Great Vegetarian Eating in Austin, Texas

Nestled as it is in the heart of beef country, Austin, Texas, is a surprisingly vegetarian- and vegan-friendly place. Not only is it home to several salad-exclusive chains, but also more modern, tasty vegetarian fare, such as Chinese, Mexican and even multiple sushi options. One supposes this might be due in part to the "Keep Austin Weird" mind set.

One such place is the Chinese restaurant Veggie Heaven, located at 1914 A Guadalupe, not far from downtown Austin. Veggie Heaven serves excellent Asian food which is exclusively vegetarian and vegan. With no meal over $8, Veggie Heaven is also pocket book friendly. In addition to their veggie fare, they also offer a large assortment of "bubble teas" (drinks made with extra large Tapioca pearls), both with and without milk and caffeine. They are open 7 days a week, from 11am - 9pm on weekdays, then opening an hour later on Saturday and Sunday.

Another great vegetarian restaurant in Austin is Mr. Natural, which considers itself "a natural foods restaurant, bakery, juice bar and health food store". They have Mexican and TexMex menu offerings for breakfast, lunch and dinner, which are vegetarian, vegan, ovo-lacto, non-dairy, wheat-free and gluten-free. Mr. Natural has 2 locations, one on Lamar and one on Cesar Chavez, both open 8am - 8pm Monday through Saturday. The Cesar Chavez location also offers yoga classes. Prices are reasonable, with no meal over $9 a plate.

The Daily Juice Café is a "Living Foods Café" specializing in the raw, vegan, gluten-free, and organic areas of cuisine. With selections from sushi to tacos to barbecued coconut, they are sure to have a meal choice suitable for almost any palate. They offer small or large portions with small meals mostly priced under $7. Their other specialty is the not to be missed ice-free smoothie. Unless you intend to have the "Girls on Film" with Durian Durian, you can get nearly any 14 ounce version for around $5 or less. Open Monday through Saturday 7am - 9pm and Sunday 8am - 9pm.

A Taste of Ethiopia is not a strictly vegetarian restaurant, but they do offer a full selection of vegetarian options, such as Eggplant Wot and Ater Kik, with prices starting at $9. They are open 7 days a week from 11am - 10pm. Casa de Luz is a little bit different, and that is how they like it. Meals are $12 per person, from a set menu that varies daily and is focused not only on vegetarian food, but also on food that promotes better health. Since Casa de Luz is only open a few hours per meal, check the website for details. If you just want a great salad? Check out Leaf.