I love Indian and Thai food, but I know they usually have animal products in their sauces. What are some Indian and Thai places (specifically in Southeast, if possible) with vegan options. 'Cuz curry's kiiiinda my thing. Thanks!!

Asked by
Anonymous

Your best bet is going to an all-veg establishment, but there are only a few: Roshambo (NE—food cart under new ownership and re-opened a few days ago at Rose City Food Park on Sandy),  Bombay Chaat House (SW), Curry Leaf (NW), and India Sweets & Spices (Beaverton) for Indian, and Vege Thai (SE) for Thai.

So focusing on SE, Tao of Tea’s tearoom on Belmont has a vegetarian menu of varied pan-Asian items including a daily dal and this Chana Chaval dish:

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As for mixed places with vegan options, India Oven on Belmont has a vegan section on their menu and Dwaraka on Hawthorne doesn’t list the options on their menu, but the staff is helpful and will inform you of appropriate dishes when asked. They have Northern and Southern Indian dishes including dosas. Here’s their Mixed Pakora:

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For Thai, vegans have long gone to Pad Thai Kitchen on Belmont. For curry, you may want to try My Thai Bistro on Hawthorne as they make their curries from scratch rather than packaged paste (which is where you usually run into problems) so can be more knowledgeable and accommodating. Chiang Mai on Hawthorne states on their menu that most of their dishes can be made vegan. Sellwood’s Jade Bistro Teahouse offers a pan-SE Asian menu with clearly marked vegan options, including this Fresh Wide Rice Noodles dish:

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Hope that helps and do let us know if you come across more options we can share!

photos by Food Mountain

Event: Cinco de Mayo

- Vegan fast casual restaurant Native Foods is serving a Cinco de Mayo special called The Tres Taquitos Plato: three taquitos filled with homemade seitan asada, spiced bean and potato hash; served with refried black beans, Mexican rice, salsa fresca, guacamole, and house-pickled jalapenos. $9.95.

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photo from Native Foods’ Facebook page

Native Foods
7237 SW Bridgeport Rd, Tigard, OR 97224
503.968.9999
May 3rd-5th, 2013, 11am-10pm

- Vegetarian cafe Proper Eats has a Soy Curl Tostada special: three crispy corn tortillas topped with black beans, soy curls, romaine, cilantro, cabbage mix, salsa, guacamole and corn relish. (thanks to vegankitten for the tip!)

Proper Eats
8638 N Lombard Ave, Portland, OR 97203
503.445.2007
May 5th, 2013, 9am-10pm

- Downtown gluten-free bakery Petunia’s is making some Cinco de Mayo-inspired fare: Churro Doughnuts and Mexican Chocolate Dulce de Leche cupcakes.

Petunia’s Pies & Pastries
610 SW 12th, Portland, OR 97205
503.841.5961
May 5th, 2013, 8am-9pm

- Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the Los Gorditos food truck at 50th & SE Division from noon-4pm. There will be free food (vegan options) and music.

Taqueria Los Gorditos
Food Cart: NW corner of SE 50th & SE Division, Portland, OR 97206
503.875.2615
May 5th, 2013, 12pm-4pm

- Vegan-friendly bar White Owl Social Club is hosting chefs Han Hwang and Col Robinson (the same folks who made their Valentine’s dinner) for a “Vegan Mexican Cantina” to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. There will be vegan versions of authentic mexican cuisine and drink pairings. Starts at 7:30pm and goes until the food runs out.

White Owl Social Club
1305 SE 8th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
503.236.9672
May 5th, 2013, 7:30pm

Looking For: Biscuits and Gravy

In the mood for some biscuits & gravy and not in the mood to make it yourself? Here are some places to find some. If you have more details or other tips, please add it in the comments!

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Dovetail’s Biscuits & Gravy (split plate) with optional side of kale

Dovetail Bakery (vegan bakery/cafe; only on weekends, served with smoky tempeh, they’ll split an order on two plates for sharing, usually sells out)
3039 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
503.288.8839
Every day 8am-6pm

Blossoming Lotus (vegan restaurant; only for Sunday brunch; spelt biscuits, mushroom gravy served with seitan breakfast sausage, steamed kale, home fries, soy-free)
1713 NE 15th Ave, Portland, OR 97212
503.228.0048
Lunch: Mon-Sat 11am-4pm; Brunch: Sun 10am-2:30pm
Dinner: Sun-Thu 5pm-9pm, Fri-Sat 5pm-10pm

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Blossoming Lotus Sunday brunch Biscuits & Gravy

Sweetpea Baking Company (vegan bakery/cafe; available 8am-11am, also biscuit sandwiches)
1205 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
503.477.5916 
Mon-Sat 8am-6pm, Sun 9am-5pm
Breakfast Menu 8am-11am, Sandwich Menu 11am-close

Back to Eden Bakery Boutique (vegan gluten-free bakery; mushroom gravy)
2217 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
503.477.5022
Every day 9am-9pm (9am-10pm summer)

A.N.D Cafe (vegetarian cafe; gluten-free option)
5420 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97215
503.989.3908
Mon 9am-3pm, Thu-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm

Proper Eats (vegetarian cafe; served with roasted potatoes and greens)
8638 N Lombard Ave, Portland, OR 97203
503.445.2007
Every day 9am-10pm

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Proper Eats Biscuits & Gravy

Vita Cafe (restaurant with extensive vegan options; almond gravy, small/large)
3023 NE  Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
503.335.8233
Breakfast Mon-Fri 9am-3pm, Sat-Sun 8am-3pm
Lunch Everyday 11am-5pm
Dinner Everyday 5pm-10pm

Paradox Cafe (restaurant with extensive vegan options; gluten-free option, half/full)
3439 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
503.232.7508
Mon-Sat 8am-7pm, Sun 8am-6pm

Hungry Tiger Too (bar/restaurant with separate vegan menu; fennel & mushroom gravy, small/large)
207 SE 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97214
503.238.4321
Mon-Fri 11am-10pm, Sat-Sun 9am-10pm

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small order of Hungry Tiger Too’s Biscuits and Gravy

The Roadrunner Cafe (restaurant with some vegan options; mushroom gravy, entree or side)
3570 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
503.232.3004
Wed-Sun 8am-2pm

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side of Roadrunner Biscuits and Gravy

photos by Food Mountain

Special: St. Patrick’s Day Weekend

Looking for some food to get you in the green holiday mood? Here are a few St. Patty’s Day weekend specials. Let us know if you’ve got more!

Petunia’s Pies & Pastries: specials in the bakery this weekend include Sticky Toffee Pudding, Irish Soda Bread, Chocolate Caramel Stout Babycakes, Irish Coffee & Mint Chip Babycakes, and Shamrock Sugar Cookies.

A.N.D Cafe: Lucky Waffle special filled with homemade corned beef seitan, topped with roasted beets, kale, and green peppercorn cream sauce. They’re also offering a Green Eggs & Ham Plate with herbed tofu on a bed of kale with two slices of faux ham with a biscuit covered in Chz gravy.

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photo from A.N.D Cafe’s Facebook page

Native Foods: St. Patty Day’s melt with blackened Native Tempeh layered with melted cheddar, grilled onions, fresh steamed greens, and a creamy homemade horseradish sauce on toasted rye. Served with your choice of a side for $9.95. Available through tomorrow only.

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photo from Native Foods’ Facebook page

Do you know if Jade Teahouse is vegan friendly?

Asked by
Anonymous

Hi there, we’ve never been (assuming you mean the one in Sellwood), but according to Yelp reviewers, they seem accommodating.

Update 4/18/13: we got a chance to check it out, and to add to Susan’s comment, their way of veganizing options seems to involve leaving stuff off (aioli off the Lemongrass Tofu sandwich, eggs and oyster sauce off the Fresh Wide Rice Noodles) so that was disappointing for a menu that goes out of the way to mark things that are/can be made vegan, but not that different from how a regular Thai restaurant would deal with it. That said, the food was still decently flavorful (with the caveat that as in any mixed restaurant, the food is probably being cooked right after meat dishes so who knows how much residual flavor is coming from stuff you don’t want to be eating). It did help that the tofu they use is fried/marinated, rather than just plain. It is the first place we’ve been to in Portland with vegan fried sesame balls (as Susan mentioned) which are an old dim sum favorite of ours so that is something they offer that is special. And just a note that it is counter service.

Jade Bistro Teahouse & Patisserie
7912 SE 13th Ave, Portland, OR 97202
503.477.8985
Mon-Sat 11am-9pm

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Vietnamese Rice Vermicelli Salad

photo by Food Mountain

Open: Petunia’s Bakery

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photos by Food Mountain

Petunia’s Pies & Pastries started out selling gluten-free vegan baked goods at Portland Farmer’s Market, expanded into wholesale, and is now opening a downtown brick and mortar bakery. They had some soft opening hours this week in preparation for tomorrow’s (Friday, March 1st) grand opening at 8am.

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They have counter service for their extensive selection of sweets like cookies, bars, cakes, pies, tarts, cheesecake, whoopie pies, sticky buns, sandwich cookies, scones, doughnuts, and ice cream sandwich & sundaes.

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Blueberry Lemon Curd Tart

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The menu also offers savory items (including a flatbread, tart, soup, salad, bowls, sandwiches), espresso, beer, wine, and signature cocktails (one of which contains honey, making the establishment not 100% vegan). There is bar and table seating available for dining in.

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Tempeh & Veggie Market Sandwich with Heidi Ho Jack Cheese

Petunia’s Pies & Pastries
610 SW 12th, Portland, OR 97205
503.841.5961
Tue-Thu 8am-10pm, Fri-Sat 8am-11pm, Sun 8am-9pm

photos by Food Mountain

Open: Via Chicago


Vegan Cheese slice

Via Chicago, who sold Chicago-style pizza at the PSU farmer’s market, opened their brick and mortar location at 20th & Alberta last week. They offer a deep-dish Vegan Cheese slice and pie (made with Daiya) and you can also build your own pie (any crust can be made vegan free of charge and gluten-free for an additional $2). Most of the salads can be made vegan by subbing balsamic and the White Bean Dip and Olive Bowl appetizers are vegan. So far none of the sandwiches are. Whole pies take about 30 minutes to bake and they offer counter service and take-out.

Via Chicago
2013 NE Alberta St, Portland, OR 97211
503.719.6809
Sun-Mon 11am-10pm, Tue-Thu 11am-11pm, Fri-Sat 11am-2am

photos by Food Mountain

Hours: New Year’s Day

Happy 2013 to you all! If you’re looking for somewhere to eat out today, here are some options we know are open and feel free to add any others in the comments.

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Dovetail Bakery’s Biscuits & Gravy

- Loving Hut: open regular hours

- Red and Black Cafe: open today at 2pm with all-day Happy Hours

- Dovetail Bakery: open and serving biscuits & gravy

- Veggie Grill: open regular hours

- Bay Leaf: open until 9pm today

- Hungry Tiger Too: restaurant is open all day, bar until 4pm

- Vita Cafe: open regular hours

- Sizzle Pie: open (assuming regular hours)

- Luc Lac Vietnamese Kitchen: closed for lunch, open for dinner service as usual

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Bay Leaf’s Mushroom Crisps

photos by Food Mountain

Event: Thanksgiving

If you don’t feel like cooking or just want to supplement your meal with something special, Portland’s got you covered. If there’s anything we should add, please let us know. Happy feasting!

- Thursday, November 22nd (make reservations)

Portobello: special dinner for $35 per person (including gluten-free options). You get Holiday Accoutrements (cranberry sauce, cornbread & spread), Pumpkin Soup or Waldorf Salad, Chestnut Stuffed Seitan Roast or Stuffed Cabbage, and Pumpkin Pie w/ Whipped Cream or White Chocolate Bombe w/ spice cake & maple Mousse.

Blossoming Lotus: 4-course gluten-free Thanksgiving Dinner for $40 per person with seatings at 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. The meal consists of Autumn Lettuces and Bitter Greens salad, Fennel and Potato Cream Soup, a Selection of Winter Squash, and Chocolate Truffle Torte or Gelée Trio.

Native Foods: buffet-style Thanksgiving Dinner with seatings from 12pm-6pm, $24.95 per person, $14.95 for children under 12. The menu offers The Native Wellington (puff pastry seitan roast which can also be picked up frozen for $39.95), Mushroom Gravy, Mashed Potatoes, Native Stuffing, Cranberry Compote, Green Bean Casserole, Green Salad w/ Maple Glazed Pecans & Pomegranate Pearls, Polenta Butternut Squash Terrine, Wheatberry Waldorf, Cornbread w/ Butter, Double Chocolate Brownies, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Pumpkin Pie. Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake, and Mushroom Gravy are also available for pick-up.

- Order ahead (deadlines vary)


Dovetail’s Salted Caramel Apple Galette (photo from their Facebook page)

Dovetail Bakery: 9” pies made with locally grown organic fruit as well as some savory fare. The offerings include Salted Caramel Apple Pie, Pear & Vanilla Bean Pie w/ Pecan Streusel, Pumpkin Pie w/ Coconut Cream, Candied Pistachio Chocolate Tart, Biscuit-topped “Chicken” Pot Pie, Dinner Rolls, and Savory Kale Garlic Rolls.

Back to Eden Bakery: order your gluten-free goods before the 18th for pick-up after 12pm on the 20th until 9pm on the 21st. This year they are offering Pumpkin Coconut Cream Pies, Caramel Apple Crumble Pies, Chocolate Coconut Cream Pies, Cranberry Almond Caramel Tart, Chocolate Rosemary Sea Salt Tart, Eggnog Raw Cheesecake, Chocolate Mint Raw Cheesecake, and Pumpkin Whoopie Pies.

Sweetpea Baking Co: pre-order holiday items for pick-up on the 20th-22nd. Get Pumpkin Pie, Oregon Berry Crisp, Seitan Roast, Dinner Rolls, and Fresh Cranberry Sauce. You can also get a $35 combo deal of Seitan, Dinner Rolls, Pie or Crisp, and Cranberry Sauce that serves six, along with recipes for side dishes and gravy.

Petunias Pie’s and Pastries: place your order by the 17th for gluten-free sweets you can pick up. Choose from Pear Frangipane Tart, Salted Caramel Nut Tart w/ Chocolate Crust, Caramel Apple Pecan Pie, Pumpkin Pecan Pie, Pecan Pie, Old Fashioned Apple Pie, Pumpkin Pie, Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust, Pumpkin Maple Cake w/ Molasses Cream Cheese Frosting, and Mom’s Molasses Cornbread.

The New Leaf: pre-order by the 19th to get a packaged to-go raw Thanksgiving meal ready for pick-up at their People’s Farmer’s Market cart on the 21st between 2pm-6pm. Single meal $42, for two $80, for four $160. The meal is made up of Hazelnut Harvest Nutloaf stuffed with Marinated Asparagus & Mushrooms, Cilantro-Cranberry Sauce, Zesty Orange Cranberry Sauce, Cherry & Wild Rice Stuffing, Cashew Creamed Brussel Sprouts, ‘Sweet Potatoes’ with Coconut Cream, Gratitude Greens, Rosemary-Pumpkin Seed Crackers, Eva’s Comforting Blend Herbucha, and Pumpkin Spice Cheezecake.

The Cheese Plate: holiday vegan cheese plate for $7 per guest. Consists of their vegan fromage fort, a variety of vegan cheeses, seasonal condiments, pickles, and cart-made crackers.

Hours: Food For Thought

PSU’s student-run organic vegetarian cafe is back up and running today after having to close in mid-september due to extreme water damage. They have their permanent menu items like bagels, housemade pastries, scramble, pancakes, french toast, parfaits/granola, and oatmeal. For lunch you can build your own sandwich, get a salad or soup, or the daily entrees. They also serve Trailhead coffee and espresso and Townshend’s Tea.

Food For Thought Cafe
1825 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97201 (basement of Smith Memorial Student Union, Room 26)
503.725.4736
Mon-Thu 7:30am-5:30pm, Fri 7:30am-2:30pm (lunch starts at 11am)
closed on school holidays