Still Searching for a Vegetarian Heaven: Go Veg in D.C.

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WHETHER FOR HEALTHY, social status or just sheer taste, D.C. loves its veggies. The love may be there, but finding a new place to satisfy that herbivorous urge isn't always easy.

Katt Hull has been a vegetarian on and off for about five years; her teetering is because of "the lack of good food options." But she has taken a liking to Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant, which she first visited before going meatless.

"The menu is unbelievable," said Hull. "If you close your eyes you'd think [General Tso's Surprise] is the real thing. It's the most unique vegetarian restaurant."

Marissa Valeria of Rockville is also on the Chinese bandwagon because "they make it so easy." Valeria frequents the Vegetable Garden for its carved and curled shiitake mushrooms with asparagus. But according to Valeria, the "best vegetarian food in the universe is El Tamarindo." Growing up in Wheaton, Valeria became accustomed to eating pupusas and finds its bean-and-cheese version the best in the area.

It's no surprise that D.C.'s historic Ben's Chili Bowl made it on the pro-veggie list, too. Both Emily Diamond-Falk and Tim Tranchilla give props to its vegetarian chili, both in a bowl or on top of fries.

An 11-year vegetarian, Tranchilla discovered new ways to find his next meal: If he's craving textured vegetable protein he'll simply type in "TVP" and "DC" and pull up a Google map of the restaurants offering dense protein. His favorite is Peking Express' TVP orange chicken and TVP honey sesame chicken. "Both fake!" he said. "Really tasty and high in protein!"
While David DeGennaro doesn't anticipate a plethora of vegetarian options, he enjoys when "places do something special, but I don't walk in expecting it." But the disappointment still comes.

"[Sometimes] restaurants have things that look really good and should be vegetarian, but aren't," said Degennaro. "I love mac and cheese and my eyes light up when I see it on the menu. But then my heart drops when I see it's made with bacon or shrimp."
Recently, he found a version he could enjoy at the Rugby Cafe. "[The macaroni and cheese] is made with onions and rosemary and is absolutely delicious."

» Ben's Chili Bowl, 1213 U St. NW; 202-667-0909. (U St.-Cardozo)
» El Tamarindo, 1785 Florida Ave. NW; 202-328-3660. (Dupont Circle)
» Peking Express, 1338 U St. NW; 202-986-3939. (U St.-Cardozo)
» Rugby Cafe, 1065 Wisconsin Ave. NW; 202-298-6894.
» Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant, 6304 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church; 703-237-3888.
» The Vegetable Garden, 11618 Rockville Pike, Rockville; 301-468-9301. (White Flint)

Written by Expres contributor Stefanie Gans
Photo courtesy Cade Martin