New York City is a food lover’s heaven, with an over-the-top culinary scene catering to all types of dietary preferences. The city offers an impressive range of restaurants that serve delicious, innovative plant-based food for vegans and vegetarians. This guide rounds up the top vegan and vegetarian restaurants in NYC, so you’re sure to get one of the most excellent dining experiences in the Big Apple. Whether you live here or get to visit this beautiful city, you will be able to make use of this guide to find some of the best offerings that will leave your taste buds satisfied.
Best Vegetarian Restaurants in NYC
New York City is a treasure trove for vegetarians, boasting an array of restaurants that cater to plant-based palates with creativity and flair. Among the best vegetarian restaurants NYC are Avant Garden, known for its gourmet, beautifully presented dishes; Superiority Burger, which offers the best veggie burgers in town; and Blossom, a beloved chain offering diverse and flavorful vegetarian fare. Each of these establishments showcases the versatility and deliciousness of vegetarian cuisine, making NYC a top destination for vegetarian food lovers. Whether you’re in the mood for upscale dining or casual bites, these restaurants provide a culinary experience that highlights the best of what vegetarian cooking has to offer.
Avant Garden
Upscale vegans in the city head to Avant Garden in the East Village when a desire for refined vegan food sets in. The setting has that unspoken romantic flair, so the very Instagrammable plating of the courses is quickly accepted by vegans and non-vegans alike. Plant-based offerings generated from sharp rendering include a roasted carrot with harissa and smoked cashew cream and a toothsome avocado toast with pickled radish and black sesame.
Superiority Burger
One of those places that, when you finally make it to East Village, you know you absolutely need to hit up for some of the best veggie burgers around. Perhaps the best thing about this tiny offering is that the vegetarian menu is totally free of it, while most items are vegan or easily modifiable. The Superiority Burger is a fine place to start, featuring chickpeas, carrots, and other such veggies. It’s served on a potato roll with lots of Muenster cheese, dill pickles, and a tangy sauce that’s going to set your taste buds on fire and have you wanting a second round.
Blossom
Blossom is a mini-chain of vegan restaurants Nyc , hosting a nice, warm aura of hospitality. Blossom’s menu alone exemplifies the variety and flavor that vegan dishes bring to the table. Seitan Piccata, for example, is served with mashed potatoes and sautéed kale in a lemon-caper sauce, while the Avocado BLT combines tempeh bacon, avocado, lettuce, and tomato on whole grain bread.
by CHLOE.
Billed as a fast-casual, by CHLOE. has quickly become one of the most popular vegan spots in NYC. The Instagrammable dishes on this 100% vegan menu span burgers and sandwiches and salads to pasta. Favorites include the Guac Burger, made with a black bean-quinoa-sweet potato patty, and the Mac n’ Cheese, which features a creamy sweet potato-cashew cheese sauce.
Dirt Candy
Head to Dirt Candy for an imaginative and elevated vegetarian dining experience. That’s because Chef Amanda Cohen has with her innovative approach to vegetables won a Michelin recommendation for Dirt Candy. The highlight of the menu comes in the form of the Carrot Risotto, courtesy of the Tomato Cake, and other such items. Each dish is art in its own right, showing off just how creative veggies can really get.
Candle 79
An elegant and upscale vegan restaurant, Candle 79 is located on the Upper East Side. The restaurant is dedicated to creating dishes using organic, local, and seasonal ingredients. Some of the signature items on the menu include Seitan Chimichurri, served with quinoa pilaf and roasted vegetables, and Live Zucchini Enchiladas made with cashew cheese and chipotle-tomato sauce. Candle 79 also boasts an extensive wine list with organic and biodynamic wines.
Seasoned Vegan
If vegan food had a soulful twist, it would be labeled “Seasoned Vegan.” Here, a twist is given to all the usual comfort foods, with items like its Harlem-Chopped Cheeseburger and Lemon-Crusted Chicken Nuggets, made from organic soy. The ranges also feature raw items and gluten-free options, making sure everybody has something to their taste. The warm and inviting ambiance provides the final touch to this great place, perfect for a casual meal with friends or family.
Fashioned with the name Modern Love Brooklyn, this place is the casual, cozy, and chic love child of vegan chef Isa Chandra Moskowitz. The ranges contain modernized comfort food, and some favorite dishes off the menu include Mac & Shews, the creamiest mac, and cheese using cashew cheese, and Mushroom Stroganoff over mashed potatoes. One thing that is essential to mention here is that the menu for desserts is equally mind-blowing, with options like the S’mores Pie and the Chocolate Peanut Butter Tart.
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana is a fun, colorful, and loud vegan Mexican-tasting spot right on the Lower East Side. The menu is just bursting with flavors and features bold dishes like Crispy Chayote “Fish” Tacos filled with tempura chayote, slaw, and chipotle aioli and the high pile of Nachos Grandes, piled with black beans, queso fundido, and avocado. The super fun atmosphere and amazing cocktails make Jajaja an ideal spot for a great night out.
P.S. Kitchen
A vegan restaurant with a difference, P.S. Kitchen stands in Midtown. The best part of this place, other than the delicious, plant-based offerings over here, is the fact that it donates 100% of its profits to charity. A culinary ride that takes you from street food in Seoul to a Mushroom “Bolognese” Pasta. Pair the chic setting, which oozes social good, and you have one unmatched New York City dining experience.
Vegan and Vegetarian Eats in NYC
New York City hosts some of the best vegetarian eateries worldwide. In New York City, there are many dining spots, from high-end to low-key ones, for vegetarians and vegans. Here’s all you need to know to eat your way through NYC with plant-based foods
Plan your itinerary.
The best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in NYC—and many others—get super busy, especially on the weekends. Make reservations ahead whenever you can, and try to head out for dinners earlier in the evening.
Get out of your comfort zone.
NYC’s vegan and vegetarian chefs are some of the most innovative. They’re bringing the new flavors that undoubtedly will make your taste buds tingle.
Try different hoods
Every neighborhood in NYC can be considered a mini-city, complete with its own host of eateries. From the East Village to Harlem, go far into the depths of each neighborhood to discover all those best-kept secrets for dining throughout the city.
Eat Local
Most vegan and vegetarian restaurants in NYC are small and locally owned. Dining in these establishments would actively circulate your money in the local economy, hence supporting better economic growth and more sustainable and ethical dining.
New York is a city of many kinds of eaters that includes vegans and vegetarians; with a variety of superb restaurants to choose from, serving everything from comfort food to fancy dining, this city is truly where you want to be to enjoy plant-based foods. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan or simply vegan-curious, here are some of the very best vegan and vegetarian restaurants in NYC. So grab your fork and get ready for the best vegan and vegetarian recipes the city has to offer. For more info, visit Veggieinthe6ix and updates about dining in NYC. Happy dining!
