San Francisco has got to be one of the most amazing cities to visit. I feel refreshed every time I go there, even though I almost always end up buying a new pair of shoes to tackle the monster hills and walking lifestyle. As a vegetarian, San Francisco has been at the top of my destinations list, right after New York, for its great dining options and the quality and variety of food.

Recommended Restaurants Golden Era (vegan Vietnamese) (415) 673-3136 Lori´s Diner at Powell (415) 677-9999 Lucky Creation (vegan Chinese) (415) 989-0818 Millennium Restaurant (415) 487-9800 Osha Thai Noodle Cafe (415) 673-2368 Sakana (Japanese) (415) 775-7644

It had been almost a year and a half since the last time I had visited San Francisco, and in that fairly short span of time, at least three of my favorite vegetarian restaurants closed down. The economic downturn and shaky tech market hit San Francisco pretty hard, forcing the doors to close on Kowloon Vegetarian, Veg Time, and Valentine´s. On the bright side, San Francisco is not lacking in vegetarian and vegetarian-friendly fair, so the trip was still a major success.

No vegetarian should leave San Francisco without a visit to Chef Eric Tucker´s Millennium Restaurant. This gourmet vegetarian restaurant is located near a bustling arts scene and is a perfect start to an evening of theater, dance and music. For full details, read my recent review.

For visitors hitting the standard sights, Lucky Creation is an excellent lunch option right in the heart of Chinatown. This restaurant always seems to be busy, and if you hit during the lunch rush, you´ll probably end up sharing a table so don´t be shy. If you want, you can opt for a few dim sum items of steamed buns, various spiced gluten morsels or assorted pastries to go instead of waiting.

For late night eats, try Lori´s Diner, which has multiple locations, or Osha Thai Noodle Cafe. Lori´s has various vegetarian items and a great classic diner atmosphere. At Osha, most menu items can easily be made vegetarian, and their sticky rice with mango is not to be missed.

If you find yourself in the Tenderloin, stop in to Golden Era Vegetarian Restaurant. This out of the way stop offers a large menu of traditional Vietnamese items, from Faux Pho to Steamed Buddha Buns. Spring rolls are a signature Vietnamese menu item at any restaurant, and the same is true for Golden Era.

The above recommendations are only a tiny sampling of the vegetarian options available in San Francisco. This is one of the few cities that don´t require a rigorous amount of planning to make sure you get a good meal. Union Square is peppered with ethnic restaurants of all kinds, and most places are aware of a general trend toward healthy eating. Even non-chain coffee houses offer soy and rice milk as an option. (If you´re in Union Square, avoid corporate coffee and check out Cafe Encore on Post Street.)

If you´ve been to San Francisco and would like to share your experiences or just talk about your favorite restaurants, start a new topic on the Bella Vegetarian Forum.

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