Stumptown Vegans

Date: July 6, 2007
Times Visited: Too many to count

Some may say it’s not authentic, some may say it’s too greasy; we say screw you- it’s fantastic!

We’ve been crazy about Vege Thai since the first time we tried it. Recently, their somewhat short-lived food cart closed downtown, so we’ve been making a point to visit the restaurant on SE Hawthorne Blvd. once again. With affordable prices ($6.95-$9.95 dinner entrees), a very friendly owner and the protein options of tofu, veggie beef pepper steak, chicken and shrimp, Vege Thai has earned its place in our stomachs and hearts. The versatile menu includes curries, soups, noodle dishes, vegetable and rice dishes,
addictive appetizers, thai iced coffees and more.

Please note that some fake meats are available vegetarian and vegan, so vegan must be specified. The kitchen is quite accommodating, with only the Gai todd, half a soy chicken, unable to be replaced with a vegan substitute this particular night. My favorite meal items are the pad see u, pad thai supreme and the yellow pineapple curry. I couldn’t get enough of their sweet pad thai when I first moved to town, but I’m glad I started exploring their other options. In general, meal portions are large so you’ll have a meal for tommorow, and going with a group and sharing plates (especially the appetizer sampler) is a delicious time. JD

I think the most important thing to remember when eating at Vege Thai is that the food is not entirely Thai or Chinese. It must be a mixture in between called fantastic!

Try the sampler as an appraiser to start, it’s a great way to try as many things as possible. I always suggest the pad thai supreme, which is similar to pad thai with peanut sauce on top. My other favorites include the cashew chicken and the glass noodles with garlic. Try the thai iced tea or coffee. Sometime they use coconut milk instead of soy creamer and it makes for a wonderfully smooth drink. -WB

Go there again and again and pester them about re-opening the lunch cart!

Chicken Nuggets

Fried Tofu

The Sampler:

Fried Rice


Glass Noodles with Garlic

Lunch special soup

Yellow Pineapple Curry with soy chicken

Yellow Pineapple Curry with tofu

Pineapple Fried Rice

Pad See Ew with Beef Pepper Steak

Pad See Ew with Soy Chicken:

Pad Thai with tofu:

Pumpkin Curry:

Beef Broccoli:

Pra Ram:

Rating: 5 out of 5
Location: 3272 SE Hawthorne Blvd Portland, OR 97214
Hours: Monday – Friday 11:30 am – 3:00 pm, 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Saturday – Sunday 12:00 am – 9:00 pm