The Top List of Veggie Restaurants-Phoenix, AZIn the Valley of the Sun, there are several vegetarian dining options. by Christine Wolfe
In the Valley of the Sun, amid the cacti, baking heat and plentiful mexican food restaurants, vegetarian options seem few and far between. But there are several oasis among the dining choices, and even the strictly vegan palate will have more than one dining option. Vegetarian restaurants are scattered across the Phoenix-metro area, which means you won't have to drive halfway to Los Angeles looking for healthy, non-meat specialties.
DESERT GREENS CAFÉ inside Gentle Strength Coop and Deli - Vegetarian & Vegan 234 W. University Dr. o Tempe (480) 968-4831 Hours: Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Saturday: 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Sunday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. In Tempe, just down the street from Mill Avenue and its trendy, chain restaurants is Gentle Strength, where nothing is fake and everything is fresh. There are no processed foods, no unpronounceable entrees and no pretentious waiters with towels on their arms. What you'll find are daily specials such as vegetarian albondigas soup, chili, meatless meatloaf, wok wonder (featuring stir-fried soba noodles and veggies), and baked goods. Everything here is fresh, organic, and homemade, from the pancakes and cinnamon rolls in the morning to the tofu enchiladas in the evening. The Coop is also a grocery store, if you feel like making your own feast at home.
GREEN LEAF CAFÉ - Vegetarian and Vegan 4426 N. 19th Ave. o Phoenix (602) 265-5992 Hours: Monday: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; Tuesday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.; Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Closed Sunday. Intimate, centrally-located, and friendly, the menu offered here has a distinct middle-eastern and oriental flair. For lunch, try a spinach-herb burger, filled with aromatic herbs such as cilantro and dill, and Persian spices, or the purple shoots, which features braised asparagus, grilled eggplant, onion, fresh herbs, lemon juice and feta cheese. Omit the feta cheese and the cugurt (homemade yogurt, mixed with cucumber, mint, dill and onion), and you have a tasty vegan dish. For dinner, indulge in Koresh Sabsi, an herb stew, or the portabello mushroom plate, with tofu, spinach, fresh herbs and brown rice with toasted almond-raisin-saffron mix. And for desert, try the fresh vegan pumpkin pie or the vegan raspberry cheesecake - both a satisfying end to flavorful meal.
INTERNATIONAL VEGETARIAN HOUSE - Vegetarian and Vegan 3239 E. Indian School Rd. o Phoenix (602) 264-3480 Hours: Tuesday - Saturday: (Lunch) 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; (Dinner) 5 - 9 p.m. If there is a king of vegetarian restaurants, this is it. With more than 80 vegetarian, vegan, and lacto-vegetarian dishes to choose from, this restaurant boosts a menu that is 99 percent vegetarian. From soy protein dishes such as lobster, sweet & sour pork, duck, and lemongrass chicken to stir-fried veggies and beyond, the International Vegetarian House has it. Special requests are welcome here, but you'd have a difficult time not finding something to suit you from the Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Italian, French or Mediterranean-inspired dishes. The price is right, too; at lunch for $4.75 you get tea, soup and an entrée. A must-visit for those looking for a diverse dining experience.
LAI LAI Mongolian BBQ - Vegetarian 3515 W. Northern Ave. o Phoenix (602) 589-6166 Hours: Sunday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Think sizzling, stir-fried veggies with aromatic spices, cooked right in front of you. Think inexpensive. Think Mongolian BBQ, where dishes can be served without the meat and with tofu. At LAI LAI, none of the spices have meat products, and all veggies are stocked fresh daily. This bustling, friendly, neighborhood eatery prides itself on providing healthy food and healthy choices. Another great place to visit with friends who eat meat - they can order beef, chicken or pork as add-ins to their meals.
LALIBELA ETHIOPIAN CAFE - Vegetarian 849 W. University Dr. o Tempe (480) 829-1939 Hours: Monday: Closed; Tuesday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.; Saturday: Noon - 10 p.m.; Sunday: Noon - 9 p.m. For those who want vegetarian, but travel with friends who must eat meat, Lalibela is a nice compromise. This intimate café has delicately-seasoned dishes like collard greens, cabbage, carrots and potatoes, red split lentils, and a cold lentil dish, served like a salad. Complimenting the veggies are homemade chicken, beef, lamb and fish plates, all house specialties often served by the owners themselves. A nice place to eat when trying to please all palates.
MEDITERRANEAN HOUSE - Vegetarian and Vegan 1588 E. Bethany Home Rd. o Phoenix (602) 248-8460 Hours: Monday - Saturday: (Lunch) 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.; (Dinner) 4:30 - 9 p.m. Sunday: Closed. While some dishes here do contain dairy, the pleasant and friendly staff is happy to accommodate those who prefer dairy-free meals. The fried eggplant is a heavenly indulgence, the humus and babaganoush freshly-made, and the tabouli is seasoned to perfection. The falafel and spinach lasagna are also mouth-watering. Centrally-located, this is a restaurant with consistently-well prepared meals.
THE PERSIAN GARDEN CAFE - Vegetarian and Vegan 1335 W. Thomas Rd. o Phoenix (602) 263-1915 Hours: Monday - Thursday: 11 a.m. - 9 p.m.; Friday - Saturday: 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. Closed Sunday. This sister restaurant to the Green Leaf Café offers some of the same menu items, such as purple shoots and the spinach herb burger, but also an expanded menu that includes fresh juices such as carrot, apple-ginger, mango pomegranate and carrot-cucumber. There are pita sandwiches, kosher dishes, falafel and dolmeh (grape leaves stuffed with tabouli and cugurt), as well as tasty desserts such as vegetarian carrot cake and non-dairy Persian ice cream. Closer to downtown Phoenix, the Persian Garden Café is a great place for a business lunch or an intimate dinner.
THE PITA JUNGLE - Vegetarian and Vegan 1250 E. Apache Blvd. o Tempe (480) 804-0234 Hours: Monday - Sunday: 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Want fast, healthy, and dare we say it, vegetarian and vegan food, cheap? Sound impossible? Not at The Pita Jungle, where your wallet and your stomach are stuffed at the end of your meal. Try the vegan humus or the grilled portobello mushroom burger. Want falafel, lavash pizza or a veggie wrap? No problem. There are salads like the honey pasta salad or the chicken pasta salad (which can be made vegetarian by substituting tofu for chicken), and the pitas? You name it, they can put it in a pita. Want something different? Try the 1,000-Bean Pita. Although not a candlelight dinner kind of place, you won't leave hungry or unsatisfied.
WILD OATS DELI - Vegetarian 3933 E. Camelback Rd. o Phoenix (602) 954-0584 13823 N.Tatum Blvd. o Phoenix (602) 953-7546 Hours: Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. Daily specials, organic and soy products and a variety of vegetarian dishes make for a perfect take-home meal. Salads, sandwiches and tofu dishes compliment the offerings of this natural foods grocery store. If you're too tired to cook after shopping, get your deli goods to go and enjoy a healthy meal at home. Dishes change daily, so call ahead and confirm what's available.
WHOLE FOODS MARKET DELI - Vegetarian and Vegan 5120 S. Rural Rd. o Tempe (480) 456-1400 Hours: Monday - Sunday: 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Mmmm, what's that I smell cooking while I push my grocery cart through the store? Probably vegetarian tamales, vegan chicken nuggets or vegan Kung Pao chicken. The Asian cucumber salad, beet salad and the red pepper-dressed green beans are tasty sides. Indulge in some of the fresh-baked, all organic cakes for dessert - although some may contain dairy. Sandwiches and monthly specials keep the variety fresh and the prices down for a quick lunch or dinner.
The Top List of Veggie Restaurants-Phoenix, AZ
