The San Francisco Ferry Building is an iconic architectural structure that has, since it’s opening in 1898, been a reflection of the city itself. Over the years, its prominence, decline and resurgence have reflected the lifestyle of San Franciscans. And with each change, it has been recycled by the city to breathe new life. Initially, the building served as a major transportation hub to the rapidly growing population (incited by the Gold Rush) and furthering the city’s status of a center of trade. Around the time of World War II, the building’s major function was relegated to that of an office space, reflecting the city’s need for efficiency. Nowadays, the building’s function echoes the high-standard, local, sustainable, seasonal foodie culture that the city is known for. The building is currently the home to the city’s most famous farmer’s markets, as well as to artisanal grocers, specialty shops and inventive restaurants and cafés, almost all of which are local to the Bay Area or the Pacific Northwest. So a food lover’s visit to the City by the Bay wouldn’t be complete without a visit to the Ferry Building.
If you’re a vegetarian fulfilling a foodie adventure, then there are several options for you. If you’re hungry and it happens to be a day at the farmer’s market, there are plenty of options like a taco filled with butternut squash, peppers, swiss chard, nopales, spicy pepitas and ancho chile recado from Tacolicious. How about one or two of Donna’s vegetarian and vegan tamales? If you’re into raw foods, then stop by for a bite from Alive! If the farmer’s market is not happening or you’d rather explore the interior of the historic building, then head inside for even more incredible eats.
Inside you will find a unique mix of vegan and vegetarian fare at the various shops. For some unique eats, visit DELICA, a Japanese delicatessen and sushi bar. Here you will find a unique mushroom curry, fried tofu steak, hijiki rice balls, pea shoot dumplings, potato croquettes, a variety of salads (hijiki soybean salad, wasabi garlic potato salad, spicy burdock root salad, and green beans salad), and classic vegetarian sushi rolls. At Porteña Empanadas Argentinas, you can choose from a selection of vegetarian empanadas including the cheese-less (though non-vegan) one containing sweet corn and roasted bell peppers. Mijita offers a vegetarian taco and cheese quesadilla. And at Out the Door, you can taste Vietnamese fried and fresh rolls.
After you’ve toured and tasted, be sure to satisfy your taste buds with a sweet treat. Lacto-ovo vegetarians can sample a dainty from Miette, a Parisian-style bakery with impeccable presentation and classic flavors (with a heavy emphasis on lavender and rose flavors in their non-cake confections). For vegans and those looking for more adventurous flavors, look out for Pepples Organic Donuts. These light and fluffy donuts come in many different flavors, including kaffir lime, Meyer lemon, green tea, salted caramel, and candy cap mushroom. And if you’re worried about the goods tasting “vegan,” rest assured that you won’t be able to tell the difference – except perhaps that these interesting flavors taste a lot better than the ones you’ll find at your local chain store.
If you’re looking for a few to-go picnic items, then there’s plenty of vegan (egg-free) bread to be found at the Acme Bread Company. And vegetarians can pair that with animal-rennet free cheese from Cowgirl Creamery and honey from BeeKind. And whether you’re vegan or vegetarian, all sorts of pickles from Happy Girl Kitchen travel well.
Ferry Building Marketplace
One Ferry Building
San Francisco, California 94111
(415) 983-8030
info@ferrybuildingmarketplace.com
Currently based out of Boston, Jesal is a blogger, freelance writer, yoga enthusiast and lifelong vegetarian who spent four years eating her way through New York City and various other cities around the globe. After answering hundreds of emails and phone calls answering the question, "Where's a cool place I can take my vegetarian friend out to eat" she started Veggiewala to efficiently share her knowledge of the vegetarian food scene with curious carnivores, flexitarians and other vegetarians.