Updated December 21, 2021. Dietary restrictions, whether temporary or mandatory, can seem difficult to accommodate. Where does one find a restaurant that isn’t divided into meat categories for entrees? Rather than settle for one to two options on the menu (most likely including a salad) for your vegan friends and family members, here are the local restaurants serving vegan-friendly options for everyone to enjoy.
Busboys and Poets
Sometimes grabbing a bite to eat doesn’t just mean getting food, it also means finding local entertainment or a cozy spot to sit back and relax for awhile. This local hot spot, which has one location in NoVA and five in Washington, DC, offers everything you’re looking for. Grab a book, catch an open mic session, or stop by to order any of the vegan-friendly options on the menu. You’ll find vegetable curry, a Moroccan two-bean soup, vegan ‘tuna’ salad, a crispy vegan ‘chicken’ sandwich, and more. 4251 S. Campbell Ave., Arlington
Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant
The aforementioned meat-focused menu does not have to be a concern at Four Sisters Vietnamese Restaurant. Sure, you’ll find the pages dedicated to chicken, pork, and seafood, but there’s also a whopping 20 dishes that are vegetarian and vegan. Find vegetarian garden rolls with peanut sauce, green papaya salad with tofu and chopped cilantro, as well as stir-fried tofu and mixed vegetables and tofu. 8190 Strawberry Ln., Ste. 1, Falls Church
Greenfare
If you’re looking for a place to eat and enjoy vegan-friendly food, Greenfare is your place. If you’re also looking for a location to learn how to cook your own vegan-friendly food, meet and greet with cookbook authors, or just catch a movie with dinner, Greenfare is also your place. Order for organic jackfruit barbecue sandwich, white bean tempeh chili, or broccoli mac and no cheese, then check out the event calendar to find game nights, the 28-day kick-start program (a whole-food nutrition program for 28 days), and more. 408 Elden St., Herndon
Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine
One surefire way to have a wide array of vegan-friendly options for a meal is to pull out all of the stops and visit a local, entirely vegan restaurant. Loving Hut Vegan Cuisine features plenty of vegetables on the menu, with dishes ranging from fried wontons to steaming pho. And, every protein you find will be plant-based. Check out the vegan hot dog, club sandwich or Hawaiian burger. Yes, they’ll all be meat- and dairy-free. 2842 Rogers Dr., Falls Church
Manna Bistro & Bakery
Ethiopian cuisine is already vegetarian and vegan-friendly for most dishes (hello, lentil stews!) and if you check the menu of local spots, you’re likely to find an entirely vegetarian plate, with chickpea stews, mixed vegetables, and, of course, injera. To avoid the meat on Manna’s menu, order yourself a sambussa filled with lentils, onions, ginger, and spices, as well as almost anything from the vegetarian entree section (ask for no hard-boiled egg too). Split peas (kik alicha) and lentils (defin miser alcha watt and miser watt), among others, are great meat-free and dairy-free options. 14215 Centreville Sq., Centreville
Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant
Although this vegetarian restaurant isn’t entirely vegan (there are a handful of items that include eggs and dairy), a majority of the menu is vegan-friendly, and even gluten-free. Find ‘shrimp’ made with soy protein and yams served with General Tso’s sauce, the Popeye’s favorite (which is not the fried chicken sandwich you might be picturing), which is a homemade potato pie with spinach, veggie pork, and veggie bacon in a black pepper sauce, or the vegan desserts, including chocolate mousse cake, chocolate cheesecake, and raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. 2531 Chain Bridge Rd., Vienna
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