Archive-name: vegetarian/guide/california2
Last-modified: 23 Jul 1995 See reader questions & answers on this topic! - Help others by sharing your knowledge ______________________________________________________________________ rec.food.veg World Guide to Vegetarianism California2 ______________________________________________________________________ The 20 parts of this guide contain a world list of vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly restaurants, stores, organizations, services, etc. Each part is posted on an independent schedule. The guide is available on WWW in easy-to-use hypertext format on the Vegetarian Pages at http://catless.ncl.ac.uk/Vegetarian/ ** Please send us any new listings or corrections. ** The prefered way for you to send us updates is to use the forms on the above mentioned WWW site. E-mail updates gladly accepted also, but please format them in the same format as is used in this guide and keep comments and reviews short, simple, and straight to the point. The latest posted copy of the World Guide to Vegetarianism is also available via e-mail. For an index and instructions, send an e-mail to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu with the following line in the message body: send usenet/news.answers/vegetarian/guide/index The guide is also available via anonymous ftp from rtfm.mit.edu in the directory /pub/usenet/news.answers/vegetarian/guide. ______________________________________________________________________ California part 2 ______________________________________________________________________ This section has listings for the following: Counties: Marin Napa Placer San Bernandino Mendocino Nevada Riverside San Diego Monterey Orange Sacramento San Francisco Many thanks to Elliot Omiya, our previous California coordinator, and to Michael Hummell for having provided a good deal of information on the Bay Area. Entries marked with *VRG are ones which were discovered in the _Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada_ from the Vegetarian Resource Group, PO Box 1463, Baltimore, MD 21203. Tel. (410) 366-VEGE. Foreword by Lindsay Wagner, info compiled by Sally Clinton and Debra Wasserman, published by Avery Publishing Group Inc. in Garden City Park, NY, copyright 1993. ______________________________________________________________________ Marin County Marin Vegetarian Society 12 Rally Court, Fairfax, CA 94930, (415) 459-4668 Contacts: Stan & Patti, (415) 459-4668 - Newsletter. Monthly meeting (and potluck?). Corte Madera ------------ Moondoggies, 119 Town Centre Drive, 924-6261 - Vegetarian-friendly fast-food place. Has veggie burgers. *VRG Fairfax ------- Marin Vegetarian Society, 12 Rally Court, Fairfax, CA 94930, 459-4668 - Newsletter. Monthly meeting. Larkspur -------- Garden of Eatin' Cafe, 474 Magnolia Avenue, (415) 927-7611 - Vegetarian. Four different vege-burgers, tofu pups, tamales, "air" fries (organic russet potatoes freshly cut and baked, with no fat, in hot air oven), cole slaw tossed in homemade non-dairy mayonnaise. Makers of Garden of Eatin blue corn chips. Open Mon-Sat 11am-8pm. Perfect Health-Joy-Songs, 1803 Larkspur Landing Circle, 461-6455 - Juice bar & health foods. Mill Valley ----------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Cairo Cafe, Strawberry Village Shopping Center, (415) 389-1101 - Excellent Egyptian restaurant. Various vegan dishes. Very good falafel pitas and red lentil soup. Belly-dancing on Friday and Saturday nights! Closed Mondays. Lucille's Cafe, 38 Miller Avenue #10, Mill Valley, (415) 381-4613 - Several vegetarian options, including a regular tempeh special. Good sit-down-and-relax place. High Tech Burrito, Strawberry Village Shopping Center, Mill Valley, (415) 388-7002 - Great health-conscious Mexican fare, including a very tasty vegan burrito. Highly recommended for a quick meal. Try the black beans. Open late on Thu, Fri, Sat. Natural Foods Stores: Living Foods, 149 Throckmorton, 383-7121 Miscellaneous: Vegetarian Gourmet, 24A Central Drive, 383-0484 - French chef Denis Harle prepares gourmet vegetarian cuisine for your home or office. Macrobiotic and Ayruvedic dishes a specialty. A Natural Affair, 383-5231 - Gourmet natural foods cooking classes & catering. Run by Eleonora Manzolini. Novato ------ High Tech Burrito, Novato Fair Center, 942 Diablo Avenue, 897-8083 - Vegetarian-friendly. Great health-conscious Mexican fare, including a very tasty vegan burrito. Highly recommended for a quick meal. Try the black beans. Open late on Thurs, Fri, Sat. San Anselmo ----------- Living Foods, 222 Greenfield Avenue, 258-0660 - Natural foods store. San Rafael ---------- Vegetarian Restaurants: ** Milly's is permanently closed as of June 7, 1995. ** The owners have opened a new restaurant, Millennium, in San Francisco. San Rafael Health Foods, 1132 4th Street, 457-0132 - Juice bar. Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: High Tech Burrito, 2042 Fourth Steet (Miracle Mile Plaza), 485-0214 - See description under Mill Valley. Pasand Madras, 802 B Street, 456-6099 - South Indian. Okayama, 565 A N 6th Natural Foods Stores: Real Foods Co., 770 West Francisco Blvd, 459-8966 Vibrant Health, 55 Bellam Blvd Miscellaneous: Farmer's Market, Marin Civic Center & Fairgrounds - Thurs 8am-1pm year round. Sun 9am-2pm May to Nov. Trader Joe's, Montecito Plaza, 337 Third Street, 454-9530 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Sausalito --------- Real Foods Co., 200 Caledonia, 332-9640 - Natural foods store. ______________________________________________________________________ Mendocino County Fort Bragg ---------- Viraporn's Thai Cafe, Chestnut at Main, (707) 964-7931 - Thai. Vegan-friendly. Four dishes specifically vegetarian (others can be made vegetarian): Spring Rolls, Lemongrass Soup, Pad Thai, and Vegetable Curry. All were actually vegan, except the Pad Thai, and it could be made without egg. The soup was good, the rest were passable. On Monday and Tuesday nights, a different chef prepares African dishes -- it isn't known if any are vegetarian/vegan. Ada Belle's - Chinese. "Will fix you a veggie meal with little oil and no MSG, if you ask." Mendocino --------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Mendocino Cafe - "Wonderful Thai burrito made with brown basmati rice and veggies, and a good Asian noodle-and-tofu dish." Cafe Beaujolais - Run by Margaret Fox and Christopher Kump. Ukiah 955 - Vegetarian-friendly restaurant. Expensive, but the flowers taste great. Lu's Kitchen, in the parking area next to Corners of the Mouth - Take-out. "Local specialty." Open only until 4 pm. Natural Foods Stores: Corners of the Mouth, 45015 Ukiah Street, (707) 937-5345 - Natural foods store. Organic fruits & vegetables, bulk grains, herbs and spices, teas, homeopathic remedies, a large refrigerated section, books, vitamins, etc. Crowded and friendly. Open daily 9am-7pm. Ukiah ----- Vegetarian Restaurants: Krishna's, North State Street, near the court house - Hare Krishna Indian lacto-vegetarian. Vegan-friendly. Mostly buffet style, all you can eat Indian food for a good price. About half vegan, nothing with eggs. Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Arlene's Earthly Delights, Pear Tree Shopping Centre, 538 E. Perkins, 462-4970 - Vegetarian-friendly. Gourmet sandwiches, soups. Vegan options. Closed Sun. Willits ------- Harvest Bounty, 39 S. Main Street, 459-9647 - Natural foods store with vegetarian deli. Pizza, tamale pie, enchilada casserole, chili, mushroom stroganoff. They strive for vegan dishes. Very accommodating. Closed Sat-Sun. ______________________________________________________________________ Monterey County Monterey -------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Great Wall, 731 Munras Avenue, (408) 372-3637 - Chinese. Vegan-friendly. Has an entire vegetarian menu that is mostly vegan, some dishes have egg but may be ordered without egg. Staff seem to be willing to serve vegans what they want/need. Take away available. Closed Mon. David Walton's Beau Thai, 807 Cannery Row, 373-8811 - Thai. Tofu can be substituted in any non-vegetarian dish. Power Juice Company, on Alvarado Street - Juice/sandwich bar. They use organic ingredients if they can get them. Also soups & baked potatoes. Pacific Grove ------------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Tillie Gort's Coffee House, 111 Central Avenue, (408) 373-0335 - Wonderful. Lots of vegetarian entrees that can easily be made vegan. Cheap and delicious. Pasta Mia, 481 Lighthouse Avenue - "Maureen will prepare a variety of dishes that are not on the menu. Just ask!" Natural Foods Stores: New Granary, 173 Central Avenue, 372-2533 - Natural foods store. Organic produce. Open Mon-Fri 9am-8pm, Sat-Sun 9am-7pm. ______________________________________________________________________ Napa County Calistoga --------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Seed Time & Harvest Restaurant & Bakery, 1226 Washington St, 942-5512 - Mostly vegan. Many cakes, cookies, and muffins are vegan and free of refined sugar and oil. Outdoor dining in courtyard. Closed Sat. *VRG St. Helena ---------- Miscellaneous: Farmer's market, Dansk Square - Fri 7:30am-noon.May-Nov St. Helena Health Center, 650 Sanitarium Road, St. Helena Tel: (707) 963-6214, in CA 1-800-862-7575, elsewhere 1-800-358-9195 - Offers a range of health recovery programs, and a 12-day health improvement course (based on The McDougall Plan) run by Dr. John McDougall. Rooms, gym, pool, sauna, and vegetarian & vegan food. ______________________________________________________________________ Nevada County Nevada City ----------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Earth Song Market and Cafe, 727 Zion Street, 265-9392 - Natural foods store with cafe. All-natural and organic ingredients used whenever possible. Daily specials. Vegan options. ______________________________________________________________________ Orange County Vegetarian Organizations: Orange County Vegetarian Network 12073 Stonegate Lane, Garden Grove, CA 92645 EarthSave Orange County P.O. Box 15131, Santa Ana, CA 92705, (714) 835-1775 Anaheim ------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: The Greenery Natural Kitchen, 323 S. Magnolla, 761-8103 - Wide-ranging menu. Quesadillas, burritos, lasagna, sandwiches, soups, smoothies. Vegan options. Closed Sun. Los Sanchos, on Harbor Blvd just past Chapman - Inexpensive Mexican fast food. Heavily frequented by the local Chicanos and their families. Has good vegetarian alternatives, including the green corn, sweet tamales, nachos, and veggie burritos. Generous portions. Wonderful atmosphere. There is a good Chinese place on Katella just east of Harbor. - Chinese. Nice selection of vegetarian meat substitute dishes. Disneyland: Bengal Barbecue, in Adventureland - Vegetarian shishkabob (vegan) consists of skewered potato, mushroom, squash, bell pepper, and onion. Also have big pretzels and a fruit plate (which comes with a container of yoghurt). "Quite tasty, and there's no lines." River Belle Terrace, entrance in Adventureland and Frontierland - Vegetable stew (vegan) served in a bread bowl (unsure if vegan). Ville Verde, at Disneyland Hotel - Some of the homemade pasta is eggless. Fettuccine with roasted vegetables (eggplant, onion, squash and tomato) is vegan if ordered without pesto sauce. The basil and tomato angel hair pasta is also vegan. Goofy's Kitchen - Buffet with plenty of vegan food. Vegan dinner items: French rolls, eggless pasta, marinara sauce, lots of incredible fruits, salad, juices. Vegan breakfast items: potatoes (fried in vegetable oil with onions and green peppers), bagels, and lots of incredible fruits. The cost of the buffet is about $14 per person, but the food was delicious and filling. Street vendors - Churros contain eggs. Popcorn is popped in vegetable oil. Brea ---- Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Brea Imperial Center, 2500 Imperial Hwy (at Kraemer), (714) 257-1180 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Costa Mesa ---------- Natural Foods Store & Restaurant: Mother's Market & Kitchen, 225 East 17th Street, (714) 631-4741 - This is a large health-food store with mostly vegetarian products. Inside the store is an excellent and moderately priced restaurant with vegetarian and probably vegan foods. There is also a deli, a juice bar, and a large vitamin section. The restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner, Mexican and Chinese style food. Open daily, long hours. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, 103 E. 17th, (714) 642-5134 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. El Toro ------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: P.J.'s Casa Fiesta, 23696 El Toro Road, 581-2529 - Mexican. No lard used. Vegan options. Willing to accommodate. Counter service only. Open daily. Fullerton --------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: The Greenery, 119 E. Commonwealth Avenue, 870-0981 - Soups, salads. Open Mon-Sun. Garden Grove ------------ Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Souplantation, 5939 Chapman Avenue, 895-1314 - All-you-can-eat salad bar with more than 60 items. Soup, fruit, muffins. Open daily. Huntington Beach ---------------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Linda's Mexican Restaurant, 16446 Bolsa Chica Road, (714) 840-7374 - Mexican. The take-out menu claims that vegetarians "Will love this place because we fry in Canola oil and we have a large variety of items & combos just for you." Pacific Pasta, on Beach Blvd - Wonderful cheeseless vegetarian pesto pizza. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, 18681-A Main Street, (714) 848-9640 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Irvine ------ Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Walnut Village Center, 14443 Culver Drive, (714) 857-8108 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Laguna Beach ------------ Vegetarian Restaurants: The Stand, 238 Thalia Street, (714) 494-8101 - Vegan. Many Mexican specialties such as tamales and burritos. Open daily 7am-8pm. The Downtown Stand, 347 Mermaid Street - Vegan. Many Mexican specialties such as tamales and burritos. Open daily 8am-5:30pm. Gauranga's, 285 Legion Street, Laguna Beach, 494-7029 - Hare Krishna lacto-vegetarian restaurant. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Oakbrook Village Center, 24321 Ave. de la Carlota, Laguna Hills, (714) 586-8453 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Laguna Hills ------------ Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Niki's Tandoori Express, Laguna Hills Mall, (714) 586-0663 - Indian. Vegan-friendly. Amazing bargain. Excellent vegetarian dishes always available. Matar Paneer, sag paneer, dal, squash, curries, other dishes can be had in combination plates. Vegetarian dishes are NOT cooked in animal fats. A three-item combo is only $5.50 (as of 12/94). Other locations in Santa Ana and near South Coast Plaza. Open daily, mall hours. Natraj, 24861 Alicia Parkway (near Freeway 5), (714) 581-4200 - Indian. Vegan-friendly. Lunch buffet with large vegetarian selection. Newport Beach ------------- Vegan Restaurants: The Last Mango in Newport, 2900 Newport Blvd, (714) 723-5778 - Great food and excellent service. Open daily 11:30am-10pm. Orange ------ Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: The Healthy Gourmet, 3505 E. Chapman Avenue #E, (714) 771-1993 - Vegetarian and "California Lite" cuisines. Low-fat, high energy foods. Vegan options. Smoke-free. Open daily. *VRG San Clemente ------------ Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Ocean View Plaza, 638 Camino de los Mares, (714) 240-9996 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. San Juan Capistrano ------------------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Natural Offering Cafe, (714) 472-1721 *VRG Santa Ana --------- Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, 1303 North Main Street, (714) 834-0514 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Tustin ------ Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Souplantation, 13681 Newport Avenue, 730-5443 - All-you-can-eat salad bar with more than 60 items. Soup, fruit, muffins. Open daily. ______________________________________________________________________ Placer County Auburn ------ Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Lattitudes, downtown, across from the Courthouse, 885-9535 - Dishes run ~$10-$14. Monthly themes (eg. Thai). Nice flavors. Primarily vegetarian, some carniverous dishes. Tahoe Vista ----------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Seedling Cafe, 7081 North Lake Blvd, (916) 546-3936 - Internatonal vegetarian cuisine. Good tempeh burgers. Delicious grilled veggies fajita plate includes black beans and rice. ______________________________________________________________________ Riverside County Moreno ------ Dragon House, 22456 Alessandro Blvd, 653-1442 - Vegetarian-friendly Chinese restaurant. Has a vegetarian menu, with many dishes using fake meats. Vegan options. Open daily. *VRG Murrieta -------- Murrieta Hot Springs Resort and Health Spa, 39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Road, (714) 677-7451 - "A mecca for the healing arts." A family-oriented resort. Three natural mineral springs, an Olympic sized pool, mineral baths, tule-root mud baths, body wraps, saunas, tennis courts. Has an incredible lacto-vegetarian menu. You can drop in only for one meal, but this place is so luxurious that you'll want to stay overnight. Open daily. Palm Desert ----------- Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Palm Desert Town Center, Fred Waring Drive at Town Center Drive - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Palm Springs ------------ Vegetarian Restaurants: Let's Get Juiced, 651 N. Palm Canyon Drive, 327-9112 - Lacto-vegetarian restaurant, coffeehouse, and art gallery. "A meeting place for artists, musicians, yogis, cyclers, storytellers, recyclers, writers, neo-bio-revolutionaries and other assorted friends of the universe." Organic ingredients used when possible. Vegan options. Open daily, but closes early on Tuesdays. Closed in August. *VRG Riverside --------- Dragon House, 10466 Magnolia Avenue, 354-2080 - Vegetarian-friendly Chinese restaurant. Has a vegetarian menu, with many dishes using fake meats. Vegan options. Open daily. *VRG ______________________________________________________________________ Sacramento County Citrus Heights -------------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Fresh Choice, 5419 Sunrise Blvd, 863-5680 - All-you-can-eat salad bar, pasta bar, etc. Unfortunately the vegan items seem to be disappearing. All their pasta contains eggs and the marinara sauce surprisingly is not vegan. Their nutritional information pamphlet lists all menu items and indicates which are vegan. Fair Oaks --------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Blue Iris Cafe, 10118 Fair Oaks Blvd, 961-7675 - Gourmet restaurant. Has a vegetarian and macrobiotic menu. Stir-fries, sautes, noodle and rice dishes, vegetarian box lunches. Expensive. Open Tue-Fri for lunch, Tue-Sun for dinner. Sunflower Drive-in Sacramento ---------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Mums Vegetarian Restraunt, 2968 Freeport Blvd, 444-3015 - Lacto-ovo vegetarian. Vegan-friendly. Great Food. Cost for dinner is $10-$15. Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Good Earth, on Arden Way - Part of a national chain. At least one third of the menu is vegetarian. Tends to emphasize beans and soy foods. Fresh Choice, 2 locations: Arden Fair Mall, 1689 Arden Fair #1065, 649-3839 535 Howe Avenue, 649-8046 - All-you-can-eat salad bar, pasta bar, etc. Unfortunately the vegan items seem to be disappearing. All their pasta contains eggs and the marinara sauce surprisingly is not vegan. Their nutritional information pamphlet lists all menu items and indicates which are vegan. Natural Foods Stores: Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op, 1900 Alhambra Blvd, (916) 455-2667 - Has a vegan-friendly deli. The largest natural foods store in Sacramento. It includes several varieties of products in all of the expected supermarket categories, including both organic and conventional produce sections. There is a vegetarian/vegan deli and a Market Cafe that serves mainly vegetarian/vegan entrees with a few non-vegetarian items. The Market Cafe also has a small bakery and a coffee bar. Classes are regularly scheduled on such topics as vegetarian/vegan cooking, using herbs for healing, homeopathy, etc. One does not need to be a member to shop at the co-op. Open daily 9am-10pm. Miscellaneous: Farmer's market, under Hwy 80 at 8th & W Streets - Sun 8am-noon. Year round. Trader Joe's, 2 locations: Town & Country Village, 2601 Marconi Avenue (at Fulton), 481-8797 Quail Pointe Shopping Center, 5307 Sunrise Blvd, Fair Oaks, 863-1744 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Eileen Murray, 457-9466 - Macrobiotic meals to go and cooking lessons. Vegetarian Organizations: Sacramento Vegetarian Society P.O. Box 163583, Sacramento, CA 95816, (916) 927-5202 or 823 28 Street, Sacramento, CA 95816 - Potluck on 3rd Sunday of each month at 5:30pm. ______________________________________________________________________ San Bernandino County Loma Linda ---------- The Soup Stone, 11306 Mountain View, 796-1162 - Vegetarian restaurant, bakery, and caterer. Salad, soup, potato, bread, and dessert bars. Veggie burgers, pasta. Outdoor tables. Banquet room available. Open Sun-Thurs. Loma Linda University Medical Center, Anderson Road at Barton Road, 824-4365 - Vegetarian restaurant. Open 22 hours a day. Cafeteria style. Take-out available. Smoke-free. Loma Linda Market, 24954 Prospect Avenue (at Anderson, behind the post office), (909) 824-4565 - A completely vegetarian grocery store. A full selection of frozen and canned fake meats. Bulk grains and spices galore! Full service bakery and adjoining cafe. A must for anyone headed for LA on I-10. Closed after sunset Fridays. Needles ------- Irene's Drive Inn, 703 Broadway, 326-2342 - Fast food place which serves vegetarian burgers tacos & burritos. Closed Sat. Redlands -------- Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Orange Street Plaza, 552 Orange Street, (909) 798-3888 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. ______________________________________________________________________ San Diego County Coronado -------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Viva Nova, 1138 Orange Avenue, (619) 435-2124 - Health food store with juice bar and vegan-friendly vegetarian deli. Good vibes and great food. Open daily until 8pm. Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Tiffiny's Deli-Juice Bar, 1120 Adella Avenue, 437-1368 - Natural foods. Vegan-friendly. Sandwiches, smoothies. Old fashioned decor. Open daily. Stretch's Coronado Cafe, 943 Orange Avenue, 435-8886 - "Stretch takes pride in the quality and variety of food offered." All food prepared fresh daily. Self-serve. Fresh juices. *VRG Del Mar ------- Vegan Restaurants: Garden Taste, Del Mar Plaza, 1555 Camino Del Mar, 793-1500 - All organic. Raw soups, sprouted salads, sprouted veggie burgers, non-wheat pizza. No oil, sugar, or salt used. Fresh juices. Full service. Open daily. *VRG Natural Foods Stores: Jimbo's - Has a vegan-friendly deli. Some meat (ugh) and dairy, but lots of organic fruit and veggies and good prices. El Cajon -------- Vegetarian Restaurants: L'Chaim Cafe, 134 West Douglas Street, 442-1331 - Home-style. Pritikin menu. Vegan-friendly. It faces an alley, so it may be a bit hard to find. Closed Sun. Encinitas --------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Fountain of Juice, 1163 First Street, 944-0612 - Wide variety. Curried vegetables, black bean burritos, mock meat dishes, smoothies. Vegan-friendly. Counter service. Catering. Open daily. *VRG Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Star of India, 927 First Street, 632-1113 - Indian. Large vegetarian selection. Expensive, but good. One of San Diego's top ten rated restaurants. Catering available. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Roxy Restaurant & Ice Cream, 517 First Street, 436-5001 - Falafel burger, vegetarian burrito. Open daily. Natural Foods Stores: Casady's, 2 locations - Has a vegan-friendly deli. Unfortunately it carries some meat (ugh) and dairy items. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Encinitas Plaza, 115 N. El Camino Real, 634-2114 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. La Jolla -------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Che Cafe, 0323-C Student Center, UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, 534-2311 - Run by a non-profit vegetarian collective. Most items vegan. Live music most weekends. Always open on Wednesdays, call for other times. "Pretty unreliable for most meals I've tried there." Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Sandwiched Inn, 927 Silverado - Friendly, and lots of vegan sandwiches. Open 8:30am-3:30pm. Star of India, 1025 Prospect Street #100, 459-3355 - Indian. Large vegetarian selection. Expensive, but good. One of San Diego's top ten rated restaurants. Catering available. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Sammy's Woodfired Pizza, 702 Pearl Street, 456-5222 - Italian Natural Foods Stores: Choices, Scripps Health Center on Torrey Pines Road - Has a deli. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, La Jolla Village Square, 546-8629 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. La Mesa ------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Village Emporium, La Mesa Blvd - Vegan-friendly. Friendly atmosphere, offers live music most evenings in upstairs loft. Souplantation, 9158 Fletcher Pkwy, 462-4232 - All-you-can-eat salad bar with more than 60 items. Soup, fruit, muffins. Open daily. Natural Foods Stores: Cortland's Greentree, 8704 Lake Murray Blvd, 463-7267 - Vegan-friendly deli. Nice but somewhat expensive. The small deli offers sandwiches and salads. Very similar to the Greentree Grocers in Clairemont. Open Mon-Sat 8am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, Grossmont Trolley Center, 8495 Fletcher Parkway, 466-5998 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Lemon Grove ----------- Organizations: Optimum Health Institute, 6970 Central Avenue, Lemon Grove, CA 92045, (619) 464-3346 - Founded 1976 by Raychel Soloman. Conducts 21-day body-detoxification program based on a raw-food diet and wheat-grass juice. Owns "Vegetarian Village", a vegetarian apartment complex. Apartment residents do not have to be affiliated with the institute. Leucadia -------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Vegetarian Express, 1470 North Highway 101, 942-2320 - Vegetarian fast-food restaurant. All-you-can-eat buffet. Entertainment twice weekly. Closed Mon. National City ------------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Paradise Valley Hospital, 2400 E. Fourth Street, 470-6311 - Vegetarian cafeteria. Lunch and dinner specials are only $2. Open daily. North Park ---------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Govinda's, 3102 University (near 30th Street), 284-4826 - Hare Krishna lacto-vegetarian restaurant. Vegan-friendly. All-you-can-eat buffet. Different international items daily, many Indian dishes. Fresh juices. Open daily (unsure about Sundays). Jimbo's Pizza Naturally, 3910 30th Street, 294-9611 - Non-dairy and macrobiotic pizza & beer. Uses organic ingredients. Also has BBQ burgers, organic salad bar. Jimbo's makes it's own non-dairy (no casein) tofu cheese. All-you-can-eat vegetarian breakfast buffet on Saturdays. Also a market with organic produce and grains. (Closed Mon & Tue?) Natural Foods Stores: Jimbo's Naturally, 3918 30th Street, 294-8096 - Has a vegan-friendly deli. Has the largest selection of organically grown food products (CCOF) in San Diego. Very friendly atmosphere (as a former employee I kind of wished customers wouldn't hang around so often and so long!). Open Mon-Sat 9am-8pm, Sun 10am-6pm. Oceanside --------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Pacific Yeast-Free Bakery & Macrobiotic Center, 429 S. Hill Street, (619) 757-6020 / 967-0710 - Vegan options. Uses organic grains, vegetables, fruits, and nuts. All breads vegan and free of sugar, honey, oil, yeast, baking powder, and baking soda. Open daily for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Dinner by reservation only. Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's, 2570 Vista Way, 433-9994 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Palomar Mountain ---------------- Vegetarian Restaurants: Mother's Kitchen, 33120 Canfield Road, Junction of S6 & S7, 742-3496 - A nice little place on a very pretty mountainside. In a rustic cabin atop Mount Palomar. Nutburgers, sandwiches, soups, salads, fruit smoothies, fresh juices. Full service. Closed Tue & Wed. San Diego --------- See also: North Park, Del Mar, La Jolla, Encinitas, Coronado, El Cajon, Solana Beach. The 8th International Vegan Festival WWW: http://math.rutgers.edu/~dupre/veganf/index.html - To be held August 6-13, 1995, at San Diego State University. At the last Festival, held in Tossa del Mar, Spain, hundreds of vegans from all over the world joined for a week of conferences, lectures, networking, socializing, hiking, lying on the beach and great meals. The 1995 Festival, to be held jointly by the American Vegan Society and the Vegetarian Union of North America is expected to be even bigger. All meals will be 100% vegan prepared under the direction of chef Ron Pickarski, International Culinary Olympics Silver-medal winner. - Speakers will include: Lindsey Russell, dep. editor of Vegetarian Living mag. (England) Maxwell Lee, pres. IVU (England) Bethany Alldridge, vegan marketing activist (Australia) Arnie Wingqvist, Vice pres. European Vegetarian Union Michael Klaper M.D., author Ronald Cridland M.D. William Harris M.D. Spice Williams, vegan body builder & stunt-women/actress Alex Hershaft, director Great American Meatout Agatha Trash M.D., author Ruth Heidrich, overcame cancer & became a winning athlete Victoria Moran, author Keith Akers, author Freya & Jay Dinshah, authors & founders of American Vegan Society - Registration fees: Adult $170, Senior $160, Student $100, Child $20 - Accomodation fees: Adult: $480 single, $410 double (with meals & banquet) Student: $400 single, $330 double Child: $370 single, $300 double - For full details and registration forms, e-mail vrc@tiac.net or write the American Vegan Society, P.O. Box H, Malaga, NJ 08328 or call (303) 777-4761 or call/fax (609) 694-2887. Coastal California is pretty vegetarian friendly (which probably won't suprise anyone). Here in San Diego, vegetarians are readily accomodated at most restaurants. Also, the print media, in particular the weekly "Reader" freebie magazine, considers vegetarians when reviewing restaurants. When visiting an omnivore restaurant, the reviewer will add something like "vegetarians will love all the wonderful options" or "good selection of vegetarian entrees" in her reviews. I've found a lot of great restaurants this way. If you drive east, you're on your own. Lots of rednecks east of San Diego. Vegan Restaurants: Faque Burger, 6109 University (at College Avenue), 583-9520 - Vegan fast-food. Soy Burgers, home-made fries, shakes & soda. Has a drive-thru window, and an outdoor patio. Run by Seventh Day Adventists. Open Sun-Thu 10am-1am, Fri 10am-4pm, Sat 8:30pm-2am. Name of restaurant is pronounced as 'Fake Burger'. Ocean Beach People's Natural Foods Market & Deli, 4765 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach, 224-1387 - Take-out only. Natural foods store with deli. Features vegan & raw foods. Great selection of organic salads, entrees, soups, sandwiches, and desserts. Fresh juices. Open daily. Vegetarian Restaurants: Second Nature Vegetarian Cafe, 4652 Mission Blvd, 272-7399 - 75% of menu is vegan. The menu is loaded with vegan options, among them: lasagna, quesadilla, enchiladas, tofu fajitas, wild rice and sweet potato paties. Very friendly service, but slow. Open Tue-Sun 8am-9:45pm. Closed Mon. Jyoti-Bihanga, 3351 Adams Avenue, Normal Heights, 282-4116 - Sri-Chiminoy vegetarian restaurant. Personally, my favorite, with a Saturday morning all-you-can-eat vegetarian breakfast buffet (7:30am-12:00pm) that is the best I've come across anywhere. Govinda's At The Beach, 1030 Grand Avenue, Pacific Beach, 483-2500 - Hare Krishna lacto-vegetarian restaurant. Kool Korner, 3896 Fifth Avenue, 298-3155 - Menu changes daily. Burgers, curries, stews, and salads. Juice bar. Open daily. *VRG Kung Food, 2949 Fifth Avenue (at Quince), Hillcrest, 298-7302 - Vegetarian restaurant with a natural food store/new age shop next door. Vegan-friendly. Considered by some to be an exceptional restaurant. Considered by others to be a vastly over-rated restaurant with it's share of unappetizing dishes. Full service. Garden patio. Open since 1975. Open daily. Lux Kahv'e, 728 Fifth Avenue, 232-7700 - Sidewalk cafe/bistro. Vegan-friendly. Pasta, falafel, hummus, sandwiches. Blended juices. Music every night. *VRG Gelato Vero Cafe, 3753 India Street, 295-9269 - Soup, salad, fresh bread, and fresh juices. Limited menu. Open only during the evenings. *VRG Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: :Natural Foods: Jyoti Bihanga, 3351 Adams Avenue, 282-4116 - "Excellent vegetarian and macrobiotic foods in a peaceful, serene atmosphere with a fountain, high arched ceiling, and fifteen foot windows." Vegan-friendly. Daily specials. Fresh juices. All-you-can-eat Saturday breakfast buffet. Closed Sun. *VRG Cafe Greentree, 3560 Mt. Acadia Blvd, 560-1975 - In the Greentree Farms natural foods store. Extensive vegetarian menu. Open daily. *VRG :Indian: Cafe India, 9760-5 Sports Arena Blvd - Great samosas, and $4.50 (1994) all-you-can-eat vegetarian lunch Tue-Sat. :Oriental: Mandarin Plaza, 3760 Sports Arena Blvd, 224-4222 - Mandarin/Cantonese Chinese. Special diet sections on the menu. Use no MSG. Full service. Open daily. *VRG Imperial Wok, 5771 La Jolla Blvd, 454-8625 - I've never been there, but here's a quote from their ad: "And for our vegetarian friends... Yang's Famous Vegetarian Menu. We use a special family recipe of exotic spices and careful preparation to offer you delicious entrees with tastes of chicken, beef, duck, or scallops, yet completely vegetarian." :Thai: 'Vegetarian' in Thai means 'substitute tofu for flesh'. Be sure to insist on no fish sauce or other animal products. Taste of Thai, 527 University Avenue, Hillcrest, 291-7525 - All dishes can be made vegetarian, but watch out... they press and flavor tofu to resemble duck meat, and it's a bit too realistic for some of us. :-) The service is the best of any restaurant I've been in anywhere, and the owner is a man with a true love for the restaurant business. My SO and I are very frequent customers of Taste of Thai, and we recommend that anyone stopping in San Diego give them a try. The Thai Orchid Cuisine, 4310 Genesee Avenue, 278-4949 - Thai. Small restaurant with very nice atmosphere. Friendly service and great prices. Everything they offer can be made vegetarian upon request. Open daily 11am-10pm. Saffron, 3731B India Street, 574-0177 - Good Thai fast food. Celadon, 5th Ave (between Pennsylvania & Brookes Avenues), 295-8000 Karinya, 4475 Mission Blvd, 270-5050 Thai Chada, 142 University, Hillcrest, 297-9548 :Afghan: Khyber Pass, 3555 Rosecrans Street, 224-8200 :Middle Eastern: Fariouz, 3166 Midway Drive (near Rosecrans Street), 225-0308 Pasha's, 1110 Torrey Pines Road, 454-9229 :Italian: Pasta Time Cafe, 1417 University Avenue, 296-2425 - "Takes pride in creating dishes that are both heathful and delicious." Vegan options. Daily pasta specials. No smoking. *VRG Lotsa Pasta, 1726 Garnet Avenue, 581-6777 - More than 500 different combinations of pastas and sauces. Pastas cut to order. Full service. Open daily. *VRG :Mexican: Maria Isabella, 1830 Sunset Cliffs Blvd, 298-2860 - Have a vegetarian menu. Vegan options. Fresh juices. Open daily. Casa De Pico, 2754 Calhoun Street (in the Bazaar Del Mundo Shopping Complex in old-town San Diego's historic state park), 296-3267 - Many vegetarian options. Special menu for the health conscious. Live mariachi music at night on the open air patio. Open daily. *VRG Coyote Cantina, 2461 San Diego Avenue, Old Town San Diego :American: Souplantation, 2 locations: 6171 Mission Gorge Road, 280-7087 3960 W. Point Loma Blvd, 222-7404 - All-you-can-eat salad bar with more than 60 items. Soup, fruit, muffins. Open daily. Soup Exchange - One or two vegetarian soups each day. Soups Unlimited, 660 University Avenue, 296-4030 - Juice bar. Vegan options. Natural Foods Stores: Ocean Beach People's Natural Foods Market & Deli, 4765 Voltaire Street, Ocean Beach, 224-1387 - Natural foods store with take-out vegan deli. Great selection of organic produce. Open daily. Greentree Grocers, 3560 Mount Acadia Blvd, 560-1975 - Grocery store, deli, bakery, small sandwich/smoothie bar. They actually have a remodelled restaurant that is excellent. Prices are very reasonable, unlike the food store section. - They have a great little restaurant right inside the store. Bright and airy with a number of very good vegetarian selections each day. On weekends they have a great vegetarian breakfast. La Fresqueria, 1125 6th Avenue, 235-0655 - Has a deli serving healthy fresh foods with a Latin influence. Limited menu. Sandwiches, salads, seasonal fruit salads, fresh juices, smoothies. Open Mon-Fri. *VRG Greentree Farms, 3560 Mt. Acadia, 560-1975 - Has a vegetarian-friendly cafe. Full service. *VRG Kung Food, 2949 Fifth Avenue (at Quince), Hillcrest, 298-7302 - Vegetarian restaurant with a natural foods store/new age shop next door. New Seed, 946 Garnet, Pacific Beach Miscellaneous: Trader Joe's: Carmel Mountain Ranch, 11955 Carmel Mt. Road, 673-0526 Pacific Beach, 1211 Garnet Avenue, 272-7235 - Excellent store with many quality, and often reasonably priced, natural foods store type items. Bookstar has a respectable veggie cookbook section. Vegetarian Organizations: Club Veg of San Diego 3716 35th Street, San Diego, CA 92104-3903, (619) 282-3900 E-mail: clubveg@aol.com - A very active vegetarian orgnization. Meet 2 or 3 times a month for restaurant outings and potlucks at members homes or on the beach. Regularly scheduled educational and informational forums with guest speakers and/or video presentations. Gay and Lesbian Vegetarians of San Diego P.O. Box 421462, San Diego, CA 92142 E-Mail contact: runner6969@aol.com - To receive their quarterly electronic newsletter, send an e-mail to the above e-mail address. San Marcos ---------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Rocco's Pizza, 1531 W. Mission Blvd, 744-8012 - Italian restaurant with vegetarian pizza. Vegan options. Solana Beach ------------ Vegetarian Restaurants: House of Afrika Roots Rock Reggae Cafe, 355 North Highway 101, 259-0803 - Vegetarian cafe. Excellent!!! Highly recommended, for atmosphere if nothing else. Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: Chung King Loh, 552 Stevens Avenue, 481-0184 - Mandarin/Szechuan Chinese. Vegan-friendly. Extensive vegetarian menu. Entrees include Broccoli and Carrots in Hot Peanut Sauce, Bean Curd with Ginger and Green Onions, and Mung Bean Noodle with Black Mushrooms. Use no MSG. Dishes can be made without oil, sugar, and salt. Open daily. ______________________________________________________________________ San Francisco County San Francisco ------------- Many thanks to Robert Blumen for lots of help with the San Francisco listings. ----------------------- Vegetarian Restaurants: ----------------------- :Chinese Vegetarian Restaurants: Kowloon, 909 Grant (Chinatown), 362-9888 - Vegan. Buddhist Chinese. Excellent gluten dishes. The only place in town to get vegetarian dim sum, which is quite a unique experience. Brown rice available. Also has pastry/takeout counter. Open 9am-10pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. Lotus Garden, 532 Grant (Chinatown), 397-0707 / 397-0130 - Vegan. Buddhist Chinese. Kosher. Superb restaurant. Good service. Try the mu-shu "pork". Lots of gluten, tofu, and yam dishes. The menu is awesome in length. This is a place where locals eat their workday lunches (3 courses) for $2.95. For a full dinner, it might run $8-$12 per person. Open Tue-Sun 11:30am-9pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. - The least interesting of Chinatown's three vegetarian restaurants. No brown rice. - They have the largest variety of Buddhist foods I've ever seen in one place! Next door to a large Buddhist temple. Vegi Food, 1820 Clement (near 19th Ave), 387-8111 - Vegan. Cheap - around $5/entree. Serve brown rice. Delicious food prepared with much care, and served in a friendly but unobtrusive atmosphere. Dishes include many kinds of mushrooms, fungi, bean curd and skin, gluten, and other unusual ingredients. Many dishes are a bit oily. Most popular dish is the Sweet & Sour Walnuts. No TsingTao with your meal here, just tea. Open Tue-Fri 11:30am-3pm & 5pm-9pm, Sat-Sun 11am-9pm. Ten Thousand Buddhas Chun Kang Vegetarian Restaurant, 608 Geary (near Jones), 673-9221 - Vegan? Excellent. Very reasonable prices and a very convenient location. "A _very_ plain restaurant, with zilch atmosphere. Lots of good food, served by a string of people (we had at least four different people bringing things, refilling tea, asking how it was, etc). We appreciated the color photos in the thick menu book, great for getting a sense of some of the more unfamiliar dishes." Open 7:30am-9pm Wed-Mon. Closed Tue. Lucky Creation, 854 Washington (near Grant) (Chinatown), 989-0818 - Vegan. Cheap vegetarian Chinese dishes served. Buddhist emphasis. Not as good as Kowloon around the corner. No brown rice. Open 11am-10pm. Closed Wed. Shangri-La, 2026 Irving (near 21st Avenue), 731-2548 - Northern Chinese. Buddhist. Recommended by several netters. In 1980 it was the only vegetarian Chinese restaurant to advertise as 'without msg'. Lots of specials. Vegan options. Relaxed and peaceful atmosphere. Some netters mentioned religious proselytizing by the management. Open 11:30am-9:30pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. Fountain Court, 345 Clement, 668-1100 - Can special order no oil, no salt, no MSG, etc. Brown rice. Large menu. :Indian Vegetarian Restaurants: The Ganges, 775 Frederick (near Arguello), 661-7290 - Indian Gujarati. A different menu than the usual fare served in most other Indian restaurants. Menu changes daily. Live music Thu-Sat. Reservations recommended. Open Mon-Sat 5pm-9:15pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. :Generic Vegetarian Restaurants: Millennium, 246 McAllister, by City Hall, 487-9800 - Vegan/low-fat. Serving beautiful, well-composed, delicious plates at $12+ for an entree, this new entry (Oct 1994) is already San Francisco's premiere vegan restaurant. Many dishes made with no oil, and very low fat. Desserts are all wheat free and many are sugar free as well. All produce is organic from family farms. They even give out organic seeds. Owned by the same people as Milly's in San Rafael. - "Absolutely the best meal I've had in a long time, filo, rosemary polenta, herb tofu aioli, chantereele and portobello mushrooms with leek 'ricotta', seitan steaks with red onion marmalade, etc." - "It's terrific. We ate there 3 times during the week that we were in San Francisco. Everything was wonderful, from a parsnip/celeriac soup garnished with tiny chunks of apple, persimmmon, and celery, to entrees using tempeh, smoked tofu, various rices, and a grand portabello sandwich on foccaccia. All delicately herbed, imaginatively garnished, and absolutely delicious." Ananda-Fuara, 1298 Market Street (at 9th), 621-1994 - Run by Sri Chinmoys. Specialties: BBQ Tofu Burgers. Simple, solid but unexceptional meals from an eclectic mix of menu styles (Indian, Asian, Moosewood). Open Mon-Sat 8am-8pm, except Wed 8am-3pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. Amazing Grace, 216 Church, 626-6411 - Mainstream vegetarian in the tradition of the Moosewood cookbook. Vegi burgers, various casseroles, etc. Cafeteria-style. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm. Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. :Gourmet Vegetarian Restaurants & Fine Dining: Now and Zen Gourmet Vegetarian Bistro & Bakery, 1826 Buchanan Street (between Sutter & Bush), 922-9696, fax: 922-1343 - Vegan. Continental/Asian. Organic ingredients. "The mushroom infusion soup and the grilled seitan sandwich are excellent." Great sugar free vegan pastries & cakes. Has it's own cookbook, "Now and Zen Epicure", by Miyoko Nishimoto (available through The Mail Order Catalog, 800-695-2241). Some recipes have also appeared in Vegetarian Times magazine. Open Mon-Thu 11pm-9pm, Fri&Sat 11am-10pm, Sun for brunch 10am-3pm & dinner 5pm-9pm. Greens, Fort Mason Building A, corner of Beach & Laguna, 771-6222 - The city's most famous, most overrated, most overpriced gourmet vegetarian restaurant, with an excellent view of the Golden Gate Marina. Mostly dairy. Not exactly vegan friendly. Popular, call for reservations. Open Tue-Sat 11:30am-2:15pm & 6pm-9:30pm, Sun 10am-2pm. :Vegetarian Takouts/Delis: Rainbow Market & Takeout Deli, 1899 Mission (at 15th), 863-9200 - Daily sandwiches/soups. Falafel patties, eggless tofu spread, hommus, salads, etc. One of the best values in town. Mellow atmosphere. It's a great store. Open daily 9:30am-7:30pm. -------------------------------- Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants: -------------------------------- :Chinese: Silver Moon, 2301 Clement at 24th Avenue, 386-7852 - Mostly-vegetarian. Inexpensive, very good reputation. Specialties are imitation seafood, duck, and shrimp. Serve brown rice. Open 11:30am-10pm. Chinese Golden Flower, 307 Church Street, 621-8383 - Health conscious Chinese cuisine. Over 30 vegetarian entrees. Large portions. Hearty meals. Their menu talks about healthy eating and they seem to use little fat in cooking. Good shredded spicy vegetables. The seaweed stuffed with vegetables on a sizzling platter is made large variety of mushrooms and extremely fresh vegetables. Friendly service. Simple decor. Clean. Most dishes are under $5. Take out and delivery. Newly opened (Feb 94). Red Crane, 1115 Clement (12th Avenue), 751-7226 - Vegan options. Inexpensive, very good reputation. Serve brown rice. Open daily 11:30am-10pm. China-Village, 2263 Chestnut Street (in the Marina district) - An omnivorous restaurant with several dozen vegetarian dishes on the menu. This is a great place for mixed parties of vegetarian (vegan) and meat eaters. Everyone can go away happy. They also advertise "No MSG!" and "on request, any ingredients may be mottied such as salt, sugar, oil". Prices are on the cheap side. Canton Winter Garden, 1125 Clement Street, 668-8368 - Open 11:30-10(?). Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. Harvest Moon, on Clement near 23rd - Has a lot of vegetarian items. Will steam on request instead of saute. :Thai: Neecha Thia Cuisine, 2100 Sutter Street, 922-9419 - No less than 37 vegetarian items on the menu. Daily specials. Open daily from 11am-3pm & 5pm-10pm. Tasana Thai, 339 Taraval (14th), 664-3891 - Open Tue-Sat 11:30am-2:30am, Sun 5:30pm-10pm. Naree Thai Cuisine, 1331 Polk Street, 771-2562 - "Great Thai food. The menu does not appear to be veg-friendly until you read the fine print, which says something to the effect of 'Items marked * can be prepared vegetarian.' They use some kind of meat analog that I've never tried to identify, but I like it, and I usually don't go for that kind of thing." Pad Thai, 3259 Mission Street (at 29th Street), 285-4210 - Many vegetarian dishes available. 'No MSG'. Malai Thai, 3189 16th Street, 626-8528 - Local paper says "outstanding Thai cooking with a variety of vegetarian [...] dishes made fresh daily. Exquisite curries." Samila Thai Restaurant and Vegetarian Cuisine, 5336 Geary Blvd (between 17th & 18th Avenues), 752-4310 :Vietnamese: Golden Turtle, 2211 Van Ness (between Broadway & Vallejo), 441-4419 - This restaurant which has had a very good reputation for their non-vegetarian menu has recently added a vegetarian menu (Oct 93). :Asian: Grande Ho's Hibachi, 3111 16th Street (near Valencia), 626-5023 - Thai, Chinese, Japanese, & Korean. Twenty or more vegetarian choices. Economical. "One Stop for All Almost Asian Food." :Indian: Pasand Madras, 1875 Union (W of Laguna), 922-4498 - South Indian. Emphasizes vegetarian cooking. Nightly entertainment. India Clay Oven, 2435 Clement (between 25th & 26th Ave), 751-0505 - The city's newest Indian restuarant (1995), specializing in Tandoori, vegetarian, and curry. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Maharani, 1122 Post Street (Polk), 775-1988 - Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. Sirtaj, 48 5th St/Market, 957-0140 Star India, 3721 Geary, 386-6208 Mela, 417 O'Farrell, 776-7171 Gaylord Indian Restaurant, 2 locations: Ghiradelli Square, 771-8822 1 Embarcadero Center, 397-7775 India House, 350 Jackson, 392-0744 Indian Oven, 237 Fillmore, 626-1628 Krishna Palace, 700 Post, 775-6708 North India, 3131 Webster/Lombard, 931-1556 Appam, 1259 Folsom, 626-2798 Moghul India, 1956.5 Lombard Street at Buchanan, 928-3868 Scenic India, 532 Valencia, 621-7226 Vishal, 5625 Geary Blvd (near 20th Avenue), 751-2975 New Delhi, 1630 Ellis (at Cyril Magnin) Gandhi - Gujarati Indian. Home-style. Small portions. Raj, 2443 Lombard, 441-0275 Volga, on Lombard (between Buchanan and Webster), 928-3868 - See listing below under 'Russian'. :Middle-Eastern: Sunrise Deli, 2115 Irving at 23rd Ave, 664-8210 - Lebanese. Vegan vegi plate is one of the best deals in town. You won't make it through the vegi plate in one sitting. Open Mon-Sun until 8pm. R&J Fine Foods, two locations: 1609 Polk Street, 567-6091 553 Haight Street, 252-8190 - A clean, bright, attractive deli with a variety of very fresh, homemade mostly vegan salads and sandwiches. The emphasis is on Middle-Eastern favorites such as falafel, hummus, tabbouli, dolmas, couscous, and mujdareh. Eat in or take out. La Mediteranee, 2210 Fillmore or 288 Noe - Greek/Lebanese/Isreali style food. Always some vegetarian entrees available. Just Like Home, 1924 Irving Street (20th Av), 681-3337 - Judged best falafel in SF by Jim Wood's Restaurant Guide. Open Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 9am-8pm. Natan's Glatt Kosher Restaurant, 420 Geary Street, 776-2683 - Falafel, hummous. Vegan plate. Open Sat-Sun 9pm-midnight, Mon-Thu 7:30am-11pm. Closed Fridays. Cafe Istanbul, 525 Valencia - Ambience-heavy, with cushions, faux-tent cieling. A cafe that serves food, including the standard Middle-Eastern veggie plates. Pasha, 1516 Broadway (off Van Ness) - "Superb Middle Eastern and Morrocan Cuisine" (in their own words) with plenty of vegetarian meals on the menu. Byblos, 1910 Lombard, 292-5672 - Lebanese food, with an assortment of vegetarian appetizers which can be combined to make a balanced meal (hoummos, taboulli, baba ganoush, dolmas, etc). Noe Valley Deli, 4007 24th Street, 824-8373 - A nice friendly little neighborhood deli with excellent hummous, falafel, tabouli, dolmas, and other Middle-Eastern staples. Suad's Deli, 500 Divisadero (Fell), 553-8817 - Falafel, hummus. Cafe Nidal, 2491 Mission Street, 285-4334 Ya. Halla from Nadia, 494 Haight (at Fillmore), 522-1509 :Arabic: Arabi, Rincon Center, 101 Spear (near Embarcadero), 243-8575 - Falafel, hummus. Amira, 590 Valencia, 621-6213 - A new "Pan-Arabic" restaurant, featuring Arabic, Turkish, and Persian cuisine including dishes from Northern Africa, Turkey, Libya, Egypt. The menu includes many Middle Eastern vegetarian standards as well as a selection of other less common vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Kan Zaman, 1793 Haight Street - Local paper says "like entering a hip pan-Arabic bazaar". Defordated, heavy on the ambience, belly dancing. The standard "meze", hummus, etc. Tobacco smoking from a hookah is offered. Seating under a tent canopy. Arabian Nights Restaurant and Bar, 811 Valencia :Iraqi/Mesopotamian/Assyrian: Yaya's Cuisine, 1229 9th Avenue, 566-6966 - Mesopotamian, Assyrian, and Northern Iraqi food. Some vegetarian entrees - dolmas, etc. "Comes highly recommneded by my Assyrian-Iraqi friend." - "This restaurant is a find! It has some of the most unusual and delectable vegetarian dishes in San Francisco. Try the Japanese eggplant in pomegranate sauce appetizer. Also the vegetarian perdaplow is a must." Yaya's Cafe, next door to Yaya's Cuisine - A cafe-deli serving various Middle-Eastern sandwiches, veggie plates, and other veggie selections. :Afghani: Kabul West Afghan Cuisine, 2800 Van Ness @ Lombard, 931-9144 - Afghani restaurant has a number of vegetarian entrees, some without dairy. :Egyptian: Cleopatra's, 1755 Noriega, 753-5005 - Claims to have vegetarian meals. :Ethiopian/African: Nyala, 39 A Grove Street, Civic Square, 861-0788 - A terrific Ethiopian restaurant right by the City Hall. "Interesting uses of spices. They do an interesting and varied vegetarian buffet for lunch and dinner. It was very good, pretty cheap and filling." Others find their food to be of no particular distinction. Open Mon-Fri 11am-3pm & 4pm-11pm (buffet). La Savane, 96 McAllister (near Leavenworth), 431-2233 - Senegalese food with French influences. One reviewer wrote "the food is rich, intense, frequently spicy, and mysterious, like the luxuriant African continent". Serving a number of vegetarian (vegan) entrees, appetizers, and desserts, all dishes less than $12. African artwork available for purchase. New Eritrea Restaurant and Bar, 907 Irving (@ 10th Ave), 681-1288 - The newest Ethiopian restaurant in town, has gotten some good reviews in local papers. El Mansour, 3123 Clement Street, 751-2312 - "Experience traditional Moroccan dining in a dimly lit, exotic decor resembling a desert prince's tent." Vegan-friendly. Dinner only. Cafe Axum, 698 Haight Street, 252-7912 - Cheap Ethiopian food. Massawa Ethiopian, 1538 Haight, 621-4129 Rasselas Jazz Club and Ethiopian Restaurant, 2801 California (at Divisadero), 567-5010 :Russian: Volga, on Lombard (between Buchanan and Webster), 928-3868 - San Francisco's most unlikely combination, in a city of unlikely combinations, serving authentic mogulai and vegetarian India food and genuine Russian creations. Go figure... :Italian/Pizza/Pasta: All You Knead, 1466 Haight Street, 552-4550 - Natural foods, pasta, pizza. Amici's Pizzeria, 2033 Union Street, 885-4500 - Non-dairy cheese substitute available on any pizza. Excellent garlic bread and veggie non-dairy extra garlic pizza. Clean arty decor. One hour free parking. Free delivery. Open Sun-Thu 11am-midnight, Fri-Sat 11am-1am. Vicolo Pizzeria, 201 Ivy (Van Ness), 863-2382 - Vegan pizza, with a tantalizing cornbread/wheat crust. Open Mon-Sat 11:30am-11pm, Sun 2pm-10pm. Tre Fratelli, on Sutter & Steiner - Will cook very-low-fat on request. For instance, you can request Pasta 4 Stagione (a pasta with mixed vegetables) with only a small amount of oil, no butter, and cheese. :Mediterranean: Truly Mediterranean, 3109 16th Street, 252-PITA - "Mediterannean delicatessen with a special touch." Hummous, falafel, etc. Narghile, 532 Haight Street, 255-7820 - Inexpensive, fun place to order Lebanese, Turkish, or Greek food. :Mexican: !Wa-ha-ka! Oaxaca Mexican Grill, 2 locations: 2141 Polk Street (at Broadway), 775-1055 1489 Folsom (at 11th), 861-1410 - A hip Mexican restuarant featuring the usual standards (tacos, burritos, quesadilla, etc.), emphasizing rice, beans and vegetables. Ingredients are very fresh. Almost all items on the menu can be ordered vegetarian or vegan. Both loacations chic and trendy. Bad Man Jose's, 4077 18th Street, Castro, 861-1706 - Delicious burritos with brown rice, black beans, and fresh salsa. Many vegetarian items. Zona Rosa Tacqueria, 1797 Haight (at Shrader) - Not a vegetarian restaurant, but you can order a variety of vegetarian plates, including brown rice, whole wheat tortilla, and simmered black beans with very fresh salsa. Tacqueria Azteca, 235 Church between Market and 14th, 255-7330 - Burritos with brown rice and choice of beans, and fresh salsa. La Canasta, 2219 Filbert Street (Filmore), 921-3003 - Mexican takeout. Burritos, tacos, tortas. No Lard. Open Mon-Sat 11am-10pm. :Juice Bars: Main Sqeeze, 1515 Polk Street, 567-1515 - A cafe/juice bar offering coffe, bagels, frozen yogurt, fresh juices, and a variety of vegetarian (with cheese), and vegan sandwiches and salads, including quinoa, falafel, dolmas. Also offers a selection of baked potatos with cheese and/or vegetable toppings. Soup of the day is low oil, no sodium. The menu says "All of our beverages and foods are from the freshest sources we can find". :Generic: The following restaurants typically have items such as veggie-burgers, rice and beans, salads, steamed veggies, Moosewood-cookbook style meals, etc. Some may serve foods from a diversity of ethnic backgrounds. Good Earth, 1865 Post (at Fillmore), next to Kabuki Theater, Japantown, 771-0151 - Part of a national chain. At least one third of the menu is vegetarian. Tends to emphasize beans and soy foods. Open 7am-10pm. Real Good Karma, 501 Dolores (18th Street), 621-4112 - A variety of vegetarian styles. Indian and Japanese cuisine. Fresh, inexpensive, wonderful. Have grilled pineapple tofu. Open 11:30am-2:30pm & 5pm-9:30pm. Seventeen O Five Cafe, 1705 Haight Street (Cole), 387-3348 - International. Half the menu is vegetarian. Vegan options. Cafe Paradiso, 1725 Haight Street - Open Sun-Thu 11:30am-10pm, Fri-Sat 11:30am-11pm. Counter Culture, 2073 Market, 621-7488 Owl & Monkey, 1336 9th Avenue, 665-4840 - Open Mon-Fri 8am-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10:30pm. Haven Restaurant, One Post Street, 397-1299 - In a natural foods store. Open daily 7am-3pm. Amerasian Cafe, 2165 Union Street (Webster), 563-9638 - Discount for San Francisco Vegetarian Society members. :Gourmet & Fine Dining: Val 21, 995 Valencia Street (21st), 821-6622 - California Cuisine-y organic restaurant with veggie dishes on menu. Pricey. Nothing vegan. Open Tue-Sat 11am-10pm, Sun 10am-9pm. Square One, 190 Pacific, 788-1110 - Upscale California Cuisine. Always have two vegetarian entrees plus vegetarian soups, salads, and appetizers. At least one of the entrees are vegan or can be prepared vegan by request, and at least one of the vegetarian items is prepared according to the new Ornish diet (very low fat). This is probably a good place for vegetarians as part of a heterogeneous group, who want to experience fine dining. Fleur de Lys, 777 Sutter, 673-7779 - A fine French restaurant which offers a vegetarian dinner as one of its fixed-price menus. Ornish, low-fat, and vegan diets can be accomodated by request. Very pricey. :Takouts/Delis: Salmagundi, Geary @ Mason, in the Union square district - Soup/salad/sandwich; there is always a vegan soup. Fast, cheap, and convenient food of no particular distinction. Cornucopia, 114 Columbus (near Jackson), 398-1511 - Deli. Soups and salads. Open Mon-Fri. Real Foods, several locations: 1023 Stanyan Street, 564-2800 2164 Polk Street, 673-7420 - Natural foods stores with nice delis. Open daily 8am-8pm. -------------- Miscellaneous: -------------- Natural Foods Stores: Rainbow, 1899 Mission (at 15th), 863-9200 - Wide selection of bulk grains, beans, pasta, fruits, nuts, cereals, sea vegetables, and other cooking supplies. Also in bulk are various liquid items (BYO jar) such as honey, tamari, oils, vinegars, nut butters, misos, umeboshi plums, olives, and pickles. Bulk fresh tofu. Large selections of packaged and baked goods, breads, cereals, etc. Most produce is organically grown and of high quality. Takeout deli has vegetarian and vegan soups, salads, sandwiches, and other constructions. There is always brown rice, bean soups, and vegetable salads available, and always more vegan than not. Open 9:30am-7:30pm. Real Food Co., 5 locations: 1023 Stanyan (at Carl) (upper Haight), 564-2800. Open 9am-8pm. Deli. 3939 24th Street (at Noe Valley), 282-9500 1240 Sutter, 474-8488 2140 Polk, 673-7420. Open 9am-9pm. Has deli. - Wide selection of bulk grains, beans, seeds, nuts, and fruits. Many packaged foods. Take out deli serves high-quality, but rather expensive baked goods, salads, and prepared foods, including meat but mostly vegetarian. Wide selection of breads from various local bakeries. Wide selection of organically grown produce. The Nature Stop, 1336 Grant (at Filber) (North Beach), 398-3810 - Newly expanded, a neighborhood store with a moderate selection of bulk and packaged foods. Vegetarian takeout deli. Open 9am-10pm. Buffalo Whole Foods, two locations: 19th/Castro (The Castro) 1058 Hyde Street (at Washington) (Nob Hill), 474-3053 - Small neighborhood natural foods stores with a selection of bulk and packaged foods, also offering organically grown produce. Inner Sunset, 1319 20th Avenue (at Irving), 664-5363 - Open 10am-8pm. Other Avenues, 3930 Judah (at 44th), 661-7475 - Open 10am-8pm. Rima's Green Valley, 297 Page Street (near Zen Center), 431-7250 Thom's Natural Foods, 5843 Geary (at 22nd), 387-6367 - Open Mon-Sun 9am-8pm. San Francisco Health Food Store, Sutter and Grant Streets, 392-8477 - Has a juice bar. Haven, One Post Street, 397-1299 - Has a restaurant which is open daily 7am-3pm. Farmer's Markets: Heart of the city, between Leavenworth & Hyde - Wed & Fri 8am-5pm. Year round. UN Plaza, between 7th & 8th on Market, 558-9455 - Sun & Wed 7am-5pm. 100 Alameny - Tue-Fri 8:30am-5pm & Sat 6am-6pm. Year round. Embarcader Plaza - Sat 9am-2pm. Year round. Emphasizing organic produce from local growers. Miscellaneous: Earthsave, 931-0515 - Vegan cooking classes. Seventh Day Adventist Church - Vegan cooking classes. Gary's Custom Cooking, Gary Alinder, 552-5449 - Catering and macrobiotic meals delivered on Thursdays. Gary is the cook at St. Bede's on Mondays. Susanne's Natural Foods, Susanne Jensen, 661-4764 - Great vegetarian, organic, dairy-free, macrobiotic meals delivered Mon, Wed, & Fri. Macrobiotic cooking classes Sat 11am-2pm. Susan Broad O'Toole, 941-1028 - Macrobiotic cooking classes Sat 11am-2pm. Janet Hazen, 520 Hampshire Street, SF, CA 94110, (510) 436-7383 - Cooking classes. Tracy's Vegan Guest House, in Wild Cat Canyon, 10 miles from Berkeley, e-mail: traco@aol.com - Can include vegan meals. Vegetarian Organizations: San Francisco Vegetarian Society 1450 Broadway, #4, San Francisco, CA 94109, (415) 775-6874 - Potluck on 2nd Sunday of each month at 3:30pm at Fort Mason, Building C, 3rd floor. Thanksgiving dinner. Christmas party. San Francisco Vegetarian Singles - A subgroup of the San Francisco Vegetarian Society (415) 775-6874. Various dinners and activities. Earthsave, 2366 Pine Street, San Francisco, CA 94115, (415) 931-0515 - Potlucks & vegan cooking classes. Living Foods Support Group - Potlucks & activities. Call the Sproutline at (415) 751-2806 for events (answering machine). North Bay contact: Ram Pujan (707) 255-6769. Bay Area Vegetarian Restaurant Trek E-mail: Das Devaraj <das@netcom.com> - Meet in a different restaurant every month, in different Bay Area Counties (like Alameda, Contra Costa, San Francisco, and Silicon Valley). Bay Area Jewish Vegetarians 303 Adams Street, #201, Oakland, CA 94610, (510) 465-0403 Natural Hygiene Society - Monthly vegetarian potlucks. Contact: Dave Orner at (415) 665-1060 or 1539 22nd Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122. Animal Rights Connection P.O. Box 410862, San Francisco, CA 94141, (415) 441-4245 Zen Center, 300 Page Street (Laguna), San Francisco, 863-3136 - Vegetarian meals for those attending. ______________________________________________________________________ User Contributions:
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