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A picture of the Oasis sushi roll at Mitate
Mitate vegan gluten-free sushi
Mitate/Official

Portland’s Exciting New Vegan and Vegetarian Restaurants

Meat-free gems that opened in the last six months

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Mitate vegan gluten-free sushi
| Mitate/Official

It is no easy feat that some chefs and restaurant owners have brought new businesses to life while COVID-19 lurks in the background. Launching a new venture has always been a challenging undertaking, and food businesses have had to implement countless business alterations and concept tweaks in order to survive through the pandemic. Some saw an opportunity to introduce Portland to the creative recipes they developed in lockdown, while others adapted to new menus and business models.

This first iteration of Eater’s vegan and vegetarian heatmap — the meatless spinoff to the traditional Eater Portland heatmap — features some of Portland’s vegan and vegetarian restaurants, pop-ups, and food carts to know right now. They either opened in the past six months or refreshed their menus in a new and exciting way. Know of a spot that should be on our radar? Send us a tip by emailing pdx@eater.com.

The restaurants on this map are not ranked; rather, they’re organized geographically. For more veg-friendly dining, venture over to Eater’s vegan and and vegetarian essentials map.

A number of Portland restaurants have resumed dine-in service. The level of service offered is indicated on each map point. However, this should not be taken as endorsement for onsite dining, as there are still safety concerns: for updated information on coronavirus cases in your area, please visit the Oregon Health Authority’s COVID update page. Studies indicate that there is a lower exposure risk when outdoors, but the level of risk involved with patio dining is contingent on restaurants following strict social distancing and other safety guidelines.

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Eater maps are curated by editors and aim to reflect a diversity of neighborhoods, cuisines, and prices. Learn more about our editorial process.

Eatin' Alive

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Located a stone’s throw from Kenton Park, this farmers market standby is now serving vegan-and-gluten-free eats and sips out of a cheery cafe with electric blue booths and hanging plants. Owner Timothy Gowen, who previously ran raw vegan food delivery Forelle Foods, continues to offer the ready-to-eat collard green wraps and peanut butter chocolate bars that Eatin’ Alive is best known for, in addition to salads, juices, and smoothies. Those looking for a larger meal can grab a vegetable-loaded grain bowl and add on soy curls. Order on the website for pickup and delivery.

A closeup photo of the kale salad at Eatin’ Alive
Eatin’ Alive kale salad closeup
Eatin’ Alive/Official

Drink Mamey

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Drink Mamey first made a splash when Cydnie Smith-McCarthy began sharing juicing videos and selling her juices online during the early months of the pandemic. When Smith-McCarthy took over the Killingsworth location of Tea Bar, she transformed it into a homebase for her juice business and a wellness space for the BIPOC community. In addition to her concoctions blended with a slew of healthy ingredients — from pineapple and kale, to blue spirulina and wheatgrass powder — Drink Mamey also offers self-care products, like hand-poured soaps and sea moss gummies, from local makers for pickup and delivery.

Drink Mamey juices are handed between two people sitting on a blanket at a picnic
Drink Mamey juices
Cara Lindsay/Official

At this vegetarian, gluten-free pop-up, Jorge Rico and Dominique Rodriguez explore how seemingly simple ingredients can be layered to create complex plates — like house-made buckwheat noodles with oyster mushrooms, broccolini, calabrian chili, and walnuts. The gluten-free menu rotates, but you can always expect to find a dip, a soup, a salad, and a couple entrees, along with Rawdacious cheesecakes for dessert. Raiz pop-ups at Tiny Moreso in Northeast Portland every two weeks. Menu and ordering details are announced on Instagram.

A pile of black mushrooms sits on a pile of polenta, with crisp shallots sprinkled on top
Raiz mushroom polenta
Raiz/Official

The former No Bones Beach Club space on Mississippi is now home to SxNW — a collaboration between the owners of two vegan hotspots in Seattle: Keaton Tucker of Cycle Dogs and Doh Driver of Wayward Vegan Cafe. Simar “Sam” Tate, a former worker-owner at Mirisata, joins the kitchen to serve burgers, spinach dip, hush puppies, and chili cheese fries with the southwestern flair that Tucker grew up with in Texas. SxNW’s main attraction are its burgers — from the trendy Impossible to the old school house-made black bean patty — dressed with mouthwatering fixings like bourbon butter and barbecue mayo. Check Instagram for the latest menu and hours.

A photo of the SxNW bourbon burger with a black bean patty
SxNW bourbon burger
Waz Wu/EPDX

Ben & Esther's

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While Ben & Esther’s isn’t a new restaurant per se, the New York-style bagel shop pivoted to an entirely vegetarian, vegan-friendly last fall. The items on the menu didn’t change much, but owner Justin King, who named the shop after his grandparents, swaps traditional lox for slivers of salt-roasted carrots, bacon for hickory-smoked seitan, and whitefish for brined-and-smoked hearts of palm in the bagel sandwiches. Cookies, muffins, babka loaves, and dolmas are also available for takeout. The most popular bagels often sell out, so get there bright and early for first dibs.

A photo of Ben & Esther’s vegan lox bagel sandwich
Ben & Esther’s vegan lox bagel sandwich
Waz Wu/EPDX

Buddy’s Steaks

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This vegan Philly cheesesteak pop-up that first made its debut at The Mocking Bird comes from Philadelphia expats Angela “Ang” D’Occhio and Buddy Richter, who developed a textured vegetable protein and wheat gluten hybrid “steak” and cashew coconut cheese whiz. The hefty cheesesteaks, filled with juicy and thinly shaved “steak,” are satisfying to bite into, but the gooey “mozzarella” sticks served with marinara sauce for dipping are a knockout. Check Instagram for Buddy’s Steaks announcements.

A photo of a vegan Philly cheesesteak, mozzarella sticks, and fries from Buddy’s Steaks
Buddy’s Steaks
Waz Wu/EPDX

Boxcar Pizza

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Located within The Zipper food hall, Boxcar Pizza is Portland’s first all-vegan Detroit-style pizzeria. Owner Odie O’Connor, who also owns Baby Blue Pizza cart on Hawthorne, was on to something when he began experimenting with different pizza styles during quarantine — the thick, spongy sourdough crust, baked to golden brown is unlike any other vegan crust in town. The pies arrive topped with coconut-based mozzarella, seitan “steak” with house-made chimichurri, and Nashville hot fried “chicken” with vegan ranch. The shop is temporarily closed until a new oven is installed. Keep an eye on Instagram for reopening details.

A closeup photo of Boxcar Pizza’s pepperoni pie
Boxcar Pizza pepperoni pie
Waz Wu/EPDX

Rad Burger

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Last fall, Rad Burger announced its launch on Instagram with ‘90s throwbacks and hefty burgers superimposed on neon backdrops. This burger concept comes from Aviv’s Tal Caspi and operates out of the vegan Middle Eastern restaurant’s Pearl and Killingsworth locations. Available as a single or double, the juicy Impossible burger patties, sandwiched between vegan cheese slices and served with classic toppings, come shockingly close its animal-based counterparts. For over-the-top specials like the Pizza Boiga, keep an eye on Instagram. Rad Burger is open for pickup, delivery, and outdoor seating.

A closeup photo of the Rad Burger with two Impossible meat patties
Rad Burger
Waz Wu/EPDX

Nightingale

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Although it is neither vegan or vegetarian, this latest addition to NE 28th should not be overlooked by meatless diners. Luna Contreras’ creative Mexican plates offer a thoughtful balance of color, flavor, and texture — think: a winter salad of charred chicory, paper-thin jicama slices, ripe blood orange bursting with juices, crispy chickpeas, and bright guava vinaigrette. Complemented by Chris Mateja’s cocktails — like the titular drink made with reposado tequila, smoked-and-salted maple syrup, and cherry bark bitters — a meal on the sidewalk patio is one of the most memorable outdoor dining experiences right now. Nightingale also offers takeout and delivery.

A photo of various vegan dishes at Nightingale
Nightingale
Waz Wu/EPDX

Mama Dut

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When the pandemic hit, Thuy Pham began making Vietnamese-style vegan pork belly — which even has visible fatty layers — while quarantined at home. Mama Dut soon became a familiar name in the Portland community for speaking up against social and food injustices on Instagram and feeding protestors for free at Black Lives Matter demonstrations, in addition to hosting a string of successful pop-ups. Now, the restaurant on Buckman serves an ever-changing lineup of Vietnamese dishes, from grilled “pork” banh mi to “chicken” pho, as well as house-made condiments like kale kimchi and vegan phish sauce. Order online for pickup and delivery.

A photo of mushroom banh mi from Mama Dut
Mama Dut banh mi
Mama Dut/Official

Plant Based Papi

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Known for its rotating comfort foods menu of tacos, “seafood” dishes, and brunch fare, this sensational pop-up turned restaurant favors ingredients like chanterelle mushrooms and banana blossoms over vegan meat products. Adjacent to Mama Dut, another pop-up that took Portland by storm in 2020, Jewan Manuel dishes up buttery hearts of palm “lobster” rolls, crispy oyster mushroom Nashville hot “chicken” sandwiches, and breaded garlic macadamia “ricotta” ravioli that delight vegans and non-vegans alike. Those craving Plant Based Papi no longer have to wait in long lines just to order — get your preorders in on the website.

A photo of the Plant Based Papi Nashville “chicken” sandwich
Plant Based Papi Nashville “chicken” sandwich
Waz Wu/EPDX

Mirisata

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Mirisata — the worker-owned collective serving entirely vegan Sri Lankan cuisine — hosted its first pop-up days before Portland went into lockdown. They swiftly adapted to a takeout model, before landing a restaurant space on Belmont. The rice and curry plate changes weekly, but always includes an assortment of fragrant curries and house-made relishes, served with rice or string hoppers. The menu also includes Sri Lankan street foods, like fried Impossible beef rolls, parippu vade piegon pea fritters, and kottu roti — a stir-fry of diced godamba roti with curry and vegetables. The restaurant is open for takeout, delivery, and patio seating.

A photo of Mirisata Sri Lankan rice and curry plate, with green beans, rice, potatoes, coconut, and more.
Mirisata rice and curry
Waz Wu/EPDX

This vegan, gluten-free sushi pop-up by sushi industry vets Nino and Summer Ortiz, joined by Thai Nguyen in the kitchen, offers some of the most exciting seafood-free sushi in town. Using ingredients like charred shishito peppers, artichoke hearts, sake-poached pears, and umami-packed black garlic, Mitate serves a colorful array of vegetable-centric rolls and nigiri, meticulously arranged in takeout boxes and platters. Pop-ups will continue at Mestizo on Division until the end of March. After that, watch Instagram for updates.

A photo of Mitate vegan sushi in a takeout box
Mitate vegan sushi
Waz Wu/EPDX

Lokanta

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At its Clinton Street location, this former pop-up showcases the remarkable range of rustic Turkish cuisine through its meze, dips, and pide (flatbread). Lokanta is not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, but there’s an artistry to how Umut Matkap crafts his vegetable plates. The move is to order a variety, from the silky fava pate and smoky deep red muhammara, to the savory-sweet caramelized onion stuffed garbanzo dumplings and bulgur patties balanced delicately on lettuce wraps, then nibble your way through the spread, while sipping on glasses of raki (licorice-flavored spirit). Lokanta is open for takeout, delivery, and sidewalk dining.

A photo of various vegan rustic Turkish dishes from Lokanta
Lokanta vegan rustic Turkish
Waz Wu/EPDX

Sharks Cove

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Sharks Cove — a new concept from Kayla Lamberson of The Mocking Bird — specializes in tropical vegan fare, while supporting ocean and shark conservation. The menu includes Portland’s only all-vegan loco moco complete with a shark-shaped tofu “egg,” jackfruit sandwiches reminiscent of tuna salad, black-peppercorn-crusted Beyond burgers with pineapple, and jackfruit-pineapple-mango nachos. Lunch plates of katsu “chicken,” teriyaki tempeh, and coconut “shrimp” with macaroni salad are also available for takeout and delivery from the CORE food cart pod.

A photo of the teriyaki tempeh bowl from Sharks Cove vegan food cart
Sharks Cove teriyaki tempeh bowl
Sharks Cove/Official

This newcomer to Portland’s vegan scene specializes in ensaymadas — a soft and pillowy Filipino pastry, similar to brioche, with a cupcake-like appearance. After dialing in their vegan ensaymada recipe during the lockdown, sisters Ada and Carla Chavez are now delighting the vegan community with sweet treats dressed with ube buttercream, house-made caramel, and jackfruit jam, as well as the sweet-and-savory vanilla buttercream and cheese ensaymada. Kumare pops up at Mama Dut and Best Friend; check Instagram for dates and ordering details.

A picture of Kumare vegan ensaymadas on a purple background
Kumare vegan ensaymadas
Kumare/Official

Eatin' Alive

Located a stone’s throw from Kenton Park, this farmers market standby is now serving vegan-and-gluten-free eats and sips out of a cheery cafe with electric blue booths and hanging plants. Owner Timothy Gowen, who previously ran raw vegan food delivery Forelle Foods, continues to offer the ready-to-eat collard green wraps and peanut butter chocolate bars that Eatin’ Alive is best known for, in addition to salads, juices, and smoothies. Those looking for a larger meal can grab a vegetable-loaded grain bowl and add on soy curls. Order on the website for pickup and delivery.

A closeup photo of the kale salad at Eatin’ Alive
Eatin’ Alive kale salad closeup
Eatin’ Alive/Official

Drink Mamey

Drink Mamey first made a splash when Cydnie Smith-McCarthy began sharing juicing videos and selling her juices online during the early months of the pandemic. When Smith-McCarthy took over the Killingsworth location of Tea Bar, she transformed it into a homebase for her juice business and a wellness space for the BIPOC community. In addition to her concoctions blended with a slew of healthy ingredients — from pineapple and kale, to blue spirulina and wheatgrass powder — Drink Mamey also offers self-care products, like hand-poured soaps and sea moss gummies, from local makers for pickup and delivery.

Drink Mamey juices are handed between two people sitting on a blanket at a picnic
Drink Mamey juices
Cara Lindsay/Official

Raiz

At this vegetarian, gluten-free pop-up, Jorge Rico and Dominique Rodriguez explore how seemingly simple ingredients can be layered to create complex plates — like house-made buckwheat noodles with oyster mushrooms, broccolini, calabrian chili, and walnuts. The gluten-free menu rotates, but you can always expect to find a dip, a soup, a salad, and a couple entrees, along with Rawdacious cheesecakes for dessert. Raiz pop-ups at Tiny Moreso in Northeast Portland every two weeks. Menu and ordering details are announced on Instagram.

A pile of black mushrooms sits on a pile of polenta, with crisp shallots sprinkled on top
Raiz mushroom polenta
Raiz/Official

SxNW

The former No Bones Beach Club space on Mississippi is now home to SxNW — a collaboration between the owners of two vegan hotspots in Seattle: Keaton Tucker of Cycle Dogs and Doh Driver of Wayward Vegan Cafe. Simar “Sam” Tate, a former worker-owner at Mirisata, joins the kitchen to serve burgers, spinach dip, hush puppies, and chili cheese fries with the southwestern flair that Tucker grew up with in Texas. SxNW’s main attraction are its burgers — from the trendy Impossible to the old school house-made black bean patty — dressed with mouthwatering fixings like bourbon butter and barbecue mayo. Check Instagram for the latest menu and hours.

A photo of the SxNW bourbon burger with a black bean patty
SxNW bourbon burger
Waz Wu/EPDX

Ben & Esther's

While Ben & Esther’s isn’t a new restaurant per se, the New York-style bagel shop pivoted to an entirely vegetarian, vegan-friendly last fall. The items on the menu didn’t change much, but owner Justin King, who named the shop after his grandparents, swaps traditional lox for slivers of salt-roasted carrots, bacon for hickory-smoked seitan, and whitefish for brined-and-smoked hearts of palm in the bagel sandwiches. Cookies, muffins, babka loaves, and dolmas are also available for takeout. The most popular bagels often sell out, so get there bright and early for first dibs.

A photo of Ben & Esther’s vegan lox bagel sandwich
Ben & Esther’s vegan lox bagel sandwich
Waz Wu/EPDX

Buddy’s Steaks

This vegan Philly cheesesteak pop-up that first made its debut at The Mocking Bird comes from Philadelphia expats Angela “Ang” D’Occhio and Buddy Richter, who developed a textured vegetable protein and wheat gluten hybrid “steak” and cashew coconut cheese whiz. The hefty cheesesteaks, filled with juicy and thinly shaved “steak,” are satisfying to bite into, but the gooey “mozzarella” sticks served with marinara sauce for dipping are a knockout. Check Instagram for Buddy’s Steaks announcements.

A photo of a vegan Philly cheesesteak, mozzarella sticks, and fries from Buddy’s Steaks
Buddy’s Steaks
Waz Wu/EPDX

Boxcar Pizza

Located within The Zipper food hall, Boxcar Pizza is Portland’s first all-vegan Detroit-style pizzeria. Owner Odie O’Connor, who also owns Baby Blue Pizza cart on Hawthorne, was on to something when he began experimenting with different pizza styles during quarantine — the thick, spongy sourdough crust, baked to golden brown is unlike any other vegan crust in town. The pies arrive topped with coconut-based mozzarella, seitan “steak” with house-made chimichurri, and Nashville hot fried “chicken” with vegan ranch. The shop is temporarily closed until a new oven is installed. Keep an eye on Instagram for reopening details.

A closeup photo of Boxcar Pizza’s pepperoni pie
Boxcar Pizza pepperoni pie
Waz Wu/EPDX

Rad Burger

Last fall, Rad Burger announced its launch on Instagram with ‘90s throwbacks and hefty burgers superimposed on neon backdrops. This burger concept comes from Aviv’s Tal Caspi and operates out of the vegan Middle Eastern restaurant’s Pearl and Killingsworth locations. Available as a single or double, the juicy Impossible burger patties, sandwiched between vegan cheese slices and served with classic toppings, come shockingly close its animal-based counterparts. For over-the-top specials like the Pizza Boiga, keep an eye on Instagram. Rad Burger is open for pickup, delivery, and outdoor seating.

A closeup photo of the Rad Burger with two Impossible meat patties
Rad Burger
Waz Wu/EPDX

Nightingale

Although it is neither vegan or vegetarian, this latest addition to NE 28th should not be overlooked by meatless diners. Luna Contreras’ creative Mexican plates offer a thoughtful balance of color, flavor, and texture — think: a winter salad of charred chicory, paper-thin jicama slices, ripe blood orange bursting with juices, crispy chickpeas, and bright guava vinaigrette. Complemented by Chris Mateja’s cocktails — like the titular drink made with reposado tequila, smoked-and-salted maple syrup, and cherry bark bitters — a meal on the sidewalk patio is one of the most memorable outdoor dining experiences right now. Nightingale also offers takeout and delivery.

A photo of various vegan dishes at Nightingale
Nightingale
Waz Wu/EPDX

Mama Dut

When the pandemic hit, Thuy Pham began making Vietnamese-style vegan pork belly — which even has visible fatty layers — while quarantined at home. Mama Dut soon became a familiar name in the Portland community for speaking up against social and food injustices on Instagram and feeding protestors for free at Black Lives Matter demonstrations, in addition to hosting a string of successful pop-ups. Now, the restaurant on Buckman serves an ever-changing lineup of Vietnamese dishes, from grilled “pork” banh mi to “chicken” pho, as well as house-made condiments like kale kimchi and vegan phish sauce. Order online for pickup and delivery.

A photo of mushroom banh mi from Mama Dut
Mama Dut banh mi
Mama Dut/Official

Plant Based Papi

Known for its rotating comfort foods menu of tacos, “seafood” dishes, and brunch fare, this sensational pop-up turned restaurant favors ingredients like chanterelle mushrooms and banana blossoms over vegan meat products. Adjacent to Mama Dut, another pop-up that took Portland by storm in 2020, Jewan Manuel dishes up buttery hearts of palm “lobster” rolls, crispy oyster mushroom Nashville hot “chicken” sandwiches, and breaded garlic macadamia “ricotta” ravioli that delight vegans and non-vegans alike. Those craving Plant Based Papi no longer have to wait in long lines just to order — get your preorders in on the website.

A photo of the Plant Based Papi Nashville “chicken” sandwich
Plant Based Papi Nashville “chicken” sandwich
Waz Wu/EPDX

Mirisata

Mirisata — the worker-owned collective serving entirely vegan Sri Lankan cuisine — hosted its first pop-up days before Portland went into lockdown. They swiftly adapted to a takeout model, before landing a restaurant space on Belmont. The rice and curry plate changes weekly, but always includes an assortment of fragrant curries and house-made relishes, served with rice or string hoppers. The menu also includes Sri Lankan street foods, like fried Impossible beef rolls, parippu vade piegon pea fritters, and kottu roti — a stir-fry of diced godamba roti with curry and vegetables. The restaurant is open for takeout, delivery, and patio seating.

A photo of Mirisata Sri Lankan rice and curry plate, with green beans, rice, potatoes, coconut, and more.
Mirisata rice and curry
Waz Wu/EPDX

Mitate

This vegan, gluten-free sushi pop-up by sushi industry vets Nino and Summer Ortiz, joined by Thai Nguyen in the kitchen, offers some of the most exciting seafood-free sushi in town. Using ingredients like charred shishito peppers, artichoke hearts, sake-poached pears, and umami-packed black garlic, Mitate serves a colorful array of vegetable-centric rolls and nigiri, meticulously arranged in takeout boxes and platters. Pop-ups will continue at Mestizo on Division until the end of March. After that, watch Instagram for updates.

A photo of Mitate vegan sushi in a takeout box
Mitate vegan sushi
Waz Wu/EPDX

Lokanta

At its Clinton Street location, this former pop-up showcases the remarkable range of rustic Turkish cuisine through its meze, dips, and pide (flatbread). Lokanta is not a vegan or vegetarian restaurant, but there’s an artistry to how Umut Matkap crafts his vegetable plates. The move is to order a variety, from the silky fava pate and smoky deep red muhammara, to the savory-sweet caramelized onion stuffed garbanzo dumplings and bulgur patties balanced delicately on lettuce wraps, then nibble your way through the spread, while sipping on glasses of raki (licorice-flavored spirit). Lokanta is open for takeout, delivery, and sidewalk dining.

A photo of various vegan rustic Turkish dishes from Lokanta
Lokanta vegan rustic Turkish
Waz Wu/EPDX

Sharks Cove

Sharks Cove — a new concept from Kayla Lamberson of The Mocking Bird — specializes in tropical vegan fare, while supporting ocean and shark conservation. The menu includes Portland’s only all-vegan loco moco complete with a shark-shaped tofu “egg,” jackfruit sandwiches reminiscent of tuna salad, black-peppercorn-crusted Beyond burgers with pineapple, and jackfruit-pineapple-mango nachos. Lunch plates of katsu “chicken,” teriyaki tempeh, and coconut “shrimp” with macaroni salad are also available for takeout and delivery from the CORE food cart pod.

A photo of the teriyaki tempeh bowl from Sharks Cove vegan food cart
Sharks Cove teriyaki tempeh bowl
Sharks Cove/Official

Related Maps

Kumare

This newcomer to Portland’s vegan scene specializes in ensaymadas — a soft and pillowy Filipino pastry, similar to brioche, with a cupcake-like appearance. After dialing in their vegan ensaymada recipe during the lockdown, sisters Ada and Carla Chavez are now delighting the vegan community with sweet treats dressed with ube buttercream, house-made caramel, and jackfruit jam, as well as the sweet-and-savory vanilla buttercream and cheese ensaymada. Kumare pops up at Mama Dut and Best Friend; check Instagram for dates and ordering details.

A picture of Kumare vegan ensaymadas on a purple background
Kumare vegan ensaymadas
Kumare/Official

Related Maps