The Best Vegan Restaurants In New York City

The shtick here is swanky vegan comfort food, and by comfort food, the chef means the cuisines that comforted her throughout her Brooklyn upbringing. There are Italian and Jewish influences on the menu, plus Jamaican and Chinese ones, too. So dinner dishes range from gnocchi with cashew-coconut "buratta" to barbecue cauliflower wings. Sunday brunch offers veg-friendly twists on staples, like tofu Benedict and seitan and waffles.

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If you strip the fuss from vegan food, you're left with Ladybird. The bar's got a drunchies menu — which they refer to as late night happy food — with buffalo fried mac and cheese, mozzarella sticks, and four versions of fondue. The all day dishes are a little more elevated, but not in a roll-your-eyes way: artichoke toast, fried avocado, and chocolate mousse for dessert.

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This spot joins two others in the famous ABC restaurant empire — ABC Kitchen and ABC Cucina — but it's the first completely plant-based one. (Technically, it's vegetarian, but chefs will accommodate vegan requests.) ABCV's answer to steak for two is its whole roasted cauliflower, which comes to the table with turmeric-tahini sauce.

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Beyond Sushi's rolls are so colorful, it takes a minute to notice there's no seafood in them. The chefs use black or wild rice, wrap it around veggies and plant-based proteins, and give it a funky name. There's the Green Machine (asparagus and edamame with almond pesto), the Chic Pea (eggplant, artichoke, and chickpea purée), and the Sunny Side (fennel, sundried tomato, avocado, and butternut squash).

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Taïm's chef got her roots as a line cook for Bobby Flay. Now she owns a string of wildly successful Mediterranean restaurants in New York City. At Taïm, you can choose from three flavors of falafel — the herby "green", a harissa version, and one made with olives. Then there are more decisions: You can get the falafel on a sandwich, on a salad, in a platter, or on their own.

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Vegan baked goods run the risk of being flavorless and dry, but Dun-Well Doughnuts are just what their name implies — done well. The two guys behind the shop were inspired to open it while watching Bart fawn over donuts on The Simpsons. There's even a "Homer" — pink glazed with sprinkles — on the menu. The rest of the flavors at Dun-Well rotate daily, and include favorites French toast, Boston cream, PB + J, and lemon poppy.

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Jajaja — pronounced hahaha — has all the makings of a hit Mexican restaurant, only there's no meat or dairy. Mock meat for tacos is made from mushroom and jackfruit, and the ceviche is fish-free, made instead with hearts of palm. Stick to dinner here since the brunch menu is really more vegetarian and egg-heavy.

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Before veganism was a trend, there was Blossom. The original outpost opened in 2005 (there's a second one now, too), serving refined, plant-based meals. The names of the dishes will sound familiar to your carnivore friends — lasagna, cheeseburger, burrito — but the ingredients make them herbivore-friendly. Two other things you can feel good about: All of the food is locally-sourced and reasonably-priced.

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There are 12 byCHLOE locations (and counting) across the world, but the vegan fast food chain started in New York. The original West Village location is a see-and-be-seen kind of place, usually packed with Instagram influencers and trendy tourists. The Guac Burger is a perennial favorite (the patty's made from black beans, quinoa, and sweet potatoes), as is the veggie meatball sandwich. Get a side of air baked fries with the famous beet ketchup; you'll want to lick the container when you're finished with it.

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New Yorkers are picky about their pizza, but this all-vegan joint has earned a stamp of approval. Screamer's slings 22 different pies, including all the classics — Hawaiian (with vegan ham), buffalo (with cauliflower instead of chicken), and pepperoni (with slices made from seitan). Don't worry: There's no skimping on cheese. It's just nut- or vegetable-based.

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