Vegetarian’s Guide to the Oregon Coast
As I started writing my restaurant guide to the Oregon Coast, I realized I couldn’t avoid the elephant in the room. After a few dozen recommendations, it’ll be obvious that none is a fish and chips place. I’ve been exploring the Oregon Coast for ten of my twenty years as a vegetarian. It’s easy to find something to eat, and I like a veggie burger as much as the next girl, but I don’t necessarily want one for every meal. I spend an absurd amount of time reading menus online when I plan my trips, and I love trying new places. I stand by this list as having solid restaurant suggestions, whether or not you eat meat. Bonus points for ocean views and good vibes.
Vegan food: I’m just a plain Jane vegetarian, but my sister is a vegan. We often travel together, and she helped me brainstorm the list. If a restaurant has the oh-so-subtle text in bold and all caps saying VEGAN OPTIONS, it means you don’t have to ask the server for modifications. It has at least one filling vegan meal. I promise it won’t be the wilted iceberg lettuce “garden salad.”
Astoria
Bridgewater Bistro
Astoria is one of the larger Oregon Coast towns and has a diverse range of restaurants. I’ve never had trouble finding vegetarian food. Here are some great places to check out:
Green Door Cafe is a cheerful breakfast and light lunch stop with a focus on vegan and gluten-free options. They serve smoothies, coffee drinks, sandwiches, pastries, cheesecake, and such. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Astoria is rich in breweries. Any of them is a safe bet for lunch or dinner. The beer has a consistently high quality, and the food accommodates most dietary needs. I love Fort George Brewery, especially the rooftop patio on nice nights. The menu has wood-fired pizzas with options for vegan pies and gluten-free crusts. VEGAN OPTIONS.
The patio at Buoy Beer Taproom is this article’s cover photo. The beer hall shares space with a distillery and three food carts. Two of them, Dee Dee Thai Fusion and Alma Mexican Cuisine, have vegetarian food on the menu. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Bridgewater Bistro is perfect for a special occasion. The restaurant has large windows overlooking the Columbia River and the Astoria-Megler Bridge. The rotating menu is mostly meat and seafood, but the vegetarian options are better than token offerings, like skillet mac & cheese or Hungarian mushroom soup.
Seaside
Chili mushroom quesadilla from The Stand
Seaside is a resort town with a decent number of restaurants. I’ve found it a little hit-and-miss for vegetarian food and limited for vegan food.
Seaside Coffee House is a coffee shop with a lot of charm. Think squashy armchairs and fresh flowers on the table. Besides coffee drinks, the pastry counter has tempting baked goods.
The Stand has good Mexican food in a no-frills but cozy, family-run spot. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Seaside Brewery has a patio that I like a lot on nice days. Not a ton of vegetarian options, but doable. It’s worth noting that the in-person menu was more accommodating than the online menu when I went: veggie burgers and vegan tacos.
Cannon Beach
Wayfarer patio
Cannon Beach is a charming town with many cute restaurants and cafes. Almost all of them have at least one vegetarian option. Vegan food is more challenging, to the point where I can tell you individual menu items because I’ve looked so hard.
Some of my favorite coffee shops on the Oregon Coast are in Cannon Beach, like Insomnia Coffee, Sea Level Bakery, and Cannon Beach Chocolate Cafe.
The Lazy Susan Cafe has excellent marionberry scones for takeaway and a filling sit-down breakfast menu with vegetarian options. I’d wouldn’t go here for lunch. It switches to seafood only.
For lunch, I usually go for one of the easy takeout options to bring to the beach, like Crepe Neptune or Pizza a’fetta. My sister liked the veggie tacos at Kiki’s Tacos, which can be made vegan.
Wayfarer is my go-to stop for special occasions because it’s a rare restaurant in town with an ocean view. The food is good, if on the pricier side, but it’s the ambiance that’s the biggest draw for me. The windows in the back look straight at Haystack Rock.
The Pelican Brewing in Cannon Beach doesn’t have ocean views like the Pacific City and Lincoln City locations, but it’s a cozy pub that has a vegan meal, the ginger lime mushroom bowl. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Netarts/Oceanside
Patio at the Schooner
The Schooner is a great choice for both food and ambiance. It has an indoor area, but I can’t resist the view of Netarts Bay from the restaurant’s covered and heated front patio. I’ve always been comfortable sitting outside, even when the weather isn’t ideal. The food is delicious Pacific Northwest cuisine made with many local and seasonal ingredients. It’s on the upscale side of the restaurant spectrum, but I’d say the prices reflect the quality. The drink menu has craft cocktails, including a rotating one that supports a charitable cause.
Pacific City
Patio at Pelican Brewing
Pelican Brewing has five locations on the Oregon Coast. All of them are good for ambiance, but the ocean views from the Pacific City location make it special. The restaurant and the covered patio have views of Cape Kiwanda and Haystack Rock (same name, different rock than Cannon Beach). Heaters make the outdoor seating area pleasant on chilly days. I enjoy the food and beer, but it’s the amazing views, accommodating menu, and excellent service that make it worth the splurge. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Lincoln City
Hearth & Table
Before I knew where to go, I admit I was a little underwhelmed with Lincoln City’s restaurants. After many visits, I have a long list of favorite places:
Wildflower Grill is one of the best restaurants for breakfast on the Oregon Coast. I went at some dreadful time, around 7 AM, and walked in without waiting, a rare advantage of insomnia. Later in the day, expect long waits. The coffee is incredible. The bread is made in-house daily. The portions are pleasingly large. Windows at the back look onto the forest. I haven’t been for lunch yet, but the menu looks promising.
Don’t be discouraged by Salt’s unpromising location in the Lincoln City outlet mall. It’s anything but generic. The cafe has coffee drinks, kombucha, beer, and wine. The food menu has healthy breakfast and lunch options, many of which are vegetarian. Be prepared to wait for food. It gets packed. The cafe is also a funky gift shop, which can help pass the time. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Hearth & Table is one of my two favorite pizza places on the Oregon Coast (the other is Groundlings in Gold Beach, below). It has wonderful wood-fired pizzas made with olive oil from Durant Vineyard in the Dundee Hills. Sleek and sophisticated interior. Great cocktails and wine by the glass. Browse the interesting stuff in the shop next door as you wait for a table.
The Pelican Brewing location in Lincoln City overlooks Siletz Bay. I’ve had great experiences here. The servers have been so helpful in accommodating food restrictions and allergies. Wait times can be long. VEGAN OPTIONS.
I’m including Kindred by Zest based on the recommendation of my sister (vegan) and brother-in-law (omnivore). I haven’t been myself yet. It’s part community hangout space and part restaurant that aims to accommodate all diets, including vegan and gluten-free. VEGAN OPTIONS.
If everyone in your group wants something different, let me steer you toward The Pines Dine, a food cart village that has a large indoor wine and beer hall. New American, Japanese, Mexican, Mediterranean, Hawaiian? Yep. VEGAN OPTIONS.
I remember my vegetarian pizza at Kyllo’s being good, but the real treat is the ocean view. Large windows overlook the beach where the D River flows into the Pacific Ocean.
Depoe Bay
Whale Bites Cafe
Depoe Bay is a small town where it’s easy to find vegetarian food. I’ve found something I can eat everywhere but Tidal Raves. Here are my favorite spots:
The Whale Bites Cafe is a cozy breakfast and lunch spot overlooking Depoe Bay harbor. I love this place for being somewhere I can go with people who have dietary restrictions. The menu offers vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options made with organic ingredients. At the time of writing this, it looks like they’re changing management. As far as I can tell, the overall vision will remain the same. VEGAN OPTIONS.
The Horn has good pub food and drinks, but the main draw is the view from the second floor. It’s hard to get the best tables or, often, any table. I managed to sit at the perfect spot once, and I still remember it years later. Large windows overlook the Depoe Bay seawall and the Pacific Ocean from above, offering great potential for whale watching.
Mazatlan is a hole-in-the-wall restaurant with delicious Mexican food. If you’re lucky enough to get the table in the back, you’ll have a view of the ocean and the seawall. The menu has a vegetarian section. Nothing is specifically vegan, but you can make it work by leaving off the dairy.
Newport
View from the Clearwater Restaurant
Newport is one of the larger towns on the Oregon Coast. My two favorite neighborhoods are the Historic Bayfront and Nye Beach. Here’s where to eat:
Blue Pig Bakery is a cute-as-a-button bakery and antique shop in the Nye Beach neighborhood. It’s a place where people will be hovering at the door to get in around opening time.
Ultralife is where to bring your vegans in Newport. This welcoming cafe in Nye Beach caters to most dietary needs. The menu has pastries and brunch items, like bagels and burritos, all clearly labeled as vegan, carnivore, or gluten-free. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Clearwater is my favorite spot for lunch or dinner in Newport. The food is great, and the drinks are fantastic, but the highlight is watching the sea lion drama from the windows. You’ll see them bickering on the sea lion docks. Out in the harbor, they sometimes do these cool spinning jumps, especially around sunset. The menu has gluten-free options. Vegan options look possible with modifications, but I go to Asiatico when I’m traveling with my sister.
Asiatico is a family-owned sushi restaurant overlooking Newport Bay. You get complimentary miso soup to start your meal. The vegetarian and vegan sushi rolls are a step up from the standard avocado roll. They also serve fish if your group has conflicting food priorities. On nice days, the back patio is a fun place to watch the sea lions and seabirds out in the water. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Yachats
WildCraft Cider
Don’t be discouraged by the town’s small size. Yachats has some of the best food on the Oregon Coast for both vegetarians and omnivores.
Bread & Roses is my vote for the best bakery on the Oregon Coast. It’s worth getting up early to have your pick of the pastries and loaves before they sell out.
Green Salmon Coffee is a cozy, plant-based, environmentally-minded cafe that makes for a great breakfast or lunch. I order black coffee no matter where I am, but I have to admit that creative cocoas, coffee drinks, and smoothies are intriguing, like the chaga mushroom latte. VEGAN OPTIONS.
At WildCraft Cider, the vegetarian dishes aren’t just token offerings. They’re some of the most tempting meals, like the squash and mushroom flatbread. The seasonal menus incorporate many ingredients that were locally farmed or foraged. Gluten-free options are available and labeled. On the drink menu, the ciders feature unusual and funky flavors that are fun to try as a tasting flight. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Drift Inn Restaurant is a crowd pleaser that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s a place that has something for everyone, whether it’s meat, veggie, vegan, or gluten-free. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Coos Bay
7 Devils Brewing
Coos Bay is somewhere I have unfinished business. I’ve driven through many times, but haven’t stayed in town long enough to do a deep dive into the restaurants — yet! In the meantime, I’ve had very good experiences at 7 Devils Brewing. They have two locations. The Waterfront Alehouse overlooks the bay and has a more upscale menu. Think wild mushroom risotto with local chanterelles. The Brewery and Public House in the Coos Bay town center has pub food more along the lines of sandwiches and burgers. No water views here, but the patio is lovely on nice days.
Bandon
Angelo’s Italy
Vegetarian or not, if you like Italian food, you’ll love the restaurants in Bandon. Just check the prices before wandering in for a casual meal. It might run $30-40 for the vegetarian entree at the higher-end spots. Vegan food is trickier but possible.
Bandon Coffee Cafe has phenomenal coffee, plus pastries and brunchy meals.
Face Rock Creamery has great mac & cheese for a satisfying casual lunch.
Angelo’s Italy is a snug and intimate Italian restaurant where a violinist adds to the ambiance. Great wine and pasta.
Lord Bennett’s had a lovely veggie pasta dish that I enjoyed quite a bit. Windows in the restaurant overlook the ocean, where you can watch the sunset at dinnertime. Reservations recommended.
If your budget allows it, Alloro has fantastic Italian food in a romantic space. Make a reservation. I didn’t see vegan options on the menu, but I’m sure it would be possible with small modifications. The service is excellent here.
I’m realizing that I’ve always been on solo trips when I’ve eaten out in Bandon, so I haven’t looked specifically for vegan food. Now that I’m looking, it’s thin on the ground. Exceptions are Bandon Brewing and the Sunnyside Cafe. VEGAN OPTIONS.
Port Orford
Red Fish
I don’t usually plan trips around restaurant hours, but I did schedule my drive back from Gold Beach to coincide with lunch at Redfish. I was excited to try the food, but the views were the biggest temptation. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a patio overlook the sea stacks of Battle Rock Wayside from a coastal bluff. My roasted eggplant and brie sandwich was a great bonus. I went for lunch because of the meat-heavy dinner menu, but after talking with the server, I learned it wouldn’t have been an issue. They’re used to making off-menu vegetarian dishes if you’re flexible about the ingredients. Reservations recommended.
Gold Beach
Groundlings Pizza
I was pleasantly surprised by the vegetarian food scene in Gold Beach, given the town’s small size. During my 4-day solo trip, I ate somewhere different every night, and never a veggie burger. These are the spots I liked best:
My favorite restaurant in Gold Beach is Groundlings Pizza. The delicious wood-fired pizzas have creative toppings, like fresh mozzarella, ricotta, and honey. The atmosphere is friendly and welcoming. You can see the Rogue River from anywhere you sit. They’re cool about off-menu orders if you have a specific dietary need, like a vegan pizza. If you don’t eat gluten, I think you’ll be impressed by the gluten-free crust.
Hunter Creek Bar & Grill is the perfect post-hike stop. After spending the day trying to decipher some of the more overgrown sections of the Oregon Coast Trail, sitting on the back patio with a beer and fried food feels like paradise. As a bonus, you can usually see ducks swimming in the creek.
Normally, I don’t get excited about steakhouses, but I had a lovely mushroom pasta dish from the otherwise meat-heavy menu at Spinner’s Restaurant. It’s on the upscale side as far as ambiance. I found the prices pretty average by Portland standards. Some tables have ocean views.
Casita d’Oro is a place to come hungry. The Mexican food is great, and the portions are large. It has a small and cheerful interior, but is more of a takeout spot. Seating is limited, and they don’t serve alcohol. It’s not ideal for vegans, but you could make it work by leaving off the dairy on a burrito.
More on the Oregon Coast
If you read this guide, I’m going to go ahead and guess that you love animals. Find out where to see seals, sea lions, whales, and birds on the Oregon Coast in my wildlife guide.
Visit the most beautiful beaches on the Oregon Coast.
Find the best hikes on the Oregon Coast.
