6 Must-Visit Restaurants For Vegan Food in Tacoma

Written by Alison Vallen

Wait - there’s vegan food in Tacoma?!

Yep - and it’s worth hitting some I-5 traffic for.

Seattle has practically limitless vegan options compared to other cities and thus has every right to boast. The Emerald City is famous for its wide variety of vegan eateries in close proximity to anywhere from SoDo all the way to Shoreline.

Tacoma is so far South that many Seattleites don’t venture all the way down without good reason.

We’re here to let you know there are not just one - but six! - delectable reasons to leave the vegan-soaked streets of Seattle and head South, pronto!

6 Delicious Stops For Vegan Food in Tacoma

Quickie Too

Hilltop, Tacoma. Photo Credit: Quickie Too

Fully vegan

Known for their take on vegan soul food and comfort-classics, Quickie Too is Tacoma’s greatest vegan treasure to be found.

With an expansive vegan and omnivore fanbase all over the Seattle and Tacoma area, our love and devotion for Quickie Too and their philosophy runs as deep as our obsession for their Homemade Mac and Yease (with options to add buffalo sauce or chili - oh my gosh).

This Black-owned business has stayed afloat during hard times with the help of the supportive customers they treat like true family, and we keep coming back for more.

A favorite dish is The Sweet Jamaican Wrap - truly one of a kind. It's bursting with the perfect balance of sweet and spicy and made with a seitan-tofu combo.

You can’t go wrong taking home one of their classic milkshakes like the Coconut Banana, or a slice of Peach Raspberry Pie with a scoop of soft serve vanilla. One visit is all it takes to find out why Quickie Too is one of our favorite stops for vegan food in Tacoma. Visit Quickie Too

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Viva Tacoma

North End, Tacoma. Photo Credit: Viva

Fully vegan and gluten-free

Tacoma’s best-kept vegan secret got out to Seattleites long ago when a vegan and gluten-free Crab Dip hit the scene.

Viva's Crab Dip is a must-order for sure, and you’ll dip every last one of those crunchy, toasty baguette pieces until you’re licking the bowl clean (trust us).

If you’re ordering for brunch, the Biscuits and Gravy will leave you planning your next twelve brunches at Viva. Savory mushroom gravy and slightly chewy walnut-based sausage drown two fluffy, yet still very much gluten-free biscuits, and those without restrictions won’t miss anything about it.

Viva’s sweet treats are also something to write home about and take along for the ride. A wrong choice cannot be made between the reasonably priced and truly decadent truffles, or a slice of homemade, rotating, too-indulgent-to-quit cheesecake flavors. 

No quest for vegan food in Tacoma is complete without a stop here. Visit Viva Tacoma

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Pasteles Finos

Del Angel

South Tacoma. Photo Credit: Pasteles

When you’re in Tacoma, Pasteles Finos Del Angel is a must-indulge!

Walking in, the smell of totally vegan churros greets our noses with heavenly cinnamon, while our eyeballs are fixated on all the “Vegan” signage throughout the store.

The owner happily greets us with a hearty smile, pointing in every nook and cranny at the hidden vegan goodies once he knows we’ve come for the vegan stash.

The jelly donuts are chewy and sugary, and you sure can’t only have one. The same can be said about the chocolate and glazed donuts with sprinkles. The various cakes, cookies (even Holiday-themed), authentic Conchas, and specialty bread loaves are all so reasonably priced and light, fluffy and impossible to resist. Visit Pasteles

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Gateway to India

Central Tacoma. Photo Credit: Gateway to India

Indian food is not hard to come by in Seattle or Tacoma, but we believe that Gateway to India stands out with its extra-vegan-friendly menu.

Many Indian dishes are traditionally made to be vegan, taking much of the stress out in the beginning. But we especially love how Gateway to India’s menu highlights which menu items are vegan and which can be modified to be vegan.

These menu items are clearly labeled with one asterisk (vegan) or two (can be made vegan), leaving out any uncertainty and not shirking the options!

You’ll regret not starting with the Pappadum, a crunchy burst of flavor for less than $3 and sure to get your taste buds ready for the next course. The Aloo Gobi is one of those authentically vegan dishes but is totally worth it to savor the spiciness and crunch of cauliflower along with the creaminess of the potatoes.

Go ahead and modify the Artichoke Masala to be vegan, if you’re like us and can’t get enough artichoke, especially mixed in a medley of authentic spices and onions. For these reasons, Gateway is a top choice for vegan food in Tacoma. Visit Gateway to India

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Peterson Bros 1111

Hilltop, Tacoma. Photo Credit: Peterson Bros.

Vegans don’t have to always be wary of non-fully-vegan restaurants, and Peterson Bros 1111 is a prime example of a Tacoma sandwich shop catering to vegans and meat-eaters alike.

You'll be surprised to find they offer not just one or two, but a full menu of vegan sandwiches!

The Vegan Reuben is a crowd-pleaser with its tender, fall-apart-in-your-mouth homemade seitan meatloaf, Chao cheese, vegan thousand island dressing, and sauerkraut on marbled rye.

If you’re in the mood for something cold, their take on vegan tuna salad involves a medley of chickpeas, crunchy veggies, creamy mayo, and true genius on toasted bread.

If you've got a variety of eaters to please, this is the place that everyone can agree on without vegans compromising on substance and deliciousness. Peterson Bros is easily a top contender for vegan food in Tacoma. Visit Peterson Bros 1111

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The Church Cantina

South Tacoma. Photo Credit: Church Cantina

A communal haven where meat-eaters and vegans can come together for deliciously unique flavor profiles and cuisine; that is The Church Cantina.

The Church Cantina keeps it sweet and simple with their “Like a Vegan” menu section, showcasing eight totally vegan options that left us contemplating whether we should just order all of them.

The BBQ Jackfruit Burrito is a winner from the first bite: the flavors of seasoned jackfruit and juicy mango mingling with black beans and cheese, all exploding from a warm tortilla.

Fans of sweet potatoes cooked to perfection should order the vegan tacos, the crunchy roasted pepitas, and corn proving to satisfy every texture craving.

It’s a must to save room for the “Ohhh...Crepe.” If the name doesn’t speak for itself, the amaretto orange cherries and whipped cream add a sweet creaminess to the naturally sweet plantains wrapped not-so-neatly inside a light and fluffy crepe. Visit The Church Cantina

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I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to vegan food in Tacoma! Where is your first stop on the list? Let me know in the comments!