We are headed to Portland,ME (not Oregon) for the weekend to run a 5K and I decided to do a little lot of research of dining options. Here is my guide to Portland, ME Vegan Friendly Dining (FYI this gives you an idea of what you can eat at these restaurants it is not a review of the restaurant because frankly I haven’t been to all of them- I will do a review of the ones we do visit upon our return):
Rating system:
1 –> 3 or less vegan options
2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)
Green Elephant: 608 Congress St, Portland ME
Rating: 5 (vegetarian, mostly vegan)
Check out their menu here.
Boda: 671 Congress Street, Portland ME
Rating: 3
Vegan Options:
The staff will let you know for sure which options are vegan there are a few I am not sure about- the skewers are though and they are good! So just double check; below are the vegetarian options which are most likely vegan or can be made that way.
- House fried peanuts seasoned with Thai herbs
- Fried taro sticks seasoned with sea salt. Served with spicy chili sauce
- Steamed assorted vegetables with “Nahm-Prik” (eggplant relish)
- Tofu skewer rubbed with teriyaki sauce
- Shiitake skewer with teriyaki seasoning sauce
- Portabella mushroom skewer rubbed with sesame oil & mushroom sauce
- Thai sticky rice with soy sauce, pepper, scallion, and garlic
- Stir-fried wide rice noodles with onion, tomato, pepper, bamboo shoot,Chinese broccoli, Thai basil, and tofu
- Organic tofu, bamboo shoots, red and green pepper, squash, baby carrot, green beans, Thai eggplant and Thai basil in homemade green curry
Personal Experience: LOVED this place. (same owners as Green Elephant)
Sebago Brewing Company: 211 Fore Street Portland ME
Rating: 2
Vegan Options:
- Beer
- Pub Pretzels: they are ok-but without the dipping sauce.
- Hummus & Tzatiki (without tzatiki)
- Greek Falafel (no feta): This salad is fine but with a different
dressing-the dressing it is listed with contains feta. The falafel is pan
seared with oil.
- Dressings that are ok:
Balsamic ving.
Italian
Cianti Ving.
Hefeweizen Ving? (contains honey)
Pesto Ving.
- Panzanella Salad (no chicken): without the cheese. suggest adding the falafel to this
- Vegetable Stir Fry: this dish is fine w/o rice could sub pasta
- Linguine-prepped with margarine
- Falafel burger w/o bun or tzatiki – sub wheat wrap
- Veggie quesadilla without any cheese
- FYI: the onion rings (not vegan anyways), chips french fries & sweet potato fries are deep fried in the same oil as fish
Soakology: 30 City Center Portland, ME 04101
Rating: 3* note this is a tea shop and foot spa so no meals just snacks.
Vegan Options:
- assorted mediterranean olives
- warmed, crusty french roll served with dipping oil & herbs
- hummus & warm pita served with mediterranean olives & veggies
- olive tapenade served with toasted crostinis
- eggplant bruschetta & olive tapenade served with seasonal fruits & toasted crostinis
- an assortment of fine cheese, seasonal fruit & mediterranean olives served with a petite boule, dipping oil & dark chocolate
Rating: 3
Vegan Options:
Fruit Gelatos (Sorbettos) that are completely milk free, egg free and fat free. Our fruit flavors are made using exclusively fresh fruit, water and different kinds of natural sugars. Usually, we produce :
El Rayo Taqueria: 101 York Street, Portland, ME
Rating: 4
Vegan Options:
- rice and beans
- veggie taco
- the veggie burrito can be done vegan
- the grilled pineapple
- chili fritas
- chips & salsa
- the el mercado salad
- the fiesta salad can be done vegan
Sonny’s: 83 Exchange Street, Portland.
Rating: 2
Vegan Options:
House pickled vegetables
• Soup*
• fried plantains w/o chili sour cream
• Beans
• Rice
• Panko fried avocado *not gluten free
• Farmer green sauté w/o butter
• Green salad
• Veggie enchiladas (entree) w/o cheese & the pine nut crema
Silly’s: 40 Washington Ave, Portland ME
Rating: 5
Vegan Options:
- Vegan Choices: Starting with dessert…….
- Vegan Triple chocolate layer cake with white and chocolate frosting
- Vegan Sweet Dreams – Fried plantains, maple syrup, toasted pecans, toasted coconut & a dash of cinnamon, add Soy Ice Cream or Rice Ice Cream
- Mug O’ Rice Ice Cream
- Mug O’ Soy Ice Cream
- The Veganotor Scramble- Sauteed tofu with mushrooms, green & red peppers, onioins, broccoli then finished with a vegan spicy sauce and served with red beans and salsa on the side.
- Hummus Wrap -(vegan) – Spinach, lettuce, tomatoes, onions & pickles
- ZoomaZoom Wrap (vegan) Falafel with spicy vegan spread, spinach, lettuce, tomato, onion and black olives
- Tempeh Thru The Tulips Wrap (vegan) Spinach, tomato, fried tempeh and sauteed veggies du jour in creamy basil sauce
- Garden of Eatin’ Appetizer (vegan) Silly made hummus served with carrots, broccoli, green& red peppers, falafel and crunchy flour tortilla chips, -made fresh daily-ask for it without the cuke dill
- Vegan Decadence Appetizer (vegan) Creamy vegan basil sauce spread atop grilled bread topped with Greek olives, roasted red peppers, fresh tomatoes & garlic then toasted to perfection
- Sweet Plantains Appetizer – Fried- (vegan) Can be gluten free if you tell us….
- Rings of Fire Appetizer (vegetarian) Breaded & fried jalapeno rings with a side of sour cream **(vegan)-sub spicy vegan dip
- French Fries Appetizer (vegan)- Handcut Can be gluten free if you tell us…
- Hobo Pie Dinner (vegan) Flour tortilla chips topped with sweet potato millet blackbean vegan chili, salsa, tomatoes & scallions –Must ask for soy mozz substitute and no sour cream.
- Tofu in a Dinghy Dinner -(vegan) – Thai ginger peanut sauce, rice noodles, fried tofu, vegan mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and scallions wrapped in a flour tortilla and deep fried in a chimi style.
- Gone Bonzo Dinner-(vegan) – A panfried bonzo cake (chickpea flour spiced pancake with flax seeds) topped with sauteed veggies in a creamy spicy Thai peanut coconut sauce and garnished with julienne carrot.
- Tempeh of Doom Dinner – (vegan) – Layered rice, red beans, fried tempeh, vegan bbq sauce, fried onions, hot sauce, vegan cheddar cheese and jalapenos.
- PeppaKalaSpinaVeganDocious Pizza – (vegan) – Creamy Vegan Basil sauce, spinach, roasted red peppers, Greek olives, garlic & fresh tomatoes
- Rest in Pizza -(vegan)- Spicy vegan spread, fried veggie burger, jalapenos, pineapple, garlic, hot sauce & vegan mozzarella cheese
- Good Golly Miss Bolly Dinner (vegan) Sauteed veggies, fried tofu, fried sweet potato and white potato, in a coconut mango curry sauce over rice garnished with cilantro and toasted coconut.
- Et Tu & Fries Dinner Dinner– (vegan) – Breaded organic fried tofu & hand cut fries served with spicy vegan dip or make it buffalo with spicy vegan dip
- Garden Salad – (vegan) – Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, onions, carrots, green peppers, scallions, broccoli, & mushrooms-available in demi size
- Blue Mango Veggie Burgers
- Papou’s Falafel fabuffel burger (falafel with buffalo sauce)
- Your choice of a
- single
- double
- Triple
- All Burgers are served on a hamburger and are topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles & served with Silly’s hand cut French Fries.
- Accentuate your Bun…
- Buffalo Sauce, Vegan BBQ Sauce, Soy Cheddar, Soy Mozzarella, Soy American, Vegan Chili, Avocado Puree’, or Bolly Sauce (vegan mango coconut curry sauce)
Rating: 1
Vegan Options:
- olives
- veg entree (as long as you omit the cheese)
- green salad (omit the cheese)
- risotto can be prepared vegan
- flat bread
- veg saute
- sometimes the soup
Rating: 1
Vegan Options:
Quote from the restaurant “We do have a few salads on the menu for vegans, however, if you want to come to the restaurant, the chef prefers to cook strictly for you. to be honest there are very few things actually on the menu that are vegan, but we are happy to customize the menu for you. if you would like further information please call us at
207-761-0555. again, the chef takes all dietary restrictions/allergies very seriously and would be happy to accomodate you.”
Rating system:
1 –> 3 or less vegan options
2 –> 4-5 vegan options (at least one entree)
3 –> 6-7 vegan options (at least one entree)
4 –> 8-9 vegan options (at least two entrees)
5 –> 10+ vegan options (at least two entrees)
I was a little nervous that these stairs were going to be a bit of a challenge for the race because they were steep and the gravel around the stairs loose. Oh well!
