Guide
Vegetarian and Vegan Food in Portland, Maine: A Practical Guide
Portland has meat-free dining options that range from a vegetarian bistro to plant-based items on mixed menus. The useful distinction is on the plate: a vegetarian restaurant may offer dishes with egg or dairy, while a restaurant that also serves meat may clearly label individual plant-based meals.
Start with the current menu, decide what you need to avoid, and tell the restaurant when ordering. Recipes, suppliers and preparation practices can change; if a particular ingredient or shared equipment matters to you, ask staff directly.
Three ways to plan a meat-free meal
| Place | What the operator publishes | Best first step |
|---|---|---|
| Green Elephant | An Asian-inspired vegetarian bistro, with individual dishes marked vegan and some available with a change. | Read the menu’s dish-specific notes. |
| Nura | A mixed menu that labels items plant-based or vegetarian. | Look for the label on the exact pocket, bowl or side you want. |
| Three Dollar Deweys | A pub menu with a dedicated vegan and vegetarian section alongside other dishes. | Compare that section with the rest of the menu for a mixed-diet group. |
These are published menu descriptions, not an exhaustive survey or a claim that every item is prepared separately from animal products.
Green Elephant: a vegetarian menu with vegan labels
Green Elephant’s menu calls out vegan items and identifies dishes that can be adjusted. Its garlic and ginger tofu is marked vegan; its pad Thai includes egg and is marked as available without it. If you want the vegan preparation, make the requested change explicit rather than assuming it is automatic.
The menu also identifies some gluten-free dishes and possible substitutions. Ask separately about ingredients, cooking surfaces or oil if you have an allergy or a strict requirement; a menu label does not establish every preparation practice.
Nura: plant-based pockets and bowls on a mixed menu
Nura uses `[v]` for plant-based and `[veg]` for vegetarian. Its menu lists an Old School Falafel Pocket and a Mushroom Shawarma Pocket with the plant-based label, as well as a falafel salad. It also serves animal products, so choose by the actual menu label and ask about preparation if separation matters to you.
A pocket and a bowl solve slightly different problems: a pocket is easy to plan around a shorter stop, while a salad or bowl makes the components easier to compare on the page. Check current service and takeaway availability directly.
Three Dollar Deweys: a choice for a mixed group
Three Dollar Deweys separates vegan and vegetarian dishes into their own menu section while also serving seafood, sandwiches and other pub food. That structure can help when one group wants several kinds of meals. Read each dish description: the presence of a vegetarian section does not make every item vegan.
How to order with confidence
- Check the dish, not only the restaurant category. Egg, dairy, honey, fish sauce or broth can change whether a particular meal fits your diet.
- Name the substitution. If the menu says an item can be made vegan without egg, say that when ordering.
- Ask about shared cooking surfaces or fryers if that affects your decision. This guide does not establish separation practices for these restaurants.
- Check today’s service. Menu changes, holidays and kitchen schedules can affect what is offered.
Frequently asked questions
Does a vegetarian restaurant always serve vegan food?
Not every dish is necessarily vegan. Green Elephant identifies vegan dishes and identifies some dishes that need a change. Read the individual entry and specify what you need.
Can a group with different diets eat at the same Portland restaurant?
Yes. Nura and Three Dollar Deweys publish both plant-based or vegetarian options and other food. Review the menu together and ask about the specific preparations that matter to your group.
Where can I find more Portland dining ideas?
Browse Maine.com’s Portland restaurant guide or Portland lunch guide. Those pages are broader dining guides; verify dietary suitability with each operator.
Details checked against each operator's website on November 10, 2026.
