NYC's 17 best vegetarian and vegan restaurants

What is it? A queer-owned, fine dining revue in the East Village that always puts community first. 

Why we love it: Telly Justice's pint-sized restaurant is here to change the script when it comes to fine dining. One, its vegan menu easily goes toe to toe with its omnivorous one, pleasing us with jammy strips of eggplant, caramelized tempeh and creamy swirls of coconut gelato. Two: since its inception, HAGS has hosted a weekly sliding-scale brunch, inviting all to the table. Lastly, the results of which are yet to be seen, the crew is going on the road this year for a pay-what-you-can fine-dining experience. Here's hoping for greatness in the future. 

Time Out tip: Propping up the community in all ways, co-owner and beverage director Camille Lindsley has a section on her wine list dedicated to queer winemakers from across the country. Ask her about it and get to sippin'.

Address: 163 1st Ave, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Tasting menu Wed–Sat 6–10pm; Brunch Sun 11am–2:30pm

What is it? Amanda Cohen's longstanding ode to vegetables in the East Village. Even as the restaurant nears its 20-year mark in service, its mission remains steadfast: to make vegetables "taste better than anything you’ve ever had before." True to form, Cohen and team make good on that promise.

Why we love it: Fueled by the ambition to make people crave vegetables, Amanda Cohen revived her beloved East Village eatery on the Lower East Side with a ramped-up tasting menu and a space three times the size of the 18-seat original. Emblazoned with a mural of greenery by graffiti artist Noah McDonough, the sprawling, shadowy dining room is centered on the open kitchen at its heart—complete with a chef’s counter—and a full bar along one wall. Speaking of, the counter is the best spot in the house to watch chefs pipe celery crème between pillowy breads and baste Brussels sprouts, stalks and all, with a tingly, five-spice BBQ sauce that is guaranteed to make your nose run.

Time Out tip: Cocktails also get the veggie treatment with celery corpse revivers and a deceptively simple beet red lemonade slushie that will have you spinning. 

Address: 86 Allen St, New York, NY 10002

Opening hours: Tue–Sat 5:30–10:30pm

What is it? Spicy Moon deals in Szechuan specialties, be it steamed dumplings, fried rice and chili-slicked noodles that have got that spring. And all the food here is vegan.

Why we love it: What was once a quaint hallway in the East Village has now reached mini-chain status. Today, you can find four locations of Spicy Moon around the city, all of which share the gospel of meatless Szechuan cuisine. Even with such growth, the food at Spicy Moon is still just as good, fiery and downright delicious. A go-to order goes a little something like chopped cheese spring rolls for the table to split, dan dan noodles for its chili-flecked and peanutty sauce and one of their big bites to dig into (we are partial to the salt and pepper combo). 

Time Out tip: The Bowery location is our favorite for a reason. Besides the spinning DJs and drag shows on the weekend, the neon-hued dining hall also houses a full-on brewery. 

Address: Multiple locations 

What is it? A vegetarian fast-food (ish) joint now has new life in the former Odessa diner space. 

Why we love it: Former pastry chef and rocker (seriously, his lore is insane) Brooks Headley runs this popular vegetarian diner in the East Village. Once a shoebox-sized operation, the restaurant got a serious upgrade in 2023 when it moved to the old Odessa space, just a brisk two-minute walk away. With more room to play and more heads to feed, Headley has expanded his veggie and vegan menu to include collard greens sandwiches and a roster of desserts. His claim to fame, a veggie burger that's made up of chickpeas, walnuts and quinoa, remains as one of the best bites. 

Time Out tip: If you are looking at the website to plan your meal ahead, don't bother, you won't find it. Instead, keep an eye on what Headley is cooking by following Superiority Burger's Instagram.

Address: 119 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009 

Opening hours: Mon noon–10pm; Tue, Wed 5–11pm; Thu noon–11pm; Fri noon–midnight; Sat 11am–midnight; Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? A Black-owned Flatbush eatery and cafe that is home to all things Caribbean and vegan. Oh, and it resides in the living room of our dreams.

Why we love it: Aunts et Uncles has that uncanny ability to make you feel like you've arrived home. Or, well, maybe the home you wish to have. The curated collection from owners and partners Nicole and Michael Nicholas invites all to linger, as it is easy to lose time perusing books, art and a tight selection of clothes that have that cool factor. But we admire Aunts et Uncles most for its plant-based bowls of fonio and grilled oyster mushrooms. Plus that vegan lobster roll? Just order it and thank us later.  

Time Out tip: The cafe also has its own line of peppa sauce and seasonings to rub over your next sheet tray dinner.

Address: 1407 Nostrand Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11226

Opening hours: Sun–Wed 10am–8pm; Thu–Sat 10am–10pm

What is it? A longstanding Ethiopian cafe and restaurant that's been a meeting ground for the residents of Bushwick and beyond for its beyaynetu platters. 

Why we love it: For over 12 years, Bunna Cafe has been home to traditional Ethiopian and Eritrean eats. Those who visit congregate over their sizeable vegetable platters, known as beyaynetu, all served over spongy, housemade injera. Mix and match stews and curries of your liking, including the simmered and spiced red lentils and the steamed collard greens known as gomen.

Time Out tip: Utilizing his architectural degree, co-owner Liyuwork Ayalew designed the restaurant himself, from the woodworking behind the bar down to the makeshift hut inside. But the hut isn't for decor, as the awning has hosted a variety of musicians, including Ethiopian jazz trios, while the weekends bring a traditional coffee ceremony, all of it complimentary. 

Address: 1084 Flushing Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11237

Opening hours: Mon, Wed, Thu noon–10pm; Tue 5–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat noon–4pm, 5–11pm; Sun noon–4pm, 5–10pm

What is it? An all-day cafe and restaurant in Flatiron that is cerebral about its greens, and will likely inspire you to be as well. 

Why we love it? Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s first meat-free venture populates a spacious room with a Goop-y stretch of white furniture, pops of color courtesy of artisanal ceramic plateware, millennial-pink wall panels and boho banquettes. Guided by the seasons, culinary director chef Neal Harden also pulls from influences around the world, cooking dosas, sambal and eggs for breakfast and koji marinated tofu with morel mushrooms and roasted burdock for dinner. 

Time Out tip: Each menu arrives with a chart that details the health benefits of various vegetables.

Address: 38 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003

Opening hours: Breakfast Mon–Fri 8–10:30am; Lunch Mon–Fri noon–3pm; Dinner Mon–Fri 5–10pm, Sat, Sun 5:30–10pm; Brunch Sat, Sun 11am–3pm

What is it? An Ethiopian-influenced vegan restaurant known for its bright interiors and even brighter selection of plant-based eats from husband and wife team Romeo and Milka Regalli.  

Why we love it: Ras Plant Based opened just for a few days before the pandemic shut down the city. Thankfully, the restaurant persevered, likely due to its wholesome veggie Ethiopian fare. Find modern interpretations of the cuisine from fried injera nachos with layers of black beans, avocado and berbere cheese, and a chick'n sandwich that has that crunch, thanks to a crispy, berbere-battered lion's mane mushroom. 

Time Out tip: If you don't know what to order, you can always rely on the mercato platters. The assortment comes with the likes of string beans and carrots, collard greens, split pea stew and a red lentil stew lifted straight from grandma's cookbook. Order it for one or get the grand mercato if you plan on sharing.

Address: 739 Franklin Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Opening hours: Mon noon–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat 11am–11pm; Sun 11am–10pm

What is it? A vegan counter that prides itself on its scratch-made plant-based eats, much of which is gluten-free, all of it soy-free.

Why we love it: Named after a kung fu combat style from the 1978 cult classic "Five Deadly Venoms" and papered in vintage martial-art movie posters from the ’70s and ’80s, the decade-old vegan eatery serves up plant-based riffs on classics. There are five types of burgers you can have here, all of which use their housemade lentil, mushroom and oat veggie patty as a base (there are no Impossible Burgers to be had here). The Sunshine Burger is the house favorite of the bunch, likely due to the gooey cashew cheese that bursts down the sides with every bite. However, the creamy dill-heavy pickle soup is a sleeper hit of the bunch. 

Time Out tip: No matter the weather, we rep the orange creamsicle slush, hard. It tastes like a summertime trip down the boardwalk with zesty orange and crunchable ice chips, all smoothed out with a splash of oat milk.

Address: 93 Ralph Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11221

Opening hours: Daily 10am-10pm

What is it? Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant is a no-frills but efficient operation centered around Cantonese cuisine. Even though vegetarian is in the name, the restaurant itself is vegan. 

Why we love it: Even with its striking red awning, Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant can have a tendency to get lost in the shuffle of people, businesses and energy of Chinatown. But all you have to do is spot the red flag flapping in the wind that says "vegan dim sum," and you'll know you arrived. Expect a simple operation where you are seated quickly, the tea comes to the table, nice and hot, and the plastic menu goes on and on with vegan dim sum and classic dishes. Ply the table with gluten-free fried taro dumplings that have that bouncy bite, a stir fry of sesame veggie chicken and the sweet and sour sticky ribs, a dish that owner Kent Zhang lovingly recreates from his mom.

Time Out tip: They don't take reservations here, but even on a busy night, waits don't go much higher than 20 minutes. 

Address: 77 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10013

Opening hours: Daily 11am–9:45pm

What is it? Chef Yesenia Ramdass's approach to vegan cuisine, influenced by her family's Dominican and Trinidadian heritage, has finally found a home in Williamsburg.

Why we love it: When she converted to a plant-based lifestyle as a teenager, Yesenia Ramdass began to veganize the Dominican foods she grew up on. Later in life, her husband encouraged her to start selling her hearts of palm ceviche and lion's mane mofongo at a pop-up. We are forever grateful for the push, as now Ramdass sells her Dominican and Trinidadian-inspired cuisine in a permanent location in Williamsburg. Vegan and vegetarian interpretations from the islands can be had at HAAM (short for Healthy as a Motha), like yucca mash with king oyster scallops and a sweet plantain boat stuffed with lentil ground "beef."

Time Out tip: Next to fresh-pressed sugarcane and sorrel juices, you can also find a full range of cocktails, even a few poured into cracked coconuts.  

Address: 234 Union Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 4–10pm; Fri noon–11pm; Sat, Sun 11am–10pm 

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What is it? A lovely Korean vegetarian restaurant that is as comfortable as it is intimate. 

Why we love it: Amid the glitz and party-hopping crowds of K-Town, HanGawi has stood as a serene counterpart. In operation since 1994, this Michelin Bib Gourmand-rated restaurant cooks up vegetarian Korean cuisine. Carefully crafted dishes include leek pancakes, maitake mushroom fritters, a variety of dumplings, bibimbap and seasonal specials. You can order à la carte or go for the four-course prix fixe for $99. 

Time Out tip: The restaurant has a no-shoe policy, with cubbies to store your footwear. We highly recommend wearing socks.

Address: 12 E 32nd St, New York, NY 10016

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 5–9:30pm; Sat, Sun 1–9:30pm

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What is it? A fixture of Washington Square Park (and really, of New York) goes to the "Dosa Man." Since the early 2000s, Thiru “Dosa Man” Kumar has parked his truck in the park, feeding the masses with his veggie-filled dosas. 

Why we love it: The namesake items are expertly prepared at this vegan stand by beloved vendor Thiru “Dosa Man” Kumar. NY Dosa's special Pondicherry version, with spices, potatoes and a medley of vegetables, is also one of the best street foods in the world. His sambar (veggie lentil soup) and cooling coconut chutney also come with the dosa, making for a full meal that will run you less than $10. Just bring cash and make sure you tip the man who's fed New York for almost thirty years.  

Time Out tip: Those opening hours we wrote below? Ehh...don't take them as the absolute truth. Instead, Kumar posts nearly every day on his Instagram if he will (or won't) be in the park for the day. Plus, you may just find yourself in his selfie hall of fame if you start scrolling.

Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-2pm

What is it? A part venue, part zine store, part listening lounge (we promise, this is the last "part") and part restaurant and cocktail bar in Boerum Hill.

Why we love it: Public Records, which opened in March of 2019, is a music-focused cafe, record "hi-fi bar" and performance space. But beyond all those beats, you can also get a good plate of, well, beets. Adding to a seemingly never-ending list of things you can find here, Public Records also functions as a vegan restaurant. Up in the atrium, culinary director Laura Louise Oates cooks ambitious, plant-forward fare of Yemeni-spiced carrots, cashew labne spreads and yams lashed with tamarind and salsa macha.  

Time Out tip: Brunch coincides with its daytime DJ set, so be prepared to groove while you eat.

Address: 233 Butler St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Opening hours: Wed, Thu 10am–4pm, 6–10pm; Fri 10am–4pm, 6pm–4am; Sat 10am–4am; Sun 10am–9pm

What is it? Before he had an award-winning hospitality group (Overthrow Hospitality) Ravi DeRossi came to bat with his first plant-based restaurant, Avant Garden.

Why we love it: Yes, the name is a little dad-jokey. But Avant Garden's 28-seat space—with a petrified-wood counter and raw tree branches above an open kitchen—is filled with serious plant-based plates. Pair a quartet of toasts topped with items like cremini mushrooms with the house-made spaghetti and sip beer, wine and cider. 

Time Out tip: The chocolate lava cake gets a somewhat earthy pairing with a rosemary and porcini ice cream. Try it for yourself. 

Address: 95 Avenue A, New York, NY 10009

Opening hours: Daily 5–11 pm

What is it? A vegetarian Indian food haven in Floral Park, Queens specializes in fast casual bites, savory snacks and colorful desserts. To this day, Anil and Indira Mathur still run the operation alongside their children. 

Why we love it: Usha is one of the best vegetarian destinations for generous portions, combo platters that allow you to try a little bit of everything and a menu that strongly demonstrates you don't need meat to have one of the city's most satisfying meals. It's just down the road from a Patel Brothers location, one of our favorite supermarket for hard-to-find Indian pantry staples.

Time Out tip: Late night bite? You can find it at Usha as the restaurant stays open until 1am every night. 

Address: 255-03 Hillside Ave, Floral Park, NY 11004

Opening hours: Mon–Fri 11am–1am; Sat, Sun 9:30am–1am

What is it? Hidden in a windowless basement of the Hare Krishna temple in Downtown Brooklyn, Govinda’s—a nickname for the Hindu deity Krishna—is a volunteer-run Indian vegetarian (sometimes vegan) lunch counter that has been serving the International Society for Krishna Consciousness’ spiritual adepts and the general public since 1984. We love Govinda’s “good-for-the-soul” cooking and its nearly unbeatable prices. 

Why we love it: The food here is affordable as it comes. The three-piece meal, which includes a base of rice, buckwheat or quinoa with three sides such as dal and hearty beans will just cost you $12.

Time Out tip: If you have the room, you might as well add on a samosa for $3 more.

Address: 305 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11217

Opening hours: Mon–Thu 11am–6pm; Fri–Sun 10am–3pm, 5-9pm