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.
30 Reviews
First Review by xsamx
philjdomm
Points +945
Big As... - Edit
Maybe cause I ordered a gluten dish, I felt guilty and most sauces are high in sodium to make up for the bland taste.
Read moreLetst hope there's no msg...
Pros: Outside Seating, Heating Outdoors, Self Takeout
Cons: Busy
Guest
DM
Points +164
Big on portions, variety, AND flavor - Edit
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!
Read moreGuest
Seahorsea
Points +132
Filling and pretty good - Edit
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.....
Read moreSome 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
Guest
StanleyJones
Points +20
Don't go out of your way - Edit
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!
Read moreGuest
Lski48
Points +55
Amazing! - Edit
I love everything in this place. Especially the desserts.
Read moreThe place gives you the atmosphere of a luxurious restaurant at affordable prices.
Guest
AshleyLorden
Points +1237
Favorite American comfort food - Edit
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.
Read moreThe 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
Guest
sgoodmanesq
Points +56
Good burgers and fries - Edit
Very good house made veggie burger. Desserts are good too.
Read moreGuest
passedout
Points +300
Great Food, Great Experience - Edit
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.
Read moreThe 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
Guest
AlanC
Points +81
Full hand - Edit
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.
Read morePros: Large portions, Tasty food, Upbeat helpful staff
Cons: None
Guest
TiffanyRobin
Points +32
Great Comfort Food. - Edit
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.
Read morePros: Friendly Staff, Great Comfort Food
Cons: None
Guest
diva
Points +71
Best thing is the sweets - Edit
The sandwiches and desserts are the reasons to go here.
Read moreThe 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
Guest
Blondies
Points +119
Worth a second visit...? - Edit
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.
Read morePros: Friendly, helpful staff, good food, interesting options
Cons: Atmosphere lacked warmth
Guest
pipistrella
Points +28
good food. - Edit
+ great variety of dishes
Read more+ good food
- place is not very cozy
Guest
·X·
Points +17478
Source - Edit
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.
Read moreHowever, 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!
Guest
vegangrrrl
Points +43
desserts! - Edit
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.
Read moreAlso creamy fondue appetizer is super delicious as well.
Pros: dessert, extensive menu, good apps
Cons: some dishes bland
Guest
eatinggreen
Points +608
Health + food for people ignorant of both - Edit
We're high raw vegetarians and unfortunately this place missed the mark by a long way.
Read moreThe 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.
Guest
shelly
Points +293
Great for those with allergies - Edit
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.
Read moreThis 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
Guest
Sarah_
Points +36
Worst veg meal I've had in SF - Edit
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.
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Tuesday August 28, 2012
Pros: parking
Cons: invasive service, bad food, unpleasant experience
Guest
rvasquez
Points +243
Yes, yes, yes! - Edit
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!
Read morePros: great variety, great food, vegan desserts
Guest
soleste
Points +46
Vegans and Non Vegans will LLOOVVEE The Source! - Edit
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.
Read moreGuest
Chia
Points +3635
Yummy Mac n Cheese - Edit
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.
Read moreThe 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).
Guest
jegraef
Points +70
YAY! - Edit
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.
Read morePros: superb tastes, good value, friendly staff
Cons: some dishes too greasy
Guest
avegbee
Points +28
Vegan Spinach Dip FTW - Edit
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.
Read moreIn 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
Guest
fondducoeur
Points +1167
Excellent Vegan Food - Edit
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.
Read moreAs 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
Guest
ashwinn
Points +767
Great all around spot - Edit
Awesome appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks.
Read moreI 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
Guest
Shona
Points +28
Delicious! - Edit
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.
Read morePros: Good service, Friendly staff, Great parking
Guest
Ajolote
Points +1327
Cool place, big portions, excelent service! - Edit
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!
Read moreWe 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
Guest
For Members
Why was my review removed? Guidelines for writing a review View our privacy policyFor Business Owners
Claim this business See inaccurate information? Submit an update here Link to this page from your site See an unfair review? View full terms & conditionsThis page has been viewed 15462 times.