SF Vegan Eats
These are some favorite vegan-friendly restaurants around San Francisco.
If you have other suggestions, let us know!
And to encourage kind options, always remember to give positive online reviews to restaurants that offer good vegan options.
SAN FRAN:
Downtown
Marina
Mission
Sunset
BAY AREA: Peninsula South East North
Helpful: Fast Food Happy Cow
BAY AREA: Peninsula South East North
Helpful: Fast Food Happy Cow
Downtown / North Beach / Chinatown
Ananda Fuara (Civic Center)
Vegetarian with many vegan options marked on menu. BBQ Beyond burger, portabello quesadilla, samosas, red lentil bowl, veggie chicken sandwich, super burrito... more
Donut Farm (Ferry Building)
Vegan organic donuts... more
Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant (Chinatown)
Award-winning Chinese vegetarian restaurant. Mostly vegan, but non-vegan items are marked on menu... more
Golden Era Vegan (Civic Center)
You might see some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan), but it's not a Loving Hut. Fried egg-less rolls, tofu pot stickers, veggie wonton soup, Mongolian delight, claypot, pho... more
Loving Hut (Westfield Mall)
Vegan chain with Asian menu. Along with awesome food, there may be some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan)... more
Lucky Creation Vegetarian (Chinatown)
Chinese vegetarian. Mostly vegan, but due to lack of menu markings maybe not ideal for strict vegans.
Nourish Cafe (Nob Hill)
100% plant-based sandwiches, bowls, smoothies, toasts... more
Pena Pachamama (North Beach)
Raw corn tacos, nut cheese burger, Bolivian empanadas, almond ricotta lasagna, vegan fudge pecan brownie... more
Thai Idea Vegetarian Restaurant (Tenderloin)
100% vegan Thai restaurant.. more
The Flying Falafel (Market / Civic Center)
Middle Eastern vegan. Vegan items are marked on the menu, which appears to be everything... more
Urban Remedy (Ferry Building)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Marina / Hollow / Polk
Greens Restaurant (Marina)
Fort Mason vegetarian restaurant with beautiful bay view (also has a to-go area, great spot for picnics). Confirm vegan when ordering... more
Urban Remedy (Cow Hollow)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Vegan Picnic (Polk Street)
100% plant-based American-style deli. Breakfast burrito, crispy chicken burger, grilled cheese, chocolate cake... more
Wildseed (Cow Hollow)
100% plant-based. Neatball masala, roasted roots bowl, spicy sausage pizza, rigatone bolognese, wildseed burger... more
Mission / SOMA / Potrero / Noe
Above Ground (Mission)
Vegan brew pub with vegan pizza. Buffalo cauliflower, tempeh sausage pizza, maitake mushroom pizza, apple pie... more
Beloved Cafe (Mission)
Superfood smoothies, bowls, salads... more
Cha-Ya (Mission)
Vegetarian and vegan Japanese / sushi, rolls, nigiri, udon, tempura, vegan chocolate mousse cake... more
Frena Bakery and Cafe - Soma (SOMA)
Some of their breads and pastries have vegan options... more
Gracias Madre (Mission)
Plant-based Mexican cuisine with seasonal menu... more
Mission Curry House (Mission)
Indian with vegan options marked on menu... more
Next Level Burger (Potrero Hill)
Plant-based and non-gmo burgers... more
Saucy Bandits (Bernal Heights)
100% vegan, Southern-inspired cooking. Spicy hot honey sandwich with roasted cauliflower cutlet, deep-fried cauliflower nuggets... more
Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya (Mission/Valencia)
Vegan sushi bar. Mushroom miso soup, bean curd and mushroom ramen, avocado cucumber roll, shiitake maki roll... more
Souley Vegan (SOMA)
100% plant-based Louisiana Creole. Spicy buffalo seitan strips, dirty cajun fries, jazzin' jumbalaya, sizzlin' mac and cheeze, southern fried tofu, country collard greens... more
The Happy Vegan (SOMA / Mission Bay)
100% vegan smoothies, superfood bowls, bagel sandwiches, pastries... more
Udupi Palace (Mission)
Indian vegetarian with lots of vegan options. Unfortunately they're not marked on the menu... more
Urban Remedy (Noe Valley)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Sunset / Richmond / Haight
Arizmendi Bakery (Inner Sunset)
Breads and pastries with some vegan items marked... more
BAIA (Hayes Valley)
Italian vegan. Pizzas, lasagna, spumoni... more
CyBelle's Front Room (Inner Sunset)
New York style pizza, calzone, burgers with vegan options well marked... more
Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant (Inner Sunset)
Award-winning Chinese vegetarian restaurant. Mostly vegan, but non-vegan items are marked on menu... more
Loving Hut (Inner Sunset)
Vegan chain with Asian menu. Along with awesome food, there may be some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan)... more
Nourish Cafe (Richmond District)
100% plant-based sandwiches, bowls, smoothies, toasts... more
Palmetto Superfoods (Richmond District)
Juice bar and superfood bowls... more
VeganBurg (Haight)
World's first 100% plant-based burger joint, all non-gmo. Avocado beetroot burger, creamy shrooms burger, BBQ franks, vegan bacon, seaweed fries... more
Vegefarm USA (Sunset)
Vegan meat shop and more... more
Bay Area / Peninsula
Burma Cafe (Daly City)
Burmese with a vegan-friendly section on the menu... more
Falafelle (Belmont)
Falafelles and pita pockets with vegan options... more
Ike's Place (San Mateo)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Mami Cheli's (Menlo Park)
Traditional Mexican with a vegan meat option... more
Mendocino Farms (San Mateo)
Hybrid menu with some vegan options. Impossible burger, baked tofu sandwich, taco salad... more
Oh Baby Sushi (Redwood City)
Sushi with a vegan section on their menu... more
Que SeRaw SeRaw (Burlingame)
To-go raw vegan. Check website for current menu and pickup schedule... more
Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine (Foster City)
Thai restaurant where several items can be made vegan. Unforunately they are not marked on the menu... more
V&V Delicious Crepes (San Carlos)
100% vegan. Crepes, sweet crepes, tofu scramble, quinoa salad, fruit bowl, avo toast, smoothies... more
South Bay
Crepes Bistro (Santa Clara)
Smoothies, salads, sweet crepes, breakfast bowls, tofu scramble. Mostly vegan, but be sure to confirm when ordering... more
Garden Fresh (Mountain View)
Chinese vegan. Hunan veggie chicken, Szechuan eggplant, sauteed vegetables, black mushrooms with bok choy... more
Garden Fresh (Palo Alto)
Chinese vegan. Singapore rice noodles, basil tempura, general's veggie chicken. No website, but you can order on Postmates... more
Good Karma Artisan Ales & Cafe (San Jose)
Offers a vegan burrito, kale bowl, nachos, pulled pork taco, Mayan chocolate pie... more
Green Lotus (San Jose)
Vietnamese vegetarian. Mostly vegan, but be sure to confirm when ordering.
Green Lotus (San Jose)
Vietnamese vegetarian. Mostly vegan, but be sure to confirm when ordering.
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Mountain View)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Sunnyvale)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Palo Alto)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Cupertino)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Santa Clara)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (San Jose)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (San Jose)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (San Jose)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (San Jose)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Indian Vegan Basudeva Cuisine (Mountain View)
Indian and Himalayan vegan... more
Loving Hut (Milpitas)
Vegan chain with Asian menu. Along with awesome food, there may be some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan)... more
Loving Hut (San Jose)
Vegan chain with Asian menu. Along with awesome food, there may be some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan)... more
Loving Hut Valley Fair (Santa Clara)
Vegan chain with Asian menu. Along with awesome food, there may be some Supreme Master material (she advocates vegan)... more
Madras Cafe (Sunnyvale)
South Indian vegetarian. Be sure to confirm vegan when ordering... more
Merit Vegan Restaurant (Sunnyvale)
Plant-based, cruelty-free, no-msg Asian dishes... more
Mint & Basil (Milpitas)
Vietnamese sandwiches, rice dishes, pho, vegan milk tea... more
Oren's Hummus (Mountain View)
Isreali with vegan options marked on the menu. Pita falafel, vegetable skewer, fries... more
Oren's Hummus (Palo Alto)
Isreali with vegan options marked on the menu. Pita falafel, vegetable skewer, fries... more
Oren's Hummus (Cupertino)
Isreali with vegan options marked on the menu. Pita falafel, vegetable skewer, fries... more
Pizza Flora (San Jose)
Check website for operating status and menu... more
Pizza My Heart (Cupertino)
Pizza with Miyoko's plant-based mozzarella as an option... more
RawASF (Milpitas)
Plant-based superfoods cafe. Build-your-own bowls, blueberry nice cream smoothie, avocado truffle burger... more
The Happy Hooligans (Santa Clara)
Vegan comfort food. Buffalo cauliflower bites, fish and chips, backyard BBQ burger, chick'n sandwich, jackfruit enchiladas... more
The Happy Hooligans (San Jose)
Vegan comfort food. Buffalo cauliflower bites, fish and chips, backyard BBQ burger, chick'n sandwich, jackfruit enchiladas... more
Tofoo Com Chay (San Jose)
Teriyaki veggie chicken kebobs, veggie sausage sandwich, pad Thai, tofu roll, veggie pho... more
True Food Kitchen (Palo Alto)
Hybrid menu with some vegan options. Butternut squash pizza, immunity bowl... more
Urban Remedy (Los Gatos)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Vegefarm USA (San Jose)
Vegan meat shop and more... more
Vegetarian House (San Jose)
Now vegan. BBQ tempeh bowl, spaghetti bowl, tofu club sandwich, bean curd claypot, curry masala, mushroom delight... more
Veggie Garden (Mountain View)
Chinese vegan... more
Veggie Grill (San Jose)
Plant-based chain with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, and salads. Crispy cauliflower, sweet potato fries, immunity bowl, roasted broccolini, chocolate pudding parfait... more
Veggie Grill (San Jose)
Plant-based chain with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, and salads. Crispy cauliflower, sweet potato fries, immunity bowl, roasted broccolini, chocolate pudding parfait... more
East Bay
Baagan (San Ramon)
Plant-based menu. Organic vegan burgers, burrito bowl, raw chocolate chip cookies... more
Cha-Ya (Berkeley)
Vegetarian and vegan Japanese / sushi, rolls, nigiri, udon, tempura, vegan chocolate mousse cake... more
Curry Up Now (Oakland)
Indian 'street food' chain with vegan options marked on the menu... more
Flacos (Berkeley)
Tiny place with tacos, tamales, taquitos, Mexican plates... more
Golden Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant (Oakland)
Asian-fusion vegan restaurant... more
Haleluya Ethiopian Gourmet (Fremont)
Ethiopian with a veggie combo and veggie bowl. Confirm vegan when ordering.
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Concord)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Danville)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Walnut Creek)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Oakland)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Indigo Burger (Newark)
100% plant-based. Burgers, bacon burger, chick'n sando, loaded fries... more
Kaffa Ethiopian Cuisine (Berkeley)
Ethiopian with a dedicated vegan menu.
Millenium (Oakland)
Rated one of the top vegan restaurants in the world. Relocated from SF... more
Next Level Burger (Concord)
Plant-based and non-gmo burgers... more
Oak Harvest Kitchen (Oakland)
Quinoa bowls, wraps, smoothies, avocado cacao pudding... more
Razzos Pizza And Salads (Hayward)
Offers several fully vegan pizzas... more
Reem's (Oakland)
Middle Eastern with some vegan options. Be sure to check website for current status... more
ROOTED (Pleasant Hill)
Plant-based cafe with outdoor seating. Grilled 'Follow Your Heart' cheese, smashed chickpea salad... more
Shangri-La Vegan (Oakland)
Vegan menu changes regularly, check website... more
Shangri-La Vegan (Oakland)
Vegan menu changes regularly, check website... more
Souley Vegan (Oakland)
100% plant-based Louisiana Creole. Spicy buffalo seitan strips, dirty cajun fries, jazzin' jumbalaya, sizzlin' mac and cheeze, southern fried tofu, country collard greens... more
The Butchers Son (Berkeley)
Vegan deli and bakery... more
The Flying Falafel (Berkeley)
Middle Eastern vegan. Vegan items are marked on the menu, which appears to be everything... more
The King's Feet (Berkeley)
Plant-based Italian restaurant... more
The Veg Hub (Oakland)
Plant-based bistro (plates, sandwiches, nachos) and cooking classes... more
The Vegan Mob (Oakland)
Vegan BBQ and soulfood. NOTE: The Vegan Mob had a Yelp under 4 stars when last checked... more
Timeless Coffee (Berkeley)
Coffee and 100% plant-based cakes, pastries, donuts... more
Timeless Coffee & Bakery (Oakland)
Coffee and 100% plant-based cakes, pastries, donuts... more
True Food Kitchen (Walnut Creek)
Hybrid menu with some vegan options. Butternut squash pizza, immunity bowl... more
Two Mammas Vegan Kitchen (Oakland)
Vegan menu changes seasonally. Sample items include spicy buffalo ranch sandwich, apple cinnamon pancakes, mushroom florentine... more
Udupi Palace (Berkeley)
Indian vegetarian with lots of vegan options. Unfortunately they're not marked on the menu... more
Urban Remedy (Lafayette)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Urban Remedy (Oakland)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Urban Remedy (Berkeley)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Veg N Chaat Cuisine (Fremont)
Indian vegetarian with mostly vegan items marked on the menu... more
Vegan Alien (Oakland)
100% vegan tacos, quesadillas, mini rito, carne asada fries, roasted brocolli, fishy siders... more
Veggie Grill (Walnut Creek)
Plant-based chain with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, and salads. Crispy cauliflower, sweet potato fries, immunity bowl, roasted broccolini, chocolate pudding parfait... more
Veggie Lee (Hayward)
Chinese with many vegan items marked on the menu... more
North Bay
Amy's Drive Thru (Corte Madera)
Hybrid menu, but vegan options are marked. Some vegan options are extra 50 cents, boo, but still a cool place... more
Creekside Pizza & Taproom (San Anselmo)
Offers a pizza with Miyoko's vegan cheese... more
Ike's Love & Sandwiches (Vallejo)
Sandwich shop with veggie section on the menu. Sandwiches that can be made vegan are marked... more
Taj Grill (Vallejo)
Indian with vegan options marked on the menu... more
Urban Remedy (San Rafael)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Urban Remedy (Larkspur)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Urban Remedy (Mill Valley)
Several vegan options among their bowls, wraps, superfood smoothies... more
Vegan Heat (Vallejo)
No storefront. Follow vegan_heat on Instagram to see where their next popup will be... more
Veggie Grill (Corte Madera)
Plant-based chain with burgers, sandwiches, bowls, and salads. Crispy cauliflower, sweet potato fries, immunity bowl, roasted broccolini, chocolate pudding parfait... more
For inexpensive, healthy, and consistently delicious plant-based meals,
nothing beats learning to prepare your own!
Recommended Recipes
Well, recipes from the movies we recommend ☺
ForksOverKnives.com
GameChangersMovie.com
PlantPureNation.com
PlantStrong.com
VeganEasy.com
WhatTheHealthFilm.com
Adaptt.org
More Recipes
You're about to see that you're not giving up anything by going plant-based!
Remember to bookmark recipes you'd like to try.
BadManners.com
BakeAndDestroy.com
BlissfulBasil.com
BrandNewVegan.com
Brownble.com
ChooseVeg.com
CrazyVeganKitchen.com
CupfulOfKale.com
DelightfulVegans.com
EatFigsNotPigs.com
EatPlant-Based.com
FoodForTheSoul.me
FromMyBowl.com
GreenEvi.com
HealthyHappyLife.com
GoHerbie.com
HolyCowVegan.net
HotForFoodBlog.com
iLoveVegan.com
KeepInItKind.com
KindEarth.net
LazyCatKitchen.com
LikeAVegan.com.au
LivVeganStrong.com
LoveVeg.com
LovingItVegan.com
MamaSezz.com
MississippiVegan.com
MyDarlingVegan.com
MyGoodnessKitchen.com
NAVS-Online.org
NoraCooks.com
Nutriciously.com
OlivesForDinner.com
OneIngredientChef.com
PeacefulCuisine.com
PlantBasedCooking.com
RunningOnRealFood.com
SeitanIsMyMotor.com
Simple-Veganista.com
SimpleVeganBlog.com
SweetSimpleVegan.com
TheColorfulKitchen.com
TheCompassionateRoad.com
TheCuriousChickpea.com
TheFullHelping.com
TheHungryHerbivores.com
TheKoreanVegan.com
TheMinimalistVegan.com
ThePlantBasedSchool.com
Veganosity.com
VeganSociety.com
Veganuary.com
VeganYackAttack.com
VeggieJam.com
VeggiesDontBite.com
VeggieSoulFood.com
VegWeb.com
VelvetAndVinegar.com
YourDailyVegan.com
Health Focused(ish)
You may be more likely to find more WFPB (whole foods, plant based) recipes on these sites:
CleanFoodDirtyGirl.com
DreenaBurton.com
DrMcDougall.com
ElephantasticVegan.com
FatFreeVegan.com
ForksOverKnives.com
GameChangersMovie.com
HappyHerbivore.com
HummuSapien.com
ItDoesntTasteLikeChicken.com
LoveAndLemons.com
NutritionStudies.org
OhSheGlows.com
OneGreenPlanet.org
Plants-Rule.com
PlantStrong.com
StraightUpFood.com
TheVegan8.com
ThisRawsomeVeganLife.com
UCDIntegrativeMedicine.com
VegAngela.com
VeganHeaven.org
VeganLovlie.com
VeganRicha.com
Wholly-Plants.com
Ethnic Focused
25 Vegan Greek Recipes
50 Vegan Italian Recipes
25 Vegan Japanese Recipes
70 Vegan Mexican Recipes 35 Vegan Thai Recipes
70 Vegan Mexican Recipes 35 Vegan Thai Recipes
Dessert Focused
YouTube Channels
AvantgardeVegan
Brown Vegan
Cheap Lazy Vegan
Chef Ani
Deliciously Ella
Easy Vegan
Eco-Vegan Gal
Edgy Veg
Fully Raw Kristina
Hot for Food
Jason Wrobel
Madeleine Olivia
Mary's Test Kitchen
Oh She Glows
Peaceful Cuisine
Sarah's Vegan Kitchen
Sweet Potato Soul
The Happy Pear
The Sexy Vegan
The Sweetest Vegan
The Vegan Corner
Vegan Cooking with Love
Vegan Richa
Vegan Zombie
VeganBlackMetalChef
Veggie Rose
Resources
Not a specifically vegan recipe site, but search for "vegan + your desired dish" and
you can find just about any recipe veganized. For example:
vegan chocolate cake
Great Reddit channel for cooking inspiration.
Popular website and app to find vegan-friendly restaurants.
Could you use some guidance from a real person? Challenge22 can help.
Hate cooking?
Experimenting with easy recipes is the surest way to find vegan meals you love. However, if you have zero interest in cooking, these services deliver
boxes of ready-to-heat, plant-based meals:
Daily-Harvest.com — Add your own rice/quinoa to bowls.
MamaSezz.com — WFPB, no added oil, non-gmo.
PlantPureNation.com — WFPB, no added oil.
PurpleCarrot.com — They send ingredients, you learn to cook.
Veestro.com — POPULAR, prioritizes taste.
VeginOut.com — No added oil, low sodium/sugar.
MamaSezz.com — WFPB, no added oil, non-gmo.
PlantPureNation.com — WFPB, no added oil.
PurpleCarrot.com — They send ingredients, you learn to cook.
Veestro.com — POPULAR, prioritizes taste.
VeginOut.com — No added oil, low sodium/sugar.
The best plant-based products on Earth grow directly out of the earth,
and can be found in the produce area and bulk bins of any decent supermarket.
But here are some favorite processed foods you might also want to try ☺
3rd Party Favorites
Useful 3rd party lists. Keep scrolling down for our favorites.
Everywhere: VegNews Top 100 VegNews 2020 VegNews 2021 VegNews 2022 Good Housekeeping's Best of 2022 TheManual.com's Top 8 CleanPlate.com's Top 17 BuzzFeed.com's top 20 of 2022 Top Accidentally Vegan More Accidentally Vegan Recommended Youtube
Everywhere: VegNews Top 100 VegNews 2020 VegNews 2021 VegNews 2022 Good Housekeeping's Best of 2022 TheManual.com's Top 8 CleanPlate.com's Top 17 BuzzFeed.com's top 20 of 2022 Top Accidentally Vegan More Accidentally Vegan Recommended Youtube
Costco:
by VegNews
StaceyHomeMaker
VegetarianZen
Target: by LiveKindly PETA VegNews
Trader Joe's: by LiveKindly TastingTable.com VegNews 1 VegNews 2 WomensHealth PETA
Walmart: by ImHungryForThat.com PETA VegNews
Amazon: Vegan.com's Favorites
Whole Foods: VegFaqs.com
Target: by LiveKindly PETA VegNews
Trader Joe's: by LiveKindly TastingTable.com VegNews 1 VegNews 2 WomensHealth PETA
Walmart: by ImHungryForThat.com PETA VegNews
Amazon: Vegan.com's Favorites
Whole Foods: VegFaqs.com
Our Favorites
It's not exactly healthy (lots of coconut oil), but hopefully you're not eating cheese for your health. At least this one's made with plants, not pus.
Miyoko's is expensive (~$10) because it's made with nuts, but it's amazing for special occassions. UPDATE 2022: Miyoko's liquid mozzarella is a game changer for pizzas!
Oat doesn't just make one of the best-tasting vegan milks, it's also one of the best choices for the environment. We recommend Oatly's medium-thick version in the bluish container (not "whole", not "skinny", but "semi"). Find your nearest retailer with the Oatly Finder. Bonus: it's fortified with calcium and B12!
One big difference you'll notice among plant-based milks is the amount of sugar. Some are as sweet as soft drinks, others are similar to cow secretion, and others (like this pea-protein-based Ripple, which also contains calcium+B12) go sugar free. It may take a little experimentation to find your sweet spot.
If you're a coffee drinker, you'll have no trouble finding soy/almond/coconut/oat and other vegan creamers. Here's one we like.
Egg from plants (rather than the backside of a chicken) with zero cholesterol. Great for scrambles, omelettes, pancakes, etc.
Ugh, I can't believe I ever ate butter — the solidified secretion of a cow's nipple, gross. Try this.
Violife gets our vote for best plant-based parmesan cheese. Note that it requires a grater. Follow Your Heart is a good pre-grated alternative.
Vegan Meats
Tofurkey's Italian sausage makes an excellent addition to any pasta dish. But don't be surprised if you find yourself eating them straight out of the package.
No, they don't taste like hot dogs — it's difficult to simulate the taste of pig faces, butts and guts with plants. But think of Field Roasts as something new, and they taste great!
If you were ever a chicken nugget addict, you'll love gardein.
We like to cut these up and add 'em to quinoa/avocado/veggie bowls, salads, etc. They have a spicy taste, and a crunchy/fried texture.
Tired of tofu? Pumfu may sound strange, but it's an amazing product. 100% organic pumpkin seeds and filtered water, no other ingredients. And it doesn't taste like pumpkin or tofu – we can't describe it, just try it!
Wow, we just said it's difficult to simulate the taste of dead animals with plants, but the scientists at Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods have done it — without the hormones, antibiotics, blood, cholesterol or cruelty!
Vegan Snacks
The main ingredient in hummus is protein-packed garbanzo beans (aka chickpeas). Most brands are vegan.
An amazing, special occasion spread. The only drawback is that it's too good to eat in moderation.
If making a plant-based pizza, Daiya cheese comes pre-shredded. Or you can just buy one of their pre-made frozen pizzas, add some fresh veggies on top — and maybe some more Daiya on top of that! UPDATE: We also recommend the Sweet Earth Veggie Lover from Whole Foods (add your own Tofurkey Italian Sausage).
We love the tough/chewiness of Primal Spirit's jerky. Depending on the flavor, they're made of seitan, soy, and/or shiitake mushrooms. For something a bit softer, Louisville Vegan Jerky comes in smoked black pepper, maple bacon, buffalo dill, and smoky Carolina BBQ flavors.
Vegan Desserts
The best chocolate cake ever is vegan! Although Just Desserts products are sold many places, we seem to find this vegan gem most consistently at Safeway/Albertsons.
Alternative Baking's cookies can be found in numerous supermarkets these days. We also love Uncle Eddies, found at Whole Foods. Both are "sweeter" than their cruel counterparts!
The Cowboy Creamies from Sugar Plum Bakery are amazing. Actually, everything they sell is amazing! In addition to delivery, some local markets sell their stuff.
It's called Coconut Bliss because it's made with coconut milk, but it comes in several flavors, including this decadent dark chocolate.
Vegan Staples
This brown rice ramen from Costco is a cheap, lazy, healthy vegan's dream. Just add some vegetables (e.g. brocolli, mushrooms, bean sprouts, bok choy), maybe a meat alternative (e.g. Pumfu or tofu) and you've got a gourmet meal in 5-10 minutes. Drain for stir-fry style. Add soy sauce or bouillon for quick and easy seasoning. Note: we haven't found a cheaper source than Costco, and IN-STORE IS CHEAPER than online. Costco is also the place for quinoa and more.
Alcohol
If you're into beans for protein (or anything that takes long to cook), an Instant Pot could be a worthwhile purchase. If you're a 1-2 person household, go with the mini version.
Last, but certainly not least for many of us, be aware that not all alcohols are vegan. For vegan wine, you're typically safe with organic brands. Most beers are vegan, but some contain ingredients like gelatin. You can confirm that your drink is worthy of your affection at Barnivore.com, or try something new from Food52's list.
Corrections/suggestions? Tell us