Foodie Friday: Vegetarian-Friendly Restaurants
Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2024 with our calendar of live events, recommendations, and on-demand content!
Dive into Houston's bustling food scene and the many culinary traditions the Bayou City can boast! In our Foodie Fridays, Asia Society Texas' team shares favorite restaurants, traditions from diverse cultural backgrounds, and more — stay hungry!
Meet Jennifer Kapral
Jennifer Kapral is the Director of Education at Asia Society Texas. When she's not working with wonderful students, teachers, and community partners, she's traversing the city to various festivals, parks, and museums with her two daughters. She's also a beginner Mandarin Chinese language student and a fiction writer.
Why I'm focusing on vegetarian-friendly restaurants
When people think of Houston — or of Texas — "vegetarian-friendly" isn't alway the first thing to pop to mind. I'm here to show you that the two things we all love most about our city — the diversity and the food — come together beautifully to showcase many exciting Asian food options for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone looking to include more plant-based foods in their lives.
What I am currently enjoying
A recent long lunch at the sparkling new Shabu En was a vegan dream! I love all types of Asian hot pot, but it can be difficult to find a vegetarian version, especially if you're in a large group where everyone is sharing one pot (and not everyone is vegetarian). At Shabu En, each guest has their own pot — and the restaurant offers a vegan mushroom broth full of umami flavors. A massive buffet features a rainbow of vegetables, several varieties of tofu and soy products, and fresh hand-cut noodles. The extensive dinner menu includes mock meats, and the shaved ice options with several toppings are vegan-friendly as well.
Bring a group of friends and spend an hour or two connecting over steaming bowls of deliciousness!
Try it: Shabu En
What I find myself returning to again and again
Pine Forest Garden is a vegetarian staple in Bellaire Asiatown's Diho Square; I've been a frequent guest since I moved to Houston in 2005. The giant menu provides plenty of options, but the all-day buffet is the way to go. With a constant flow of customers and food in and out of the kitchen, everything is fresh and beautifully prepared. Buffet items include dishes with mock meats — Peking duck, sesame chicken, and shrimp — and also vegetable-centric dishes and soups.
Most items are vegan, and friendly servers are happy to answer any questions about the food. Overall, people new to the plant-based world and veggie veterans alike will enjoy!
Try it: Pine Forest Garden
A restaurant that I am looking forward to
I always look forward to a special dinner at Pondicheri. A longtime favorite for many locals, chef Anita Jaisinghani never fails to impress with creative, seasonal dishes alongside her regular offerings, like the chai pie. The restaurant is entirely meatless every Monday, and her vegetarian thali can't be missed. I can't think of another high-level chef in the city who puts so much thought, love, and care into creating artfully spiced and beautifully plated meals for vegetarians and vegans alike.
Try it: Pondicheri
A food that excites me
I'm so excited by the tofu industry here in Houston! Every time I shop at H-E-B, I make sure to buy Banyan Foods tofu, made locally here in Houston by Banyan Foods, a family-run company that has been in business since 1978. They have a wide range of products, from good old plain tofu to vegan calamari.
I haven't been yet, but I'm dying to try Thanh Tofu and Fast Food in Hong Kong City Mall. Family-owned and -operated, the restaurant makes tofu fresh and draws in customers from all over Texas.
Try it: Banyan Foods Tofu | Thanh Tofu and Fast Food
My wildcard recommendation
Linda's Tropical Fruits! It doesn't get much more vegan-friendly than tropical fruits. Linda's store is perfect for changing up your cooking and eating routines and adding a little variety in your life. I find her jackfruit and mangoes to be more fresh than what's in any grocery store. And while I came for the variety of fruit, I stayed for her awesome social media content. Bring your kids and have them pick out their own fruits — my kids love doing this!
Try it: Linda's Tropical Fruits
There's more!
Check out the full list of Foodie Friday recommendations:
About APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Beginning in 2021, Asia Society Texas has celebrated Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with the Houston community and beyond through a curated calendar of events for 31 ways to celebrate over the 31 days of May. Spotlighting the traditions, talents, and contributions of Asians and Asian Americans, the calendar highlights the month's key Asia Society programming, providing a platform to showcase local artists, performers, educators, and leaders who contribute to the vibrant, multicultural tapestry of Houston while also featuring staff recommendations for our favorite music, books, movies, and more by Asian and Asian American creatives.
At Asia Society Texas, APAH Month is an opportunity to celebrate and honor Asians and Asian Americans and to uplift their stories to a broader audience as part of our goal to inspire our larger community to better understand one another through culture, conversation, and connection. For information about sponsoring APAH Month and other projects like this one, please contact Saleena Jafry at [email protected] or 713.496.9939.
Presenting Sponsor of APAH Month at Asia Society Texas
Sponsors of APAH Month
Comcast
Womble Bond Dickinson (US) LLP
Media Sponsor
APAH Month 2024 Calendar
Digital Calendar Interactive/Printable PDF
Past APAH Month Calendars
2023: Highlights | Details
2022: Highlights | Details
2021: Details
About Asia Society Texas
Asia Society Texas believes in the strength and beauty of diverse perspectives and people. As an educational institution, we advance cultural exchange by celebrating the vibrant diversity of Asia, inspiring empathy, and fostering a better understanding of our interconnected world. Spanning the fields of arts, business, culture, education, and policy, our programming is rooted in the educational and cultural development of our community — trusting in the power of art, dialogue, and ideas to combat bias and build a more inclusive society.
Asia in Your Inbox
Upcoming at Asia Society Texas
7 - 8 p.m.
11 a.m. - 12 p.m.
2 - 3:30 p.m.
6 - 8 p.m.