If you’re on the hunt for the best vegan restaurants New Orleans has to offer, you’re in the right place!
When I think of the word vegan, New Orleans is not the first city that comes to mind. But as with most other towns in the western world, vegan eateries, menus, and options in general are popping up all over The Crescent City.
From vegan bakeries with muffanadas, to exotic Mediterranean fare with origins far from the Mississippi delta, this old town has a lot to offer for vegans, and it the choices are multiplying each year.
Best Vegan Restaurants New Orleans
Let’s dive into The Big Easy, and see if that moniker fits the search for vegan restaurants New Orleans style.
Breads on Oak
Starting out the day on a Vegan food New Orleans quest, usually means beginning at Breads on Oak.
This classic boulangerie is one of the most highly touted vegan eateries in the United States.
Artisanal breads are ready for pick up and they also distribute to other vegan restaurants in New Orleans. Whole cakes like strawberry almond and chocolate Samoa are available to order, along with a vegan king cake, a Louisiana specialty.
As mentioned before, it’s the top spot for vegans starting out their days with bits like vegan breakfast biscuit sandwiches, vegan croissants, and also a nice vegan quiche.
For lunch they offer a vegan Florentine sandwich, and for those that want to sample a New Orleans classic done the vegan way, the Muffanada is a must try.
- Cuisine: Bakery, Brunchy Americana
- Price: $$
- Address: 8640 Oak Street… 222 Carondelet Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Sweet Soulfood
Sweet Soulfood brings vegan to Tremé with classic dishes like jambalaya, collard greens, bread pudding, and chicken fried cauliflower.
Their fully plant-based weekly menu can change, so check their website for updates. But some of the regular hits are the okra gumbo and mushrooms with gravy over white rice.
Catering is also available. Closed on Sundays.
- Cuisine: Soul Food
- Price: $$
- Address: 1025 N. Broad Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Trilly Cheesesteaks
This Mid-City Philly inspired sandwich shop just off of Tulane Avenue keeps the meat and the vegan apart with separate cooking stations, but you wouldn’t know by the flavor that Trilly Cheesesteaks packs into every bite of their plant-based delights.
As the names says, the Philly Cheesesteaks are the main draw here, and it’s no wonder as they take pride in their products.
Steak seitan, sautéed peppers and onions, and vegan cheddar cheese sauce all piled onto an Amoroso’s roll.
Other sandwich options are the vegan buffalo chicken, and the vegan far east Philly, which is steak seitan seasoned with sweet ginger soy sauce, fried pickled red onions, and vegan cream cheese.
Don’t forget to grab some of their crinkle fries too!
- Cuisine: Sandwich Shop
- Price: $
- Address: 3735 Ulloa Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan-Friendly
Botanicals Nola
In the Bywater on St Claude Avenue you can refresh from the sweltering heat of the Big Easy with this airy plant-filled all vegan smoothie and juice bar, as Botanicals Nola offers health-conscious fare at a reasonable price.
Avocado toast is mouth-watering, and don’t miss the vegan Belgian waffle that is topped with bananas, toasted pecans, and maple syrup.
There’s a chickpea salad sandwich on a multi-grain bread, along with treats like vegan muffins and vegan cupcakes.
Organic cold-pressed juices will cool you down, and the smoothie bowls are big and bold. Try the Dat Fiya Pitaya, a large serving of banana, pineapple, almond milk, sea moss, and pitaya (aka dragon fruit), a bright pink cactus fruit indigenous to the Americas.
They open early and shut the doors at 5pm Monday through Friday, 3pm on Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.
- Cuisine: Juice Bar, Healthy, Raw
- Price: $$
- Address: 3726 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Sneaky Pickle
Sneaking into our next spot for the best of vegan restaurants New Orleans is the dynamic Sneaky Pickle and Bar Brine.
Also in the Bywater neighborhood, this place dishes out modern eclectic bites along with some old classics with a twist like mac n cheese cashew chorizo with broccoli and butternut squash.
The vibe is funky artsy and the space is filled with plants, they have a nice little outdoor area too. The menu is mostly vegan with a few meat options, so bring your carnivore pals along.
The small plates are nice, like their Sneaky Pickle Plate of assorted seasonal veggies, along with hand cut fries, and a tofu taco chili with onions, cashew cheese, cilantro and corn tortilla.
Bigger plates include buffalo tofu & cauliflower salad with pickled onions, greens and tomatoes. They also have flatbreads and sandwiches like their Reuben with smoked tempeh.
When the sun goes down they shift into night mode with their Bar Brine for dinner, cocktails flow like the nearby Mississippi. Don’t be surprised if there’s a bit of a wait to be seated.
Closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
- Cuisine: Modern Americana, Eclectic, Cocktail
- Price: $$
- Address: 3200 Burgundy Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Heavy, Meat Options
I-tal Garden
As a fully plant-based restaurant, I-tal Garden does vegan New Orleans the right way with cauliwings fried crispy and served with a choice of sauce, crabless crab cakes, and beautiful avocado fries.
It’s soul food with a modern twist.
They have a mac n cheese plate with collard kale cabbage, bbq cauli wings and cornbread. There’s a creamy cajun pasta plate, and also cajun oyster bites, which are chickpea battered oyster mushrooms fried to a crisp.
At lunch time they have a unique build-your-own menu of your choice of 2 proteins and 3 sides. There’s also salads and raw tacos.
Don’t leave without trying the okra file gumbo, a real treat of vegan food New Orleans style.
Many folks come for their hefty breakfast menu which consists of a pancake platter, a breakfast sandwich with potatoes on the side, and a delicious oatmeal bowl.
It’s a laidback joint, as shown by their hours, open Friday to Sunday only 10am to 7pm. Catering available.
- Cuisine: Soul Food, Modern Eclectic, Brunchy Americana
- Price: $$
- Address: 810 North Claiborne Avenue, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Small Mart
Located in the Faubourg Marigny neighborhood is a small vegetarian market that is another place that is heavy on the vegan and light on the meat, at Small Mart the menu is wide ranging and diverse.
There’s vegan po’ boys, curries, vegan burgers, samosas, and New York City bagels with toppings like avocado or hummus.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Cuisine: Sandwiches, Indian, Eclectic
- Price: $
- Address: 2700 Chartres Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Meals From The Heart Cafe
If you’re in the French Quarter and you’re craving a bite, then stop by Meals From The Heart Cafe, and they’ll fulfill your vegan needs.
It’s not a totally vegan place, but they do have the beyond burgers and also some special vegan crab cakes. They are right inside of the French Market for easy access.
They have a spicy vegan sausage that should be on any foodie’s list, and another spot with a tasty vegan gumbo. Or, dive into some of their breakfast options, like blueberry pancakes.
Open every day of the week, 10am to 3:30pm.
- Cuisine: Americana, Brunchy Americana, Healthy
- Price: $$
- Address: 1100 North Peters Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Thaihey NOLA
Another spot smack dab in the heart of the French Quarter, Thaihey NOLA will knock you back with some delicious Thai specialties.
Although it won’t make the cut for a pure vegan restaurants New Orleans list, they do accommodate with a delightful vegan menu.
It’s a proper sit down joint with nice atmosphere but still a casual Big Easy feel.
Peruse their vegan menu online and you’ll come across bites like fried tofu and lotus root for starters and a Tomkha vegan soup with coconut milk, lemongrass, galangal, tofu and local farm picked mushrooms.
Main dishes include a pumpkin curry, along with a Khao Soi Tofu, a Northern style curry noodle soup with tofu, crispy soy protein and lotus root.
Beer, wine and cocktails abound. Ask about catering and parties.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
- Cuisine: Thai
- Price: $$
- Address: 308 Decatur Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
The Daily Beet
With multiple locations, The Daily Beet is easy to find for those in a veggie pinch in this porky seafood town.
It’s a health-conscious quick stop kinda place with some vegan options. There are plenty of smoothies and cold-pressed juices, there’s also teas and coffee with oat and almond milk options.
The rainbow bowl has quinoa, avocado, carrot, beet, red bell pepper, scallion, chickpea, currant, toasted almonds, and a ginger-garlic dressing. Add $3 to the smoothies for CBD oil.
The spot on Magazine Street stays open until 8pm, and Girod Street closes at 4pm.
- Cuisine: Raw, Breakfast, Healthy, Juice Bar
- Price: $$
- Address: 1000 Girod Street… 3300 Magazine Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegetarian, Vegan Friendly
Carmo
The artsy funky Warehouse District is home to Carmo, a restaurant with a menu that matches the vibes of the neighborhood.
This place proves that vegan New Orleans can mean dynamic flavors with exotic punch.
In the mood for vegan ceviche? They got it. The bill themselves as a “tropical cafe and bar”. There’s a broken noodle salad with rice noodles, bean sprouts and cabbage with tofu, peas, carrots, mushrooms, scallions, cilantro and peanuts all tossed in a chili citrus vinaigrette.
And what would vegan food New Orleans be without a daily rice and beans on the menu? They also have a daily curry.
The menus are large at this place, and separated into breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
The Burmese tea leaf salad screams tres exotique. Raw cold starters include a creole avocado garnished with red onions, cashews, and a ponzu sauce.
Beer, wine, cocktails, and even sake adorn this eclectic menu. Ask about specialty breads.
Closed Sundays and Mondays, open til 10pm the rest of the week.
- Cuisine: Eclectic, South American, Raw
- Price: $$$
- Address: 527 Julia Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Original Thought NOLA
The food truck sector is booming across the planet, and The Crescent City jumps into the game with Original Thought NOLA, a plant-based camper with dishes that dazzle the senses.
They do what food trucks usually do, crank out fried food and concoctions on buns, but they do it much better than most. Burgers, fries, mac n cheese bowl, chili dogs, and loaded nachos are all on hand here.
Their “better than Popeye’s sandwich” — something I don’t even like saying — gets rave reviews and keeps the veggie heads coming back.
For something a bit more eclectic and healthy, go for their electric bowl, it’s a melange of stir-fry veggie wild rice, oyster mushrooms, plantains and salad or Swiss chard. Tacos and Jackfruit Chick’n salads are on offer.
And something to admire, an all day breakfast menu with avocado toast, breakfast burritos, pancake plates, and polenta grits.
Mondays through Fridays from 10am to 5pm.
- Cuisine: Americana, Salads, Breakfast
- Price: $$
- Address: 1871 Agriculture Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Kindred
Fully plant-based eateries are gaining ground in the exciting world of vegan restaurants New Orleans, and Kindred keeps up with the best of them.
Inside the sleek minimalist vibe is contrasted with southern fried nibbles like fried mushrooms, mac n cheese, and fried cauliflower. To counter those crusty bites, go for the delicious brussels sprouts, well seasoned and doused with lemon.
For mains they offer burgers, quinoa salad, a chickpea based tuna sandwich, and a shrimp po’ boy made up of fried mushrooms, coleslaw, spicy mayo, roasted tomatoes and a splash of buffalo sauce.
Weekends from 11am to 3pm is brunch time with French toast, waffles, and breakfast sausage. There’s tea and lemonade, southern staples, along with beer, wine and a wide range of cocktails… and if you’re dodging the booze, then try one of their refreshing mocktails.
Ask about events, parties, and catering.
Closed Mondays and Tuesdays, check online for their wonky hours for the other days of the week.
- Cuisine: Americana, Southern, Brunchy Americana, Cocktails
- Price: $$
- Address: 7537 Maple Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Bearcat Cafe & Le Chat Noir
More and more restaurants in this old port city are making an effort to fit in with the exploding vegan New Orleans food culture, and Bearcat Cafe squeezes into the mix.
This classy modern joint is a meat-mostly operation, but vegans can feel welcomed with some knockout plant-based meals like their vegan Bearcat for breakfast, a tofu scramble with crispy potatoes and a black bean sausage, add $6 for vegan pancakes.
Lunch starters include dry fried green beans in lemon and garlic. For larger bites their farro bowl packs a wallop of flavor with almonds, nori, oyster mushrooms, fennel, carrots, and black beans. Another eye-catching creamy dish is their trumpet mushrooms with hummus, cauliflower and asparagus.
The appearance and tasting notes are definitely at high-chef level, and their Xiong mao noodle shows off their elegant craft with purple sweet potato noodles, tomato, artichoke, and a preserved lemon pesto.
Comfy food includes vegan sandwiches like a black bean beet mushroom burger, a portobello Philly, and a vegan grilled cheese. This is a snazzy upscale cafe serves up sides like glazed carrots are whipped up with house syrup and vegan butter.
Cocktails abound with finesse like their Bloody Mary with vegan Worcestershire sauce.
The two Bearcat spots are located in the CBD and Uptown, their sister spot, Le Chat Noir is even more lux on Saint Charles Avenue, and this place also accommodates vegan palates with delicious top tier bites.
The Bearcats shun dinner with early closings at 3:30pm. Le Chat Noir embraces the evening crowd with doors open until 9:30pm.
- Cuisine: Modern Eclectic, Brunchy Americana
- Price: $$$
- Address:
- Bearcat Cafe — 2521 Jena Street… 845 Carondelet Street, New Orleans
- Le Chat Noir — 715 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Holy Crepes!
For a quick tasty treat when trudging through the tourist zone, pop over to Holy Crepes in the French Market for your sweet vegan New Orleans fix.
Both sweet and savory options are plentiful. They start cranking out their perfect thin crepes at 10am and usually close mid to late afternoon.
- Cuisine: Crepes, Juices
- Price: $
- Address: 1100 North Peters Street, stall 23, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Dat Dog
With three locations, Dat Dog makes it convenient for quick stop to satisfy your doggy desires.
Their vegan banger comes as a vegan bratwurst with sauerkraut, dill relish, grilled onions, tomatoes, and creole mustard. Seasoned tots accompany their dog nicely.
- Cuisine: Hot Dogs
- Price: $$
- Address: 601 Frenchmen Street… 5030 Freret Street… 3336 Magazine Street, New Orleans
- Type: Americana
Shaya & Saba
After the smashing success of his first restaurant, Shaya, chef and restauranteur Alon Shaya then proceeded to open up Saba, and the results have been equally impressive.
It’s a Mediterranean vibe done family style, with a blend of Louisiana sourced foods. Meat is available but the fare is well balanced with this veggie heavy menu.
There are small plates and even smaller plates called Salatim of Israeli salads and spreads, moussaka, a chickpeas, tomato, and onion spread.
Pickled market vegetables are on hand, as are heirloom tomatoes with dill, and a perfect baba ganoush of creamy eggplant with charred green onions and olive oil. The falafels come with green tahini and pickled cabbage.
There are plenty of other plant-based options here, and people rave about the staff that are knowledgable and very accommodating towards vegans.
The small selection of beers boast Lebanese and Greek imports, along with local Louisiana choices. Wine is by the glass and the bottle, and there’s plenty to choose from. Cocktails come as unique concoctions, like the offshore revival, bay leaf infused vodka with cucumber and falernum liqueur.
Saba is the more casual of the two, and they also have brunch with vegan bites. Shaya is the dinner spot that stays open until 10pm on weekends.
Check online for hours and also for private dining at Shaya.
- Cuisine: Israeli, Mediterranean, Louisiana
- Price: $$$
- Address: Shaya — 4213 Magazine Street… Saba — 5757 Magazine Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Froot & The Big Squeezy
For pure raw health-conscious fare, stop by either Froot or The Big Squeezy and refreshen with their juices, smoothies, and bowls.
These are the spots that cleanse away those heavier meals. There are plenty of options of raw bowls and smoothies to choose from.
The team at Froot are driven by their goal to bring healthier food options to their community, they even have a monthly fruit bowl subscription.
Froot is a takeaway kiosk, and The Big Squeezy has the option to dine-in.
- Cuisine: Juices, Bowls, Smoothies
- Price: $$
- Address: Froot — 2438 Bell Street… The Big Squeezy — 303 Saint Charles Avenue, New Orleans
- Type: Vegetarian, Vegan Friendly
Plant Bass Vegan Deli
In the old Algiers neighborhood there’s a little place that’s making a big impact in the wave of vegan restaurants New Orleans, as Plant Bass Vegan Deli serves up fried green tomatoes, burgers, mushroom po’ boys and pizza.
The hot sausage po’ boy and the crab cake sandwich are both a must try. They have an avocado toast with fresh micro-greens for a late morning bite.
Smoothies, cold-pressed juices and also fresh baked cookies are also on the menu.
Open every day of the week from 11am to 9pm.
- Cuisine: Comfort, Louisiana, Americana
- Price: $$
- Address: 3613 General Meyer Avenue, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan
Sprouts Organic Cafe
This next place is a weekends only daytime spot to regenerate those that are looking for a cleanse after a long night out, as Sprouts Organic Cafe offers a wide range of smoothies and fresh juices.
Locals rave about the quality of raw options and also good service. This is another fully plant-based joint that does vegan New Orleans with an emphasis on health and quality ingredients.
There’s also coffee and tea with the almond milk option. In addition to the juices and smoothies they also have bowls, salads and tasty breakfast sandwiches.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 9am to 3pm.
- Cuisine: Juices, Smoothies, Bowls, Breakfast
- Price: $$
- Address: Henriette Delille Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan, Raw
Lamara Coffee and Kitchen
A west coast inspired menu is what you’ll find from the team at Lamara Coffee and Kitchen.
Inside the renovated space is a sleek white-walled calming scene, and out back there’s an exposed patio for dining and people watching.
The idea is quality organic, they make an effort to use minimally processed foods, which means no refined grains, oils, or sugars. Most of the selections on the menu are vegan, although they do have items with eggs.
Breakfast and lunch are served daily. There’s an avocado smash, a sprouted bagel with almond cream cheese and seasonal tomatoes, and their version of a California breakfast burrito with potato-poblano chickpea hash, avocado and purpler cabbage wrapped up in a whole wheat tortilla.
The lunch menu is full of vegan options, like rainbow tostadas with black bean spread, golden beets and watermelon radish. Health-conscious bowls include the buffalo tofu bowl, a spring roll bowl, and a botanical bowl with curly green kale, quinoa, black beans, yellow corn, tomatoes, orange bell peppers and scallions.
There’s a burger and other vegan goodies, and B.L.A.T. sandwich catches the eye with house made Adzuki bean bacon, slow roasted herbed Romas, avocado, and arugula on a multi-grained bread.
Coffees, teas, juices and smoothies are plentiful on the drink menu.
This place feels like a little oasis of the golden state in the heart of The Big Easy.
8am to 3pm every day except for weekends when they open the doors at 9am.
- Cuisine: California, Healthy, Organic, Modern Eclectic
- Price: $$
- Address: 1300 North Broad Street, New Orleans
- Type: Vegetarian, Vegan
1000 Figs
Another easy breezy cafe with white interior that pops with green plants that adorn the walls, 1000 Figs brings a taste of the Mediterranean to the expanse of vegan food New Orleans.
Another meat place that happily accommodates the veggie heads, delightful bites from the Middle East cozy up alongside craft beer and wine.
Happy hour is Monday to Friday from 3pm to 5pm with $5 wine and $3 beer.
Dips and meze plates abound. Plus, there’s a falafel feast that’ll cost you $39 if you and the crew feel like teaming up on large platter of falafel, hummus, baba ghanouj, tzatziki, pickled veggies, kale and cabbage salad, seasonal vegetables, tahini, zhoug, toum, and fresh bread.
Add ons like fries or brussels sprouts are in the $7 range. Non-alcoholic beverages include lemonade and hibiscus tea.
Monday to Saturday 11am to 9pm.
- Cuisine: Mediterranean, Middle Eastern
- Price: $$
- Address: 3141 Ponce de Leon, New Orleans
- Type: Vegan Friendly
Vegan New Orleans Wrap-up
Wrapping up our list of vegan restaurants New Orleans, a few things stand out.
There’s a spirit in the air of people consciously making efforts to bring healthy food options to communities that were very much underserved in this area of the culinary world, and it’s a great thing to see.
There’s no shortage of sleek airy modern cafes that are doing vegan food New Orleans style, and also exotic cuisines with origins far from the shores of the Mississippi, maybe a bit of what The Big Easy was centuries ago.
It’s also comforting to see how many meaty, seafood eateries now cater to both vegetarians and vegans alike. Chefs now take great care in trying to accommodate dietary needs, and this extends into the lifestyle of veganism.
As The Crescent City shifts and transforms like the flow of the mighty river on the banks of which it makes its home, for vegan restaurants New Orleans, the trend is only expected to grow and thrive.
I’m looking forward to see what this old town comes up with next!
More Vegan New Orleans
Check out Veggie Visa’s friend, Eunice, for more vegan options and a quick look at some of the New Orleans vegan restaurants featured in this article.