Get ready for tofu and veggie options galore. These places are as delicious for vegetarians as they are for non-vegetarians. Dig in and enjoy this roundup of some of the best vegetarian options in Bloomington.
Darn Good Soup
Photo by Sabrina Dorow
Darn Good Soup serves up 8-10 soul-warming soups each day with half of them being either vegetarian or vegan. They always have Lentil Spinach (Vegan and Gluten Free) which is surprisingly very hearty and filling. Other popular vegetarian soups are Butternut Squash, Potato Poblano, Corn Chowder, Potato Leek and Zucchini Pesto.
Bloomingfoods
Photo by Anna Arteaga
Bloomingfoods is a grocery store but they also have a hot bar and to-go food that is very vegetarian-friendly. There is usually a tofu option, as well as vegan options daily. The hot bar usually includes something like buffalo cauliflower, tofu gumbo, Moroccan lentils and mac and cheese. Bloomingfoods is a great option if you are in need of a quick and healthy dinner.
Anatolia
Photo by Natsuko Mazany
Anatolia’s diverse menu has something for every customer that dines there. They specifically have a very veggie-friendly lunch buffet for only $9 (and it’s only $7.50 with the Hooked app). On their regular menu, they have a wide selection of vegetarian entrees such as musakka, veggie shish kabobs, baked dolma and vegetarian pides. Many of their appetizers are also vegetarian and vegan-friendly. Some of these include the feta cheese plate, hummus, eggplant salad and tzatziki.
The Owlery
Photo by Anna Arteaga
The Owlery is a completely vegetarian restaurant that also has vegan baked goods. Located on the square, they are open for lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. Their poutine (fries with gravy and cheese curds) is highly recommended. They also put their own spin on fried chicken and fish & chips – both are made with tofu.
Laughing Planet
Photo by Katie Coyle
Laughing Planet’s menu is a vegetarian’s dream. Burritos, soups (all vegan), salads, quesadillas, veggie burgers, oh my! Almost everything is vegetarian or can be made vegetarian. Tofu or seitan is available for practically every dish instead of meat. Some popular dishes to try include the Cuban burrito, veggie chili, Hungarian mushroom soup and their veggie burgers.
Upland Brewing Company
Photo by Kayleigh Dance
Upland has a surprising number of vegetarian options on its menu, from its starters all the way to entrees. The huge plate of nachos, loaded with cheese, jalapeños, tomatoes, black beans, and salsa, is an excellent starter to share with friends. Another favorite is their Thai tofu salad. This salad won’t leave you hungry – it features spicy tofu with red cabbage, bell pepper, carrots, edamame, scallions, peanuts, cucumber and wontons over a spring mix.
Runcible Spoon
Photo by Grace Hwang
Runcible Spoon is a great veggie spot for breakfast, lunch or dinner. For breakfast try the veggie bennie, their spin on eggs Benedict (which still comes smothered in house-made hollandaise sauce). For lunch and dinner, you can’t go wrong with a black bean burger, ravioli or grilled sandwich.
Samira
Photo by Sabrina Dorow
Samira serves up Afghanistani cuisine, which has an emphasis on vegetarian dishes. Much of their menu is devoted to vegetarian entrees so you can be sure to find something you like. Some items might sound unfamiliar but definitely go to Samira if you want to try some new cuisine.
Function Brewing
Photo courtesy of Function Brewing
New to the Bloomington scene, Function Brewing’s food menu has great vegetarian options. As you can tell from the name, Function is a place where you can try their rotating 12 made in-house beers. Their beers pair nicely with the appetizer menu and hot or cold sandwiches. Their “Power Plant”, “Mushroom Kingdom”, “Jean Elizabeth”, “Memory Lane” and “Ratatouille” sandwiches are some of their vegetarian options to try.
So B-Town vegetarians (or not), if you thought you were running out of places to eat, now you know that there are a plethora of delicious options.