An open letter to Portland, Oregon restaurants

Mushrooms Are Not Protein.

We love a good portobello as much as the next Portlander. But please, stop putting one on a bun and calling it the vegan entrée.

See real protein alternatives

The quick facts

~3g

Protein in a cup of cooked mushrooms.

~20g

Protein in a cup of cooked lentils. About 7x more.

92%

Of a mushroom is water. Tasty, but not a protein source.

Mushrooms are a fungus. They bring umami, texture, and joy to a plate. They are not a substitute for a protein on a vegan menu.

Real vegan protein options

All easy to source in Portland. All deliver actual protein. All taste great when you season them like you mean it.

Tofu

~20g protein per cup

Press it, marinate it, fry it crispy, grill it, crumble it into a scramble. A blank canvas that takes on any flavor.

Tempeh

~31g protein per cup

Fermented soy with a nutty bite. Steam to mellow, then glaze with shoyu, miso, or BBQ. Made locally in the PNW.

Seitan

~25g protein per 100g

Wheat-based, chewy, meaty. Perfect for sandwiches, stir-fries, and anywhere you'd reach for a steak strip.

Lentils

~18g protein per cup

French green, black beluga, red, brown. Stews, ragùs, lentil walnut "meat" for tacos and pasta.

Chickpeas

~15g protein per cup

Roasted, smashed, curried, fried into falafel, blended into hummus. A workhorse on any menu.

Black & Pinto Beans

~15g protein per cup

Slow-cooked with aromatics, refried, folded into chili. Nearly free, deeply satisfying.

Edamame

~17g protein per cup

Whole young soybeans. Toss into bowls, salads, and noodle dishes for a fresh, green protein punch.

TVP & Soy Curls

~12g protein per ½ cup dry

Rehydrate in broth, then crisp. Excellent ground "meat" for tacos, bolognese, and shawarma plates.

Jackfruit + Beans

Pair for ~15g+ protein

Jackfruit alone is low protein, but paired with beans or lentils it makes a hearty, pulled-style entrée.

For Portland restaurants

Our city has more vegans per capita than almost anywhere in the country. We are also home to incredible producers like Ota Tofu and Squirrel & Crow tempeh. You don't need to fly anything in.

A mushroom can be on the plate. Just don't make it the whole plate.