Vegans. Many stereotypes abound about these people, most of them of the unfriendly variety, but really they’re just folks who want to do right by the Earth, animals and/or their bodies. Or perhaps it’s a self-control thing. I don’t know, I’m not a vegan’s therapist. While D.C. is home to many restaurants that serve vegetarian options, there are a handful of places in the area that only serve vegan and raw food. And guess what, meatheads? The food’s worth putting down a chicken thigh for. Below are seven of the best vegan spots in or near D.C.
Photo via Facebook.
WOODLAND’S VEGAN BISTRO/EVERLASTING LIFE CAFE: On paper, vegan soul food might not make much sense, but don’t be fooled: Woodland’s Vegan Bistro, formerly known as Everlasting Life Cafe, pulls it off. This Georgia Avenue spot in Park View doesn’t look like much from the outside (the salmon facade is usually graffiti-stricken and the windows typically boarded up with metal gate), but the restaurant’s spacious, posh interior adds all the more charm to this not-quite dive-y take on vegan-friendly soul food. The rotating menu offers different dishes on different nights of the week, but a variety of exotic salads and sandwiches—like the Eggplant and Tomato salad and Fried Chick’n sandwich—are mainstays. Mac ‘n cheez, barbecue tofu, and sautéed bean curd lasagna are all great options if you find yourself there on the right days. But I suggest making a point to get there on a Tuesday for the Shepherd’s Pie. Also, their smoothies are like the nectar of gods. Make sure to check out their new food truck. — Matt Cohen
Woodland’s Vegan Bistro is located at 2928 Georgia Avenue NW. The truck can be followed here.
SOUPERGIRL: I’m in love with Soupergirl. Not only is everything vegan, but it’s actually healthy (no crazy processed ingredients) and certified kosher too. All ingredients come from local farms, and everything is in season. Right now it’s tomato season, so they have four kinds of gazpacho (beet, tomato, watermelon and peach) in addition to their weekly soup varieties. The gazpacho is a-ma-zing. They don’t just have soups; I’m a huge fan of their peanut kale salad, which is light and so scrumptious. Dine in at their Takoma Park café and store to get free servings of homemade croutons for your soups and salads, or pick them up at other locations, including Smucker Farms on 14th Street NW and the Dupont Circle Farmers Market. — Lynne Venart
Soupergirl is located at 314 Carroll Street NW.
Photo by Craig Steinberg
STICKY FINGERS: We previously talked about Sticky Fingers’ delicious sweets and award-winning cupcakes in our Best Vegetarian Restaurants in D.C. list, but the Columbia Heights vegan cafe and bakery deserves a second shout out for its hearty sandwich and brunch dishes. The variety of specialty vegan burgers—including a D.C.-themed burger topped with vegan chili and cheez—is overwhelming, but you can’t really go wrong with any of them. Not many people peg Sticky Fingers for a go-to brunch spot, but I suggest giving it a shot and you’ll become instantly addicted with the blueberry pancakes platter—served with a side of savory potatoes and tofu scramble. Also, if we’re being honest, I’ve stumbled into Sticky Fingers in a hungover stupor to chow down on the breakfast burrito more times than I’d care to admit. Sometimes twice in a weekend. — Matt Cohen
Sticky Fingers is located at 1370 Park Road NW.
LOVING HUT: Loving Hut is an international vegan chain with over 120 branches, but it’s nothing like any other chain restaurant I’ve been to. The Loving Hut off Lee Highway in Falls Church skews Vietnamese, with a handful of American sandwiches on the menu as well. My favorite dishes have all been noodle soups, especially when ordered off of their specials board; the broths are very flavorful and they give you a ton of veggies, noodles and tofu to soak up the flavor. They also have some guilty pleasures like the deep fried wontons (so bad for you, but so good!). The restaurant has a large, no frills eat-in area, as well as a small but crazy supply of random vegan products from Asia. — Lynne Venart
Loving Hut is located 2842 Rogers Drive, Falls Church, Va.
Via Vimeo.
ELIZABETH’S GONE RAW: Are you tired of being left out of every tasting menu outing with your foodie friends? Don’t worry buddy, you’ve now got a horse in this race: Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. Every Friday, this little rowhouse offers a six-course raw vegan tasting menu that includes imaginative dishes such as pickled candy onions and watermelon and hibiscus sorbet. If you’re not interested in forking over the $75, join them for a Thursday happy hour for organic wines, cocktails, and small plates, like the best kale chips to ever walk the Earth. Elizabeth’s Gone Raw is a fantastic example of how a vegan meal can be a palate-expanding experience for even the most carnivorous among us. — Stephanie Dinkmeyer
Elizabeth’s Gone Raw is located at 1341 L Street NW.
GREAT SAGE: While it’s a total hike to get to Clarksville, Md., Great Sage is the best fancy vegan restaurant in the DMV, especially since I’m not a fan of the raw textures at the much closer Elizabeth’s Gone Raw. It’s certainly no Vedge (in Philly) or the to-die-for Dirt Candy (in New York), but it is really good and drivable without a stayover. A lot of the menu focuses on meat alternatives done well, using seitan, tempeh and tofu to recreate meat-heavy classics like the grilled reuben, BBQ seitan, and red curry tempeh. Plus, they’ve got a killer brunch. — Lynne Venart
Great Sage is located at 5809 Clarksville Square Drive, Clarksville, Md.
KHEPRA’S RAW FOOD JUICE BAR: Located inside Dynamic Wellness on the H Street Corridor, Khepra’s offers raw food that even a meat-lover like me can enjoy. The nut hemp burger and avocado nori wraps are particularly tasty, as is the creamy kale. The eatery is currently offering a $5 for $10 Yelp deal, so now’s the perfect time to try it out.
Khepra’s Raw Food Juice Bar is located at 402 H Street NE.
