Vegan places in the area

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Hi all, my sister is coming to visit me on Monday. She's been vegan for a while, and so I would like to take her to a few vegan restaurants around here. Can anybody recommend any such restaurants/coffee places so perhaps I can convince her that California is not the only state with good vegan options? Thanks in advance.

Comments

[mzrowan.livejournal.com]

True Bistro in Teele Square is fantastic! There's also Veggie Galaxy in Central for a vegan diner experience.

[littlecitynames.livejournal.com]

I agree on True Bistro. It's a bit expensive but the food is amazing. My vegan and omnivore friends alike love it.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

True Bistro (which is vegan) is indeed the best around here, though also pricy. Note that neither Veggie Galaxy (nor Veggie Planet, in Harvard Square at Passim) are vegan, but they have plenty of options. Dosa Temple (also ovo-lacto) in Union Square is worth checking out as well, and possibly of greater interest to a west-coaster since Indian food isn't near as huge there as it is here.

Peace O' Pie is a vegan pizza place in Allston, worth a visit (you can buy by the slice) if you're around there, but maybe not going out of your way for since they seem to be hit-or-miss on the baking, I have no idea why. Locally, you can get vegan pizza (and other vegan yummies) at Eat@Jumbo's in Ball Square, and it's awesome. Grover (the owner) often has secret experimental treats not on the menu, so if you're there, it's worth asking him if there are any vegan extras available.

If you do go to Peace O' Pie, though, you can get vegan ice cream at Fomu nearby. It just opened and I haven't been there, but since their flavors are coconut-based, I assume they're good. Grasshopper is at that intersection as well, but I would avoid avoid along with the other Asian veg places around here. They're only okay, and compared to the Asian veg in CA, they are pretty bad.

(In the end, the fact is that no matter you do, it probably won't impress too much, since while we have some nice things here, there's really no comparison to CA, so don't expect her to be tempted to move here for the food. :)

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tips! I guess we'll have to try True Bistro, at least!

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

You might be aware, but flatbread pizza also has a vegan pizza option which I assume can be adjusted at will. I only went once and had a non-vegan option, but I liked their pizza.

[surrealestate.livejournal.com]

Yep, I know, but it's just a pizza without cheese, which you can in fact get at any pizza place. Flatbread is higher quality than most, and it's nice that they have it on the menu, but it's not all that special, y'know?

[clevernonsense.livejournal.com]

ahh, good to know (I thought it had something special about it since it was actually on the menu as "vegan pizza")

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

Also, the Red Lentil in Watertown.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll check this out.

[lyonesse.livejournal.com]

it's not all vegan, but the elephant walk has a very tasty vegan selection :)

repeat the rec for true bistro, too.

[litia2005.livejournal.com]

Thanks, looks like True Bistro is unanimous. I did not realize Elephant Walk has vegan options, I'll look at their menu.

[avecvu.livejournal.com]

Veggie Galaxy in Central is a vegan diner — and their sister restaurant, Veggie Planet in Harvard, is awesome too.

[noire.livejournal.com]

Life Alive in Central is not vegan but something like 90% of their dishes are vegan and really lovely. Kind of a modern hippie kale and qinoa type of place, but the food is really tasty and comfortingly honey. Veggie Galaxy is not vegan, though has a good selection for vegans.

I strongly STRONGLY second/third/whatever True Bistro (totally wonderful!) and Elephant Walk (which has vegetarian menu in the back with about five insanely delicious vegan options.) Both are pricey and well worth every penny for the kind of high cuisine that you really can't make at home. Unless you went to culinary school.

[contradictacat.livejournal.com]

Seconding all the ones here, and also putting in a rec for Grasshopper in Allston (near Peace o' Pie) that does of all things, vegan Chinese food.

[borgin.livejournal.com]

While Grasshopper is indeed vegan, I cannot recommend their food. I'd rather go to Peace O'Pie next door.

[oneagain.livejournal.com]

There is also Clover Labs in Harvard Square and My Thai Vegan Cafe in Chinatown, though My Thai has mixed reviews.

[dial-zero.livejournal.com]

If you go to My Thai, my suggestions are the tamarind "chicken" and the yellow curry soup. Not everyone likes that fake meat stuff, but I am a fan. :)

[eustaciavye.livejournal.com]

Clover is not entirely vegan but has excellent vegan options on their menu every day. The Clover hub is near Inman Square and there's a location near Harvard and I'm not sure where the Clover trucks park but they are around. Anyway I am an omnivore and I LOVE Clover so that tells you something about their quality. Also, CHEAP! Very satisfying meal + delicious funky juice or iced tea can be had for about $10-12.

For dessert, I am told JP Licks has started carrying coconut milk based "ice cream"

[nurrynur.livejournal.com]

The Davis location had run out of vegan "ice cream" when I was there on Thursday night. (I'm not vegan but someone came in to ask about it) They said they weren't sure when they'd have more.

So it might be worth calling them (whichever location you plan to go to) to see if they actually have any left before you go.

[rozhinka.livejournal.com]

The Greater Boston Buddhist Cultural Center (on Mass Ave in Cambridge near Hancock Street, not far from Harvard Square) serves a vegan lunch all afternoon Tuesdays through Saturdays. I haven't been, but hear it's very good stripped-down macrobiotic style food.

Veggie Galaxy is a default-vegan diner (dairy cheese is available if requested) and a fun scene; very popular. I've never been impressed with Veggie Planet: I can make better food than they serve at home, and I'm not much of a cook. The Asian vegan places tend to feature fake meat and be greasy-convince me I'm wrong, someone! True Bistro is an excellent gourmet restaurant that happens to be vegan. Red Lentil is mostly-vegan and their signature cauliflower dish is fabulous--nice to go after a walk in beautiful Mount Auburn Cemetery nearby. I like Dosa Temple (across from Market Basket).

[sundaisy-summer.livejournal.com]

Many of these have already been mentioned, but I thought I would throw in my opinion. Life Alive in Central is probably the best all around vegetarian place in the area. True Bistro is great upscale vegan. Veggie Galaxy is alright, but HEAVY! I also really like Rangzen in Central-it's Tibetan. In Davis, Diesel has a few great vegan items, Tapei and Tokyo has great vegetarian sushi, Johnny D's does vegan brunch. Grasshopper and Peace O Pie are great in Allston. I hear a new vegan ice cream place just opened up near there too!

Good luck! There is definitely great vegan food around here!

[antimony.livejournal.com]

Seconding True Bistro, Red Lentil, and Elephant Walk. True Bistro also does a brunch, which might be cheaper if you don't want to splash out on their dinner menu.

Dosa Temple marks all their vegan stuff on the menu, so no having to pester the waitstaff, and there's a lot of it, FYI. (As do Elephant Walk and Red Lentil.)

My Thai in Chinatown was good once upon a time, but the last time I went it was awful. Not even good in the greasy-cheap-Chinese sort of way, just blandity-bland and way too sweet.

Little Q Hot Pot in Arlington (and I assume the same is true of the one in Chinatown) will do all of their hot-pot broths vegetarian except the black chicken one, even though that's not listed on the menu anywhere. The Mala (spicy) is the only one I've had but it's awesome.

[cold-type.livejournal.com]

Seconding the recommendations for Veggie Galaxy & Veggie Planet, Clover, True Bistro, Elephant Walk and Jumbos.
Also:
Blue Shirt has tons of good vegan sandwiches/wraps.
East Asia in Powderhouse Circle has some terrific Tofu dishes.
Flatbread Pizza has a great Vegan Pizza.
Addis Red Sea has good Ethiopian vegan options
And JP Licks has several vegan ice cream flavors as well as sorbets. (The Davis Square location said they still have the soy ice cream as of today.)

[printf.net (from livejournal.com)]

Spike's Junkyard Dogs (in Davis Square) does a good vegan veggie-dog.

[misterthorn.livejournal.com]

Seconding My Thai and the Greater Boston Buddhist Cultural Center. I've been to all these places multiple times, and would not disagree with any of the recommendations, but these two tend to get a lot less press, so I wanted to upvote them. I also really like Prana Cafe (http://eatatprana.com/), but maybe that's farther than you want to go. Blue Shirt's a good call too, though I can't honestly say I've gone there seeking out explicitly vegan fare. I'd also second the thumbs-down for Grasshopper. Addis Red Sea's vegetarian dishes are good, and may also be vegan. The sushi place down the street from it also serves quite a few vegan sushis.

Have fun!

[lamar99.livejournal.com]

In Cambridge, 229 Broadway, try MuLan. Taiwanese. Many good vegan options. I love the tofu and mustard greens. So good.

[zard.livejournal.com]

If you're able to go for a bit of a hike, Masao's Kitchen in Waltham is macrobiotic. I haven't found food like this anywhere else. It's basically a by-the-pound buffet. The place is usually full of regular customers, and you end up with a plate full of greens and squash and pickled lotus root and some type of vegan protein. I eat meat, but it's a nice change of pace.

[tenshikurai9.livejournal.com]

http://www.bostonveg.org/restaurants/index.html