As a city that widely encourages individual self-expression, Portland has become a center for veganism because of its openness to creativity, the arts, new ideas, and most importantly, new food. According to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), PETA’s Vice President Dan Mathews and musician Paul McCartney gave Portland the “Most Vegan-Friendly City” of the U.S in 2016. Vegan restaurants and stores in Portland aim to be creative with their dishes by finding ways to substitute dairy and meat ingredients with local vegan options. Vegan culture has developed more in Portland, and it is becoming easier to live as a vegan. Blossoming Lotus Café & Juice Bar, a vegan restaurant that promotes “life-affirming foods,” originated in Kapa’a, Hawaii, in 2002, and in 2009, it moved to its Portland location in the Northeast Irvington neighborhood. Blossoming Lotus strives to demonstrate the high standards they hold for the preparation and quality of vegan dishes, and aims to recreate the quality of a dish prepared by a loved one. While using plant-based ingredients, their café and juice bar appeals to many customers, whether they’re vegan or not.
Caitlin Smelser is the manager of Blossoming Lotus Café & Juice Bar. She has noticed many Portlanders are interested in the concept of “sustainability, local sourcing, and holistic, mindful living.” As the general trend of eating a vegan diet increases, many Portland restaurants have adapted to meet the increasing demand of the lifestyle. Smelser explains, “Now it can be found anywhere, as most restaurants have vegan options, including healthy eating places like our[s].”
In addition, Mis Tacones PDX, located on Northeast Killingsworth, is a Chicano and Queer-owned vegan Mexican restaurant founded by Carlos Reyonoso and Polo Banuelos. It started off as a pop-up restaurant in 2016 and then officially became a sit-down restaurant three years ago. Mis Tacones has worked hard to obtain recognition, and according to their website, they strive to promote “animal activism with cultural tradition,” aiming to fulfill the dream of founding a kitchen filled with identity, merged with Banuelos’ passion for community by sharing food.
Kyra de la Torre is a front-of-house worker and bartender at Mis Tacones. They emphasize how Mis Tacones was and is “born out of love for others and ourselves.” They add, “[Mis Tacones] understand[s] that the beauty of the world is its diversity!”
People finding ways to make different cuisines vegan is one of the reasons why Portland is creatively diverse. “Polo and Carlos wanted to bring their background and the cooking they grew up with to the vegan community,” de la Torre shares, “in a method based on authenticity, nostalgia, and compassion.” Mis Tacones also strives to give back to their community by giving free meals to LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC people in need. de la Torre says that many people who come into Mis Tacones for the first time often do not know the restaurant is vegan, and after trying, exclaim, “That was delicious!” de la Torre adds, “We also get a lot of non-meat eaters who bring in their meat-eater friends and family, just for everyone to love the place!”
Veganism has contributed to strengthening and bonding of communities across the city. de la Torre says, “Our whole little block is vegan-friendly, with most of the restaurants on our street serving only vegan food.” Vegan options in restaurants provide opportunities for people to find others who share the vegan lifestyle. de la Torre adds that it is “difficult to find a restaurant anywhere in Portland that does not have any vegan options.” It can also bring non-vegans together to experience a different lifestyle.
Basil Vegan Kitchen is located on NE Broadway and was created by Sweet Basil Thai Cuisine after a high increase in demand for vegan food. According to their website, “we decided to open Basil Vegan Kitchen … that caters specifically to people who want vegan and gluten-free takeout and delivery options.” Along with Basil Vegan Kitchen, many other restaurants have adapted to a rise in Portland’s vegan culture. A small food truck, Namu, serves Korean and Hawaiian plates with some vegan options. Andina, a Peruvian restaurant on NW Glisan, also offers vegan options. Even if it goes unseen in some standard stores or menus, take a look around you as you walk through the streets; in Portland you will realize the amount of food options available for any lifestyle, including veganism.
