New Orleans is known for its colorful festivals and undeniably vibrant nightlife. From the colorful mardi gras festival to its distinctive music scene, there’s no denying that your stay in this city will be worth your while.
Being the most populous city in Louisiana, New Orleans is home to a diverse group of people. This multicultural diversity makes the city a true hub for unique arts and cuisines, which makes it stand out as an American city.
Whenever we think of the New Orleans cuisine, we often think of mouthwatering Creole dishes, owing to its French and Spanish Creole roots. But over the years, the city seems to embrace a more modern trend.
With more vegan restaurants opening across the city, we can see a shift towards being a vegan-friendly New Orleans. And we’re not complaining.
If you happen to be in this city for business or leisure, here are the 9 best vegan restaurants in New Orleans that you shouldn’t skip out on.
Breads on Oak
Out of all the vegan restaurants in New Orleans, Breads on Oak seems to be a crowd-pleaser. Whether you’re a local or a traveler, you’re bound to enjoy what this restaurant has to offer.
Breads on Oak was established in 2018 at its iconic location along Oak Street. Since it serves high-quality and flavorful food to its clientele, it was able to expand to a second location along Carondelet Street. And that’s a testament to how good their food is.
From its name, you can tell that it primarily sells bread. But, these are not your ordinary pieces of bread – they’re more like organic artisan loaves of bread like sourdough, brioche, and rolls, among others.
Aside from the bread, it also serves all-day breakfast items, sandwiches, salads, and fries.
Breads on Oak also offers an assortment of coffees, teas, and chocolate milk for guests of different age groups. You also have the option to choose from any of its non-dairy milk to add to your drinks.
All things considered, it’s easy to see why Breads on Oak is a popular go-to place for vegans in New Orleans. And with its amazing service and quality, it’s sure to stay strong for the years to come.
I-tal Garden Restaurant
If you’re looking for vegan soul food New Orleans, head on to I-tal Garden Restaurant to satisfy your cravings. Serving dishes with Caribbean and Jamaican influences, this restaurant is ready to deliver unique flavors to impress your palate.
This vegan restaurant serves soul food staples like mac and cheese and plant-based buffalo wings, among others. But for those who are looking for more unique flavors, you can try its bestsellers like the Cajun pasta, the I-tal Chef’s Salad, the vegan burrito bowl, and savory avocado fries.
One of the most interesting menu items from this restaurant is the crabless crab cake, which tastes exactly like the real deal. And that’s both intriguing and satisfying at the same time.
We also want to mention that the I-tal Garden Restaurant serves gluten-free options, making it more inclusive to people with varying dietary restrictions.
Kindred
If you’re looking for a place to unwind after an exciting day of exploring this vibrant city, head on to Kindred to enjoy your downtime. With its cozy diner-style ambiance, this is the perfect place to simply hang out with your friends.
This fast food-type vegan restaurant serves all-American staples like burgers, sandwiches, subs, and mac and cheese. You can also enjoy any of its mouthwatering sides like nachos, salads, and fries – which also go well with your favorite beer or wine.
Because of how established it is as a vegan eatery, it’s almost impossible to believe that it only opened its doors in January 2020. Considering how well it serves its clientele, we can see it growing into a well-loved restaurant in the years to come.
Good Eden
Good Eden is another top contender for the best vegan restaurant in New Orleans. If you’re traveling on a tight budget, you’ll surely get your money’s worth from this restaurant.
Good Eden is one of the oldest vegan-friendly establishments in the city. Since it opened its doors in 2014, this vegan restaurant never ceased to amaze people with its mouthwatering food and commendable service. That’s the true key to its success.
This vegan restaurant serves a variety of menu items with Indian and international influences. Crowd favorites include its curry bowls, corncakes, and daal. It also serves salads for those who are looking for raw and healthy options.
Good Eden also has a juice bar where you can pick your favorite refreshments to pair with your meals. Coffee and tea are also available – perfect for those who simply want to relax after a tiring day.
Interestingly, this vegan restaurant only uses organic ingredients in all of its food. That guarantees both quality and dedication to deliver healthy food to its customers.
Carmo
Carmo is the perfect place to bring your foodie friends, because there really is something for everyone. They’ve got extensive vegan, vegetarian, and omnivore options, so nobody has to feel left out. And the menu is based on food from all around the world, so you can pretend you’re dining in Japan or Peru instead of good ol’ New Orleans. But even though the ingredients are fresh and local, the dishes won’t cost you an arm and a leg. So you can treat yourself to a little bit of everything.
This one-of-a-kind restaurant offers a variety of cuisine from all around the tropics, as well as a raw vegan menu that is sure to tantalize your taste buds. It’s a great introduction to the world of shio-koji style preparation. Trust us, once you’ve had a taste of koji-marinated avocados and tofu, you’ll be hooked. And with soups and specials that change daily, you’ll never get bored of eating here.
Carmo is known for its fresh, local ingredients and amazing eclectic cuisine. But what many people don’t know is that Carmo is also a sustainable restaurant. They are constantly working to improve their practices and make sure that their customers are getting the best possible experience. And their efforts are paying off – the restaurant is certified by the Green Restaurant Association, and they are also the only restaurant in Louisiana to be certified by SeafoodWatch.
So next time you’re in New Orleans, be sure to check out Carmo – not only for the great food, but for their commitment to sustainability.
Sweet Soulfood
Another vegan restaurant where you can enjoy soul food in New Orleans is Sweet Soulfood. With its wide range of food options, you’ll definitely find one that suits every palate.
With its casual dining ambiance, Sweet Soulfood will make you feel at home as you dine. It serves local favorites like plant-based mac and cheese, potato salad, jambalaya, and baked beans, to name a few.
Aside from these soul food favorites, this vegan restaurant also has interesting items on its menu, such as the barbecue cauliflower, yams and greens, and a number of Cajun-flavored dishes.
Sweet Soulfood also has a bakery that serves tasty dessert and snack items such as cookies, potato pies, and bread pudding. Ice cream and berry-based drinks are also available for those who are looking to satisfy their sweet tooth.
Sweet Soulfood is known to prepare its food and drinks using organic ingredients, making sure that no chemical or artificial preservative is added. Gluten-free items are also available.
Sprouts Organic Café
If you have a palate for raw vegan food, head on to Sprouts Organic Café and eat your heart out.
This vegan café offers a salad bar where you can create the perfect salad to suit your taste. It is also known for its deliciously refreshing acai bowls, made of the freshest ingredients in New Orleans.
But aside from raw food, Sprouts Organic Café also offers burgers and sandwiches using Beyond meat alternatives. So whether you’re looking for a heavy meal or simply something to snack on, you can count on this café to deliver what you need.
From its name, you can already tell that it only serves food prepared using organic ingredients. And since most of its menu items are raw, you can be confident that you’re consuming food that’s free from harmful preservatives.
For refreshments, Sprouts Organic Café also features a juice bar where you can enjoy fresh cold-pressed juices.
Original Thought
If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy plant-based meal in New Orleans, look no further than Original Thought. This plant-based pop-up restaurant offers a variety of fantastic vegan dishes, from hot dogs and burgers to nachos and mac & cheese. They also have a great selection of smoothies and juices, perfect for a post-workout snack or a refreshing treat on a hot day.
One of the best things about Original Thought NOLA is that they’re always busy and constantly selling out, which is a testament to how good their food is. However, if you want to try them, be sure to go early or order ahead, as they often sell out of popular items. Despite this, it’s definitely worth the effort to track them down, as you won’t be disappointed with their food.
Business owner, Bolingo Ashay, goes above and beyond to make sure everyone is happy with their meal. He truly cares about his customers and is always looking to improve the business. As a result, Original Thought NOLA has become one of the most popular plant-based restaurants in New Orleans.
Check their webpage for schedule updates before you go. But if you’re in New Orleans and looking for a delicious and healthy plant-based meal, be sure to check out Original Thought. You won’t regret it!
The Daily Beet
The Daily Beet is one of the best places in town to go for a healthy and delicious breakfast or lunch. They source ingredients from local farmers who share the restaurant’s purpose of providing sustainable nutrition to promote a healthier community.
Their menu features a variety of breakfast and lunch items, as well as a selection of smoothies, juices, coffees, and teas.
The Banana Oatmeal Pancakes are a popular favorite and it’s not hard to see why. They’re packed with nutrients and flavor, and the strawberry cashew crema is an amazing touch. Also well worth trying is the Rainbow bowl, which is loaded with healthy quinoa, avocado, carrot, beet, red bell pepper, scallion, chickpea, currant, toasted almond, and zesty ginger-garlic dressing. The Indian Curry is another fantastic option for lunch. It’s a hearty dish that is packed with flavor and nutrition.
The smoothies are amazing and there are so many different options to choose from. Fresh and delicious, the juices are always excellent.
The staff at The Daily Beet are always friendly and helpful, and they make sure that your experience is positive from start to finish. The restaurant has a really relaxed and chill vibe, which makes it the perfect place to go for a healthy meal. Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast or a leisurely lunch, The Daily Beet is definitely worth checking out!
The 9 Best Vegan Restaurants in New Orleans – Summary
There you have it – a comprehensive list of the best vegan restaurants in New Orleans! So whenever you’re craving for some plant-based goodness, make sure to check out these restaurants. You won’t be disappointed.
