Soup

Your guide to eating out from a vegetarian who doesn’t want to cook.

Soup. One of the trickiest meals to order when you are a vegetarian. You would think you simply need to avoid anything with chicken, beef, pork, or seafood in the name, and you are set. Unfortunately this isn’t the case. Restaurants regularly use chicken or beef stock in what should be vegetarian-safe soups. Watch out for the local beer cheese soup or butternut squash bisque, as they likely contain chicken broth. This is a shame, because using vegetable broth wouldn’t significantly change the flavor, and would allow more people to enjoy them. The only way to be sure is to ask your server, which is something I do every time I order soup. They may have to run back and ask the chef, but whether your vegetarianism is for health, animal welfare, religious or other reasons, you should do it right.

The Mule

Always vegetarian-friendly, the Mule’s delicious tomato soup is vegetarian. Their soup isn’t the overly sweet tomato soup other places may serve. It is savory, super tasty, and on the menu every day. The Mule also does a daily soup that changes. One regular in the rotation is their black bean soup. This is a vegetarian soup, and is pureed with a little bit of spice. The black bean soup is a satisfying meal on its own or great as a side.
> 1630 North Blackwelder Avenue, OKC

Paseo Grill

If you have not had the opportunity to try Paseo Grill’s cream of mushroom soup, you are truly missing out. This is the best mushroom soup I’ve tried in Oklahoma, and probably rivals what you can get anywhere. It is of course, vegetarian. This soup is creamy, and includes button mushrooms and port salut cheese on top. It is one of the musttry dishes in all of OKC.
> 2909 Unit A Paseo, Oklahoma City

Goro Ramen

Most ramen places have a vegan option, and Goro’s is fantastic. It is filled with ramen noodles, tofu, mushrooms, tomatoes, fried shallots, and negi (Japanese onion). Their vegan option is called yasai ramen, and is very flavorful. I suggest ordering it with a chili bomb on the side, for some added heat. You can add a little to test it out, or dump it all in for a deliciously spicy and filling meal.
> 1634 North Blackwelder Avenue #102, Oklahoma City

The Jones Assembly

One of my new favorite vegetarian soups in the metro is the butternut squash soup at The Jones Assembly. It has a delicate blend of spices cooked with onion and celery, and is topped with creme fraiche, pear, and spiced pepitas. Light and flavorful, this soup is perfect for lunch.
> 901 West Sheridan Avenue, Oklahoma City