My Favorite Restaurants in Various Cities

As someone who eats a plant-based diet, there's usually a bit of research I conduct before taking any trip out of town. What I'm looking for, of course, are restaurants that have either a completely vegan menu or are quite vegan-friendly. I write down the ones that interest me the most (read: has the most delicious looking/sounding food) then go to my first pick if nothing else.

Here, then, is a list of my favorite vegan or vegan-friendly restaurants in various cities that I've been to.



1. Denver, CO: Native Foods

A restaurant chain that is spread out over a few states, Native Foods serves a vegan-only menu. We had the pleasure of eating out here on a family vacation to Colorado, and we loved it so much we went back a second time before leaving town. Chicken Wings, Native Nachos, Meatball Sub, Big Ol' BBQ Burger, Oatmeal Creme Pies, and Lavender Lemonade were the various things I ate while there, and they were all delicious. I wish I lived close to a Native Foods so I could eat there a few times a week!


2. New Orleans, LA: Seed

Specializing in veganized, authentic New Orleans foods such as Beignets and Poboys, this vegan-only joint serves up delicious and tasty food. We loved the Tofu Nuggets with Agave Mustard and Garlic Aioli, and the Fried Eggplant Poboy was fabulous.


3. Kansas City, MO: Eden Alley Cafe

This cafe is unique in that it resides in the basement of the Temple Buddhist Center, and while it's a vegetarian restaurant, it caters to vegans as well. Spacious and sparse while still putting off a homey vibe, I had the housemade Hummus & Pita for an appetizer, the Grilled Tofu Ruelke Sandwich for the entree, and for dessert, the Carrot Cinnamon Cake. This gem is a must-try!


4. Des Moines, IA: A Dong

This Vietnamese Restaurant was my first time trying the cuisine, and I loved it. They had a separate vegan menu, which I thought was fantastic, and I really enjoyed the food. I wish I could remember the entree I had, but I distinctly remember the Tofu Rolls (vegan egg rolls). They were so tasty, as was the sauce, that I ordered a second batch to take with me.


5. Omaha, NE: Modern Love

I've dedicated a whole post to this restaurant before, and I highly recommend it to anyone, veggie or not. I've only had one so-so dish there, while all the rest were incredibly delicious. A little on the spendy side, it's perfect for a nice night out and worth every penny.


6. Minneapolis, MN: Pizza Luce

This restaurant gives off warehouse vibes that are warm and inviting. The tables/booths are arranged in a square around the center bar and are comfortable to sit at. Serving a variety of pasta, sandwiches, salads, and pizza, this restaurant will fill any omnivore's belly while also catering to the vegans that come in. And cater to us they do! They house make their own Rinotta, a cashew-tofu cheese, and also carry Daiya as well. I got the Rustler, a vegetarian (sub one of the vegan cheeses to make it vegan) pizza covered in BBQ sauce, mock duck, pineapple, banana peppers, and red onion, all served on a fire-roasted crust, this pizza was divine! I polished it all off with one of their vegan brownies called the Molly Bar.


7. Lake of the Ozarks, MO: Wok N Roll

This little out-of-the-way restaurant serves a variety of Thai dishes that one can swap tofu in for any meat. I chose the Pad Cha with Red Curry. This dish is a spicy mix of peppers, carrots, onions, and tofu cooked in a fiery red curry and served over rice. I am a fan of Thai curries so this suited my tastes just fine.


8. Portland, OR: Homegrown Smoker and Aviv.

I have to give props to two restaurants in Portland, Homegrown Smoker, and Aviv. Admittedly, I loved HS more, but Aviv was a fantastic restaurant as well.

Homegrown Smoker is a full vegan BBQ restaurant. I had a big old platter as we had just finished hiking 11.5 miles and I was exhausted.

This lovely platter was comprised of Fufish filets, tempeh ribs, hushpuppies, Mac No Cheese, chipotle slaw, and a remoulade. I washed it all down with some delicious, homemade sweet tea. Hands down, one of the best vegan meals I've ever had. I've been following Homegrown Smoker on Instagram for a few years now, so it was fantastic to finally get to eat the food I've been drooling over all this time. Totally worth the wait!

Aviv is another all-vegan restaurant that specializes in Israeli fare - think Mediterranean.

I really should've ordered the soy curl shwarma plate, but alas I went for the spicy falafel platter. It was comprised of hummus, pita, seasoned rice, tomato-cucumber-tofu feta salad, and, of course, the falafel covered in spicy sauce. It. Was. Delicious! They also had a great atmosphere and served fabulous housemade drinks.

I cannot remember what this drink was called, but it was delicious and rich without being heavy. It was also served over a huge ice cube. Hands down would go back. In fact, my friend who lives in Portland said she did exactly that.

And there you have it: my favorite vegan food in various cities. I hope you enjoyed it and that you have a great rest of your week!