• CLOSED: Source

  • (30)
    10

    Closed

  • White Vegetarian
Vegan-friendly
Lacto
American
International
Organic
Beer/Wine
Delivery
Take-out
Fusion

Menu showcases mainstream international and American comfort vegetarian and vegan food prepared using seasonal ingredients. Its very varied menu features a range of veggie burgers and sandwiches in pita pockets, raw salads, casseroles, dosas, pizzas, exilirs, tea tonics, and an assortment of vegan desserts (often including vegan twinkies). Order at the counter, the food is prepared in an open kitchen then brought to your table. JAN 2015 THIS OUTLET SHUT, CONFIRMED.


Venue map for Source
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30 Reviews

First Review by xsamx

philjdomm

Points +945

Vegan
19 Oct 2014

Big As...

Maybe cause I ordered a gluten dish, I felt guilty and most sauces are high in sodium to make up for the bland taste.
Letst hope there's no msg...

Pros: Outside Seating, Heating Outdoors, Self Takeout

Cons: Busy

DM

Points +164

Vegan
15 Sep 2014

Big on portions, variety, AND flavor

Huge portions, huge selection, everything tastes great. Vegan cashew artichoke fondue is amazing. Even if you're sick of veggie burgers, Source's is unlike any you've had before. Buffalo bites and chili fries are also great. A MUST DO for locals and visiting.veg*ns alike!

Seahorsea

Points +132

Vegan
18 Jun 2014

Filling and pretty good

Source is pretty good. It's not usually the place that totally interests me- standard American fare, made vegetarian or vegan. A lot of sandwiches, veggie burgers and pizzas. That said, we had a Dosadilla and it was good. It was the squash and mushroom one. The portion was quite huge and I don't think I could have eaten it all by myself. The chutney left something to be desired, but I am a chutney snob and make my own dosa and chutneys, so, ya know.....
Some of the other dosas looked good, but had a lot of soy based fake meat which I am not a fan of. IThere was one with avocado on top which I felt a bit envious of! Looking at the dishes coming up form the kitchen, it seemed like everything was huge, and very bready. But the salads also looked quite fresh and nice.

The live tacos were very tasty but disappointing, because they were very sparse. Just lettuce leaves with a light sprinkling of some kind of almond topping and a drizzle of cashew cheese. The flavour of it was wonderful, and it was nice to eat, but it could have been way better with some veggies, avocado, salsa, ect. It's very basic, it's an appetizer so I guess that it is supposed to be quite simple? Just quite a huge contrast to their other huge portions.

I took a strawberry cheesecake to go and the portion is very generous, compared to raw desserts at other places. It was delicious, but a bit too sweet. I like when the filling is a bit more tart because it balances out the sweetness of the date crust.

Pros: big portions, dosas, dessert

Cons: not a very cozy atmosphere, too much bread, raw foods need a little more work

StanleyJones

Points +20

Vegan
12 Jan 2014

Don't go out of your way

No atmosphere. Portions way too huge. Too spendy. No beer or wine. My one-person pizza would feed three. The plates aren't big enough to hold all the food. Our 2 person lunch was almost $40. Plus, it's next door to a furrier!

Lski48

Points +55

Vegan
07 Dec 2013

Amazing!

I love everything in this place. Especially the desserts.
The place gives you the atmosphere of a luxurious restaurant at affordable prices.

AshleyLorden

Points +1237

Vegan
22 Oct 2013

Favorite American comfort food

Source is definitely in the running for top vegan food in SF, and the best vegan classic American food anywhere. The entrees can be hit or miss, so stick to the tried-and-true classics: burgers, sandwiches, nacho fries, pizza.

The great:
Heated outdoor patio so you can bring your dog
They make their own fresh bread so it's a highlight
Homemade cashew cheese too, yum!
They serve dairy but everything can be made vegan
They now have beer and wine too

The otherwise:
You order at the counter, then sit for waiter service of your food, a little odd
The desserts are all VERY sweet
The food is quite heavy, you will be FULL
You're paying for quality so it's not cheap (~$30 dinner for 2 without drinks)

They don't offer delivery but you can call ahead for takeout. It's one of my favorite restaurants and a don't-miss for visiting veg*ns!

Pros: You can order anything vegan, Dishes you can't find anywhere else, Housemade bread and nut cheese

Cons: Sometimes stand in line to order

sgoodmanesq

Points +56

Vegan
10 Oct 2013

Good burgers and fries

Very good house made veggie burger. Desserts are good too.

passedout

Points +300

Vegan
16 Jul 2013

Great Food, Great Experience

Upon reading the other reviews I was surprised at what a bad experience people had here. When we went the owner was no where to be found and the staff were all completely friendly.

The burgers are the highlight here. Large portions, great taste and well made. I usually don't get a veggie burger because you can get them anywhere, but SOURCE has made the best burger I've ever had.

This place is a most for me whenever I'm visiting San Francisco.

Pros: Good Food, Good Service

AlanC

Points +81

Vegetarian
14 Jul 2013

Full hand

The portions are big, the food is very tasty, and the staff are very nice. The awesome burger tastes almost like a real hamburger. The vegan moussaka lacked the proper amount of cheese. Smoothies are like shakes.

Pros: Large portions, Tasty food, Upbeat helpful staff

Cons: None

TiffanyRobin

Points +32

Vegan
15 Jun 2013

Great Comfort Food.

Source was our first stop once we landed in San Francisco for vacation. My husband and I loved the comfort food for a treat. I had the pizza burger (which is available vegan), and my husband had the country shepherd’s pie. I have to admit, I stole my fair share of my husband’s shepherd’s pie. It was delicious and the portions were huge. I would definitely go back again.

Pros: Friendly Staff, Great Comfort Food

Cons: None

diva

Points +71

Vegan
15 Jun 2013

Best thing is the sweets

The sandwiches and desserts are the reasons to go here.
The rice dishes are really bad.
The salads are good, but I recommend asking for light dressing because they overwhelm the greens with oily dressings. Even when the dressings are good, they put way too much on them.
The drinks are overpriced and really not worth it.
The coffee often comes out cold. The servers are nice though and will make a fresh pot.
All the desserts are really good, some are too sweet, but I like that.

I agree with all the posts that say the owner is overwhelming. The first time we came here, it was at night and he was sitting with customers- jumping from table to table. We were really worried that he would sit with us. He is overbearing and it is off putting. We waiting almost 8 months before we braved going back and we only lived 5 blocks away. The vegan Twinkies were the reason we braved going back. We have yet to run into him again, but we only go during the day.

Overall I recommend the place, but go during the day.
Updated from previous review on Friday June 14, 2013

Pros: The bread is amazing, The vegan desserts, The salads are good

Cons: The owner is over bearing , The drinks are gross, The rice dishes are also not good

Blondies

Points +119

Vegan
03 Mar 2013

Worth a second visit...?

My husband had the burger and I had the falafel. His was very good! Mine was okay. I really wanted to love Source, but found my experience uneventful. The food was good in a reliable sort of way. The restaurant lacked warmth and was a bit cold and hard feeling on the inside. The staff however, were very friendly and helpful. I think I will need to go back to form a firmer impression of this place. I left with mixed feelings.

Pros: Friendly, helpful staff, good food, interesting options

Cons: Atmosphere lacked warmth

pipistrella

Points +28

Vegan
20 Jan 2013

good food.

+ great variety of dishes
+ good food
- place is not very cozy

·X·

Points +17478

Vegan
11 Jan 2013

Source

I think I ordered the wrong entree, the truffle mac 'n' cheese - it was too rich and the flavoring was off. I couldn't really taste the truffle either, and the dish tasted like a strange chemical that I cannot put my finger on.

However, Source redeemed themselves with dessert. The chocolate covered twinkies (they called them something else) were out of this world. I was hoping to make it back to pick up more, but I did not make it...darn! I assure you that I'll be heading back here for more twinkies during my next visit, because they're that great. You should try them too!

vegangrrrl

Points +43

Vegan
02 Jan 2013

desserts!

the desserts are beyond description. must have! honestly, they sounded exciting from when Source first opened but at the beginning were very disappointing--dry and flavorless. At some point they must have changed recipes or hired a new baker because suddenly they are moist, creamy and delicious. I was really afraid to even try them again after the first time but thought well its been some time, maybe something has changed. So glad I did. GO THERE NOW.

Also creamy fondue appetizer is super delicious as well.

Pros: dessert, extensive menu, good apps

Cons: some dishes bland

eatinggreen

Points +608

Vegan
29 Dec 2012

Health + food for people ignorant of both

We're high raw vegetarians and unfortunately this place missed the mark by a long way.

The ambience feels like a slightly dilapidated and faintly grotty American diner (well it did to us but we're not American so the locals may not agree), staffed by heavily tatooed hispanic immigrants who are cold, unfriendly and largely disinterested. Certainly not the upbeat, energized and enlightened vibe you should get from the kind of place they are trying to be.

The menu is an eclectic mix of various international cuisines, but they fail to pull of any of them. We had a vegetable fondue for appetisers which was oily, heavy and pretty tasteless. For entrees we had a Source Salad which was heavy, way over flavoured and smelt like someone's armpits (too much cumin), together with a noodle dish called dan dan which was totally inedible - the sparsely portioned noodles were dreadfully overcooked, as were the colourless veges on top.. and this is not to mention the flavouring, which was the worst we've encountered in a restaurant in a long time - a very far cry from the Asian tan tan noodles we assume they were trying to be. One mouthful was the most either of us could manage.

The best thing we had was the 8 vege juice but that was nothing to write home about either really. The elixir drink called esctasy made us both feel sick and even now I feel nauseous and have a massive headache - this is more than 6 hrs later.

Glad to see their vege fare is appealing to a wide audience - in that way I guess they have a place in this world, but it's certainly not a health minded foodie's cup of tea. And if you're a tourist (which we are), it's totally out of the way from anywhere you want to be as well, so definitely not worth the effort.

shelly

Points +293

Vegan
24 Nov 2012

Great for those with allergies

Great veggo find for those with food sensitivities/allergies. While the atmosphere is that of a standard restaurant (read: casual), the quality of food easily rivals (and beats) Green's in Fort Mason. The dishes are seasoned perfectly (minus Indian selections, specifically the dosa) and portions, perfect. First time diners should definitely try the veggie burger and mushroom risotto.
This is the perfect workday lunch establishment for anyone who cares to eat food which is both delicious and nutritious.

Pros: Homestyle cooking, Price, Veggie burger

Cons: Indian dishes

Sarah_

Points +36

Vegan
28 Aug 2012

Worst veg meal I've had in SF

This is the first negative review I've done on Happy Cow, and I wouldn't, except that we not only had a bad meal, but a very bad experience. And I'm surprised by how all the reviews here are 5-star, whereas on Yelp there are some reviews that more closely match our experience. The food was greasy and underseasoned. Our burger was bland, the Moo skewer plate tasting almost entirely of salt. The service was what made it all most unpleasant. The girl who took our order insisted we order her suggestions (we could have said no, but, really, not without actual rudeness), and the owner was almost frighteningly overbearing. He was everywhere in the dining room, sitting with customers or returning repeatedly. With us, he hovered around our table; he asked sharp questions until we said we didn't love the meal. He tasted it, told us it was perfect, and gave us a lecture. I worry that this food and experience could turn off omni friends you bring. I'd give Source one star if Happy Cow allowed lower than two for a veg place.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday August 28, 2012

Pros: parking

Cons: invasive service, bad food, unpleasant experience

rvasquez

Points +243

Vegan
16 Mar 2012

Yes, yes, yes!

This was one of my favorite places I went to while I was in town; we actually ate here twice. Most things can be made vegan. I highly recommend the vegan ceasar salad, and really, everything we ate here was excellent. Definitely give this place a try!

Pros: great variety, great food, vegan desserts

soleste

Points +46

Vegan
04 Feb 2012

Vegans and Non Vegans will LLOOVVEE The Source!

I just had a FABULOUS dinner at The Source: easy parking, great food, excellent service. I was with a carnivore and a fellow vegan and we all left knowing we will come back. The chef is amazing; the menu describes what might lead you to think you will get veg comfort food (burgers, fries, smoothies, etc.) but the food is absolutely gourmet. Check out this place -- you won't be disappointed.

Chia

Points +3635

Vegetarian
23 Dec 2011

Yummy Mac n Cheese

I had read about this place on happycow and decided to eat here on my December 2011 San Francisco trip. Here's my Source review.

The very interesting thing about Source is that its menu is crazily diverse, drawing food inspirations from many different countries. There's the American food (fries, burgers, pizza...), then there's Indian dosas, Thai green curry, Chinese stir frys, Italian pasta, and others. Just below their name signage reads, "a multi dimensional experience" (or something like that), and I get it.

My husband and I shared the vegan mac n cheese, and it was super delicious, like a gourmet mac n cheese! I especially liked that it was made with a in-house-made cashew cheese. So yummy. We also shared the awesome burger, served in a thick and soft pita bread. The patty was a in-house-made patty, slightly charred all around but soft and yummy on the inside. While tasty, the burger was dry. It lacked a sauce, or some pickles, or some more tomatoes... something to give it more juice and take away the overall dryness.

The menu features so many different dishes to try, and I can't wait to return to SF again and try another item (like a pizza or a dosa or a raw salad).

jegraef

Points +70

Vegan
30 Nov 2011

YAY!

Between four of us we were wowed by a dosa, burger and two different pizzas. then we plowed through some intense sweetness with the twinkie, the cheesecake (more of a mousse, really) and something else crazy sweet. While some dishes are unnecessarily greasy (dosa), the flavors are sensational and overall The Source is a wonderful place. Definitely worth the trip from Oakland. The owners are the head chef and his brother who wanders around the room and makes friends. The women who took orders were sharp, fun and very nice. Can't wait to get back and check out more of the diverse and extensive menu.

Pros: superb tastes, good value, friendly staff

Cons: some dishes too greasy

avegbee

Points +28

Vegan
13 Sep 2011

Vegan Spinach Dip FTW

I came here in a hurry for lunch and got Vegan Spinach Dip and a hummus variety platter. My carnivore fiance loved both things... however I was unreasonably overprotective of the Spinach Dip, probably because it was the greatest vegan (non dessert) thing I've ever eaten. It is even better than the non-vegan version, the kind I used to die for at TGIFriday's.
In fact, when we ran out of things to dip in it, (I live across the country, so I didn't care who judged me) I was eating it like it was a thick soup or something, just to make sure I got my money's worth - it was that heavenly.

the menu is great, it ranges from healthy to something to satisfy an intense craving,

Even though it isn't 100% vegan, I'm giving it 5 stars because the cashier told me everything can be made vegan when i was having trouble deciding what to order. With versatility like that, that's 5 stars in my book.

Pros: fast service, everything has a vegan version, VEGAN SPINACH DIP

fondducoeur

Points +1167

Vegan
07 Aug 2011

Excellent Vegan Food

I really enjoyed my trip to Source while I was in SF. The atmosphere is casual, but nice, the menu is creative, and the food is tasty.
As an appetizer, my husband and I tried the buffalo "cluck" which were super tasty. I had the special brick oven pizza of the day, which was delicious. It had roasted potatoes, spinach, and onion, with garlic sauce, with their cashew based cheeses. I loved it and would definitely be trying more of their pizzas if I lived in the area.
My husband got the philly cheese steak, which he thought was good, but nothing spectacular.He did get the gilroy dipping sauce for his fries which was delicious.
All of their desserts are vegan, and I do not suggest visiting Source without trying one. We got a vegan moon pie and a peanut butter cookie topped with jelly frosting to go, and they were both so good.
I definitely want to go back to Source the next time I'm in SF to try out more menu items.

Pros: Creative menu, Tasty food, Awesome desserts

ashwinn

Points +767

Vegetarian
05 Aug 2011

Great all around spot

Awesome appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks.

I believe 80% of the menu is Vegan-friendly, and 100% is Lacto Vegan. No eggs, gelatin, rennet, meat, fish, alcohol in the whole restaurant.

Great quality ingredients, and everything i tasted was yummy (the burger, the mac & cheese, soup, whoopie pie for dessert).

Pros: Huge menu, Fresh ingredients, Service

Shona

Points +28

Vegan
20 Jul 2011

Delicious!

If you loved those marshmellow Sno Balls or Twinkies, you will LOVE Source's vegan versions. Seriously wicked! They taste so much like the real thing that it's sinful. We tried an appetizer and an entree and both were delicious. We were disappointed that we weren't more hungry because the pizza looked awesome. We will definitely go back to enjoy more.

Pros: Good service, Friendly staff, Great parking

Ajolote

Points +1327

Vegan
16 Jul 2011

Cool place, big portions, excelent service!

We had dinner at Source last night. No alcohol, but they have "Elixirs", which taste like distilled flowers- interesting experience. My husband had a delicious orange-vanilla smoothie. Yummy!
We shared the vegan spinach artichoke foundue and were not impressed. It look beautiful, but it was pretty bland. A little salt and more nutritional yeast would have gone a long way.

I had the dosa special stuffed with kale, pumpkin and basmati rice. It wasn't your traditional tubular, crunchy dosa. It was a big crepe stuffed with Indian flavors with a little shredded coconut stuff on top and a green chutney on the side. I reheated the leftovers of my humongous dish this morning and it was still delicious.

My husband's burger was pretty good too.

We shared two super-sugary desserts that tasted like Hostess baked goods. Suggestion to owner: Add a more natural dessert to the menu. Perhaps something fruity? A mousse?

Service was great. The food was at our table very quickly and the manager came by a few times to ask if we needed anything.

The place was funky and comfortable. We stayed for more than 2 hours and nobody cared.

Prices were very reasonable too.

All in all good experience, BUT it's a shame this place serves animal secretions in the food...

Pros: Variety, Ambiance, Service

Cons: Animal secretions, Bland fondue, No alcohol




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