Best Vegan Restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area
From technology to gastronomy, the Bay Area has never shied away from leading the way. Luckily for vegans, this means countless eateries boasting menus full of plant-based burgers, meat-free Mexican dishes, Asian cuisines, and dairy-free desserts. Here’s a curated list of the best vegan restaurants around the San Francisco Bay Area.
Nourish Cafe
As the name suggests, Nourish Cafe focuses on good food that fuels you – without using any animal products in the process. Their two locations in San Francisco – Richmond and Nob Hill – feature menus filled with items like smoothie bowls, egg and dairy-free waffles, and of course, delicious avocado toast. Moreover, when it comes to drinks, Nourish Cafe offers juices that pack a nutritious punch filled with spinach, apple, parsley, celery, ginger, and lemon.
The Butcher’s Son
It’s impossible to talk about great vegan food in the Bay Area without highlighting what the East Bay has to offer. The Butcher’s Son, opened by a brother-sister duo in 2016, is a favorite among Cal students and Berkeley residents.
This fully plant-based restaurant located in the heart of Berkeley serves up classic sandwiches with a vegan twist. Whether you choose the buffalo bacon ranch fried chicken sandwich, the BBQ pulled pork sandwich with yuba (tofu skin), or perhaps a tuna salad made with jackfruit, you will not be disappointed.
Souley Vegan
Just a few years ago, your options for vegan cuisine were limited, however, across the Bay Area today, it’s a different story. Take Souley Vegan, situated in downtown Oakland (close to Jack London Square), which specializes in Creole dishes and flavors made with 100% plant-based ingredients.
Indulge in okra gumbo, seitan-based ‘chicken’ and waffles, or ‘shrimp’ and grits. Moreover, each dish can be paired with their $20 bottomless mimosas for brunch, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised when you leave, not feeling too far from the French Quarter atmosphere.
VeganBurg
No matter how long you have been vegan, sometimes you just crave a burger – and in today’s world of substitutes, that’s no longer an issue.
VeganBurg is your go-to spot when those cravings strike. They have locations in San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury neighborhood, as well as Singapore if you happen to be on the other side of the Pacific. Since opening in 2010 as the ‘world’s first 100% plant-based burger joint’, the VeganBurg menu has expanded to include eight incredible burger options. Bestsellers like the avocado beetroot, haight n’ salsa, and creamy shrooms are popular, along with plenty of animal-free toppings and sides such as jalapeño aioli fries and sizzlin’ broccoli.
Golden Era Vegan
Golden Era Vegan in Mid-Market offers vegan alternatives to popular Asian dishes. Whether you enjoy beloved Thai dishes like pad thai, Vietnamese pho, or Chinese sweet and sour dishes, you can find them all at Golden Era with tofu and soy protein substitutes.
As one of the longer-standing vegan restaurants on this list, Golden Era has been a fixture in the Bay Area since 1999, during the first dot-com boom that helped establish San Francisco as a preeminent tech city. Just like many restaurants in fast-developing San Francisco, Golden Era Vegan has relocated near San Francisco City Hall, putting them in a prime spot for visitors.
Gracias Madre
The Mission is renowned for its California-sized burritos filled with rice, beans, salsa, and meat, which can be disheartening if you’re looking for a meat-free Mission-style burrito.
Gracias Madre, which translates to ‘Thank You, Mother Earth’, may not resolve your burrito shortage; however, their menu of meat-free Mexican food includes highlights like chilaquiles with cashew crema and avocado or a chimichanga stuffed with tempeh chorizo and cashew chipotle aioli. Positioned in the heart of the Mission, Gracias Madre is a favorite for both vegans and vegetarians, and you can expect lines similar to any taqueria in the neighborhood.
Vegan Donut Gelato
If you have a sweet tooth, make your way to Vegan Donut Gelato in Oakland. Choose a classic jelly donut or perhaps a scoop of chocolate gelato, but the real magic occurs when you combine the two. Order a gelato sandwich made with two donuts and a healthy scoop of gelato between them. You might feel guilty about the calories, yet you won’t feel guilty about any animal-based ingredients.
Vegan Donut Gelato is located on the far side of Lake Merritt from downtown, but the journey is worth it. Rent a scooter and enjoy a quick ride along the scenic lakefront to reach the East 18th Street location.
