This is only a small sampling of all the delicious veg food to be found in the Bay Area. For a more comprehensive list, visit BayAreaVeg.org.
Restaurant menus change frequently. It’s advisable to call ahead or check online to confirm hours and veg menu items.
Remember: Most Chinese, Indian, Ethiopian, Thai, and Middle Eastern restaurants, and sushi bars and taquerias offer vegetarian and vegan options. Don’t panic if you’re out and about but your guide is at home!
GLENVIEW
Almond Belgian Waffle at Pepples Donut Farm
Banana Blossom Thai Cuisine
4228 Park Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-0990
Delicious Thai curries and noodle soups.
Blackberry Bistro
4240 Park Blvd., Oakland
(510) 336-1088
Tofu scramble and great coffee.
JACK LONDON SQUARE
Bocanova
55 Webster St., Oakland
(510) 444-1233
Bocanova offered a vegetarian prix fixe menu throughout Oakland Veg Week and a Meatless Monday tasting menu. Call in advance.
Encuentro Cafe and Wine Bar
202 Second St., Oakland
(510) 832-9463
All vegetarian wine bar and restaurant. Serves small plates, soups, and entrees and has a robust menu of organic and sustainable wines.
Souley Vegan
301 Broadway, Oakland
(510) 922-1615
Vegan soul food restaurant with favorites like BBQ tofu, southern fried tofu, vegan mac ‘n cheese, and more.
LAKESHORE/GRAND LAKE THEATER
Arizmendi Bakery
3265 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
(510) 268-8849
Delicious veggie pizzas, vegan soups, and vegan muffins and scones. Also found in SF, Berkeley, and San Rafael.
Bacheeso’s
246 Grand Ave., Oakland
(510) 891-1496
Mediterranean restaurant with delicious falafel and weekend vegan brunch options. Also in Berkeley.
Enssaro Ethiopian
366 Grand Ave., Oakland
(510) 238-9050
Love their big veg sampler platter. Their veggie combo plate is divine. Don’t miss their veggie sambusa.
Flavors of India
3276 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
(510) 268-8957
Scrumptious pakora, samosas, and aloo gobi! Also has Montclair and Alameda locations.
Seasonal vegan ravioli at Italian Colors
Holy Land Falafel
677 Rand Ave., Oakland
(510) 272-0535
Some of us feel this is the best falafel in the world. Also features great vegan soups and has a Berkeley location.
Lin Jia Asian Kitchen
3437 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
(510) 835-8322
Authentic, delicious Asian dishes.
Merritt Station
614 Grand Ave., Oakland
(510) 444-3400
Coffee shop with soy milk, bagels with vegan cream cheese, and Tofurky sandwiches. Plus free wifi!
Mezze Restaurant and Bar
3407 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
(510) 663-2500
Mediterranean influenced, great vegan risotto and more, wine list—excellent date spot!
Neecha Thai
3236 Grand Ave., Oakland
(510) 451-9419
Extensive vegetarian options with meat alternatives, curries, and great soups.
Yayu Ethiopian Café
3343 Lakeshore Ave., Oakland
(510) 465-9298
Some of the best veggie Ethiopian food around. Excellent injera.
MONTCLAIR
Falafel at Amba
Amba
6464 Moraga Ave., Oakland
(510) 339-8000
Fast, casual Middle Eastern fare like falafel, hummus plates, sandwiches, soups, and salads.
Italian Colors Restaurant
2220 Mountain Blvd., Oakland
(510) 482-8094
Classic Italian with veg options.
Montclair Bistro
6118 Medau Pl., Oakland
(510) 482-8282
Vegan eggplant cannelloni special (call ahead) and many other daily vegetarian options.
NORTH OAKLAND
Pepples Donut Farm
6037 San Pablo Ave., Oakland
(510) 338-6319
Two words: vegan donuts. But that’s not all, they do an amazing brunch and lunch too.
Shangri-La Vegan
4001 Linden St., Oakland
(510) 547-1842
Macrobiotic and whole food soups, salads, entrees, and vegan baked goods. All –you-can-eat buffet lunch on weekends.
PIEDMONT
Baja Taqueria
4070 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
(510) 547-2252
Yummy and filling vegetarian and vegan burritos.
Barney’s Gourmet Burgers
4162 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
(510) 655-7180
Several veg and vegan burgers. Other locations all over the Bay Area.
Cato’s Ale House
3891 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
(510) 655-3349
Big, friendly bar with very filling vegan sandwich options and Monday night trivia.
Messob Ethiopian
4301 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
(510) 428-1122
Very good vegetarian appetizer and entrée options.
Raj Indian Cuisine
4092 Piedmont Ave., Oakland
(510) 601-9922
Cheap (but good!) Indian food attached to a friendly bar.
ROCKRIDGE/COLLEGE
Vegan Pancakes with Fruit at Saturn
5642 College Ave., Oakland
(510) 658-6180
Yummy and filling vegetarian and vegan burritos.
Great Wall Chinese Restaurant
6247 College Ave., Oakland
(510) 658-8458
Menu is mostly vegan with meat alternatives, though there is some fish on the menu.
Zachary’s Chicago Pizza
5801 College Ave., Oakland
(510) 655-6385
Deep dish Chicago-style pizza with vegan crust and Daiya vegan cheese and other vegetarian pies.
TEMESCAL
Addis Ethiopian
6100 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 653-3456
Scrumptious veggie platter.
Asmara Restaurant
5020 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 547-5100
Delicious and filling veg sampler platter.
Barlata Tapas Bar
4901 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 450-0678
Incredible vegan paella and Spanish wines.
Burma Superstar
4721 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 652-2900
Many vegetarian and vegan Burmese options including a vegetable tofu section. Don’t miss the vegetarian samusa
soup, tea leaf salad, and coconut rice! Also found in SF and Alameda.
Cafe Colucci
6427 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 601-7999
Excellent vegetarian options and sample platter.
Homeroom
400 40th St., Oakland
(510) 597-0400
Serves vegan mac and cheese and vegan soups daily.
Lanesplitter Pizza and Pub
4799 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 653-5350
Great vegan pizza, homemade vegan “ricotta,” and lots of beer. Multiple locations in the East Bay.
Red Sea Ethiopian
5200 Claremont Ave., Oakland
(510) 655-3757
Order the vegetarian sample platter and prepare to be stuffed!
Scream Sorbet
5030 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 394-5030
All vegan sorbet made with local, seasonal ingredients.
UPTOWN
Blue Oak Cafe at the Oakland Museum of California
1000 Oak St., Oakland
(510) 238-2200
Blue Oak Cafe has vegetarian soups, salads, and sandwiches daily.
Caffe 817
817 Washington St., Oakland
(510) 271-7965
Caffe 817 offers many veg options daily and will offer a 10% discount on all its vegetarian sandwiches.
Cosecha Café
907 Washington St., Oakland
(510) 452-5900
Gourmet Mexican food with many vegetarian and vegan options.
Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant
1301 Franklin St., Oakland
(510) 893-0383
Vegetarian Vietnamese food with a large variety of meat alternatives.
Ike’s Lair
2204 Broadway, Oakland
(510) 338-6789
Best vegan sandwiches ever. And possibly the most filling. Locations all over the Bay Area.
The Lake Chalet
1520 Lakeside Dr., Oakland
(510) 208-5253
Gorgeous restaurant on Lake Merritt with delicious veg options and cocktails.
La Borinqueña Mex-icatessen & Specialty Shop
582 7th St., Oakland
(510) 444-9954
La Borinquena Mex-icatessen, in Old Oakland since 1944, hand crafts vegetarian & vegan tamales made with fresh corn masa stone ground in-house.
Vegetarian Sesame Chicken from Nature Vegetarian
1116 Franklin St., Oakland
(510) 238-9688
All vegetarian Chinese restaurant with mock meats.
Rico’s Diner
400 15th St., Oakland
(510) 444-8424
Tofu scramble, vegan pulled-pork sandwiches with curly fries…what else do you need?
Rudy’s Can’t Fail Café
1805 Telegraph Ave., Oakland
(510) 251-9400
Fun place to grab vegan buffalo wings, chili, and more. Also in Emeryville.
Spice Monkey
1628 Webster St., Oakland
(510) 268-017
Veggie empanadas, vegan pot pie, and more. Great atmosphere.
Vo’s
59 Grand Ave., Oakland
(510) 465-4600
Great vegan options for gourmet Vietnamese food.
GREATER BAY AREA
If you really need to leave Oakland, here are some highlights from other cities:
Cinnaholic
2132 Oxford St., Berkeley
(510) 647-8684
All vegan cinnamon rolls and baked goods, plus coffee.
Cha-Ya
In San Francisco and Berkeley
Japanese to knock your socks off. All vegan.
Flacos
3031 Adeline St., Berkeley
(510) 981-8081
All vegan authentic Mexican food.
Gracias Madre
2211 Mission St., San Francisco
(415) 683-1346
Organic, house-made, Mexican food. All vegan. Expect to wait for a table!
Multiple locations in Berkeley and San Francisco
All vegan, casual comfort food. Mashed potatoes and gravy, anyone?
Loving Hut
Multiple Bay Area locations
Cheap, filling, yummy, casual Vietnamese restaurants with many meat alternatives on the menu.
Millennium Restaurant
580 Geary St., San Francisco
(415) 345-3900
Gourmet, five-star, formal dining like you’ve never imagined. All vegan. Reservations strongly recommended.
Saturn Cafe
2175 Allston Way, Berkeley
(510) 845 8505
All-vegetarian diner featuring vegan burgers, milkshakes, and a great brunch menu.
Vegetarian House
520 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose
Vietnamese and some Western specialties. All vegan.
Crispy "Chickin" Sandwich from Veggie Grill
Veggie Grill
3055 Olin Ave, San Jose
(408) 296-6473
All vegan fast food chain with to die for sandwiches, salads, and soups. Try the Crispy “Chickin” Sandwich and Buffalo wings.
Download a handy printable guide of Bay Area vegetarian and veg-friendly restaurants. If you own or know of a restaurant that is not listed, or would like information on how to add meat-free meals to your menu, please contact us.
