Vibemap_San_Francisco_Vegan_Hood_Chefs_@theveganhoodchefs

This map will help you discover vegan and vegetarian vibes around Oakland and the East Bay.

Northern California cooks in Oakland and Berkley create delicious, sustainable vegan-friendly food options for practically anything you are craving: Chinese, brunch, deli sandwiches, tacos, fried “chicken”, soul food, donut, cupcakes, pizza, ice cream, burgers, and much more.

Souley Vegan
Food

Souley Vegan

Oakland

Authentic Southern Vegan

  • absurd
  • delicious
  • proud
  • vibrant
Shewhat
Food & Drink

Shewhat

Oakland

Eritrean Cafe & Restaurant

  • creative
  • crowded
  • fantastic
  • feeling
The Butcher's Son
Food

The Butcher's Son

Berkeley

Vegan Butcher & Delicatessen

  • vegan
  • amazing
  • generous
  • new
Vegan Mob
Food

Vegan Mob

Oakland

Vegan Restaurant

  • vegan
  • radical
  • diverse
  • local
Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen
Food

Two Mammas' Vegan Kitchen

Oakland

Local Vegan Love

  • positive
  • casual
  • solidarity
  • delicious
Homeroom
Food

Homeroom

Oakland

New American Restaurant

  • flavorful
  • delicious
  • classic
  • fresh
Golden Lotus Vegetarian
Food & Drink

Golden Lotus Vegetarian

Oakland

Asian Fusion

  • vegan
  • amazing
  • drinks
  • love
Shangri-La Vegan

Shangri-La Vegan

Millennium
Drink

Millennium

Oakland

Chef-owner Eric Tucker’s vegan restaurant has an established reputation, starting in San Francisco in 1994 before moving across the Bay. This casual but slightly upscale location is constantly busy—packed with dates, friends, and birthdays, with solo diners perched at the long curving bar (where you can also get a cocktail with housemade infusions)—so try to snag a reservation ahead of time.

The interior is rustic-meets-industrial, with lots of wood and steel, and there’s also a covered patio with ivy-covered walls and heat lamps. The globetrotting dishes feature complex layers of flavors that range from Indian to Italian to Mexican to Japanese, all made with seasonal vegetables at their peak (and lots of mushrooms).

The salads are particularly tempting, like one with carrot and purslane with grilled dates and cashew feta, pickled green strawberries, shaved spring onion, toasted garlic-sumac vinaigrette, lemon tahini, mint, and dill. Hearty mains can feature a tamal, polenta cake, tempeh, and their well-known burger.

Dessert includes a cheesecake with a cashew base and compote. (It’s worth noting that almost all dishes are gluten-free as well.)

  • vegan
  • fresh
  • local
  • brunch

Potala Organic Cafe

Albany

  • simple
  • vegan
  • delicious
Bare Knuckle Pizza
Food

Bare Knuckle Pizza

Oakland

Wood-fired Neapolitan Pizza in the Greater SF Bay Area. Each pie is individually crafted using locally sourced, organic ingredients whenever possible. While most pizzerias cater to vegans with a single pie, or offer to swap out mozzarella for vegan cheese, Bare Knuckle sources vegan alternatives for every single ingredient. That means vegan pepperoni, vegan sausage, vegan bleu cheese, and vegan bacon, in addition to the now customary vegan mozzarella. The crust, inspired by the kind made in famous Neapolitan spots in Brooklyn, ranks among the best in the East Bay. It’s beautifully blistered, pillowy yet chewy, and full of flavor. In contrast to East Bay Neapolitan hubs like Lucia’s and Pizzaiolo, which cover the date-night-to-special-occasion spectrum, Bare Knuckle is laid-back, less expensive, and all about the pizza. You can’t order a side salad or finish with dessert, but you can pair your pie with a can of PBR.

  • alternative
  • beautiful
  • elegant
  • renowned
Dareye Cafe
Food & Drink

Dareye Cafe

Oakland

Cafe Dareye is an injera supply store, Ethiopian food supply store, and purveyor of extremely excellent vegetarian take-out Ethiopian food.

  • creative
  • beautiful
  • hidden-gem
  • authentic
Vegan Donut Gelato
Food

Vegan Donut Gelato

Oakland

Vegan Donuts

  • friendly
  • vegan
  • tasty
  • creative

About the Author

Steve Pepple
Steve Pepple

Steve Pepple is the co-founder of Vibemap and a designer and technologist working at the intersection of people, data, and civic life. He consults for governments, startups, and nonprofits design, prototype, and connect people with better city experiences.