06.04.2024

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Eating green: Your guide to the best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in Portland

An open pizza box containing a square-shaped pizza with vegan mozzarella and fresh greens.

Boxcar Pizza won PDXtoday’s 2024 pizza bracket challenge, besting all other pizzerias — vegan or otherwise — by popular vote. | Photo by @boxcarpizza

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 17 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in Portland.

🍸 Date night

Feral Portland, 1640 NE Killingsworth St. | This former pop-up offers shareable small plates that pair perfectly with a range of craft cocktails and zero-proof beverages served in an intimate atmosphere. Try this: Any of the seasonal vegetable-forward dishes, like brined and grilled zucchini with sea purslane, wild leeks flowers, capers, herbs, and housemade shio koji.

Jade Rabbit at The Emerald Room, Bindery Annex, 2117 NE Oregon St., Ste. 202, Portland | Craving vegan dim sum? Look no further. Enjoy pan-Asian fare by chef Cyrus Ichiza, tea service, sake, and non-alcoholic drinks at this working distillery characterized by an Instagrammable emerald tile bar. Try this: Puto Pao Bunny Bao shaped like little rabbits filled with vegan “pork,” black garlic, and brown sugar.

A white, rectangular food truck with wood shingles along the bottom and cursive lettering in the center spelling "Flourish Plant-Based Kitchen" is parked on cement, surrounded by potted plants, on a sunny day. A person leans out of the passenger-side window smiling. — Mac and cheese lovers, try Flourish’s Not Yo Mama’s Mac made with cashew cheese sauce (there’s a nut-free version available upon request).
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Photo by @flourishthefoodtruck

🌮 Food trucks

Flourish Plant-Based Kitchen, St. Johns Beer Porch, 7316 N. Lombard St. | Scratch-made comfort foods that are free of gluten, soy, and meat? Yes, please. Try this: Unbeetable Burger, a delightfully pink-hued patty made with lentils, beets, and walnuts, paired with an optional slice of cashew mozzarella, garlic aioli, and local greens.

🧁 Delicious desserts

Orange & Blossom, 1612 NE Killingsworth St., Portland + PSU Portland Farmers Market | This modern patisserie is all about sourcing seasonal ingredients from local farms, leading to an ever-changing menu showcasing “wholesome, ethical ingredients we can all feel good about.” Try this: The signature Cardamom Orange Blossom Bun — airy, aromatic brioche topped with citrus glaze.

A plate full of several different kinds of colorful Sri Lankan rice and curry foods. — Mirisata frequently changes its rice and curry plate, so be sure to ask what the day’s special is.
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Photo by @mirisata

🍕 Casual eating

Mirisata, 2420 SE Belmont St. | Mirisata, that’s Sinhala for “spicy curry,” is a worker-owned cooperative slinging Sri Lankan dishes and street eats by the plate or as family-style meals, plus a Sunday brunch menu. Try this: The rotating rice and curry or the Hot Butter “Prawns.”

12 more spots for vegan delights

Asked

Have you eaten at a local vegetarian or vegan restaurant within the past month?

Yes
No, but I have considered it
No

Spill the beans

Events

Tuesday, June 4

Free Art in The Park with Larry Yes | Tuesday, June 4 | 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. | Pioneer Courthouse Square, 701 SW Sixth Ave., Portland | Free | All ages are invited to visit Portland’s “Living Room” to enjoy painting, fun, and community connection in a festival-like atmosphere with live music.
2024 Bloom Tour | Tuesday, June 4-Tuesday, June 11 | Locations vary, Portland | Free | Masters of the floral arts have set up 29 large-scale botanical creations outside of shops, restaurants, and hotels offering special deals.

Wednesday, June 5

Sound Art Installation: “Home:Lost” | Wednesday, June 5-Friday, June 7 | 12-7 p.m. | Lincoln Hall Boiler Room Theater (LH 55), 1620 SW Park Ave., Portland | Free | This exhibition “confronts the stark realities of displacement in its various forms” using student-designed pods to immerse the viewer in sounds and scenes.
Watercolor Painting Online Class with Ronna: The Violet-Green Swallow | Wednesday, June 5 | 6-7:30 p.m. | Online | $12-$30 | Follow along with the instructor and learn how to mix the perfect shades of green to paint this colorful, cliff-dwelling bird.

Thursday, June 6

First Thursday Street Gallery | Thursday, June 6 | 5-9 p.m. | Northwest 13th Avenue between Irving and Lovejoy streets, Portland | Free | Artists display their works in the street and galleries stay open late, giving community members the chance to immerse themselves in an aspect of Portland’s vibrant creative culture.
“Made In Portland” | Thursday, June 6-Sunday, June 9 | Times vary | Newmark Theatre, 1111 SW Broadway, Portland | $29-$125 | Oregon Ballet Theatre’s current season ends on a high note with a trio of world premieres “lovingly crafted for the cultural explorers” of Portland.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Environment

A new center funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration aims to better understand the impact of extreme heat events at the community level. OMSI will serve as the PNW hub for the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring, providing technical assistance and tools to rural and urban groups. (KGW)

Eat

Take your relationship with Portland’s food scene to the next level. LivePDX and Ashley Castellanos of @vegan_ventures have cooked up The Portland Food Tour — a summer series of nine tours, each featuring six locations, exclusive dishes, chef meet-and-greets, and merch. Tickets go on sale today at 6 p.m.

Pets

The Oregon Humane Society now only offers adoptions by walk-in at its Portland location. Appointments are still offered for adoptive pet parents interested in animals enrolled in the Behavior Modification Program. Did you recently bring home a new fur baby? Don’t forget to register them with the county.

Cause

Vancouver nonprofit organization Northwest Battle Buddies pairs veterans who have post-traumatic stress disorder with professionally trained service dogs at no cost. To date, the program has made 256 matches. “We have not lost one veteran to suicide, so it has become quite the mission,” said CEO and founder Shannon Walker. (KOIN)

Community

Countless Portland bicyclists have proven that moving to a new home while embracing a car-free lifestyle is doable. It often takes a village of friends, family, and complete strangers — but “bike moves” are not uncommon undertakings here. Keep an eye on the Shift calendar for opportunities to help. (Portland Monthly)

Sports

Will the Trail Blazers trade up to add big man Donovan Clingan to the team? Get the biggest stories every day from the local Rip City experts with Locked On’s daily podcasts.

Shop

These cannabis gummies keep selling out — just one can get you feeling right within five minutes. Get 20% off your first order with code FIRST20.*^†

^†Please note: Legalities in your state may vary. The information about providers and services contained in this newsletter does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by 6AM City. It is commonly advised to read a company’s terms & conditions and instructions for use before trying new products.

Outdoors

🌿 No transplants here

Native plants to add to your Portland garden

A shrub featuring waxy, true green leaves with serrated edges and sprays of small yellow flowers.

Mahonia aquifolium, one of three Oregon grape species abundant in the PNW, is Oregon’s state flower. | Photo by Meggar

You love local food, music, business, and art — so while you’re planning your garden this year, why not choose local plants, too?

Native plants are naturally adapted to the local climate, provide sustenance to native wildlife, and save water by thriving on normal rainfall. Plus, they’re more visually diverse than, say, lawn grass.

Consider planting some Oregon flora this summer. We’ll get you started.

Mock orange

Philadelphus lewisii

Water needs: Low
Light needs: Part shade, full sun
Season of interest: Late spring to early summer
Attracts: Bees, butterflies, hummingbirds
Growing tips: Plant this aromatic shrub in a place where visiting bees won’t be an issue.

Oregon grape

Mahonia

Water needs: Average
Light needs: Part shade
Season of interest: Year-round
Growing tips: From its red-hued winter foliage to its fragrant spring flowers that evolve into dusky blue berries (they are edible, though tart and best suited for preserves), Oregon grape will reward gardeners who mimic its forest habitat: slightly moist, acidic, well-drained soil.

5 more leafy locals

The Buy

Give dad the gift of a groomed and shiny beard this Father’s Day with this ultimate bundle. The beard shampoo and conditioner are the perfect pair to tame and nourish his facial hair.

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Cambrie

From the editor

Vegan cheese is a big hit-or-miss for me and, to be honest, most products fall into the latter category in my humble opinion. If you’ve also struggled with finding plant-based cheeses that meet your texture and taste needs, check out Vtopian Artisan Cheeses.

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