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The warning applies to the first weekend of summer Transportation officials are warning travelers on the Pacific Coast Highway through...

Last Thursday Concert to Feature Dancing Lessons, Ginger Merkin and More This Week

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The series runs on the last Thursday of each month through September 26 The Last Thursday Venice Summer Concert Series...

SMC Gallery to Showcase Faculty Art in Virtual Exhibition

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

The online event will feature works by seven Emeritus faculty artists. The Santa Monica College Emeritus Art Gallery will host...

Governor Declares Emergency for Malibu to Aid Franklin Fire Recovery

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The fire’s impact was compounded by the January 2025 Los Angeles County Fires and Windstorm Event California Gov. Gavin Newsom...

THIS WEEKEND: Five Outdoor Concerts for Make Music Day Comes to Santa Monica

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The global event, inspired by France’s Fête de la Musique, unites communities through music and is observed in over 800...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

National Guard Shortage Strains Firefighting Efforts Amid Trump Deployment: Governor

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Newsom claims the redeployment, which he calls illegal, has left the Monte Fire—spanning 868 acres and injuring three firefighters—understaffed Governor...

THIS WEEKEND: Theatre Palisades Stages Last Performances of ‘Jest a Second!’

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The play, a sequel to “Beau Jest,” follows Sarah and Bob, now married and expecting a child, as they navigate...

(Video) A Plus Tree: A Steward of Urban Forest Management Across Los Angeles

June 18, 2025

June 18, 2025

For More Information, Go to Aplustree.com For More Information, Go to https://t.co/3PhU1J5wOj pic.twitter.com/1AWITi5NFw — Palisades News (@PalisadesNewsLA) June 19, 2025