So I'm going to SF in April, and besides hitting a couple places my friend out there suggests, I was hoping to get some vegan/vegetarian restaurant suggestions from the local Skullbrainers. So, what's good? ^_^
the guys always talk about Ikes... http://www.yelp.com/biz/ikes-place-san- ... uery:vegan I always think about Greens although i'm not a veggie... http://www.yelp.com/biz/greens-san-fran ... ery:greens
I have no clue, I'm not a super vegetable heavy diner, but my friends who are more consuming of veg-matter (as opposed to beans, soy, & tofu heavy diets) have more plentiful gas than I ever have, not to mention it's pretty ripe. Ike's sounds dope, but we might pass on Greens - I think the only moderately expensive eateries we're gonna hit will be sushi. I'll just hope they have enough tasty Japanese food that DON'T include fish to fill me @_@ I get the feeling we'll be dining in Chinatown & Japantown for most meals, and I'm really gonna be seeking at least one ramen house - you guys got any faves?
I'm no vegetarian...but my good friend is. We hit up this Japanese vegan place all of the time and I look forward to going, it's delicious and inexpensive. They have lots of vegan "sushi rolls" and such. Cha-Ya on Valencia in the Mission District. http://www.yelp.com/biz/cha-ya-vegetarian-japanese-restaurant-san-francisco
Although it's an oxymoron if you're into authenticity, there's a vegetarian/vegan taqueria in the MIssion called Papalote, on 24th near Valencia. The veggie crowd seems to think it's the greatest. Their salsa is seriously good! As a purist when it comes to Mexican food I'm not crazy about the place but again, it's very popular with vegetarians so they must be doing something right.
Ikes is the real deal. Any sandwich can be made vegan. Either way its the best sandwich in the city. herbivore is good but with my soy allergy I cant eat much there anymore. Yum yum on divisadero is also pretty good. Most of my friends order the sesame mock chicken there. If you need something late you can always go to love & haight on haight(surprise!). you can get mock duck sandwich at 2am. Also there is maggie mudds- Vegan(and some regular) ice creamery. There is your start. Dont ever said I never did anything for you.
I took my gf to greens for her birthday last month, they only use seasonal vegetables from local sources. that said, winter veggies makes the menu kind of boring. may be better in april. overall, its overpriced for a normal meal. it's like the veggie special occassion place for me. but i don't think its any better than herbivore objectively. greens has higher production values (its a nice building/interior with giant driftwood chunks in the middle of the floor) and you can get a table that looks out over the bay at golden gate bridge. muy romantico.
a few of the veggie mainstays have already been mentioned, but i also like golden era in the tenderloin-ish area. they have that slightly weird supreme master TV thing going on, but the food is good. there is another vegetarian chinese food place in the richmond, but im blanking on the name at the moment. herbivore is okay, but i think a bit over-rated. a lot of stuff on the menu is vegan by default (like falafel) and would be better if you went somewhere more authentic. of couse i lived a block away from herbivore for a while, and ate the bejesus out of it, so i may just be burnt out on it personally. its a pretty vegetarian friendly city overall, my girlfriend (who is vegetarian) and i (who is roughly vegetarianish) eat out mostly at places that are not vegetarian exclusively, but have plenty on the menu for folks who dont eat meat. if you like indian food go to indian oven. alex is right about ikes, easily the san francisco sandwhich numero uno.
Lucky Creation has awesome vegetarian Chinese food. 854 Washington St (between Old Chinatown Ln & Ross Aly) San Francisco, CA 94108
