North America’s Best Vegetarian Restaurants

Millennium (Oakland, CA)

A classic outpost of California cuisine, Millennium has been serving up seasonal, vegetarian, Bay Area dishes for over ten years with the help of head chef Eric Tucker. In the past few years, they relocated from San Francisco to Oakland, but their simple and delightful food has remained constant. Warm, intimate, and with bespoke outdoor seating.

The Acorn (Vancouver, British Columbia)

While British Columbia might be known for its excellent salmon, The Acorn is one of the top restaurants in Vancouver, and it doesn’t even serve any fish! True to the nature-themed name, The Acorn is a vegetarian culinary’s paradise, with dishes like roasted patty pan squash with barley + rutabaga medley, chanterelles, crispy chard, and cucumber cream sure to excite the palette and tease the senses. The fine dining atmosphere makes the restaurant feel a little more polished than the typically bohemian environs one comes to associate with vegetarian eating, but make no mistake: these vegetables are worth the wait.

Plant Food and Wine (Venice Beach, California)

Plant Food and Wine is a favorite among the GC staff. In 2017 it seems rather cliche to reference vegan restaurants in Los Angeles as if the concept is rare here, but the sleek, minimalist, upscale vegan fare offered at Plant Food + Wine sets this restaurant apart. Plant Food + Wine is one of the best restaurants in L.A.– it just so happens to be vegan. Enjoy macadamia nut butter on your homemade bread, or dunk it in the superb broth of a king oyster mushroom agrodolce. 

By Chloe– And Desserts by Chloe (New York, New York)

By Chloe’s burgers have a reputation that proceeds them: a story once circulated in the food world about a New York burger that was voted “Best Burger in America” and it didn’t even contain any meat. That burger was the Guac Burger from By Chloe, a pop-art inspired vegetarian restaurant with a casual grab-and-go vibe. By now, By Chloe is a staple in NYC dining (we love the cashew-avocado kelp noodles)– but fans of the establishment now also have Desserts By Chloe to look forward to. Desserts by Chloe offers everything from lush (gluten-free) chocolate chip cookies to green matcha babka. And with a convenient location adjacent to the flagship By Chloe cafe in SoHo, there’s no reason not to get your burger and eat your icecream, too.

Golden Era (San Fransisco, California)

Golden Era has been a downtown staple amongst San Fransisco vegans since the restaurant opened in 1999. Known for their clay pot dinners, popular fake meats, and asian-style tofu plates, Golden Era also has variety and a good portion size to match. This is a great place for families (or those look for a cheap, quick dinner)– but don’t let the affordability fool you: the spicy asian stew is not for the faint of heart.

Full Bloom (Miami, Florida)

Miami may have been the city that pioneered the South Beach Diet, but Full Bloom Miami is rife with opportunities to indulge. The restaurant’s gourmet vegan cuisine is among the best in the nation, with staples like Zucchini Castle Parmigiana and Green Kale Lasagna with Seitan Ragu making this a favorite among locals. Swing by during Art Basel or on the way to the beach for a light, refreshing lunch.

Mother’s Cafe & Garden (Austin, Texas)

Austin has its share of eccentric, excellent food establishments, but Mother’s Cafe & Garden is one of the best (and most colorful!) places for straightforward vegan and vegetarian cuisine. Located on Duval Street near Hyde Park, Mother’s offers smoothies, enchiladas, and a weekend brunch menu that honors Southwestern flavors (try the Huevos Motulenos or the Santa Fe Breakfast tacos for a real treat). Open for take out and delivery, it’s also the perfect place to pick up a few picnic items before heading off to Zilker Park or the Umlauf Sculpture Garden.

Mana Food Bar (Chicago, Illinois)

Chicago is home to some of the most exciting cuisine in the United States right now, but it isn’t exactly a city that has historically been associated with vegetarian fare (though we’ll take a trout omelette from Lula and a hot dog from Wrigley Field any day). Enter: Mana Food Bar; a vegetarian restaurant with polenta so good its practically a sin. The dark, modernist atmosphere makes this restaurant feel more like one of David Chang’s chic New York establishments than a Chi-town neighborhood haunt, but the food at Mana feels distinctly “of Chicago”: straightforward and no bullshit. Try the mushroom saute over creamy polenta; you will not be disappointed.

Nora (Washington, D.C.)

Believe it or not, Restaurant Nora in Washington, D.C. was the first organic-certified restaurant in the United States. Located in an unassuming but lovely residential neighborhood in Dupont Circle, Nora is known for farm-fresh, vegetable-forward dishes including fabulous Belgian endive salads and exotic innovations like short rib ravioli, and the seasonal menu is constantly offering new favorites. Nora purchases all their produce from certified organic farmers and producers who do not use synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, antibiotics, hormones, or GMOs. We’ll drink to that!

FoMu (Cambridge, Massachusetts)

FoMu is a dessert establishment by design– but who doesn’t love a little sugar in their bowl? Specializing in vegan ice cream and gluten-free baked goods, FoMu’s three cafes in the South End and near Harvard offer complimentary WiFi and a delightful array of bespoke desserts, from incredible vegan ice cream cakes (we recommend the Gluten Free chocolate chip cookie) to homemade chocolate chip cookies (which are vegan, gluten free, and an essential part of FoMu’s homemade ice cream sandwiches). Try the caramel bean vanilla coffee or swing by after dinner for a sweet, thoughtful surprise.