Since taking over vegan institution Homegrown Smoker, the team behind The Mocking Bird combined both concepts under one roof, churning out barbecue plates, crunchwraps, and fried chicken sandwiches at the St. Johns cafe. On the menu, find a barbecue sauce-drenched Beyond burger with smoky bacon, fried onions, and pickles on a pretzel bun; the gentle kick of jalapeño in the patty keeps things interesting. During weekend brunch, keep an eye out for Homegrown Smoker’s breakfast burger special, topped with vegan bacon, melted cheese, and a surprising vegan sunny-side egg. Many of the shop’s creations also appear at The Mocking Bird food cart at BG Food Cartel in Beaverton.

Tucked inside St. John’s Beer Porch, Cozo Grill specializes in burgers and sandwiches, including a made-from-scratch black bean patty with whole and pureed black beans that’s equally as satisfying as the Beyond burger. Stacked tall with classic fixings and soft potato buns, the burgers come with add-ons like curly fries, onion rings, and crispy breaded mushrooms. It’s also worth visiting the cart just to try the vegan BLT made with seitan bacon and grilled sourdough.

Parked at the entrance of St. John’s Beer Porch, this vegan, gluten-free, and soy-free food truck specializes in vegetable-heavy interpretations of comfort foods, such as carrot corn dogs and mac with butternut squash cheese. The veggie burger is one of the cart’s hot items: a brilliant red, house-made beet-lentil-walnut patty, topped with fresh greens, garlic aioli, chimichurri, house pickles, and fried shallots. Diners can add cashew mozzarella to make it a veggie cheeseburger.

Rabbits has come a long way since its start as the Sonny Bowl food cart. Now a neighborhood bar with DJs on weekends, the Killingsworth outpost serves burgers featuring a soft blended patty of vegan meat and lentils. The standard burger comes with tomato jam on a fluffy potato bun, while the barbecue version involves vegan bacon and dill ranch. Those who prefer tofu can opt for the deep-fried “chicken” burger made with a thick slab of OTA tofu. Pair your meal with classic cocktails like margaritas and aquafaba whiskey sours or Rabbit’s drink creations like the Hope For The Flowers laced with dainty elderflower.

It’s surprising to see a burger on the menu at this airy vegan bistro that’s known for organic juices and vegetable laden bowls, but Blossoming Lotus puts its own twist on a cheeseburger. The lentil-walnut burger comes with harissa aioli, a ciabatta bun, and optional avocado. For sides, diners can choose between salad, fingerling potatoes, or mac and cheese. Lavender lemonade or iced coconut chai make especially refreshing drink pairings for this burger on a sunny day.

It’s hard to say what Jojo is best known for: its fried chicken sandwiches or unhinged social media presence. When Southeast Powell food cart Jojo set up shop in the Pearl District, it launched a parallel vegan menu with Beyond patties and fried OTA tofu. Vegans and vegetarians can chow down on the delectable Mr. Onion with caramelized onions, sliced onions, fried shallots, and white mustard sauce. An order of jojos — crispy, thick potato wedges — is a must and even come slathered with vegan cheese and coleslaw. The restaurant also offers popcorn tofu, fried Brussels sprouts, and an extensive bar menu, including nonalcoholic cocktails.

This spooky vegan food cart knocks out smashed Beyond burgers with horror-themed names like Van Helsing and House of 1000 No Corpses. Choose between single or double patties with mouthwatering toppings such as black garlic mushrooms, grilled pineapple, and smoky vegan provolone. Customers can also enjoy loaded fries, like the Machette with roasted corn, chipotle mayo, and cotija crumbles. The drinks menu features lemonades with eerie names and fun ingredients — for instance, the Black Dahlia comes with glitter, lavender, and droplets of black food coloring — while its neighboring taproom Leikam Brewing offers kosher beers.

The Sentinel Hotel’s entirely vegan lobby bar is a downtown hotspot for cocktails and shareable plates like Cultured Kindness cheese boards and Buddy’s Steaks’ mozzarella sticks. Less suited for grazing, Fortune’s menu includes a timeless In-N-Out style cheeseburger and panko-breaded, romesco-dressed “chicken” burger. However, there’s an even more decadent burger option for hungry diners — it arrives with Thrilling Foods bacon jam, melty Gruyere cheese, thick-cut onion rings, and garlic aioli. The bar’s tequila and mezcal creations are some of its best, such as the watermelon margarita and serrano pepper-infused Oaxacan Garden.

Speed-o Cappuccino — the electric pink, sex worker-owned, vegan bikini barista cart at the Lil’ America pod — specializes in cold brew, smash burgers, and oat milkshakes. Smashed to a crisp patty larger than the bun, the Beyond burgers arrive loaded with grilled onions and dripping with sauce. The cart’s corn dogs and berry tamales make great snacks, while the flirty staff offer fun vibes. If a tiramisu latte or peanut butter chocolate shake isn’t quite what you had in mind for washing down your burger, grab a pint or cocktail from Fracture Brewing instead.

In a corner space on Belmont, Fermenter’s namesake burger is one of Portland’s most iconic animal-free dishes. The burger and its various accompaniments showcase multiple forms of fermentation: smoked onion shio koji-marinated millet-black lentil tempeh, miso mayo, dill sauerkraut, kefir cultured cashew cheese, and applewood smoked tempeh bacon. Paired with a botanical kombucha slushie, the hefty burger makes a satisfying meal. It’s worth ordering sides like potato salad, asparagus fries, or sunshine cookies to share, as well.


At this Division Street diner-style shop, vegans can have their pick of animal-free burgers and sandwiches, from traditional lettuce-tomato-onion topped patties to messy-delicious creations like the soy curl po’ boy with spicy remoulade. D.C. Vegetarian’s faux meats include scratch-made soy-gluten-oats patties, as well as Before the Butcher, house seitan and tempeh bacon. Every Wednesday, the shop runs rotating Burger Day specials for $6.99. A burger, plus a side of potato salad or soy curl chicken salad, makes a satisfying lunch.