We have explored many big cities, but New York is our favourite. There are countless things to see and do, and an endless number of plant-based dining options. In this article are just a few of our favourite vegan restaurants in New York.
WHERE TO STAY IN NEW YORK
Hotels in New York are expensive, so be prepared for this to be the most costly part of your trip. For the same amount of money, you could enjoy a luxurious experience in other parts of the world.
We chose to stay at the M Social Hotel New York because we wanted beautiful views. The hotel even has a terrace overlooking Times Square. We found the location very convenient, and the view from our room was great.
I recommend staying on the top floor for amazing New York views. You can check availability here.
BEST VEGAN RESTAURANTS IN NEW YORK
Portion sizes in most New York City restaurants are large. Even sharing a starter was sometimes too much for us to finish our main course. At the beginning of our trip, we always ordered a starter, but after two days we realised we couldn’t eat that much, so we started ordering only main courses.
Vegan restaurants in New York are also not very affordable, but in an expensive city, this is to be expected. The best way to find all the vegan restaurants in New York is by having a local SIM card. We used the Airalo app with an eSIM card, which was affordable and had a very good connection.
SPICY MOON – EAST VILLAGE
Spicy Moon was our favourite vegan restaurant on our New York City trip. We visited the East Village location, but they also have spots in West Village and Bowery.
Their menu offers many amazing vegan Szechuan dishes. We tried the Dan Dan Noodles and the Vegetable Wonton Soup. The soup was one of the best I’ve had in a long time, especially on a cold, rainy day. The noodles were also delicious. I can’t wait to go back and try all the other dishes.
PLANTA QUEEN NOMAD VEGAN RESTAURANT
Planta Queen is a popular and trendy vegan restaurant in New York. They care about environmental sustainability, ensuring all their produce and supplies are delivered in reusable containers to reduce waste.
We decided to try this restaurant on a Friday night for dinner. The ambiance was really nice. I recommend making a table reservation on weekends. From their sushi menu, we tried the crispy mushroom hand roll, spicy tuna hand roll, and dragon roll. It was some of the best vegan sushi we have ever tried.
Next, we ordered Singapore noodles and General D’s cauliflower, which were both good. For dessert, we shared a cookie, but it wasn’t the best vegan cookie we’ve ever had. You also have to try some of their amazing cocktails.
UT47 MANHATTAN
UT47 Manhattan is a breakfast and brunch restaurant in New York. While it is not entirely vegan, it has amazing vegan breakfast options.
Their menu features various vegan sandwiches and bagels. You can also order plant-based soy chicken tacos or mandu. We had a bagel with tofu bacon, vegan egg and cheese, avocado, tomato, and a vegan BLT. It was a great start to our New York trip, and they served excellent coffee with oat milk.
VITO’S SLICES AND ICES IN NEW YORK
You haven’t truly been to New York if you haven’t had a pizza slice. Vito’s only offers one vegan pizza, a classic margherita with vegan cheese, but it was great, especially with a Diet Coke. You really have to visit this place for the retro vibes.
LUANNE’S WILD GINGER VEGAN RESTAURANT
LuAnne’s Wild Ginger is a vegan Asian restaurant with many locations across New York. We visited the one in Little Italy/Soho. Their menu offers a variety of great dishes, from different types of noodles to rice bowls and more.
For a starter, we shared the stuffed tofu skin wraps, which were delicious. Then we had vegan Pho. The Pho was very good, but the portion was so large that we couldn’t finish it. It was the biggest Pho I’ve ever had.
LIBERTY BAGELS MIDTOWN
Bagels are a must-try when visiting New York City. Liberty Bagels is one of the most popular spots, known for their rainbow bagels. They offer many different types of vegan tofu cream cheese, including vegetable, plain, scallion, cinnamon walnut, blueberry, and strawberry.
We tried a sesame bagel with spinach and artichoke tofu cream cheese. Just keep in mind that the waiting line is quite long, but it moves quickly. We were even able to find a seat inside.
JAJAJA MEXICANA IN NEW YORK
Jajaja Mexicana is a vegan Mexican restaurant with several locations across New York. We visited the one in West Village. We were thrilled to find a plant-based Mexican restaurant in the city.
For dinner on a weekend, I recommend making a reservation because the place was packed. We tried the enchiladas mole and chorizo burrito. The burrito was our favourite – you have to try it!
THE ORIGINAL BUDDHA BODAI KOSHER VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
The menu at Buddha Bodai is vegetarian, with most dishes being vegan. We ordered dumplings, steamed rice rolls, and steamed buns for starters.
They were okay, but our favourite was the main dish: tofu skin with vegetables. It was so good that next time we visit New York, we’ll go straight back for that.
RED BAMBOO VEGAN RESTAURANT IN NEW YORK
Red Bamboo has an extensive menu featuring many different dishes, from sandwiches and burgers to noodles. They have a lot of faux meat dishes, and we heard that their vegan chicken is amazing.
We tried the Southern fried chicken, which is herb-breaded soy chicken with two drumsticks and a choice of two sides. The other dish we ordered was coconut chicken. I must say, the food was really good. For dessert, we had a cheesecake, which was also delicious.
VAN LEEUWEN’S VEGAN ICE CREAM IN NEW YORK
On a hot day, we came across Van Leeuwen, which has many locations in New York. It’s an ice cream shop that also offers vegan options. Some of the plant-based flavours include dark chocolate fudge brownie, strawberry shortcake, cookies & cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and peanut butter brownie honeycomb.
We tried the strawberry shortcake and a spring special with spirulina. If you like heavy and sugary ice cream, you’ll love it, but it wasn’t our favourite.
PRET A MANGER VEGAN IN NEW YORK
For a quick plant-based bite, you can stop by one of the many Pret A Manger locations across New York City. You can try their rainbow veggie sandwich or a falafel and hummus wrap.
