Since transitioning from vegetarianism to veganism over a year ago, I've received countless questions on what it's like being vegan in Houston, with the natural assumption that life must be difficult. Usually, though, my answer begins with a personal anecdote explaining that I'm from a very rural Southern town, with only a handful of taquerias and a single Whataburger, so Houston is actually much more accommodating than one might expect! Here is a brief list I complied of my top 10 favorite restaurants in Houston that accommodate (deliciously) for various dietary restrictions and needs:

10. Nam Noodles and More (omnivore friendly)

Rice Village: 2512 Rice Blvd., Houston, Texas 77005

River Oaks: 1915 West Gray St., Suite A, Houston TX 77019

This place makes my list simply because they're a short walk from Rice's campus and they have amazing vegan pho. Look at those tiny mushrooms! Their Vietnamese spring rolls, which are made with super fresh veggies, are also vegan! Since they still offer a wide array of Vietnamese favorites, this is a great place to take friends who aren't so keen on jumping head first into vegetarian/vegan cuisine.

9. San San Tofu (vegetarian/vegan)

6445 Wilcrest Dr., Houston, TX 77072

Rumor has it that the owners of San San Tofu had a Buddhist monk train their kitchen staff. I believe it — eating this food is a spiritual experience! Everything on their expansive cafeteria-style menu is made with tofu as the central ingredient. Even if you're not normally a tofu fan, you have got to give San San's delicacies a chance because this ain't your crazy hippie uncle's tofu. San San Tofu also houses a Vietnamese grocery store, so you can grab some choice Vietnamese snacks on your way out.

8. Doshi House (vegetarian/vegan)

3419 Dowling St., Houston, TX 77004

This cute coffee shoppe/cafe is the perfect study spot for the weekend. Their menu is so diverse: Daily specials range from vegan Jamaican jerk on Thursdays to vegan creole beans (pictured above). If coffee's not your thing, they also have amazing spritzers that are perfect for cooling off after a hot walk around Houston. This place is sure to boost your Houston hipster cred.

7. ZPizza (omnivore friendly)

4010 Bissonnet St., Houston, TX 77005

Yes, what you see before you is vegan pizza. The Berkeley Vegan at ZPizza is a vegan's dream: a pizza with actual melted cheese. Topped with veggie burger crumbles and veggies galore, this pizza could please any number of hungry, drunk, meat-loving friends, and they wouldn't know they were eating vegan. ZPizza also offers gluten-free crust! Their prices (which vary with location) are a bit higher than Pizza Hut or Domino's, but it's worth treating yourself every now and then. They also deliver!

6. Ruggles Green (omnivore friendly)

801 Town and Country Blvd., Houston, TX 77024

Coming soon: 2305 West Alabama, Houston, TX 77098

As Houston's first Green Certified restaurant, Ruggles Green has set itself apart from their cousin restaurant in Rice Village. Everything on their menu is marked according to what's gluten-free, vegetarian, and dairy-free, so it's easy to navigate a number of lifestyles in group dining situations. I'm all about the sweet potato fries, so Ruggles Green easily won me over. It also feels good knowing you're supporting a business that is heavily invested in being environmentally conscious.

5. Sinful Bakery (vegan)

714 Webster St., Houston, TX 77003

Dealers (Includes Rice Coffeehouse)

Okay, so I know a bakery isn't exactly a restaurant, but Sinful Bakery is too good for any vegan (or anyone, for that matter) to miss out on! I'm talking kolaches, muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies ... Let me stop before I drool on my keyboard. They set up shop at a number of farmers markets around town and even sell cookies and granola bars at Rice's student-run business, Rice Coffeehouse. Sinful Bakery is up to something magical with these sweets!

4. Green Vegetarian Cuisine (vegetarian/vegan/Kosher)

6720 Chimney Rock Rd., Houston, TX 77081

Speaking of satisfying your sweet tooth, this San Antonio business has made its way to Houston and brought with it out-of-this-world vegan cupcakes. Be sure to save room for more than just dessert, because their whole menu is to-die-for. Everything they offer is also 100 percent kosher.

3. Baba Yega Cafe (omnivore friendly)

2607 Grant St., Houston, TX 77006

Baba Yega was not voted Houston's Best Brunch for no reason. I'd venture a guess that their mango mimosas (yes, you read that correctly) had something to do with it. I love taking family here because they offer delicious home-cooked foods to please the omnivores and offer an exclusively vegan menu upon request, which includes something called "hippie meatloaf" (pictured above) and irresistible plantain chips.

2. Ripe Cuisine (vegan)

Food Truck (Comes to Rice Farmers Market!)

Ripe offers locally sourced, plant-based vegan food that tastes like it was made in a five-star kitchen — right out of their food truck! They even make cute donuts in creative flavors like orange chia. The food truck culture has gone vegan, and Ripe Cuisine is leading the pack right here in Houston, Texas.

1. Green Seed Vegan (vegan)

4320 Almeda Rd., Houston, TX 77004

Coming in as my No. 1 favorite vegan eatery in Houston is Green Seed Vegan, a family-owned business that offers the freshest, most unique vegan food in all of Houston. I know it's a big claim, but trust me on this one. Their sweet potato fries are seasoned with dill, their cauliflower nuggets come with a finger-licking-good buffalo sauce, and they are (obviously) never stingy on the kale. Look how happy my favorite omnivore was to chow down on an all-vegan meal!

To not only my fellow Houstonian vegans, but also all the meat-heads reading this, I urge you to make your way through my top 10 list and support the growing vegan community in Houston! Your taste buds will thank you!