RESTAURANTS
Convenient and scrumptious vegetarian foods have sprouted up among our nation’s restaurant menus and grocery aisles. With over 100 strictly vegetarian restaurants (about a third of them vegan), a myriad natural food stores, and vegetarian networks and gatherings, the Bay Area is perhaps the most veg-friendly region in the country. This quick guide to our favorite community restaurants and retailers in and around Palo Alto for your benefit. Our hope is that this guide will help make your vegetarianism practical, sustainable, and full of flavor. Note: All businesses are in Palo Alto unless otherwise specified. Keep in mind that this is just a glimpse of the vast range of local vegetarian fare. For more comprehensive information check out http://www.bayareaveg.org/ug/
Kan Zeman & Mediterranean Wraps
Kan Zeman
274 University Avenue
650-328-5245
http://www.kanzeman.com/
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm
Mediterranean Wraps
425 S. California Avenue
650-321-8189
http://www.kanzeman.com/medwraps.htm
Mon-Fri 11:30am-9pm
Kan Zeman & Mediterranean Wraps are sister restaurants with similar tastes but different styles. Mediterranean Wraps is a quick, order-at-the-counter alternative to Kan Zeman, a casual, sit-down restaurant with a greater variety of offerings. At Mediterranean Wraps, the Falafel Wrap is a substantial meal made with fresh ingredients. The wrap can be ordered “Deluxe” style with added potatoes and eggplant. The Vegetarian Combo is a colorful array of hummus, falafel, tabouleh, baba ghanoush, dolma, and Mediterranean salad. At Kan Zaman try the Vegetarian Couscous, the Mujadarah (rice and lentil), and the Vegetarian Bamieh ala-edamaha (Okra). The lentil soup, which accompanies many dishes, is not to be missed. Yogurt can be replaced with hummus or falafel upon request.
Darbar Indian Cuisine (Veg-friendly)
129 Lytton Avenue
650-325-3586
http://www.darbarcuisine.com/
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11am-2:30 pm
Dinner: Sun-Wed 5pm-9:30 pm - Thurs-Sat 5pm-10pm
Darbar Cuisine is consistent champ of the Palo Alto Weekly’s “Best Indian Restaurant” award and for good reason. Darbar fuses North and South Indian cuisine with mouth-watering mastery. The dinner menu offers a range of vegetarian dishes and the vegetarian Thali dinner, a combo of 12 different dishes including dessert. Darbar is most notable for its lunch buffet. The weekday all-you-can-eat buffet for $10 provides an impressive variety of predominantly vegan dishes. Janta India Cuisine, a few blocks from Darbar, offers an equally delectable dinner but a less varied lunch buffet.
Café Sophia
2706 Middlefield Rd
650-322-2906
Once a coffee shop, this midtown enterprise recently evolved into a full-fledged Afghan cuisine while keeping the pastry and coffee. For a cozy atmosphere, a low bill, and an extraordinarily wholesome meal this is the place to go. The menu features a variety of vegetarian entrees that can be prepared vegan upon request.
Rojoz Gourmet Wraps
60 Town and Country Village
650-324-9727
If you’re pressed for time or just want some tasty Mexican fare, Rojoz is the place for you. These “wrapidly” prepared burritos are made with fine ingredients that make them taste like anything but fast food. The menu has several items labeled vegan and others that can be made without cheese on request. For a satisfying, protein-packed meal try the Tofu For U filled with tofu, black beans, rice, and a mix of vegetables. For a lighter alternative consider the Garden of Eatin’ salad.
Tamarine Restaurant
546 University Avenue
650-325-8500
http://www.tamarinerestaurant.com/
Lunch: Mon-Fri 11:30-2:30 pm
Dinner: Sun-Thurs 5:30-9pm - Fri 5:30-10pm & Sat 5-10 pm
For an aesthetic and intensely flavorful journey into Vietnamese cuisine visit Tamarine. At this upscale downtown restaurant, which showcases contemporary Vietnamese art, you will no doubt encounter new flavors. Tamarine cooks up a variety of vegan dishes and is flexible enough to substitute vegetarian ingredients for animal products in other dishes. The Ternion of Mushroom Soup prepared with vegetable broth, the Chili Lime Aubergine, and Basil Tofu are highly recommended.
GROCERY STORES
A decade ago items like soymilk, vegetarian microwaveable dinners, and other meatless convenience items were limited to specialty stores. Today these items are a common find at American supermarkets, as retailers are constantly evolving to meet the growing demand for convenient vegetarian foods. Just about any animal product you can think of: bacon, buffalo wings, roasts, deli slices and ice cream bars are now commonly sold in vegan form. Cartons of cows milk that used to hog the shelf space in the dairy section now reside among a new set of neighbors: soy, rice, almond, oat, and grain milks. In addition to a surge in vegetarian convenience products, supermarkets have an unprecedented variety of fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes, all vegan. Here are some grocers we have found to be particularly veg-friendly.
Whole Foods
774 Emerson Street
650-326-8676
8am-10pm seven days a week
Considering that Whole Foods was founded by a vegetarian, it’s no surprise that the natural food chain is one of the most veg-awesome grocers around. At Whole Foods you’ll find an exciting range of organic produce and a bulk section with an endless array of grains, cereals, trail mixes, and nuts. The store bakery offers top-notch cakes, pies, tarts, and cookies made without dairy or eggs. A variety of pre-made vegetarian products are sold in the refrigerated and frozen sections.
Trader Joe’s
720 Menlo Ave, Menlo Park
650-323-2134
Trader Joe’s is a maverick – even among natural food chains. With a quirky, Polynesian-themed store atmosphere animated by a staff attired in Hawaiian shirts, Trader Joe’s juxtaposes everyday essentials with specialty foods that are unusual and often addictive. Only at Trader Joe’s will you find things like Thai Lime and Chili Peanuts, Three-Layer Hummus, and Vegan Trail Mix Cookies.
Country Sun
440 S. California Street, Palo Alto
650-324-9190
Country Sun Natural Foods, a community store, is a great alternative to the mega natural food chains. Country Sun is sensitive to its customers ethical and health related concerns, offering local and organic produce, gluten-free products, and an abundance of vegan goodies.
Palo Alto Farmers Market
Gilman Street, downtown Palo Alto,
behind the Palo Alto Post Office
Every Saturday: 8am-12pm,
mid-May through mid-December.
There is no place where it is easier to shop ethically than a farmers market. At the supermarket, the origins of food are often obscured by packaging or distorted by cleverly crafted claims and images. At farmers markets, the concerned consumer can meet face-to-face with the growers, ask questions and hear stories about what they are buying, and make decisions accordingly. The Palo Alto Farmers Market brings together dozens of sellers each Saturday and countless customers. Vegetarian items include produce, breads, oils and vinegars, jams, nuts, and soy products. Neighboring towns like Menlo Park and San Carlos also have farmers markets. To find the one nearest you check out: http://apps.ams.usda.gov/FarmersMarkets/
MORE RESOURCES
Bay Area Vegetarians
Bay Area Vegetarians (BAVeg) is a 100% volunteer, plant-powered organization with over 2,000 members. BAveg is one of the most active and multi-faceted vegetarian societies in America. BAveg volunteers hold vegetarian and advocacy events including monthly dinners, potlucks, lectures, and protests. Check out: http://bayareaveg.org/ to learn more or get involved.
Peninsula Macrobiotic Community
First Baptist Church
305 North California Avenue
650-599-3320
The Peninsula Macrobiotic Community holds vegan dinners every Monday evening at 6:30 pm at the First Baptist Church in Palo Alto. The casual dinners are open to the public and attract people of all ages, diets, and backgrounds. The lovingly prepared meals are full of flavor and as nourishing as can be. Reservations must be made before 9:30 am the day of the dinner. Most meals are priced at $14, and take-out is available at the same price. For more information and the current menu visit: http://www.peninsulamacro.org/