Another day of Portland's best vegan eats

If you're going to Portland for a few days, you've really got to hit up the vegan restaurants, bakeries, and food carts the city is famous for. The problem is it can be tough to decide what eateries to spend your time and tummy on, because there's so many tasty options.

Lucky for you, I've done the research. First, check out my post Portland's Best Vegan Eats in One Day. Here are my recommendations for Day 2 in PDX.

Breakfast: Junior's Café

Junior's Café on SE 12th Avenue. Stephen Hui photo.

While some vegans rave about the tofu Benedict at Paradox Café (3439 SE Belmont Street) and the oatmeal chai blueberry pancakes at Jam on Hawthorne (2339 SE Hawthorne Boulevard), I say go straight to Junior's Café (1742 SE 12th Avenue). Literally. Just hop on the MAX Red Line at the airport, transfer to the southbound #70 bus at Lloyd Center, and you're there.

Vegan French toast breakfast at Junior's Café. Stephen Hui photo.

This Southeast Portland diner opens at 8 a.m. everyday and makes the best vegan French toast I've ever had. There's a couple of well-regarded tofu scrambles (US$8.50) on the menu, and tofu can be substituted in any of the egg scrams at no additional cost. I always order the vegan version of the French toast breakfast (US$9), which includes garden sausage and a simple-yet-satisfying tofu scram. Get there early to avoid a wait.

Lunch: Homegrown Smoker

Homegrown Smoker on SW 4th Avenue. Stephen Hui photo.

As an all-vegan joint, Homegrown Smoker (SW 4th Avenue and SW Hall Street) stands out in the line of food carts at Portland State University. Quite simply, this plant-based barbecue spot makes incredible street food.

Portorrito from Homegrown Smoker. Stephen Hui photo.

Take the SloSmoMoFo (US$8), for instance. This yummy sandwich puts smoked soy curls, barbecue sauce, and chipotle slaw on a grilled bun, and comes with a side (get the awesome Mac-NoCheese). Another winner is the huge Portorrito (US$7), which stuffs smoked portobello mushroom slices, Mac-NoCheese, smoked soy curls, grilled peppers and onions, two cheeses, and chipotle aioli in a warm tortilla.

Homegrown Smoker is open Monday to Friday, between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Gluten-free options are indicated on the menu. If they're serving coconut-fried Oreos the day you show up, get 'em.

Dinner: Portobello

Mushroom ravioli at Portobello. Stephen Hui photo.

Portobello (1125 SE Division Street) almost certainly has a lock on the title of best vegan restaurant in Portland. At this fully vegan trattoria, the flavours are fresh and the service pleasant and efficient. Dinner hours are 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday, and 5:30 to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Making a reservation is advisable. (Portobello also does a first-come, first-served brunch on Sundays between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.)

During my most recent visit, I ordered the mushroom ravioli (full US$18, half US$9) off the spring transition menu. Made with Italian-style salsa verde, this pasta dish is fantastic. Antipasti, pizza, burgers, and other mains, such as pan-crisped potato gnocchi and spaghetti and beet balls, are also on the menu, which lists several "no gluten added" options. For dessert, there's the tiramisu, chocolate praline mousse, and strawberry tart (US$7 each).

Across the intersection from Portobello, you'll see Los Gorditos (1212 SE Division Street). This restaurant serves up delicious Mexican cuisine (tacos, tamales, sopes, enchiladas, and more), and offers both meat and vegan menus.

Late-night snack: Voodoo Doughnut

Vegan Fruit Loops donut from Voodoo Doughnut. Stephen Hui photo.

Anyone who's ever been to Portland has probably lined up at Voodoo Doughnut (22 SW 3rd Avenue, 1501 NE Davis Street). Tourists flock to the downtown location. These donuts are worth the wait.

Vegan Oreo donut from Voodoo Doughnut. Stephen Hui photo.

Voodoo has an entire shelf of vegan donuts. My favourite is the one covered in Fruit Loops. There's also Oreo, powdered sugar, and Triple Chocolate Penetration donuts. Vegan fruit-cake and devil's-food donuts go for US$1.25 to US$1.50, while raised donuts cost 25 cents more. You can get a vegan cock-n-balls donut for US$3.25. Voodoo's open 24 hours, so you can find the magic in those holes any time of day.

You can follow Stephen Hui on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.