Vegetarian Journal's Guide to Natural Foods Restaurants in the U.S. and Canada

Symbol Key:

• Vegetarian restaurant
•• Vegan restaurant
§ Reviewer's choice

Alaska

Anchorage

Aladdin's

4240 Old Seward Hwy., Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 561-2373

Mediterranean/Middle Eastern. About 1/3 of the dishes served at Aladdin's each night are vegetarian and every dish that is or can be made vegetarian is clearly marked. These include appetizers like Dolma (stuffed grape vine leaves with rice and herbs) and Spanakopita (layers of spinach and feta cheese baked in filo dough); dips like Hummus and Tsatsiki (yogurt, cucumber, and garlic); and salads like Casbah-Style (fire-roasted bell peppers and eggplant tossed with tomatoes, onions, and olive oil) and Fattush (Lebanese-style salad with fried pita and a mint-lemon dressing). For entrées, consider unique dishes like the North African-inspired Couscous Maghrebin, the Vegetables and Fruit Curry, or the Vegetarian Mousaka (eggplant, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, and tofu baked with bechamel sauce). Open Wednesday through Saturday for dinner. Closed Sunday through Tuesday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, beer/wine, non-alcoholic beer, VISA/MC/AMEX, $$.

Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill

1230 W. 27th Ave., Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 276-4200

American/pub. Bear Tooth Theatrepub & Grill includes a restaurant and a movie theater. They offer an array of vegetarian and vegan items including pizzas, potato burritos, salads, a veggie burger, and peanut noodles. You can add tofu to any salad as well. Dine in their full service restaurant or enjoy your tasty eats while you watch a movie. Please note there is an additional charge for movie tickets. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, beer/wine/alcohol, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC/DC, $$.

Middleway Café

1200 West Northern Lights Blvd., Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 272-6433

Natural foods. This mostly vegetarian establishment is home to a juice bar and offers wraps, tofu scrambles, organic granola, grain-and-soy burgers, burritos, and more. Daily vegan specials are available. Open daily for three meals. Limited service, vegan options, fresh juices, smoothies, espresso, $$.

Organic Oasis Restaurant & Juice Bar

2610 Spenard Rd., Ste. B, Anchorage, AK 99503

(907) 277-7882

Organic/natural foods/juice bar. Organic Oasis Restaurant & Juice Bar offers many vegetarian and vegan items. Try the Tofu Burger, Hula Burger (made of organic multi-grain Tempeh), Vegan Greek Pizza, or the Moroccan Hummus Wrap. Organic Oasis sometimes teaches health classes. Enjoy live music or art films most evenings as well. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open Sunday for lunch and early dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, catering, fresh juices, smoothies, beer/wine, special beverages, VISA/MC, $$.

The Marx Brothers Café

627 W. 3rd Ave., Anchorage, AK 99501

(907) 278-2133

Regional. Marx Brothers offers some vegetarian options, such as the Grilled Vegetables & Lentils, and is also willing to prepare special meals for vegetarians. Herbs, spices, lettuce, and edible flowers are grown on the premises in the summer. Open daily for dinner in the summer. Open Monday through Saturday for dinner in the winter. Closed Sunday in winter. Full service, wine/beer, catering, VISA/MC, $$$.

Denali

Prospectors Pizza

Milepost 238.9, Parks Highway, Denali, AK 99577

(907) 683-7437

Pizza/pub. Prospectors Historic Pizzeria & Alehouse is a refuge for vegans in the town of Denali. They offer vegan cheese for your pizza and even vegan ice cream for dessert! They also have 49 different beers on tap featuring every independent Alaskan microbrewery. Prospectors showcases a collection of historic Alaskan photos, artifacts, and antiques. Stop in after hiking in beautiful Denali National Park. They also offer a free roundtrip shuttle to pick you up and bring you back to your hotel. Prospectors is located inside the Old Northern Lights Theater Building, across from the McKinley Chalets. Reservations are accepted. Open daily for lunch and dinner. Full service, vegan options, take-out, delivery, espresso/cappuccino, beer/wine, VISA/MC, $$-$$$.

Fairbanks

Gambardella's Pasta Bella

706 2nd Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701

(907) 456-3417

Italian. The Gambardellas pride themselves on generations of fabulous Italian food. Vegetarian entrées are conveniently indicated on the menu. Examples include Pasta Marinara, Fettuccini Alfredo, Eggplant Parmesan, Pesto Pasta, and gourmet pizza. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner. Open on Sundays in the summer. Full service, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, wine/beer, VISA/MC, $-$$.

Thai House Restaurant

412 5th Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701

(907) 452-6123

Thai. Although there are several Thai restaurants in Fairbanks, the Thai House Restaurant is a good choice for vegans. The food is great, the staff understands what 'vegan' means and can make sure all dishes ordered meet your needs. Try the Asparagus Special Dish. They even have two vegan desserts: the sticky rice with mango and "homemade" coconut ice cream. Make sure to visit the gift shop across the street and get them to show you the basement -- it is amazing! Reservations are accepted. Open Monday through Saturday for three meals. Closed Sunday. Full service, vegan options, take-out, delivery, beer/wine, VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $-$$.

Homer

Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Café

1316 Ocean Dr., Homer, AK 99603

(907) 235-7571

Natural foods deli. The Fresh Sourdough Express Bakery and Café offers diners exclusively organic foods in a quaint, cozy, informal atmosphere. The only full-line bakery and restaurant in Homer, The Express boasts everything from the owners' own line of cocoa to a "Pizzaz" of the day (pizza on sourdough), as well as several different cakes, cookies, and breads. Open daily for three meals. Full service, take-out, espresso/cappuccino, smoothies, VISA/MC, $$-$$$.

Petersburg

Helse Restaurant

17 Sing Lee Alley, Petersburg, AK 99833

(907) 772-3444

Natural foods. Helse's reputation is based on its soup and homemade bread specials, offered every day. Helse offers three vegetarian sandwiches (two of which are vegan), a tofu salad, and a garden salad. A natural foods store is located adjacent to the restaurant. Open daily for breakfast through early dinner. Full service, vegan options, espresso/cappuccino, take-out, $$.