The (Non-Dairy) Cream of the Crop
#1 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
You may not have won the World Series San Francisco, but in the healthy hearts of vegetarians nationwide you are our biggest winner. The Bay Area is the capital of America's vegetarian and vegan revolution! San Francisco and its surrounding cities are home to dozens of vegetarian restaurants and health food stores, numerous veggie groups and the Bay Area Veg Fair. Congratulations San Francisco!
Save your heart in San Francisco by patronizing one or all of at least twenty totally vegetarian restaurants and health food stores-and by choosing meatless options available at almost every popular eatery. Companies like Lumen Foods, maker of faux meat and Stonewall's Jerquee, rave about San Francisco and its surrounds. No surprise that San Francisco has the 2nd lowest heart disease rate in the country. While dot coms bombed and steakhouses went out of business in record numbers, where else but in cutting-edge San Francisco would you find hip vegan eatery Herbivore opening a second restaurant (the grilled eggplant sandwich and lentil loaf with mashed potatoes are the stuff of dreams), while long lines continue to be the hallmark of Millennium restaurant, featuring four-star vegan dining (you won't believe that the chocolate midnight torte is cholesterol free!). In neighboring Larkspur, Roxanne's serves up delectable raw vegan fare, with a two-month wait for Saturday night reservations!
While you are in the Bay Area, visit the other amazing veggie strongholds of Sunnyvale, Santa Cruz and Berkeley where these significantly smaller cities make a strong case to be included as top veg-friendly cities themselves.
http://www.vegeats.com/restaurants/ca-sf.htm
MILLENNIUM
580 Geary St. (Jones)
San Francisco, CA
415-345-3900
HERBIVORE
983 Valencia St. (at 20th/Mission)
San Francisco, CA
415-826-5657
HERBIVORE - THE EARTHLY GRILL ON DIVISADERO
531 Divisadero/Fell
San Francisco, CA
415-885-7133
GOLDEN
ERA VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
572 O'Farell St. (at Jones St.)
San Francisco, CA
415-673-3136
ROXANNE'S
320 Magnolia Avenue
Larkspur, CA
415-924-5004
#2 SEATTLE, WASHINGTON
The Emerald City, one of the ten healthiest cities in America according to Men's Fitness magazine, sets the gold standard for green cuisine in the Pacific Northwest. With nearly two dozen vegetarian/vegan restaurants and major health food supermarkets and stores to choose from, even die-hard carnivores in Seattle are constantly lured to "the other side." The city's popular annual "Taste of Health" vegetarian food fair and active local groups like EarthSave and Vegetarians of Washington ensure that meatless fare is a mainstay for many Seattleites who have the 4th lowest heart disease rate in the country.
Restaurants like Café Flora, Carmelita and Café Ambrosia have gotten national praise for their wonderfully creative menus while the Globe Café sets it's own standard of defining a new food genre of vegan home-style grub. Asian vegetarian food is plentiful in the rainy city. Lurking in the shadows of the Space Needle are the faux-meat masters at Bamboo Garden who simply blow everyone away showing mock meats from shark fin soup to pepper duck, all made with wheat gluten and soy.
On hip Capitol Hill lies a veg paradise and perhaps the most impressive is Teapot Vegetarian with decadent specialties like the Mongolian Vegetarian which is a fried tofu specialty incorporating a unique almost caramel-like sauce. You can also get vegan hot dogs on the hill or go drink a pitcher of beer with a vegan field roast sandwich at the Elysian Brewing Company.
In the University District of Seattle lies a smorgasbord of inexpensive international vegan deliciousness perhaps best represented by Araya's Vegan Thai restaurant and the well worn path to their fabulous all you can eat buffet. There's even a vegan pizzeria in the district.
And while you are in latte land you must get yourself one of the e soy coffee concoction universally available in nearly every coffee shop in the city. No matter where you go in the Seattle area opportunities abound for wonderful and creative veg-friendly eating.
The authoritative source on veg-eating in Seattle: www.VegSeattle.com
BAMBOO GARDEN
364 Roy Street
Seattle, WA
206-282-6616
GLOBE CAFE
1531 14th Avenue
Seattle, WA
206-324-8815
CAFE AMBROSIA
2501 Fairview Ave. E
Seattle, WA 98102
206-325-7111
ARAYA"S VEGETARIAN PLACE
4732 University Way NE
Seattle, WA
206-524-4332
CAFÉ FLORA
2901 E Madison St
Seattle, WA
206-325-9100
CARMELITA
7314 Greenwood Ave N
Seattle, WA
206-706-7703
TEAPOT VEGETARIAN HOUSE
125 15th Ave E
Seattle, WA
206-325-1010
#3 NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Residents in the Big Apple are enjoying more apples (and other meatless fare) than ever. In a city where both McDonalds and Burger King sell veggie burger and falafel is available from sidewalk vendors, you'd understand why the tune of "I Love New York" is especially true for vegetarians. As the cultural melting pot of the world, veg-friendly bites can be found at ethnic restaurants featuring cuisines such as Ethiopian, Japanese, and Middle Eastern in every one of the five boroughs of New York. But the true highlight for the millions of New Yorkers and tourists is the more than 80 restaurants and eateries that serve absolutely no flesh.
These vegetarian and vegan places dish up American, Caribbean, Chinese, Indian, Italian, Korean, Raw, Soul, and fusion cuisines featuring mock meats such as crispy soul "chicken" and Cajun fried "shrimp", gourmet dishes such as seitan piccata and tofu quiche, and simple fares such as club sandwiches and vegan pancakes. For those who crave decor and atmosphere, veggie restaurants can be found in the form of a 24 hour diner, celebrity hang-out, swanky cafe, bustling bistro, and even a former White Castle building. But the sweetness of it all can be truly savored at the all-vegan bakeries and eateries featuring vegan pastries, soft serve, and ice cream. And did we mention New York City also has several vegetarian grocery stores and a vegan shoe store?
TEANY
90 Rivington St., (between Orchard and Ludlow)
New York, NY
212-475-9190
CANDLE CAFÉ
1307 3rd Avenue (75th Street)
New York, NY
212-472-0970
VEG-CITY DINER
55 W 14th St (6th Ave)
212-490-6266
KATE'S JOINT
58 Ave. B (4th & 5th Streets)
212-777-7059
VEGETARIAN PARADISE 2
144 W. 4th Street
New York, NY
212-260-7130
RED BAMBOO
140 W. 4th Street
New York, NY
212-260-1212
ZEN PALATE
663 9th Ave (46th Street)
New York, NY
212-582-1669
ZEN PALATE
34 E. Union Square (16th Street)
New York, NY
212-614-9345
ZEN PALATE
2170 Broadway (76th Street)
New York, NY
212-501-7768
ANGELICA KITCHEN
300 E. 12th Street
New York, NY USA
212-228-2909
#4 PORTLAND, OREGON
Every neighborhood in this funky little corner of the Pacific Northwest offers an abundance of options for the adventurous eater. In Portland, a place described more like a large town than a small city, veggie and vegan living is as common as rainfall. Best of all, a healthy meal won't leave you penniless. Portland is quickly becoming America's darling, and the young hipsters who inhabit this city are also super-sweet to animals. Vegetarians in Portland are as plentiful as celebrities in Beverly Hills-and they're happy and well-fed, thanks to the city's many vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants.
It's easy to plan your day around food in the City of Roses. For breakfast, try Purple Parlor, North Portland's best kept secret. Want an affordable and filling breakfast served anytime? Then head to the lively Belmont neighborhood and Paradox Palace Café; if their vegan, four grain pancakes don't make you an instant fan, then the fun, retro diner-style décor will. Nearby, cozy Daydream Café makes delicious soy hot cocoa and fresh pastries.
Local health food store owners smile at sales of vegetarian food products like Gimme Lean and scrumptious Celebration Roasts. For groceries, drive up Hawthorne Blvd. to discover Daily Grind's extensive bulk section and fresh produce. For more bulk items, walk over to the Clinton neighborhood, where intimate People's Co-op will not disappoint. In northwest, Food Front Co-op is worth the trip alone for its vegan German chocolate and carrot cakes. For those who enjoy shopping at larger stores to save money, Fred Meyer, Whole Foods, and local favorite Nature's NW are nearby and useful for everyday items.
Lunch and dinner choices will leave you astounded by the variety of veggie entrees. Try the vegan lasagna at Vita Café, in the heart of the Alberta Arts District. The Vita Café may very well have the best vegan home-style American grub in the country. Check out the vegan nachos or the veggie-chicken fried steak as well! Blink and you'll miss Divine Café, an all-veggie food cart across from the Lloyd Center Mall. Laughing Planet is burrito central in trendy Belmont, or go across the street to It's a Beautiful Pizza, which will substitute tofu in place of meat. Along Hawthorne are Cup and Saucer, Café Lena, and Taco Del Mar's excellent vegan burritos for less than $4. Across the Willamette in Old Town, Dogs Dig is open weekdays for on-the-go folks who'd rather eat and run. Also near the river is Aesop's Tables, a quiet storefront offering simple, healthy sandwiches and sidewalk tables for people watching. Got kids? Then you're in luck at Old Wives' Tale, which, in addition to their hearty soup and salad buffet, provides a private room for families with youngsters. In downtown or heading for the burbs, vegan Asian food rules. You'll find Vietnamese, Korean, Thai, and Japanese restaurants with an awesome selection of vegan food, staff that is helpful when you tell them you are vegan, and choices in every price range.
And finally, night birds fear not. Coffee Time on NW 21st Ave. has your late night java fix covered. Open until until 3 a.m., you can enjoy a hot beverage, vegan brownies, and play chess long into the chilly night. This is only a sample of what Portland has to offer. Many other restaurants are veggie-friendly and will be happy to accommodate vegetarian palates.
DAYDREAM CAFÉ
1740 SE Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, OR
503-233-4244
PARADOX PALACE CAFE
3439 SE Belmont
Portland, OR
503-232-7508
LAUGHING PLANET CAFÉ
3320 SE Belmont Ave
Portland, OR 97214
503-235-6472
CAFÉ LENA
2239 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97214
503-238-7087
OLD WIVES TALE
1300 E. Burnside
Portland, Oregon
503-238-0470
CUP AND SAUCER CAFÉ
3566 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, Oregon 97214-5142
503-236-6001
VITA CAFE
3024 NE Alberta Street
Portland, OR
503-335-8233
DOG'S DIG
212 NW Davis
Portland, OR
503-223-3362
THE PURPLE PARLOR
3560 N. Mississippi Avenue
Portland, OR
503-281-3560
#5 HONOLULU, HAWAII
Sand, Surf and Soy. Whether carving the monster waves at the North Shore gets you stoked or if boogie boarding the warm friendly waters of Waikiki is more your style, visitors of every ilk find a vibrant and growing vegetarian community in Honolulu, home to the nation's largest local vegetarian society.
"You're never far from a Down To Earth Natural Foods store" brags one vegetarian in paradise. These all-in-one completely veggie markets are loaded with organic fruits and vegetables and all have a deli, salad bar, hot food buffet, and fresh baked goods. Down To Earth is one of only a handful of U.S. "health food" stores that doesn't sell meat and it carries only cruelty-free personal care products.
Since Honolulu is closer to Tokyo than Chicago and with half its residents finding their roots in Asia, it's not surprising that the city's restaurants flourish with the exotic flavors of Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, and India. One of the best is the Legend Vegetarian Restaurant in Honolulu's Chinese Cultural Plaza. All vegan and all delicious, Legend's is well known for its extensive menu and delectable meat alternatives.
Need more time to work on your tan? Try fast food restaurant Mr. Goodburger's, where all the "burgers" are meat-free. Add fries and a tropical fruit smoothie for a great alternative to the more common fast food outlets. To top off your Hawaiian veggie tour, be sure to experience the scrumptious pineapple swirl at the Dole Plantation. Dude, it's awesome.
With more than 1200 members, the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii (VSH) is the largest local veggie groups in the U.S. and a valuable resource for residents and visitors alike. Monthly meetings feature the best and brightest such as recent guests Peter Singer, Howard Lyman, Michael Greger, and PETA's vegan outreach director Bruce Friedrich. Many long-time vegan proponents call Hawaii home including active VSH member MDs William Harris, Michael Klaper, and Terry Shintani, along with champion "ironman" triathlete Ruth Heidrich, PhD. Surf the society's website (VSH.org) for its lecture schedule and a list of veg-friendly restaurants and businesses.
LEGEND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
100 N. Beretania St., #109, Old Chinatown
Honolulu, HI
808-532-8218
Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha Highway
(Hwy 99, north of Wahiawa)
Wahiawa, HI 96786
GOVINDA'S
51 Coelho Way
Honolulu, HI
808-595-3947
MR. GOODBURGER'S
801 Alakea St. (at Queen St., Downtown),
Honolulu, HI
808-479-4790
DOWN TO EARTH
2525 S. King St.
Honolulu, HI
808-947-7678
#6 ATLANTA, GEORGIA
America's South has broken into our vegetarian Top 10. Vegetarian food companies report that Atlanta is a monster market, and the city has nearly two dozen vegetarian restaurants. Indeed, the South is rising again-this time for vegetarianism! Veggie restaurants have sprouted up all over - from funky Little Five Points with its street carnival atmosphere to ritzy, date night, bar-hopping Buckhead, and from busy downtown Atlanta to the suburbs, vegan eating out has never been easier or better in the south. Whether you want a quick and casual vegan meal or an elegant vegan meal designed to impress a date, you can find it in today's Atlanta. So you want to eat ethically in Atlanta? Not a problem. What type of food are you hungry for - Chinese? Thai? Indian? Kosher? Soul? Burgers & chili dogs? Pizza? Organic? We can even hook you up with vegan fish dishes, vegan country-fried steak with rice and gravy, vegan cobblers and vegan milkshakes. Atlanta has many different cultures and diversity has never tasted so good.
For breakfast try Soul Vegetarian's buckwheat pancakes served with tofu scrambler and vegan sausage (and for lunch, the "roast beef"-like sandwich is amazing) or go the Flying Biscuit's tofu Florentine scramble served with moon-dusted potatoes and a vegetarian (but not vegan) biscuit…and you've got to have a side order of grits to go with that. Lunch and dinner options abound - vegan burgers, soups, barbeque, sandwiches, hot dogs, stir-fried veggies, samosas, curries, falafels, pizzas, hummus, stuffed grape leaves, country fried steaks, and of course salads. Harmony Chinese restaurant has a six page menu filled with vegan options - including won-ton soup, sesame "chicken", Mongolian "beef", "pork", "fish" and even "shrimp". Planet Bombay has samosas and curries so good they must be from out of this world. Broadway Café is a fun place where you can eat kosher and vegetarian as you check out the murals of Broadway shows ... and while you could sing along with the Broadway tunes being played, you'll want to use your mouth for better things - like eating their vegan sausage, onions and peppers over rice entrée. The Vegan Way Café offers a standard vegan menu as well as a live vegan menu, juices tailor made for your blood type, as well as vegan brownies, cakes, and pies.
EVERLASTING LIFE
878 Ralph D Abernathy Blvd SW
Atlanta, GA
404-758-1110
HEALTHFUL ESSENCE
2329 Cascade Road
Atlanta, GA
404-753-0130
PASTIFACIO CAMELI'S
1263 Glenwood Ave
Atlanta, GA
404-622-9926
SOUL VEGETARIAN
879-A Ralph D. Abernathy SW
Atlanta, GA
404-752-5194
SOUL VEGETARIAN NO. 2
652 N Highland Ave NE
Atlanta, GA
404-875-1106
THE FLYING BISUIT CAFÉ
1655 McLendon Avenue
Atlanta, Georgia 30307
404-687-8888
CAFÉ SUNFLOWER (Sandy Springs)
5975 Roswell Rd.
Atlanta, Ga 30328
404-256-1675
CAFÉ SUNFLOWER (Buckhead)
2140 Peachtree Rd.
Atlanta, Ga 30309
404-352-8859
PLANET BOMBAY
451 Moreland Avenue Ne
Atlanta, GA
404-688-0005
BROADWAY CAFÉ
2168 Briarcliff Road Northeast
Atlanta, GA 30329
404-329-0888
#7 MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA
The star of America's Midwest is adored by veggie food companies for gobbling up meat free products like Tofurkys and Celebration Roasts. It should come as no surprise that the home of vegan rock star Prince ranks high for health food stores and organic co-ops, and is known for its vegetarian-friendly restaurants that happily cater to veggies and vegans. So of course it's no coincidence that Minneapolis has the lowest heart disease rate in the country. The most outstanding thing about the veg scene here is that it is the "mock duck" (actually seitan, but so-named locally by the many Vietnamese restaurants) capital of the world! From mock duck curries and stir fries at Asian eateries like Kinh Do to spicy mock duck pizza at Pizza Lucé (with special vegan cheese no less!), you'll find it all over town in dozens of delicious incarnations.
Also noteworthy are the upscale downtown Café Brenda (whose veggie food products are available nationally), the down-home Seward Café cooperative (vegan pancakes and amazing veggie breakfasts), the old standby Mud Pie restaurant on Lyndale, the hipster bar atmosphere of Triple Rock with its many vegan comfort food options, and a whole host of veg-friendly ethnic establishments that include Indian, Mid-Eastern, Thai, Ethiopian, and Cambodian.
QUANG RESTAURANT
2719 Nicollet Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55408
612-870-4739
SEWARD CAFÉ
2129 East Franklin Avenue, Steward
Minneapolis, MN
612-332-1011
MUD PIE VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
2549 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN
612-872-9435
#8 ORLANDO, FLORIDA
Time and again, vegetarian food companies tell PETA they're "surprised" by the demand for vegetarian food products in the Sunshine State. But it's really no surprise, considering Florida's mix of health-conscious golden-agers and the bold and beautiful, that young and old are lining up for a healthier lifestyle. Veg living and dining in Orlando has made tremendous leaps forward in the past few years, but there have always been options. The three to beat vegetarian restaurants in Orlando are Garden Cafe, A Taste of India and Khasiyat. There are many vegetarian friendly places and among those, Tony's Deli has the best vegetarian falafel sandwiches and stuffed grape leaves. Particularly special to Orlando is the Grassroots Cafe, a vegan hotdog cart with vegan chili-cheese dogs are out of this world (he offers 8 different hot toppings and all the cold fixings too). He works weeknights and weekends downtown and recently he has expanded to also offering vegan chili-cheese nachos! For veg living, Orlando has health food stores Whole Foods, Chamberlains (local store for Wild Oats) and Economy Health Foods (7th Day Adventist store) make going vegetarian convenient and easy. And while you are in Orlando don't forget Disney World, where vegetarian CEO Michael Eisner has made sure that there are lots of vegetarian selections and an actual vegetarian guide to eating there!
KHASIYAT
528B Lancaster Road
Orlando, FL
407-888-2147
TASTE OF INDIA
9251 S. Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL
407-855-4622
GARDEN CAFE
810 W. Colonial Dr.
Orlando, FL
407-999-9799
GRASSROOTS CAFÉ
114 N. Orange Ave. (Orange and Washington)
Orlando, FL
407-540-0795
CHAMBERLAINS MARKET & CAFE
7600 Dr. Phillips Blvd
Orlando, FL
407-352-2130
#9 ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA
Soy is southbound yet again! Veggie food companies gush about relatively tiny Asheville in the same breath as Berkeley. What's more, Asheville, which recently hosted Vegetarian Summerfest, offers four all-vegetarian restaurants-and a horde of eateries that are happy to create meatless fare. With the recent opening of Asheville's fourth vegetarian restaurant, Rosetta's, you can eat at a vegetarian restaurant any time you want.
Want to head for a veg friendly pub/pizza place instead? You've got several to choose from. Barley's Taproom features a veg friendly menu including soy cheese pizza, jerk tofu sandwiches, a veggie burger, and excellent black bean hummus. Or to take in a movie with your brew and soy cheese pizza, head over to the Asheville Pizza Company. Or try the Mellow Mushroom, where you'll also find a great selection of beer, soy cheese pizzas, tempeh and tofu sandwiches. Another pizza place offering soy cheese is Nick 'n Willie's.
You can devour some tasty vegan baked goods at the City Bakery on Charlotte Street or at Earth Fare, the bustling health food supermarket located in the Westgate Shopping Center. Earth Fare also offers vegetarian and vegan hot food options as well as the best salad bar around. Veggie dog options abound on the streets of Asheville almost all of the many coffee shops offer soymilk as well. At least two ice cream shops offer soy ice cream and/or rice ice cream. The ice cream shops are The Hop, near UNCA, and Sweet Heaven on historic Montford Avenue.
Looking for ethnic food? Most of the two dozen plus Chinese, Japanese, and Thai
restaurants offer many excellent vegetarian selections. Several have regularly-scheduled vegetarian buffets. And don't pass up Mother India, Salsa's, and Urban Burrito. In a hurry? Check out the tofu sub at Two Guys Hoagies, which has two locations around town. There are so many vegetarian options in Asheville; it's hard to find a restaurant that doesn't offer a good vegetarian or vegan meal. No wonder Self magazine found Asheville the happiest city in America.
CAFÉ MAX & ROSIE'S
52 N. Lexington Ave
Asheville, NC
828-254-5342
LAUGHING SEED
40 Wall Street
Asheville, NC
828-252-3445
GREEN LIGHT CAFE
205 West State Street
Asheville, NC
828-669-2444
EARTH FARE
66 Westgate Shopping Center (at I-240 West)
Asheville, NC
828-253-7656
#10 HOUSTON, TEXAS
Emergency transmission from Texas cattlemen to Mission Control: "Houston we have a problem, there is now a strongly emerging veg-friendly food scene in Houston and its getting worse every day!"
Houston has some of the best vegetarian restaurants around… especially if you're really hungry! From all you can eat buffets that make a vegetarians drool, vegans swoon, and carnivores reconsider their position, to exotic vegetarian In-House dining, there is something for everyone.
One noticeably vegetarian restaurant and market, A Moveable Feast, treats you to luxurious tropical foliage adorning their windows, creating a serene atmosphere to dine. They have an array of vegan options, including an affordable macrobiotic plate. For real soul food, visit Naturally Yours Café, voted the best vegetarian restaurant by the Houston Press this year. They offer the best Veggie Burgers in Houston and provide such down home treats as vegan Steak and mashed potatoes. The Raw Truth Café in the fourth ward has just opened and become an instant success. They pride themselves for being the only Vegetarian restaurant in the 'hood. Their casual cafeteria setting is comfortable and affordable. For more exotic cuisine, try Tien Ren's twelve hot items, several salads, and chocolate cakes in an all you can eat vegan buffet. They've recently undergone new management and the quality of the food has gone from good to excellent. Garden Bistro Vegetarian, another buffet down the street from Tien Ren, is a little more expensive, but worth every bite. Their traditional Asian environment compliments their tasty fair.
TIEN REN VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
7549 Westheimer
Houston, Texas
713-977-3137
THE RAW TRUTH VEGETARIAN CAFE
3815 Live Oak @ Alabama
Houston, Texas
713-523-9755
GARDEN BISTRO VEGETARIAN
9013 Westheimer
Houston, Texas
713-783-6622
A MOVEABLE FEAST
9341 Katy Freeway
Houston, TX, 77024
713-365-0368
