Since 1979, Greens restaurant has been a proving ground for wickedly talented women chefs — starting of course with founding chef Deborah Madison, who’s kitchen family tree also includes Annie Somerville, Denise St. Onge, and current Greens executive chef Katie Reicher. The landmark restaurant has been all vegetarian since day one, and continues to star pristine local produce in spring rolls, salads, and pizzas. This OG San Francisco vegetarian dining room offers stunning views of the bay and Marin Headlands beyond, though you can also dine al fresco if you’d prefer.

Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant — which is run by a family of devout Buddhists — is also kosher, making the restaurants (one in the Sunset and one in Chinatown) a hit with those of many faiths. Where this Chinese-influenced spot really shines though is its soups, all of which are made with flavorful, hearty broths that put meat-based broths to shame.

This fully plant-based “vegan comfort food” spot’s Cow Hollow location is still temporarily closed, but its Polk location is open for takeout, delivery, and dine-in.  Its menu offers a bounty of mock meat offerings, like fake tri-tip, counterfeit crab cakes, and faux chicken with gluten-free waffles.

While most Thai restaurants have plenty of meatless options, this Tenderloin restaurant removed the guesswork, as all its offerings are meat-free — yes, that even means fish and seafood are off the menu. Dishes include classics like papaya salad and pad Thai, and the spot also offers fresh takes on standards like fried rice and faux meat.

The Flying Falafel’s Middle Eastern menu is all vegan, and much of it is available with gluten-free options, as well. That means “chick’n” shawarma and falafel that’s free from meat cross-contamination. Takeout and delivery are both available here.

Beit Rima serves its exceptional hummus, falafel, and mezze to many Bay Area fans from its Castro and Cole Valley locations. It has a vegetarian-friendly menu, with the majority of items inherently free of meat. Must-orders include the ful (smashed fava bean spread with lemon relish, with a highly recommended optional soft boiled egg), shakshuka, and delicata squash with brown butter lebneh and pine nut dukkah.

Craving tofuna? Shizen’s vegan sushi bar and izakaya boasts a menu of rolls filled with creamy tofu and topped with imitation fish eggs (made of tapioca), as well as tempura-fried veggies, bean curd skewers, and miso ramen.

Mohamed Aboghanem’s newest outfit in the Inner Sunset is just getting started, and the unsuspecting shop already shows promise. The former owner of Saha in Berkeley, Aboghanem has been cooking vegetarian and vegan food for well over a decade. Bread pudding, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies, baklava, and almond bear tortes are all on deck.

Owner Michael Petite doles out vegan breakfast and lunch items at this Judah Avenue raw cafe. Waffles, smoothies, and bowls are staple fare. Petite recently opened Beach’n, another vegan shop, just a few blocks toward the water, to bring more of the vegan flock to the avenues.

Udupi Palace has faced some controversy over labor issues in the past, but promises in 2015 to turn over a new leaf suggest vegetarians are free to enjoy the South Indian restaurant’s giant dosas, spicy curries, and sweet chutneys free of guilt over human or animal exploitation. Entree prices top out at around $14, even for dinner, so they’ll also fill you up without breaking the bank.

This Bernal Heights restaurant is not exclusively vegetarian, nor need it be. Chef-owner Greg Lutes’ Michelin Guide New Discoveries 2021 restaurant has an expansive patio, a YOLO (you only live once) wine pairing, and, thankfully, vegetarian items for the high end diners such as potato leek soup, casarecce (available gluten-free, too), and porcini mushroom and black truffle ravioli “francese.”