Oakland, California — Another popular vegan restaurant is preparing to close its doors in the Bay Area, highlighting the growing challenges facing plant-based businesses across the region.
Malibu’s Burgers, a longtime vegan burger destination in Oakland, will serve its final customers this weekend, marking the latest closure in a series of setbacks for vegetarian and vegan restaurants throughout Northern California.
Malibu’s Burgers Announces Final Closure
Located in Oakland’s Uptown district, Malibu’s Burgers will officially shut down after service on Saturday, June 6.
The restaurant first gained a loyal following through its food truck before expanding into a brick-and-mortar location known for vegan comfort food and plant-based smashburgers.
Its closure represents another significant loss for the Bay Area’s once-thriving vegan dining scene. Owner Darren Preston told the San Francisco Chronicle that the decision was ultimately straightforward.
“I wish I could say it was a hard decision, but it was actually pretty easy,” Preston said.
The closure comes after years of challenges that affected not only Malibu’s Burgers but numerous plant-based restaurants throughout the region.
Bay Area Vegan Restaurants Facing Difficult Times
Malibu’s Burgers is far from the only vegan business facing hardship. Several prominent Bay Area plant-based concepts have either closed or significantly scaled back operations in recent months.
Among them, Millennium temporarily closed in May to restructure, while Amy’s Drive Thru shut down its final Bay Area location earlier this year.
The plant-based vision behind Saluhall also largely unraveled by the end of last year. Restaurant operators say a combination of rising costs and changing customer preferences has made survival increasingly difficult.
High Costs and Declining Demand Cited
Lourdes “Lulu” Marquez-Nau, Preston’s mother and the chef behind Malibu’s Burgers, said plant-based restaurants often face unique financial pressures.
“Vegan restaurants are closing left and right,” Marquez-Nau said.
She added that Preston “did everything possible to try to stay open. It’s just not in the cards.”
Marquez-Nau is familiar with those challenges herself. Her vegan Puerto Rican concept, Casa Borinqueña, was among the businesses that closed at Saluhall.
Restaurant leaders say plant-based ingredients often cost more than traditional ingredients while customer traffic can fluctuate significantly, creating ongoing financial uncertainty.
Menu Changes Failed to Reverse Decline
Preston believes shifting consumer trends may also be contributing to lower sales.
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He pointed to the growing popularity of high-protein and meat-focused diets, which have gained attention through social media influencers and public figures in recent years.
In a surprising move, Preston revealed that he personally stopped following a vegan diet for health-related reasons.
Earlier this year, he attempted to broaden the restaurant’s appeal by introducing meat and cheese options to the menu. However, the strategy failed to generate the turnaround he had hoped for.
According to Preston, the changes were not enough to significantly improve business, leading the restaurant to return to its original all-vegan menu for its final days.
End of an Era for Oakland Favorite
Malibu’s Burgers originally opened as a restaurant in December 2020 after building a strong reputation through its food truck operation.
One of its most popular menu items, the Tasha Grande burger, earned praise for closely replicating the taste and texture of a traditional fast-food burger.
The restaurant briefly closed before reopening in 2025, but ongoing challenges ultimately proved too difficult to overcome.
The final day of service will conclude with a comedy performance from vegan comedian Steven Marcus Releford, giving longtime customers one last chance to celebrate the restaurant’s legacy.
What do you think is driving the recent wave of vegan restaurant closures? Share your thoughts respectfully in the comments below.
