The Best Vegan Restaurant In Every State

It's indisputable: Veganism is on the rise. According to YouGov, around 6.6 million people in the U.S. alone are vegan. As more and more people turn toward plant-based eating for health, environmental, animal welfare, or religious reasons, the demand for vegan food that's just as good — or better — grows too.

Texas to Rhode Island. Alaska to Delaware. From the smallest to the most sizable states, we've got you covered. Did you think Portland was the only city where you could find and devour vegan tres leches cake, cheesy pizzas, hot wings, or birria tacos? Think again.

Bear in mind that not every restaurant listed is entirely vegan; while the accessibility of veganism is improving, in some instances, the best choices were eateries with extensive vegan options. Despite this, we feel confident that all the restaurants listed are worth visiting — from diners, fine dining, quaint cafes, and even food trucks, the standard of cooking is impeccable. Let's take a road trip around the U.S. and tour the best vegan restaurants in every state.

Vegan restaurants are few and far between in Alabama. In 2020, the capital city of Montgomery was blessed with its first fully vegan establishment when Plant Bae opened its doors. Since then, Plant Bae has grown its reputation and become an essential landmark in the Montgomery dining scene. The Black-owned business offers all-American classics like creamy mac and cheese, smoky collard greens, corn muffins, honey and barbecue sauce cauliflower wings, and loaded nachos. The restaurant even offers a catering service, serving burgers, wings, and nacho plates for more than 30 people.

With humble beginnings as a mobile food truck, Preference is now a fully fledged vegan restaurant in Alaska's most populous city, Anchorage. As the only vegan eatery in the area, the food truck experienced incredible demand, selling out almost every day and inspiring owner Dan Brown to find a permanent home for the business (via the Anchorage Daily News). It serves classics like chicken and waffles made with crispy breaded seitan, spicy birria tacos, and animal fries slathered in sauce. It may be the only vegan restaurant in the area, but the food is good enough to compete with heavyweights worldwide.

Colorful, vibrant, healthy, authentic, and exciting: Tumerico has all that and more. The menu changes daily but delivers a range of Latin mainstays like umami-rich jackfruit ropa vieja, tamale plates, tostadas, and burritos. We recommend trying the nopalito if you get the chance — light, tart, and citrusy cactus mixed with onion and red chili sauce is a flavor sensation we didn't know we needed. A shot of unusual yet refreshing and restorative turmeric lemonade is the perfect end to your stay at this plant-based haven.

The freshest and brightest ingredients from local farmers make their way to the kitchen at MeMe's Twisted Potato, where Chef MeMe cooks up mouth-watering Southern-style meals to order. In addition to sour, tangy, and crunchy fried green tomato sandwiches and house-made seitan tacos, you can find lip-smacking marinated pulled mushrooms on vegan buns. The holiday catering menu is where MeMe's Twisted Potato exceeds expectations: vegan oxtails, tender crab cakes, turkey with gravy, and luscious purple sweet potato pie to finish. We can't be the only ones suddenly craving Southern comfort food, surely?

Crossroads Kitchen has been making waves for years — we even featured it on our list of the best vegan restaurants around the world. Los Angeles is a hot spot for vegan restaurants, but Crossroads is an anomaly; despite an entirely vegan menu, it doesn't heavily advertise it and lets the prowess of the food speak for itself. The restaurant boasts a fine-dining tasting menu, not to mention brunch, lunch, and dinner menus full of inventive and decadent dishes. We highly recommend the creamy and indulgent vegan carbonara complete with (also vegan) egg yolk; it's sure to impress.

Elevated Italian fare has never looked or tasted as good: The fully vegan Watercourse Foods has pillowy brown butter and sage gnocchi, herby and velvety rigatoni with fennel sausage, and crispy arancini with a cheesy, melty interior, to name just a few. There's also an extensive breakfast menu, so if you've ever wanted to try vegan fluffy soufflé pancakes with blueberry compote or chewy pretzels for breakfast, you know where to head. Finish your meal with a cinnamon roll — or, if you're feeling cheeky, pick from a wide selection of alcohols (plus non-alcoholic options).

This Connecticut icon has been serving plant-based food for over 35 years and has been voted the best vegan/vegetarian restaurant in the state by the Hartford Readers' Poll since 1992. ION Restaurant's menu is simple but innovative, featuring contemporary plant-based takes on coastal classics. The surf and turf smothered with garlic butter stand out, as does the elegant white "clam" pasta with trumpet mushrooms and almond cheese. Don't skip dessert, especially the triple-layered toasted coconut cake with rich caramel and a sweet, nutty almond frosting.

The small, bright, and airy space at Drop Squad Kitchen is instantly welcoming. A Black-owned, family-owned business in the heart of Wilmington with sustainability and wholesome food at its roots, the menu is full of simple and hearty home cooking. Drop Squad Kitchen is completely soy-free, instead making all its plant-based meats in-house. For the real deal and a taste of soul, choose to sample one of the owner's familial recipes for candied yams, chicken soup with rice, or country-style chili.

PLANTA, a group of restaurants designed to increase the accessibility of plant-based food, has several locations across North America, in the U.S. and Canada. There are four in Florida alone; we recommend the South Beach establishment, a minimal, modern, and luxury venue with a great atmosphere on the top of Miami beach. The menu offers pizza, side plates, and main dishes, but PLANTA does sushi best. Sample the delicately flavored nigiri or crab rolls made from hearts of palm, and complete the Asian-fusion theme with fiery edamame dumplings or crispy chick'n fried mushroom bao buns.

Compared to other countries, the U.S. fast food scene is woefully unaccommodating for vegans. Coming to the rescue is Slutty Vegan, a fast food chain of restaurants created by restaurateur Pinky Cole. She started Slutty Vegan in 2018, first opening in Atlanta and then spreading across Georgia and into Alabama and opening in New York City as well. All the fast food classics are available, complete with flirty names. The "Ménage à Trois" is a plant-based burger topped with vegan bacon, shrimp, cheese, and fresh salad, while the "Big Dawg" is a vegan bratwurst complete with a pretzel bun.

Tane Vegan Izakaya is the brainchild of Chef Kin, an experienced sushi chef who decided that sustainable seafood was no longer good enough and instead committed to taking care of the oceans with reimagined, plant-based Japanese cuisine at Tane. Check out the ramen, agedashi tofu, and, of course, the nigiri and rolls. Presented with elegance and an immense depth of flavor, Tane Vegan Izakaya is sure to impress even the toughest critics.

It's all about the bread at High Note Cafe in Boise. Freshly baked, soft, and fluffy pita to dip in creamy hummus; gyros with spiced seitan and Greek tzatziki sauce inside the pillowy flatbread; bruschetta with tangy balsamic, diced tomatoes and mild mozzarella; hearty soup with crusty bread. These are just a few substantial options, not to mention every kind of sandwich you could imagine. We suggest trying the Horseradish Cream Melt with crimini mushrooms, steak-style seitan, creamy mozzarella, and fiery horseradish aioli.

When The Chicago Diner opened in 1983, veganism was far from mainstream. Co-owners Mickey Hornick and Jo Kaucher faced considerable adversity when they announced their plans to open a vegetarian diner in Chicago, Illinois' most populous city. Now, over 30 years later, The Chicago Diner is only growing in popularity and has a dedicated customer base. Its vegan shakes are renowned; try out the thick, cold, and creamy sweet salted caramel flavor. The menu is vegan by default, but the eatery does offer chicken eggs and dairy cheese for vegetarians.

This casual and relaxed spot is light and spacious, with extra seating in an exposed courtyard outside. Three Carrots Fountain Square's menu finds a perfect balance between healthy options and fried comfort foods, with indulgences like slathered chili cheese fries and buffalo-sauce-coated seitan atop mac and cheese served alongside wholesome and nutritious salads. We recommend the loaded biscuits and gravy — they're a classic — and the noochy grits with tofu and roasted vegetables.

Chef and owner of Trumpet Blossom Cafe Katy Meyer says she's committed to using local, organically grown items in the food she serves. It shows; the fresh, seasonal vegetables feel crisp and vibrant. The menu makes the most of these ingredients, with most burgers and wings served with delightfully tangy pickled vegetables. The cafe has a quaint, cozy atmosphere and a full bar and regularly hosts live music events, so there are plenty of chances to dance as well as eat.

For all of its upsides, Kansas is not generally seen a vegan-friendly state. While Lotus Leaf Cafe isn't a wholly vegan establishment, not only does the menu feature extensive plant-based options, but the owners place great importance on sustainability and have an immensely earnest approach to dietary needs. You'll find multiple vegan and gluten-free options across appetizers, mains, sides, salads, and burgers. Lotus Leaf Cafe even offers vegan cheese and vegan ranch dressings, so the meals are full of flavor.

If just one vegetarian restaurant doesn't sound good enough, in Louisville, you get two. Heart and Soy and Roots are sister restaurants located right next to one another and operating under the same management. Roots offers vegetarian upscale fine dining with sophisticated and complex flavors; think lapsang souchong-infused vinaigrettes and slow-cooked pho broth. On the other hand, Heart and Soy is a more casual affair drawing inspiration from Asian street food. The latter also allows you to watch production of its tofu and soy products live. Many of both restaurants' menu items can be made vegan as well.

The cuisine in New Orleans is legendary; one of the most distinctive culinary areas of the U.S., the combination of Creole, Cajun, and Southern influences merge to make hearty, flavorsome dishes. Vegans don't need to miss out — you can find Sweet Soulfood in the cultural hotspot between Bayou St. John and Tremé / Lafitte. True to its name, staples like okra gumbo, jambalaya, corn chowder, Cajun boil, and bread pudding feature on the restaurant's menu, which changes daily.

Anyone who likes spicy, flavorsome, and piquant food will be a fan of the modern Asian dishes at Green Elephant. According to the Portland Press Herald, owner Dan Sriprasert, grew up in Thailand, where his mother owned a food stall. Working without recipes and running from pure passion and experience is how his mother did it; Sriprasert has honed his craft further, elevating vegetarian and vegan cuisine. The menu is principally vegan, and dishes that aren't can be adapted. Fans on TripAdvisor praise the tofu pad thai with crushed peanuts as "the real deal."

Baltimore natives Gregory and Naijha Brown are on a mission: to deliver healthy, revolutionary, tasty, vegan classic soul food to the people of Baltimore. Both are members of the Black Veg Society, a movement created to inspire change and education around ethical food and living in BIPOC communities. This activism within the local neighborhood has earned the couple national recognition, but moreover, The Land of Kush's food is the perfect advertisement for healthy, vegan living. The velvety mac and cheese with smokey barbecue ribs are a top-rated combo.

Veggie Galaxy in Cambridge is here to show us how what a vegetarian galaxy would look like. The casual diner has a vegetarian menu, but every item that isn't vegan can be made so for no cost. It's worth sampling the daily specials. In particular, the fried "clam" platter is especially remarkable: crispy oyster mushrooms served alongside tangy tartar sauce, lemon wedges, and golden fries. Meanwhile, the onsite bakery that offers beloved favorites such as donuts, Oreo cheesecake, and Pop Tarts, is 100% vegan.

If there were doubts that vegan food is just as delicious as meat-based dishes, Seva Detroit is there to dispel those uncertainties. An in-demand vegetarian institution since 2011, don't fear that not all of the menu is vegan — the few dishes which aren't vegan by default still have an alternative option to substitute vegan cheese. The entire menu is available for take-out, and Seva's even offers family-sized appetizer platters of its famous General Tso's cauliflower bites, amongst other delicacies.

There's just one "dirty secret" at J. Selby's, a plant-based restaurant in the state capital of Minnesota, St. Paul: Its signature burger — two juicy non-beef patties sandwiched between pickles, lettuce, melted vegan cheese, and lashings of special sauce. The Dirty Secret burger is J. Selby's spin on the Big Mac, but reviewers at abillion think it's much better. The restaurant also has a "no tips" policy (instead, it pays staff fair wages), a complementary "community bowls" service for anyone in need, and a comprehensive sustainability promise.

Indian cuisine is one of the most accommodating for those eating a plant-based diet, and Good Karma Cafe makes the most of that, providing vegetarian and vegan options. For lunch, it offers a set menu full of complex depths of flavor, including vegetable curry, grains, fluffy basmati rice, and a sweet dish. Recipes from owner Maharani's homeland Malaysia, such as stir-fried noodles mie goreng, are available to order, too. As a highly spiritual woman, Maharani believes deeply in the ancient Indian principle of non-violence, Ahimsa, which is at the root of all the food at Good Karma Cafe.

Anyone who asserts that vegans only eat salad clearly hasn't visited the Tree House in St. Louis. This eatery specializes in elegant, subtle, and beautifully presented plates. The dishes are vegan by default, but vegetarians can request the addition of cheese or eggs. The wild mushroom stuffed ravioli with silky cashew cream sauce and caramelized brussels sprouts alone is worth a trip, although the whole menu is full of tantalizing options. If you crave something sweet to finish, opt for the house-made lemon curd parfait with granola and meringue brûlée.

Vegan and gluten-free baking can seem too overwhelming to attempt at home. Instead of experimenting and risking failure, most people go without. Tandem Bakery & Cafe is changing things up by ensuring that people with dietary requirements don't miss out. The bakery offers cakes, cupcakes, cheesecakes, and doughnuts in a dizzying array of flavors that taste just as good (or better) than regular baked goods. It also has a small hot-food menu with soups, sandwiches, and salads. We recommend the coconut bacon BLT, which is the perfect snack for a lunch or study date.

Who doesn't love comfort food? We'd struggle to pick only two things from the menu at Modern Love in Omaha and probably end up ordering a whole feast instead. The decor is cute and stylish, with a casual atmosphere that instantly puts you at ease. We recommend ordering plates to share: The fried cashew mozzarella starter is melty, creamy, and not to be missed; the seitan wings bucket is ultra-meaty and delightfully spicy; the blackberry lemon cheesecake is luxurious and indulgent. Try the ice cream sundae or milkshakes too; we know you can't resist.

Las Vegas has become a haven for vegan restaurants, with new establishments popping up everywhere. However, VegeNation stands out from the rest thanks to its hip, relaxed vibe and street-food-inspired plates. The restaurant sources its produce, artisan cheese, and drinks from local businesses, community gardens, and school programs. The menu is 100% vegan, with global recipes ranging from Mexican, Italian, American, Japanese, French, and more. On weekends there's often a live DJ, so get grooving.

Simple, hearty, home-cooked food is the basis of success at Col's Kitchen, a small plant-based restaurant with rustic vibes. Imagine your Grandma's apple pie — but vegan. There are plenty more home comforts on the menu, like rich, creamy, and meaty mushroom seitan stroganoff or Philly "Cheez Steak" filled with caramelized onions and gooey, melted cheese. You can find Col's Kitchen across the street from the Capitol Center for the Arts, ideally situated to grab a bite to eat before or after a theater date.

A comparative newcomer to the scene, Gãia & Loki was founded at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. The name reflects its business ethos; Gaia is the ancient Greek personification of Mother Earth, while Loki is the god of change. In reflection, the restaurant aims to honor the Earth through healthy, sustainable, and cruelty-free food while promoting positive changes in the community.

The décor is chic, and the menu has elevated classics like maple-smoked beet tartare, mushroom alfredo, and peach cobbler pancakes. Gãia & Loki is a BYOB establishment.

Thai food has an incredible depth of flavor, with aromatic notes of lemongrass and cilantro balanced with citrusy lime, salty soy sauce, sweet palm sugar, and creamy coconut milk. However, the cuisine also traditionally includes different types of fish sauce, which renders the food not vegetarian or vegan-friendly. Fortunately, Thai Vegan has come to the rescue: Its tom yum soup, pad thai, and much more are all 100% plant-based. You can add extra tofu, soy chicken, pepper steak, or soy fish to any main you like.

No matter if you're a native New Yorker or a tourist, add Avant Garden in Manhattan to your itinerary. Be warned that due to the up-market ambiance and reputation for breathtaking food, Avant Garden can easily book out. To avoid disappointment, we recommend booking a reservation as soon as it opens, 21 days in advance. The menu is concise but cohesive, and the tapas-style portions are perfect for sharing amongst each other. Try the flavor-laden toasts, which seem to be inspired by Danish smørrebrød.

With a bright green facade, it's almost impossible to miss Fiction Kitchen in central Raleigh. Inside, the cheery, cute, and colorful vibe continues with vibrantly painted walls and friendly servers. The menu is equally delightful, with a thoughtful and globally inspired selection ranging from cheesy lion's mane rangoon and barbecue pulled pork with mashed potatoes and coleslaw to an unmissable fluffy, light, and airy tres leches cake topped with vegan whipped cream.

Unfortunately, North Dakota is one of two states in the U.S. that doesn't have a single fully vegan restaurant. While this presents an exciting opportunity for any budding restaurateurs out there — and we're sure new eateries will pop up soon — in the meantime, anyone seeking vegan food can find plentiful options at Rhombus Guys in Fargo. This pizza parlor may serve meat, but it also caters to vegans. You can order a custom pizza with Daiya vegan cheese, Beyond sausage, and seitan, in addition to a range of sauces, herbs, and vegetables.

Raw veganism has been catching momentum recently. Due to prioritizing 100% plant-based, non-GMO, and organic produce, the food at Portia's Cafe in Ohio tastes fresh, healthy, and energizing. Choices for people following raw veganism abound: nutty falafel, creamy chilled broccoli soup, a range of wraps, and chewy apple almond cookies. Alternatively, for those who prefer cooked food, the menu is vast. Don't forget to end your meal with the creamy "Cheezecake."

Since 2013, The Loaded Bowl has served local customers across Oklahoma City, first from a humble food truck and then from a regular brick-and-mortar location. As the same suggests, it's all about bowls. Expect to find chicken, tofu, and broccoli sesame rice, or tortillas topped with beyond meat, guacamole, cashew queso, beans, and other goodies.

The activism at the heart of veganism and its connection to the local community have driven The Loaded Bowl to donate a percentage of its profits from cookie sales to nonprofit organizations.

It's no secret that Portland, Oregon, is one of the most vegan-friendly areas in the U.S. According to Forbes, the city ranks No. 1 for accessibility and the sheer volume of options available. We struggled to pick a restaurant to feature but decided on Virtuous Pie — an iconic, fully vegan pizza place that's both affordable and tasty. Our top picks are the garlic knots, truffle mac and cheese, ice cream waffle cones, and cashew cheesecake-filled cannoli. The pizza? Well, we'll leave you to choose for yourself, as it's all exceptional.

Helmed by a husband-and-wife team who choose to celebrate the humble vegetable through exceptional artistry and cooking, Vedge in Philadelphia is a must-visit for foodies. Housed in an elegant and historic brownstone, the atmosphere is instantly warm, inviting, and homely. A cozy fireplace and rutabaga fondue — What more could you want? The menu changes seasonally, although a few classics remain year-round. Out of these, reviewers highlight the spicy dan dan noodles and gooey sticky toffee desserts as favorites.

When we imagine vegan heaven, it looks just like Plant City. We're not talking about just one vegan restaurant. Not even two: No, Plant City in Providence is a whole food hall entirely dedicated to vegan eats. The website claims to be the first vegan food hall and marketplace, offering four restaurants, three bars, a bakery, a coffee bar, and an event space. Because you'll be spoiled for choice, we unquestionably recommend returning as many times as possible to try out all the diverse picks, from scones to pesto pizza.

Treat yourself to homely comfort food cooked with love at The Reizod Vegan Experience, a Black-owned business specializing in vegan, cruelty-free, and soy-free treats. Cooked from scratch and made to order, all meals are presented with flare and taste fresh. While the cheesy, saucy three-layered lasagne is exceedingly tempting, you can't visit The Reizod Vegan Experience without digging into a large portion of velvety mac and cheese with sweet fried plantains. Trust us — you don't want to miss it.

As of yet, there are no completely vegan restaurants in South Dakota. However, not all hope is lost; our pick, Sanaa's Gourmet Mediterranean, offers plenty of vegan and gluten-free choices on its Middle-Eastern-inspired menu. Kibbeh (bulgar and soy patties), served with fresh and zesty tabbouli salad, is just a taste of what's to come. Feast on the fatayer (stuffed and baked calzone) and pick from a variety of fillings, from tahini eggplant to sumac and harissa spiced sweet potato. The Saturday lunch buffet also has ample choices for vegans.

Dark forest-green hues, live houseplants, and wooden accents create an ambiance of natural peace and relaxation in the Nashville-based AVO. AVO isn't just a vegan restaurant; it's also kosher-certified and caters to raw vegans and gluten-free and nut-free dietary requirements. You'll go crazy for the beautifully fresh kimchi spring rolls with Thai peanut sauce (the epitome of Instagrammable) and the raw pad thai made from kelp and zucchini noodles. Save room for dessert; the cashew cheesecakes, fudgy brownies, and chocolate avocado tarts are raw, gluten-free, and devilishly indulgent.

There's a common misconception that Texas is a hard place to be vegan. As a matter of fact, it's surprisingly easy to find a wealth of tempting vegan eats in big cities like Austin. Operating for a time out of a 1970s Airstream, The Vegan Nom is all about Tex-Mex. Every Tuesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m., you can find all the possible burritos, nachos, and tacos you could ever crave. The Vegan Nom is even available to hire for events and weddings.

We've all craved breakfast at 3 p.m. at some point in our lives, and thankfully, Vertical Diner in Salt Lake City is there to satisfy those cravings. The diner is classic American in all ways but one: It's 100% plant-based. Breakfast is available all day and includes tantalizingly unctuous hash brown stacks, fluffy tofu scramble, and creamy guacamole with fried peppers and onions. Tuck into biscuits and gravy, breakfast burritos, "dude cakes," pancakes, pizza, and much more. Don't leave without indulging in a classic banana split.

While the food is the main talking point at Pingala Cafe, the restaurant gets extra points for a picturesque patio overlooking the Winooski River and a calm atmosphere. The cafe's moniker comes from Sanskrit and means "sun energy," a fun nod to the all-natural plant-based cuisine. One item, in particular, is a cult favorite: The Crunchwrap Supreme, complete with cashew queso, even found fame with the Food Network's Guy Fieri and made its way onto our list of must-visit vegan restaurants in New England.

Ipanema Cafe has been around since 1998, making it a revolutionary forerunner in the vegetarian scene of Richmond, Virginia. The quaint little building with white-brick walls is a typical pub inside, and it doesn't disappoint with a wide range of beer, wine, and cocktails. All the food at Ipanema Cafe is vegan unless otherwise noted, although the restaurant is happy to adjust vegetarian options to make them vegan. In particular, the BBQ jackfruit wraps with avocado crema have got Google reviewers raving.

Aside from the abundance of incredible National Parks on its doorstep, one of the marvelous things about Seattle is how vegan-friendly the city is. Although you can't go wrong with any vegan establishments across the city, our pick is the casual counter-service Wayward Vegan Cafe. It's best known for its incredibly realistic and silky omelets. The "hillbilly omelet" has hash browns, sausages, country gravy, and a cheddar cheese sauce; the "sunshine omelet" has tempeh bacon, vegetables, avocado, cheddar cheese sauce, and ranch dressing. Omelets have never sounded as good as they do now!

We've found possibly the cutest eatery you'll ever encounter. Housed in a beautiful building full of character, Kelley's Farm Kitchen is welcoming and intimate. There are picnic tables on the lawn outside that are perfect for picnics on sunny summer afternoons and an Appalachian Trail hiker shop for enthusiastic backpackers. The menu has a few pleasant surprises: Try the Banh Mi with soy protein, Korean BBQ sauce, fresh veggies, slaw, and spicy mayo. Likewise, the house-made ramen bowls with cubed tofu have an intense umami hit.

Are you wondering how a vegan restaurant came to be named the "Cheeze Factory"? The historic building, dating back to 1948, used to accommodate Wisconsin's largest cheese mart. In a playful twist of fate, in 1992, the building was bought by vegan entrepreneurs and became Cheeze Factory Restaurant. As you may have guessed, the restaurant serves salads, soups, flatbreads, pasta, and more — many sprinkled with vegan cheese.

When the Sweet Melissa Cafe opened its doors in 1999, there weren't any vegetarian restaurants in Wyoming. It didn't take long for the quaint eatery to establish itself as a community favorite in downtown Laramie. Since then, despite multiple newcomers to the scene, Sweet Melissa remains a top-rated restaurant in Laramie (via TripAdvisor). The menu, designed as "comfort food for the homesick vegetarian," has vegan staples like black bean burgers, tender dolmas, and three-bean chili.