The main question behind a great veggie burger is not "does it taste like meat?" Tasting like meat is inconsequential. The question is, simply, is it delicious? Bonus points if it doesn't fall completely apart as one eats it — that helps too. With this in mind, Eater has tracked down some of the best vegetarian and vegan patties around DC, from quinoa to portobello to tempeh. So here now is a list of 18 veggie burgers in the Washington area that definitely can compete with meat.
— Adele Chapin
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Eater's Veggie Burger Guide: Where to Avoid Meat NOW

Elevation Burger
There are two veggie burger patties option on the menu at Elevation Burger (multiple locations), both with boring names. Vegans, go for the chain’s Veggie Burger #2 for a burger packed with veggies, while Veggie Burger #1 is the option with cheese.
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Galaxy Hut
Last year, Galaxy Hut’s menu switched over to become almost entirely vegetarian. The burger at the Clarendon indie mainstay is a vegan patty, with topping options like vegan bacon, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms, vegan cheese, and regular cheese.
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Juice Joint Cafe
This K Street-adjacent cafe is a favorite of office workers looking for a healthier lunch, with a menu that includes a veggie burger that includes black beans, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts, roasted red peppers, goat cheese, and basil pesto.
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Commissary
Quinoa is the binder for The Commissary’s behemoth veggie and mixed bean burger. Upgrade with toppings like sprouts, avocado, goat cheese, and caramelized onions.
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Smoke & Barrel
One might not guess this by the restaurant’s name, but Smoke & Barrel in Adams Morgan is a big hit with the vegetarian community, carrying on the legacy of the former Asylum. The Adams Morgan restaurant’s burger offering is a patty made from sweet potatoes, oats, and toasted pecans.
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Teaism
Grilled tempeh is what Teaism (multiple locations) opts for in their veggie burger. It’s organic, of course, with lemon maple accents, and the burger is served on whole grain focaccia along with tomato and marinated portobello mushroom.
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Busboys and Poets
The house-made vegan burger patty at Busboys and Poets (multiple locations) is served with avocado, tomato, and arugula on a wheat bun.
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Vinoteca Wine Bar & Bistro
The portobello burger on Vinoteca’s bar menu can be dressed up with sauces like basil aioli and spicy ancho chili mayo.
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BGR - The Burger Joint
BGR’s (multiple locations) house-made veggie burger is majorly sweet, thanks to the patty’s concoction of molasses, oats, brown rice, and black beans, but it has its fans.
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Shake Shack
The fried portobello mushroom “burger” portion of Shake Shack’s ‘Shroom Burger is basically a delivery vehicle for a giant, indulgent glob of muenster and cheddar cheese.
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Science Club
Science Club’s beloved, house-made vegan burger was crowned “DC’s Best Veggie Burger” during Eater DC’s Veggie Burger Power Hour in 2011.
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Cause - The PhilanthroPub
Obviously a bar called the Philanthropub would have multiple veggie burgers. The ‘Shroom and Oat Burger is topped with three-onion jam and mustard aioli, while the Quentil Burger is a mashup of quinoa and lentils, topped with cucumber, harissa, mint, greek yogurt, and feta.
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The Brookland Cafe
The menu at Brookland Cafe caters to vegans, and their veggie burger does too — it’s made with carrots, potatoes, and beets.
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Bourbon Steak Washington DC
Meat is the star at Bourbon Steak, but the Georgetown restaurant takes particular care with their veggie burger too, with a crispy, savory patty made from quinoa, red beans, and mushrooms.
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Del Ray Cafe
The organic veggie burger at Del Ray Cafe is vegetable-heavy, with extras like caramelized shallots and shiitake mushrooms that take it to another level.
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Ted's Bulletin
The veggie burgers at Ted’s Bulletin are black bean-based, and can be substituted for any burger on the menu, but make a great match with the Southwest (West Virginia) burger toppings: green chile sauce, white cheddar, avocado, and roasted red pepper.
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The Counter
It’s way out in Reston, but California-based chain The Counter’s vegan veggie patty with a bazillion topping options might be worth a pilgrimage.
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Burger Tap & Shake (BTS)
The crunchy, house-made patty in BTS’s Haight-Ashbury is a burger/falafel crossover. Whatever you call it, the thing is addictive, served in a fresh baked bun with tangy pickled vegetables, feta, and cilantro raita sauce on top.
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