As they say you come for the weather but stay for the food, Bay area is a growing hotspot for food lovers due to its varied culinary landscape. With the rise of Silicon valley there has been an influx of people from all over the world, and with them came their food.
You can taste everything here from sushi to burritos, from dumplings to donuts, from coffee to wine and what not. Being vegetarians we both are always on the look out for tasty vegetarian/vegan food. Capturing here some of our top favorites by area in the bay, so whichever area you are in you’ll have some recommendations.
Berkeley
Berkeley is very close to my heart, not because I am studying there but because of the whole vibe this place offers. Young, vibrant and yet cozy is how I would say Berkeley is for me. With more than 30,000 students studying in UC Berkeley you’ll find plenty of food options in all different price range.
- Imm Thai: If I have to pick a cuisine after Indian which makes me feel home, it is Thai and Imm Thai has the best Thai food in all of Berkeley. All their dishes are cooked fresh and can be customized basis spice levels. My go to dish here is Pad Kee Mao aka Drunken noodles, they are flat rice noodles with lots of veggies and perfect balance of spices to tingle your taste buds. I would also recommend trying their Tom yum soup, fried rice and the curries. Also, you can buy their Imm Chilli sauce to add a zing to your homemade noodles for the days you can’t make it to Imm Thai.
- Little Belgian waffles: Crispy on the outside, moist and fluffy on the inside is how their waffles are. OMG! I am drooling as I write this, just walking past this shop makes you wanna try their waffles, the delicious aroma of perfectly baked waffles with caramelized sugar in the batter is oh soo good! They are only open for take outs & online ordering and you can try anything from their signature creations basis your topping preference, my favorite is I’m Gemming it waffles with Strawberry & Nutella topping.
- Gypsy’s: This place is a go to for many students who loved Italian food, extremely affordable with huge portion size their food is made fresh in front of you, that means you can also get it customized as per your liking.
- MEZZO : It was an old eatery which was burnt down in 2011 but came back all the more stronger but with the same old classic dishes. They have salads, sandwiches, soups and beverages all made in front of you. You can pick and choose which bread you like for your sandwich. Their portion sizes are huuuugggeeee and hence 1 salad bowl would be more than enough for two people, grab a look at them making it before you place order so you know what I mean. They have both indoor and patio sitting and we always prefer to sit in the Patio because it connects you to Raleigh’s, the bar next door, so you just need to climb up a ramp for a pitcher of draft beer.
- Viks Chaat : For the ones looking for Desi Indian feel, this is a must visit place. They have both Indoor and outdoor seating and hence convenient for pet parents as well. Now coming to the menu they have all popular dishes from different parts of India, which includes Dosa, uttapam, Chola bhatura, chat, samosas, pani puri etc as well as a full wholesome meals. The prices are on the budget side and hence you can eat your heartful! Best suggestion is to go for a hike in Berkeley hills before going to Viks chaat so you come back satiated without any guilt.
- Toss Noodle Bar: This place on Shattuck is my go-to whenever I am craving for some wok-tossed or soupy noodles. I really like their concept where you can pick a choice of noodle from 6 different variety, decide your sauce as well as toppings. They can wok toss or make this with broth depending on what you feel like eating that day. I absolutely love their Thai spice & Malay peanut sauce. They also have rice as well as curries on the offer for the Thai food lovers. Service is very fast & convenient, and they have dine-in option so you can just sit and enjoy the piping hot dishes.
- Rose Pizzeria: The name goes by the cute little rose garden patio that this pizzeria has. Started by a husband and wife who made their way back to the Bay after running their first restaurant in Chicago. The pizzas served here are mix of Neapolitan & New York style with variety of toppings to choose from. They do offer a vegan option as well which taste just as good. I love their Beach club and She Wolf pizza, but you can absolutely go for anyone as they have really cracked the perfect combo of crispy crust & the flavorful sauce & toppings.
- Cha Ya : Have you ever heard of Vegan Japanese food? Yes, this places is completely vegan and serves authentic Japanese food that the monks eat in Japan. Their Soba salad is very colorful and really light on the tastebuds, I would definitely recommend to try that apart from the Sushi. They also have seating but like most other places this also shuts down early and don’t take seating post 8 PM so try and be on time. They have two outlets one in Berkeley and another one in SF.
- Pollara Pizzeria : Best pizza I have had so far in the entire bay area and trust me I have tried a lot of pizza places. Pollara serves Roman style pizza which have a super crispy crush thanks to their slow fermentation process where they let the dough rise for 72 hours making the perfect airy pockets in the crust. They have more than 10 different seasonal topping flavors and they really are extremely generous with their toppings. You can either dine indoors or outdoors at this restaurant or can also just have a take out for finishing at home.
- La Note : Cute French restaurant giving Parisian vibes and unlimited house coffee refills, haha! Its a lovely place for a brunch date or a nice patio lunch/dinner. As per my husband they have the best omelet in the town, while I would vouch for their raspberry pancakes. So do give it a try and let me know what other dishes did you like there.
- The Cheese Board Collective : Fun fact about this place, it was sold by its owners to its employees to run on their own. This place was know for their more than 400 types of cheese and the pizza was earlier made by the employees for themselves out of the remaining dough, house made cheese and some fresh veggies from the nearby store. Very soon they started serving pizza of the day in their menu and it has never stopped since then. They serve 1 pizza everyday which has only vegetarian toppings and you get their amazing green sauce to enjoy the pizza with. This place is open only few days of the week (Thur, Fri, Sat) so make sure you checkout the time before you visit.
- Crepevine : If you are looking for a good brunch place this is just the right fit for you. Crepevine is a chain and has outlets all over the bay area and their menu has multiple options from sweet & savory crepes to salads, burgers, pancakes, pasta and so much more. One place to take care of everyone’s demand in a group when it comes to variety. Their portion size is huge and all their ingredients are sourced directly from the farmers and are top quality. You can pick from the huge variety of fillings with your choice of side for your crepes. I also love their fresh orange juice and always go for a large glass. My top 3 picks from savory crepes are Greek, Kyoto and California. Best part they have both indoor and outdoor seating in most of the places so if you wanna have a nice sunny morning go for the outdoor seating.
