Top 10 vegetarian restaurants in metro Phoenix

You've finally vowed to stop ransacking your bodily temple. So get started on the new you while it's still bathing-suit season at these 10 Valley restaurants, where you don't have to sacrifice taste on the altar of nutrition.

10. Sage Kitchen

This bright cafe vibrates with good-for-you karma. Organic, meat-free, dairy-free and gluten-free dishes like roasted vegetables enchiladas, quinoa salad, zucchini-kale lasagna and pizza topped with garlic tomatoes, crisped kale and pesto contribute to your well-being.

Details: Town & Country Shopping Center, 4773 N. 20th St., Phoenix. 602-283-1210, sagekitchenphx.com.

9. Persian Garden Cafe

This cute spot shows just how comfortable the Persian kitchen is with vegetables. Look for exotically spiced merza farangee, a mix of grilled eggplant and feta cheese; a spinach-parsley "burger"; and a falafel-dolmeh duo served with white and brown basmati rice topped with saffron-seasoned yogurt and almond-raisin mix. Dessert? Vegan carob-chocolate cheesecake.

Details: 1335 W. Thomas Road, Phoenix. 602-263-1915, persiangardencafe.com.

8. Udupi Cafe

The mostly vegan menu showcases south-Indian delights like dosai, oversize crispy crepes filled with vegetables; fragrant tamarind rice and peanuts; stuffed eggplant in curry sauce; and gobi Manchurian, the best cauliflower dish you ever ate, seasoned with ginger, garlic, chile and soy.

Details: 1636 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe. 480-994-8787, udupicafeaz.com.

7. Nourish

Owner Kirstin Carey is a self-described "problematic" eater. Nourish addresses those concerns: Everything is gluten-, soy- and dairy-free; most dishes are vegetarian/vegan. You'll feel good about the rice-flour pancakes with coconut sugar; vegetarian burger; air-fried sweet potato fries; and quinoa-tabouli bowl with dried cherries. Finish up with a salted caramel bar.

Details: 1495 S. Higley Road, Gilbert. 480-525-1345, nourish123.com.

6. Loving Hut

This vegan spot knows what to do with vegetables, from the sprightly rainbow salad and fragrant pho to the eggplant tofu duo and silken moonlight mix of rice noodles tossed with cauliflower, carrot, broccoli and cabbage. Or live it up with a soy-protein teriyaki burger. Desserts include flan and frosted banana cake.

Details: 3515 W. Union Hills Drive, Phoenix. 602-978-0393. Also, 3239 E. Indian School Road, Phoenix. 602-264-3480, lovinghut.us.

5. True Food Kitchen

Get on the road to nutritional salvation with this feel-good menu from Dr. Andrew Weil and Sam Fox. The offerings include kale salad, spaghetti squash casserole, turkey lasagna and miso-glazed black cod, which you can wash down with fresh-squeezed fruit and vegetable juices.

Details: Biltmore Fashion Park, 2502 E. Camelback Road, Phoenix. 602-774-3488. Also, Scottsdale Quarter, Scottsdale Road and Greenway-Hayden Loop. 480-265-4500, truefoodkitchen.com.

4. Green

Taste? Principle? You don't have to sacrifice either one at this 100 percent-vegan storefront. Look for spicy peanut tofu; no-harm chicken parm sandwich; mock beef coconut curry; and portobello mushroom burger with tempeh bacon. Soy-based vegan ice cream means you don't have to skip dessert.

Details: 2240 N. Scottsdale Road, Tempe. 480-941-9003, greenvegetarian.com.

3. Cafe Lalibela

Ethiopians enjoy their vegetable stews, which they scoop up with injera, the national bread. Look for tikil gomen, a mix of cabbage, potatoes and carrots; fosolia, lightly spiced green beans with carrots and onions; and yekik alicha, yellow split peas and onions seasoned with turmeric and herbs.

Details: 849 W. University Drive, Tempe. 480-829-1939, cafelalibela.com.

2. Fresh Mint

The scents of Asia permeate this cheery vegetarian/vegan (and certified-kosher) spot. Some of the stars: green papaya salad; fragrant Vietnamese sweet-and-sour soup; lemongrass-eggplant curry; citrus-y "spare ribs"; and a tofu vegetable hot pot with crunchy rice.

Details: 13802 N. Scottsdale Road, Phoenix. 480-443-2556, freshmint.us.com.

1. Bink's Midtown

James Beard Award finalist Kevin Binkley (Binkley's Restaurant) has fashioned a knockout menu that focuses on seasonal local produce. You won't need any encouragement to eat vegetables like sage-roasted butternut squash with pecans and cranberries, kale with curried couscous or jalapeño-tickled marinated eggplant with enoki mushrooms.

Details: 2320 E. Osborn Road, Phoenix. 602-388-4874, binksmidtown.com. Also, Bink's Scottsdale, Shops at Hilton Village, 6107 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale. 480-664-9238, binksscottsdale.com.