Seattle Scores Spot on ‘Top 10 Vegan-Friendly Cities’ List

Compassionate People Looking for Vegan Eating Find Delicious Wizardry in Emerald City

For Immediate Release:
April 18, 2016

Contact:
Lakisha Ridley 202-483-7382

It’s raining cats and veggie hot dogs in Seattle, as PETA has placed the city on its Top 10 Most Vegan-Friendly Cities list for the second time—this year at number nine. Paul McCartney kicked off the awards by presenting top honors to Pacific Northwest neighbor Portland, Oregon (photo available here).

“Seattle’s vegan cuisine covers every craving, from country-fried steak and cinnamon rolls to creamy Caesar salad and chicken calzones, all 100 percent meat-free,” says PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “PETA is showering praise on this rainy metropolis for its cruelty-free fare that satisfies bellies, saves the environment, and spares animals suffering.”

Seattle’s high density of vegan and vegan-friendly dining—accounting for roughly one in seven restaurants, according to Yelp—may soon make the birthplace of grunge music better known for fennel than flannel. The city’s University District has been called one of the most vegan-friendly neighborhoods in North America, thanks to standouts such as Pizza Pi—the nation’s first vegan pizzeria—and Wayward Vegan Café, which serves plant-based twists on classic comfort foods like fluffy pancakes, flaky biscuits with gooey gravy, and thick French toast.

Zagat-rated Plum Bistro is among the country’s best vegan spots, featuring organic dishes like pesto grilled cheese and sweet and spicy General Tso’s cauliflower, plus creative cocktails like the Fireside, a velvety mix of bourbon steamed with soymilk and cinnamon. Also top-notch is 701 Coffee, which boasts vegan treats like chewy croissants, decadent sticky buns, and bagels with rich cashew spreads. Vegan hot dog cart Cycle Dogs has spicy-sweet maple sausage sliders and a variety of hearty franks, while Thrive Café offers raw gluten-free bites and juices—including its refreshing Coconutty smoothie. Seattle is also home to Vegan Haven, a full vegan grocery store run by animal refuge Pigs Peace Sanctuary.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat”—rounds out the list with Los Angeles, New York, Detroit, Nashville, San Diego, and Honolulu, as well as Austin, Texas, and Richmond, Virginia.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.