For the past week we have had a visitor stay with us who is from the East Coast. Kate is adventurous, funny, a good sport, a good cook, and vegan. We have made it our mission to show her around the Bay Area, focused on the easily available vegan stores and restaurants. (Our subtle attempt to get her to come out to UC Berkeley for college.) This has resulted in us eating out nearly each day, where we normally would do only once a week, and driving all over seeking those hidden vegan gems.
Also, and importantly, this overview is good to use if you have a vegan visiting, and you want to know where to take them. Fixing food for vegans is not hard, hardest is to go to a restaurant to find food they can actually eat. Hopefully this post helps.
As a reminder, strict vegans do not eat any animals (meat, fowl, fish), including items derived from animals such as milk, yogurt, butter, cheese, eggs, honey, animal broths, etc.
Please join Kate, Joy and I on our Bay Area Vegan Adventure.
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Day 1: Albany + El Cerrito – Arrival
After picking Kate up at the airport, we had a rather long drive back to our house, due to afternoon San Francisco traffic. It was rather hot in the car, and we decided to stop at Mr. Dewie’s Cashew Creamery in Albany for a cone, as it was on our way. Joy and I had been to this place before, and knew all the ice cream was vegan. Kate got a chocolate and mint chocolate chip cone.
- From Kate’s point of view: The ice cream was good and very rich. I had the mint chocolate chip and chocolate, both of which were yummy. All of the the ice cream was vegan, but I’m not sure all of the toppings were. They did have vegan hot fudge and a vegan cone if you asked for it. A little pricey, cute shop and great location. Allows samples with metal spoons which is awesome!
Then we did a quick stop at the El Cerrito Natural Grocery Store for last minute purchases and to make sure Kate had what she needed. We picked up some vegan butter, vegan cheese, marinated tofu, cracker snacks, bread, and veggies.
Dinner that night was a rather easy vegan dinner of rice and veggies. Specifically, I made a white rice + lentil base, and covered it with a veggie stir-fry (onions, garlic, carrots, bok choy, and chopped broccoli stems) in a sesame sauce, topped with sesame seeds and fried shallots.
Day 2: San Francisco
This day we started out with everyone foraging for their own breakfast. Then we went San Francisco, to Greens Restaurant for lunch and following that would go to experience the Van Gough Immersion show. (It was cool by the way.)
I wrote about lunch at Greens Restaurant, which was pretty good. But we were all so filled, dinner did not really happen. Instead we ate some popcorn while watching a movie. In my house we air-pop popcorn, and Kate had some with a bit of salt, Joy had a bowl with butter, salt and nutritional yeast.
Day 3: Berkeley
We decided that today we would eat breakfast in, so Joy made oatmeal and fruit (blueberries from my bushes). Then we were going for a big walk around the UC Berkeley Campus. However, given Joy and I had not yet had our daily caffeine, we decided to go to Timeless Coffee in Oakland before exercising.
This is a bakery and coffee house featuring all plant-based pastries from cookies to empanadas, from glazed donuts to cakes. Everything in the place is vegan, so even if they offer a “pepperoni pizza roll”, it is not really pepperoni meat.
- Kate wrote: Delicious baked goods and coffee. The staff was super sweet. Everything was completely plant-based. There was an array of baked goods, including empanadas, pizza rolls, donuts, cake and cookies. The donuts were fluffy and a little chewy, and not too sweet. The peanut butter chocolate chip cookie was delicious. The peanut butter chocolate cake was also amazing. The empanada and pizza roll were very tasty.
After sitting on a bench outside the store eating our food, we were off on our walking tour of the campus. We started at the top (the Law Building) and walked all over until reaching the halfway mark, where we headed from the Libraries at the center of the campus, toward Telegraph Avenue.
This infamous street, is generally (pre-pandemic) a people-filled pathway leading to and from the center of campus. It is often lined with street vendors, youngish people begging for money, and good, cheap, bricks-n-mortor restaurants. It is a trip to visit when lots of people are about. But this time it was mainly empty.
Being a warm day, we eventually stopped in Cream, just to see if they had vegan ice cream and they did. I pushed Kate into tasting it, and she was a willing victim.
They had one ice cream that was a soy-based product that the server looked up and verified was vegan. We requested it be put in a cup, as none of the cones were vegan. This store itself is not vegan, so we were pleasantly surprised to find they had anything available. Kudos to them and the server who took the time to look up the ingredients.
The campus walk continued for the lower half, and led us past a Cinnaholic Bakery, which is actually a national franchise. They advertise over 20 unique frostings, a variety of toppings, and that all of their products are 100% plant-based, dairy & lactose-free, egg-free and cholesterol-free. We did not stop, but did look in.
From checking out the Bakery, we then passed the Flying Falafel. All three of us love Middle-Eastern food, so it was impossible to not stop and get something. The Flying Falafel had aromatic, fresh, and healthy food that offered vegan, organic, and gluten-free options. Kate and Joy bought a “protein side” of falafel nuggets and two dipping sauces (a chili sauce and a tahini sauce) to nosh on while walking.
- Kate described the store as: A cute little shop selling variety of Mediterranean food including falafel baklava, hummus, Greek dolmas and more. The falafel was moist, crisp, and flavorful, and the sauces that came with it were tasty.
Dinner that night was in Kate’s capable hands. We had small 3-4” corn tacos filled with modified rice + lentils (from earlier in the week) with added black beans and seasonings, fresh tomatoes, lettuce, guacamole, Miyokos Vegan Cheddar Cheese, and lime from our yard. Major yum.
Day 4: Berkeley
This day started as the others, got up and prepped, fed and walked the dogs, and noshed a bit at the leftovers before finally leaving for lunch and a picnic. For this picnic we went to Butcher’s Son, bought some great food, and then went to the Caesar Chavez park to sit by the ocean and eat. I have published a post on the delicious food.
It was a very windy and foggy day, but not too chilly. We ate and enjoyed the wind and views of the City, as usual, hidden in morning fog. We had some squirrels visit with us and out of all the food we had, we shared a couple of non-spiced french fries. They sat there and ate them with gusto, and proper manners; chewing and swallowing each bite, before taking another.
Later that night we ordered from Millennium. This restaurant has been awarded:
- 2016 Michelin Bib Gourmand.
- Listed as one of “The Top 25 Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in the World” by the Huffington Post and Food & Wine Magazine.
- Named “#1 Vegetarian Restaurant in the World” by The Daily Meal.
So with all these accolades, it was critical we made sure to introduce Kate to this place. As we could not get reservations, we ordered take-out and then tried to plate the food the way we think they might have. Honestly, and embarrassingly, given the awards they have received, we were both impressed and disappointed in the food.
They made a mistake with the order and we did not receive one of the items we requested. But what we liked the most were their hamburgers, which were messy, tasty, and satisfying. Kate thought they had a great variety of textures, with thick and creamy “cheese”, a crisp set of veggies (lettuce, tomatoes, and onion rings). The patty itself was great tasting. Overall she rated it “phenomenal”. And to not forget, we loved their homemade catsup.
What we did not like with the dullness of flavor in the other foods. So rather than write an actual post on their food, Joy and I decided that we needed to try them again, in person and not take out. So more on this sometime later after we give them another chance.
Day 5: Oakland + Pleasanton
We started the day with a quick trip to the Donut Farm and picked up a dozen vegan donuts. This place started in 2006 and has been serving fresh, organic, vegan donuts ever since. Now they have many, many options. We bought only a dozen and here is what choices we made, expecting each of us to share bites.
- Salted caramel cake donuts
- Earl grey cake donuts
- Maple glazed cake donuts
- Raspberry jelly filled
- Chocolate glazed
- Mexican hot chocolate cake donuts
- Cinnamon swirl
- Cinnamon twist
- Blueberry glazed cake donuts
- Meyer lemon glazed cake donuts
- Plain cake donuts
OMG they were all very tasty, filling, and made each of us exclaim outloud how great our one was. Not cheap though, they come in ~$3.50-$3.75 each.
- Joy absolutely loved the Mexican hot chocolate one. She thought a bit and said it had: a nice chocolate flavor that was not too sweet with a sprinkle of granulated sugar on top.
- Kate was “oh-ing and awe-ing” over the raspberry jelly filled donuts. She called it: incredible, soft, fluffy, melt in your mouth but still substantial. The jam was phenomenal, you could tell it was fresh, ripe and organic tasting.
- I ate the salted caramel cake donut and found it both crunchy and soft, very caramely and salty, a perfect additiion to a cup of earl gray tea or acidic coffee (which I did not have at the time).
Later that day, we drove to attend the 626 Night Market held at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. From the advertisement it sounded like it could be fun.
For a regular fair, it had a couple of kid rides, a handful of fair-type games you always loose at, some swag booths, and lots of food and drink places. It was a little bit disappointing, as really there was not much there and within 20 minutes everything was seen and we were ready to go. What took the most time was waiting for the food to be delivered.
But, to end on a positive note, what was available for vegans were: potato swirls on a stick with salt, grilled corn cobs with some seasoning, lemonade, popcorn, french fries, tacos, and some mediteranian options (falafel, hummus, salad on a pita). So vegans need not fear the lack of food from fairs, it just takes some looking and explicit directions to avoid meat or meat-related products.
What I mean with that last remark is that animal products are often hidden. The potato swirl was mainly served with an animal-based cheese, we chose salt only. The corn on the cob was dipped in butter, which we could have declined. The tacos had cheese and meat we could have directed not to include. The popcorn was kettle corn, which is cooked in vegetable oil but some vegans will not consume white sugar due to its processing with bones
Day 6: Oakland
We went to the Jack London Square Farmers Market hoping to find lots of vendor stands, but there were only ~10 or so. Lots of people were about however, mainly due to the restaurants located there. So while it was fun to walk on the wharf, what we wanted to see was not there.
Then on the way home, we picked up lunch from Souley Vegan. This is a 100% plant-based, authentic Louisiana Creole restaurant with outlets in Okaland, San Francisco, Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Chef Tamearra Dyson, is the owner of Souley Vegan, and she has been cooking her signature plant-based dishes since her teens. From her personal story, the store began in 2009 and is surviving to this day.
We thought there would be no indoor seating (there was), so we ordered brunch ahead, and paid for it on line. Although there was a mix up with them finding our order, once home and eating, all was forgiven. Everything appeared handmade, from fresh ingredients and herbs, and we ate a sampling of real, basic, homestyle southern dishes. The food was, I think, one of the best of all we have eaten from restaurants.
We each chose something different so we could sample each others plate. Frankly, everything was tasty, with honest flavors, good combinations, and solid food. The waffles were thicker than usual, chewy and filling.
- Tofu Scramble Plate with “sausage” and fresh fruit
- Fried Candied Yam Tots
- Chik’in Waffle Brunch
- Sweet Potato Waffle Plate with breakfast potatoes and cheese grits
- Beignet
We all agreed that the waffles were great. Kate and I liked the potatoes, grits, and definitely the beignet. I have published a post on this restaurant with more pictures and descriptions of their delightful food.
Day 7: El Cerrito
We ate at home this day, as we had a fridge full of leftovers. Breakfast and lunch were nibbles from all we have eaten over the last week.
For dinner, Kate made us all a great taco salad with lettuce, cucmbers, carrots, black beans, crushed chips, Miyoko’s vegan cheddar cheese, and heirloom tomatoes. For a “salad dressing”, I used a salsa and boy did it hit the spot!
Day 8: San Francisco – Departure
The last day and Joy took Kate to the San Francisco airport while I slept in (for about 20 minutes, as the dogs wanted breakfast). After I fed them I received a text from Kate, telling me that as she had not had breakfast, and that she stopped at Amy’s Drive Thru located at the Terminal.
We had spoken about this restaurant the night before, as she read about it being a newish vegetarian and organic restaurant (SFO outlet opened in 2019). So I was very curious about her assessment of the food. She wrote:
- I had a single “cheeseburger” with fries and it was delicious! The “burger” was great, fresh, and the special sauce was so tasty! The fries were perfect and the organic ketchup was a nice touch. I also got a cinnamon roll which was warmed up and yummy but a bit small for the price. Overall great experience and reasonable prices for vegan, organic, and in an airport!
Summation
Kate was here 8 days and we we all had a great time exploring vegan foods around our house. We all experienced “hit and misses” on our food adventures, had lots of discussions regarding the vegan lifestyle and food, and are all heavier by a pound or two from all the eating and sweetness we have consumed.
Kate is welcomed to visit us anytime, as it has been so fun. But I had to warn her that we do not normally live this way, where there is an adventure each day followed up with eating out each day, and buying way too many sweets. She laughed, she knew while it might not be our normal gig, it was a lot of fun.
Oh and I think she left thinking very favorably about the Bay Area. That was our ultimate goal afterall.
—Patty