Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in Austin, TX - THE LIST

This is far from complete, but I'll update it as I go along. If anyone has a suggestion for something I missed, let me know!

V=Vegan
VVF=Very Vegan-Friendly (or Vegetarian, Vegan-Friendly)
VF=Vegan-Friendly


***Asian***
Ka-Prow Pan-Asian Bistro VF
1200 W. Howard Ln. Ste. O, Austin, TX 78753
(512) 990-2111
Lunch: Monday - Friday 11am - 3pm / Dinner: Monday - Thursday 5pm - 9:30pm
Saturday 11am -10pm / Sunday 11am - 9pm

Chef O will custom make the most amazing vegan sushi you've ever eaten - just let him know you're vegan and ask him to surprise you! Live Music every Friday & Saturday Night from 7 - 10pm.

Satay - MY REVIEW VF
3202 W Anderson Ln #205, Austin, TX 78757
(512) 467-6731
Sun-Thurs: 11am-10pm / Fri & Sat: 11am to 11pm

Really good Thai food with lots of vegan options, but not all designated correctly on the menu.

Veggie Heaven VVF
1914 Guadalupe St Ste A, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 457-1013
Mon-Fri 11am-9pm
Sat-Sun 12pm-9pm

Almost everything on this Asian-style menu is vegan or can be made so. Also has vegan bubble tea (specify soy milk; there should be a vegan bubble tea menu on the wall).

Uchi - MY REVIEW VF
801 S Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78704-1509
(512) 916-4808
Sun-Thurs: 5pm-10pm
Fri-Sat: 5pm-11pm

Very helpful waitstaff will point out what's vegan and suggest options for vegan customers. The Tomato Katsu (panko-fried green tomatoes), Bond roll (avocado, sundried tomato, and white soybean paper), and Japanese eggplant tempura are particularly good. The prices are on the high side; this is a 'special occasion' type of place.

How Do You Roll - A Maki Sushi Bar VF
*10515 N. Mopac Expy. 165A Austin, TX 78759 (Arbor Walk Shopping Center)
Mon-Sun 11-9 / (512) 243-8298
*454 West 2nd St. Austin, TX 78701 (2nd & San Antonio St.)
Sun-Thurs 11-9, Fri & Sat 11-10 / (512) 320-8400
*2100 San Jacinto Blvd. Austin, TX 78712 (Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium, Red McCombs Red Zone)
Mon-Thur 11-7, Fri 11-5, & Game Days / (512) 232-8552

I call this place "the Freebird's of sushi joints" - you pick your wrap, ingredients, sauce, and toppings. They have lots of fruit and vegetable choices. Though they generally use a hand-cranked machine to cut the sushi rolls, they will gladly cut them by hand if you don't want something that has cut meat to cut your vegan roll.

Triumph Coffee House VF
3808 Spicewood Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78759
(512) 343-1875

Tasty Asian fusion food with a nice shopping area as well.

Mama Fu's - MY REVIEW VF
*11301 Lakeline Blvd, Ste. 300 Austin, TX (512) 637-6771
*9600 S. I-35, Ste. C-100 Austin, TX (512) 637-6772
*The Triangle, 4615 North Lamar Blvd, Ste 307 Austin, TX (512) 637-6773

Chain Asian, but some pretty good choices and yummy tofu.


***Indian/Middle Eastern***
Madras Pavilion VF
9025 Research Blvd. #100, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 719-5575

Vegetarian Indian, yummy, but make sure to specify no ghee or other dairy to your server. They supposedly have a Jain menu which is vegan, but they seem reluctant to give it out.

Swad VF
9515 N Lamar Blvd Ste 156 Austin, TX 78753
(512) 997-7923
Open Mon,Wed-Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-9:30pm; Weekends 11:30am-9:30pm

Vegetarian Indian - really good sampler platter, double-check on vegan issues with the helpful lady behind the counter. The thali (sampler platter) is great. Unfortunately, pretty much everything but the thali platter and some curries are served on disposable plates (not eco-friendly ones, either).

Shalimar VF
9310 N Lamar Blvd Austin, TX 78753
(512) 719-3700
HOURS - Sun-Thur: 11:15 AM to 11:00 PM / Fri-Sat: 11:15 AM to MIDNIGHT
DAILY BUFFETS - LUNCH BUFFET: 11:15 AM TO 3:00 PM / DINNER BUFFET: 5:45 PM TO 9:00 PM

Indian, not all vegetarian, but extremely accommodating wait staff and delicious bread.

Bombay Express VF
13000 N IH-35 (next to the Wal-Mart off Parmer & I-35) Austin, TX 78753
(512) 491-5055
Tuesday - Sunday 11:00am - 9:00pm

Similar to Swad in that pretty much everything is on disposable dishes with plasticware, also has really helpful and accommodating employees. The thali (sampler platter) is great.


***Mexican***
Mr. Natural VVF
*2414 A South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704 (512) 916-9223
9am - 9pm
*1901 E Cesar Chavez, Austin, TX 78702 (512) 477-5228
8am - 7pm

All vegetarian Mexican cuisine - the "daily special", cafeteria-style, is a great deal. Though they used to put honey in almost all of their deserts, they've been much better lately and have a wider selection. Try the vegan tres leches chocolate cake!

Freebirds World Burrito VVF
Multiple locations, open from 11 AM until at least 9 PM; see website for more details

Customize-your-own burrito. My fave is all the veggies except bell peppers on a spinach tortilla. With no cheese, guacamole is free!

Guero's Taco Bar VVF
1412 S. Congress Ave. Austin, TX, 78704
Mon-Fri 11:00am-11:00pm
Sat-Sun 8:00am-11:00 pm

Has a separate menu just for vegans. They also serve vegan queso made by local Austin company Food for Lovers.


***Pizza***
The Parlor - MY REVIEW VVF
*4301 Guadeloupe St. & 43rd. Austin, TX (512) 323-0440
*100 B. North Loop Blvd. Austin, TX (512) 454-8965
Mon–Sat: 8am - 1am
Sun: 8am - midnight

Amazing pizza with lots of vegan options, including vegan cheese (Follow Your Heart Vegan Gourmet) and vegan "sausage", "pepperoni", and "chicken" made in-house.

Promise Pizza VVF
*1500 A. W. Grimes Blvd., Suite #410 Round Rock, TX, 78664 (512) 345-7492
*10225 Research Blvd, Suite #110 Austin, TX (512) 345-7492
Sun-Thurs 11 AM - 9 PM
Fri-Sat 11 AM - 10 PM

Really good pizza with lots of vegan options, including vegan cheese (Daiya). The gluten-free crust isn't vegan, but the others are. (The website says they have a vegan gluten-free crust option, but there are no ingredients listed.) They also have deliciously addictive vegan cheesy garlic knots (specify they be made with Daiya cheese). The "Nature’s Choice" pizza (when ordered with Daiya) is vegan "as-is", including tomatoes, portobello mushrooms, black olives, red onions, green peppers, and basil.

ZPizza VVF
200 University Blvd, #350 Round Rock TX, 78665
(512) 863-8118

Like Promise Pizza, ZPizza has some great vegan options, including Daiya cheese. "The Berkeley Vegan" is vegan "as-is", including marinara, vegan cheese, veggie burger crumbles, zucchini, tomatoes, mushrooms, red onions, and bell peppers. ZPizza has some rather unusual topping choices on their Rustica pizzas, like pears, yams, mango chutney, and roasted eggplant, though I don't know if they can use those as toppings for a vegan cheese pizza.

Hoboken Pie VVF
718 Red River Austin, TX 78701
(512) 477-HBKN
Mon-Fri 11 AM - 2:30 AM
Sat-Sun 12 AM - 2:30 AM

Hoboken Pie offers Teese vegan cheese as an option on any pizza. Their "Veggie Special" pizza includes any 3 veggies. I've found Teese to start out more "molten" and liquid-y than Daiya and taste not *quite* as good, but this is still a great choice for vegan pizza when in this area of downtown. They're also open late, which is a plus. Check their website for current specials.

Conan's Pizza VVF
*603 West 29th Street, Austin, TX (512) 478-5712
*2018 W Stassney Lane, Austin, TX (512) 441-6754
*2438 W Anderson Lane, Austin, TX (512) 459-3221
Sun-Thurs 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Fri-Sat 11:00 AM - 12:00 AM

From their website - "Now your favorite pizza is vegan! Add Daiya cheese to any deep pan pizza (wheat or white) for a deliciously vegan meal. (*our thin crust pizza is not vegan*)" The tomato sauce is vegan, but the BBQ and pesto sauces are not. Also, they apparently have non-vegan soy cheese as well, so be sure to specify Daiya.

Mangia Pizza - MY REVIEW VF
Multiple locations, open from 11 AM until at least 9 PM; see website for more details

Thin or stuffed deep dish pizza with lots of toppings. Online ordering available.

Mellow Mushroom VF
2426 Guadalupe St., Austin, TX 78705
(512) 472-6356

All manner of toppings, including tofu and tempeh! Also serves hummus and pita bread.

Austin's Pizza VF
Multiple locations, open from 11 AM until at least 9 PM; see website for more details

Pretty good pizza with a good selection of toppings. Be advised that the "soy cheese" is not vegan. Online ordering available.


***Coffee Shops***
Bouldin Creek Coffee House - MY REVIEW VVF
1900 S. 1st Street, Austin, TX
(512) 416-1601
Mon-Fri 7 AM-Midnight
Sat-Sun 9 AM-Midnight

A full vegetarian menu as well as great drinks, and very vegan friendly. The Slacker Banquet and a Soy Lavender Mocha are great choices. Don't miss the Tofu Scramble - best in Austin!

Cafe Mundi VF
1704 E. 5th Street, Austin, TX
(512) 236-8634
Mon 8 AM-5 PM
Tue-Thu 8 AM-10 PM
Fri-Sat 8 AM-11 PM
Sun 9 AM-3 PM

Hard to find, easy to love. I adore the Vegan Sandwich with roasted red bell peppers and the Soy Vanilla Maté Latte.

The Steeping Room VVF
The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace Suite 112, Austin, TX 78758
(512) 97.STEEP (8337)
Mon-Thurs 8am - 9pm
Fri-Sat 8am - 10pm
Sun 10am - 7 pm

An amazing selection of drinks and many options for tasty vegan food, but prices are a bit steep. If you go during "Happy Hour" (5-7pm M-F), lots of tea drinks and the Mediterranean plate, napa rolls, and edamame are all half price.

Spider House Cafe VF
2908 Fruth Street, Austin, TX
(512) 480-9562
7 AM-2 AM every day

Many vegan choices on the menu. My latest fave is the Veggie Burrito with no cheese or sour cream, and the Soy Herbal Blend Maté Latte, followed by either a vegan chocolate peanut butter cup or vegan carrot pumpkin cake.

Toy Joy Cafe VVF
2900 Guadalupe St (shares the building with Toy Joy) Austin, TX 78705
(512) 320-0705
Sun-Thurs 10AM - 11PM, Fri-Sat 10AM-Midnight

Small cafe hidden in the middle of a Sanrio avalanche which serves vegan soft serve, shakes, sundaes, floats, espresso drinks and bubble teas. Also sells vegan candy, such as Chick-O-Sticks and the amazing Go Max Go candy bars.


***Other***
Counter Culture V
120 East North Loop
Thurs-Sat Noon-7PM, Sun til 6PM

Completely vegan food trailer with sandwiches, salads, raw food, and desserts. BBQ jackfruit, Seitan Philly, Garbanzo "Tuna", Pac Man salad, and more.

Conscious Cravings VVF
1901 Rio Grande Austin, TX
Mon-Sat 11am-8pm

I haven't had a chance to visit this trailer yet, but it looks like it's pretty much vegan with the option to add dairy cheese to some items (though Dayia vegan cheese is listed as well).
From their site:
"Our meatless wraps infused with a proprietary blend of herbs and spices from around the world will delight even the most discriminating palates. With our homemade sauces and dressings, whether it is our succulent Seitan Chimichurri or Pan Seared Tofu, our fresh fruit smoothies bursting with Omega 3, or our delectable salads, we know you will be pleasantly surprised."

Beets Cafe V
1611 W. 5th Street
8AM-8PM
(512) 477-BEET

Beets is a 100% vegan raw cafe that serves smoothies/juices, breakfast such as buckwheat granola, entrees like raw pizza and fajitas and desserts.

Cheer Up Charlie's V
1104 E 6th St
Tues-Sun: 12-sunset
(512) 431-2133

From Vegan Austin - "Cheer Up Charlies is now just a bar, serving kombucha, root beer, beer, wine, sake, and homemade vegan chocolates. They still serve coconuts, but there is no real food to speak of."

Iggi's Texatarian V
1104 E. 6th St, Austin, TX (behind Cheer Up Charlie’s)
Wed-Thurs 5PM – 12AM
Fri 5PM – 2:30AM
Sat 12PM – 2:30AM
Sun 12PM – 10PM

Completely vegan food trailer serving southern style cuisine at affordable prices. The menu includes chili cheeze dogs, award winning chili, sandwiches, and heavenly mac n cheeze! Located at the E.A.T. Park and Eatery.
Cash only

The Vegan Yacht V
1104 E 6th Street, Austin, TX 78702
Tue-Sat 7PM-2AM
(512) 619-7989

Completely vegan food trailer serving sandwiches, soups, and smoothies. Carries gluten-free and raw foods and uses organic ingredients.

Casa de Luz V
1701 Toomey Rd., Austin, TX 78704
(512) 476-2535
Breakfast 7 am to 9 am
Lunch on Weekdays 11:30 - 2:00
Dinner Mon - Sun 6:00 - 8:30
Saturday Buffet 11:30 to 2 pm
Sunday Brunch 11 to 2 pm

Completely vegan and macrobiotic. They have a different offering at every meal, and an all-you-care-to-eat buffet brunch with scones or pancakes on the weekends.

Mother's Cafe VVF
4215 Duval Street, Austin, TX 78751
(512) 451-3994
M-F 11:15 AM-10 PM
Sa-Su 10 AM-10 PM
Sa/Su Brunch 10 AM-3 PM

All vegetarian, quite a number of vegan options. My faves are the BBQ Tofu, the Tempeh Enchiladas, and the Belgian Chocolate Cake. They also have an amazing weekend brunch with vegan pancakes!

Dog Almighty - MY REVIEW VVF
3005 South Lamar, Austin, TX 78704
(512)912-1105
Mon-Sat 11AM-10PM, Sun 12-9

Almost everything on the menu can be made vegan (no vegan cheese or corndogs), and their "'hard to believe it's not beef' chili has won awards 2 years in a row at the Lone Star Vegetarian Chili Cook-off, a statewide event." Though they say they have vegan chocolate-covered graham crackers, the last time I checked they were using Honey Maid crackers, and didn't seem to care that honey isn't vegan.

Aster's Ethiopian VVF
2804 N IH-35 Austin, TX 78705-3403
(512) 469-5966

The whole vegetarian menu is vegan (I'm pretty sure) and one main dish comes with three sides and injera bread. Tasty and great for sharing with two or more people.

Cornucopia Popcorn Creations VVF
1914 Guadalupe St. (Behind Veggie Heaven)
Mon - Sat 10am-8pm
(512) 477-2676

Cornucopia has 57 flavors of popcorn, 13 of which are vegan. The most popular is the Green Corn. You can sample all flavors before buying too! They also have popcorn tins that you can fill up for Vegan friends (or yourself!)

Daily Juice VVF
*1625 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX (512) 480-9501
*4500 Duval St Austin, TX 78751 (512) 380-9046
*2307 Lake Austin Blvd. Austin, TX 78703 (512) 628-0782

The menu at Daily Juice takes up a full wall, and has tons of different juices, smoothies, and shots (wheatgrass, noni, etc.) The Barton Springs and Lake Austin locations have some raw snacks and the Duval location has a raw vegan cafe with yummy deserts. All locations are now serving vegan soup from the Soup Peddler. Other than a couple of optional smoothie add-ins (bee pollen, etc.) everything is vegan. The one downside is that Daily Juice only uses disposable plastic cups for their drinks and won't allow customers to use their own non-disposable cups.

Sugar Mama's Bakeshop VVF
1905 South 1st St. Austin, TX 78704
(512) 448-3727
Tues - Sat 11 AM - 8 PM
Sun 11 AM - 4 PM

A cupcakery with a partially rotating menu, Sugar Mama's has 2 different flavors of vegan cupcakes on any given day. My favorites are Birthday Cake and Strawberry Lemonade! They also have a frequent buyer card. Yay, free cupcakes!


Ruby's BBQ VF (sort of)
The Vegetarian Menu
512 W 29th St, Austin, TX 78705
(512) 477-1651
Open everyday, 11 AM - Midnight

Not everything on the vegetarian menu is vegan, by a long shot, and the waitstaff don't seem to know much about what's in the food. However, the jambalya seems to be safe. This is the place to suggest when your significant other/friend/group *must* have BBQ and you still want to be able to eat something.

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