86 the Meat - Seattle Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Plum Bistro

After learning about Bill Clinton turning his health around by choosing a vegan diet - I thought "I should do that".  At 40 I gave birth to my daughter River. It is not so uncommon these days to find women who got all the partying and career stuff under their belt before taking on one of life's most awesome challenges, parenthood. At least that is what I tell myself when I reflect upon the timing. But the reality is this, when she is going off to college I will be around 60 unless she is some super genius then maybe 55. Regardless, I am going to be an older parent to my twenty-something daughter. Where am I going with this and what does this have to do with vegan or vegetarian restaurants in Seattle? It's proven, a plant based diet is better for your health and I'm someone who hopes to be a "young" old person so that I can enjoy the fruits of labor after River is all grown up. It's about sacrifice right? I gathered up a list of Seattle's best vegan and vegetarian restaurants that will leave you feeling like you didn't sacrifice a thing!  Who knows maybe they'll even convert a carnivore.

Carmelita
7314 Greenwood Ave N  (206) 706-7703

Carmelita vegetarian restaurant and bar, opened its doors to the public on December 1st, 1996. Proprietors Kathryn Neumann and Michael Hughes named the restaurant after Michael's mother Carmelita, who inspired all around her with her love of life, art, food and family. The restaurant was designed and decorated by these two former decorative painters from Chicago. Most recently, (July of 2009) a full bar was added to round out the Carmelita dining experience. The restaurant seats 70, with 20 seats in the bar. In the warmer months, the garden patio seats an additional 24. Patio season is extended by a heated and covered seating area, with flannel blankets for extra warmth.

The menu at Carmelita changes quite frequently. As "in season" items become available, the menu changes to reflect local ingredients for a true "farm-to-table" experience. Independent farmers and foragers are heartily supported, and every dish is made from scratch using only the freshest organic produce, grains, cheeses, herbs and spices. Our online menu is updated to include all our current offerings.



Plum Bistro
1429 12th Avenue  (206) 838-5333



Plum Bistro offers and represents the change that is inevitable for the planets survival. Providing a green, sustainable menu, Plum is part of HQI (Hillside Quickie Inc)is a 100% vegan and organic company that has crossed many socio-economic and socio-cultural barriers for well over 25 years, developing a wide appeal with vegans and non-vegans alike.

Today, many of our communitys concerns encompass the sustainability of our planet and the state of our environment. Plum Bistro plugs into the cycle of life: using local farms and certified organic distributors we reduce our carbon footprint, thereby reducing chemicals in the environment. It is through the non-violence of creating our cuisine that our food feeds the vision of peace.

Why Plum? In Eastern art the plum tree symbolizes many beliefs from where we highlight both hope and community of life, enhancing the triumph of good over hardships. It also represents constancy and kindness. A plum tree is admired for its ability to reform itself and to withstand adverse conditions. Images of the plum blossom denote the passage of time from winter to spring.

The plum trees manifest an appearance of hardness during the winter, however when spring comes it nourishes itself and develops into a beautiful tree. The Japanese see the contrast between the knotted trunks and young green shoots as symbolic of age and youth, one weathered by time, the other fresh and vigorous, suggesting that in spite of age, the charm and joy of beginnings can always rise anew.

Cafe Flora
2901 East Madison St  (206) 325-9100



In the spring of 1990, three old friends and long-time residents of the Madison Valley neighborhood met to discuss the possibility of buying the abandoned laundromat at 29th and East Madison and converting it to a vegetarian restaurant. Their motives were simple; to establish a friendly, community based vegetarian restaurant close to home, to develop a restaurant that could stand as a model business in attending to the health of the planet and to start a restaurant that would introduce superb non-meat dishes from culinary traditions around the globe utilizing local, organic and sustainable produce.

Architectural and environmental consulting firms were brought in based on their compatibility with the goals of environmentally sensitive, energy efficient design and construction along with the owner's commitment to hiring minority and women owned businesses for all of the sub-contracting work. The kitchen was designed to be appropriate for a vegetarian restaurant - that is, spacious and open with large amounts of prep space, and maximum opportunity for interaction and collaboration among the cooking staff.

After a year of planning and development process in which the Laundromat was gutted and rebuilt for it's new purpose, Cafe Flora opened October 1st, 1991.

Since opening its doors, Cafe Flora has been at the forefront of utilizing local, organic and sustainable produce and herbs and building strong and direct relationships with Washington farms. It's culinary team draws inspiration from international culinary traditions along with the availability of an abundance of locally grown produce to create imaginative and dynamic vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free cuisine.

Cafe Flora has also carried its eco-conscious philosophy into their atrium, a charming garden retreat just off the main dining room. Once an outside patio, the garden atrium was enclosed in the fall of 1996 to bring al-fresco dining to guests year round. Bathed in natural light, the space boasts exotic greenery, a bubbling central fountain and natural stone accents. The collective effect creates a warm, appealing and calming environment for guests.

The winning combination of eco-friendly philosophy, community based involvement and cutting edge, dynamic vegetarian cuisine has brought tremendous success. Sixteen years and one abandoned laundromat later, Cafe Flora remains Seattle's premier vegetarian restaurant.


Bouteloua Bakery
2019 NW Market St  (206) 297-1542


Bouteloua Bakery is an all vegan bakery that focuses on fresh, local, and organic ingredients.  Stop in for a variety of vegan goodies from cakes and cookies to pastries and breads.  Everything is made in small batches with loving attention.  We are committed to the quality of our goods, the comfort of our customers, and the preservation of the environment.

We also take special orders and work with you to create one-of-a-kind custom cakes.







Hillside Quickie
4106 Brooklyn Ave (206) 632-3037

At Hillside Quickie's cafe, we are the next generation of Hillside Quickies Inc., a twenty-year-old family business started in the back of a mini-van. This evolved into the natural food industry's first completely vegan sandwich company. By doing so we have become the leading Northwest company in the vegan 'Slow Food' movement.













Sutra
1605 North 45th St (206) 547-1348


Creative freedom
By changing the menu so often, our chef is able to create food that is intuitive and inspired. Creating as little waste as possible.

By offering a prix-fixe menu that respects food of the moment, we are eliminating the need to stock, and most likely waste, food that may not be ordered.

Lightening our carbon footprint
We are earnestly trying to keep our carbon footprint as light as possible. Some of the ways we're doing this include using eco-friendly paint inside and out of the restaurant, using beach wood for our bar, using a recycled bar top, organic hand sewn cloth napkins, etc. We are composting all of our food scraps and growing some of our food in our garden. Our coffee (from Pangaea Roasters) is walked over to us in glass containers, eliminating all transportation waste.
We are always working towards 100% organic and using what's in season.
Owners: Amber Tande, Colin Patterson, Aaron Geible, and Jan Geible


Mighty-O Donuts
2110 N 55th St (206) 547-5431

It started with a simple idea to build a business. Our vision took shape in a quaint old house in Seattle. Our first donuts were baked in our basement and enjoyed by friends and neighbors alike. Mighty-O sold its first donut at the University District Street Fair in May 2000. Without a commercial kitchen we pursued street fairs, festivals and the Fremont Sunday Market. Rain or shine the Sunday Market became our regular gig. It was the summer of 2001 in a shared commercial kitchen that we started baking daily for wholesale deliveries. Our first customer was Madison Market on Capitol Hill. Soon business was followed by progressive retailers, conscious consumers, and hip local cafes. In the summer of 2002 in Wallingfords Historic Keystone Building we built our first bakery. January 2003 we opened doors and began to realize what it takes to truly serve the public. Seven days a week we continue to bake, serve, and deliver donuts. Mighty-O attracts a full spectrum of donut enthusiasts around the country and all over world. The positive response we get from our customers enables us to continue.

Wayward Vegan Cafe

5253 University Way NE  (206) 524-0204


The most beautiful and delicious cinnamon rolls await your arrival! Oh! Don't let me forget to tell you about the amazing pumpkin, chocolate-peanut butter and coconut cream pies, too! Come see us!










Flying Apron Bakery
3510 Fremont Ave N (206) 442-1115


The Flying Apron bakery is Seattles best, and only, gluten free and vegan bakery. For us, this means finding the freshest natural ingredients that are free of harmful, unnecessary chemicals, animal products, gluten, and wheat. We are committed to creating food that is not only good for you, but that tastes great too. The healthy aspects of our products can be seen in our highly visible and transparent listing of ingredients. The quality is backed by our complete satisfaction guarantee that allows for a return of any product for any reason, with no questions asked.

We are located in a warm and bright retail location in the heart of the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle. We have indoor seating with large tables that encourage our guests to relax and enjoy, and outdoor seating to take advantage of Seattles mild, and sometimes even sunny, climate. Our wholesale operation is designed to allow our business partners to profitably carry Flying Apron products, thus requires no minimum order sizes, has no hidden fees such as fuel surcharges, and addresses the issues of allergens and cross contamination.The Flying Apron offers food for those with dietary restrictions due to medical, health, ethical, religious, or moral reasons, including:

Veganism/Vegetarianism
Gluten restrictions (Gout, Autism, Celiac disease, etc.)
Wheat restrictions
Sugar restrictions (Diabetes, etc.)
Dairy restrictions (Lactose intolerance, etc.)
Egg allergies

In January of 2010, the Flying Apron came under new ownership. The new owners are committed to continuing service to the gluten free, and vegan communities, as well as the residents and workers of Fremont that want a great environment to eat, drink, and relax.

Jeff Silva and his wife previously owned a bakery and café in Seattle, and his ongoing management of Crohns disease has given him a very real perspective on food and nutrition. Ethan Hernandez is from a family of Seattle-based entrepreneurs, and having a daughter with severe dietary restrictions is committed to helping others that need to be extremely mindful of their eating requirements. Erik Chelstad, like Ethan, has had a hand in many Seattle-based startup companies, and is absolutely thrilled to be working on a link of the ever strengthening chain of sustainable food production.

We are committed to fair, honest, and transparent business practices that delight our customers and guarantee a long, healthy relationship.


Thrive
1026 NE 65th St (206) 525-0300


Our mission is to provide the healthiest food available in a restaurant setting; to demolish the myth that to eat healthy you must sacrifice deliciousness; and create environments that provide people with an unprecedented experience of health and vitality.

Our vision is to emerge as the most innovative and trusted brand worldwide for products, services, and education that compel people to choose whole, plant-based foods as an access to health and vitality.











Jhanjay Vegetarian Thai
1718 N 45th St, (206) 632-1484

5313B Ballard Ave (206) 588-1469

Jhanjay means 'vegetarian dishes' in Thai. Located in Wallingford neighborhood of Seattle, Washington, Jhanjay Vegetarian Thai Cuisine offers an all-vegetarian menu in a contemporary yet cozy place, family-friendly setting. We designed Jhanjay with an open kitchen. This reflects our belief that the people who eat at our restaurant are more than customers; they are guests. We invite you to come in, have a seat at the counter, and watch our chefs prepare your meal. The sights and sounds of Thailand are only a few feet away.

Chaco Canyon Organic Cafe

4757 12th Ave NE  (206) 522-6966



Chaco Canyon Organic Cafés are vibrant, ecologically sound restaurants in Seattle's University District and West Seattle neighborhoods. We are Certified Organic and are 90-97% organic throughout the entire year - proudly one of the few restaurants in the nation that can make this claim.

Set in a warm Southwestern décor, our mission is to provide delicious organic sustenance for a wide variety of needs and individual tastes. We continually seek to set the standard on what it means to be a Sustainable Business.  We make all business decisions with the goal of having people, the planet and profitability in balance.  We never compromise on our mission, and our ultimate goal of being 100% sustainable.  We wear our hearts on our sleeves and demonstrate this in the way we welcome and take care of customers and employees, donate to local and national causes that share our values, source our ingredients, and prepare every dish.  We give people (and ourselves) goosebumps with what we show is possible with a cafe, and what a difference one place can make for the world and our community.
 Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead





Sage Organic Bakery and Cafe
324 15th Ave E (206) 325-6429



An all organic vegan cafe brought to you by Hillside Quickie featuring the hill's largest vegan sweets selection!











Pizza Pi Vegan Pizzeria
5500 University Way NE  (206) 343-1415

Pizza Pi is Seattle's only 100% Vegan Pizzeria. It's run by compassionate individuals who want to help make ethical choices easy!

Teapot Vegetarian House
345 15th Ave E (206) 325-1010


The Teapot is proud to present a full vegan menu. This is the second menu since we became vegetarian seven years ago. In it you will find a bigger and better selection (we hope), and a more balanced and well-rounded choice to meet every taste and need. We are still committed to offering healthy food and continually introduce innovative entrees to our menu. We strive to offer you good service in a clean, inviting and peaceful environment. We have served the Capitol Hill neighborhood for the past 15 years, and we hope to continue to do so for many more. We also have a new location in Redmond near Microsoft.

Throughout our menu you will find Pan-Asian selections from Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan and China. The owners and chefs, with 52 years of restaurant business experience, have researched and perfected these dishes for the last few years and have added them to the Teapot menu. All items are now completely vegan ie, free from milk and eggs and all animal products. To encourage others to try a vegetarian diet, we have retained entrees from the old Mandarin Restaurant Menu (our former incarnation) but have replaced the meat with high quality soy substitutes. We, however, will not compromise the taste of any of our dishes for any reasons except two: To promote a healthier diet and compassion for life. Eat and be truly merry.





The Highline
210 Broadway E (206) 328-7837



Full bar with pinball, air hockey, shuffleboard, ping pong, foosball, all vegan kitchen, live music, local art shows and badass bartenders!











Wedgwood II Vegetarian Thai
420 Broadway E.  (206)724-0655



We specialize in fresh and authentic vegetarian Thai cuisine. No fish sauce, no MSG, just tons of flavor. Stop by our Capitol Hill location or visit our sister restaurant, Thai of Wedgwood, for vegetarian and meat dishes.








Cyber Dogs
909 Pike St  (206) 405-3647



Welcome to your friendly neighborhood Cyber-dogs! We're a vegetarian Internet cafe near Seattle's Capitol Hill where you can meet friendly people, browse online, listen to eclectic music, and watch foreign films!

Make sure to bring your appetite! We serve international gourmet vegetarian hot dogs twice voted "Best in Seattle" by the Seattle Weekly. We have a full espresso bar and cold or iced drinks available, including beer and wine. Whether you come for the food, the music, or the great conversation, Cyber-Dogs will have you coming back for more!




Loving Hut
1226 South Jackson St  (206) 325-1148


Loving Hut is created with a vision that all beings can live in peace, love and harmony with each other and the planet. Loving Hut chain restaurants are newly opening around the world. It is an invitation to gourmet cuisine made with wholesome, vegan ingredients, and it offers an accessible starting point for those making the noble transition to a plant-based diet.

The Loving Hut in Seattle, Washington is one of the many family-owned restaurants. Loving Hut is the fastest growing international vegan chain of restaurants with over 120 branches worldwide. Internationally, branches are currently open in Formosa (Taiwan), Au Lac (Vietnam), Singapore, Indonesia, Tokyo and Hong Kong. More branches will be opening in various locations all around the world in the coming months.

As more and more people around the world adopt a plant based diet, Loving Hut is a beacon of light for an alternative way of living. Its healthier, its compassionate, its peaceful and its the only way to a sustainable planet.





St. Dames
4525 MLK Way S ( 206) 725-8879




Your neighborhood joint for vegetarian fare and spirited care.

For you early birds, our Happy Hour is from 4:30pm - 7pm.









Araya's Place
1121 NE 45th St (206) 524-4332

The 1st Thai Vegan in the Northwest. The only truly Thai Vegan.



















In the Bowl Bistro
1554 E Olive Way (206) 568-2343