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When I moved to Gainesville four and a half years ago, I never expected that it would be the vegan-friendly paradise that it is. Although there are no 100% vegan restaurants — somebody please correct me if I’m wrong — most restaurants offer vegan options. We also have two local tempeh manufacturers, Jose’s Tempeh and Artie’s Tempeh. As a result, you can find tempeh dishes at many Gainesville restaurants.

Below is a list of my 12 favorite vegan meals at Gainesville restaurants, in no particular order. Warning: Tempeh haters may find this list somewhat unappetizing.

1. Curry Tempeh @ The Reggae Shack
   When I take friends to Reggae Shack, arguably my favorite Gainesville restaurant, I always recommend the curry tempeh. Reggae Shack has just about as many vegan options as non-vegan ones, with something like ten vegan entrees, four vegan sandwiches, and vegan appetizers like veggie patties, festivals and dutty fries. Don’t forget vegan smoothies and vegan carrot cake — my stomach is growling just from thinking about it.
2. Tempeh Burrito @ El Indio
   Lettuce, tomatoes, guacamole and deep-fried tempeh perfectly wrapped in a large tortilla. One complaint I have about El Indio is the amount of paper and packaging they waste. The burrito is wrapped in aluminum foil and placed in a paper bag, which is then placed in a plastic bag along with way more napkins than you need. Otherwise, recommended. Warning: The tempeh burrito contains dairy by default, so be sure to ask for it vegan.
3. Orange Tofu @ Saigon Legend
   You know Orange Chicken? This is the same thing but with tofu instead, and a bunch of stir-fried veggies, served over rice. Saigon Legend, a Vietnamese place on University Ave between 13th and 12th, has good, cheap food and a kind staff.
4. Mongolian “Chicken” @ Merlion Singapore Cuisine
   Merlion, on south 13th street, has an entire five- or six-page vegan menu complete with faux meats galore. It’s hard to pick just one item, but I love the Mongolian “Chicken” (for onion lovers only!). Recommended appetizers: Avocado Vegetarian Soup and Veggie Chicken Satay.
5. Sunshine Sandwich @ Flaco’s Cuban Bakery
   Drunk and hungry after the bars close downtown? Stop by Flaco’s and order a vegan Sunshine Sandwich. Carrots, onions, peas, olives, mustard — and some other stuff I don’t remember because I’m not usually “at my best” when I go there — on some delicious bread and pressed to perfection. Warning: The Sunshine contains dairy by default, so be sure to ask for it vegan.
6. Raw & Vegan Night @ The Jones Eastside on Tuesdays
   My friend and outstanding chef Krishna Mali works at The Jones, and he has pioneered vegan and raw specials on Tuesday nights. Highlights include: “Raw-gout” raw spaghetti and Sesame Tempeh. According to what a waiter recently told me, raw chocolate avocado pie may be coming soon.
7. $2 Tempeh Burgers @ Mother’s Pub & Grill on Wednesdays
   Go to Mother’s Pub on Wednesdays from 3 to 9 and get a deep-fried tempeh pattie on a bun with a Miller High Life or Narragansett (21-oz.) for a total of three dollars. Add a side of tater tots for 50 cents. What a deal!
8. Tempeh Fried Rice @ Steamers
   Steamers is a hole-in-the-wall a couple blocks north of UF campus. When I go I usually get the Tempeh Fried Rice (ask for no eggs) and eat it outside on the plastic picnic benches. Large portion size. Warning: The tempeh fried rice contains eggs by default, so ask for it vegan.
9. Nori-Wrapped Tempeh Tacos @ The Top on Tuesdays
   Tuesday is Taco Tuesdays at The Top. As with most of the food at The Top, the nori-wrapped tempeh tacos are magnificent.
10. Vegan Benedict @ The Top brunch on Sundays from 11am to 2pm
    Hungover from Saturday night? Visit The Top for Sunday brunch and get yourself one of these babies. Fried tofu, lettuce and tomatoes over a biscuit, topped with a vegan cheese sauce and served with a side of homefries.

    I’ll let this photo do the rest of the talking:

    

11. Tofu Quiche @ Book Lover’s Cafe
    Book Lover’s Cafe is the only vegetarian restaurant in Gainesville. It’s situated inside Books Inc., a used bookstore that’s also worth checking out. The Tofu Quiche is a good, lunch-sized portion that comes with your choice of soup and a slice of bread. Go support them, I hear business is rough for them these days, and I would hate to see Gainesville’s only all-vegetarian restaurant disappear!
12. Krishna Lunch @ UF Plaza of the Americas from 11am to 1:30pm
    This one is not a restaurant, but it may as well be! I spent practically every lunch break of my college career sitting in the grass across from the University of Florida’s Library West enjoying a $4 plate (with free seconds) of Krishna Lunch with friends. Serving students on campus since 1970, the local Hare Krishnas know how to cook a great meal — my favorites are the curry chickpea dish on Tuesdays and chili on Fridays.

Don’t forget dessert:

• Vegan Ice Cream @ Karma Cream
  Karma Cream is an organic ice cream cafe on University Ave, featuring about 12 vegan ice cream flavors, which you can combine in whatever way you’d like in a cup, cone, shake, sundae, over a vegan cookie or brownie, or even in a coffee or beer float! Also sold at Karma Cream: vegan cupcakes, organic beer, coffee and tea and organic dairy ice cream.