My Five Favorite Casual Vegan NYC Dining Spots

New York City's got a lot going on for your average vegan. There are a ton of great restaurants, and I've only begun to explore them! Here are my top five favorite casual dining options...

5. Dun-Well Doughnuts
I already wrote a post about Dun-Well Doughnuts, so I'll keep this short but sweet (pun intended). Whether you love good, creative doughnuts (think: peanut butter and jelly, margarita, blueberry, or peach cobbler) or delicious classics (chocolate, vanilla with sprinkles, etc.), Dun-Well Doughnuts (located in Bushwick) is the place for you. Did I mention it was voted #1 Doughnut in New York City? I've only been twice, and I can't wait to go again. Also, I highly recommend the egg cream. And yes, everything on the menu is vegan.



A peanut butter and jelly (left) and blueberry (right) doughnut.


Doughnuts are baked freshly in batches throughout the day. Get there at the right time, and you'll have many amazing options to choose from.

4. B.A.D. Burger

Sorry, no picture here. These guys do, however, have lots of burgers to choose from on their menu. And you can order most of them vegan. My favorites are the Vegan Classic (with vegan cheese and bacon) and the Bandito Burger (with jalapeños, guacamole, black beans, and cheese).

What are their veggie burger options, you ask? You can choose between black bean, portobello, beet, or garden veggie. 'Nough said. (Confession: I've never actually been here, but they have free delivery, 24-7, with locations in Manhattan and Williamsburg.)


3. Beyond Sushi
Again, I've written about this spot, and it's too good not to include here.

As I mentioned in my prior post, this place serves sushi that is not just vegan, but really delicious. Their inventive and unique flavor combinations make it a treat for everyone. I went with some friends on a gluten-free diet not long ago, and they were happy with the variety of options (all clearly marked on the menu), as well as the gluten-free chia-seed pudding. Both locations also offer a variety of fresh juices and lemonades that are really scrumptious!

Since writing my initial post, I've also ordered their delivery from, and eaten at, their location near Union Square. The service at the Union Square location was slower than that at the Chelsea Market location. This makes some sense, as Chelsea Market seemed to have many pre-made options, since everything is served to-go. While the Chelsea Market has no seating in the actual restaurant (with ample seating in the Chelsea Market surrounding area), the location near Union Square has very limited seating (for about 15 at most), but the turn around is relatively quick, and you could always grab it to go and eat in a nearby park (Union Square and Stuyvesant Town are just around the corner).

2. Two Boots
Like vegan pizza? Looking for a new vegan pizza to love? You've got great options at Two Boots! The "V for Vegan" pizza (see below) comes with non-dairy cheese, artichokes, and shiitakes on top, all covered in a gorgeous criss-cross of of basil and red pepper pesto. While the vegan pizza is delicious, you can also swap vegan (daiya) cheese onto any of their other pizzas, too. There's not much else to say, except their pizza's are really great. Again, I've only ordered takeout from Two Boots so I can't really comment on the dining-in option. They do, however, have locations all over Manhattan.


1. M.O.B Cafe
This is another place that's become a favorite when I'm in the area. Known for the M.O.B. (see below), you can check out my previous post to see what else they have to offer...

Last time we went, I finally tried the M.O.B. It's a house-baked flatbread made with locally grown and milled organic flours, shaped like the Brooklyn bridge arches topped with all kinds of delicious veggies and sauces!


The Mob Dog Deluxe is another good option, pictured here with all the fixings (it's a spiced carrot and chickpea dog with mustard and ketchup, Brooklyn Brine sauerkraut and relish on a sweet potato dog roll, seen here with french fries!).

They've also got great drinks! As I mentioned above, check out my other entry for some other mouth-watering options...

The only bad thing about this place is that they're closed on Mondays! So keep that in mind when you're planning your next visit...

That's all for now! Tons of great options in this city, I'll be sharing many more as the year progresses!