February 2013
We've only been living in DC for a little over a year, but what a vegan-goodness-filled year it has been. We're probably not DC's top authority on vegan food, but we know how to eat good food while saving money, which I think anybody can appreciate. So, for vegans, vegetarians, and non-vegans alike, whether you live here or are just stopping through, we bring you Leah and Dan's vegan guide to DC.
Kuni (Big Sexy) checks the wrapper integrity of his Sticky Fingers breakfast burrito
Brunch
Washingtons' favorite meal
1. Sticky Fingers, Columbia Heights
This is our go-to brunch option (which means we go to brunch there like, every few months, since it's cheaper just to make pancakes.) The breakfast burrito is awesome. The prices aren't too bad, and you have the option of getting some dishes as a "platter" with tofu scramble and grits (or hash browns, last time we went) for a couple bucks more. There's also the coffee + sticky bun option that we like to go for, with free refills of coffee, or a breakfast bagel/biscuit from the cooler as a quick to-go option.
2. Meridian Pint, Columbia Heights
I ended up here with friends from an internship over the summer, not realizing it would have good vegan brunch options. But it does! They have an amazing vegan french toast, as well as tofu scramble, and some other dishes that can be veganized. The menu online doesn't specify what is vegan, but the french toast definitely was vegan over the summer... worth a visit, if you live in DC or have time during a visit. They also have a pretty good beer selection, if you need some hair of the dog on a weekend morning.
3. Busboys and Poets, Chinatown or U street (and other locations further out from the city)
Busboys is almost more obvious than Sticky Fingers as a vegan brunch option. Their tofu scramble is great, and they have vegan parfait on their dessert menu, but to me, that counts as a brunch food... if you're with a big group, Busboys is a good choice--it's crowded, but worth the wait. Who's in a rush at brunchtime anyway? Also a great place to study on weekend mornings as you sip your "Big Daddy" and enjoy spoonfuls of parfait...
Washingtons' favorite meal
1. Sticky Fingers, Columbia Heights
This is our go-to brunch option (which means we go to brunch there like, every few months, since it's cheaper just to make pancakes.) The breakfast burrito is awesome. The prices aren't too bad, and you have the option of getting some dishes as a "platter" with tofu scramble and grits (or hash browns, last time we went) for a couple bucks more. There's also the coffee + sticky bun option that we like to go for, with free refills of coffee, or a breakfast bagel/biscuit from the cooler as a quick to-go option.
2. Meridian Pint, Columbia Heights
I ended up here with friends from an internship over the summer, not realizing it would have good vegan brunch options. But it does! They have an amazing vegan french toast, as well as tofu scramble, and some other dishes that can be veganized. The menu online doesn't specify what is vegan, but the french toast definitely was vegan over the summer... worth a visit, if you live in DC or have time during a visit. They also have a pretty good beer selection, if you need some hair of the dog on a weekend morning.
3. Busboys and Poets, Chinatown or U street (and other locations further out from the city)
Busboys is almost more obvious than Sticky Fingers as a vegan brunch option. Their tofu scramble is great, and they have vegan parfait on their dessert menu, but to me, that counts as a brunch food... if you're with a big group, Busboys is a good choice--it's crowded, but worth the wait. Who's in a rush at brunchtime anyway? Also a great place to study on weekend mornings as you sip your "Big Daddy" and enjoy spoonfuls of parfait...
Lunch
A few times a month, if I don't have to be at work or school, I meet Dan nearby the ISC office for lunch. So, most of our favorite options are in the Dupont/Farragut area. Sticky Fingers isn't on this list, but it has the same quality of amazing foods for lunch as for brunch, dinner, and dessert.
A few times a month, if I don't have to be at work or school, I meet Dan nearby the ISC office for lunch. So, most of our favorite options are in the Dupont/Farragut area. Sticky Fingers isn't on this list, but it has the same quality of amazing foods for lunch as for brunch, dinner, and dessert.
Fojol Bros. Thai curries
1. Fojol Bros., locations vary
Fojol has three food trucks with different themes--Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian. My favorite is Benethiopia (I'll let you guess which theme that one has), Dan's favorite is Volathai. All of the trucks have always had at least two vegan options when we've come across them, and usually three. Ethiopian dishes include beets, lentils, and cabbage, all delicious and served with injera. Their Thai offerings include green curry (with brussels sprouts!) and sweet potato curry. I'm always sad when there's no Fojol Bros. truck at Farragut Square, although there are usually other food trucks with some options. It's not super cheap, but if you're with someone else, the "pick three" option is usually enough for two semi-hungry people.
2. Rice Bar, Downtown (Farragut/Dupont Circle)
Rice Bar makes custom bibimbap and noodle bowls, where you select the type of rice/noodle and add veggies and proteins. I'm not sure about the broth for their noodles, but they'd be able to tell you if it's vegetarian. We always get the bibimbap, with vegetables (some, like the kim chi, might have fish sauce, again it's best to ask) and spicy tofu. The bowls are pretty big, so it's filling -- it's worth the price (under $10), especially if you can save some leftovers for another day's lunch. Their tofu is delicious, as are the vegetables. If you're craving rice or Korean food, this is where you want to eat.
3. The Well Dressed Burrito, Downtown (near Dupont Circle, in some alley...)
The sauteed vegetable burrito (specify no dairy, just in case) is really good, and cheap (less than $6.) There's not much space to sit inside, but plenty of places outside to enjoy your burrito on a nice day. The burritos are HUGE. If you "make it a platter" and share it, it's a filling lunch for two. The hot salsa is pretty spicy, so go for medium or mild if you're worried about spice level. This place is worth a visit--the long lunch lines go by quickly, and it's only open for a couple hours during the lunch rush.
4. Whole Foods Market, Foggy Bottom & Logan Circle
OK, Whole Foods is not exclusive to DC. But the hot bar items aren't the same in every store, are they? I don't know, but they have local vegan desserts in stock too, like Sticky Fingers or Sweet & Natural. If you need somewhere easy for lunch with a ton of options to sample, it's good to know where the Whole Foods are.
Fojol has three food trucks with different themes--Thai, Ethiopian, and Indian. My favorite is Benethiopia (I'll let you guess which theme that one has), Dan's favorite is Volathai. All of the trucks have always had at least two vegan options when we've come across them, and usually three. Ethiopian dishes include beets, lentils, and cabbage, all delicious and served with injera. Their Thai offerings include green curry (with brussels sprouts!) and sweet potato curry. I'm always sad when there's no Fojol Bros. truck at Farragut Square, although there are usually other food trucks with some options. It's not super cheap, but if you're with someone else, the "pick three" option is usually enough for two semi-hungry people.
2. Rice Bar, Downtown (Farragut/Dupont Circle)
Rice Bar makes custom bibimbap and noodle bowls, where you select the type of rice/noodle and add veggies and proteins. I'm not sure about the broth for their noodles, but they'd be able to tell you if it's vegetarian. We always get the bibimbap, with vegetables (some, like the kim chi, might have fish sauce, again it's best to ask) and spicy tofu. The bowls are pretty big, so it's filling -- it's worth the price (under $10), especially if you can save some leftovers for another day's lunch. Their tofu is delicious, as are the vegetables. If you're craving rice or Korean food, this is where you want to eat.
3. The Well Dressed Burrito, Downtown (near Dupont Circle, in some alley...)
The sauteed vegetable burrito (specify no dairy, just in case) is really good, and cheap (less than $6.) There's not much space to sit inside, but plenty of places outside to enjoy your burrito on a nice day. The burritos are HUGE. If you "make it a platter" and share it, it's a filling lunch for two. The hot salsa is pretty spicy, so go for medium or mild if you're worried about spice level. This place is worth a visit--the long lunch lines go by quickly, and it's only open for a couple hours during the lunch rush.
4. Whole Foods Market, Foggy Bottom & Logan Circle
OK, Whole Foods is not exclusive to DC. But the hot bar items aren't the same in every store, are they? I don't know, but they have local vegan desserts in stock too, like Sticky Fingers or Sweet & Natural. If you need somewhere easy for lunch with a ton of options to sample, it's good to know where the Whole Foods are.
Dinner
While not all vegan meals in DC are inexpensive, they're all 100% worth your money. I'm dividing this category into sub-headers, because it's so hard to compare one place to another...
While not all vegan meals in DC are inexpensive, they're all 100% worth your money. I'm dividing this category into sub-headers, because it's so hard to compare one place to another...
Vegan fried "chicken", collard greens, and mac n' cheeze from Everlasting Life Cafe
Overall best:
1. Everlasting Life Cafe, near Howard University
What can I say about Everlasting Life Cafe... (hey, that kind of rhymes.) The meal in the picture is under $10, and it's one of the most filling meals you can get in DC for that price, I swear. Dan and I can usually share a plate like this and be pretty full. But even if you're getting a big plate for yourself, it's worth every penny. This is the best vegan mac and cheese that I've ever had. The greens are smoky and tender. The fried chicken is crispy. They just really know how to cook at Everlasting Life. The menu changes every day of the week, and we like to go on Saturday to get this, but they'll cook you up a fried chicken sandwich any time. The baked manicotti on Friday is also amazing. I always kind of forget how much I love Everlasting Life because it's not as flashy and populated as other places here, but every time I walk in, I remember how wonderful it is. They serve meals cafeteria style, so the service is really fast, and you can sample food before ordering it. This is my number one recommendation for getting vegan food in DC, so if you're a vegan visiting DC, take the time to stop by. It's not too far from Georgia Ave and Columbia Heights stations.
2. Black Cat, U st
We went here for the first time the other week. I can't believe we've never been here. This is my new favorite place to wash a veggie dog down with cheap beer. I don't know if I'd actually come here for dinner, this is actually an "other" category, or late-night food, or something. Black Cat has lots of fun shows and events, so check out their website and see what's going on if you plan on coming. They have as much vegan/vegetarian food as they have non-vegan options, and most of the desserts are vegan. Like Everlasting Life, this place just gives me the warm fuzzies. A good option if you want some low-maintenance food, beer, and a fun time.
1. Everlasting Life Cafe, near Howard University
What can I say about Everlasting Life Cafe... (hey, that kind of rhymes.) The meal in the picture is under $10, and it's one of the most filling meals you can get in DC for that price, I swear. Dan and I can usually share a plate like this and be pretty full. But even if you're getting a big plate for yourself, it's worth every penny. This is the best vegan mac and cheese that I've ever had. The greens are smoky and tender. The fried chicken is crispy. They just really know how to cook at Everlasting Life. The menu changes every day of the week, and we like to go on Saturday to get this, but they'll cook you up a fried chicken sandwich any time. The baked manicotti on Friday is also amazing. I always kind of forget how much I love Everlasting Life because it's not as flashy and populated as other places here, but every time I walk in, I remember how wonderful it is. They serve meals cafeteria style, so the service is really fast, and you can sample food before ordering it. This is my number one recommendation for getting vegan food in DC, so if you're a vegan visiting DC, take the time to stop by. It's not too far from Georgia Ave and Columbia Heights stations.
2. Black Cat, U st
We went here for the first time the other week. I can't believe we've never been here. This is my new favorite place to wash a veggie dog down with cheap beer. I don't know if I'd actually come here for dinner, this is actually an "other" category, or late-night food, or something. Black Cat has lots of fun shows and events, so check out their website and see what's going on if you plan on coming. They have as much vegan/vegetarian food as they have non-vegan options, and most of the desserts are vegan. Like Everlasting Life, this place just gives me the warm fuzzies. A good option if you want some low-maintenance food, beer, and a fun time.
East Asian (I hate generalizing food as "Asian", and "East Asian" is almost as bad, but I'm not sure what else to call it... Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese...)
Note: My favorite Thai places are actually in Arlington, VA, which is practically DC, but I didn't include them just because I'd rather feature central DC's offerings... but if you're in Arlington, go for Thai food, or check out the Chinese Sunflower Cafe :)
Note: My favorite Thai places are actually in Arlington, VA, which is practically DC, but I didn't include them just because I'd rather feature central DC's offerings... but if you're in Arlington, go for Thai food, or check out the Chinese Sunflower Cafe :)
Crispy shiitake from Harmony Cafe
1. Harmony Cafe (menu), Georgetown
Harmony Cafe is a Chinese restaurant with meat and vegan offerings. Most of its fake meat is vegan, you can ask the waitress about it. If you go during a crowded time, service might be slow, but it's not too bad if you're not in a rush. Either way, the lady working there is very friendly and the food is great! We recommend the crispy shiitake as an appetizer--the mushrooms are fried and covered in a mitarashi-like sauce, and they're SO GOOD. The clay pots as an entree is a good bet, but any of the veggie meat or tofu options are worth trying. They have pretty much what any Chinese restaurant has, plus more! If you're in Georgetown, you should check out the waterfront, have a soy latte at Baked and Wired, do some shopping (or browsing, let's be real, this is Georgetown), and then come here for dinner. Sounds like a great date, huh... :)
2 (tied). The Thai Place, Foggy Bottom
OK, this place only has like 3.5 stars on Yelp, but it shares my top Thai pick for DC. For some reason, their eggplant basil won me over in a way that no other Thai place has. Like at any Thai restaurant, you should specify no fish sauce or egg on any of the tofu or noodle dishes. I have fond JASC memories of eating here, since I came here as an EC during the 62nd with my fellow site coordinators, and we also took a visiting JASCer here. Maybe that's why it holds such a high spot in my heart?
2 (tied). Thai Tanic, Logan Circle and Columbia Heights
It's a Thai! (ha ha) Thai Tanic is great if you're looking for Thai food in a populated space with decent cocktails. Logan Circle is also a fun area with a few bars and shops. The ambiance at Thai Tanic is lively without being too loud or crowded, usually. They have a vegetarian section of the menu, but they can make any item vegetarian if you talk to the server. I always go with eggplant dishes at Thai restaurants, but next time I might branch out and try a veggie version of the "Bird Nest on Fire"... chili paste and kale? Yum.
3. Pho 14, Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan
This is actually Dan's number 1 pick, and the best place for vegan pho. Their vegetable broth is made with apples, among other ingredients, which just makes it sound awesome to begin with. And it tastes great too! They really put a lot of vegetables in their pho, and it's pretty cheap for a "regular" bowl, which is fairly large. I actually get too full from the Pho, so I like the Banh Mi Chay, which they'll serve with veggie broth if you ask for vegetarian. Their veggie spring rolls are also a must-try. Afterwards, you can head over to Sticky Fingers for dessert...
Harmony Cafe is a Chinese restaurant with meat and vegan offerings. Most of its fake meat is vegan, you can ask the waitress about it. If you go during a crowded time, service might be slow, but it's not too bad if you're not in a rush. Either way, the lady working there is very friendly and the food is great! We recommend the crispy shiitake as an appetizer--the mushrooms are fried and covered in a mitarashi-like sauce, and they're SO GOOD. The clay pots as an entree is a good bet, but any of the veggie meat or tofu options are worth trying. They have pretty much what any Chinese restaurant has, plus more! If you're in Georgetown, you should check out the waterfront, have a soy latte at Baked and Wired, do some shopping (or browsing, let's be real, this is Georgetown), and then come here for dinner. Sounds like a great date, huh... :)
2 (tied). The Thai Place, Foggy Bottom
OK, this place only has like 3.5 stars on Yelp, but it shares my top Thai pick for DC. For some reason, their eggplant basil won me over in a way that no other Thai place has. Like at any Thai restaurant, you should specify no fish sauce or egg on any of the tofu or noodle dishes. I have fond JASC memories of eating here, since I came here as an EC during the 62nd with my fellow site coordinators, and we also took a visiting JASCer here. Maybe that's why it holds such a high spot in my heart?
2 (tied). Thai Tanic, Logan Circle and Columbia Heights
It's a Thai! (ha ha) Thai Tanic is great if you're looking for Thai food in a populated space with decent cocktails. Logan Circle is also a fun area with a few bars and shops. The ambiance at Thai Tanic is lively without being too loud or crowded, usually. They have a vegetarian section of the menu, but they can make any item vegetarian if you talk to the server. I always go with eggplant dishes at Thai restaurants, but next time I might branch out and try a veggie version of the "Bird Nest on Fire"... chili paste and kale? Yum.
3. Pho 14, Columbia Heights and Adams Morgan
This is actually Dan's number 1 pick, and the best place for vegan pho. Their vegetable broth is made with apples, among other ingredients, which just makes it sound awesome to begin with. And it tastes great too! They really put a lot of vegetables in their pho, and it's pretty cheap for a "regular" bowl, which is fairly large. I actually get too full from the Pho, so I like the Banh Mi Chay, which they'll serve with veggie broth if you ask for vegetarian. Their veggie spring rolls are also a must-try. Afterwards, you can head over to Sticky Fingers for dessert...
Ethiopian
1. Meskerem, Adams Morgan
DC has a ton of Ethiopian restaurants, and some markets. I've only tried three or four Ethiopian places in DC, so I only have one top pick here, but it's a good one. The veggie combo is the best thing to get here -- it's a selection of vegetarian dishes served with injera, the fermented bread which is like a spoon you can eat. I love injera almost as much as I love Ethiopian lentil dishes, and they're both top-quality at Meskerem! There are a lot of fun bars, cafes, and shops nearby if you want to spend an evening in Adam's Morgan.
1. Meskerem, Adams Morgan
DC has a ton of Ethiopian restaurants, and some markets. I've only tried three or four Ethiopian places in DC, so I only have one top pick here, but it's a good one. The veggie combo is the best thing to get here -- it's a selection of vegetarian dishes served with injera, the fermented bread which is like a spoon you can eat. I love injera almost as much as I love Ethiopian lentil dishes, and they're both top-quality at Meskerem! There are a lot of fun bars, cafes, and shops nearby if you want to spend an evening in Adam's Morgan.
Dessert
My favorite meal.
My favorite meal.
Treats at Sticky Fingers.
1. Sticky Fingers, Columbia Heights
Another appearance from DC's greatest vegan bakery. Their cupcakes have won so many contests, I'm not even going to mention them. They have seasonal specials that I always have to try, because I LOVE seasonal stuff, and they're just soooo good at making vegan desserts. They have gluten free options as well. Everything is SO GOOD. That's all.
Another appearance from DC's greatest vegan bakery. Their cupcakes have won so many contests, I'm not even going to mention them. They have seasonal specials that I always have to try, because I LOVE seasonal stuff, and they're just soooo good at making vegan desserts. They have gluten free options as well. Everything is SO GOOD. That's all.
Happy Hours
Washington's other favorite meal.
1. Zengo, Chinatown/Gallery Place
Zengo is a Spanish-Asian fusion (again, I feel weird generalizing Asia here, but it's mainly Korean and Japanese inspired.) $5 margaritas, beers, and appetizers during happy hour here. You can also order off of the regular vegetarian menu, though there's no deal. They have good margaritas and a sauteed bok choy appetizer (which they call "kim chi", but it's not! still good though.) It tends to get pretty crowded here, but I like the area and really like their drinks. They won't alter the happy hour specials to make them vegan, but you can order off the regular menu and alter those dishes if you want.
Washington's other favorite meal.
1. Zengo, Chinatown/Gallery Place
Zengo is a Spanish-Asian fusion (again, I feel weird generalizing Asia here, but it's mainly Korean and Japanese inspired.) $5 margaritas, beers, and appetizers during happy hour here. You can also order off of the regular vegetarian menu, though there's no deal. They have good margaritas and a sauteed bok choy appetizer (which they call "kim chi", but it's not! still good though.) It tends to get pretty crowded here, but I like the area and really like their drinks. They won't alter the happy hour specials to make them vegan, but you can order off the regular menu and alter those dishes if you want.
Vegan pizza and beers from Pizzeria Paradiso
2. Pizzeria Paradiso, Dupont Circle and Georgetown (link is to the Happy Hour page)
They have happy hou deals on pizza and beers. The beer selection here is really good, and the pizza is also among my favorite pizza in DC. It can also get crowded here, like any happy hour place (or really any place serving drinks Thursday-Saturday), but it's worth waiting for. They have a few vegetarian pizzas that you can sub vegan cheese for -- you might want to ask when you sit down if they have vegan cheese in stock, in case they run out (it's happened to us before
at another restaurant.) This is also a great place to take non-vegan friends for good food and drinks!
They have happy hou deals on pizza and beers. The beer selection here is really good, and the pizza is also among my favorite pizza in DC. It can also get crowded here, like any happy hour place (or really any place serving drinks Thursday-Saturday), but it's worth waiting for. They have a few vegetarian pizzas that you can sub vegan cheese for -- you might want to ask when you sit down if they have vegan cheese in stock, in case they run out (it's happened to us before
at another restaurant.) This is also a great place to take non-vegan friends for good food and drinks!
Honorable Mentions:
Smoke and Barrel, Adams Morgan: BBQ with vegan options--try the tofu burger or tacos! Specify vegan for anything you order...
Red Rocks Neapolitan Bistro, Columbia Heights: Another yummy pizza place that has vegan cheese and good drinks.
Amsterdam Falafelshop, Adams Morgan: Vegetarian falafel place. A lot of toppings are vegan; some have yogurt. The falafel is good, the toppings are even better. It gets crowded on late-late-weekend-nights but it's understandable why...
Nationals Park, Navy Yard: Vegan chili from Ben's Chili Bowl and vegan sloppy "janes" from Georgetown Grill (I think...) Nationals games are one of our favorite things to do in DC, and having vegan food available (pricey, but what do you expect at a stadium...) makes the game that much better. Go Nats. (Update: As a commenter pointed out, there's also a few falafel options: Max's Kosher Cafe and Schawafel. We tried Schawafel this summer and really enjoyed the wrap and seasoned fries that we ordered.)
Smoke and Barrel, Adams Morgan: BBQ with vegan options--try the tofu burger or tacos! Specify vegan for anything you order...
Red Rocks Neapolitan Bistro, Columbia Heights: Another yummy pizza place that has vegan cheese and good drinks.
Amsterdam Falafelshop, Adams Morgan: Vegetarian falafel place. A lot of toppings are vegan; some have yogurt. The falafel is good, the toppings are even better. It gets crowded on late-late-weekend-nights but it's understandable why...
Nationals Park, Navy Yard: Vegan chili from Ben's Chili Bowl and vegan sloppy "janes" from Georgetown Grill (I think...) Nationals games are one of our favorite things to do in DC, and having vegan food available (pricey, but what do you expect at a stadium...) makes the game that much better. Go Nats. (Update: As a commenter pointed out, there's also a few falafel options: Max's Kosher Cafe and Schawafel. We tried Schawafel this summer and really enjoyed the wrap and seasoned fries that we ordered.)
Addition for Nationals Park: Max's Kosher cafe in section 143 and Shawafel - two good falafel options. (Note Max's is closed on Fridays and Saturdays)
ReplyDeleteGood point--we tried Schawafal for the first time at a game this summer, and really liked the wrap!
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