Living on the Coastside means having incredible food practically in our backyard, and that includes some of the best vegetarian dishes around. We asked our team of Ocean Element agents to share the local spots and specific dishes they keep going back for, whether they are plant based every day or just craving something lighter after a beach walk. The result is a list of seven local favorites, from a barn made veggie burger to a curry worth driving for. Here are the vegetarian specials our team says you have to try.
The Barn
The Barn has become a go to for Coastside diners who want a hearty, satisfying meal without meat on the plate. Their signature veggie option, The Pretender, is a barn made burger plumped with farro, mushrooms, garlic, flax and parmesan, then topped with white cheddar, caramelized onions, tomatoes, mayo and lemon dressed arugula. It eats like a real burger, with layers of flavor in every bite.
If you are in the mood for something smoky instead, the Vegan BBQ Sando is just as satisfying. Jackfruit is simmered in homemade BBQ sauce and piled with pickled red onions on Acme ciabatta, finished with your choice of sweet or spicy apple slaw for crunch and a little kick.
Insider Tip: Ask to add pickled beets to The Pretender at no charge, and pair either sandwich with one of The Barn's rotating lemonade specials.
Breakwater BBQ
Breakwater BBQ is known for smoked meats, but their current vegetarian special proves the kitchen can bring just as much flavor without them. The Fried Mushroom Sando starts with a fried maitake mushroom, which gets a crisp, almost meaty texture from the fryer, then it is finished with chili crisp aioli and a Korean BBQ glaze for a sweet, spicy, umami packed bite.
It is the kind of dish that keeps people coming back, and around the Coastside, everything chef Wyatt puts out tends to earn that same reputation.
Insider Tip: This one is a special, so it is worth calling ahead or checking the board before you make the trip, since specials at Breakwater BBQ can rotate.
Gibraltar Gems at Jettywave Distillery
Jettywave Distillery's food program, Gibraltar Gems, has quietly become one of the best places on the Coastside for vegetarian variety, with three standout dishes on the menu. The Grilled Turmeric Cauliflower Skewer ($16) comes over lemongrass and coconut rice with a crisp Asian cabbage salad and a peanut ginger glaze, and the Nepalese Vegetable Curry ($17) layers cauliflower, sweet potato, chickpeas and raisins into a house curry, also served over lemongrass coconut rice.
For something lighter, the Moroccan Chickpea Salad ($16) combines heirloom carrots, mint, Medjool dates and kale with chickpeas in a bright chermoula vinaigrette. Between the three, there is enough range here for a full vegetarian tasting night.
Insider Tip: All three dishes are vegetarian and several menu items across Gibraltar Gems are gluten free too, so this is an easy stop for mixed dietary groups.
Old Princeton Landing
Old Princeton Landing has long been a Coastside gathering spot for live music and pub food, and their V-Bowl is proof the kitchen does not skimp on the vegetarian side of the menu. It is a completely satisfying bowl of roasted brussels sprouts, golden beets, quinoa, baby kale, sweet potato and toasted garbanzo beans, all finished with a tahini maple vinaigrette that ties the whole dish together.
It is filling enough to be a full meal on its own, with the kind of balance of roasted vegetables and grains that makes it easy to order again and again.
Insider Tip: Old Princeton Landing hosts live music throughout the year, so check their events calendar and make a night of it with the V-Bowl.
Cantina at San Benito House
For vegetarian tacos with real character, head to the Cantina at San Benito House in downtown Half Moon Bay. Their Street Style Tacos come on four inch corn tortillas topped with chopped onion and cilantro, and the vegetarian option holds its own right alongside the chicken and carnitas versions on the menu.
The best time to go is Taco Tuesday, a dine in only special that turns a casual taco order into a full Coastside tradition.
Insider Tip: Taco Tuesday gets you three street tacos for $8 and Tecate cans for $3, so gather your friends and make it a regular thing.
Two Coastside Indian Favorites
The Coastside is lucky to have two excellent Indian restaurants, each worth a visit for their own reasons. In El Granada, India Beach has built a loyal following around its Saag Paneer ($14), a dish that consistently earns rave reviews for its rich, well spiced spinach and tender cheese, prepared in the restaurant's traditional tandoor fired kitchen.
A few miles south in Half Moon Bay, Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine takes a different approach with its Vegetarian Combination Meal, a $21.50 plate that lets you try a bit of everything: plain or brown rice, saag curry, mixed vegetable curry, dal soup and rice pudding to finish. Monsoon Himalayan Cuisine serves authentic Nepali and Indian dishes like handmade momos and traditional curries to guests in Half Moon Bay.
Insider Tip: Can't decide between the two? You don't have to. Make it a two stop tasting tour on your next Coastside food night, saag paneer at India Beach and the combination meal at Monsoon.
From barn made veggie burgers to a Himalayan combination plate, the Coastside has vegetarian food worth planning a whole day around. If exploring local favorites like these has you dreaming about life on the Coastside full time, our Ocean Element team would love to help you find your place in this community, one delicious meal at a time.
