We had the good fortune of connecting with Nabiha Basathia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nabiha, what do you attribute your success to?
I started The Gray Zebra to show people just how delicious plant-based food can be. What was most important to me was being inclusive and not leaving anyone behind that wanted to try the food. The name “The Gray Zebra” is intentional – unlike zebras that are black and white, we embrace the gray areas in life. Wherever people are at in their journey, we just want them to enjoy a delicious, better for you meal – no judgment.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Gray Zebra is a woman-owned and woman-operated restaurant in East Hollywood. I intentionally opened my restaurant in a part of town that would be considered a food desert so that we could provide health-supportive, plant-based food to an underserved community. I have chosen to use local vendors where possible, to support other small businesses and have the freshest food possible. Most importantly, I started this business as a passionate, ethical vegan and wanted to make an impact on people around me. I believe in treating every being with kindness and compassion, and have centered my business on these principles. This is reflected in how we treat our employees, customers, neighbors, and vendors.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Of course I would take my best friend first to The Gray Zebra! Some of my favorite spots in Los Angeles include: hiking at Will Rogers, renting bikes along the Santa Monica beach, and driving down the PCH. We love trying different vegan spots. For dessert, be sure to check out Yoga-Urt and Donut Friend.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would most definitely like to give a shoutout to my husband. We became vegan together over 5 years ago. He has been my rock and biggest supporter (and taste tester!) Opening a restaurant was also a complete deviation from any prior work experience and he gave me the encouragement and motivation I needed to take the leap.

Website: https://www.thegrayzebra.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thegrayzebra/?hl=en

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/the-gray-zebra-los-angeles?osq=the+gray+zebra

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.