10 New Portland Vegan Eateries That Flew Under Your Radar
The double burger at Modern Times is made with vegan Beyond Meat patties.
Image: Lyndsey Boyle
In ye olden days (circa 2014), Portland vegans were lucky to gain a new dining option once or twice a year. These days, it sometimes feels like we’re adding a couple of new plant-based spots per week, and even the professional vegans (a.k.a. me) are losing track. Sink your teeth into the city’s newest plant-based eateries with the help of our handy cheat sheet.
Bars
Modern Times
Opened Jan 2018
When this San Diego-based brewery opened its fourth location (and its first outside California) in the former Commons Brewery space, it attracted hordes of herbivores with an entirely vegan gastropub menu. Fan favorites include a double burger stacked with Beyond Meat patties and faux American cheese and a meaty Reuben layered with housemade seitan pastrami and (coconut-based) smoked gouda.
Thunderbird
Opened Dec 2017
The latest creation by the powerful Lightning Bar Collective (Sweet Hereafter, Century, etc.), this new neighborhood bar does serve a few meaty dishes from the adjoining Foster Burger. But the rest of the menu is totally vegan, spotlighting Homegrown Smoker meats in dishes like the Old Reliable (seitan patty, Chao cheese, giant onion ring, chipotle barbecue sauce) and BBQ bowl (brown rice, tempeh ribs, tequila-jalapeno slaw). If all else fails, those onion rings are top-notch.
Jackfruit Kitchen
Opened Sep 2017
When Of Roots & Blooms shut down its vegan pop-ups last summer, Culmination Brewing kept up the tradition with the help of Jackfruit Kitchen. Held on Sundays from noon–8 p.m., the plant-based pop-up changes its menu weekly; past offerings have included cornbread waffle breakfast sandwiches, butternut squash linguine, spicy poke nachos, and apple fritter bread pudding.
Cafés & Juice Bars
DC Vegetarian
Opened Feb 2018
As we reported last month, DC Vegetarian recently opened a brick-and-mortar sandwich shop in the former Mi Mero Mole location on SE Division, after nearly a decade as a downtown food cart. The cart was shuttered abruptly earlier this month (and seems to be turning into a new Native Bowl location), but it’s worth a trip across the city to try the new Cajun chicken po’boy or score a $6 breakfast sandwich. (Dairy cheese is available for some reason, but all dishes are served vegan by default.)
Tiny Moreso
Opened Jan 2018
After eight years in the basement of the Ford Building, the folks behind Rawdacious—a local vegan, gluten-free, largely raw cheesecake company—have opened their own sweet café on Northeast 42nd. In addition to plenty of mini cheesecakes, the menu includes juices and smoothies, gluten-free toast, and rotating soup and salads specials. Snap a pic in the restroom to add to their collection of feminist bathroom selfies.
Juiced
Opened Jan 2018
Juiced offers a whopping 16 vegan juices and smoothies, from the Evergreen (kale, celery, cucumber, apple, romaine, ginger, lemon) to the Blueberry Pie (blueberries, oats, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, almond milk, coconut cream). The shop also offers healthy snacks like acai bowls and chia seed cups, plus Coava coffee and Petunia’s pastries.
A Little Nectar
Opened Sep 2017
A new Nectar Café outpost, this cozy coffee shop centers its food menu around one item: waffles. Specifically, gluten-free and vegan waffles, topped with your choices of jalapeño cream cheese, mushroom gravy, veggie sausage, or baked apples.
Carts
Dinger’s Deli
Opened Feb 2018
In the month since it opened, Dinger’s Deli has already racked up rave reviews from customers. (“This Cuban sandwich was may be the most bomb sandwich I've had,” reads a typical Yelp comment.) The plant-based cart specializes in meaty subs stacked with faux ham, cheese, salami, and meatballs. (Pro tip: the meats and cheeses are also available by the pound.)
Supernova Vegan
Opened Nov 2017
Parked on Southeast Woodstock, this all-vegan cart is best loved for its massive, messy Space Cowboy sandwich—featuring crispy tempeh, BBQ sauce, and citrus slaw—and gooey bowls of mac ‘n’ cheese. Best of all, Back to Eden’s food cart “cottage” is parked right next door, making dessert a no-brainer.
Whimsical Folly
Opened Sep 2017
Remember Snackrilege’s short-lived food cart on NE Killingsworth? In its place now sits Whimsical Folly, an eccentric vegan eatery offering housemade scones and mini Bundt cakes alongside healthy soups and salads. Patrons can enjoy their meals in a seating area that includes a canopy, several tables, and a bakery display case.
