photo from & Beer – A Mushrooms Restaurant

The Vegetarian Resource Group maintains an online Guide to Vegan/Vegetarian Restaurants in the USA and Canada. Here are some recent vegan restaurant additions. The entire guide can be found here: http://www.vrg.org/restaurant/index.php

To support the updating of this online restaurant guide, please donate at: www.vrg.org/donate

Here are some new additions to VRG’s guide:

& Beer, 21 East 7th St., New York, NY 10003

Expand your palate at & Beer, a peculiar pairing of beer and mushrooms will be found. Chef Juan Pajarito has created a menu solely focusing on fungi. You can spot familiar mushrooms like baby trumpet paired with mole de pipian, cashew sour cream, broccoli rabe, onion pearls, or lion’s mane stuffed dumplings. Have you heard of Hen of the woods mushrooms? Well make your way to & Beer and discover the exotic flavors that can be achieved with mushrooms. Finally, be sure to check out one of their delicious dessert options!

Bloom Sushi Counter, XMarket, 804 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613

Bloom Sushi Counter is located inside XMarket where, if you’re a vegan, you might feel like the proverbial kid in a candy store. A couple of Bloom Sushi Counter’s Appetizers are Crispy Kale Dumplings with mixed vegetables, sesame and black vinegar, or Sweet & Sour Tempeh Rangoon. Nigiri selections include Tomato Dill, Preserved Melon Tuna, or BBQ Eggplant. Drumroll please for Maki. The Dragon Roll with Avocado, cucumber, eggplant, tempura asparagus and “eel” sauce, or their 312 Roll of Burdock root, hijiki, cucumber, hearts of palm and chipotle aioli, are a couple of choices. If Dessert is tugging at your sleeve, there’s Bloom Sushi’s Crispy Coconut Rice with Miso coconut dulce de leche and shiso.

Chicago Not Dogs, XMarket, 804 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago, IL 60613

Features many meat analogue items such as Hot Roast Bef & Cheeze, Chili Cheeze Dog, Fried Chick’n Sandwich; weekly specials such as Metball Sandwich, and Specialty Sandwiches such as Footlong Sub and Italian Breaded Stak Sandwich, and Starters such as a Bowl of Chili, with Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookies for dessert.

June, 4589 SW Watson Ave., Beaverton, OR 97005

Cocktails are the name of the game with several imaginative choices. To start off with a blast, Cannonball fires away with bourbon, apple brandy, cardamom infused coffee liqueur, orange, and mole bitters. Beau Paysage features vodka, herbal liqueur, cantaloupe, lemon, and mint. One of several Nonalcoholic Cocktails, Odyssey blends citrusy, bittersweet, spicy Pathfinder Hemp & Root with blueberry, lemon, and soda. There’s also a wide selection of canned, bottled and Draft beer, as well as wine. Hungry? Small Bites include Turmeric Roasted Brussels Sprouts with hazelnuts and miso-curry ranch and battered, fried Kale pakora with mango chutney and soy yogurt. If you’re craving Fries with an Indian flavor twist, you might try Masala Fries dressed in cilantro-mint aioli and Tandoori beet ketchup, or their Deluxe Masala Fries that builds on the above, but swaps the Tandoori beet ketchup for roasted red pepper chutney and tomato chutney and adds tempeh and caramelized onions. Plates also include June Burger—a Beyond and lentil patty with salad fixings, beet ketchup and green chutney aioli. There’s a Salad and Sandwich option too. Cheers to Dessert! Raise a glass to Ginger Cardamom Cake with blueberry-mint compote or battered, fried Banana Pakora with Strawberry-citrus compote and mango chutney—both served with vanilla ice cream.

La Jaca, 700 Van Ness Ave., Fresno, CA 93721

A family-owned business that started as a food truck and then opened its brick-and-mortar location. La Jacka offers vegan Mexican cuisine with jackfruit as a star ingredient. If you are new to vegan dining or just haven’t yet experienced the wonders of the jackfruit, a good place to start might be with their Cali Jack Burrito, made with beans, avocado, pico de gallo, vegan cheese and crema, chipotle, and a choice of jackfruit flavor (such as asada or chile verde). Too hungry to wait for lunch? Then grab the Breakfast Nacho, made with vegan nacho cheese and a tofu scramble with jackfruit, bell peppers, zucchini, beans and cheese. There are non-jackfruit options too, like the Shrimp Taco Combo and the Loaded Cheese Flautas, as well as a variety of refreshing drinks, including a Mango Fresca and a Vegan Horchata.

María Cruz – Plant Based Cuisine, 314 S. 16th St., McAllen, TX 78501

Maria Cruz is inspired by southern Mexican flavors. It is a nice place to catch up on work with some coffee or have brunch with the pals. They have fresh juices for your choosing and hot teas to warm you up as well as vegan egg options for brunch. It’s hard to find Quesabirrias but at Maria Cruz you can get that, taco pirate, street tacos, and Mexican entrees you thought you would never see again. They also offer burger options.

Vibe Vegan Bistro, 4507 Furling Ln., Destin, FL 32541

Chef Divaldo Delima Jr., and co-owner Ami Sievers have a passion for fresh, healthy, and consciously crafted Vegan food served in a supportive and relaxed atmosphere. No blaring TV’s here as the focus is on people, food, and healthy interactions. The breakfast choices range from familiar burritos and wraps, to savory tartines or chia puddings with fresh fruit. For a special treat by the Gulf try the crab cake Benedict. Vibe Bistro always utilizes fresh locally sourced ingredients from local suppliers and specialty farmers. For an over-the-top experience join Chef Divaldo for one of his Chef’s Choice Dinners (by reservation). Each week he creates a unique meal utilizing the highest quality and freshest ingredients in artful, inventive, and flavorful combinations that you just cannot find on a standard menu.