Stops You Shouldn’t Miss On Oakland’s Vegan Food Trail

29.01.2024 - 05:25 / forbes.com

As a dynamic coastal city in the San Francisco Bay Area, Oakland has a wonderful, diverse arts scene, and its delectable cuisine inspires people from all over the country to visit the city that’s called the “bright side of the bay” for its fantastic weather. What you may not know is that this diverse, progressive city also has one of the best vegan food scenes in the country. Here are just some of the restaurants of Oakland’s vegan food trail you should try.

As a go-to spot for mouthwatering, globally inspired vegan fare made from locally sourced ingredients, Millennium has been a Bay Area staple since 1994. The welcoming, rustic dining room has a cheerful ambiance, and the patio dining area is popular. The menu changes seasonally to best reflect the best sustainable, organic produce available. Its Millennium burger with steak fries is popular, but it has a large menu of dishes that include pumpkin masa chalupa. A variety of cocktails and vegan desserts are also available with every meal.

Vegan Mob is a fun spot to find scrumptious soul food and BBQ dishes that are all plant-based. Chef and CEO D. Toriano Gordon has a mission to “provide nutritious and healthy food with plant-based ingredients.” His dishes are meant to be loved and enjoyed while also being good for you. Some unforgettable dishes served here include spicy fried “chicken”, fully loaded nachos, “rib” tips, brisket, and burgers.

If you want to taste some of your favorite dishes after you leave Oakland, Gordon has a plant-based vegan BBQ and soul food cookbook, Vegan Mob, coming out on February 27, 2024.

Timeless Coffee & Bakery is more than your average coffee shop. It’s a plant-based coffee roaster, café, and bakery. With three locations in Oakland and one in Berkley, there’s probably a convenient one to stop by during your trip to the Bay Area. If not, it’s worth going out of your way to experience. They serve specialty coffees, teas, and other hot and cold drinks. There’s also a nice menu of pastries, cookies, savory baked goods, cakes, and cupcakes.

If you’re celebrating during your time in the city or simply want to live it up during your visit, you can have a customized vegan cake created just for you. Also, if you love the coffee, you can join the Timeless Coffee Club and get the organic blend of your choice delivered to your home.

Founded by C-Y Chia and Shane Stanbridge, the Lion Dance Café serves what they call “authentic, not traditional” Singaporean Chinese cuisine. This fully vegan restaurant is Michelin Guide and James Beard Foundation listed. It has a welcoming, cozy atmosphere, and its menu includes delectable signature noodle dishes, sandwiches, and sweets. Its wine list is vegan, and it’s sourced completely from expert