I struggled with this post as there’s not a lot of data to back up the opinions here and I’m really not looking to hurt local small businesses by pitting one against another. On the flip side, a review that doesn’t do comparisons isn’t that helpful or interesting, and our family has eaten at most of the local places and has opinions. In the end, I wrote it as though giving somebody advice, but keep in mind it’s just the view of one cranky middle aged vegetarian with an untrained palate:
Pub foods: Elysian Brew Pub beats out Blue Star, Murphy’s, Kate’s Pub, and Leny’s with their oasis platter plus beer sampler, giving you a nice range of tastes to choose from. Having said that, if any of them offered a decent vegetarian reuben they’d jump to the top of the list right away. There’s definitely a slot for good vegetarian pub food waiting to be filled, for now you’ll need to go to Eugene, Oregon for that.
American food: Frankly we leave the hood and go to Sunlight Cafe up on 65th when we want good vegetarian American food since all the good vegetarian American food in Wallingford is on the too-fancy side. Having said that, Sutra is just about the most interesting meal you can get in Seattle as a vegetarian, you just need to be OK with a reservation for a long meal that starts at the appointed seating time. It’s good for dates, not for families. Tilth and Mkt are loved by foodies and are similar to each other with good but pricey / fancy food and a rotating menu, but with Sutra around I don’t see much point in them. Julia’s is the only non-fussy choice in Wallingford, but the food and atmosphere is flat there.
Italian: For Italian I guess the best is still Bizarro or Cantinetta, although they’re also both high on the fussy list and their vegetarian options are clearly an after thought. I really wanted to like Perche’ No as I like the building and their mushroom risotto, but we got sick a couple times from eating there, plus their quality is really scattershot. I now skip all these places, if you want fancy just go to Sutra.
Pizza: Pagliacci wins for takeout and Olympic for eat in, although clearly Tutta Bella has some fans. Pudge brothers seems to mostly benefit from being cheap.
BBQ: Roro’s offers portabello, but they will look at you like you’ve made the wrong choices in life when you ask for it. Pinky’s has no patience for you at all.
Thai: Jhanjay is crazy good and you can get all the food without eggs, making it even better. I just wish they had a bit larger space like they do in Ballard. The only other Thai place to go if you’re vegetarian is May Thai, which is different enough from Jhanjay in decor, food, and drink that they’re worth the occasional visit. May Thai is pricey as you’re paying for the atmosphere, so skip takeout. Djan’s and Sea Thai are just lesser versions of Jhanjay if you’re vegetarian.
Indian Style Food: Sherpa in Tangletown has offerings similar to Chutneys but is a lot healthier while still being tasty. After Chutneys you’ll want a nap, but you can climb a mountain after Sherpa.
Mexican: TNT Taqueria has cage free eggs and good vegetarian choices across the board, it’s a clear win, although a bit messy for takeout and cramped for eating in. Rancho Bravo is clearly not for vegetarians despite a token offering, and I’m not sure that what Taco Time offers even qualifies as food. If you want family fare then treking around the lake to Rositas is still a fine choice.
Middle Eastern Food: Mr Gyros wins for casual with great falafel, or Bodrum for dining out with 2 or 3 vegetarian entrees plus specials to choose from. Both are great recent additions to the neighborhood, I no longer pine for the Golden Olive.
Sushi: Kisaku wins the vegetarian sushi crown for us as the space & food are perfect, plus the prices are good. They even have a separate vegetarian menu that’s all good stuff, especially the edamame, garden roll, and vegetable tempura. The ship is run so tightly that you’ll feel like you have your act together just by eating there, yet they’re still nice. Unfortunately all that makes it popular so you need to make a reservation now adays.
Miscellaneous: Diggity Dog features veggie dogs now, although I’m not sure why you wouldn’t make those yourself. Satay is good if you have a real dog as you can take it to the back porch, but the menu is slim. Pam’s kitchen is also in a category of its own but it’s overpriced and only has one entree so we skip it now. Kabul is good for specifically Afghan food and things like eggplant drizzled with yogurt, but you pay a fair bit for the privilege.
Places You’re Not Welcome: Hawaiian Breeze, Bamboo Village, Pinky’s BBQ, Whale Wins, Dick’s land of big trucks, and, at the very bottom of the list, Art of the Table featuring foie gras. Hey elephant activists, why the hell are you protesting at the zoo and not going after foie gras instead? Please explain that reasoning to me.
Places I know nothing about: Rocking Wok, Manolin, Kid Valley (except their shakes are no good).
What are we missing out on?
Spot on reviews! You did not asses Rocking Wok, but “vegetarian” apparently has no translation in Taiwanese culture. As with most Chinese restaurants, the tofu dishes have pork in them.
I’m not sure what you mean about Pam’s only having one entree. They always offer chana aloo as a veg entree, and they have the veg combo, where the components change every day. My fave is when it has the chana aloo, pumpkin, and green beans (sometimes it has okra, which is not for me). They also have plenty of other options that aren’t “entrees” but could certainly make a meal — try an aloo pie and a side of green beans. Also, overpriced? Huh? $10 – $13 for a veggie main dish is overpriced?
Not on your list: Miyabi 45th. You can get soba with veggie broth, and it’s delicious.
Thanks for a nice, concise, frank rundown of the current state of our food options. Interested to see countervailing opinions.
Got sick a *couple* of times? Geez. The second time had to be unpleasant — physically and emotionally. Not sure if that can be countervelt.
Hot tip: Linking to the restaurant sites would be a helpful bonus especially for unfamiliar/new places like Mr Gyros. Btw, edit: My -> Mr.
Thanks for the summary!
Kidd Valley does have a decent (IMHO) veggie burger.
/rob
You are entitled to your opinion, of course, but the poke at (locally owned and somewhat locally sourced) Taco Time, yet again (“yet again” on Wallyhood, that is) surprises me. They have several vegetarian options that are more than just “afterthoughts”, and although pricey for fast food, my wife and I dig ’em. So there. 😉
/rob
Keep in mind that Elysian’s brewpubs are no longer a “local small businesses”.
4649 (Yoroshiku) have awesome veg options too!
http://www.yelp.com/biz/yoroshiku-seattle-4
In case you missed it, Chai and Bamboo have been shipped from Seattle and now reside in an even worse zoo than WPZ. And how do you know that the many animal advocates who campaigned for their more humane and sane outcome (a GFAS sanctuary) aren’t expressing concerns about foie gras at local restaurants?
Satay has some vegan/vegetarian options on their menu that are tasty.
Tempted to pile on the loves/hates, and yet: you love some places I hate, and the reverse. Every dinner isn’t always a winner at my house either. I do love how civil we are being so far.
And agreed: no one went to Moon Temple for the food.
No love for SeaThai?
Speaking of Elysian and of getting sick, 3/4 of our family got sick after eating there last week. We should have left at the 15 minute mark when we were still waiting for service. Sadly, it was our last visit.
Why does everyone hate Taco Time? For fast food, you won’t find more local-ish ingredients and it’s locally owned. Plusalso, their commitment to compostable packaging is admirable. It’s really not bad. It’s not gourmet, but why all the hate?
My Gyros –> Mr Gyros + links added, thanks!
For Sushi my knowledge is pretty thin- I’ve had average sushi a couple times on 45th and Kisaku is pretty well perfect, so we just go there now. Is there something better for vegetarians on 45th, or just other places that are also good?
Regarding elephant activists, I’m sure they oppose foie gras as well, but that’s not where their energy and protest efforts are going, and that’s what I don’t understand. I find it a lot easier to get upset by foie gras than by elephants at zoos.
Taco Time I got food from I couldn’t eat a while back, and I’m somebody who readily eats at Taco Bell, so that’s saying something. Maybe it’s better now, but why go there with TNT Taqueria down the street?
If Tangletown Elysian Brewery is going to be included in the Wallingford list it’s criminal to not see Latona Pub as well. Much better atmosphere than Elysian, plus an equally great rotating beer selection. Among the delicious vegetarian fare that I’ve enjoyed there are the portabella sandwich, ravioli, hummus, grilled cheese, and tomato soup. Plus, the side salad that comes with every entree is always tasty. With any luck they’ll have the crostini with fig jam and goat cheese special back on the menu soon. Mmm. As long as Latona Pub is open I will be just fine staying away from Elysian.
Stop the presses. A vegetarian Reuben sandwich?? Info please. I love the taste of a Reuben, but like to minimize meat-eating when I can.
Thanks, Eric, for making it a point not to trash small, local businesses here. Many people don’t realize how powerful a negative comment can be. I am appalled by many of the readers’ comments on several previous Wallyhood articles trashing new restaurants in particular. I’m looking at you, Cinnabon boy. (Not you, Eric. 🙂
The dig on Taco Time seems inapprops. They have pretty good food for the price and have a way better image than other fast food places. I have eaten there a lot and haven’t had a bad meal. I stopped going to Taco Bell a while ago. Maybe Eric doesn’t know what to order there.
Aw, poor Taco Time. I’d posit TNT and Taco Time serve different purposes and aren’t even close to trying to compete in or for the same category.
Thai: Krittika!
Sushi: Musashi has a nice grilled asparagus.
Pub: I second Latona.
Rocking Wok I think must work better for a knowledgeable diner, who will know how to get a healthful meal – we haven’t managed to, but it seems like others at nearby tables have stuff that at least looks better.
Manolin is for someone with too much money or not enough appetite. The food is tasty, and scant. I believe many diners order nearly the whole menu, and clean their plates. I think we found something to eat at home afterwards. You would likely get more food at Whale Wins, to give you an idea. We liked Westward, kind of in that vein also but with a bit of a Greek thing going on and almost enough food.
We’ve enjoyed the Thai place at Meridian, same place Lotus used to be, Silver Platter or something. I can’t remember how vegetarian friendly it is – I will eat wild stuff, so if there’s fish in everything I won’t starve. Some people wouldn’t even eat food seasoned with fish sauce, for example, which is sort of ubiquitous in Thai food. I appreciate a vegetarian place like Jhanjay because I suppose they won’t be cooking everything in chicken broth.
Not sure about Bizarro, but I don’t see how one could knowledgeably characterize Cantinetta’s vegetarian dishes as “clearly an afterthought.” The full menu changes frequently, in part to take advantage of the arrival of different seasonal vegetables. As such, I have found the vegetarian options to be very well-thought-out, and fully integrated within the menu.
Great summary, and good job prefacing as “one person’s opinion”. We all have favorites and the occasional bad experience. Support our local businesses!
Ditto about other comments regarding the diss of Taco Time, a NW chain. I suspect that if it was still located in it’s old, funky maze of a building from the 1980’s, it may possibly have been perceived as “charming” 🙂 Ingredients are fresh daily, reasonably local, and far superior to former PepsiCo Taco Bell (now run by Yum! including KFC and Pizza Hut and a chain of 40,000 stores vs 300 for TT). I will never eat at Taco Bell. Fresh Mexi-fries at TT cannot be beat!
I refuse to go to Cantinetta. I don’t care how good it might be. We live close by and it’s loud, especially in summer when they have diners outside. Trying to get babies to sleep in the summer when windows pretty much have to be open is not fun. And the parking jobs are terrible. Why do people think it’s OK to park 5 inches from my driveway?! Terribly annoying.
For those seeking a veggie Reuben, FareStart downtown is fantastic (both for the food and its mission, its founder also invented FieldRoast which is what is used in the sandwich). Also, for fun, old video games, and the weird vibe of a vegan biker bar, Georgetown Liquor Company is great. Not sure if it is kid friendly. The Darth Reuben is what you are after.
I really don’t like Elysian’s veggie food. Or any of their food for that matter.
My favorite place that isn’t on this list is Joule. They always have a noodle option which is veggie and their noodles are homemade. Really delicious. Plus the smoked tofu starter is great. We usually order two vegetable side dishes and that is truly a meal for us.
I too think Cantinetta does not have vegetarian food as an after thought. They are one of the few places on this list that have asterisks on the menu denoting veggie options.
I love the architecture of Taco Time– that lovely glass. The food is quick, semi-healthy and always consistent. PCC delis have a lot of great takeout food. Murphys had the best fish n chips ever.. though I dont know how they are now. I found a wonderful rueben sandwich at Blue Star and also Chaco Canyon.. tho parking at CC is a trick.
I’ve eaten Jhanjay take-out at least once a week since they opened and 3 stars was always perfect. Last week and this week I threw the food out because it was about the equivalent of 5 stars. I went back to Jhanjay tonight to find out what happened. They started using a new hot pepper product and 3 stars is now equal to 1 star. They should warn their loyal customers.
I visited Watoto, Bamboo, Chai and Sri at WPZ when they arrived as babies. I grew old with them and I want the three who are still alive to have a comfortable retirement. I don’t expect everyone to feel a connection to Seattle’s elephants. The elephants are off topic for this post, but thank you Eric for reminding everyone about Bamboo and Chai.
Has anyone eaten at Bamboo VIllage (no relation to Bamboo the elephant)?
I’ve been to Bamboo Village a number of times with my wife and her family for dim sum. It’s decent but nothing to write home about. Din Tai Fung is far better but comes with a higher price tag and the normally crazy wait time. We go with Bamboo Village when we don’t want to go far and need to eat soon. The staff are friendly and our toddler gets some room to roam.
Pudge Brothers is a great favorite especially with kids in east Wallingford.
My husband and I love eating at Rocking Wok. I’m not a vegetarian, but he is, and so far we haven’t had any issues ordering vegetarian food. Their vegetable fried rice is awesome, and they serve a variety of tofu dishes – which don’t include any pork, as far as we can tell.
Bamboo Village is hit-or-miss. Some of their dishes reminded us very much of some family restaurants we ate at in China. Others… not so much. On the whole, though, it’s not bad.
You all know Sutra is closing soon, right? Get in while you can!
For those of you who are looking for the best ever vegetarian reuben sandwich and don’t mind cooking, this the is recipe you need: http://m.bastyr.edu/recipes/portabella-reuben-sandwich :). Unfortunately, it does not come on demand from a restaurant.
A good corned beef replacement in a reuben is smoked tomato field roast deli slices.
Kid Valley has bad shakes? Pudge Bros is cheap? (and not as good as Olympia?) What is this, bizzaro Wallingford?
Silver Tray has real good Thai vegie options also.
I think it’s not either/or about the elephants/foie gras. A lot of folks feel it is important to advocate for good treatment of the animals we place in our care. The zoo placed the elephants in a worse place for their retirement, than they already were (OKC smaller, noisier, expected to perform, worse climate for them). Foie gras also cruel treatment of animals in our care, and even a lot of meat-eaters would agree. It is not either/or.
Don’t forget the Wallingford Farmers Market. Open on Wednesday 3:30-7pm the next few months, in beautiful Meridian Park. Patty Pan Grill serves delicious quesadillas, grilled veggies, and veggie tamales. There are other vendors serving food. Or you can bring your own picnic and enjoy the festive air in the apple orchard.
My favorites:
THAI —
Krittika Noodles on Latona has many delicious vegetarian options, in a pretty room with comfortable booths.
My favorite Thai is short walk from northeast Wally — Amazing Thai on Roosevelt. The dining area is cramped and non-descript. But the food is very good, and the staff is warm-hearted.
PHO —
Than Brothers on 45th. This is a city-wide chain. Our neighborhood Than flavors their pho too sweet for my liking. But the veggies are very fresh and the room is comfortable for a quick meal. I prefer their shop on Aurora north of Green Lake.
INDIAN —
Teahouse Kuan Yin, on 45th, serves channa masala, and a veggie curry, rice and a soup. It’s all veggie, gluten-free, and might be vegan. These are all very simple preparations, but tasty, and the tea shop is nice.
For Indian buffet, I am loyal to my favorite Jewel of India on University Way.
PASTRIES ==
I love “A Muddy Cup”. They have pastries from NuFlours. Mostly organic ingredients, some are vegan.
Both of the nearby PCC stores have nice hot food buffets, with veggie offerings. And they have seating. I like to go there for breakfast.
Previously mentioned:
I love TNT Taqueria, Mr Gyro, Kisaku, Taco Time, Sutra
Regarding Pinky’s Kitchen. One of my guilty pleasures is their house-made potato chips. They serve it in a grease-spotted paper bag. I add a few squeezes of barbecue sauce.
Check out the new Murphy’s – delicious food (particularly fish n chips and reubens. AND they’re dog friendly!
Murphy’s does appear to have a veggie burger, so the vegetarian who gets stranded there won’t starve, but even the salads are meat. (A feature oddly shared by Silver Tray, whose menu is mostly in the “`choice of meat’ includes tofu” category, but not salads.)
For Thai food, you could wander over to University Ave. and eat at Araya’s Place, which is vegan. The lunch buffet is fun, and we usually enjoy the menu offerings at night. For ‘American’ food, if you’re going to 65th for Sunlight, why not try Wayward Vegan Café at 65th and 8th. They have a tempeh Reuben! Both of these places also offer gluten-free options for those with sensitivities.
Hawaiian Breeze has a delicious tofu katsu (in my opinion), which I could never find when I lived in Hawaii.
Silver Tray is always very attentive when I let them know I am a vegetarian, and they make sure that there aren’t any fishy (literally) ingredients in whatever I order, and that I am okay with eggs.
Finally, I love Taco Time, especially now that you are able to get pinto beans on most menu items. 🙂
This is a great vegetarian restaurant in Austin! I had lunch here yesterday.
http://bouldincreek.com/start.asp
We need something like this in Wallingford!
I have eaten two entirely vegetarian meals at at Whale Wins and enjoyed it thoroughly. I really enjoyed the food at Cantinetta as well. I’m with you on Pam’s though – I didn’t enjoy their veg meal much – it was so starch heavy.
I will second Yoroshiku for ramen and Silver Tray for Thai. I think I might even prefer Silver Tray to Jhanjay.