Published February 12, 2020
Vegetarians, vegans, and the veggie-curious (who have yet to make up their minds) have really increased over the last few years. Studies backing up a link between vegetarianism and health, stress, and aging have inspired many New Yorkers to increase their greens and decrease their botox fillers.
Restaurants have begun adding the trendy faux-meat into their menu selection to satisfy the veggie lovers and show the veggie-curious that non-meat products can take the role of your beloved comfort food.
To find out just how delicious going veggie could be, we turned to Chef Chloe Coscarelli, who has been vegan since 2004 –a time when veggie burgers were feared by the public and BSpears was still married to KFed. Since then, she's been at the forefront of the vegan revolution! To give this green thumb a go, we asked her to round up her favorite vegan restaurants around NYC.
First fully vegan, gluten-free creperie in NYC. This adorable creperie serves a creative selection of both sweet and savory crepes, homemade baked desserts, as well as health-supportive, house-blended teas, and more. I could literally eat breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert here!
Favorite Item: Pizza Crepe with added kale and mushrooms
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A cozy little vegetarian, candle-lit restaurant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, with a vegan option for almost every single item on the menu. With a variety of natural wines on tap, it’s the perfect place for a romantic date or a relaxing girl’s night out!
Favorite Items: Chickpea Panelle and il Carciofino Piinsa Romana
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Mouth-watering vegan comfort food by Isa Chandra Moskowitz. Offering weekday dinner and weekend brunch, menu highlights include fried Tofu & Waffles, Chorizo Nachos, and Modern Cheeseburger. I challenge you to try and save room for dessert!
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Take yourself to the food extravaganza known as Smorgasburg, where the impressive Chickpea and Olive can be found alongside some of the best food in the city. And folks, I can confidently say the Nashville ChK’n Fried Tofu was the best sandwich I’ve ever had.
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A chic, vegetable-forward restaurant in the East Village, with a delicious Chardonnay & Artichoke Fondue and a super creative cocktail menu. Since the menu is tapas-style, it’s a great spot to go with a group of people to celebrate a birthday. Plus, they have a ton of GF menu options, too!
Favorite Items: Chardonnay & Artichoke Fondue, Loaded Potatoes, and Shearwater Spritz
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My absolute favorite diner, offering all the classics like burgers, sandwiches, mac n cheese, waffles, over 6 types of pancakes, as well as sundaes and shakes – but ALL vegan! They don’t take reservations, but trust me when I say it’s worth the wait.
Favorite Items: Chik’n & Waffles and Kickin’ Cowgirl
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Famous for turning classic Chinese dishes, like dim sum, all vegan. If you go with a large group (highly recommend), ask to be seated at one of the round turntables in the back, so you can order a ton of dishes to share.
Favorite Item: Turnip Cakes
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Started out as America’s first vegan, organic food truck, and now has a physical location in The Pennsy Food Hall in Midtown Manhattan. Every sweet and savory item on the menu is bursting with delicious flavors and is enjoyed by vegan and non-vegans alike.
Favorite Items: Beastmode Burger Deluxe and Crème Brûlée Donut
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America’s First 100% Plant-Based Burger Joint, committed to using all organic produce and non-GMO ingredients. Located inside the Whole Foods Market 365 in Brooklyn. Their burgers really are NEXT LEVEL! Check out their cute, inspiring story here.
Favorite Item: The Animal Burger
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A beloved, classic NYC vegan restaurant that everyone should try. It’s always packed, which is a testament to how amazing the food is and how much people love it in there. It’s casual, healthy, fresh, and truly amazes both vegans and non-vegans with their wholesome dishes. My absolute favorite thing to do is drop-in for a freshly squeezed juice at the bar.
Favorite Items: Good Food Plate and Nachos