9 Vegan Restaurants in San Francisco You Need to Visit

San Francisco is a popular destination for many types of cuisine, and vegan food is no exception. You won’t find boring standbys like black bean burgers, salads, or plain old pasta at these all-vegan restaurants in San Francisco. Get ready for some creativity because the vegan food scene in the city by the bay has stepped up its game.

From raw food to vegan sushi spots, to burger joints, farm-to-table Mexican and more, there are plenty of delicious spots to visit. Here are nine vegan restaurants in San Francisco that should be on your list, along with what we recommend to order at each spot. Come hungry!

Note: These are 100% vegan establishments except for the last one. If a menu item says “cheese” or “chicken” you can safely assume it’s the vegan version.

Photo Courtesy of VeganBurg

Cha-Ya Vegetarian

What you should order: Cha-Ya roll, Soba Salad, Gyoza, Cha Ya Delight, choose from many Sake options to drink. 

Another longtime staple on the San Francisco vegan restaurant scene, with a sister location across the Bay in Berkeley, Cha-Ya’s Japanese cuisine is consistent and delightful. Many of their dishes are made in respect to the Buddhist tradition, leaving out onions, garlic, scallions, chives, and leeks, the five pungent spices that are forbidden in some Buddhist sects. As they say on their menu, “Consuming these items is said to lead to anger and passion. It is even believed by some that these odors repel gods and instead, attract hungry spirits and demons!” Many items they offer are more moderately spiced, but none are lacking in flavor and not all follow the Buddhist tradition. The fan favorite Cha-Ya roll is tempura fried and served with a special sauce drizzle. Be sure to bring cash when you visit this cozy spot (they’re cash only), and order a few things on the menu. Address: 762 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94110, (415) 252-7825.

Photo Courtesy of Golden Era

Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar and Izakaya

What you should order: Choose your own ramen and any of the specialty sushi rolls. You can’t go wrong. They also offer a small list of great cocktails, try the kin-san-gria with sake, muddled lychee, Riesling, and strawberries.  

In 2015 Shizen joined the ranks of vegan restaurants in San Francisco scene and they’ve been selling out tables nightly since then. Seriously, it’s exceptionally busy. They only have a partial waitlist you can access online, and you must have your full party present before even thinking about being seated. Their location on 14th is just off the main drag in the Mission, and they’ve really transformed their small space into something fantastic. When it comes to their food, you can’t go wrong with any version of their ramen (Shio, Shoyu, or Spicy garlic miso) but they’re also really well known for their specialty sushi rolls. Choose from whimsically named creations like the Colonel’s Pipe or Open Invitation. Looking for a dish with some flair? Order the Candlestick – it comes with a side of fire. Yes, we mean that literally. Address: 370 14th Street San Francisco, CA 94103, Phone: (415) 678-5767.

Photo Courtesy of Katie Corrigan

Vegan Picnic

What you should order: The crispy chicken is a classic, and we like the old school deli vibe of the salmi sub. If you’re there for breakfast (which we also recommend) go sweet with a donut (yeah, we said it) or the maple banana waffles, and if savory is your thing, go for the ham and cheese croissant.

When Vegan Picnic owner Jill Ritchie first went vegan, she was underwhelmed with the quality of food she was finding for her family. Vegan Picnic is her answer to that problem, a San Francisco vegan restaurant filled with dishes based on childhood classics. Jill’s favorite is the vegan fish fillet, and we’re fans of the crispy chicken. They have many gluten free options as well and offer breakfast every day of the week. Their food is indulgent and nostalgic, often just what we’re looking for in vegan food. The location is small, just a few stools at the window, so get it to go and have a picnic! As a bonus, Vegan Picnic also doubles as a small grocery store. Get some goods from companies like Hippeas, Arare Rice crackers, Banza, Miyokos, Unreal, and more.  Address: 1977A Union Street San Francisco, CA 94123, Phone: (415) 323-3043.

Photo Courtesy of Next Level Burger

Gracias Madre

What you should order: Pozole, Cesar salad, Coliflor Frito, Quesadilla, Cobbler.

You can find this farm-to-table Mexican restaurant in the Mission, not too far from Cha-Ya and Shizen. Gracias Madre owners Terces and Matthew Engelhart also own nearby Be Love Farm where they grow a majority of the produce for the restaurant. They started Gracias Madre to fill a gap in organic, plant-based, non-GMO Mexican food, in the Bay Area. The response has been a consistently full restaurant since they opened. Reservations at this vegan restaurant in San Francisco are recommended, and seating is communal, meaning if your party is less than four people, you’re probably going to be sitting at a table with some strangers. Don’t be shy! Ask them what they’re ordering and try something new. We like the pozole, a traditional hominy stew in a spicy red ancho broth, topped with avocado, cabbage, and cashew crema. Our only critique is that it would come in a bigger bowl. For dessert order whatever seasonal cobbler they have and savor their housemade cinnamon coconut ice cream. Address: 2211 Mission St. San Francisco, CA, Phone: (415) 683-1346.

(Honorary vegan restaurant in San Francisco)

Shout Out to Vegan Restaurants in San Francisco That Have Closed

A thank you to the time, love, and energy from our friends at Seed + Salt, Source, and Citizen Fox, three San Francisco vegan restaurants we’re sad to be without. From the amazing raw gluten-free salads at Seed and Salt, the endless options at Source, and the creative brunches at Citizen Fox, we miss you. To those that are brave enough to open their doors, we thank you! Enjoy a meal at any of the locations above and let us know what you think.

Love Stretchy Pants?

If you’re looking for even more must-have vegan food in SF, then check out our food tours. Many tours can include vegan items! It’s a great way to spend an afternoon and an experience you won’t want to miss!

-Alexis Croswell

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