Plant-Based Paradise: Manhattan’s 23 Must-Try Vegan Restaurants
Explore the Best Vegan Restaurants in Manhattan
Are you looking for the best vegan restaurants in Manhattan? Then you really have a wide choice in this borough of NYC, because vegan dishes are not a niche, but a life style that many New Yorkers find good. From cafes with good food to vegan burgers and vegan restaurants, my best list should definitely have something for you!
And so that you can quickly see which vegan restaurant is near you, you can find them all on the map on the left side of this article. Believe me: there are some really good places for vegan food in NYC! And in case you’re looking for vegan restaurants not only in Manhattan, check out my article about the best vegan places in NYC!
By the way: you’ll find many more New York City spots in our Loving New York travel guides!
My Favorite Vegan Restaurants in Manhattan
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01
Avant Garden
Vegan Restaurant in East Village
In the cozy restaurant in the East Village, the vegan food is served in a very stylish way. The quality is excellent and it tastes fantastic.
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02
Beyond Sushi
Vegan Restaurant in Garment District
Beyond Sushi is a charming vegan restaurant that, as you probably guessed, sells a large variety of vegan sushi in addition to a few other complementary dishes. But despite the fact that sushi can be quite expensive, Beyond Sushi is still a fairly affordable place to eat out in NYC. With dishes ranging from $8 to $19.
And if you’re having a hard time choosing between all of their sushi pieces, rolls, dumplings, and more… then the shiitake truffle dumplings seem particularly popular.
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03
Blossom on Columbus
Vegan Restaurant in Upper West Side
Blossom on Columbus is a vegan restaurant in NYC that prides itself on using organic, and fresh, ingredients from local farms in their area. Furthermore, they’re a great place to get a fine dining experience that’s vegan-friendly. Both because of the elegant surroundings and the refined menu.
Among their many options are dishes like… buffalo arancini, pesto pizza, and apple strudel. Their seitan piccata is said to be out-of-this-world though. So you’ll probably want to try that dish out while you’re there.
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04
Caravan of Dreams
Vegan Restaurant in East VillageCaravan of Dreams is actually the oldest organic vegan restaurant in New York City, and state that they’re deeply committed to helping people live healthier and “purer” lives. And they follow up this statement with a variety of healthy dishes, including a lot of gluten-free options. Before we talk about some of their dishes though, it’s worth noting that Caravan of Dreams provides a great atmosphere in addition to their food. With plenty of music and dancing to go around.
Back to the food, they have everything from raw entrees to burgers. So there’s a lot to choose from. Personally, because of the raving reviews, I’d suggest trying the caravan burrito.
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05
Coletta
Vegan Restaurant in Kips Bay
Coletta is a vegan restaurant that serves Italian food, which is a really fun twist. And it is run by a chef who really knows what he’s doing when it comes to vegan food, having been in that industry for many years.
At this establishment, you’ll be treated to a true fine-dining experience and will be surrounded by beautiful, elegant decorations. To make it even better, Coletta offers vegan pizza! And pizza, in many different variations, is actually their staple dish. Specifically, their wild mushroom truffle pizza is a fan favorite. Although they offer appetizers, sides, desserts, and more as well.
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06
Delice & Sarrasin
Vegan Restaurant in Greenwich Village
Delice & Sarrasin is a restaurant that serves French-based vegan food. Which is quite unique, and allows vegans to appreciate everything that French cuisine has to offer.
The interior of this restaurant manages to be elegant and cozy at the same time, providing you with the perfect space to enjoy the expansive menu that Delice & Sarrasin has to offer for brunch, lunch, and dinner.
Including creative dishes like their vegan version of escargot, which is made from oyster mushrooms; and their better-known dishes like “Coq Au Vin”, a pea-protein version of a chicken leg served with carrots, mushrooms, and more. That dish is actually soy-free in addition to being gluten-free, like many of their others.
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07
Franchia Vegan Cafe
Vegan Restaurant in Murray Hill
The Franchia Vegan Cafe is the first vegan eatery on this list that serves Korean food, so if you’re looking for some plant-based versions of this type of cuisine then this café is for you. And even aside from their menu, they fully embrace the theme by decorating with a lot of traditional Korean decor. Even their ceiling is painted as a mural to give a nod to the Korean Palace.
And, of course, their menu backs all of this up. It’s full of traditional Korean dishes that have been modified to be vegan. Including one of their most popular items, their vegan dim sum buns.
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08
Jajaja Mexicana
Vegan Restaurant in West VillageAs you can probably tell from the name, Jajaja Mexicana serves Mexican cuisine, and more specifically, Mexican street-style food. And every dish is vegan! Inside, you can expect to see tiling, paneling, and bright colors that combine to create a welcoming and casual environment for you to enjoy your meal.
Then, it’s simply a matter of choosing between all the great options on the menu. You may end up choosing one of their tacos, some chips with their queso dip, or even a bowl of turmeric cauliflower rice. Although their chorizo burrito is particularly popular!
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09
Jerrell's BETR BRGR
Vegan Restaurant in SoHo
At Jerrell’s BETR BRGR, they serve completely plant-based burgers of a few different varieties. As well as some other dishes like waffle fries and chili. But it’s also worth noting that the environment at Jerrell’s is fun and light-hearted, and they’re actually a late-night establishment as well. Making it a great option if you’re hungry after most establishments have closed in NYC.
Back to the burgers though, they have three main options. The Lil’ BETR; which includes an impossible patty, vegan cheese, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and of course, their special sauce. The OG BETR; which includes more impossible patties. And the SUPR BETR; which includes everything the OG BETR does, except with extra toppings.
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10
Ladybird
Vegan Restaurant in East Village
Ladybird is an establishment where you can have high-quality vegetarian dishes, as well as cocktails if you’re in the mood for a bit of sophisticated drinking. The decorations at Ladybird are sophisticated, and as many call it… plush. With pastel colors and comfortable furniture. And they serve many comfort foods here, as well as more elegant dishes. So you can choose anything from arancini to grilled cheese! But many people specifically suggest you at least try their well-known, buffalo maitake bun.
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11
Le Botaniste SoHo
Vegan Restaurant in SoHo
Le Botaniste is quite literally one-of-a-kind, because according to their official site… they’re the only organic, plant-based, AND carbon-neutral restaurant in NYC. Which is quite an accomplishment. And this establishment in Soho gets even better once you actually step inside because the simple elegance will instantly lift your mood. Especially the classic black and white tiles on the floor.
Their menu features bowls, starters, specials, and desserts. And although they have plenty of delicious dishes within those categories, their Tibetan Mama is especially popular. As is their spicy chili “sin” carne. But don’t forget to try a Quinoa peanut butter cookie for dessert.
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12
LuAnne's Wild Ginger
Vegan Restaurant in NolitaLuAnne’s Wild Ginger has several different locations, including one in Nolita, Manhattan. But no matter where you go, you’ll be treated to their mix of vegan and kosher options. And furthermore, you’ll be made comfortable in their tastefully decorated interiors. Regardless of which location is your choice.
Now let’s talk about their menu though, which is quite large and contains many different foods. Noodles, wontons, salads, skewers, and more are all available. But their grilled miso eggplant, in particular, seems to be a hot item.
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13
May Kaidee
Vegan Restaurant in Lower East SideMay Kaidee is a vegan restaurant specializing in Thai food. It’s quite a small establishment, but that doesn’t mean that the food served there packs any less of a punch. Because it’s actually quite flavorful. Speaking of which, some of the many items on the menu are… noodle coconut milk soup, vegan sausage spread, and panang curry. But more specifically, people love the various curries that May Kaidee creates, as well as their green papaya salad.
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14
Peacefood Downtown
Vegan Restaurant in Greenwich Village
Peacefood is actually a vegan kitchen and bakery, which makes it stand out quite a bit from some of the other eateries on this list. And furthermore, they have locations in both downtown and uptown NYC. So you can take your pick of which one you’d like to visit.
In this article, we’re specifically focusing on the downtown location; at which they serve cakes, pies, brownies, and more. They even have soups and salads as well. But make sure to try their roasted Japanese pumpkin sandwich, it’s quite popular.
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15
Peacefood Uptown
Vegan Restaurant in Upper West Side
At Peacefood you will find many great dishes for vegans and raw food lovers. There is sushi with sweet potatoes, spicy tomatoes and walnuts. Smoothies with Superfoods and nut milk and raw cashew cream cake. So you can feast without remorse in the cosy café. You can read about the philosophy of eating at peacefood cafes homepage.
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16
Plant Junkie 52
Vegan Restaurant in Theatre DistrictPlant Junkie serves vegan bowls that take inspiration from all over the world, and much like the previous item on this list, they have several locations. However, we’re talking about the location on 52nd Street; or aka Plant Junkie 52!
Sri Lankan Buddha, Tokyo Bowl, and Moroccan Mirage are just a few of your options. And Plant Junkie actually personally suggests you try out their Wicked “Meatball” Sub, as well as their Buddha Bowl. But, if you don’t want any of those items, Plant Junkie offers you a chance to create your own gluten-free bowl as well!
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17
PLANTA Queen
Vegan Restaurant in NoMad
PLANTA Queen serves completely plant-based Asian cuisine, including some vegan versions of popular seafood items. So don’t worry, you won’t have to worry about weeding through literal lobster rolls or crab cakes at this restaurant.
But what you can do, is enjoy your stunning surroundings! Courtesy of their beautiful decoration and style, which is not only eclectic but incorporates a lot of Asian influence as well.
When ordering, you can choose between various small plates, sushi, noodles, dumplings, and more. But a few of the more commonly talked about dishes are bang bang broccoli, dan dan noodles, udon noodles, and crispy rice.
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18
Spicy Moon
Vegan Restaurant in West VillageSpicy Moon actually has two locations in NYC, they’re located in West Village and East Village. So you can take your pick between them, and enjoy your Chinese Szechuan plates from whichever one you like.
Both are decorated in a casual style, featuring a lot of wood that gives the building a cozy vibe. And both have a delicious menu for you to enjoy! A few examples of their options are crispy eggplants, veggie spring rolls, and cumin fries. But their most popular item is definitely their scallion pancakes!
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19
The Organic Grill
Vegan Restaurant in Greenwich VillageOne of the very first organic restaurants in NYC, The Organic Grill is proud to be plant-based and mostly gluten-free as well. Ensuring that their customer base only eats the finest of ingredients.
Their menu consists of starters, sides, sandwiches, bowls, desserts, and more. But they even have a section of “dishes that made us famous”, where you can see a lot of their top sellers. Such as their tofu omelet and their spicy black bean burger.
And an additional benefit of eating at The Organic Grill is that you can rest easy knowing that you’re supporting local farms. Since The Organic Grill does their best to source their ingredients locally.
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20
The Soda Club
Vegan Restaurant in Alphabet City
The Soda Club is a well-known vegan bar that serves organic wines and pasta. And it’s the perfect way to enjoy food and drink in a healthy and sustainable way. The inside of the club is sophisticated and the perfect place to unwind in style. So it’s no wonder why The Soda Club has so many shining reviews.
As far as the drinks go, this bar has over two hundred different options for you! And their menu is full of diverse Italian dishes, although focus on pasta-based ones. So it makes sense that one of their most popular items is their Gigli.
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21
Urban Vegan Kitchen
Vegan Restaurant in Greenwich Village
The Urban Vegan Kitchen isn’t tied down to one single cuisine, instead, they serve dishes with a variety of influences. So you’ll have plenty of options if you visit here. And additionally, their decorations are fun and one-of-a-kind. There’s colorful graffiti on the walls and even cute depictions of cartoon farm animals!
But the real star of the show is, of course, their menu. Quesadillas, BLTs, onion rings, tacos, gluten-free lasagna, Urban Vegan Kitchen has it all! And their buffalo wings come especially well recommended!
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22
Vegan on the Fly
Vegan Restaurant in Midtown ManhattanVegan on the Fly started their location in New York with the mission of giving vegans a way to experience classic NYC street food in a way that fits their diet. And they succeeded! It is important to note that they specialize in comfort food, so their menu isn’t exactly comprised of healthy vegan food as much as fun dishes that are great to splurge on!
Having said that, they serve everything from burgers and loaded fries to falafels. And they even have an array of desserts, such as cake jars and cookie crème pies. Among this menu, are some true fan favorites. Namely their platters, gyro sandwiches, and jerk chicken mac bowl.
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23
Willow Vegan Bistro
Vegan Restaurant in Chelsea
The Willow Vegan Bistro is a cozy establishment in NYC that serves all your favorites, made vegan-friendly. And to give you even more peace of mind about their authenticity and the high-quality ingredients, they’re actually kosher-certified as well.
Plus, the interior of this bistro is tastefully decorated and the staff at the Willow Vegan Bistro really know how to present the food beautifully. So it provides an experience in addition to providing great food!
Specifically, this bistro is known for classic comfort foods like sandwiches, mac and “cheese” (that’s made from truffles), and even ice cream! But their calamari is one of their most popular dishes!
FAQ
Is NYC good for vegans?
Yes, NYC is good for vegans. In fact, NYC is good for all kinds of diets. The city is famous for its food scene since you can find almost everything here. During the last years more and more vegan restaurants opened all over the city. Vegans will not have any trouble with finding good vegan restaurants in the Big Apple.
Does NYC have good vegan food?
Yes, New York City has a lot of good vegan food! You can find good vegan restaurants and bakeries all over the city. From vegan burgers and other fast food dishes to vegan sweets and plant-based sushi or more upscale cuisine, there is now something for every taste.
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