When I became a vegan 10+ years ago,  going out to eat was always a challenge because the options were so limited.  Fast forward to over 10 years later, where veganism is more common than ever and vegan products and restaurants are plentiful.  Today's #Friday5 is my favorite vegan/vegetarian restaurants in the Boston area.  At the very end are some bonus places because picking just 5 was hard!

1.) Life Alive- website

Location: Central Square (Cambridge) and Brookline

Type of food: Nourishing bowls, wraps, salads, smoothies and juices.

Go-to Order: The Adventurer Bowl and Pineapple Kombucha on tap.

2.) Veggie Galaxy- website

Location: Central Square (Cambridge)

Type of food: Traditional diner comfort food made from scratch: the twist is that it’s all vegetarian (and everything can be made vegan!) Their on-site bakery is 100% vegan.

Go-to Order: The Kendall Square Burger and Zebra Frappe (made with vanilla and chocolate vegan ice cream)

3.) Red Lentil- website

Location: Watertown

Type of food: Vegan and vegetarian soups, salads, hearty entrees and appetizers and delicious desserts. They also have a great brunch menu and a kids menu and offer many gluten-free options.

Go-to Order: Sesame Encrusted Seitan Strips (appetizer) and Sweet Potato Quesadilla paired with one of their vegan wines.

4.) Walnut Grille- website

Location: Newton

Type of food: Creative and globally inspired vegetarian and vegan foods.

Go-to Order: Uptown Nachos (appetizer) and Seitan Marsala

5.) by Chloe- website

Location: Seaport and Fenway

Type of food: Vegan fast-food that features locally-sourced ingredients.

Go-to Order: Either the Quinoa Taco Salad or the Guac Burger with Air Fries and a Healthade Kombucha.

Bonus list of vegan options found around town

Best tofu scramble:

The Friendly Toast- website-Back Bay and Cambridge- also has other great vegan lunch and dinner options.

My Diner- website- South Boston- traditional diner food and a vegan menu!

Best vegan ice cream:

Fomu- website -South End- ice cream made from scratch with carefully sourced, plant-based ingredients.

Ben and Jerrys- Seaport- offers one non-dariy option a day.

Best pizza:

Veggie Crust- website- Brookline and Sommerville- 100% vegetarian and offers vegan options.

Stoked- website- Brookline- traditional pizzeria that offers a vegan menu. The Impossible Burger Pizza is AH-mazing! (And so are their vegan frappes and fries!)

All Star Pizza Bar- website- Boston and Cambridge- offers vegetarian and vegan options for pizzas.

Best tacos:

Taco Party Store and Taco Party Foodtruck- website- Sommerville store location

(check website for food truck locations)- 100% plant-based and 100% delicious.