Taproot Lounge and Cafe is among my favorite restaurants in the Salem downtown area. With expansive drink and food menus that are inclusive of vegan/vegetarian options, there's something for everyone here. I love that they have jackfruit as a "meat" option for many dishes - most restaurants will only offer tofu if they offer anything at all. The chipotle jackfruit tacos are great, by the way! We've always experienced good service here, and enjoy the casual feel of the dining area. This is a good place to eat a meal with folks with various dietary needs without sacrificing flavor or variety. Taproot is also open pretty late (12am most nights)! read more

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This a great restaurant with a excellent vibe. Food is filling, delicious, and large portions. They offer plenty of excellent vegan options. Service is friendly , professional, and service was fast. read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Chipotle tacos, one jackfruit, one veggie crumble, and one tofu. All three were excellent! - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Stopped by here after a show and super glad we did. We ordered chicken wings on special and they were super crunchy and flavorful. I also got the Raspberry Truffle Delight. Super good chocolate-y and rich flavor. Great tap list. Bonus that they are open late! read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Cozy inside - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Cool downtown location. Live music sometimes and some of the best nachos ever ! Spicy Bloody Mary might be one of the best too

I truly enjoyed coming here for brunch ñ with my littles. Their food always feels fresh. Which is a must for me. The service is always exceptional. I always get the kindest waiters. I definitely recommend coming here with friends or even with kiddos. It's such a great atmosphere. They have an indoor and outdoor seating area as well as a bar. read more

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I've been a fan of Taproot Lounge & Café since a close friend introduced me in 2019. Located in a charming 1860 historic building in downtown Salem, it's always had great vibes and a solid focus on smoothies, fresh juices, smoothies, and plant-forward plates. They have full breakfast menu as well and my friend says their ciders are solid. Their Brussels sprouts dish has long been my favorite. I never skip it when I'm in town. So when I met up with a visiting friend yesterday, we headed there right away. Sadly, this visit fell short. The Brussels were bitter, under-seasoned, and oddly undercooked, totally unlike the dish I loved. We also tried the Spicy Bowl, which felt underwhelming. The carrots and snap peas didn't have the usual vibrant crunch, and the sauce was more of a whisper of spice than a real kick. It just didn't hit the spot. On the bright side, my smoothie was delicious as always, this place consistently nails those. PARKING NOTICE: Important if you're visiting after July 10, 2025! Downtown Salem is ending nearly 50 years of free on-street parking. Starting July 10, 2025, you'll have to pay for street parking in the Downtown Parking District. Parking garages will still be free, but permits will be needed for employees, students, and residents. More details, look up an article on Statesman Journal about Parking Change. Taproot is still a place I love and want to keep supporting, but I'm hoping this was just an off day for the kitchen. I'll definitely return for the smoothies, but maybe I'll ask if the Brussels are having a good day first. read more

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Overall really good experience! Food was great, it came out in good time and was served nice and hot! Service was great, the server we had was patient and frequently checked in on us! Ambiance is comforting and welcoming. There's a lot of seating and it is good for an early morning breakfast, mid day lunch or even a nice place for a drink with friends. Would definitely return! read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Kids meal - grilled cheese with ham and berries on the side (4/5) - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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The food and beverages at the Taproot were wonderful. We were visiting a precious friend in nearby Keizer and I had researched local restaurants that served vegan fare and also had great reviews. The Taproot certainly lived up to its reputation. My favorites were the strawberry lemonade (really quite amazing), the roasted Brussel sprouts and the hummus and pita bread. The wait staff were wonderful and the prices were very reasonable. We'll be back the next time we're back in the Portland area! read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - My second strawberry lemonade! - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Didn't order any food but my friend did and seemed to enjoy it. I gave this place 4 stars based on its vibe and atmosphere. Super old school vibe and lots of character ... great local beer selections and cool Staff. We had the pirate ale which was an interesting change from my usual Guinness on tap. read more

Had some late snacks and drinks. The service was excellent. The drinks were well prepared and presented. read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Blueberry basil lemonade - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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The service at this bar is always great! They have really tasty cocktails, that also give off aesthetically pleasing vibes. They offer a lot of seating, sometimes outdoor seating as well. read more

I am not sure if they changed management, or if it really depends what you order. This place was recommended by a friend- and my Mom and I went there in the fall of 2024 after an appointment we had in Salem. It was sooooooo good! Both of us loved what we ordered, and we were pleased with our coffee drinks, etc. However, the 2nd time I went about 10 months later- I took my husband and we were both disappointed with our meals that we ordered for seperate reasons. His dish was the "Israeli Couscous Salad" and unfortunately we didn't see that description in the menu that said "tossed in their house spicy sauce". He said it was way too strong, like someone overused red chili sauce or crushed red peppers and it made his stomach turn and he lost his appetite and only ate about a quarter of it- and we intentionally did not elect to take our leftovers. ANd my dish, I ordered the "Chorizo Jalopeno Hash" but apparently when I subbed the chorizo for veggie sausage it confused the chef and so they subbed my country potatoes for TATER TOTS. So, I got served a plate of tater tots, with some jalopenos, onions, cheese sprinkled over top and my eggs were forgotten. I ate my fresh avocado and the veggie sausage, but that is basically all I ate of that food that would be served in the County Fair. It was not appetizing at all. This dish we did not eat, or take leftovers which says a huge amount for me and my husband. ANd, we even paid extra for the veggie sausage. It was such a slap-in-the-face in the quality of food and such a drastic change from my first visit with my Mom to my 2nd visit with my husband, and we don't go to Salem that frequently, so I'm not sure if I will revisit it and give it another chance to be honest. read more

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Great selection on the menu and an awesome Spanish coffee from the bar. Atmosphere is always welcoming too! We go there frequently! read more

Oh my god this meal was so fricken good. The combination of the sweet potato's (that were cooked to perfection), the seasoned tofu, and the chili beans mixed with the avocado and tomato was like that scene in ratatouille when remy was giving his brother emile cheese and grapes from Gusteaus kitchen with the fireworks going off in his imagination. That literally happened to me. As a life long vegan, I approve this message read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - desert bowl with tofu and a sunrise smoothie with oat milk - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

Great little spot! Good food, friendly service. Nice tap list, tasty cocktails. Within walking distance to my hotel when I'm in town. read more

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Oh my gosh the food was great, the service was right on, and the place is true to it's "lounge" name as you can tell there is some partying happening in that place after dark. I'm vegan and was able to find many menu items to order and actually had to pick - got the burger and it fed me for two dinners. read more

This is my all-time favorite lunch and dinner spot. Taproot is always the best place to go however it could definitely use some TLC in the booth seating as well as the bathrooms. The food feels so clean, so high quality, and the servers are pretty quick and extremely friendly. Their food options are by far one of my favorites, as they offer juices as beverages and I'm always for that. I always get the cucumber Apple mint juice and it makes me feel so good right before my meal! Sitting at the bar is always a really good experience too! They offer live music some nights as well. An absolute gem for Salem downtown. read more

Very healthy and vegan friendly (if you want it). All the food is delicious and savory made from scratch. Had the pesto chicken sandwich and it was superb. Açaí bowl was also delicious and any drink out of this world. Also have a dog menu and caters to dogs. read more

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Stopped in based off a recommendation from a neighboring bar. Taking a break from driving, I needed a snack and wanted a drink while I took some time to explore the downtown. Bartender was 10/10. Experience was 10/10. I ordered the nachos with pulled pork. The mf goat cheese 10/10 read more

First the good. The food is excellent. I had the eggs Benedict and it was wonderful. The staff was good and courteous. Now the warnings - the bad. If you get a To-go order, throw away the utensils. If you use them, you will only end up wearing your food. For anyone who is LED light sensitive at all, either blue light, glare or flicker - do not enter. Have food delivered. They have lots of small naked intensely blue LED lights, with extreme high-frequency flicker (120 hz). If you are at all vulnerable to seizures, do not enter. If you are sensitive to flicker induced tinnitus or optical migraines - do not enter, The naked emitters cause intense glare, If you are glare sensitive - do not enter. They are also high kelvin rated intensely blue lights. If you are blue sensitive, they may trigger eye injury - avoid entering, and limit your stay. Wear true blue blocking glasses. The food is excellent though, so by all means do order delivery. read more

FIRE FOOD!!! Got the taproot tacos with veggie crumble and it was so good!!! Pretty fast service and cool ambiance Bestie got desert bowl and it SLAYED BOOTS Other bestie got chipotle ranch tacos with chicken and IT ATE AND LEFT NO CRUMBS (except there were some crumbs left on the plate) read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

I have never had a experience like this before here. But I feel like I need to say something in hopes that management or the owner sees this. I have zero issues with the food. The food is always good here. But the service has absolutely been terrible this visit. The moment we get to the door the waitress had an unwelcoming attitude. My party had been seated outside and we watched people go and out of the restaurant for an hour and thirty minutes and they were upfront about a waiting period for our food but this has been a little bit ridiculous. We ended up just leaving without getting our food. read more

Such a cute & cool place. We stopped in for breakfast and the food was fabulous. So fresh, light and delicious. Server was very friendly and just had a great breakfast. I had the Farmer's Wife and hubby had the biscuits & gravy. Have you ever had biscuits & gravy that were light & sauced with a light gravy? This is the place. It was so good. Including fresh spinach & a cup of fresh strawberries & blueberries. Highly recommend. read more

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Very fun vibe. Our server was really fun and helpful. The menu is interesting and the prices are reasonable, but our food was a bit lacking in flavor. The music is loud, but it's a bar and I'm old so that doesn't count. read more

First time was incredible and bar none amazing. Sad to learn it's a hit or miss with the kitchen. Egg yolks were over cooked, nobody came to check in on me- I had to ask for my own bill by flagging them down while they were bringing items to another table. read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Veggie eggs Benedict - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Always excellent drinks, food, and service. I'm never disappointed with this place! Love the atmosphere and decor.

Fantastic fun staff that seems to love laughing and sharing smiles. But remember to wait to be escorted. You won't be chided for seating yourself, but you'll get some good-natured ribbing. The place is well appointed with thoughtful touches. There are numerous vegan choices, which wasn't my preference but great for those groups that have meat eaters and plant lovers. The regional beer was great and the price was pretty, pretty, pretty reasonable. read more

I tried a pressed juice which was absolutely delicious. I'm glad they had to-go options for that.

Service was awesome!! Came here on a Friday night and they had live music. All the food was good and reasonably priced. read more

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Had a brilliant time at Taproot Lounge and Cafe a few weeks ago We walked in and were immediately greeted & seated! Loved the vibe of the decor which left us all feeling comfortable and relaxed! Superb service, delectable drinks (Mary enjoyed a Jungle Love while Nanci happily imbibed a Tequila Mockingbird) plus some terrific tapas including their not to miss Brussel sprouts, fries with honey mustard & something we made up- Guac Tots !! An absolute on the #mangiamammascale read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Delicious drinks & terrific menu! - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

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Used to be a fan of Taproot. Hadn't been in a while, decided to try it out for breakfast. Got the eggs and potato hash. The hash was so salty as to be inedible. And I like salty things, but whoa. Also, they had two sets of music playing, like one on top of the other, or maybe they were playing one song in one part of the space, and another in another space; but they overlapped, and it wasn't pleasant. The music was LOUD. Don't think I'll be coming in again anytime soon. read more

Fun atmosphere, trendy food choices and great staffing. Always a great time when we go

I read Taproot had an amazing veggie patty, so I figured I should give it a try. When I got there I was super intrigued by the Willamette, which is essentially an elevated pb&j. I decided to combine the two and asked for the sandwich without bacon, but adding the veggie patty. The server was great and made it happen! The veggie patty turned out to be amazing! It was a mix of grains and veggies, and perfectly matched the peanut butter and house made marionberry jam. There was just the right amount of blue cheese to enhance the other flavors. The tots were also perfectly cooked. No complaints! read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Modified Willamette sandwich - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

This place has super tasty breakfast foods & coffee. I also love the ambiance in this place, it manages to be both a nice brunch spot to take your parents and a chill nightlife hangout place. read more

UH-MAZING literally nuff said! But I'll say more! We came here as our first outing with our sweet pup. We sat outdoors and the waitress was kind enough to bring us water for him. I tried an amazing mojito mocktail and enjoyed the date salad. My husband got their chicken tacos and said they were fabulous. We also shared the brussel sprout starter with the house mustard. Honestly just incredible from start to finish! Looking forward to coming back and maybe trying breakfast next time! read more

Met the owner at Willamette Heritage Center at his cafe there ( which was very nice) and he let us know about his place in downtown Salem. We went and LOVED it. Great service, cozy atmosphere and great food. Don't let the front appearance fool you. Real gem inside. Have visited Salem for three years and this will be my go to going forward. Michele is awesome at the downtown location but all of the staff was great!!! read more

The good: the service here was spot on. We were greeted by the host and seated right away. We were there on a not busy weekday early afternoon. They took our drink order and we got them pretty quickly. This place is super cute and has a fun atmosphere. They have a beautiful shuffleboard and lots of fun art. The bad: the potato cakes were overly cooked and dark brown in color. They had no flavor and very hard on the outside. I don't know if they pre make them keep them frozen then reheat them or what, but they were terrible. The veggie sausage was also a huge disappointment and they were also over cooked and very dry with little flavor. The eggs were cooked perfectly but had NO seasoning. I didn't bother to send it back since we were in a hurry and it took awhile for our food to come out. I would try this place again and order different food, but I am leery. read more

Another rotten meal in Salem. Another spot where people who were sat after my group were served their food before us. I ordered the poutine which came out last was cold and tasted like fries covered in cold Campbell's mushroom soup. Really bad. We waited nearly 90 minutes to get our food. If a restaurant knows that the kitchen is backed up and it will take a while for the food to come out TELL THE CUSTOMER!!!! Don't bother coming here. read more

Highly recommend acai bowl. It was generous servings and really good. Like the booth seating area. Would love to come back. read more

Taproot Lounge & Cafe - Inside - Lounges Near Me - Salem, Oregon

If you are vegan or vegetarian please note there is NOT a dedicated fryer for the vegan/veg food. Our server informed us of this when we were there for Mother's Day and I was very grateful. Sadly, like many places that have vegan options, you cannot trust the hot foods are not cooked on the same grills or fried in the same fryers with everything else. There are some cold salad options that will work, but I'm sad my main go to in Salem is not safe. read more