The Vegan City Guide: New York City/Brooklyn
A guide that barely needs an introduction:
MANHATTAN & Brooklyn!
It has been over 12 years since I took a trip out east to NYC so when I say I’m excited about this one, let’s just say it’s longgg overdue. My father was raised in Manhattan & some of my favorite memories were exploring the city when I was younger. It’s one of those cities where it’s actually incredible to be a vegan and vegan or not, there is amazing food on every corner. The biggest problem I had was not having enough time to go to every restaurant I wanted to!
I asked our community on Instagram to send recommendations and I got thousands! It’s literally impossible to hit everything in one week, let alone one weekend so think of this guide as a working list. We’ll be back in a few months and will keep adding, but for now, know that everything on this guide is an absolute must visit.
The biggest goal with all of my vegan food guides is explore all the vegan options available in a city/region firsthand, and to share my experiences of what I found so you can have a better sense of what to expect before you travel there yourself. Traveling to new places can be tough with food allergies and with the plant based lifestyle, so I went ahead and did all the hard work for you, as amazing (and also as painful) it may have been. 😂 So I hope this guide can help you on your quest for better and healthier food options.
This way, you can have an incredible vacation by having an idea of what’s available to eat, while also supporting the local businesses serving vegan options in the area. By supporting restaurants that have plant based options, even if they’re not all vegan, we’re showing them that there is a need for plant based food and allergy friendly dishes, which in turn will show the demand for better options in the future. This is why there isn’t just strictly vegan places on this guide, because we want to support all restaurants, hotels and cafes that are making an effort to be apart of the change we want to see.
With all of my city food guides, this of course is just my experience. Use it for reference and let me know what you found on your journey over at @chef_bai on IG or Tiktok. Be sure to save/ bookmark this vegan city guide for when you plan to visit and don’t forget to share the love and send to a friend!
Legend For Symbols:
(V) = Full Vegan Restaurant
(VO) = Vegan Options Available By Request
(VEG) = Vegetarian Restaurant
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Things to remember before you go:
- It’s incredibly easy to get around in NYC. From the subway to the Citi bikes (there are docking stations every few blocks in Brooklyn and Manhattan) and even Taxi’s/Ubers. If it’s your first time, you absolutely should not rent a car and take advantage of public transit!
- If you plan to use the Citi Bikes, bring a helmet with you! There are bicycle lanes all over and it’s safe to ride but it’s always good form to use a helmet. And if you are planning on riding a bunch throughout the day, you can rent an all day pass for the bikes and get a discount from the regular fees.
- Most restaurants are open LATE. As a sleepy San Diego girl I always get shocked by how late restaurants stay open in cities like NY. On weekends most places are open until 10:30-12. Call ahead and see if reservations are required or if they have a last call for the kitchen. It’s easy to get caught up!
- While reservations are great, most places have plenty of room for walk in’s so don’t feel like you have to schedule your whole weekend depending on where you want to eat!
- We went during a warm weekend, but I would imagine that you should always pack a coat in case the. weather turns on you in a form of rain or wind.
- There are tons of vegan spots everywhere, so you can find anything for your preference, your budget, and your vibe, so have fun with it! Enjoy all the food adventures and be safe traveling around NYC.
MANHATTAN / NYC
Beyond Sushi (V)
134 W 37th Street, New York NY 10018
What we loved: Kicking this guide off with a bang. Beyond sushi went BEYOND our expectations. Service was excellent and so quick. We came without a reservation and only had 45 minutes in-between meetings and not once did we feel rushed. This restaurant is like a little oasis in the middle of all of the noise of the city and it was exactly what we needed. The smoked mushroom salad (to my surprise!) was the best thing we tried. The flavors were incredible! The salmon nigiri was oddly vegan - as it looked so much like the real thing and was so tasty. The rolls were delicious, although I do feel like the charred avocado roll was my least favorite. I can’t wait to come back here for dinner!
Tips when ordering: Like most sushi, everything is very shareable. I ordered the matcha latte and it was suggested I get the Ube syrup on the side and it was the best combo ever (shout out to the bartender for that one!). Be sure to ask about GF items because it isn’t labeled clearly on the menu!
What we ordered:
Ginger Beef Dumplings
Oshizushi Spicy Salmon Roll
Salmon Nigiri
Charred Avocado Maki Roll
Smoked Mushroom Salad
Ube Latte & Matcha Latte
ABCV (VEG)
38 E 19th St, New York, NY 10003
What we loved: We had reservations for Monday eve, but unexpectedly rode by on Saturday around 2PM on our e-bikes and since there was room we decided to change our dinner reservation to a brunch walk-in. The Aperol Spritz’ were some of the best I’ve had, but be careful because drinks here aren’t cheap - we learned that the hard way! I loved how most of the vegetarian items could be made vegan, and how there was such a range of items to choose from. The dates were a MUST - a literal flavor explosion. The seasonal greens also tasted like they were grown 5 feet away they were that good. I like to order a salad at every restaurant I go to because although everyone feels like it’s an afterthought, the salads can sometimes show the attention to detail even as something so simple. This one, although so simple, was one of the highlights! The dosa was savory and well balanced. We also all loved the yam, but truthfully were a little taken back by the small size. We finished with the pancakes which I honestly could have eaten by myself!
Tips when ordering: Besides their vegan options, a few of the vegetarian options can be made vegan. This place is on the pricey side so be sure to either stop here for a quick app and a drink or save this spot for the day you want to splurge! It’s worth it. There was 3 of us, we each had two spritzers and shared the dishes below and our bill was $260 to give you a better idea.
What we ordered:
April Spritz with an Olive
California Dates
Croissant
Fluffy Pancakes
Vegan Dosa
Crunchy Lettuces
Roasted Murasaki Yam
JaJaJA (V)
63 Carmine St New York, NY 10014
What we loved: What we loved most about this spot was the vibe. It felt like taking a bit of San Diego and dropping it right into the West Village. We showed up on a Saturday night with no reservation and were seated immediately. The vibe was great, everything was really well decorated and the music was on point. The service was really lovely and it seemed like everyone was working un unison from the servers, busters, and food runners and everything was quick even on a such a busy night. We ordered a few things to share and it was all a hit. The mole sauce was one of my favorites I’ve had in such a long time, and the dinosaur kale bowl was surprisingly one of my favorite dishes of the entire night. Steve my husband ate most of the chips and queso fundido, so you know that was fire too. All in all, a great place to stumble into on a weekend with friends if you want to have a fun and lively dinner.
Tips when ordering: Ask your server their favorite dishes and they should point you in the right direction. I definitely recommend the mole and the kale bowl for sharing with friends. If you have any allergies, let your server know, because they were allergy friendly. Our server seemed experienced on the menu which was great for gluten free people like myself.
What we ordered:
Queso fundido
Pescado Taco
Mushroom taco
Dinosaur Kale Bowl
Mole Enchiladas
PLanta (V)
Multiple Locations
What we loved: What’s not to love at Planta. I first tried this restaurant in Miami and was so excited about all the options. My girlfriend had an entire feast delivered waiting for us on our first night since we had a late flight. Not only did the food hold up for us, but everything was really delicious. I loved the eggplant nigiri and the watermelon spicy tuna - the flavors were so delicious. The food held up so good for takeout that we wanted to try it out as a dine in experience, and we went back for dinner and it did not disappoint. We ordered everything we didn’t already have the previous night and so we tried almost half the menu it seems and it was all too good. The 1000 layer potatoes melted like butter in your mouth, and the chicken and waffles was one of the best i’ve ever had. We ordered the a few rolls and the firecracker was sooo delicious that I’ve been dreaming about it ever since. If you like spicy stuff, go for the watermelon ahi nigiri for a quick pick me up.
Tips when ordering: The pizzas are pretty large and the food portions are pretty big for the entrees, so you’d be surprised how far a few items can go. And if you are going to order anything, definitely get the chicken and waffles and the firecracker roll, your won’t regret it!
What we ordered:
Bao Sliders
1000 layer crispy potato
Bang bang broccoli
Lettuce wraps
Chicken and waffles
Kelp Ceaser
Chinese chicken salad
Spicy tuna roll
Firecracker roll
Vodka pizza
Ahi watermelon nigiri
Unagi eggplant nigiri
Brooklyn Area
Garden Carver (V)
187 Grand Street, Brooklyn NY 11211
***Best Vegan Meat + Cheese Selection
What we loved: We went with the recommendation from the waiter and ordered the meat ball sandwich, and it was spectacular! Definitely recommend a 10/10. We ordered a bunch of the prepackaged vegan meats and vegan cheeses which all felt like a delicacy. We went back home and had champagne, vegan charcuterie, and crackers, all which became a highlight of the trip. The vegan cheese and sausage was super flavorful but everything is local and made with love, so the price reflects that. We didn’t try the bakery, but it all looked so yummy and all vegan!
Tips when ordering: Try the zero caviar to go and bring it to your next party. It’s crazy how good it is!
What we ordered:
Meatball sandwich
Truffle brie
Fennel sausage
Vegan caviar
Vinnies Pizzeria (VO)
148 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
What we loved: We stopped in and there was a line out the door, but it was moving quickly. They had a large case full of pizza and the entire top rack was all vegan which was awesome. They heated up all our slices for us and it was such great slices of pizza. Thin crust, just enough sauce and cheese that this had made a spot into the vegan city guide. Simple and delicious.
Tips when ordering: Double check which ones are vegan and if you need to, you can order ahead to speed up the entire process.
What we ordered:
Buffalo chicken
Classic cheese
Nippon Cha Matcha (VO)
214 Bedford Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11249
***Best Matcha Latte
What we loved: The entire ordering process was a fun and elaborate show as you watch all the employees mix and stir all the beautifully different green hue drinks. It was the afternoon and the line was outside around the corner, but it moved pretty quickly. The service was very sweet and all the drinks looked sooo good. They have a matcha ice cream but unfortunately it’s not vegan, but on the up side they carry a lot of the dairy free milk alternatives which is convenient. The reason I have them on this list is because the matcha here is straight from the source and the quality is unmatched to any local coffee shop matcha. It will be the smoothest caffeine you’ll get all day, definitely recommend this as a pit stop to start your day.
Tips when ordering: Make sure what you are ordering is vegan, as some things aren’t labeled, but the employees are all knowledgeable on what’s dairy free.
What we ordered:
Matcha latte x 2
Butchers Daughter (VO)
271 Metropolitan Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11211
***Best Vegan Croissant
What we loved: The entire meal was really good and the service was very attentive, and quick to help share insights on the menu. The kitchen has a bakery that runs everyday and has lots of vegan options. It was great to grab a few pastries to-go for a sweet treat dessert. It was quiet and gave lots of local coffee shop vibes. Some people were working on their laptops in the corners, including us, and it was great wi-fi, great food, and great service.
Tips when ordering: Ask your server for the best ticket items and also their favorites, because they seemed to be all knowledgeable on the menu. Not all menus items are vegan for the weekend brunch, but they make their own gluten free toast which I was able to swap out for a bagel.
What we ordered:
Açaí bowl
Lox Bagel and cream cheese
Croissant
Matcha master
Walnut Cacao Latte
Bagel Point (VO)
699 Manhattan Ave. Brooklyn, NY. 11222
***Best Bagel
What we loved: When we arrived for the morning rush it was definitely a rush. There was a line out the door and it was growing by the second. After waiting for about 10-15 minutes, I finally got the everything bagels with extra tofu cream cheese and it was magical. Something about eating a bagel with cream cheese in NYC that makes my heart smile. They haver a huge section of bagels to choose from and they even had GF which was perfect for me!
Tips when ordering: Make sure to get your bagel scooped so you can have more cream cheese added to it.
What we ordered:
Everything bagel with tofu cream cheese
GF Everything bagel with tofu cream cheese
Screamers Pizza (V)
685 Franklin Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11238
***Best Vegan Philly Cheesesteak
What we loved: We ordered this to-go and the white pizza pie hit all the spots. They unfortunately didn’t have gluten free at the time so we ordered the regular vegan one and it was worth the gluten flair up. The sauce was so good, and the dough and pizza was made and cooked perfectly. We ordered the vegan Philly cheese steak pizza, but instead we got the vegan Philly cheesesteak, which wasn’t a terrible mishap. My husband was actually really stoked and finished the entire Philly practically by himself. It was nice to have a place that delivered vegan options in Brooklyn. I bet the Philly pizza would have been pretty good, but maybe next time!
Tips when ordering: Go for the white pie pizza if you can, because the dough and the white sauce was perfect. Don’t forget to get a side of the vegan ranch too!
What we ordered:
White pie pizza
The salad with ranch
Philly cheese steak
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