With growing awareness of the impact of agriculture on the environment along with concerns of animal welfare and health concerns related to consuming meat and dairy, the vegan diet is growing in popularity.
Before, veganism was rare, and finding a suitable vegan meal whilst eating out was difficult. The fear of not being able to find somewhere to eat out continues to be an anxiety faced by vegans.
However, the rapid growth of people converting to veganism has encouraged a surge of vegan restaurants to open, to cater to the growing demand for clean food.
There are now a wealth of options for eating out as a vegan, especially in cities such as New York. With talented chefs keen to experiment with vegetables to create new and unique flavors, along with the number of vegan alternatives on the rise using soy and pea protein, etc, there has never been so much choice! To help you narrow down your options, this guide will give you a list of the 15 best vegan restaurants in New York City.
The 15 Best Vegan Restaurants in NYC
Dirt Candy
Dirt Candy is located on the Lower East Side of New York. It’s an inventive vegetable-only restaurant. Their goal is to push the boundaries with vegetables and experiment with them to create flavors that have never been tasted before.
For anyone new to Dirt Candy, they offer a tasting menu to give you a little taste of what’s on offer. If you like what you see, they offer an a la carte menu on the patio. They provide a unique and exciting dining experience.
Dirt Candy offers the chance to try vegetables in a variety of states from raw to cooked, grilled, in a broth, or roasted on a fire. They work to make it so that people crave vegetables instead of pizza. Whilst this restaurant is tailored to vegetarians, almost every one of their dishes can be made vegan if you ask.
Dirt candy offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
Blossom on University
Blossom is a vegan restaurant group based in New York. They specialize in offering fresh and creative vegan food. Blossom on University is one of the newer restaurants in the city and offers a modern dining experience.
Blossom on University offers fresh ingredients that are organic and locally sourced to support local farmers and small businesses. The food they offer aims to promote a healthy lifestyle with the absence of meat.
Not only is blossom a restaurant group, but they also offer a catering service that includes appetizers, snacks, sides, salads, sandwiches, brunch, entrees, and desserts. This makes it a great choice for anyone who is looking to host an event or looking to celebrate a big occasion.
Blossom on University offers :
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Urban Vegan Kitchen
Urban Vegan Kitchen specializes in offering organic vegan comfort food serving everything sweet, savory, and spicy. From sticky gochujang bbq seitan Korean wings, chili cheese fries, to golden French toast. With an extensive variety of foods, there is something for everyone.
Urban Vegan Kitchen also offers a range of services, from offering their space for private events, to catering services. Their catering service includes a large variety of food options to choose from. This is a great place to choose if you’re considering hosting an event with a modern urban theme.
Urban Vegan Kitchen offers:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Avant Garden
Avant Garden offers a refined vegan dining experience. They work to provide works of art with food. Avant Garden delivers some of the best vegan dishes alongside curated wines from all around the world.
Avant Garden is driven by a mission to promote animal rights and to overthrow hospitality. They work to build a community by supporting local distributions and farmers as well as actively participating in the development of their local area. Avant Garden is a great place to visit if you’re passionate about clean food and good wine.
Avant Garden offers:
- Indoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
Le Botaniste
Le Botaniste is located on the Upper East Side of New York. They offer apothecary-inspired vegan comfort food. Le Botaniste offers an experience with a homey and quirky feel. The organic food counter and natural wine bar are set in a 19th-century style pharmacy making for a unique experience.
Le Botaniste strives to provide clean and organic plant powered meals designed to nourish the body. They use ingredients in a fun and playful way to engage with their customers providing an opportunity for people to experience eating vegetables in different ways. They work to play with different flavors and textures to come up with unique and colorful dishes.
Le Botaniste uses food to promote the benefits of plants and advocates the use of food as preventative medicine that brings nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins into your diet to keep the body happy, healthy, and energized without harming the planet. Whether you’re vegan, vegetarian, flexitarian, gluten free, etc, this restaurant tailors to a range of requirements.
Le Botaniste offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Franchia Vegan Cafe
Franchia Vegan Cafe offers a medley of creative vegan Asian fusion cuisine. The cafe is located in a tea-house inspired setting with a mix of modern features and traditional Korean decor to provide a relaxing and serene environment.
Their menu contains a range of traditional food from ramen to dumplings and sushi. This cafe caters to different dietary needs, with a mostly vegan menu, their dishes are suitable for vegetarians. They also offer a gluten free menu and lactose-free desserts.
All of their sushi menus offer a flavourful twist on chicken, shrimp, and fish sushi dishes made from soy and seaweed. This is a great place to visit for anyone looking for a relaxing night with warm, fragrant food.
Franchia Vegan Cafe offers:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
The Organic Grill
The Organic Grill offers clean and organic vegan and gluten free food. They work to promote plant-based and organic agriculture by supporting local farmers and food distributors. All of the dishes on offer are vegan as they look to promote the benefits of a plant-based diet. They use seasonal produce for all of their dishes as well as make their own cheese, sausage, burgers, sauces from scratch.
The Organic Grill is big on catering to all dietary requirements and will accommodate any special dietary requests. The Organic Grill also offers additional services of catering for private events, meetings, special occasions, and weddings all around New York. This is a great option for anyone looking to host an event.
The Organic Grill offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Ladybird
Ladybird offers vegan tapas ideal for anyone looking for a luxury night out in a convivial setting. This restaurant also contains a popular wine bar making it ideal for anyone who appreciates a good selection of wine.
Ladybird is a part of the overthrow hospitality restaurant group. They thrive to create a mission driven vegan restaurant and bar that represents everything it is to be vegan. They practice compassion and promote animal rights.
Ladybird offers a classy brunch venue packed full of rich dishes such as french toast with coconut, cardamom whipped cream, strawberries, and maple syrup, or scallion pancakes made from impossible meat, hoisin, scallion, and cilantro. They incorporate a variety of rich and flavourful ingredients to make some amazing dishes. This is a great place to visit for anyone looking for a special night out with delicious, guilt free food.
Ladybird offers:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
P.S. Kitchen
P.S. Kitchen offers a range of sophisticated vegan dishes and bar snacks using a range of clean and fresh ingredients with a modern twist. P.S. Kitchen thrives to make an impact in its community and a difference in the world. They stand out from many other restaurants as all of their profits are donated to charities.
All of the dishes served are 100% vegan and contain a unique balance of flavors inspired by seasonal produce with a hint of French inspiration. This restaurant works to provide clean and delicious food options that nourish the mind, body, and the earth. They are committed to sustainability and support sustainable charities around the world. This is a great place to visit if you are looking for a restaurant that offers delicious and clean food and values sustainability.
P.S. Kitchen offers:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Profits donated to charity
Beyond Sushi
Beyond Sushi offers vibrant and flavourful sushi that strives to encourage making healthy food choices with compassion. Beyond Sushi is a leading restaurant chain in New York that has reimagined the way we eat. They offer vegan and kosher food options along with unconventional sushi, unique desserts, and cocktails.
This restaurant aims to promote a mindful and memorable dining experience that leaves a lasting impact. They work to incorporate a mix of flavors and ingredients to create unique plant-based dishes.
Beyond Sushi offers additional services of catering which is great for anyone looking to host a vibrant occasion.
Beyond Sushi offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Delice & Sarrasin
Delice & Sarrasin is a quaint cafe in New York that offers traditional, heart-warming French cuisine with a vegan twist. They offer traditional and authentic French dishes such as Beef Bourguignon but without beef. Instead, they use pea protein marinated in pinot noir and spices to bring out traditional flavors.
Delice & Sarrasin is a family owned restaurant that specializes in homemade cooking. This is a great place to go for anyone looking for an authentic French meal without the meat.
Delice & Sarrasin also offers additional services of full service catering making it a great place to book for an event, or special occasion.
Delice & Sarrasin offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Full service catering
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana offers a contemporary Mexican inspired vegan menu packed full of color and vibrant flavors. This restaurant delivers a unique cultural experience where the south meets the Lower East Side. They offer delicious plant-based comfort food packed with traditional spices and flavors.
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana is run by a group of friends and business partners. Their restaurant strives to provide a united, homely, community feel, where people can enjoy plant-based guilt-free street food. They also additionally provide catering for gatherings, weddings, parties, and private events. With this service, they provide unique and custom menus for you and your guests.
Jajaja Plantas Mexicana offers:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Catering
Hangawi
Hangawi offers traditional gourmet plant-based Korean cuisine. Hangawi is set in a tranquil space designed to represent harmony and balance by creating a dining experience that represents a traditional Korean house. To add to the atmosphere they ask that you leave your shoes at the door for the full experience.
Their food offers a traditional mix of ingredients, spices, and flavors for an authentic dining experience. The mission at Hangawi is to encourage healthy eating and to provide wholesome and nourishing Korean vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Hangawi also offers additional services that include catering to events. This is a great option for anyone looking to host a gathering in a unique and tranquil space.
Hangawi offers:
- Indoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
- Event catering
Divya’s Kitchen
Divya’s Kitchen is a unique restaurant that follows Ayurvedic principles. They offer authentic Ayurvedic cuisine. They strive to offer delicious food that is good for the body and soul. All of the food prepared is made in-house from scratch for ultimate freshness. They also only use fresh and clean ingredients to bring out the most authentic flavors.
Divya’s Kitchen offers guilt-free comfort food packed full of goodness and designed to transform the way we eat. The food prepared is rooted in the tradition of Shaka Vansiya Ayurveda which follows the principles of using food for restoration, healing, and promoting overall well being.
Divya’s Kitchen also offers additional services of full-catering services. This service includes a creative menu with unique customization and consideration of dietary requirements. This is a great place to visit for anyone looking to restore their energy and enjoy a hearty meal.
Divya’s Kitchen:
- Indoor and outdoor dining
- Takeaway
- Delivery
Bodhi
Bodhi offers a range of traditional Chinese cuisine with a vegan twist. Their menu consists of authentic Chinese food but without meat. Instead, they use vegetable alternatives marinated in traditional spices and herbs for great flavor.
Bodhi creates fresh Cantonese style vegetarian dishes using fresh and clean ingredients. They strive to promote vegetarianism to save animal lives.
The restaurant space offers a warm, ambient atmosphere ideal for anyone looking for a relaxed and wholesome dining experience.
Bodhi offers:
- Dine-in
- Takeaway
- Delivery
What makes a good vegan restaurant?
What makes a good vegan restaurant is a restaurant that creates food that aligns with its values. A good vegan restaurant consists of ethically sourced, fresh ingredients absent from animal products and caters to a range of dietary requirements.
Is New York good for vegans?
New York is certainly not short of vegan restaurants. New York offers a number of vegan restaurants, each offering a unique style and twist to their food.
Takeaway
With this list of amazing restaurants in New York, it’s clear to see that vegetables really don’t have to be boring. Each place offers a unique twist packed full of flavor and made with ethically sourced ingredients.
They each encourage clean and mindful eating. With the work moving towards a plant-based diet, veganism may be the future. Whether you’re a vegan or a meat eater who appreciates good vegetables, next time you’re in New York, take some time to check out this amazing selection of restaurants.
