$$$$VegetarianMidtownSacramento
Mother on K Street, midtown Sacramento, is the city's defining vegetarian counter, a fast-casual farm-to-fork room with a daily-changing seasonal menu.
OrderWhatever the farms delivered that week, plus the seasonal grain bowl
TipWalk-in counter. Tuesday to Saturday 11:00-20:00, Friday and Saturday to 21:00. Closed Sunday and Monday.
$$$$VegetarianOld TownFort Collins
Tasty Harmony has run Fort Collins' plant-based kitchen on Oak Street since 2009, an organic scratch menu locals order without missing the meat.
OrderWhichever mock-meat comfort special is on the board
TipClosed Mondays. The dessert case is the sleeper hit; expect a wait at weekend lunch.
$$$$VegetarianColumbus
Comune on Parsons Avenue in Schumacher Place is the plant-forward fine-dining counter serving in-season vegetable plates and shareable small dishes.
$$$$VegetarianEast SideMilwaukee
Beans and Barley on East North Avenue is a grocery, deli and all-day cafe with a long vegetarian menu of burritos, stir-fries and grain bowls since 1973 here.
OrderVeggie burrito with brown rice and the daily black-bean soup.
TipThe deli counter does excellent take-out sandwiches; grocery is open later than the kitchen.
$$$$VegetarianMills 50Orlando
The Sanctum Cafe on North Ferncreek Avenue is the plant-based and organic neighborhood room with grain bowls, plant-based burgers and a wide brunch menu.
OrderThe Sanctum bowl, Plant-based burger
$$$$VegetarianSouth FirstAustin
Bouldin Creek Cafe in Austin is South First's vegetarian neighbourhood cafe since 2000, a bungalow-cum-coffeeshop with all-day breakfast and gluten-free.
OrderThe award-winning veggie burger and a side of migas; both run all day.
TipWalk-in only; Sunday brunch from 11 to 2 has the longest queue, weekday breakfast moves fast.
$$$$VegetarianArts DistrictPortland
Green Elephant on Congress Street, since 2007 from Dan Sriprasert and Bob Wongsaichua, is Portland's all-vegetarian Thai kitchen by the State Theatre.
OrderThe vegan coconut soup, then the mango curry over jasmine rice.
TipTuesday to Saturday lunch 11:30-14:30 and dinner 17:00-21:30; Sunday and Monday dinner only.
$$$$VegetarianDowntownSalt Lake City
Zest Kitchen and Bar on South 200 West, the plant-based and 100 percent gluten-free room since 2012, runs vegetarian small plates with a cocktail program.
OrderA plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
TipLive music and DJ nights run the room late on weekends; the cocktail program is one of the strongest among the city's plant-based rooms.
$$$$VegetarianDowntownSalt Lake City
Zest Kitchen and Bar on South 200 West, the plant-based and 100 percent gluten-free room since 2012, runs vegetarian small plates with cocktails.
OrderA plant-based main plus a hand-crafted cocktail off the seasonal list.
TipLive music and DJ nights run the room late on weekends; one of the city's strongest plant-based cocktail bars.
$$$$VegetarianSpenardAnchorage
Organic Oasis carries the largest vegan menu in Anchorage on Spenard Road, with a juice bar and a mixed vegetarian and poultry menu since the early 2000s.