Update: This list reflects recommendations gathered in 2022, not a claim that every restaurant remains open or unchanged. Gracias Madre is already marked closed below. Confirm current hours, location, menu and vegan options directly with each restaurant before visiting.
San Francisco musicians Nell Robinson and Jim Nunally recommended these vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in 2022. Restaurant status, menus and hours can change, so check current details before visiting.
Looking for vegan restaurants in the San Francisco Bay Area? Robinson and Nunally, both vegan and accustomed to finding plant-based food while touring, shared ten favorites plus a bonus stop across San Francisco, Oakland, Berkeley, Crockett and San Rafael.
The recommendations range from all-vegan restaurants to vegan-friendly neighborhood spots. The comments below capture what they liked at the time. For another Bay Area food roundup, see our favorite burgers in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Robinson and Nunally perform as the Nell & Jim Band and were promoting Western Sun when they shared this list with us.
1) Judy’s Place in Crockett, CA (Vegan Friendly)
Great vegan burritos. Jim has a house in Crockett and has been an active part of the community for many years. We love Judy and she is a GREAT cook. The place is vegan-friendly. In fact, it was her vegan burritos that got us started on a vegan diet, they are so good! We made friends with her daughter and son-in-law, who are also chefs and vegan, and they turned us onto recipes and dishes for a vegan lifestyle. No website, but you can find her on Yelp. They are closed most Saturdays and Sundays and have limited hours.
2) Peña Pachamama in San Francisco, CA (All Vegan)
We discovered this place on the app Happy Cow when we were wandering around North Beach in San Francisco, on our way to a Mother Jones magazine political briefing! We were delighted to find it and love the atmosphere. They usually have live music and sometimes dancing.
3) Flacos in Berkeley, CA (All Vegan)
Another place we found wandering around Oakland! We used the Happy Cow app and there it was. A small place with total charm and outdoor seating. Love the Pozole and Huarache!
4) Millennium in Oakland, CA (All Vegan)
This is an upscale vegan place with beautiful courtyard seating. It’s wonderful for special occasions. We love the Black Rice Risotto cake with roasted pumpkin, turnip & bok choy, star anise-fermented black bean glaze, and pumpkin chana coconut curry.
5) Cha-Ya in San Francisco, CA and Berkeley, CA (All Vegan)
This may be our favorite vegan place in the Bay Area, though it is hard to choose. Our friend and former drummer Jon Arkin told us about this place. I really love their cold Buckwheat Tea. The food at Cha-Ya is so fresh and beautiful and simply presented. Love the Cha Ya Delight and Hana Gomoku and Oma-Gai.
6) Souley Vegan in Oakland, CA (All Vegan)
If you love southern soul food, this is your place! They have a vegan version of Dirty Rice, Jambalaya, Grits, and “Sausage” … mmm. We love it and the folks there are super nice too! Also their Cayenne Lemonade.
7) Gracias Madre in San Francisco, CA (All Vegan — Closed)
This was one of the first vegan restaurants we ate at. They started as a branch of Cafe Gratitude, which was all-raw, but Gracias Madre has always offered cooked food. They grow all their own food at the Be Love Farm and offer seasonal dishes so the menu is always changing. It’s fun to sit at the bar and chat with the wait staff.
8) Dandelion Chocolate in San Francisco, CA (Vegan Friendly)
9) Cafe Del Sol in San Rafael, CA (Vegan Friendly)
This place is near to us and we head over there when we want a quick, healthy bite to eat. They basically fed us and our band during our recording sessions last winter. We love the Quinoa Cilantro Wrap and fresh carrot juice.
10) Next Level Burger in Concord, CA (All Vegan)
Bonus: Thai Smile in San Rafael, CA (Vegan Friendly)
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