Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Portland, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.
Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise that local chefs are serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From plant-based barbecue to scrumptious seitan tacos, here are 15 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in Portland.
🍊 The brunch bunch
Bernstein’s Bagels, 816 N Russell St., Portland | These hand-rolled bagels are made in-house every day. Try this: Garden Delight sando with avocado, arugula, cucumber, sweet onion, and hummus or vegan Mama Lil’s shmear for a lil’ added kick.
Pine State Biscuits, various locations | Don’t be intimidated by the weekend line — it’s worth it. Try this: Veggie Reggie, made with vegan sausage patty, tofu bacon, and cheese topped with shitake mushroom gravy.
Blossoming Lotus, 1713 NE 15th Ave. | Try this: Lotus Benedict, a biscuit topped with tofu scramble, sausage, tomato, spinach, and lemon Hollandaise sauce served besides roasted potatoes or steamed kale.
Epif’s roasted beet bisque — No. 3 on the table, No. 1 in our hearts.
Photo by @epifpdx
🍸 Date night
Epif, 404 NE 28th Ave., Portland | The flavors of the Andes region of South America come to life at this pisco bar. Try this: Build your own empanada, with baked and fried options, and ají verde, pebre, and ají amarillo for fillings.
XO Bar, 906 N. Fremont St., Portland | Sip a tropical slushee cocktail and dig into small plates of pan-Asian cuisine. Try this: Barbecue Sambol Drumstricks smothered in miso curry dressing.
Mama Đút, 1414 SE Morrison St., Portland | This restaurant serves thoughtful and creative vegan Vietnamese food that just might blow your mind. Try this: Peking Duck Banh Mi, seitan marinated with five spice on a baguette with cucumbers, jalapeño, fermented carrots, and daikon, drizzled with hoisin sauce and scallion oil.
🧁 Delicious desserts
Kate’s Ice Cream, 3713 N. Mississippi Ave., Portland | Take a lick of dairy and gluten free flavors made with organic cashew and coconut milks. Try this: Salted Peanut Butter Brittle or Mint Chocolate Fudge (made with Oregon-grown mint).
Doe Donuts, 4110 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland | Portland’s only fully vegan doughnut shop rotates its flavors throughout the year. Try this: Portland Fog with organic Earl Grey glaze, fresh whip, and fair-trade vanilla bean. We’re not drooling, you’re drooling.
Petunia’s Pies & Pastries, 610 SW 12th Ave., Portland | Is this what heaven looks like? This woman-owned shop has a plethora of sweet and savory options, all of which are gluten free and vegan. Try this: Cookie Monster Babycake with chocolate chip cookie dough, blue vanilla ice cream, and a cookie on top.
🌮 Food trucks
Planted PDX, 4390 SW Garden Home Rd., Portland | All of the globally inspired street food served out of this food cart is 100% plant-based. Try this: Cavatappi & Curls with mac sauce, rainbow chard, and gochujang-glazed soy curls.
GNARLYS, 3612 SE 82nd Ave., Portland | Your taste buds will never guess these vegan burgers are 100% plant based. Try this: Sallyweaver, a big ol’ juicy bacon cheeseburger with crispy onions, pickles, and BBQ sauce.
Chubby Bunny, 3423 SE Belmont St., Portland | This food cart serves vegan breakfast sandwiches all day long. You can thank us later. Try this: Boss Bunny with sausage, bacon, ham, cheese, onion, potato mittens (so cute), egg, arugula, and sriracha mayo on an English muffin.
🌱 100% vegetarian/vegan eats
Mis Tacones, 1670 NE Killingsworth St., Portland | This LGBTQ-owned shop tastefully captures the nostalgia of Los Angeles and Baja California street food. Try this: Cali B, a burrito stuffed with asada seitan, refried pinto beans, papas fritas, house-made cashew crema, guacamole, and fresh pico de gallo in a flour tortilla.
The Sudra, 28 NE 28th Ave., Portland | Plant-based Indian cuisine packs a palatable punch at this eatery in the Kerns neighborhood. Try this: Lentil Kofta Bowl, roasted cauliflower, kale, and onion in tikka curry.
Boxcar Pizza, 2701 NE Sandy Blvd., Portland | Share a vegan Detroit-style pie — or don’t, we won’t judge. Try this: Jimmy Pesto with mozzarella, cheddar, pesto, pepperoni, jalapeños, and hot honey drizzle.
🍽️ Chef it up at home
Check out our favorite tips and tricks for serving veggie-focused fare from your own kitchen:
- To make zucchini, carrot, or beet noodles, try a veggie spiralizer that magically turns vegetables into noodles.
- Tired of wasting money on spices you use once? Broth Bomb combines all the spices you need for a flavorful meal.
- Harness the power of fresh and high-quality spices from James Beard Award-winning chef Meherwan Irani.
- A tofu press draws out water and can help tofu firm and crisp up once you cook it — the one linked here is dishwasher safe + works in twenty minutes.
- If your least favorite part about veggie prep is chopping, this all-in-one vegetable chopper can minimize prep time.
- Use a sprouting jar kit to grow microgreens and sprouted beans at home.
- If you’re making fresh bread, this Sourhouse starter jar was designed to be the easiest-to-clean sourdough starter jar in the world.
- For the ultimate veggie food prep, this glass storage container set keeps lunches and leftovers organized.
- Need some good recipes? Browse cookbooks “Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals” for veggie spiral recipes, “The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100” for plant-based ideas, or “The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook” from America’s Test Kitchen.
