Best Monterey County Vegetarian (and Vegan!) Spots

Hope can take many shapes: a look on a face, a flowering weed on an abandoned lot, a simple meal, a scrawled tag on a dirty wall.

Or, you know, a vegan jazz club. In Pacific Grove, of all places.

Chai (655-1816) will be a spotlight for yogi and raw-vegan food master Briksha Mahendra, former chef at overwhelmingly popular hippie haven Café Gratitude in the Bay Area.

It will also host jazz, folk, bluegrass, small theater, spiritual lectures and even comedy and movies at the former home of Sweet Earth Natural Foods near Grove Market, though opening dates are still elusive.

It will also be—and already is—a unique beacon of hope for local herbivores, who suffer from a death of options, as I reported in depth as monk-run Mon Chay Vegetarian Vietnamese closed and then—gloriously—El Cantaro Vegan Mexican Restaurant (646-5465) opened.

(I also celebrated the new era of Sweet Earth with a cover story about their groundbreaking use of natural, meatless seitan proteins in tasty and creative burritos and more.)

As Weekly food contributor David Schmalz points out, ethnic spots—particularly Thai, Mexican and Indian outfits—often have solid meatfree plays. But we wanted to put together a better list of spots for one of the strongest populations of vegetarians, students. It appears below, and will appear in our annual student guide glossy magazine, which comes out later this month.

Also keep an eye out for Weekly food critic Shiho Fukushima's review of El Cantaro this Thursday, Aug. 22, and on editorial intern Lucas Bailor's blog on the fits and starts of CSU Monterey Bay vegetarian food offerings.

Herbivore Hallelujah

Vegetarians! You can only take so many burritos from the dining commons. Time to go beyond the portobello burger or a mundane variation of eggplant. Here’s where to do it:

Chai • Vegan • This soon-to-be-open jazz club has a slight twist: It’s also a raw vegan deli. Along with the deli, the chef’s special Sacred Chai Tea and Surrender Hemp Ice Cream are a couple of things to look forward to. Plans also exist to host raw vegan food preparation classes so you’ll know what to make at home when the dining commons doesn’t fulfill your vegan needs. 206 17th St., Pacific Grove. www.chaivegan.com

Chopstix • Veg-friendly • Not only is this Vietnamese restaurant a favorite of locals, but college students show up in waves for the extremely cheap food and expansive boba list. Whether you feel like having a veggie pho, vegetarian glass noodles, or even organic tofu with fried rice, all three dishes are just $5.50 for the regular size, and $6.50 for a large plate. And with a boba menu containing six different sections, you’ll soon learn why the word “Chopstix” is euphonious to local students. 1988 Fremont Blvd., Seaside. 899-2622; 1244 Munras Ave., Monterey. 372-2622,www.chopstixboba.com

D’Anna Thai Kitchen • Veg-friendly • If you’ve been vegetarian for at least a year, you’ve probably had your fair share of imitation meats, whether it’s tofurky, chik’n, beefless ground beef, or soyrizo. But imitation soy duck? Here at D’Anna Thai they have that “soy duck” and quite a few dishes where you can add tofu instead of meat. But they also have “Marina Rolls” (which have peanut sauce, vegetables and tofu) and a delicious pumpkin and artichoke curry that will have you coming back to this side street of Marina again. 210 Reindollar Ave., Marina. 883-9399, www.dannathaikitchen.com

El Cantaro • Vegan • With menu items varying from crispy potato tacos to huaraches (a large corn tortilla topped with beans, cactus, mushrooms, onions and salsa), this vegan Mexican restaurant has become the new safe haven for the vegetarians and vegans of Monterey County. They also offer various drink selections from carrot juice to soy-milk smoothies and even a vegan mint chip ice cream. 791 Foam St., Monterey. 646-5465.

Hula’s Island Grill • Veg-friendly • Local vegetarians know that Hula’s meatless options are some of the most unique—and extensive—in the county. Whether it’s the Jungle Tofu (with fried tofu, plantains, jungle curry sauce, and peanuts) or the Big Sur Veggie Burger (with a veggie patty, portobella, jack cheese, and sundried tomato pesto aioli), almost every section on the menu provides at least one item that will torment your salivary glands while scanning the menu. 622 Lighthouse Ave., Monterey. 655-4852, www.hulastiki.com

Ike’s Lair • Veg-friendly • When you get tired of PB&J, this San Fran-based restaurant answers your vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free appetite. The Vegan Meatless Mike (a “meatball” sub) and the Vegan Shrek (with mushrooms, pesto, ranch and dairy-free cheese) are just some of the choices to appease the sandwich lover who loves animals. 1822 N. Main St., Salinas. 449-4000; 570 Munras Ave. #70, Monterey, 643-0900 www.ilikeikesplace.com

Julia’s • Vegetarian • Although this restaurant has limited hours—i.e., only weekends—and an ever-changing set menu, this place is a plant-based eater’s playground. Since the menu changes every weekend, you may want to call ahead to see what’s being offered (and to make a reservation, as it fills up), but their coconut curry and fresh pasta are among some of the items often available. Family-style. 1180 Forest Ave., Pacific Grove. 656-9533, www.juliasofpacificgrove.com

Ocean Sushi Deli • Veg-friendly • For those who aren’t pescetarians, one of the most missed items for vegetarians and vegans seems to be sushi. But thanks to this sushi deli, there is now a perfect place to take your non-vegetarian friends, since there are options abound for everyone. A vegan menu is currently in the works, but they already have a ton of vegetarian options like the avocado maki (avocado and rice rolled in nori) and the futo maki (kampyo, shiitake, spinach, nori, and rice rolled in nori) that should suffice. 165 Webster St., Monterey. 645-9876; 2701 David Ave., Pacific Grove. 649-1320, www.oceansushi.com

Tillie Gort’s • Veg-friendly • Having been voted “Best Vegetarian Menu” by the Weekly’s Readers’ Poll time and time again, something good must be happening here. With six tofu plates, four veggie burgers, and specials like the “no meat loaf,” this restaurant plans to keep winning the hearts of veg heads in Monterey County as it has since 1969. 111 Central Ave., Pacific Grove. 373-0335, www.tilliegortscafe.com