• Coffee is the product that is leading the fair trade movement.coffee in coffee image by Maria Brzostowska from Fotolia.com
  
  San Francisco is heaven for vegetarians, as there are many restaurants that cater to them. Asian themed restaurants do brisk trade in mock meats like tofu and tempeh, but they are certainly not the only option. The "fair trade" movement, in which producers are paid a living wage in exchange for their goods, are making inroads in California, too.
  
  

Cafe Gratitude

• According to this socially conscious restaurant/cafe: "We support local farmers, sustainable agriculture and environmentally friendly products." They serve fair trade beverages alongside vegetarian and vegan dishes. One typical dish is the "I am satisfied" salad with beets, avocado, olives, flax seed and almonds.
  
  2400 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94110
  
  (415) 830-3014
  
  cafegratitude.com
  
  

Herbivore the Earthly Grill

• This grill serves massive helpings of vegetarian and vegan food in a spare, modern dining room. Menu choices include a breakfast burrito, curried vegetables with tofu, lentil loaf, and a grilled portabello mushroom over polenta. They serve exclusively fair trade coffee and tea.
  
  983 Valencia Street, San Francisco, CA 94110-2320
  
  (415) 826-5657
  
  herbivorerestaurant.com
  
  

Cha Ya Vegetarian Japanese

• This Asian restaurant uses meat substitutes like tofu in traditional dishes. They also make a huge range of inventive vegetable based tofu. They serve a small range of organic, fair trade teas and coffees. There is also an outlet in Berkeley, California.
  
  762 Valencia Street, San Francisco,
  
  CA 94110-1735
  
  (415) 252-7825
  
  

Loving Hut

• Most vegetarian restaurants are clustered around the Mission and Castro districts, but not so this Chinatown outpost with meat-free Asian food. The loving hut decor is cutesy, with off-white walls with pink accents. The food is strictly vegan, and accompanied by various fair trade beverages. A favorite is the fried banana and vegan ice cream dessert.
  
  Loving Hut
  
  1365 Stockton Street, San Francisco, CA 94133
  
  (415) 362-2199
  
  lovinghut.us
  
  

Gracias Madre

• This restaurant does vegetarian, all-organic takes on traditional Mexican food relying on combinations of spice, tomatoes, corn and beans. One favorite is escabeche, or pickled vegetables. The dining room can be loud, but service is fast and cheerful and the communal tables encourage conversation.
  
  Gracias Madre
  
  2211 Mission Street, San Francisco,
  
  CA 94110-1811
  
  (415) 683-1346
  
  gracias-madre.com
  
  

New Ganges Restaurant

• This homely little restaurant on the edge of the Golden Gate Park may not be chic, but it does serve excellent vegetarian Indian cuisine. The chapatis and eggplant curries come especially recommended. They are proud not to have a freezer on the premises--everything is made fresh.
  
  New Ganges Restaurant
  
  775 Frederick Street
  
  San Francisco, CA 94117
  
  (415) 681-4355
  
  newganges.com