Since October 25th-31st is the "WORLD GO VEGAN" week, we figured it may be as good of time as any to rerun this guide we did in 2009 (with some 2010 addendums) on how to not eat meat in DC without driving yourself crazy.
Full disclaimer: I am NOT vegetarian but, unlike some people (Cale-I am looking at you, yes you) I truly do love eating like one at times and while we can all agree that any city with as many Indian and Ethiopian options as DC is a Godsend for vegetarians, we figured we would compile a list of go-to places that have made a point to win their way into your non-meat eating heart.
Many thanks to Alex, our great food writer and Erik, our amazing graphic designer with helping out with these recommendations (which I am separating into "casualness level" categories):
SUPER CASUAL:
Java Green- 1020 19th Street NW
A vegetarian and vegan cafe tucked in the Penn Quarter, and a press favorite.
Good news: the deliver (anywhere), they cater, they're adding more raw and wheat-free options too and it IS delicious.
Bummer news: not open on Sundays.
Sticky Fingers Bakery- 1370 Park Road NW
As far as I know the only vegan bakery in DC proper (Erik is obsessed with it). Good news: Now serving nachos, chilli dogs and more. Bummer news: if you're not vegan, there is still sort of no reason to eat vegan pastry or vegan quesadillas is there?
Amsterdam Falafel -2425 18th Street NW
The little shop that could and then did save the world (or at least Adams Morgan) from jumbo slice.
Maoz Vegetarian -1817 M Street NW
Sure it is a franchise, but it is a European franchise and it is both vegetarian AND Kosher. Great because you can really never have too many falafel shops.
Pedro and Vinny's- 15th and K NW
All vegetarian burrito carts 4ever.
CASUAL
Soul Vegetarian's Exodus- 2606 Georgia Ave NW
Laid back, co-oppy feel. Comfort food. No booze whatsoever. No delivery either but they do take-out. People SWEAR by the (Vegan) mac and cheese there.
Asylum- 2471 18th Street NW
THE BEST VEGAN/VEGETARIAN BRUNCH OPTIONS IN TOWN. Ridiculously affordable too.
Harmony Cafe-3287 1/2 M St., N.W. Downstairs (no website)
Replace virtually everything on the pan-Asian menu with vegan mock meats. Everything under 10 bucks.
Sticky Rice - 1224 H St., NE
While Indian, Ethiopian and Eritrean restaurants are known for always colorful and vegetarian friendly options, a sushi restaurant which looks out for you (The Garden Ball’s eel sauce is vegan!) is something to behold. Try the Tofu Max.
Nirvana -All vegetarian Indian restaurant. GREAT LUNCH BUFFET. (sadly closed now)
TAKE A DATE/PARENT THERE
Science Club - 1136 19th St., NW
Did you know the menu is all vegetarian?
Zaytinya - 701 9th Street NW
However you felt about Mike Isabella on "Top Chef" this place and its really well balanced selection of delicious vegetarian mezes is great, especially if you're in mixed eating company.
Domku-819 Upshur Street
Delicious Slavic and Scandinavian food with A LOT of vegetarian and some vegan (like the lentil and mushroom "meatballs" ) options.
Lebanese Taverna- 2641 Connecticut Ave., NW
Over 20 vegetarian entrees. Bet you did not know that.
2010 ADDENDUM BY DANIELLE:
Duccini's: (1778 U Street NW) more than just an annoying menu under your door, these guys are cornering the market by offering vegan cheese, Daiya, for a modest upcharge. Try it on their pizza or use it to smother a pile of fries.
Afghan Grill: (2309 Calvert St NW) try the Sabzi Chalao (spinach cooked in garlic with tomtato and peppers) and the fried leek dumplings. Don't hesitate to ask for it without yogurt for a vegan treat.
Sunflower: (6304 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA) it's mentioned so often because it really is that good. Take your skeptic friends here and watch their minds explode as they swear they're eating real meat, but it's not! No car? Take the 4A or 4B from Rosslyn.
Mark's Kitchen: (7006 Carroll Ave, Takoma) Korean and American vegetarian and home cooked classics. The vegetarian BLT has thus far been the only fake bacon product I have ever actually enjoyed. How they get it so crispy I will never know (Satan may be involved).
Kennedy's Natural Foods: (1051 W Broad Street, Falls Church) Way out in Falls Church yes, but they have the best lentil burger around and extremely fresh bread.
Indian Ocean: (4221 Connecticut Ave NW # B) Yes most Indian restaurants offer vegetarian fare, but at Indian Ocean they take great pains to cook the meat separate from the vegetarian food.
ALSO:
Please note that live music venues you love like 930 Club and Food For Thought inside the Black cat are among some of the most non-meat friendly places you'll ever walk in, if not necessarily remember to eat at.
Additional Resources:
VegDC is your BIBLE
YOUR SUGGESTIONS GO IN THE COMMENTS
Thank you.
Previously in BYT Guides:
- 5/4: The Bourgey Guide to Guacamole
- 4/9: What to Wear to Work - Spring Edition
- 3/30: BYT STYLE GUIDE: SPRING/SUMMER 2012!!!
- 3/26: ARTS Guide: Spring/ Summer 2012
- 3/23: Creative Cocktailwear: BYT + Corcoran ARTINI 2012
- 3/22: Theatre Guide: SPRING/ SUMMER 2012
- 3/21: Food Guide: Spring/ Summer 2012
- 3/20: MUSIC GUIDE: SPRING/SUMMER 2012
- 3/19: FILM GUIDE: SPRING/SUMMER 2012
- 2/29: I Spy: A Movie Marathon
God loves a cheerful giver.
Everlasting Life on Georgia ave is easily one of the best vegan cafes in the District. I recommended the Cashew Nog and the Chicken sandwich. http://www.everlastinglifecafe.com
busboys and poets has some great vegan options like coconut tofu bites and vegan quesadillas. check it out: www.busboysandpoets.com
Juice Joint on Vermont Ave. is one of my favorite options, about half of their menu is vegetarian, and it isn't the usual tofu thing. It's the anti-Java Green, in other words inexpensive, unpretentious, fast friendly service and no fake meat.
Cafe Green, Java Green's sister restaurant, is all vegan.
The Source's Chef Scott Drewno makes some seriously bad ass vegan food.
Nora's is always happy to prepare a vegan meal.
The best pizza choice, IMHO, is RedRocks, but people also rave about ZPizza and Ella's -- all of which have vegan cheese options.
There are tons more...
Thanks for posting! Vegans always know the obvious vegetarian joints...but I know I always forget about the other places that are making a good effort to feed us even though they may not be a veggie venue!
Dangerously Delicious DC has Vegan sweet and savory options like our Vegan Chili Pie or our Coconut Curry Tofu Pie. Perfect for our Dangerously Delicious Date Night Deal: 2 slices of savory, 2 slices of sweet, and 2 drinks for $20 Mon-Thurs Night!
Re Mark's Kitchen: more like SEITAN may be involved, amirite?
On a more serious note, you can find pretty good non-meat dishes in a lot of unexpected places. Nandos, for example, has pretty good veggie burgers, and also portobello wraps.
My favorite veggie burger of all time is from Breadsoda
Don't forget Woodlands in Langley Park! You can take the 25 there. It's completely vegetarian.
163836 @Doug: I agree! Juice Joint is amazing and super fast! RICE on 14th also has a pretty good veggie and vegan section..No fish sauce!
Clare and Don's Beach Shack@ 130 N Washington Street in Falls Chuch hooks up the ovolacto and the vegan...clareanddons.com