Portland has a vibe all its own — to be honest, I am not sure there is another city quite like it. Its counter-culture vibe is filled with hipster-loving coffee shops, craft breweries, and a diverse culinary scene saddled up next to high-end shops for the well-heeled — I guess you could say there is something for everyone in Portland.
But, I didn’t venture to this Pacific Northwest gem for the shopping. I didn’t even know Louis Vuitton had a presence — I came for the mega vegan food scene. Thanks partly to its focus on sustainability and doing things a little differently, the vegan scene in Portland has grown to epic proportions — it’s almost large enough to be its own mini-city (when that happens, I am moving in)!
Whether you’re interested in finding the best place for vegan waffles on the weekend (The Fermenter) or a mouthwatering donut spot to please your sweet tooth (Doe Donuts), you’ve come to the right place. This Portland vegan travel guide is filled with a massive variety of globally-inspired vegan restaurants, cruelty-free shops, and even a fully vegan market.
Now all you need to do is book your plane ticket!
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Is Portland Vegan-Friendly?
Portland is one of the most vegan-friendly cities in the US! It is home to around 50 vegan restaurants and countless vegan-friendly ones — it’s shocking to go somewhere in Portland and not have an option! In addition to food, you’ll also find a fully vegan market and gift shop, along with plenty of stores that sell vegan and cruelty-free products. If you haven’t been to Portland as a vegan, you’ve been missing out!
Vegan Restaurants in Portland
Ok, so before your mouth starts watering, you’ll need a plan of attack to visit many of the excellent vegan restaurants in Portland efficiently. These restaurants are located all across the city, my advice is to pin them on your Google Maps; this way, you have a sense of what will be within your reach (especially if you’re relying on public transit).
Lilla
960 SE Madison St, Portland, OR 97214
To get your fix of bowls of cream-covered pasta, rich Bolognese, or crispy wood-fired pizza, come here! This plant-based Italian spot has a fantastic lineup of Italian favorites — everything is well-marked for gluten and soy allergens. Be sure to save a little room for their creamy panna cotta with strawberry compote!
The Fermenter
1403 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Everyone needs a friendly neighborhood bacterium when it serves food this good! Don’t let the name put you off; this vegan spot creates an irresistible mix of healthy and outrageously delicious fare! They specialize in making all of their own cheese, yogurt, kombucha, and more to craft a fantastic blend of dishes from juicy and flavorful veggie-powered burgers to a showstopping brunch lineup of biscuits and waffles!
Obon Shokudo
720 SE Grand Ave, Portland, OR 97214
Explore all of the sweet, savory, and spicy flavors of Japanese cuisine at this laid-back café! Their menu features house-made Japanese comfort food like handmade onigiri (brown rice filled with a variety of sauces and fillings), teppanyaki (cabbage and onion pancake), noodles, and more! They even offer sushi for your pup in hopes you might spread the love of their food on social media.
Dirty Lettuce
4727 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213
If you’re craving hearty comfort food, you won’t want to skip the sinful Southern eats at this vegan restaurant! Their tantalizing lineup features a fantastic assortment of veganized Southern classics like fried catfish, crispy fried chick’n, savory greens, fluffy cornbread, and more!
Next Level Burger
4121 SE Hawthorne Blvd, Portland, OR 97214
If you’re looking for a giant, mouthwatering burger, you’ve got to check out Next Level! Gone are the days of lackluster, freezer burn veggie patties; these burgers are loaded with melty cheese, bacon, onion rings, house-made sauces, and more! In addition to burgers, they also have a stellar lineup of French fries (loaded and regular), loaded brats, chick’n sandwiches, and heavenly milkshakes!
Boxcar Pizza
2701 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97232
Vegan Detroit Style pizza in Portland!? Whhaaatttt! For those of you unfamiliar with this magnificent ‘za, you’ve been missing out. The traditional square deep-dish pie has a crispy edge with caramelized cheese and a fluffy inside! Boxcar has brought this Detroit specialty to Portland and has a creative lineup of toppings that include Nashville fried chick’n, hot honey, meatballs, and more! They also have a gluten-free pizza option!
The Sudra
Two locations in Portland
Vegan paneer?! Count me in! This plant-based Indian restaurant has a fantastic lineup of creative and traditional dishes — some of which are rarely veganized! Be sure to check out their small plates section and house-made bread — order a few items to share, but for something hearty, you can’t go wrong with one of their Thali plates loaded with tofu paneer, dosa, spinach dal, and more.
Epif
404 NE 28th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
A little bit of South America has been brought to Portland through the unique menu and dining space at Epif. The menu features veganized South American dishes and the largest selection of Pisco sours in Portland!
Mirisata
2420 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
If you’re vegan, gluten-free, and love flavorful cuisine, you can’t skip over the incredible Sri Lankan fare at Mirisata! This vegan restaurant is run as a worker-owned cooperative with eight members, five of whom are Sri Lankan, providing traditional recipes and inspiration for everything that they serve. You’ll find everything from polos cutlets (fried croquettes filled with jackfruit and potato curry), roti (GF option, too), curry, and much more.
Ben and Esther’s
6912 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97213
Vegan lox, brisket, and noodle kugel!? Oy vey! The menu at this vegan Jewish deli is incredible — you may find yourself trapped in indecision! Whether you decide on a traditional house-made bagel schmeared with cream cheese and lox or go for corned beef and sauerkraut on freshly baked marbled rye, you won’t be disappointed.
Vegan Junk Food
5052 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
Slide into a booth at this 50’s style retro diner to enjoy a full lineup of vegan fast food! Yes, you read that correctly; this cute retro spot is slinging a full vegan menu of burgers, cheese fries, and pizzas, or for a budget-friendly meal option, check out their special value menu! You can eat in or get it to go!
Maisha
1122 SE Tacoma St. Portland, OR 97202
Portland is well known for its diversity of food carts and that includes a few stellar vegan options like, Maisha. Here you can experience some traditional Kenyan flavors with dishes like matoke curry, soft chapata bread, roasted plantains, and much more. Many of the dishes are also gluten-free friendly!
Virtuous Pie
1126 SE Division St #200, Portland, OR 97202
This modern pizzeria has taken traditional pizza pie and amp’d it up with an incredible mix of house-made cheeses, toppings, and sauces that are all vegan! Hooray! The best way to start a meal is with an order of their irresistible garlic knots — you’ll be fighting over who gets the last one. Next up, a jaw-dropping assortment of wood-fired pizza, from traditional Margherita to spicy Stranger Wings — you’ll find the perfect pie. They also offer a gluten-free pizza!
Deeply Rooted
4765 NE Fremont St, Portland, OR 97213
I’ve come across a lot of creative vegan spots, but never a vegan sports bar until this spot. Deeply Rooted offers indoor golf, multiple screens showing every sporting event imaginable, pool tables, and a full lineup of vegan eats! Their menu is inspired by classic bar food, which includes burgers, cauliflower wings, Beyond brats, cheesecake, and more! Look no further if you’re looking for a fun place to go with a group.
Norah
3801 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
A new kid on the vegan block (quite literally Portland’s vegan block — this is another spot-on Belmont)! The owners behind this spot take inspiration from Asia and America to create tantalizing flavors. The menu fuses the different inspirations to create addictive dishes like drunken noodles (linguine with soy curls, pepper, onion, garlic sauce, and crispy basil) and Tom Yum wingz (fried tofu in tangy Tom Yum sauce). Many of the dishes are gluten-free.
Mis Tacones
1670 NE Killingsworth St, Portland, OR 97211
This vibrant Mexican hot spot will put a smile on your face before you even sample any of their unique dishes! Their menu features a mix of traditional Mexican and Americanized favorites, including tacos, empanadas, creamy champurrado (Mexican hot chocolate), and more. In addition to all those delights, Mis Tacones is also home to the family-owned Mexican vegan bakery La Casa de Mama!
KaTi Portland
2932 SE Division St, Portland, OR 97202
So I am adding this spot with an invisible * — technically, it’s vegetarian, but almost everything is vegan, and it’s the only Thai spot in this guide. Their menu features authentic flavors with locally sourced ingredients to create the most flavor-packed dishes! You’ll find everything from traditional Pad Thai to the chef’s special Pla Rad Prik (deep-fried seaweed-wrapped tofu topped with chili garlic sauce, red and green bell pepper, young green peppercorn, basil, and kaffir lime leaves).
Baby Ketten Klub
2433 SE Powell Blvd, Portland, OR 97202
A vegan cat themed karaoke bar? Portland truly has everything you could possibly think of and more! While you’re belting out a love ballad, you can order up some delicious vegan junk food like waffle fries, buffalo wingz, mini corndogs, and much more. It’s safe to say, this vegan spot is the cat’s pajamas in Portland!
Vegan & Vegan-Friendly Breakfast Spots in Portland
If you’re looking for fluffy vegan pancakes or a quick egg, bacon, and avocado sandwich for breakfast, look no further than these excellent breakfast and brunch spots in Portland!
Rabbits Café
555 SW Oak St, Portland, OR 97204
The bunny theme continues with another fantastic vegan spot to start your day! Their downtown café is tucked into a giant office building, just in case you look for this spot and don’t immediately find it. For breakfast, you can’t skip their savory (or sweet) cornmeal waffle — go for the full gusto with rosemary mushroom gravy and tahini greens.
Harlow
Two locations in Portland
This vegetarian café and juice bar wants to ensure you start the day on a delicious and healthy path! Most of the menu is vegan and gluten-free friendly and features a mix of savory scrambles, stacks of golden banana walnut pancakes, and nutrient-packed juices and smoothies. They also serve lunch.
Vertical Diner and The Gold Room
8124 SW Barbur Blvd, Portland, OR 97219
This vegan diner is outside the downtown area, but if you have a car, you’ll want to check it out! Their all-day breakfast menu features a mix of sweet and savory options, from stacks of maple syrup-covered French toast to hearty breakfast burritos! They also serve lunch and dinner.
Chubby Bunny
3423 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Did you let out an audible awe when you read their name too? There isn’t a sweeter way to start the day than with a cute chubby bunny, especially when the bunny has epic breakfast sandwiches! Start the day with a traditional Chubby Bunny (sausage, bacon, egg, cheese, onion, arugula, and sriracha mayo on an English muffin) or if you’re really hungry, grab the Boss Bunny (sausage, bacon, ham, cheese, onion, Potato Mitten, egg, arugula, and sriracha mayo on an English muffin)!
Paradox Café
3439 SE Belmont St, Portland, OR 97214
Snuggled up right next to the Chubby Bunny is another fantastic vegetarian café (you may have noticed a few veggie spots on Belmont Ave., a local joked that it should be vegan avenue!). All week you can roll in here and grab a hearty breakfast burrito, biscuits and gravy, pancakes, and more!
Kure Superfood Café
Three locations throughout Portland
If you need something fast, delicious, and healthy, head here to start your day! Their menu features a great lineup of smoothies and juices, oatmeal, acai bowls, avocado toast, and a unique breakfast sandwich.
Off The Griddle
6526 SE Foster Rd, Portland, OR 97206
This spot is a little outside the downtown area but worth the drive! All week you can slide in here for an all-day breakfast menu filled with jackfruit brisket hash, biscuits and gravy, and a fantastic variety of waffles! Whether you’re looking for a savory waffle topped with chick’n or something sweet with berries, they’ve got it.
Vegan Bakeries & Ice Cream in Portland
If you’re looking for vegan ice cream, cake, or donuts, Portland has it! If for some reason you don’t find what you’re looking for in this lineup, don’t miss our deep dive into the amazing vegan bakeries and ice cream spots in Portland.
Kate’s Ice Cream
3713 N Mississippi Ave, Portland, OR 9722
This vegan and gluten-free ice cream shop scoops up the creamiest and most delicious vegan ice cream in Portland! Their flavors are house-made with a coconut base and often feature sweets and ingredients from other local businesses. Whatever you choose, don’t skip their crispy gluten-free waffle cone!
Sweetpea Baking Co.
1205 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
This vegan bakery and café has a dessert case loaded with cupcakes, cheesecake, donuts, croissants, and more! If, by chance, you need a whole cake or many cupcakes, they can help with that too!
Petunias Pies and Pastries
610 SW 12th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Gluten-free friends, you’re really not missing out on anything in Portland, and the sweet fun continues at Petunia’s! This charming bakeshop is 100% gluten-free and vegan and features a rotating lineup of incredible treats — cakes, bars, cupcakes, and even house-made ice cream!
Shoofly Vegan Bakery and Café
2505 SE 11th Ave Suite 101, Portland, OR 97202
There are just so many delicious treats to try at this vegan bakeshop! Start the day with their house-made biscuits and gravy, then grab a cinnamon roll, frosted sugar cookie, cupcake, slice of pie, or all three to go!
Hail Snail
6550 N Interstate Ave, Portland, OR 97217
If you’re gluten- and/or soy-free, you will want to make a beeline for this vegan cinnamon roll shop! These aren’t your ordinary breakfast treats; they’re topped with an incredible selection of toppings like toasted marshmallows, maple cream, brownie crumble, and more!
Tiny Moreso
4520 NE 42nd Ave, Portland, OR 97218
While this charming little vegan café serves breakfast and lunch fare, you can’t miss their gorgeous raw desserts created by Rawdacious (another local fave)! These delicious cakes and cheesecakes are vegan and gluten-free, to boot!
Missionary Chocolates
2712 NE Glisan St, Portland, OR 97232
If you’d like to take a sweet treat home, check out the gorgeous vegan truffles at this chocolate shop! All the truffles are vegan and gluten-free and include seasonal inspiration and traditional flavors like coffee, lemon, mint, and cinnamon chipotle!
50 Licks
Multiple locations throughout Portland
This vegan-friendly ice cream shop is making sure vegans don’t feel left out! You can always count on them to have multiple creative vegan and gluten-free ice cream options like mango sticky rice, coconut lemon saffron, or mocha mudpie.
Vegan Donuts in Portland
You can’t leave Portland without enjoying their epic vegan donuts! You’ll find everything from traditional glazed to donuts stuffed with custard, jam, and more!
Voodoo Donuts
Two locations in Portland
This famous vegan-friendly donut shop helped kick off the creative donut craze in Portland! You can always count on them to have multiple vegan options like maple cream, their special Voodoo doll, or a traditional glazed donut.
Blue Star Donuts
Multiple locations throughout Portland
This vegan-friendly donut shop usually has 4-5 vegan options along with their special donut bites!
Doe Donuts
4110 NE Sandy Blvd, Portland, OR 97212
This vegan donut shop will knock your socks off with its incredible lineup of creative donuts — nothing is boring here. They always feature seasonal donuts along with year-round faves like the Portland Fog (organic earl grey glaze with fresh whip and fair-trade vanilla bean) or its namesake, Doe (house-made strawberry milk with sprinkles).
Vegan & Vegan-Friendly Shops & Markets in Portland
Cultured Kindness
1217 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97214
A visit to Portland isn’t complete without a visit to this fantastic vegan cheese shop! You can pop in and buy everything you need for an epic charcuterie board (complete with vegan honey) or grab one of their made-to-order creamy paninis! They also have cheesecake!
Food Fight!
11155 NE Halsey St, Portland, OR 97220
This fabulous vegan market and convenience store has been stocking its shelves with a fantastic assortment of vegan goodies since 2003! They have everything from a small produce section to fake meats and cheeses. It is outside of downtown, so it is easiest to reach by car.
Scape Goat Tattoo
1233 SE Stark St, Portland, OR 97205
If you’ve been considering getting a tattoo, here’s your chance to get some vegan ink! This tattoo shop has been operating for over 17 years and offers diverse tattoo styles.
Unless
1022 W Burnside St Unit P, Portland, OR 97209
Looking for eco-friendly, plant-based, plastic-free sneakers and clothing? Look no further than Unless! This hip streetwear brand opened up shop in Portland’s Pearl District (across the street from Powell’s) in 2022 to show people that you can look cool and still be kind to Mother Nature and the animals.
New Seasons Market
Locations throughout Portland
This locally-owned market has a huge selection of vegan eats and products! You’ll find everything from bath and body care to cookie dough cheesecake.
Vegan-Friendly Hotels in Portland
If you’ve been populating your Google Map with restaurants, you’ve probably realized things are pretty spread out in Portland, making it less necessary to stay in one specific area. Many people suggest staying downtown if it’s your first visit; it doesn’t really matter unless you’re only going to check out restaurants and activities in that area. Here are a couple hotels that err more on the vegan-friendly side (Portland doesn’t have a vegan hotel just yet)!
Jupiter Hotel
800 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
Book Your Stay
Jupiter NEXT
900 E Burnside St, Portland, OR 97214
Bok Your Stay
What To Do in Portland
Take a walking tour
The best way to learn about a new city is from a local. Portland has had many turbulent days, and it’s still apparent the city is recovering, depending on what part of the city you’re visiting.
To appreciate Portland, it’s important to learn a little about its history. Aside from understanding the history, a walking tour also explores the city’s architecture, famous happenings, and is a chance to ask a local about what they love (if you want to cover more ground, consider a bus tour too).
If you love art and are visiting on the first Thursday of the month, also check out the free art walk in the Pearl District! Technically, it’s not a walk but an evening when businesses stay open late, streets are closed, and art dealers and collectors gather to show off all of their impressive work. The event attracts a ton of people, so be prepared to deal with traffic if you’re driving.
Take a vegan donut tour
No one is quite sure why Portland is a mecca for donut shops, but it is! You can find a mix of classic and inventive flavors that include many outstanding vegan options! The donut scene is so popular in Portland that there are even multiple tours that will help you explore it.
Since Portland is so vegan-friendly many of the stops on the tour will have vegan options, but to be sure, contact the tour company after booking and let them know you are vegan. Gluten-free options are harder to come by, so if you’re free of gluten, I don’t suggest a tour. Just visit Petunia’s Pies and Pastries on Saturday or Sunday morning for their delicious vegan and gluten-free donuts but go early; they always sell out.
Shop through the Pearl District & Mississippi Ave.
If you enjoy independent boutiques, cafes, and even vegan ice cream, you must explore these two areas of Portland! The Pearl District is made up of many reclaimed warehouses that have been converted into a myriad of unique businesses.
The area is also home to the iconic Powell’s City of Books, the world’s largest bookstore! It is home to over 3,500 different sections that include a variety of new and used books — even if you’re not a book nerd, it is a fantastic place to explore. Other cool shops with vegan and cruelty-free things you might want to check out include Unless and Made Here.
Mississippi Avenue between Cook Street and Skidmore Street is five blocks of unique shops, music venues, bars, cafes, and that vegan ice cream I mentioned earlier (don’t miss a visit to Kate’s Ice Cream!). While enjoying your delicious ice cream, be sure also to check out The Meadow for salt and chocolate, Flutter for unique gifts, including vegan and cruelty-free nail polish, and The Apothecary for a boost of wellness!
If you want to keep the shopping and eating going, head about a half mile east to North Williams Avenue for even more fun.
Get out in nature
The City of Roses offers many opportunities to hike through lush forests, smell the famed roses, and even check out a powerful waterfall.
If you have a car, you’ll want to head just about 20 minutes outside of downtown Portland to explore the sprawling Forest Park, one of the largest urban forests in the US. The park is home to more than 80 miles of trails — for a long hike, approximately 30 miles, hit the Wildwood Trail, but don’t worry, there are plenty of shorter options too.
If you don’t have a car, you can easily use public transport to reach the lush Washington Park, which is home to the Hoyt Arboretum, Japanese Gardens, and International Rose Test Garden. The rose garden is home to more than 600 varieties (over 10,000 individual flowers!) and is a testing ground for new varieties yearly.
The park, arboretum, and rose garden are free to explore, but the Japanese Garden is $20 per person to visit.
One last beautiful place to explore is Multnomah Falls. Just 30 minutes from downtown Portland is this spectacular 611-foot waterfall that attracts millions of visitors annually. If you’re visiting during the summer, be prepared for backed-up traffic and long lines, tickets are also needed in advance if you’re traveling by car (if you come by bike, tickets aren’t required). Aside from Multnomah, there are over 200 other waterfalls in the Columbia River Gorge to check out too!
Check out the Portland Saturday Market & Farmers’ Market
Every Saturday, from March to the end of December, you can’t miss one of the US’ largest open-air arts and craft markets! Nestled under the Burnside Bridge on the banks of the Willamette River, nearly 400 artists set up shop selling everything from handmade paper lamps to chic earrings. It is a juried market, meaning everything is submitted for review to ensure it meets the market’s quality standards. It’s an excellent place for a Saturday morning stroll or to pick up a unique souvenir or gift.
If you’re in the mood to check out a second market, wander over to the Portland Farmers’ Market on the campus of Portland State University. The market is open year-round, every Saturday, and features a ton of local vegan and vegan-friendly vendors! We found vegan cheese from Vtopia, shroom-powered chocolates from Forest Candy, sticky rice balls from Money Bowl, and more! The market also isn’t far from Sesame Donuts, in case you’re in the mood for a sweet treat!
One more market to put on your radar — The Vegan Night Markets! These vegan events happen a few times a year in Portland and Seattle and are filled with a ton of great food, fashion, and more!
How To Get Around Portland
First, you don’t need a car to explore Portland. The city has a good network of buses and light rail that make getting from neighborhood to neighborhood pretty easy, but if you want to explore the Oregon coast or outside of the city, you’ll want a car.
Download Hop Fastpass
Before getting to Portland, download the Hop Fastpass transit app for contactless payment on the MAX Light Rail, WES commuter rail, Portland Streetcar, The Vine, and all TriMet and C-TRAN buses. You can put $6 on the app, which will cover you for a full day of travel (each ride is $2.80, but your fare is capped at $5.60 a day).
Other Transit Payment Options
If you don’t want to use the app, you can use a credit card or pay in cash (on the bus only). If you choose to pay in cash, you can buy a single or day ticket; be sure to have the exact change. You can purchase paper tickets at select Hop ticket machines throughout the city, but this is the most inconvenient option (there isn’t a ticket machine at most bus stops and only at select light rail stops).
Once you purchase a ticket, use the app, or use contactless payment, you have 2.5 hours before you need to validate the fare again (this means you can switch buses, trains, etc.). On the bus, you validate the ticket right when you enter; on all other transit, there are Hop readers at the station entrance or on the platform.
Looking For More Vegan-Friendly Cities?
Well, you’ve come to the right place! Check out these other guides and articles to plan your eating adventure through other fantastic US cities.
10 Can’t Miss Vegan Restaurants in Seattle
The Ultimate Seattle Vegan Travel Guide
Where to Find Vegan Breakfast or Brunch in Seattle
The Best Vegan Bakeries in Seattle
Comprehensive Vegan Travel Guide to Los Angeles
13 Mouthwatering Vegan Bakeries in Los Angeles
The Ultimate NYC Vegan Travel Guide
The Perfect Vegan Travel Guide to Philadelphia
