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When dining out on the Peninsula these days, it’s usually not difficult to find some plant-based options, but for those who follow vegetarians and vegan diets, it’s especially gratifying to support businesses that are specifically meatless or entirely animal-product free.
There’s nothing like the feeling of browsing a menu with the knowledge that all of it is available to you (and, of course, you don’t have to be vegan to enjoy a delicious, plant-based meal). Here are 10 vegetarian restaurants (many of which are fully vegan) on the Peninsula – from beloved classics to fresh establishments that have opened more recently.
Chaat Bhavan, Mountain View and Sunnyvale (vegetarian)
When Gary Singh moved to the Bay Area a couple of decades ago, he found himself missing the taste of homemade Indian food and opened the first Chaat Bhavan Vegetarian Restaurant in Fremont in 2009.
Chaat Bhavan has since expanded into a small local chain, with outposts in Mountain View and Sunnyvale. The restaurant has a huge menu with plenty of choices from across India, such as dumpling curries, snacks, thali and Indo-Chinese items, plus specialty drinks and desserts. Vegan dishes are noted on the menu.
Chaat Bhavan, 165 E. El Camino Real, Mountain View, 976 E. El Camino Real, Sunnyvale and 544 Lawrence Expressway, Sunnyvale (Chaat Bhavan Express); Instagram: @chaatbhavan.official. Check online for location hours.
Falafelle, Belmont (vegetarian)
This unassuming Mediterranean (and mostly vegan) vegetarian street-food spot in Belmont specializes in crunchy and flavorful falafel made from scratch. It’s offered in various formats and combos, including wraps and pita sandwiches. You can also find salads, pickles, labneh and fries, among other items.
Falafelle, 1035 Ralston Ave., Belmont; Instagram: @falafelle.us. Open Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Garden Fresh, Mountain View (vegan)
Though the downtown Palo Alto branch of Garden Fresh is no more, the longtime Mountain View location – winner of the Best Vegetarian Cuisine category in this news organization’s 2024’s Best of Mountain View contest – is still going strong.
For many years, Garden Fresh has been cooking up vegan versions of Chinese classics such as crispy sesame “chicken,” vegetarian “beef” with broccoli, sweet-and-sour “pork” and so much more.
Garden Fresh, 1245 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 4:30-9:30 p.m.
Happy Flower Eatery & Boba, Sunnyvale (vegan)
Happy Flower Eatery & Boba, which opened in 2023, is indeed a very happy place for Vietnamese food fans, offering fresh vegan soups, rolls, banh mi, lemongrass entrees, noodles and lunch plates, plus boba drinks and some Thai, Malaysian and other specialities.
Happy Flower Eatery & Boba, 1274 Persian Drive, Sunnyvale; Instagram: @happyflowereatery. Open Wednesday to Monday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. (closed for vacation through Aug. 19).
Merit Vegan Restaurant, Sunnyvale (vegan)
This longtime favorite offers a big menu of plant-based dishes, many of which draw from Vietnamese and Southeast Asian cuisine, such as the Viet sweet-sour soup, Saigon noodle soup and vegan pho, plus a selection of desserts such as tiramisu, Oreo cheesecake and peanut butter pie. Merit’s website also features a free video library and a blog with articles on veganism.
Merit Vegan Restaurant, 548 Lawrence Expressway, Suite 2, Sunnyvale; Instagram: @meritvegetarian. Open daily from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4:30-8 p.m.
Que SeRaw SeRaw, Burlingame (mostly vegan; some honey)
Que SeRaw SeRaw is organic and mostly vegan, aside from a small amount of local honey used in some of its desserts and dressings. As the name suggests, the eatery focuses on raw foods, with a mission to offer a dining option that is easier on the planet, doesn’t support factory farming and nourishes good health.
Menus vary weekly and include items such as smoothies, salads and creative raw desserts. Recently, the restaurant relocated to a new spot on Broadway in Burlingame, with plans to reopen soon, according to its Instagram account.
Que SeRaw SeRaw, reopening soon at 1305 Broadway, Burlingame; Instagram: @queserawseraw.
Tane Vegan Izakaya, Palo Alto (vegan)
From basic favorites such as avocado rolls, California rolls made with tofu and bonito-free agadashi tofu to elaborate speciality rolls such as the Point Reyes – featuring marinated eryngii, avocado, spicy shredded tofu, pickled pineapple, pickled jalapeno, sweet teriyaki and habanero – to ramen and yakimono, the Palo Alto branch of Tane Vegan Izakaya is a vegan Japanese food lover’s dream.
Tane Vegan Izakaya, 461 Emerson St., Palo Alto; Instagram: @taneveganpaloalto. Open Tuesday to Friday 5-9:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 4:30-10 p.m.
Twelvemonth, Burlingame (vegan)
The elegant Twelvemonth restaurant, bar and bakehouse in Burlingame describes its cuisine as global, “through a California lens.” Sourcing wine and beer exclusively from California and focused on local producers, diners can find all kinds of dishes that celebrate the complexity, flavor and flexibility of plants, including a seasonal chef’s tasting menu. Twelvemonth’s environmental commitment goes beyond its plant-based food. The restaurant is certified LEED platinum, uses solar power and collects and reuses rainwater on site.
Twelvemonth, 330 Lorton Ave., Burlingame; Instagram: @twelvemonthburlingame. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-8 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.
Veggie Garden, Mountain View (vegan)
Just up the road from Garden Fresh is Veggie Garden, another casual spot serving a selection of veggie takes on (mostly) Chinese-food favorites, including wonton soup, vegetarian General’s “chicken,” and Gobi Manchurian (crispy cauliflower). You can also find Thai curry, basil tempura, sweet potato fries and vegan cakes.
Veggie Garden, 2464 W. El Camino Real, Mountain View. Open Tuesday to Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and 5-9:30 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m.
Wildseed, Palo Alto (vegan)
Located in the bustling Town & Country Village shopping center, the Palo Alto branch of Wildseed, which also has a location in San Francisco, offers seasonally focused, plant-based cuisine with an emphasis on eating the rainbow.
The menu was developed with a registered dietician, and the cuisine is rooted in fresh takes on foods from a wide variety of traditions, from smashburgers and pizza to curry, poke and more. Wildseed also offers housemade cocktails, gut-friendly sodas and “fancy juices.”
Wildseed, 855 El Camino Real, Palo Alto; Instagram: @wildseedsf. Open Monday to Thursday from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
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