Plant-based food has become one of America's fastest-growing lifestyle movements, and more and more restaurants are now catering to diets free of meat and dairy. From BBQ joints and soul food to casual cafés and fine dining, here we reveal the best vegan restaurants across the USA.
Though the sign says 'vegetarian', this Phoenix haunt is in fact 100% vegan, mastering all your favorite comfort foods with fresh plant-based ingredients. Claiming to 'please any palate' whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, an omnivore, or even a carnivore, this restaurant's hearty plates offer something for every taste. Highlights include grilled seitan cheesesteak (best enjoyed with a side of thyme fries) and award-winning buffalo 'wings' with housemade ranch.
Established in 2013 by Chef Tal Ronnen, Crossroads has cemented itself as the go-to spot for vegan food in LA. Entirely plant-based, the restaurant offers a refined Mediterranean-style menu filled with inventive dishes. Diners can dig into appetizers such as artichoke oysters served with kelp caviar, and mains like spaghetti carbonara and truffle mushroom pizza.
A menu packed with food and cocktails steeped in fiery flavor awaits at Gracias Madre in West Hollywood. Known as the first plant-based Mexican joint to hit Los Angeles, its traditional dishes are all made from scratch – and they've certainly proved a hit with locals and tourists alike. Diners are spoiled for choice with the varied menu, which offers everything from tortilla soup to braised jackfruit tacos. Hot tip: enjoy your Mexican feast with one of the restaurant's signature margaritas.
On the outside, this San Francisco spot looks like one of the many classic sushi restaurants that can be found all over the city. However, Shizen stands out from the crowd with its fully plant-based menu, which features vegan twists on Japanese favorites (think bean curd katsu, asparagus nigiri, and spicy garlic miso ramen). The Open Invitation roll with pumpkin, tofu, and avocado is particularly tasty.
Denver's self-proclaimed 'original vegan restaurant', Watercourse Foods has been leading the city’s growing plant-based scene for more than 20 years. With a focus on comfort, the restaurant’s goal is to make simple and delicious vegan food that everyone can enjoy. Visitors can get their fast food fix with choices like cauliflower wings (a much-loved staple), loaded truffle fries, and oyster mushroom po' boys. For those with a sweet tooth, there’s an extensive milkshake menu with flavors like caramel, matcha, and peanut butter chocolate.
The first vegan restaurant to hit Miami Beach, Full Bloom Vegan has carved out a new path for Miami’s plant-based community. From mushroom empanadas to meatloaf made from chickpeas, this restaurant serves up innovative dishes influenced by an array of different cuisines, so it’s easy to see why visitors can’t get enough of its gourmet menu. For dinner, the burgers are a customer favorite – and for those with room for dessert, the tiramisu is top-notch.
Known for its hearty vegan dishes, Leguminati in Orlando specializes in wrap sandwiches stuffed with plant-based delights. The tantalizing fillings span everything from 'mac 'n' cheeze' to rice paper 'bacun' and breaded 'chick'n'. Diners praise the satisfying OG Crunch wrap with vegan beef crumbles, queso, tostada, vegan sour cream, diced tomato, and lettuce in a flour tortilla.
Calling all brunch lovers! This adorable café has become a staple for vegan breakfasts in Savannah. From its highly rated housemade banana French toast to its chia porridge served with agave coconut cream, Fox & Fig is certainly not short on delicious dishes to start your day with. The locally roasted coffee, with a choice of oat, almond, or soy milk, is also a must-try.
Herban Fix in Atlanta offers a fabulous selection of plant-based, Asian-inspired fusion dishes, which promise to please even the pickiest eaters. For lunch, diners can choose from tempting mains like pho noodle soup and veggie spring rolls. For dinner, flavorful dishes like creamy curry broth and pom pom mushroom steak keep customers coming back.
Serving up delicious and nutritious food that leaves customers smiling is what this cozy café in Honolulu does best. With its plant-based menu of health-focused fusion dishes, ranging from salad bowls and curries to sandwiches and stews, it's no wonder that Peace Café has become a local favorite. Customers love the katsu curry (either tempeh or tofu katsu with rice), and the Moroccan spiced chickpea stew.
For the ultimate vegan comfort food, look no further than V-Grits, a food truck-turned-restaurant in the heart of Louisville. From its vegan meats to its vegan cheeses, everything is made entirely from scratch, with a focus on flavor. The hearty menu offers a plant-based take on a bevy of Southern classics, with favorites including the Nashville Hot Chicken sandwich, Big Whiz fries (loaded with cheese whiz, bacon bits, caramelized onions, and green onions), and BBQ Chicken Tacos.
Soul food might not be what first comes to mind when you think of vegan cuisine, but that's what this no-frills restaurant in Detroit is all about. Dubbed the city’s first meat-free soul food joint, Detroit Vegan Soul offers a plethora of Southern-inspired comfort food. Customers can't get enough of the friendly service and satisfying menu options like catfish tofu, mushroom po’boys, and seitan steak rolls, served with fresh cut yams or fries.
VegeNation’s mission is to serve fresh food while being kind to the planet. To support the local community, the restaurant sources its coffee, tea, cheeses, herbs, and art from small businesses – and it gets its vegetables from local schools, gardens, and farms. Made using entirely plant-based ingredients, VegeNation's global menu certainly has plenty to tantalize your taste buds, with delicious delights such as tacos, cauliflower wings, pizza, and katsu banh mi on offer. The chicken pot pie gnocchi gets plenty of praise from diners too.
This Asheville favorite combines creative, flavorful dishes with a sophisticated ambience that leaves visitors wanting more. Plant aims to redefine what a vegan restaurant is – and with its dishes receiving endless praise from customers, it seems to be achieving its goal. One menu standout is the Applewood smoked mushroom: a steak rubbed mushroom made with cauliflower ‘risotto’, farmed greens, grape tomato, and blackcurrant steak sauce.
Known for its elegance and ambience, Avant Garden is one of New York City's true gems. Completely vegan, this small fine-dining restaurant serves flavorful food in a cosy and inviting atmosphere. Try the scorched cauliflower with toasted garlic and fried capers, or the paella, which have both received plenty of rave reviews from customers. With an impressive collection of global natural wines to pair with its veggie-focused menu, this one's a must-visit.
An Ethiopian outpost in New York City’s trendy Brooklyn neighbourhood, Bunna Cafe offers up colorful dishes that delight the senses. Diners can opt for the à la carte menu, or choose to share multiple plates for a traditional Ethiopian feast. Visitors can’t get enough of the Yater Kik Alicha (yellow split peas cooked with spices) and sambusa pastries stuffed with a lentil and pepper mix.
The first Jajaja opened in New York’s Lower East Side, and its inventive dishes proved so popular that there are now several locations across the city. The inspiring menu combines plant-based ingredients with strong flavors, serving up Mexican classics like quesadillas, empanadas, and tacos. Pictured here are the street tacos, with tasty fillings like battered squash, sweet potato, and banana blossom.
Famous for serving what it likes to call 'conscious comfort food', The Loaded Bowl was Oklahoma City’s first vegan food truck before it became a restaurant staple. With a focus on promoting healthy and affordable food, the restaurant offers a great selection of hearty and nutritious bowls. The 'dish that started it all' (and the most talked about option on the menu) is the cashew mac 'n' cheese bowl. The mashed potato bowl gets a thumbs up from diners too.
Dedicated to bringing nutritious, quality food to Columbus, Portia’s Cafe serves up a menu of health-focused vegan dishes. The vegetable curry soup and Mediterranean wrap have received great reviews from diners. For dessert, the ‘cheezecakes’, made with raw nut and date crusts, come in an array of mouthwatering flavors such as lemon, pineapple, chai, and chocolate.
Classic BBQ and soul food gets a plant-based makeover at this laid-back joint in Portland. Diners at Homegrown Smoker can enjoy a whole host of meat-free American staples, from tempeh ribs and ‘macnocheese’ to smoked soy curls. The combo plate, with a choice of plant-based protein (like seitan short ribs) and sides (such as hush puppies and BBQ beans) is as delicious and satisfying as it sounds.
Originally opened as a café, juice bar, and bakery on the Hawaiian island of Kauai, Blossoming Lotus has since taken the Portland foodie scene by storm. With a focus on fantastic service and sustainably sourced organic ingredients, the restaurant is loved by residents and visitors alike. It’s a great spot for brunch, with options like pancakes, breakfast tacos, and Lotus Benedict: a biscuit topped with tofu scramble, sausage, and spinach and lemon Hollandaise.
Established in 2011, Vedge in Philadelphia has become well-known for its inventive plant-based cooking. Inspired by local organic vegetables and global flavors, the restaurant offers an array of nourishing small plates that vary based on the season. Diners rate the radishes, made with yuzu and avocado, and the roasted maitake mushroom. Vedge is a popular spot for ice cream and cakes too.
Casual but cool, The Wild Cow has been serving a creative selection of cruelty-free food in Nashville for over 10 years. From sauces and dressings to stocks and soups, nearly everything is made in-house, using locally grown and organic produce. Diners rave about the generous portions and the variety of dishes on offer, including the seitan-stuffed gyro pita and the Reuben sandwich with grilled tofu. For a side, you can’t go wrong with the vegan queso and chips.
Since 2002, this beloved diner has been a Dallas-Fort Worth must-visit. With comfort food at its core, the menu at Spiral Diner offers every American classic you could imagine, from nachos and burgers to pancakes and breakfast tacos – and they're all plant-based and delicious. Best of all are the diner's made-from-scratch desserts, with options like milkshakes, cookies, and sundaes.
In a state known for its barbecued meats, Houston's Green Seed Vegan offers plenty of plant-based alternatives. The casual venue is best known for its burgers, with fillings like BBQ jackfruit and buckwheat quinoa, and its delicious cold-pressed juices. Menu standouts include the 'chicken fried' cauliflower Cali burger, and the tacos with sunflower walnut chorizo.
Sustainability comes first at this stylish Thai restaurant in Seattle. From focusing on organic produce to banning plastic straws and using compostable bags, boxes, and utensils, Kati Vegan Thai strives to be as environmentally conscious as possible. Drawing inspiration from traditional Thai flavors, the 100% plant-based menu is filled with tasty favorites: think garden rolls, tom yum soup, and veggie noodles. Top dishes include pad Thai and pumpkin curry.
Fancy Radish takes plant-based eats to another level. Based in Washington DC’s H Street Corridor, the chic restaurant was opened in 2018 by James Beard-nominated chefs Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby, known for their popular vegan eateries across Philadelphia. The acclaimed menu features signature dishes like spicy dan dan noodles (a fan favorite), miso butter noodles, and sticky toffee pudding with banoffee ice cream.
Located in downtown Washington DC, Elizabeth’s Gone Raw is the capital's only organic vegan fine-dining restaurant. It's only open on Friday and Saturday nights (which adds to its intriguing appeal), serving a six-course tasting menu that combines raw ingredients in healthy and innovative ways that change weekly. Past menu options have included kale chips, which received high praise, and a 'bacon'-wrapped date and basil sorbet. With a decadent setting to match its food, dining here is an elegant affair.