NYC Guide: The Berry Best Plant-Based Restaurants
Written by Lila Mabanta
In New York City, we’re so lucky to have such an abundance of food cuisines near us at all times. In the more recent years, we’ve been even luckier by the significant growth of plant-based restaurants. Especially ones that don’t taste or look necessarily plant-based. As someone who used to be dairy-free, and is now still pescatarian, I’ve eaten at a lot of vegan-based or friendly restaurants within the city, and I wanted to share my favorite ones!
First off, I had to start with the epitome of New York cuisine: bagels. I haven’t eaten meat in four years, but as a New Yorker who grew up on Long Island, the bacon-egg-cheese cravings never stop. This bagel store, with locations in the Upper West Side and Chelsea, can satisfy those cravings with their vegan version. You can now find tofu cream cheese at most bagel stores, but if you want the classic B.E.C., this is the place to go. And, by the way, they have a large selection of gluten-free bagels and pastries as well!
It’s easy to keep things vegan or meat-free when ordering Chinese food. However, that’s usually in the form of the vegetable options, like vegetable dumplings or vegetable lo-mein. The theme throughout all these restaurants is that you don’t need to be secluded to just the vegetable options, but instead, get the meat dishes that just don’t contain real meat. This location in the heart of Chinatown is perfect for getting those faux-meat dishes, including general tso “chicken”, orange “chicken”, “ribs”, and “meat” dumplings.
With a few locations throughout Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, this is a perfect fully plant-based brunch or dinner spot for Mexican cuisine. I went to the Lower East Side location for my birthday brunch two years ago, and I need to go back ASAP. I had ordered the “choco dulce pancakes” and “matcha y coconut” mocktail, and I was definitely not disappointed. They brought out a birthday dessert as well, with the most delicious churros and coconut dulce de leche ice cream I’ve ever had. Note to self: go back.
As someone living in the Upper East Side currently, I feel it’s sometimes easy to forget about this area if you live downtown. But, the Upper East Side has fun spots as well! Vegan Grill, with a few locations (including the UES, obviously), is great for multi-cuisine vegan food. I had ordered the meatball parm and a milkshake–very heavy, but I’m never as sickly full from vegan heavy food as I used to be from non-vegan heavy food.
Peacefood is a sit-down gem located in the Upper West Side and Union Square. With an evolving menu, their entirely plant-based meals, drinks, and bakery desserts are so delicious, even for non-vegan eaters. Both times I’ve been, my friends and family who eat meat were still raving about it. If you want the best thing on the menu, order the “Macho Nachos”.
From a location in Union Square that’s now moving to Nomad and Bryant Park, PLNT Burger is the ultimate vegan fast food pickup. Whenever I’m having a McDonald's or Wendy's craving, this place does the job with better quality-tasting ingredients. If you download their app, you’ll get a $10 off reward that’s valid until April 30th at their NYC locations.
Mentioned previously in Berry's Guide to the Best Women-Owned Restaurants in NYC, The Butcher’s Daughter is a classic hotspot for vegans and the like. Great for brunch, lunch, and dinner, the antithesis of the hunter has you covered.
Lady Bird is probably the most refined, trendy place on this list. Situated in the East Village, it’s a wonderful plant-based brunch and dinner spot (with a very cool–designed bathroom). I’ve been here a few times for brunch–their matcha waffles are amazing. It’s also my mom’s favorite vegan spot in NYC, who definitely isn’t vegan or close to it.
Another East Village staple, S’MAC is the best mac and cheese I’ve ever had. It is not a plant-based restaurant, however, it has plant-based options. When I was dairy-free, my freshman year roommate and I would eat here all the time. She'd get dairy cheese with peas and bacon, and I’d get dairy-free cheese with figs and breadcrumbs. And let me tell you, they definitely mastered the art of melting vegan cheese.
&Pizza is another one of my freshman-year classics, located throughout the city and beyond. Again, in the same scheme as S’MAC, it isn’t entirely plant-based but has great plant-based options. My go-to custom order included the vegan mozzarella, classic tomato sauce, basil, pineapple (I am a pineapple-on-pizza person if it’s on non-NY traditional pizza), and the fig balsamic drizzle. Again, another master of vegan cheese melting.
For more vegan pizza options that resemble the classic NY slice, Two Boots is a great option. They have both vegan and non-vegan slices, with the former having a wide range of options. I remember I brought home a box of their Vegan Larry Tate pizza the night of Harry Styles’ first Grammys win–good memories.
As one of the biggest growing coffee chains in New York and the tri-state area, Gregory’s is a great option for quick plant-based breakfast snacks and sandwiches. The majority of their menu is catered towards the vegan community, although they do offer non-vegan options as well. My ultimate favorite is their “Vegan Deluxe” sandwich, which consists of a warm croissant with vegan egg, cheese, and sausage. Another new favorite I recently tried is their “Vegan Burrito”, filled with vegan egg, sausage, cheese, potatoes, peppers, onions, and paprika, which inspired me to start making my own (more simplified) breakfast burritos at home.
There are many other places I’d recommend as well, some of which have unfortunately closed down (Marty’s V Burger, I’m talking about you). However, these are my most recommended places; I hope to see them continue to prosper, grow, and normalize meat-free alternatives!
Be well,
Lila
