67 Best Restaurants in USA

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We've compiled the best of the best in USA - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.

The Hoot

$ | East Columbia

Tucked into a nearly subterranean ground floor space, this new vegan go-to helps to fill the void left behind by the closing of The Whig—a former owner of that dive bar is behind The Hoot's dim garden bar vibes. Order a seitan-based Philly Sando, a bowl of shroom "mac & cheez," or a baked tofu sandwich with chili-ginger spread, then stick around for a chai margarita and a game of pinball.

Kayak Kafe Midtown

$$

This palm-shaded eatery is the sister restaurant to the original downtown location and hands down the best spot for vegetarian and vegan options in the city. There's also more than enough on the menu to keep a meat eater happy—consider the fried chicken tacos or the chicken-and-goat-cheese enchiladas. If you have your mind on a cocktail, gather 'round the bar for a Hot Derby with spicy ginger ale. There's ample parking and several big screens where you can watch the big game.

Ki's Restaurant

$$

Veggies with a view could be the subtitle for this venerable Cardiff restaurant that grew from a simple juice shack. Ki’s is well known for heart-healthy, gluten-free, vegan, locally sourced, ovo-lacto, vegetarian-friendly dishes like huevos rancheros, filling tofu scrambles, taco plates, chopped salads with feta and nuts, seasonal juice, and carrot ice-cream smoothies. "The Kicker" juice is packed with nutrients like kale, apple, ginger, cilantro, and spinach. From 4 to 8 pm, the menu takes a step forward with macadamia-coconut mahi-mahi, miso-glazed salmon, and filet mignon topped with a mushroom Cabernet sauce.

2591 S. Coast Hwy. 101, Cardiff-by-the-Sea, CA, 92007, USA
760-436–5236
Known For
  • Healthy vegan and gluten-free menu
  • Asian salmon salad
  • Popular post-surfing spot across from the beach

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Recommended Fodor's Video

Kindred

$ | South Park

Ornate pink wallpaper and marble-topped tables stand among skull prints, Gothic art, a heavy metal soundtrack and a giant ram's head in this busy restaurant-bar—emphasis on the bar. The vegan menu is not what you might expect, and the bold flavors and satisfying portions will please both herbivores and carnivores alike.

1503 30th St., San Diego, CA, 92102, USA
619-546–9653
Known For
  • Skewers of homemade seitan or impossible shawarma
  • Potent tiki drinks
  • Busy weekend brunch
Restaurant Details
No lunch weekdays

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Laughing Seed Café

$$

This vegetarian-vegan eatery is a longtime Asheville favorite on charming Wall Street. The extensive menu ranges from banh mi sandwiches and a vegan sweet potato Reuben to dinner specialties influenced by the flavors of India, Cuba, Thailand, Mexico, and Morocco. There are also several raw entrées.

40 Wall St., Asheville, NC, 28801, USA
828-252–3445
Known For
  • Thai panang curry
  • Cold-press juices and other beverages
  • Breads baked in-house
Restaurant Details
Closed Tues. and Wed.
Reservations not accepted

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Little Saint

$$

Inside a metal-and-glass structure design writers have described as industrial grange-hall chic, the chefs at this café and lounge with informal seating prepare satisfying plant-based cuisine. With most ingredients rushed over from Little Saint's nearby 8-acre Russian River farm, the menu items change often.

25 North St., Healdsburg, CA, 94558, USA
707-433–8207
Known For
  • Wines, beers, ciders, and cocktails alcoholic and non
  • Coffee bar, wineshop, and mercantile with made-to-go salads, sandwiches, and dips
  • Live music some nights
Restaurant Details
Closed Tues. and Wed.

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MANA Food Bar

$ | Wicker Park
It's easy to miss this slim, stylish restaurant amid the clothing boutiques and bars along Division Street, but those in the know squeeze in for globally inspired vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free fare. The health-conscious dishes are small, so plan to order a few of the flavorful offerings to share; if you’re still hungry or want to add some seafood to your night, head to the Anaba Handroll Bar counter for sushi hand rolls.
1742 W. Division St., Chicago, IL, 60622, USA
773-342–1742
Known For
  • <PRO>sake cocktails</PRO>
  • <PRO>veggie "Mana" slider</PRO>
  • <PRO>fresh-squeezed juices</PRO>
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted
Closed Sun.
Reservations not accepted

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Moosewood

$

Since its founding in 1973, this downtown restaurant has been at the forefront in the field of creative vegetarian cooking, and its cookbooks are known worldwide. The menu changes daily, and everything is prepared from fresh ingredients. Past menus have included spinach-and-cheese ravioli in a red-pepper-basil sauce and haddock with lemon, thyme, tomatoes, and topped with dill pesto. A vegan option is always available. The setting is casual: chunky blond-wood tables and booths and lively conversation fill the space. You may also dine outside on a patio.

215 N. Cayuga St., Ithaca, NY, 14850, USA
607-273--9610
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted
Reservations not accepted

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Off the Griddle

$

With bar-top and wooden table and booth seating, fresh-baked pies on display, and a super-relaxed counter service, Off the Griddle feels like a pretty typical—if extra cute—diner, but this Foster Road standby is entirely vegetarian (and mostly vegan). Indeed, the menu reflects the greasy-spoon sensibility, with jackfruit brisket hash, biscuits and gravy with braised kale, walnut-meatloaf Benedicts, and veggie burgers with tempeh bacon among the standouts.

6526 S.E. Foster Rd., OR, 97206, USA
503-764–9160
Known For
  • Full liquor bar plus vegan milkshakes
  • Delicious vegan fruit pies
  • Outdoor picnic table seating on the sidewalk
Restaurant Details
No dinner

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One World Cafe

$ | Tuscany-Canterbury

A favorite of Johns Hopkins students, this low-key restaurant, café, and bar is open morning until night for tasty vegetarian fare. Settle onto a couch or at one of the small tables for a portobello sandwich with caramelized onions and feta cheese, a wild rice and tempeh burger, or One World's version of that Baltimore specialty: a crabless crab cake. Fresh pressed juices, smoothies, espresso drinks, microbrews, and mixed drinks from the full bar fill out the menu.

100 W. University Pkwy., Baltimore, MD, 21210, USA
410-235–5777
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted
Reservations not accepted

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Organic Oasis

$$ | Spenard

Part eatery and part community center and event space, this café offers plenty of healthy (or, at least, healthy-sounding) fare, including fresh-squeezed juices, smoothies, organic sandwiches, fresh soups, and tempeh wraps. While vegans and vegetarian visitors to Anchorage should definitely make a beeline to Organic, omnivores are not left out in the cold: the menu also includes Thai chicken salads, grass-fed burgers, and lamb.

2610 Spenard Rd., Anchorage, AK, 99503, USA
907-277–7882
Known For
  • House-baked breads and buns
  • Inventive juice bar
  • Live music throughout the week

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Peekaboo Canyon Wood Fired Kitchen

$

This inviting, art-filled restaurant at the Flagstone Inn has one of the only all-vegetarian menus in southern Utah, but even avowed carnivores have been known to rave about the green chile–and–Swiss cheese Impossible burgers and the inventive pizzas—including the "hot mess," with vegan Italian sausage, chèvre, shishito and serrano peppers, and a bourbon sauce. There's an impressive selection of craft beers and ciders.

233 W. Center St., Kanab, UT, 84741, USA
435-689–1959
Known For
  • Large patio with sandstone tables
  • Impossible burgers and meatballs
  • Salted-caramel crunch cake for dessert
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No lunch

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Pharm Table

$$$ | King William Historic District

On a mission to reinvent health food into something more flavorful and inspiring since 2015, Pharm Table's chef-owner Elizabeth Johnson takes a plant-forward approach to anti-inflammatory cuisine. The restaurant uses locally sourced produce with no dairy, refined sugar, or processed foods anywhere on the menu. To that end, they also  incorporate smaller portions of clean animal proteins with an emphasis on nutrient-dense foods.

Pick Me Up Café

$ | Uptown

A CTA construction project forced the Pick Me Up out of its original Lakeview location, but its new digs preserve its quirky, neighborhood café charm. The thrift-store treasures hanging on the walls are as eclectic as the crowd that comes at all hours of the day to drink bottomless cups of coffee or dine on a largely (but not entirely) vegan menu of sandwiches, appetizers, and desserts. In addition to specialty coffee drinks and fun milkshakes, they also offer wine, beer, and cocktails. 

The Plot

$

Zero waste with root-to-stem consumption has this plant-based restaurant turning beets into catchup, cashews into cheese, and carrot tops into pesto. Sustainability rules the menu created with fresh produce from local farms and the regenerative gardens out back. Tastebuds are in for a pleasant surprise with the Kombu cauliflower, the Cubano (mojo marinated shredded jackfruit), and the kimchi bowl with red-lentil "spam." Weekend brunch rolls out “chicken” and oat-milk waffles along with other classics with a healthy spin like “sausage” and biscuits. If you can’t finish your meal, never fear. Leftovers are composted and nothing goes to waste, including veggie stock that makes its way into risotto and banana peels turned into tacos.

Rainbow Foods

$

This crunchy natural foods market offers a small selection of hot entrées, salads, sandwiches, and soup, along with self-serve coffee and freshly baked breads. Check their website for a daily menu, and arrive at 11 am for the best choices; a few tables are available inside. It's also a great place to grab some trail mix and snack bars before a downtown hike.

224 4th St., Juneau, AK, 99801, USA
907-586–6476
Known For
  • Organic, healthy snacks
  • Lunch buffet
  • Vegetarian options
Restaurant Details
Reservations not accepted

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Russell's by Eat Healthy Kauai

$$

A restored plantation cottage surrounded by tropical foliage is the casual setting for this island café, whose name and plant-based menu reflect the owner's love for his late dog. Choose from tofu scrambles, salads, chickpea-curry wraps, tempeh sandwiches, banana pancakes, hummus wraps, and Beyond Beef burgers. A selection of pupu (appetizers) is available after 11 am. Outdoor seating in the vine-covered garden is pleasant during nice weather, and acoustic music is offered most evenings.

4--369 Kuhio Hwy., HI, 96746, USA
808-822–7990
Known For
  • Alfresco dining in leafy garden
  • Evening music
  • Locally grown vegetables
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon. No dinner Tues. and Wed.

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Sealevel City Vegan Diner

$ | North Metro

The culinary creations here may be free of animal products, but they're certainly not lacking in flavor, from the addictive lentil burger patty melt to a kimchi tempeh Reuben that hits all the right notes.

1015 S. Kerr Ave., Wilmington, NC, 28403, USA
910-833–7196
Known For
  • Healthy, filling burgers and sandwiches
  • A towering plate of nachos
  • Relaxed, courteous service
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun. and Mon.

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Seasoned Vegan

$$ | Harlem

At this vegan and raw eatery just a few blocks north of Central Park, you won't be tempted to ask "Where's the beef?" Mother-and-son team Brenda and Aaron Beener take tasty comfort food staples and "veganize" them. For example, the raw lasagna consists of raw zucchini, spinach, cashew cheese, and marinara sauce; the barbecue riblets are a blend of lotus root and fermented soy; and the po'boy sandwich is made with fried yam or burdock root protein that mimics shrimp or crawfish, respectively.

55 St. Nicholas Ave., New York, NY, 10026, USA
212-222–0092
Known For
  • Global vegan flavors
  • Weekend late-night menu after 10 pm
  • Colorful artwork-adorned walls
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. No lunch weekdays

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smallSUGAR

$$ | Vista

Grab a cold brew and shakshouka for breakfast or a roasted sweet potato bowl with a side of marinated cucumbers at this veggie-forward counter-serve café.

709 Gervais St., Columbia, SC, 29201, USA
803-722–7506
Known For
  • Sourcing from local farms
  • Seasonal menu
  • In-house program to train young people in the culinary arts

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Soul Vegetarian Restaurant No. 2

$$ | Poncey-Highland

Vegan comfort food and plant-based barbecue dishes are served up in a no-frills diner setting, with mac and cheese (made with soy cheese), cauliflower and tofu steaks, and kalebone (a wheat-gluten protein) topping the menu. The original location (on Ralph David Abernathy Boulevard) serves similar fare but buffet-style, with more limited daily choices.

652 N. Highland Ave. NE, Atlanta, GA, 30306, USA
404-875–0145
Known For
  • Vegan comfort food
  • Soy mac and cheese
  • Relaxed atmosphere
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon.

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Southern Pressed Juicery

$ | Downtown
Cold-pressed juices, energy bowls, and salads in a high-ceilinged, bright room make this an obvious spot for a pick-me-up when you're hoofing it around town.

Sprig & Vine

$$$

Chic and BYO, this well-regarded vegan restaurant known for fresh, sophisticated fare attracts plenty of nonvegetarians to its space off the Main Street scene in Union Square, a converted-warehouse-meets-new-construction complex. The menu is relatively short—an assortment of small plates and salads, and a handful of sandwiches and large-plate dinner options such as a cauliflower-cashew mac and Moroccan grilled mushroom skewers—but offers interesting dishes with complex global flavors, often made with ingredients from local farms. There's a short menu section for kids, too. 

450 Union Square Dr., New Hope, PA, 18938, USA
215-693–1427
Known For
  • Barbecue seitan wings
  • Varied dessert options
  • Seasonal, globally influenced dishes
Restaurant Details
Closed Mon. and Tues. No lunch Wed. and Thurs. No dinner Sun.

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Sun-in-Bloom

$$ | Park Slope
Those seeking vegan, gluten-free, or macrobiotic sustenance fill the tables at this bright, rustic eatery. Favorites include the "live" (uncooked) Bloom burger with sunflower dill dressing, the lasagna layered with butternut squash and roasted tomato, smoky shiitake bacon BLT wrapped in collards, the Reuben with marinated tempeh, and just about any of the desserts. The trade off here is that the level of concern in service can fall below the attention given to dietary needs.

Sunflower Cafe

$ | Berry Hill

Welcoming and straightforward, Sunflower Cafe feeds the vegans, vegetarians, and gluten-free eaters of Nashville with mouthwatering veggie burger options, vegan barbecue, ample salads, potato bowls, and enticing daily specials. The menu features both Southern staples and international-inspired flavors, providing many options for diners who are used to feeling restricted by other menus.

2834 Azalea Pl., Nashville, TN, 37204, USA
615-457–2568
Known For
  • Daily specials
  • Ample seating
  • Helpful staff
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun.

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Sweet Melissa Café and Front Street Tavern

$$

If you need a break from steaks and burgers (or if meat is never your thing) this charming downtown café is the local spot for vegetarian and vegan eats, as well as carefully crafted cocktails brought right to your table from the adjoining tavern. The menu is extensive and diverse, with Asian, Mexican, and Mediterranean influences, and with a good selection of desserts and a menu for kids, too. Front Street has a "historic pub" feel and offers a long list of signature and classic cocktails, as well as wines, beers, and various types of liquor—even absinthe.

213 S. 1st St., Laramie, WY, 82072, USA
307-742–9607
Known For
  • Clearly labeled vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options
  • Delicious cauliflower "wings"
  • Tasty cocktails, reasonably priced
Restaurant Details
Closed Sun.

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Tiger Lily Cafe

$

There's a definite West Coast vibe to this café. Head to the counter to order chicken salad, a wrap, carrot-ginger soup, or one of the satisfying home-cooked vegetarian selections, then settle into a big comfortable chair or couch in the rear (adults only here). Occasionally there's live music on weekend afternoons. The place is open only until 5 pm.

156 E. Main St., Port Jefferson, NY, 11777, USA
631-476–7080
Restaurant Details
No credit cards

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Tommy's

$

A vegetarian institution, Tommy's serves hefty salads and sandwiches and embarrassingly large but delicious milk shakes made with Cleveland's own Pierre's ice cream. It's open daily for breakfast as well as for lunch and dinner.

1824 Coventry Rd., Cleveland Heights, OH, 44118, USA
216-321–7757
Restaurant Details
Credit cards accepted

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Trilogy Sanctuary

$ | La Jolla

Perched on a rooftop in La Jolla, this café features a mindful menu of bowls, tacos, and other creative entrées that are all 100% organic, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, plant-based, seed-oil free, and soy-free. There's also a boutique with sustainable products and a yoga studio with aerial yoga, sound healing, and training workshops.

Veggie Grill

$ | Harvard Square

This California-based fast-food chain makes living that plant-based life a little easier. The extensive meat-free menu features burgers, sandwiches, entrée salads, tacos, burritos, and desserts sans meat, dairy, eggs, and other animal products, so you can fill up on tasty meals without sacrificing any dietary restrictions. Go bowl or go home, with heaping mounds of ancient grains and veggies, topped with plant-based proteins and spices; or enjoy a sunrise kimchi Beyond Burger or crispy chick’n parm. Snack on the popular nachos or buffalo chick'n wings, and wash it all down with their fountain ginger hibiscus or pomegranate green iced tea.