La Fontana Siciliana : At this cozy hideaway in Belltown, you can substitute any pasta with dried spaghetti. Shown: Spaghetti alla Siracusana with eggplant, garlic, capers, black olives, fresh and diced tomatoes, and basil. 120 Blanchard St; (206) 620-2221.
The Metropolitan Grill: An iconic steakhouse is the last place you’d expect to see a vegan item on the menu, but the Met Grill is clutch if you ever find yourself dining with a steak lover. The Vegan Bolognese is a steakhouse-sized bowl (shown: split portion) of penne pasta, smoked eggplant, grilled portobello, garlic confit, plant based meat, and house made marinara sauce. It’s so good, even the non-vegan staff loves it. 820 2nd Ave; (206) 624-3287.
The Pink Door: This crowd favorite Italian eatery in Post Alley always has a seasonal vegan pasta option that’s usually pretty hearty (think artichokes in spring, and sautéed greens and beans in the winter). It isn’t listed on the menu, but just ask your server what their vegan pasta is, and they’ll have that info at the ready. Shown: rigatoni with broccolini, garlic and olive oil. 1919 Post Alley; (206) 443-3241.
Cortina: Ethan Stowell Restaurants are pretty adept at having a vegan option on hand, though you won’t see it listed on the menu. Cortina offers a rich and satisfying campanelle with pesto and piopinni mushrooms that’s quite good. 621 Union St; (206) 736-7888.
Vendemmia: This neighborhood gem has become known for its spaghetti, which is simply dressed in tomatoes, basil, olive oil and chili. The trick seems to be in the technique; the spaghetti is cooked in its own pasta water (which retains the starch), along with the sauce. It’s incredibly creamy and flavorful — and surprisingly vegan! 1126 34th Ave; (206) 466-2533.
Pasta Casalinga: This handmade pasta hot-spot tucked away in the guts of Pike Place Market can usually veganize several of their rotating pastas (which are all eggless!), including the pomodoro, made with either orecchiette (shown) or spaghetti, and topped with classic tomato sauce. Chili oil is an extra $2. Just make sure to ask for it vegan, otherwise you’ll get some butter and parm on your pasta. 93 Pike St #201; (206) 445-2987.
Plum Bistro: We’re going to go on record and say that this popular all plant-based bistro on Capitol Hill has one of the best gnocchi dishes in the city. The Wild Mushroom Ragu with parmesan gnocchi, red wine, and fresh herbs is available for both lunch and dinner. And if you look around the dining room, you’ll likely see more than half the restaurant ordering it. 1429 12th Ave; (206) 838-5333.
Due’ Cucina Italiana: Pasta from a fast-casual restaurant isn’t normally this good. But with a couple of vegan options on its menu, including a list of handmade vegan (classic) pasta shapes, Due’ Cucina manages to hit their pasta out of the park. Shown: Aglio e Olio casarecce with garlic, capers, breadcrumbs, and szechuan peppers, topped with crispy tofu. Multiple locations (shown: Capitol Hill); 412 Broadway E; (206) 208-6670.