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Vegan Restaurants in San Francisco: 11 of the Best Options for Vegans
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: April 19, 2024
San Francisco has more than 3,000 places to grab a bite to eat, and a large number of them offer vegan dishes. You will also find several wonderful exclusively vegan restaurants in San Francisco.
On this list, you will find some of my favorite vegan places, all of which have a large selection of dishes.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
1. Greens
Greens is without a doubt our favorite upscale vegan restaurant in San Francisco. Chef Deborah Madison started it in 1979 with the plan to feature local ingredients and create dishes that surpassed any meal in the world.
My husband and I love going here since we know that we will have great food, tasty drinks, incredible service, and some of the best views of the bay and the Golden Gate Bridge all at the same time.
Most of the dishes here are vegetarian, but you'll notice on the menu which ones can be prepared vegan. Based on our last visit, I'd estimate that more than half of the menu items can easily be turned into vegan dishes.
Some of our favorites include Empanadas Salvadoreños, Green Gulch Little Gem Wedge Salad, and Szechuan Braised Tofu.
With their fantastic service, views, and fresh dishes, there is no question why this is my favorite place for a tasty vegan meal.
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays. Lunch Tuesday - Friday 11:30 am - 2:30 pm; brunch Saturday - Sunday 10:30 am - 2:30 pm; dinner 5:30 pm to 9 pm.
Average price: Small plates starting at $6; first course $11 - 18; main course $20 - 30
Address: Building A in the Fort Mason Center at 2 Marina Blvd
District: Marina
2. Peña Pachamama
If you are looking for not only a fantastic culinary experience in the world of plant-based creations, but also a cultural experience with incredible music and ambiance, Peña Pachamama in the Russian Hill District is worth a visit.
The yucca fries and kale chips are the perfect snack to go with your drinks. For main dishes, the Salteña Plate (Bolivian empanadas) and Aji de Fideo (spicy pasta) are both very tasty and uniquely Latin American. Other delicious items include corn tacos and zucchini pasta.
In 1991, two Andean musicians founded this "underground club" in a historic speakeasy once frequented by Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe. It's fun just to look around, but the live music is really the icing on the cake.
Hours: Usually Monday through Saturday from 4:30 pm with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8 pm. You may call ahead to double-check at 415.646.0018
Average Price: $10 to $20 for most dishes; platters to share around $33
Address: 1630 Powell Street
District: Russian Hill/North Beach
3. Indochine Vegan
This Asian-fusion vegan restaurant is another great find in the Mission District. They serve up a large selection os dishes, including Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, and Japanese-inspired cuisine.
Many of their dishes include organic tofu or soy protein in addition to fresh, local veggies. Their eggplant tofu is amazing, and I also recommend trying their basil mushroom dish.
Hours: Open every day except Monday. Weekdays for lunch 12 pm - 3 pm; dinner 5 pm - 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday 12:30 pm - 10 pm.
Average Price: Appetizers starting at $6; main dishes $11 - $20
Address: 508 Valencia Street
District: Mission
4. Wildseed
Wildseed is another one of the best vegan restaurants in San Francisco. It is a newer one as it opened in 2019. You will find it in the Cow Hollow District.
They serve a great range of different cuisines, including Mediterranean, burgers, bowls, pizzas, and more.
I love their "Spicy Sausage Pizza." You might be asking, "How can they be vegan if they have Spicy Sausage?" Well, it is because the sausage is made out of jackfruit, but you won't be able to tell the difference!
They also offer a special brunch menu on Saturday and Sunday mornings.
Hours: Monday - Thursday 11:30 am - 9:30 pm; Fridays 11:30 am - 10:30 pm; Saturdays 11 am - 10:30 pm; Sundays 11 am - 9:30 pm. (Weekend brunch is served from 11 am to 3 pm)
Average Price: Starters $9 - 17; mains $18 - 23
Address: 2000 Union Street
District: Cow Hollow
5. Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya
This fully vegan sushi bar is perfect for those who love the taste of sushi and want to keep their commitment to being vegan.
How do they make their dishes vegan? They use mountain yams, konjac (a root vegetable), soybean curd, and other vegan ingredients. The art they create is what makes it one of the top vegan restaurants in San Francisco.
You must check out their original rolls, including the Boddy & Soul, the Candlestick, and the Proud Peacock.
I also love to order their dish called Surprise Ending. It includes a single plate, with pieces of sushi that look exactly alike. However, some are hot, and some are mild. Each time you sample one, you will be surprised.
Hours: Open daily. Monday - Thursday 5 pm - 9 pm; Friday - Saturday 4 pm - 9 pm; Sundays 4:30 pm - 9 pm. Reservations are required for the dining room.
Average Price: Starters, nigiri (two pieces) and classic rolls $8 - 12; specialty rolls around $20
Address: 370 14th Street
District: Mission District
6. Golden Era Vegan Restaurant
Not only is this one of the more affordable vegan restaurants in San Francisco, it's great Vietnamese food. None of the fresh, herby flavors of traditional Vietnamese dishes are compromised by featuring vegan ingredients.
Check out their amazing take on spring rolls, spicy noodle soup, and lemongrass "chicken." They've also got plenty of gluten-free options.
Hours: Open daily 11 am - 7:30 pm
Average Price: $10 - $17 per plate
Address: 395 Golden Gate Avenue
District: Civic Center
7. Loving Hut
The Loving Hut in San Francisco is part of the largest chain of vegan restaurants in the world, but this franchise is family-owned and offers a menu that varies from other Loving Huts in other major cities.
The focus here really is the food, not the atmosphere. Its location in the Inner Sunset makes for the perfect hearty vegan meal after wandering around Golden Gate Park.
Hours: Open every day except Wednesday from 11 am to 9 pm
Average Price: Most dishes $9 - 16
Address: 524 Irving Street
District: Inner Sunset
8. Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant
This local, family-owned favorite introduced vegan food to Chinatown and has since opened a second location. They draw their inspiration from Buddhist roots.
The extremely varied menu offers more than 100 delicious dishes to choose from, mostly vegan and some vegetarian. They manage to achieve authentic Chinese flavors with absolutely no onion, garlic, or MSG in any of their food.
Hours: Lunch 11 am - 2:30 pm; dinner 5 pm to 8:15 pm (Chinatown location open daily; Sunset location closed Mondays)
Average Price: $14 - $18 for main dishes
Locations:
- 839 Kearny Street (Chinatown)
- 754 Kirkham Street (Sunset)
9. Chisme Cantina
This delightful, colorful gem in the heart of the city is not strictly vegan, as they do serve some dishes with meat. However, they are really known for their amazing vegan tacos.
Choose from fried jackfruit, eggplant, or plantain. Any of these is a winner. They also serve up some nice side dishes that can be made vegan and/or gluten free.
Hours: Open daily; Monday - Friday 11 am - 9 pm; Saturday - Sunday 5 pm - 9 pm
Average Price: $15 to $16 for a plate of two vegan tacos or a vegan burrito
Address: 882 Sutter Street
District: Lower Nob Hill
10. Cha-Ya
Cha-Ya, one of the best vegan restaurants in San Francisco, specializes in contemporary Japanese cuisine. Based on a Zen Buddhist diet, everything they serve here tastes fresh and healthy.
Apart from their vegan sushi rolls, they are known for their stuffed eggplant tempura, sukiyaki, and noodle soups.
Hours: Closed Mondays and Tuesdays; Wednesday - Friday 12 pm - 2:30 pm and 5 pm - 9 pm; Saturday - Sunday 12 pm - 3 pm and 5 pm - 9 pm.
Average Price: Sushi rolls and other main dishes $15 - $23
Address: 762 Valencia Street
District: Mission District
11. Señor Sisig
This uniquely San Francisco phenomenon began as a food truck that served tacos and burritos filled with the savory Filipino treat known as sisig. The fusion was a hit and was featured on Guy Fieri's "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives."
This one is not exclusively vegan, but they have a fully vegan menu that everyone raves about. You can choose from a variety of delicious vegan protein options, and with the creamy cilantro sauce and "cheese" on top, you would never guess it was vegan.
The food here is totally original, really tasty, and also filling and affordable!
Hours: The Mission location is open daily 11 am - 9 pm. The Ferry Building location is Monday - Friday 10 am - 8 pm, Saturdays 9 am - 8 pm, and Sundays 10 am - 6 pm.
Average Price: $13 - 17 for a burrito
Locations:
- 990 Valencia Street (Mission)
- 1 Ferry Building (Embarcadero)
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