Just because it’s Easter, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a vegan or vegetarian brunch in San Francisco. Indeed, San Francisco is among the most vegan/vegetarian friendly cities in the entire country. What’s more, it ranks amongst American cities with the most plant-based restaurants per capita. If that’s not enough, the Chase Center just announced the opening of The Green House. That makes it one of the first plant-based restaurants in an NBA arena. Although you may already have an idea of where to go, there may be some you have overlooked. With any further delay, here is a look at some of the best meat-free restaurants for Easter brunch.
Ananda Fuara
1298 Market St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 621-1994
www.anandafuara.com
Sunday Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Have you heard about Ananda Fuara near San Francisco’s Civic Center? If not, perhaps you should. After all, this vegan/vegetarian restaurant is consistently named among the City’s best. Moreover, customers rave about its food items, partocularly from the brunch menu. In case you visit, you might like the Gingerbread Pancakes, French Toast or Wild Mushroom Benedict. Further options can be Vegetarian Sausage Benedict, Scrambled Tofu and always popular Breakfast Burrito. Coupled with an excellent beverage, you will discover why it’s so revered. Translated as the “Fountain of Delight”, Ananda Fuara is operated by followers of the late spiritual leader Sri Chinmoy.
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Baia
300 Grove St.
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 861-0625
Weekend Brunch Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you’re looking for something new, take a closer look at Baia. Not only is it an exceptional Italian vegan restaurant but also a celebrity chef. In fact, Matthew Kenney has over 40 vegan restaurants worldwide. Baia’s current brunch menu offers several great options for you to choose from. For instance, if you prefer breakfast, you have items like the Frittata with Just Egg and Semolina Pancakes. Additional items are Baia Breakfast Sandwich, Avocado Pizza and Spaghetti. Equally important are the drink selections, including crafted cocktails and fine wines.
Beloved Café
3338 24th St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 800-6546
www.belovedcafe.com
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m to 8 p.m.
If you have more plans for the day, get an early start at Beloved Café. That’s because this San Francisco vegan restaurant is amongst the earliest to open. On the other hand, there is much more here than your typical plant-based brunch menu. Indeed, Beloved is as popular for its superfood smoothies as it is for gourmet entrees. Take for example its tasty Quinoa Bowl with Roasted Veggies or its Stuffed Delicata Squash. If you’re looking for something lighter, you have options like Homemade Granola & Fruit and Coconut Yogurt Parfait. Along with juices, teas and other beverages are “Wholesome Sweets” to enjoy. This includes Raw Vegan Cheesecake and Carrot Spice Maple Muffin.
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Enjoy Vegetarian
839 Kearny St.
San Francisco, CA 94108
(415) 956-7868
www.enjoyveggie.com
Lunch Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
With a bevy of options in Chinatown, Enjoy Vegetarian stands out for vegetarians. In fact, it was once named among America’s Top 7 Best Chinese Restaurants by CNN. Enjoy Vegetarian has an exceptionally large menu full of great dishes. You may enjoy familiar favorites like vegetarian Kung Pao Chicken, Vegetables Chow Mein and Orange Vegan Chicken. In like manner are items like Sweet and Sour Tofu, Curry Pumpkin Tofu and Spicy Green Bean. Enjoy Vegetarian Restaurant has a second location in the Sunset District.
Gracias Madre
2211 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA
(415) 285-0205
www.facebook.com/graciasmadre
Weekend Brunch Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
If you love Mexican food (and who doesn’t) you will love Gracias Madre. To further clarify, this is a vegan restaurant offering traditional Mexican cuisine. Led by the founders of the popular Café Gratitude chain, it offers an inspired seasonal menu. For example, you may order Chilaquiiles, Chimichanga or Chorizo Hash. That’s to say nothing of delicious dishes like Plantain French Toast and Avocado Toast. Of course, Gracias Madre offers premium brunch drinks like Mimosa, Bloody Maria and La Media Luna. Each menu item features organic, plant-based, non-GMO Mexican cuisine.
Greens Restaurant
2 Marina Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 771-6222
www.greensrestaurant.com
Weekend Brunch Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Surprising as it may seem, the iconic Greens Restaurant is still taking Easter brunch reservations. On the other hand, that’s good news for you if you want to dine at one of San Francisco’s most celebrated vegetarian restaurants. Led by Executive Chef Katie Reicher, Greens offers you a menu filled with healthy and nourishing choices. Although an April brunch isn’t available, you may enjoy current items. With this in mind, you may see items like Sourdough Pancakes and Asparagus Pizza. Of course, Greens also has delicious desserts, like Lemon Pudding Cake and Chocolate Ganache Tart. Don’t forget to enjoy the beautiful views of the San Francisco Bay.
Related: Greens Restaurant Summer Dinner Series
Kitava
2011 Mission St.
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 780-1661
www.kitava.com
Hours: Daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
It’s not hard to see that Kitava is thriving as a healthy restaurant option. For one, it’s literally across from the 16th Street BART Station. For another, you have both vegan and vegetarian options and everything is gluten free. Among the favorite items you may like are Baja Bowl, Cauliflower Rice and Cuban Bowl. However, there are meats available that can be added to the Signature Bowls. If that’s the case, just steer clear of those items if you’re vegan or vegetarian. If you go, make sure to save room for desserts like Berries & Cream Parfait or Dark Chocolate Brownie. Kitava also serves healthy drinks like Marin Kombucha and natural wines.
Nourish Café
1030 Hyde St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 580-7463
Hours: Daily from 8 a.m to 7 p.m.
With Nourish Café you can enjoy healthy options that are 100 percent plant-based. Equally nice is that you have not one but two locations to choose from. The featured spot here is the closest to the heart of the City, on Nob Hill. Even so, both spots offer healthy dishes albeit with slightly different menus. Led by Brighton Miller and Sarah Bacon, Nourish Café opens at 8 am., to help you get an early Easter start. Among the vegan items you can consider are healthy bowls, smoothies, sandwiches and toasts. Some of the items that customers rave about are the Veggie Wrap, Frittata Sandwich and Nourish Bowl. The employees at either Nourish location are consistently praised for its friendly and helpful service.
Vegan Picnic
1323 Polk St.
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 508-6736
Just off Van Ness Avenue, Vegan Picnic is equally known for great service and great vegan items. You want breakfast? Try the Chicken N’ Waffles, Breakfast Burrito or Maple PB Banana Waffles. If you still can’t make up your mind, there are hot and cold sandwiches, salads and of course, healthy salads. Although Vegan Picnic doesn’t offer alcoholic beverages, you will have some good options. For instance, there are smart waters, sodas and even Vegan Picnic’s own branded coffee. Vegan Picnic is also a popular San Francisco spot for plant-based catering.
Update: Vegan Picnic is no longer in operation.
Wildseed
2000 Union St.
San Francisco, CA 94123
(415) 872-7350
www.wildseedsf.com
Wildseed is among the most popular vegan restaurants in San Francisco. To put it differently, you should book reservations soon to get a table for Easter. While it goes without saying that the menu is 100 percent plant-based, there are some items to consider. For instance, guests rave about the Red Velvet Flaxseed Pancakes and Mezze Plate. Equally enticing options are the Belga Fries, Chilaquiles and Green Forest Pizza. Of course, you can enjoy a brunch cocktail at Wildwood, like mimosas and bloody marys. If you have a sweet tooth, try desert items like Coconut Panna Cotta, Meyer Lemon Agave Cheesecake and more.
Related: Easter Brunch: Best Restaurants In San Francisco
About The Author
Randy Yagi is an award-winning freelance writer who served as the National Travel Writer for CBS Local from 2012-2019. More than 900 of his stories still appear in syndication across 23 CBS websites, including CBS New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and San Francisco. During his peak years with CBS, Randy had a reported digital audience reach of 489 million and 5.5 million monthly visitors. Additionally, his stories have appeared in the Daily Meal, CBS News, CBS Radio, Engadget, NBC, NJ.com and Radio.com. He earned a Media Fellowship from Stanford University in 2012.
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