What do you eat when it’s hot AF? Watermelon. Salsa. Ice cubes, probably. But if you’re looking for something a bit more substantial, let these local raw food pros take care of you.

Pixie Retreat

Once based in the kitchen of Portobello, playful Pixie Retreat RAW'r now boasts its own “Laboratorie & Makery” on the Central Eastside, with a Pearl District outpost on the way. Roll up to the tiny, gleaming retail space for one of our favorite healthy dishes of 2016: a bakn’ cheez burger collard wrap bursting with dill kraut, smoky eggplant strips, and a hearty millet burger. Or, if you can’t make it to SE 3rd, duck into your nearest New Seasons for that addicting kale salad with macadamia nut cheese, or the even more crave-worthy L'il Puddin's. Truly, it’s heaven in a cup.

 

A photo posted by Pixie Retreat RAW'r (@pixieretreat) on Aug 17, 2016 at 8:57am PDT

Eatin’ Alive

Venture to your favorite farmers market to find roving food stand Eatin’ Alive, a 100-percent raw, vegan, and gluten-free eatery offering BBQ beet burgers and razzle dazzle raspberry brownies. Again, if you can’t make it to the market, don’t worry—New Season carries their fresh falafel collard wraps, Thai peanut zoodles, and mini maple morsels.

 

A photo posted by Eatin Alive (@eatinalivepdx) on Aug 3, 2016 at 9:30am PDT

Blossoming Lotus

Vegan stalwart Blossoming Lotus offers plenty of cooked dishes, from roasted summer veggies to colossal meatless cheeseburgers, but it’s their live nachos that remain their perennial top seller: spicy raw chips topped with nacho cheese sauce, pecan chorizo, tomatoes, avocado and cashew sour cream. If you’re not in the mood for lukewarm dairy-free nachos (although we swear, they’re a big hit), select from a list of salads and collard rolls, or wait until weekend brunch for maple chia granola and a pair of truly divine raw superfood doughnuts.

 

@blossominglotus hit it out of the park with their new live doughnut plate. Two daily doughnuts that just so happen to be gluten-free, vegan, raw, and crazy delicious.

A photo posted by Molly Woodstock (@molly.woodstock) on Jul 12, 2015 at 11:27am PDT

And beyond...

Not into these three options? You've got more! Try Prasad's utopian dream pasta, Por Que No's crowd-pleasing cucumber chips and guacamole, or a trend-setting smoothie from one of our many top-notch juice bars. Whatever you do, just remember to hydrate—and not just with sangria. Stay cool out there, Portland.