America's Best Vegetarian-Friendly Large Cities

#6 Washington, D.C.

Republican, Democrat, Whig—who cares? We all need to eat, and nothing hits the spot better than a healthy, hearty, humane meal—just ask vegetarian "first niece" and model Lauren Bush, who takes her Texas toast with soy sausage or fakin' bacon. It's no surprise that the nation's capital is packed with vegetarians—it's the home of the first American group for plant-eaters, the Vegetarian Society of the District of Columbia, which was founded in 1927.

The D.C.-metro area boasts numerous vegetarian-friendly restaurants and 11 extra-vegetarian-friendly grocery stores. Right in the heart of D.C., Java Green is completely vegan and completely delicious. We recommend the "Turkey" Club Panini, the Chili-"Chicken" Wrap, or any dish to which you can add Java Green's dreamy vegan whipped cream. Head to The Vegetable Garden in Bethesda for a huge array of vegetarian cuisine. Both The Vegetable Garden and Java Green hold regular fundraisers in support of the terrific local animal-advocacy group Compassion Over Killing. For more unique dishes, try the Peking "Duck" at Yuan Fu or the Sunflower Satisfaction (a delightful combination of gourmet mushrooms, snow peas, and chickpeas in a zesty orange sauce) at Sunflower Vegetarian Restaurant.

The U.S. government just declared the all-vegan Sticky Fingers Bakery a national landmark. Well, not really, but just one bite of a Sticky Fingers cinnamon bun will put you in a good mood for the rest of your visit to the nation's capital. If you're more of a partier than a sightseer, hole up at Asylum Bar and Lounge, where the waffle fries swimming in melted soy cheese are the perfect companion for your spirit of choice. It also serves a great vegan brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. that's worth getting out of bed for. Try the Chili-"Cheese" Tofu Scramble or the super-popular French Toast.

Top Tip: Want a run-down of the city's soy-cheese pizza selections or tasty mock meats? Check out VegDC.com, the definitive source on the vegetarian scene in the District of Columbia and outlying areas.

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