For the herbivore in us

Even though everyone in Portland is, or is pretending to be, a vegetarian or vegan, it can be hard to find affordable restaurants that cater to the herbivores in the city. Here are some of the best places to find unique and affordable vegan and vegetarian foods.

Bay Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant $$
4768 S.E. Division St.
503-232-7066
This low-key, sparsely decorated place is a good choice for Asian veggie fare if you’re on the east side of Portland. Most entrees are served with tofu (either fried or silken), and the restaurant also offers some selections with soy meat-substitutes. Overall, the Bay Leaf serves up a variety of pretty swell selections, from fried lion’s mane mushrooms to more traditional noodle dishes, and has a laid-back feel that’s complete with tracked mood lighting and soothing color tones.

Blossoming Lotus $$
925 N.W. Davis St.
503-228-0048
Don’t be put off by the bizarre (but no less posh) atmosphere. This restaurant, located just inside the Pearl District, offers an eclectic mix of vegetarian dishes that err on the gourmet side of things, alongside home-baked breads and delicious vegan soft-serve ice cream. A good place for a date, despite sharing its space with a yoga studio.

Blue Moose Café $$
4936 N.E. Fremont St.
503-548-4475
A casual, quaint eatery that serves breakfast all day, in addition to specializing in burritos, soups and sandwiches. If you’re looking for an after-dinner snack, they serve a wide variety of desserts as well as some wine and beer.

Food for Thought Café $$
Smith Memorial Student Union basement (room 026)
503-725-2970
This student-run co-op uses all locally grown organic products and still keeps the prices of its food at a cost that most students can afford. Anything from the pancakes and french toast, which cost $4 or less everyday, to the lunch or breakfast special of the day will keep you satisfied.

Hotlips Pizza $
1909 S.W. Sixth Ave.
503-224-0311
Hotlips has rotating daily vegetarian and
vegan pizza—anything from pesto and mush-rooms to hazelnuts and squash. All ingredients are local and organic. For dessert, try their ice cream sandwiches—the best in the city.

Paradox Paradise Café $
3439 S.E. Belmont St.
503-232-7508
Portlanders of all kinds have praised Paradox for their delicious and relatively inexpensive meals, and with good reason: The restaurant features a top-notch menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner meals, with sandwiches, burgers, organic everything and several specialties (try the Vegan Haystack). Add to that a comfortable, low-key diner atmosphere, generous servings and options for the meat-inclined, and you’ve got one hell of a restaurant. The only problems with Paradox? It’s not open 24 hours and, due to the café’s popularity, it can be hard to get a seat.

Veganopolis $$
412 S.W. Fourth Ave.
503-226-3400
Conveniently located downtown, Veganopolis offers a good, if standard, array of vegan breakfast and lunch dishes, and some decent atmosphere. Prices range from decent to a little on the pricier side, but it’s nothing particularly out of the ordinary for a downtown restaurant. It has sparse seating (like downtown’s Stumptown location), but the food is pretty tasty and there’s art on the walls. Serves alcohol.

Vegetarian House $$$
22 N.W. Fourth Ave.
503-274-0160
Want the best in veggie Asian cuisine? Look no further. Located just inside Chinatown’s archway (next to the Adult Book Store), Vegetarian House offers just about anything a hungry herbivore could want, from the standard tofu to veggie chicken and fish (the kung pao veggie squid is to die for). With such a wide selection of hard-to-find veggie foods, entrées can be a little pricey, but if you’ve got a few extra bucks you owe it to yourself to try this restaurant, you won’t be disappointed.

Vita Café $
3024 N.E. Alberta St.
503-335-8233
Recently the site of a major remodel, Vita Café has long been a favorite in Portland. While their menu doesn’t quite pack the punch it used to, it’s still good for old standards (read: veggie burgers) and a smattering of really noteworthy selections (such as the Tempeh BLT). It can be a bit crowded on evenings and weekends.