When one hears the term "soul food" probably the last thing they would associate it with is the word "vegan," but Oakland's Souley Vegan has made the oxymoron a reality. Diners can choose from all kinds of familiar Southern foods like fried okra, cornbread and collared greens, along with some not so familiar dishes like BBQ or fried tofu. Souley Vegan cooks up all its food with soul, as the name implies, making it so good you might not even notice the lack of animal products.
Formerly known as Manzanita Cafe, the organic, vegetarian cuisine here is simple but delicious. The restaurant offers a few dishes each day (which you can see there or on their website), and these dishes and side dishes are served in a somewhat buffet-style fashion. Patrons can order the "Full Meal" (the largest plate), "Moderate Meal," or "Simple Meal." The Simple Meal is very basic, cooked with no oil or seasoning. If you are looking for food that is healthy yet still delicious, Shangri-La is definitely the place to go.
Gracias Madre delights its patrons with a delectable fare of vegan Mexican dishes. The restaurant is quite spacious and is furnished with ample of seating spaces that accommodate larger parties with ease. Tasteful decor, warm lighting and a welcoming atmosphere makes this place completely child friendly too. The menu at Gracias Madre dictates varieties of quintessential Mexican specials, all cooked to perfection with use of only and only organic and vegan ingredients. Draft beers, soju cocktails as well as organic wines are available to complete your fare.
Whether you crave sushi or something fried, your palate will be satisfied at Cha-Ya Vegetarian Japanese Restaurant. Here, avid vegetarians and vegans alike from across the city sit down in a simple yet bright dining room to chow down on vegetarian dishes akin to what is served at Japanese Buddhist temples. Try their popular shiitake and spinach roll, or even one of their noodle dishes such as the kinoko which is served with shimeji, eryngll, portobello and oyster mushrooms and your choice of udon or soba noodles. Many items are served a la carte or can be ordered in combination. Though the service is not noted for its speed, a good attitude and good food usually compensate for the wait.
On first thought, the words vegan and sushi strung together seems like a contradiction, but this eatery seamlessly combines the two to offer delicious rice rolls. Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar & Izakaya breaks away from the popular notion that sushi means raw seafood by substituting vegan ingredients for meat and dairy products. It applies the Shojin style of cooking, a Buddhist technique that endorses “Ahimsa” or “non-violence” and uses ingredients like Voodoo Lily, Mountain Yam and Tofu. Savor vegan sushi rolls with quirky names like Hidden Agenda, a blend of tempura eggplant, bell peppers, zucchini, carrot, yellow onion, garlic aioli and sweet soy sauce. Other options include Surprise Ending with avocado and kale, and the pumpkin-based Open Invitation. The Izakaya also serves a variety of Japanese beverages.