Are you still going strong on your New Year’s resolution to eat a plant-based diet, or perhaps you’re just looking for a little more veg in your life? If so, we’ve got the guide for you. Amidst the best vegan restaurants in Portland lie so many great juice bars, cafes, smoothie havens, food carts, and full-fledged multi-menu restaurants and you may not know where to start.
The Best Vegan Restaurants in Portland
Maybe you just finished a workout and want a smoothie bowl loaded with elite superfoods. Maybe you’re famished but want a clean food “bowl.” Maybe you’re beyond famished and want to hit a bar and grab a giant plate of vegan nachos topped off with vegan taquitos and a vegan banana ball sundae. Maybe you want a green or blue juice. Maybe by now you’re already feeling lost and ready to go eat a biscuit and a plate of bacon. If so, do not fret but instead take a seat and read our 10 picks for the best vegan restaurants in Portland so you won’t waste any more time or brain space.
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10. Blossoming Lotus
Blossoming Lotus is a full-fledged vegan breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant in the Irvington neighborhood that definitely ranks among the best vegan restaurants in Portland with a broad menu and the city’s most amazing and ginormous veganized frosted cinnamon rolls. Don’t miss the pancakes here, you’ll never say they’ve sacrificed flavor or texture in place of health because they are THAT good.
Blossoming Lotus
$$$$ Vegan, Live/Raw Food, Vegetarian
1713 NE 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97212 • 503-228-00489. Harlow
Harlow is a funky vegan spot on Hawthorne Ave in Southeast Portland and definitely a must-hit spot for vegan eaters in Portland. You can order everything from toasts made on vegan bread served with vegan spread, or jam, or avocado; a nice bracingly green juice; lots of hashes, scrambles and grain or veggie bowls, and a good selection of pastries.
Harlow
$$$$ Juice Bars & Smoothies, Gluten-Free, Vegetarian
3632 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214 • 971-255-0138SEE ALSO: 25 BEST BRUNCH SPOTS IN PORTLAND
8. Aviv (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Easily among the best vegan restaurants in Portland, Aviv is our only pick that features solely Mediterranean cuisine. Technically Aviv considers itself “Plant Based Israeli Cuisine.” You can think of it as the vegan version of the wildly popular Tusk. Located all the way at the western end of Division Street, and across the street from Pine State Biscuits if you want to send your gluten and fried-chicken-and-gravy-fiending friends for a hike, Aviv makes amazing felafel, beet and regular hummus, salads and also offers an attractive brunch menu. Try the challah french toast if you’re feeling like something sweet. If you’re feeling savory, we love the jackfruit brisket, or vegan schwarma and falafal. Or order a bunch of small plates such as fries, hummus, roasted carrots, muchroom calamari and tofu feta and scoop everything up with some of Aviv’s wonderful homemade pita.
7. Homegrown Smoker
And now for some vegan southern food: Homegrown Smoker. Located in the St. John’s neighborhood of Portland, Homegrown Smoker is the only one of our best vegan restaurants in Portland that started out as a popular food cart. We currently crave the nori wrapped “fish” and chips (tofu) that is expertly breaded; and the tempeh “ribs.” The best deal for a group of hungry eaters is to construct your own plate where you choose a couple of proteins (fish, ribs, chicken – all veganized and made from such things as seitan, tempeh or tofu or soy curls), and then add on your sides such as macaroni and cheese, cole slaw, braised collards, sweet potato fries, or hush puppies. Wash it down with some kombucha and you’re good for the day foodwise.
Homegrown Smoker
$$$$ Barbeque, Chicken Wings, Sandwiches
8638 N Lombard St, Portland, OR 97203 • 503-477-72746. Virtuous Pie
Virtuous Pie is one of the best vegan restaurants in Portland and our only vegan restaurant in Portland that is a pizza restaurant. A vegan pizza restaurant that is so good it made our Top 35 Pizzas in Portland list. And with vegan ice cream. While pizza and ice cream are the stars here, VP also offers small plates and salads that are really outstanding, like the Kale Caesar and the Roasted Cauliflower Romanesco. Virtuous pie straddles that corner in Southeast Portland on Division St. that is home to Pine State Biscuits and Aviv and because you’re in southeast Portland, there’s also ample tacos and more pizza as well as sandwiches, coffee shops and diners within walking distance. Current favorite pizza? The Ultraviolet with Walnut and Arugula Pesto, Cashew Mozzarella, Oven Dried Tomatoes, Kale, Carmelized Onion and Pine Nuts. Do NOT miss trying the ice cream, especially the Marionberry Cheesecake, but if you cannot make up your mind, just order the “flight” and you’ll get three nice tastes.
Virtuous Pie
$$$$ Pizza, Vegan, Vegetarian
1126 SE Division St #200, Portland, OR 97202 • 503-334-20735. No Bones Beach Club (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
On one of our favorite eating streets, Mississippi Ave., No Bones Beach Club is the vegan restaurant you want to go to in Portland if you’re really hungry and want to leave feeling full. No Bones has a neat tropical, laid-back feel and they are big supporters of good causes especially concerning pets and animals. Start your meal here with some vegan nachos and taquitos and finish your meal off with a vegan banana ball sundae. You can find all kinds of small bites, a few salads, a ton of hefty sandwiches and entrees, and playful and amply sized desserts. Recently for brunch (weekends only) we had a unique Carrot Lox Everything Bagel that was absolutely better than regular lox with no slime and luxurious texture and spice.
No Bones Beach Club
$$$$ Vegan, Vegetarian, Bars
3928 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 97227 • 503-206-64854. Root Whole Body Cafe
Root Whole Body Cafe is sibling to Blossoming Lotus Restaurant (#10 above) and part of a Wellness Studio/Space (bodywork, yoga and movement classes, naturopathy medicine, nutrition & detox, skincare, chiropractic, acupuncture, alt medicine) that will tackle your every health and serenity need whether or not you knew you had the need. Not strictly 100% vegan but 99% vegan. Located in the booming Slabtown District (in Northwest PDX), Root Whole Body Cafe is a nice departure from other vegan restaurants in that the dishes are really curated towards a specialized niche of diners who know their food combining, their doshas, their chakras and/or their meridiens. With a vast tea and alt-coffee selections, a domed platter of superfood truffles and energy balls, toasts, hot cereal, all kinds of superfood infused broths, veggie and smoothie bowls, Japanese macrobiotic plates, smoothies, juices, tonics and shots, Root Whole Body Cafe is a nice quiet and satisfying respite where you’ll leave feeling like you did right by your body and soul.
Root Whole Body
$$$$ Yoga, Massage, Naturopathic/Holistic
2122 NW Quimby St, Portland, OR 97210 • 503-292-7668SEE ALSO: 35 BEST PIZZA SPOTS IN PORTLAND
3. Ichiza Kitchen & Tea House (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Ichiza Kitchen is a unique best vegan restaurant in Portland that offers ramen, sushi, dumplings and other Asian dishes with vegan “meats.” I mean, they have special molds and spices that impart a “dye” to make their vegan shrimps. The attention to detail is astounding here and it is definitely the vegan restaurant you want to go to in Portland if you’re more of a quiet soul and not too concerned about hitting the hippest and most loud and people-seeing places. Our current favorites here are the vegan turnip cakes and the beloved filipino party dish, Pancit.
2. Holiday PDX (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Holiday PDX is former Stumptown Coffee owner and Portland restaurant OG legend Duane Sorenson’s new home dedicated to plant-based cuisine and fresh healing juices. Recently opened last summer, Holiday easily made our Top Portland brunches list a while back. While Holiday is at the time of this writing in the process of moving from Division Street in Southeast Portland to downtown Portland, and therefore closed, do check back in a month or so and head downtown for an amazing menu of freshly baked breads and therefore toasts, pastries, breakfast and brunch bowls, special entrees and even seasonal pop-up chef dinners.
1. Farm Spirit (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Farm Spirit is far and away the finest vegan dining spot in town and our number one pick for the best Vegan restaurants in Portland- an all-out multi-course, hyper-strict locally sourced, artistically prepared and plated, and wildly creative and next-level dining experience. It’s kind of Chef’s Table time here. It made our Top 40 Restaurants list with ease. Farm Spirit is a tough and expensive reservation to secure, and you’ll be in your seat for 3 hours, but it’s worth every penny and every minute. Definitely a stand-out vegan restaurant among Portland’s growing vegan restaurant scene, every single item will blow you away from the cocktails or mocktails, to the near-single-ingredient dishes utilizing an ingredient in about 10 different iterations, to the fizzy juice and spritzer (or wine if you drink) drink pairings, the level of artistry and attention at Farm Spirit is mindblowing.
Farm Spirit
$$$$ American (New), Vegan, Vegetarian
1403 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214 • (971) 255-0329SEE ALSO: THE 40 BEST RESTAURANTS IN PORTLAND
Bonus: Treats, Wellness Centers and Juice Bars
5. Prasad
Prasad is the OG spot for healthy dining that is connected to a Yoga Studio in its Pearl District location and inside a Rock Gym in its location over the bridge. Cousin to Harlow Restaurant across the river, Prasad has a good sized but wonderful menu with juices, smoothies, pastries and morning/noon food fare including salads, hashes, scrambles, and everything bowls. Current favorite: Loaded maple chia waffle with fresh fruit, granola, and vanilla cashew cream.
Prasad
$$$$ Vegetarian, Juice Bars & Smoothies, Vegan
925 NW Davis St, Portland, OR 97209 • 503-224-39934. Back to Eden Bakery & Cafe (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
Back to Eden Bakery is another old-school Alberta Street wonder bakery that became a bakery and cafe in 2018. Legendary cinnamon rolls, savory scones, and now a fuller menu with hot food items such as biscuits and gravy, hashes, chili, veggie bowls and scrambles and quiches and savory tarts. A greet place to consider if you want to order vegan treats for a party or special event, including beautiful cakes.
3. Kure
More of a Juice Bar (“mealshakes”) with a solid but small menu of hot cereals and lunch bowls, Kure has a few locations throughout the city of Portland and is the place you want to go to for a delicious freshly pressed juice, a blue majik milk, or vegan eats when you don’t have a lot of time. Lots of superfood boosts to add to your mealshakes or smoothie bowls, and a great read-to-go case for hurried vegans.
Kure Juice Bar
$$$$ Juice Bars & Smoothies, Acai Bowls, Organic Stores
518 SW Taylor St, Portland, OR 97204 • 855-777-58732. Vtopia (PERMANENTLY CLOSED)
A specialized menu if ever there was one, Vtopia is a teeny little shop that makes vegan cheeses and offers a few select things to eat as well as their cheeses for sale in the deli case. Think Mac and Cheese with dipping sauces, cheesy toasts, and salads with cheese. A good place to eat for vegans when you don’t feel like tackling too many menu choices. Next door (literally) to Ichiza (#3 above) Vtopia is in the Goose Hollow District close to the stadium if you’re catching a Timbers game and also within walking distance to downtown proper.
Vtopia All Vegan Restaurant & Cheese Shop
$$$$ Delis, Cheese Shops, Vegan
1628 SW Jefferson St, Portland, OR 97201 • 971-271-76561. Doe Donuts
PDX is arguably the best donut city in the country, and our list of the best vegan restaurants in Portland isn’t complete without mention of Doe Donuts. Not only are they vegan but they’re outstandingly delicious and some of the best donuts you can get in the entire city. Whether you decide to indulge in cake or raised donut is up to you, and we garuntee it will be delicious no matter, but our favorites are the birthday cake and salted vanilla bean.
There are a few gems not included on this list! If you’re looking for vegan in Portland, please also check out The Sudra for Indian-inspired and Epif for South American. Also Off The Griddle for classic diner and a fantastic brunch.
Thanks so much for reading Laura!