DC Vegetarian
Restaurant in Portland, Oregon, U.S.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
DC Vegetarian is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Portland, Oregon, United States.[1] Owners Damien Gill and Becky Leonard started the business as a food cart in 2009, before relocating to a brick and mortar location in southeast Portland in 2018. DC Vegetarian serves American cuisine including various burgers and sandwiches.
- Damien Gill
- Becky Leonard
| DC Vegetarian | |
|---|---|
| |
 Interactive map of DC Vegetarian | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 2009 |
| Owners |
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| Food type | American |
| Location | 5026 Southeast Division Street, Portland, Multnomah, Oregon, 97206, United States |
| Coordinates | 45.5051°N 122.6106°W |
| Website | dcvegordering |
Description
DC Vegetarian is a vegetarian and vegan restaurant in Portland, Oregon.[2] The business originally operated as a food cart, before relocating to a diner-style brick and mortar location near the intersection of 50th and Division Street in southeast Portland's Richmond neighborhood.[3][4] The interior has books, plants, and rustic benches.[5]
The fast casual restaurant[6] serves American cuisine such as burgers and sandwiches, including breakfast sandwiches,[7] a grilled cheese,[2] and meatless variants of BLTs, cheesesteaks,[8] and Italian subs.[9][10] The Chicken Salad Sub has soy curls.[11] The Steak and Cheese has seitan, sautéed peppers, onions and vegan cheese.[12] Vegetarian options can be made vegan.[13] The Carl's Senior is a gluten-free option.[14] Dessert options include peanut butter cups.[15] The drink menu includes cocktails.[16]
History
Owners and spouses[17] Damien Gill and Becky Leonard started the business as a food cart in 2009.[18] DC Vegetarian operated in the food cart pod on Southwest Third Avenue between Stark and Washington in 2011.[19] In 2017, news outlets described DC Vegetarian's plans to open a brick and mortar restaurant later in the year,[20] in the space that previously housed Mi Mero Mole.[8][21] The restaurant opened on February 16, 2018.[22] The food cart closed in March 2018.[23] Like many restaurants, the business operated via delivery and take-out at times during the COVID-19 pandemic.[24]
DC Vegetarian has hosted pop-up restaurants, including Tender Texan in 2020.[25]
Reception
Alexandra Chang included the Chicken Salad Sub in VegNews's 2011 list of the seven best vegan sandwiches.[11] Eric Lindstrom included the restaurant in the magazine's 2017 list of twelve diners "where it's always National Greasy Food Day for vegans".[7] In 2012, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals ranked DC Vegetarian first in a list of the nation's top ten vegan BLTs,[26] saying it has "all the deliciousness with none of the cruelty that pork sandwiches do".[27][28] Additionally, The Oregonian ranked the Steak and Cheese Sub seventh in a list of Portland's top ten vegan dishes.[27][29]
Michelle Udem included the business in Thrillist's 2015 list of Portland's best vegetarian restaurants.[9] In 2016, Yelp included DC Vegetarian in a list of Portland's top 40 food carts.[30] Nick Zukin gave the restaurant honorable mention in Willamette Week's 2019 overview of the city's best vegan burgers.[31] Jordan Michelman included the BLT in the newspaper's 2019 list of Portland's best vegan dishes.[32] Willamette Week also called DC Vegetarian "a food cart staple for alt-diet PSU students" in 2019.[12] Anastasia Sloan included DC Vegetarian in Eater Portland's 2025 list of the city's best vegetarian and vegan burgers.[3]
