My Top 5 Favorite Restaurants for Vegetarian Food in San Francisco

Disclosure: Some of these restaurants hosted my meal in exchange for the coverage in my article. All opinions are my own. best vegetarian food san francisco

My Top 5 Favorite Restaurants for Best Vegetarian Food in San Francisco

Out of all the places I have traveled, I must say San Francisco has always been one of my favorites when it comes to food! After several trips here over the past few years, as well as trying lots of different vegetarian dishes, I wanted to share about a few favorites of mine when it comes to some of the best vegetarian food in San Francisco, CA.

5. Northpoint Bar & Restaurant – Fisherman’s Wharf Area

Best vegetarian food in a San Francisco - restaurants with amazing vegetarian food in San Francisco, CA

Northpoint is newly renovated with a new menu, located inside Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf. I am somebody who looks for not only good food, but a relaxing atmosphere. This hotel is just on the next street behind the main street where Pier 39 is located. The Pier 39 area restaurants can get quite packed and hectic, so Northpoint is a great place to get the vibe of the wharf area with a more sophisticated, relaxing atmosphere. They have an inside area to eat, but my favorite is the outside patio, where you can feel nice breezes and sit on lounge couches with a firepit. They have a variety of vegetarian options, but the two standouts for me that keep me craving Northpoint is their avocado toast and ramen bowl. The avocado toast normally comes with shrimp, but you can get it without the shrimp. It comes on a marble slab with three heft pieces of toast on soft (with just a bit of crunch around the edges) sourdough, topped with chunks of avocado, tomatoes, and balsamic dressing. I absolutely love avocado toast, and this cross of avocado toast meets bruschetta is the absolute best! The vegetarian ramen bowl is very filling and comforting, especially on a colder day. Filled with noodles, miso, soft boiled egg and veggies it hits the spot. They have great refreshing cocktails too, my favorite is one of their specialty cocktails that’s gin-based, called the Sailor’s Ration.

Location: 2500 Mason Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Hours: 6:30am-Midnight seven days a week

Parking: Parking at Pier 39 is the most convenient nearby parking garage (but does not validate for the restaurant). There is also nearby street parking.

4. Sessions at the Presidio – Presidio

Sessions at the Presidio is located right near the Lucasfilm headquarters. It’s fantastic to stop into the lobby of Lucasfilm and the Yoda fountain (anyone can visit here, but note the lobby is only open during weekdays), then walk over to Sessions at the Presidio and enjoy a view of the Palace of the Fine Arts on their balcony. They don’t have a lot of vegetarian options on their menu, but this goes in my top 5 vegetarian restaurants because the main one they have is so incredibly amazing. Sessions is well known for their burgers, and they do a great job on their vegetarian version of a burger too. Their Beyond burger is paired with pickles and mustard, on a delicious toasted bun. It tastes like a perfectly gourmet decadent burger! But what is always on my mind are their fries. I am not a huge french fry fan, but theirs are so amazing that I go here just for the fries. Paired with the Beyond burger and the wine pairings they offer, along with the beautiful views is just perfection.

Location: 1 Letterman Drive, San Francisco, CA 94129

Hours: Tue-Fri 11:30-9, Sat-Sun 11-9

Parking: Free 2 hour parking on the residential streets surrounding, or $5 with validation from Sessions parking in its underground parking lot.

3. Starbelly – The Castro

Starbelly has some unbelievably gorgeous dishes, which are seasonal and fresh. Their menu rotates quarterly, to reflect items that are in season. They have a large variety of vegetarian items (with any of the salads and pizzas able to be made vegetarian or vegan). Many of their items are vegan, and any of their pizzas can be made vegan too. With so many amazing appetizers on their menu, I think the best way to enjoy this restaurant is to order several starters and then a pizza to share and be able to try several of the dishes. Our favorites were the Starbelly pizza ordered without bacon. It is arugula, jalapenos, and Green Goddess dressing on a sourdough crust. Some of my favorite appetizers are the cheese dumplings and grilled stone fruit. And if you are dining at Starbelly, you absolutely must save room for dessert. We tried three of them, the peach ice cream, salted caramel pot de creme, and their toffee cake with mascarpone cream. The toffee cake and pot de creme were my favorites, I think if I went back with a group I would order both to share. I also loved their fresh cocktails, including the Disco Nap (a gin based cocktail).

Location: 3583 16th Street, San Francisco, CA 94114

Hours: Mon-Thu 11:30am-11pm, Fri 11:30am-Midnight, Sat 10am-Midnight, Sun 10am-11pm

Parking: No specific parking garage, parking is available on surrounding streets. Parking can be difficult in this restaurant, so allow plenty of time to find parking.

2. Maybeck’s – Marina District

Maybeck’s located in the Marina District has an amazing bar, wine and champagne selection, and atmosphere. It’s 100% my ideal vibe. At first glance, it might seem like a weird choice for one of my favorite restaurants to go to in San Francisco as a vegetarian since the menu is very centered on seafood. However, the vegetarian items they do have is some of the best cuisine I’ve ever tasted! Using local produce, the food tastes incredibly fresh. Their starters that stand out are their peaches, avocado toast, and beets. They have a great selection of wines and champagnes, and offer great pairing advice for each course. The experience and thought put behind each course really makes the experience. The mid-course was outstanding, a truffle risotto topped with Parmesan foam, which they recommend be paired with champagne. My entree was rigatoni. To be honest, I am not normally a pasta person. But I am craving the rigatoni topped with burrata cheese since I had it. Absolutely exquisite! The dessert is also a foodie adventure, with my favorite being their vanilla gelato paired with black cherries and cherry liqueur. It is just a great restaurant if you are a foodie and want a sophisticated, romantic yet hip atmosphere.

Location: 3213 Scott Street, San Francisco, CA 94123

Hours: Tue-Thu 4:30-6 Happy Hours, 5:30-10 pm Dinner; Fri 4:30-6pm Happy Hours, 5:30-11pm Dinner; Sat 3-6pm Happy Hours, 5:30-11pm Dinner; Sun 3-6pm Happy Hours, 5-9pm Dinner

Parking: Free street parking on surrounding streets

1. Le Colonial – Lower Nob Hill

Le Colonial hit all the marks in what I look for in a restaurant: Great atmosphere (bonus points if it’s a vintage inspired atmosphere or historic building), cocktails with fresh and natural ingredients, and a wide selection of vegetarian dishes that are perfect for a foodie like me! Going to Le Colonial is quite the experience, and the restaurant feels a bit like escapism like you’re being transported to another time and place. The decor is supposed to resemble 1920’s Vietnam, and the food is Vietnamese with a French colonial flare. The building is tucked inside an alleyway away from main streets. When you enter, you see an old yet beautiful elevator and staircase. When you walk up the stairs, you enter a long outdoor patio that also is the walkway to the main restaurant. The walkway has a greenhouse-style covering, and is decorated with tropical plants. The inside feels very elegant, with old photographs adorning the walls. We went on a Sunday, where you can get their Tiffin-style dinner, which is a meal served in 3 or 4 tiers, with items of your choice. I chose the spring rolls with peanut sauce, brown rice, and curry tofu. As an appetizer, we also had an amazing tofu dish and green papaya salad. All comforting, yet light and flavorful and packed with veggies. My favorite cocktail was one of vodka, cucumber and agave, called the Honai Honey, and the dessert we ordered was a very fruity passionfruit cheesecake. This makes my number one since it not only had great atmosphere and taste, but plenty of vegan and vegetarian options as well.