the best vegan-friendly restaurants in the USA in 2021
Cooling down while filming a vlog in the heat of the day with our Hyppo pops in St. Augustine Florida.
If you’ve been following us on Instagram or YouTube for a while then you know we love food, specifically plant-based vegan eats. We spend what some would call a ridiculous amount on eating out but we see it as an investment in one of our favorite hobbies and, of course, much-needed research for the blog.
After traveling on the road this past year, and combined with both our extensive travels in the US previously, we complied a list of the restaurants and cafes we found ourselves visiting time and time again. These are places that offered more than just one vegan-friendly item and were very accommodating of our requests (omitting cheese, substituting sour cream with cashew cream, etc.)
Because I (Crystal) am also gluten-free, and mostly grain-free, these places often had plant-based options that could be customized as needed. If you are someone that also needs, or prefers, to keep things a bit more gut-friendly, raw, or in alignment with your health concerns then I trust this list can help you quite a bit.
NOTE: We will continue to add to this list as we travel for the rest of the year so bookmark this page and come back to it as you also adventure across the US!
There are so many choices in the Portland Oregon area but we found the places we turned to time and time again had an array of healthy and comfort food options along with fresh juices and enticing elixirs. The meal above is from Harlow and they are the eiptome of non-guilty pleasure eats that taste homemade and are perfectly filling.
the best vegan friendly restaurants in the USA
Connecticut
Gung Ho, Colchester
There weren't a lot of restaurants we were excited about in Connecticut though this was a surprise success. Offering Chinese and Japanese cuisine, we ordered 4 different entrees and somehow ate all of them in one sitting. While I’d like to say it was because we were really hungry, we also think it was because of how good it really was. Because of the lack of options in the area, I would go out of my way to stop here if we were traveling through again.
Florida
Moon Dog Cafe, Key West
Key West is filled with restaurants though this place was our favorite. Order the Blackened Tofu tacos (make sure to specify vegan) and get an extra side of their chimichurri sauce because it will rock your world. And don’t forget to stop by their bakery case for some GF vegan treats as well! This spot has a great porch right next to the street for some great people-watching or you can ask to be seated on the back porch or inside for more privacy. We ate brunch AND lunch here for several days in a row while working on our laptops. The mimosas were pretty darn good too.
La Trattoria, Key West
After catching one of Key West’s famous drag shows, head over to this Italian Joint that serves food late at night and offers gluten-free noodles as well. Maybe it was all the wine we had, but this place was our favorite late-night joint.
Osprey Taco, St Augustine
Of all the taco places in the US, Osprey knows what they are doing. They have a selection of vegetarian and vegan items and many of the non-veg options can easily be made plant-based. So if you see something you like but it’s not quite dairy or meat-free, just ask for what you want instead. Between this, The Sprout Kitchen, and The Floridian I thought we’d never leave St. Augustine because the food really was that good.
Osprey Tacos are hands-down one of our favorite taco spots in the entire country. A St. Augustine, Florida must!
The Floridian, St Augustine
St. Augustine has an impressive amount of delicious vegan-friendly eats and continued to amaze us. We could have filmed at least 3 different vlogs just about restaurants in the area. The Blackened Tempeh at The Floridian was so good that Brian asked that we go here for lunch 3 days in a row. It’s a pretty popular spot as its located in the heart of the historic district so be sure to make reservations or show up before the lunch or dinner rush - the wait time can often be 30 minutes or longer. If the wait is really that bad, head over to The Sprout Kitchen for a juice beforehand, though be careful - you might just end up eating there instead.
The salad at The Floridian which Brian couldn’t get enough of so we went at least 3x while in St. Augustine.
The Hyppo Gourmet Ice Pops, St. Augustine
Florida tends to be HOT so cool down with a refreshing popsicle from the folks over at Hippo! They’re made with real fruit, or fruit juice, and have some pretty interesting flavors to choose from such as Pineapple Cilantro, Watermelon Hibiscus, and Blackberry Jasmine. The popsicles aren’t overly sweet and when I asked about how much sugar was in the tasty treats they let me know hardly any sugar is used as they want the natural fruit flavors to come through. But if you want to really go bananas, get your popsicle dipped in the vegan dark chocolate. They have 2 locations downtown and, like most places in St, Augustine, tend to be packed during the heat of the day. That said, the rush comes in waves, and it’s pretty fast going anyways.
The Sprout Kitchen, St. Augustine
This tiny little café was our favorite breakfast joint while in St Augustine. Cold-pressed juices, fresh smoothies, and cleanse-worthy choices dominate the menu along with some plant-based versions of Lox and Cream Cheese and Tuna Salad. The Carrot “Lox” was HEAVENLY and you can order it with GF bread as well.
Brian sipping on some fresh green juice at the delicious Sprout Kitchen in St. Augustine, Florida.
Idaho
City Beach Organics, Sandpoint
This was our favorite place in all of Idaho. It’s a great place to set-up shop and work for the day while also ensuring you have plenty of healthy items to eat. They have wraps, sandwiches, salads, tea, coffee, fresh juice, and vegan cheesecake. We often ate here 3x per day and probably paid their rent with our orders alone. Our favorites were the Vegan Italian Melt (all their wraps are gluten free, made in house and DO NOT fall apart), the Mickinnick Mint Revival Juice (they comes as large as 24oz for only $10.99!), any of their vegan cheesecakes, and their Vegan Northwest/Southwest Salad. We think their prices align with the quality of their food so make this place a MUST when traveling through Northern Idaho. Did we mention its located right across from Pend Orielle Lake? Take your eats to-go and have a picnic on the sandy beach.
Joel’s Mexican Food, Sandpoint
If you watched our video all about our van breaking down, then you got a peek inside one of our stops by Joel’s. They have plenty of options for vegans as long as you specify when ordering. They’ll omit the sour cream and cheese and offer to add on a vegan dressing instead. The Blackened Tofu is some of the best we have ever had and they do not skimp on the toppings. You get good bang for your buck here and 2 people can eat for less than $20—even with a hefty appetite.
Beet & Basil, Sandpoint
If you are looking for a great date spot or something a bit more fancy, head over to Beet And Basil, right on the waterfront. The Kung Pao Cauliflower was so good we were craving it for days afterward. They have well over 5 items on their menu that were plant-based and there are gluten-free options, like the Masala, to choose from. They also offer an interesting array of adult libations and while we didn’t try any, can trust they would be incredible too.
Glow, Ketchum
While we fell in love with the Ketchum (also known as Sun Valley) area, we weren’t generally impressed with the vegan options in town. This health food café was great albeit a bit on the expensive side, just as everything is in Ketchum, BUT it has plenty of options for those looking to fill up on some much-needed green juice or raw food. If you need to cut back on the comfort food or need a bit of wellness pick-me-up, head here for some lighter fare. It’s a great place to work during the day too!
Illinois
Chicago Diner, Chicago
This vegan restaurant has been “meat-free since 83’” and they know what they are doing. If you want typical vegan comfort food, this is the place to be. We always make a point to stop in here when traveling through Chicago because you just can’t go to Chicago without stopping here at least once. Be warned - this is definitely diner food and if you are looking for more health-based options this will not be for you. The one thing that I will note about it is that omnivores brag about this place too. The Reuben is a must if you are not gluten-sensitive as are the milkshakes.
Louisiana
Bennachin, New Orleans
Brian and I never travel through New Orleans without stopping at this African Restaurant at least once. It’s a small little place located in the heart of the French Quarter and has a hearty selection of veg-friendly choices. The meals are simply-plated and don’t look like much but taste homemade, hearty, and nourishing. Stop in here for a casual yet unique dining experience while exploring the shops around the area.
Seed, New Orleans
A plant-based café that stole our hearts in New Orleans. Located outside of the popular French Quarter, the place is more chill and filled with more locals than tourists. And for good reason—the food is outstanding. Every time we go here we order about 2-3 different items each because we just can’t make up our minds. The plant-based “crab” cakes are divine!
The “crab” cakes from Seed in New Orleans that are made with hearts of palm.
The Crepe Cart, New Orleans
They have a dedicated gluten-free, vegan menu just for us plant lovers. Instead of getting the usual Sweet Crepe, opt for one of their savory versions for an on-the-go lunch. Their vegan pesto is finger-licking good and the crepe does NOT fall apart or taste like cardboard. It’s one of the few places Brian will order gluten-free just because it tastes better than any other option.
Maine
Deweys, Portland
Of all the places we stopped by in Portland, even a couple high-end Italian restaurants, we found ourselves at this place twice in the 2 days we were there. While most places rely on store-bought dairy-free cheese as a substitute, this place offered up some in-house cashew nacho cheese sauce that knocked our socks off. The Vegan Poutine and the Nachos were a hit. The prices were pretty decent too! Do not stop by Portland without stopping in here. You’ll be pleasantly surprised by this old brothel-turned-bar.
Blue Hills Co-op, Deer Isle
Right before you head onto Deer Isle, take a moment to browse this co-op and get a custom sandwich, wraps, or cup of soup. They had a great variety of produce that was organic and some wonderful locally made items including some sugar-free blueberry jam. While this isn't a restaurant, the selection in Maine is so small for plant-eaters that I am mentioning it here. Be sure to stock up when you can!
Sea Glass at the Inn By The Sea, Portland
This was by far the nicest place we ate at this entire year. This restaurant is located at the Inn By The Sea and if you are looking for an upscale, luxurious retreat away from your van, RV, or Skoolie for the night then this is the place to go in Maine. We stayed here for Brian’s birthday and one of the reasons I picked this particular spot was for the food. On the resort website for the restaurant, they dedicated an entire section just to talk about their plant-based menu items so I had a feeling it was going to be good. We were blown-away by the quality of the meal. I even had a custom-made dish created just for me that was grain-free and it was phenomenal! The restaurant is small and offers a wide selection of wines as well as a wonderful view of the water. It does have a higher price point so be prepared to drop some cash, though it will be well worth it as it may be one of the best meals of your life.
The insanely delicious Cauliflower Steak that was so good we don’t think we’ll ever order another one again until we re-visit Sea Glass in Maine.
North Carolina
Laughing Seed Café, Asheville
Asheville has a decent selection of plant-based options for veggie lovers but we found this place to be the best. Located downtown, it’s in a cool little area surrounded by mom-and-pop shops (be sure to take a walk after eating and check out the local arcade as well). We ate here at least 4x while in Asheville. I was on a Candida Cleanse and they made me some delicious veggies bowls with a tahini dressing I wanted to swim in (it was that good). While on the cleanse I had the smallest bites of everything Brian ordered and nearly went off my cleanse just to order more items off the menu. Anything you order is sure to be top-notch.
Oregon
Broken Top Bottle Shop (BTBS), Bend
We used to live right next door to this place and ate here A LOT. When you walk in, BTBS may just look like an upscale pub but once you take a look at the menu, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all your options. Once you try their House Smoked Tempeh Tacos, you’ll crave them for life. Our favorites are the Tempeh Tacos, (smoked outside right on the patio and legit has the most flavorful tempeh you’ll ever have in your life!) sub the chipotle crema for their tahini dressing, any daily plant-based soup (the soups tend to be a bit salty though we found are PERFECT after a day of hiking or sports in the mountains), and their house salad with, you guessed it, added smoked tempeh. But no matter what you order, we think you’ll be happy with the selection.
Kanpai, Bend
Right down the street from BTBS is an incredible sushi restaurant that serves up some easily customized vegan sushi. Last time we checked they only had a few items labeled vegetarian or vegan but all you have to do is omit 1-2 ingredients and they may even suggest a substitute. They are very accommodating and often have other side dishes which can round out your lunch or dinner to a full meal. If you are in Bend, do not miss this stop for an upscale but intimate dining experience while still being able to wear your hiking clothes. Be sure to head there early as the place fills up quickly during the dinner rush.
New Day Eatery, Port Angeles
If you are making your way to the Washington Coast or Olympic Peninsula, be sure to stop by this place. You may have to adjust some options to make them vegan but the food is always great. The vegan pizza is one of our favs as they make the cheese in-house and their bakery items are pure heaven! They tend to always have a vegan soup on hand and their combination can be quite creative. Do not go here without asking, at least, for a sample of their soup and picking up a piece of cake or a muffin, which are usually gluten-free as well! Oh, and they have fresh juices and smoothies as well.
Hanazono, Port Townsend
After living in a tiny, and mostly sleepy, seaport community on the Olympic Peninsula, we learned there weren’t all that many options for vegans. But this place became our go-to when we wanted to eat out. They have two sushi roll options on the menu that are incredible, fresh, and the presentation is beautiful but when it comes to the main course we suggest the Vegan Soup. It’s tangy, slightly spicy, and comforting while still being light enough to have any time of day. They also offer noodle dishes which we have ordered before that were pretty damn tasty too.
This Beet Salad takes the cake every time we visit Hanazono in Port Townsend.
1-2-3 Thai, Port Townsend
While many tourists often head out to the fancier Thai restaurants in the area, all the locals we know head over to 1-2-3 Thai. It’s a small restaurant that doesn’t look like much but it’s family-owned and the food is delish! But instead of eating in, order take-out and head over to the Pourhouse across the street to get a beverage and chill on their patio by the water OR just go sit on the beach which has public access. Our favorites are the Singapore Noodle (order with extra veggies and no rice), Garlic Tofu, and Lemongrass Tofu. Just be sure to specify that you are vegan. They are very accommodating.
Blossoming Lotus, Portland
I don’t think we have ever swung through Portland without making a stop by Blossoming Lotus. It’s our favorite dinner spot. Like Harlow, this restaurant offers comfort foods alongside raw food cuisine but with a little bit more upscale atmosphere. We've never tried something we felt “MEH” about when eating here. The gluten-free mac and cheese is light yet crave-worthy, their bowls are nourishing and comforting, and their menu rotations are always on point. Make a point of stopping here and taking a stroll around the neighborhood to check out some of the cute houses off the main drag.
Harlow, Portland
Harlow offers “clean and healthy food made with love.” All items are gluten-free and when you walk away you’ll feel like your tummy got a big ole hug. Every single menu item can be made vegan and even if you are eating out with your non-veg friends they’ll be sure to find something they’ll like too. This is our go-to spot when one of us is craving something hearty but the other wants something light and cleansing.
The seasoned jackfruit at Harlow in Portland Oregon never disappoints. You can easily sub out eggs for jackfruit or tempeh in any meal and their menu is made plant-lovers.
Tennessee
Avo, Nashville
While we didn’t stop here this time around, I am mentioning it because it stood out to us when we stopped by in 2020, and from the looks of it online they are still rocking some tantalizing eats. The Kimchi Rice Rolls (below) and their swoon-worthy Vegan Caesar Salad are our top picks for this café.
Virginia
Taaza Indian Cuisine, Roanoke
We didn’t expect much in Virginia but we had to stop by a co-op down the street to stock up on groceries. While there we decided to grab some dinner from this Indian Restaurant. It was some of the BEST Indian food we’ve had in the entire country and rivaled our favorite spot in Seattle (Bengal Tiger). We loved it so much we contemplated staying one more night just to eat it again the next day.
Washington
Plum Bistro, Seattle
We have loved this restaurant since we both lived in the Seattle/Tacoma area. It’s 100% vegan and a great date-night spot though their jazz brunch is pretty epic too. The food tends to be on the heavier side so prepare for a nap afterward unless you are ordering one of their salads or lighter fare options. The Mac-and-Yease is their signature dish and a MUST as a side dish or main course PLUS you can order it gluten-free. We’ve tried nearly every vegan mac-and-cheese in the country and this one is in the TOP 5. Everything we have ordered here has been top-notch albeit a bit oily/heavy on the belly so just be prepared for that. The Quickie Too down in Tacoma is another one of their family members’ restaurants so if you are down South be sure to check that café out if you are swinging through the area.
The beautiful and healthy plant-based version of Mac-and-Cheese at Harlow in Portland.
Bengal Tiger, Seattle
Anytime we can grab good Indian food we are elated and this place is really, really good. It’s located in Northern Seattle and has an array of options you would expect to see in a typical Indian restaurant. The one aspect we really enjoy about this place is that they are not shy about their spice levels. If you order it HOT or an item states that it is SPICY, be careful because it will be!
Wyoming
Cultivate Cafe, Jackson Hole
The cauliflower wings here were the intersection of comfort cravings and healthy food. If you are a picky eater and want to get a real Wyoming feel when you sit down, this place will be your jam. It has traditional, vintage décor that makes you feel like you are in an old saloon while still offering options for grain-free, sugar-free, and more specific diets. The Tacos (surprise, we got tacos again!) were great, the jackfruit was flavored well, and the cauliflower wings were a personal favorite.
Do you have a favorite vegan-friendly restaurant or café in the US? Let us know by commenting below. We are always looking for new places to check out as we travel and I know other readers would like to know what else is out there too!
Somewhere in the woods,
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