The Best Places to Eat Vegan Food in Portland, Oregon

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1. AVIV

Plant Yourself: This Middle Eastern spot has arguably some of the best vegan fare in the city. AVIV focuses on perfecting Israeli-inspired fare set in a rustic-chic setting. Here you’ll find lots of small plates, perfect for sharing. With an assortment of filling delights, meat-eaters and veg-heads alike are enthralled with this place.

Calling All: Hummus-obsessed, since here you’ll have your pick of nine different varieties.

Order for the Table: The baba ganoush, any hummus, and the Truffle Mac & Cheese.

Don’t Miss: The Falafel Plate, “Shawarma” made with soy chorizo alongside some other fixings.

Address: AVIV is a pop-up, so stay up to date with its location by following AVIV’s Instagram.

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2. Virtuous Pie

Calling All: Thin-crust pizza lovers looking for a laid-back spot with excellent pies and plant-based ice cream for dessert. Virtuous Pie’s other locations in Victoria, British Columbia, and Chinatown in Vancouver are a testament to how good the brand’s pizza is.

Order for a Crowd: One of the salads to share as they are a nice balance with the pizza.

Don’t Miss: The Buffalo Cauliflower Pizza … also appropriate for a table share.

Address: 1126 SE Division St #200

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3. Rabbits Café

Plant Yourself: Located just 15 minutes Southeast of the Portland International Airport, Rabbits Cafe’s newest location on Killingsworth Street, offers a breakfast and brunch menu Monday thru Friday until 2 pm.

Don’t Miss: The Monte Cristo, Soy Chicken & Cornmeal Waffles, Caramel Peach
French Toast, as well as bowls, smoothies, and classic brunch cocktails, you are sure to be
satisfied.

Must Try: Biscuits and Gravy Plate served with a side of Kale in Tahini sauce. With
scrumptious biscuits topped with a robust Rosemary Mushroom Gravy, this hearty dish really
hit home: The kale is a light and refreshing addition to balance a rich and filling dish.
The Rabbits Hash, a simple and flavorful bowl, filled with tempeh, fried crimini mushrooms,
potatoes, and a fantastic avocado sauce, really a solid flavorful dish.
Address: 555 SW Oak St

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4. Doe Donuts

Plant Yourself: Craving some artisanal sweetness? Head on over to the Hollywood neighborhood and indulge at Doe Donuts. Being the first all-vegan donut shop to open in Portland, this woman-owned small business is doing donuts right. Doe Donuts makes an effort to donate monthly to two charities, supports paying employees a living wage, and all the chocolate Doe Donuts uses is certified fair trade from the Food Empowerment Project, so you can feel good indulging.

Don’t Miss: With staple flavors such as French Toast, Salted Vanilla Bean, and Tiramisu, a monthly seasonal menu, and a wide array of ice cream, you won’t find run-of-the-mill options here.

Must Try: The Portland Fog: Made with an organic earl grey glaze, fresh whip, and fair trade vanilla bean, this will easily be one of the best donuts you’ve ever had. Pair it with their earl grey ice cream, close your eyes, and you just might be transported to London.

Order for the Table: A conversation starter like the Cheeseburger donut. Yes, you
read that correctly, a cheeseburger wrapped inside of a donut, topped with a special sauce,
and pickle, is it lunch or a donut? We call it a triumph.

Address: 4110 NE Sandy Blvd

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5. Dirty Lettuce

Plant Yourself: Boasting Sinful Southern Eats, the mother and son duo behind Dirty Lettuce give soul food a new meaning. After relocating from Jackson, Mississippi, Dirty Lettuce operated as a food cart in the only vegan food pod in Portland before opening this brick-and-mortar location in the Cully neighborhood.

Don’t Miss: Bayou Fried Shrimp, BBQ Ribs, Mardi Gras Hush Puppies, Southern Black Eyed Peas, Fried Pickles, Fried Chicken, Fried Cauliflower, and Fried Shrimp Po’Boys, you honestly can’t go wrong ordering.
Order for the Table: The Cajun Mac and Cheez, which strikes the perfect amount of heat and cheesy goodness, and the Seitan Fried Catfish and Collard Greens. The catfish texture and seasoning are both on point, and the greens are incredible.

Must Try: The Infamous Bowl, their take on the KFC Famous Bowl, was lovely, Crispy Fried Chicken nuggets with Cajun corn served over a pile of mashed potatoes and smothered in gravy. Yes, please!

Address: 4727 NE Fremont St

Other Great Vegan Food in Portland, Oregon

With so much plant-forward food in Portland, we would need to write a short book to cover it all. Other honorable mentions include Top Burmese (yes, Burmese vegan food). Next Level Burger, which offers mock meat or true plant-based patties for a customizable burger. Sushi Love — you’ll hate there’s not one in your city. Voodoo Donuts, a must for a late-night snack or morning breakfast. And finally, check out the Vegan Mini Mall, which is a block that includes a number of vegan shops including Sweetpea Baking Company, Portland’s first vegan bakery (with really good coffee); Food Fight! Grocery, an all-vegan grocery store; and Herbivore Clothing fashion boutique carrying neat gifts, accessories, shoes, and more.

For delicious plant-based fare in your neighborhood, check out The Beet’s City Guides.

The post The Best Places to Eat Vegan in Portland, Oregon appeared first on The Beet.

So when I heard the owner of Downtown LA’s Purgatory Pizza had expanded its pop-up delivery service into an unassumingly vegan brick-and-mortar pizza shop, I knew this was the perfect place to take them, because dietary restrictions aside, who doesn’t like pizza?

Named after owner Alex Koons’s former band, Hot Tongue Pizza embodies the finer
things in life: Killer slices, good vibes, and a major focus on being veggie-forward. Instead of
marketing the shop as plant-based, Koons wanted to make great pizza for everyone, that
happened to also be vegan, and I’d say, mission accomplished.

The space is simple but inviting, and truly highlights what Hot Tongue is all about – amazing dough and fresh ingredients. Aside from the spices, Hot Tongue makes every ingredient in-house and buys organic when possible, steering clear of faux meats and cheeses, only featuring one house-made spicy sausage. You can’t miss the neon pink sign and storefront in this Silver Lake strip mall location.

Arriving on a Friday afternoon, we were whisked away by the intoxicating aroma of
pizza, and greeted by the best pizza maker in town, Michael, who was slinging dough like a pro. He walked us through their offerings, including a generous variety of slices, a few knockout appetizers, and full-sized pizzas, including a build-your-own option. With the knowledge of our pizza guru, we made our selections and went on a pizza journey.

We kicked things off with the Garlic Knots, served with marinara sauce, the knots
perfectly garlicky, and the dough perfectly chewy. I picked up the Gluten-Free Detroit slice, the thick crust had the right amount of crunch and airiness to it, topped with chunky marinara, mushroom, spinach, garlic, almond ricotta, and sesame seed, this slice was perfectly balanced, and I could not tell it was gluten free.

My friends ordered the thick crust Sicilian, a pan baked, thick crust, garlic slice featuring red sauce, pesto drizzle, almond ricotta, and basil, as well as a Buffalo thin slice, which is covered in buffalo cream sauce, broccolini, shiitake bacon, hot agave drizzle, fresh parsley, and the perfect amount of heat.

Then arrived the MVP of the day, the White Pie. We decided to get a whole pizza of this, and boy we are so glad we did. Everything about this pie was exceptional: The garlic olive oil base, caramelized onions, almond ricotta, mushrooms, oregano, and almond parmesan, but the best part was the everything bagel crust.

I did not know I needed everything bagel crust in my life, and I’m afraid I can’t ever eat pizza again without it. We were all blown away by the simplicity of the ingredients of the White Pie, but the complexity of the dough was outstanding. My friends loved everything and had no idea it was vegan. We left full, happy, and with some leftovers for the weekend, success!

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Hot Tongue Pizza is LA’s Best New Plant-Based Pizzaria

The Vibe: Laid-back counter service-style pizzeria with a rock and roll vibe. Great for the whole family, with seating inside and a few tables outside. Grab a slice to go, order a whole pie, or both! Live nearby? get your za’ delivered!

Must Try: The White Pie Pizza, it has an everything bagel crust, need I say more? Don’t sleep on the Caesar salad, the shiitake bacon, and crispy chickpeas.

Gluten Free: Hot Tongue has really delivered the best gluten-free pizza I’ve ever tasted. You
can build your own pizza with GF crust, or grab a slice or whole pie of the Detroit-style pizza, it
will rock your world. Everyone loves Crispy Cauliflower with buffalo sauce, and they made sure that was gluten-free as well. Hooray!

Address: Plentiful parking lot located at 2590 Glendale Blvd, Los Angeles, CA
90039. They are open Monday-Sunday 11 am-9 pm.

To find delicious plant-based fare in your neighborhood, visit The Beet’s Find Vegan Near Me articles. 

The post “I Took My Meat-Eating Friends Out for Vegan Pizza. Here’s What Happened” appeared first on The Beet.

Strategically situated in the Westchester neighborhood of Los Angeles, it is clear Hart and his team were interested in shaking things up by selecting a corner storefront in close proximity to other fast food eateries.

Hart House is fully vegan, offering a welcome plant-based alternative to the traditional offerings of such classic fast food joints within walking distance, such as the popular In-N-Out Burger. You could say this choice of locations is a brilliant move, considering the lack of plant-based options in the vicinity, and how close the new vegan fast food place is to LAX.

After taking in the joyful opening ceremony, I joined the excited people in line. The crowd was a mix of fellow vegans, plant-curious, and Kevin Hart fans, all of us hoping to try something new, delicious, vegan, and approved by Kevin Hart. Okay, so maybe some of us also were hoping to catch a glimpse of Hart himself.

Although Kevin did not make an appearance, the TinDLE chicken team got everyone excited by handing out T-shirts and chicken sandwiches of their own, allowing people to sample the competition. A bold move, but after waiting over 2 hours, the crowd appreciated it.

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What to Eat at Hart House

The Hart House menu features things you would expect like plant-based burgers and meatless chicken nuggets, along with salads, shakes, and fries. The menu also promises to be healthier than most fast food, with all plant-based ingredients and no cholesterol, antibiotics, hormones, artificial coloring, preservatives, or corn syrup.

The menu is created by Chef Mike Salem, former head of culinary innovation at Burger King, who collaborated with Hart and his team to curate a relatable menu, with better-for-you formulations.

With plans to expand to 10 other locations in the next 12 months, as well as food trucks and catering, Hart House is on track to offer healthier, more sustainable fast food to the masses. Hart is donating 10 percent of the opening day proceeds to Inner City Arts, a non-profit group that empowers children and teens in Los Angeles through the transformational power of art.

Here’s What Hart House Vegan Fast Food Tastes Like

Famished, I finally made my way inside the brightly decorated eatery, which was full of good vibes, and energized faces. I ordered the Deluxe Crispy Chick’n meal with a secret menu side item called Frots (a cross between fries and tots), and an Oreo shake. Then for good measure, I ordered a Single Burg!’.

Perhaps it was day one jitters, but everything tasted like it had been sitting in the heater for a while. While it was good, it was not quite as piping hot or fresh as I would have liked. The burger itself had delicious fresh caramelized onions, and the Hart House signature sauce on it, which was flavorful. The American cheese had not melty, which is typical of most vegan cheese when not served immediately.

The Deluxe Crispy Chick’n was loaded with flavor, and I loved the fact that they kept the vegan patty thinner, so it retains the texture and crunch without being too “bready” and the Kale Crunch Slaw on top was really stellar, but it would have been better hot off the line. I really love the idea of the Frots, because who can ever decide between getting tots (my personal favorite) and fries? So when the cheerful staff member told me about their secret menu item, I was elated.

To my discerning taste, these fries didn’t quite land the plane, which for fast food is crucial. They were neither fresh nor hot, so dipping them in the Hart House Signature Sauce was a must. (The sauce is a find.)

The true standout was the Oreo Shake, which I completely destroyed. It was delicious, the perfect size, and fresh as could be. If you are feeling thirsty, try the Tractor Beverage, a Chipotle staple, in the soda dispenser, offering Certified Organic, Non-GMO, natural unique juices and sodas, like Lemongrass, Kola Cola, and more.

Overall, I had a great experience chatting with my new friends but would like to return when they get settled and operate at a regular capacity, to give them a proper shot.

The Vibe: Vibrant, open, and laid-back space, perfect for bringing the family, or grabbing a quick meal before your flight.

Parking: Space is ample since you have the option of 2-hour parking in a designated lot, right on site.

Cost: The price point for a full meal: Expect to pay around $11 to $13 for a meal.

The post “I Tried Kevin Hart’s New Vegan Fast-Food Place. Here’s What I Thought!” appeared first on The Beet.

Newly launched, Tindle is described as “chicken, made from plants that taste unbelievably like chicken from birds..” It is made from 9 simple and non-GMO ingredients but does contain soy and gluten. Tindle is mostly being sold at restaurants, so I decided to try it at Just What I Kneaded in Los Angeles, the popular vegan bakery that’s known for its amazing bread.

The total investment in the new vegan chicken product, even before it had been widely introduced in America, is above $130 million, a big bet for any new vegan meat alternative, much less one that is only focused on chicken, and only available at limited outlets as of now.

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“I tried the new vegan chicken and here’s what I thought”

Served as The Liz Bird sandwich, the fried Tindle “chicken” patty comes tucked inside their warm brioche bun, atop a bed of cabbage slaw, vegan mayo, honey mustard, and topped with homemade dill pickle slices. It was the closest thing to chicken I had ever experienced in a vegan chicken alternative. The texture, flavor, and appearance were remarkably chicken-like. What’s more surprising is that you can mold Tindle vegan chicken into any desired shape, just like a real chicken patty, making it a versatile chicken alternative for nuggets, or any other dish.

The first Tindle product (the company spells it TiNDLE) was the TiNDLE Thy, an alternative to chicken thighs. The vegan chicken alternative is made of soy, wheat, oat fiber, coconut oil and methylcellulose, a culinary binder. Next Gen Foods says that it has a proprietary blend of plant-based fats like sunflower oil, and natural flavors that make Tindle so similar in taste to chicken, and allows it to cook just like chicken meat.

Tindle is more sustainable than chicken from birds, since on average, chicken made from plants uses less land, less water, and produces less CO₂ than chicken from birds, the website states. Their source is Blue Horizon’s 2020 “Environmental Impacts Of Animal And Plant-Based Food” Report. Plant-based chicken uses 74 percent less land, 88 percent lower greenhouse gas emissions and 82 percent less water than chicken requires.

So where can you try Tindle?

It’s available at restaurants like the Grey Dog and Settepani in New York and several places in LA as well as throughout the world in cities like Hong Kong, Singapore, and Abu Dhabi, and you can find locations on the Tindle website.  If you want to make it yourself you can also buy Tindle online through Gold Belly’s website, distributing from Motel Fried Chicken.

The post “I Tried the $100 Million Dollar Vegan Chicken and Here’s What I Thought” appeared first on The Beet.

If you head down the road from Universal City in Los Angeles, California, you’ll stumble across Gokoku. Don’t blink or you might miss the humble storefront, tucked away in a practically vacant shopping center located on Lankershim Boulevard in the bustling North Hollywood neighborhood.

Chef and owner Shanshan Liu Estacio opened Gokoku in 2016, and the self-taught chef and first-generation immigrant has crafted a vibrant, diverse menu that has something for everyone – even carnivores will be impressed. Aside from the sushi and ramen offerings, you can also try items such as Not Chicken Nuggets, Vegan Shrimp Creamy Pasta, Poke Bowls, Spicy Miso Eggplant Bento, Curry Rice, and Kabocha Smoothies. The restaurant opts to use only the freshest ingredients and chooses organic whenever possible.

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I arrived just after lunch on a Thursday in hopes of avoiding a crowd, but even at 2 pm, Gokoku was pretty busy. There are a few tables inside as well as a cute patio, but it was a bit breezy out, so I opted for indoor seating and asked for a table for three. I was seated immediately, and my server was just as upbeat and friendly as the adorable decor, which features murals of anime and portraits of Chef Shanshan’s pets, a Frenchie named Mooky and a Pocket Bully named Yogurt who serve as the restaurant’s mascots.

Everything on the menu was tempting, and I was ravenous, so I ordered a lot. Thankfully, I brought my two fellow vegan gal pals along to help me dive into this magical feast because food is best enjoyed with good company.

Here’s what you need to know about Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen Shop, located at 4147 Lankershim Boulevard in Studio City, California.

Calling All: Who prefer a more relaxed vibe, you are welcome to dine here at your leisure, and I highly recommend ordering as you go. With an expansive menu and generous portions, there is something for even the pickiest of eaters.

Plant Yourself: Inside next to the big window, which serves as a great vantage point for people-watching and witnessing the high-energy neighborhood in the open kitchen concept. If fresh air is your thing, choose the modest patio situated on the sidewalk, with an Instagram-worthy greenery wall that creates some privacy.

Order for the Table: You won’t find any boring sushi rolls here. Go for The Dynamite Crab Meat Vegan Roll, made with baked vegan crab meat atop a vegan California roll top with melted cheese. Another thrilling option is the Popcorn Vegan Roll, this best-selling roll features cucumber and vegan crab meat, and is topped with tempura mushrooms and vegan popcorn chicken. If sushi isn’t your jam, the Fried Cauliflower Vegan Wings, is a tried and true staple. An honorable mention is the Vegan Bao, filled with imitation vegan meat with carrots, radishes, beansprouts, and spicy mayo drizzled on top. These little bites pack a punch.

Don’t Miss: There are 11 ramen varieties to pick from, all packed full of freshest ingredients. The Curry Ramen, a personal favorite, has a comforting and robust broth, made from a mushroom and curry base. I’ve never tasted anything like it. The Beyond Ramen features Beyond Meat cooked in a house special sauce, and savory kale, corn, & carrots.

Take Note: The restaurant is small and was full by the time we left. With a bustling carry-out business and a small kitchen, expect to wait if visiting during peak hours and on weekends. If you plan on doing carry out, allow extra time for preparation, though 100 percent worth the wait.

All in all, we had a wonderful experience at Gokoku, full of good conversation and the amazing plant-based dishes were inventive and sure to dazzle any diner’s appetite. You truly can not go wrong.

To find more delicious vegan food around the country, visit The Beet’s Find Vegan Near Me articles and check out our expansive range of City Guides. 

The post We Found the Best Vegan Ramen in Los Angeles appeared first on The Beet.