In New York, a vegan Szechuan restaurant empire is rising whereas making a secure area for the LGBTQ+ neighborhood. In Berkeley, a beloved plant-based eatery helps its metropolis cap a landmark yr of giant vegan wins (with doughnut-stuffed pancakes, no much less). And all throughout the nation—even within the face of one of the crucial difficult years for the business—vegan eating places soldier on, providing consolation, creativity, and connection.
For the second annual VegNews Restaurant Awards, we flipped the script and let readers nominate and select precisely which eateries (from fine-dining eating places to doughnut outlets to the whole lot in between) are one of the best within the nation. And as a bonus, we assembled a panel of professional judges to weigh in, break any ties, and vote for his or her favorites to share much more restaurant love.
Which metropolis is taking house probably the most #1 wins? What brand-new bakery unseated a 26-year establishment? And which restaurant did you select as one of the best in your entire nation? The votes are in … we current to you, the second annual VegNews Restaurant Awards.
Plant Energy Quick Meals
Greatest Vegan Quick-Meals Restaurant:
Plant Energy Quick Meals (A number of Places)
Miss your Carl’s Jr Past Well-known Star? Not for those who’ve ever been to Plant Energy Quick Meals. The Southern California-founded chain has been specializing in mouthwatering quick meals—the whole lot from its signature Huge Zac to its limited-time “Ribby” McRib dupe—for almost 10 years. And with 10 areas satisfying plant-based cravings throughout California and Las Vegas, no marvel this chain calls itself “the way forward for quick meals.”
1st Place: Plant Energy Quick Meals (A number of Places)
2nd Place: Veggie Grill (A number of Places)
third Place: Subsequent Stage Burger (A number of Places)
Judges’ Vote: Veggie Grill (A number of Places)
Crossroads Kitchen
Greatest Vegan Positive-Eating Restaurant:
Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles CA & Las Vegas, NV)
Recent, tender pappardelle crammed with luscious roasted honeynut squash, slicked in a cultured brown butter sauce with toasted pumpkin seeds and sage. Chargrilled lion’s mane steak with crispy truffle potatoes over a wealthy mushroom bordelaise. Almond sponge cake with silky apricot mousse and coconut chocolate. No matter you order at this bastion of plant-based eating, you may count on magnificence and perfection.
1st Place: Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place: Eleven Madison Park (New York, NY)
third Place: Planta (A number of Places)
Judges’ Vote: Planta (A number of Places) & Eleven Madison Park (New York, NY)
Plant Energy Quick Meals
Greatest Vegan Burger Joint:
Plant Energy Quick Meals (A number of Places)
Do you want yours with bacon, grilled onions, and secret sauce? Loaded up with housemade guacamole or crispy, golden onion rings? Need a “Hippie Patty” made with black beans, roasted cashews, and poblano pepper on Monday, then a thick and beefy pea protein patty on Friday? Nonetheless you are taking your vegan burgers, Plant Energy Quick Meals has you coated.
1st Place: Plant Energy Quick Meals (A number of Places)
2nd Place: Monty’s Good Burger (Los Angeles, Culver Metropolis, & Riverside, CA)
third Place: Subsequent Stage Burger (A number of Places)
Judges’ Vote: Plant Energy Quick Meals (A number of Places)
Screamers Pizzeria
Greatest Vegan Pizzeria:
Screamers Pizzeria (Brooklyn, NY)
At Brooklyn’s first vegan pizzeria, they take their motto of “entire pies, fats slices, good vibes” critically. Screamers is thought for its punky-yet-laid again vibe and for slinging the whole lot from plain cheese slices to Philly cheesesteak-inspired pies—and after its second Vegan Restaurant Award win, VegNews readers have made it clear: this pizza store is a slice above the remainder.
1st Place: Screamers Pizzeria (Brooklyn, NY)
2nd Place: Pura Vita (West Hollywood & Redondo Seaside, CA)
third Place: Boxcar Pizza (Portland, OR)
Judges’ Vote: Pura Vita (West Hollywood & Redondo Seaside, CA)
Vertical Diner
Greatest Vegan Diner:
Vertical Diner (Salt Lake Metropolis, UT & Portland, OR)
Salt Lake Metropolis isn’t simply recognized for its juicy housewives drama. Since 2007, it’s additionally been the place for juicy mango-habanero rooster tenders, all-day American breakfast classics, and even some not-what-you’d-expect diner fare like vegan escargot with carrot butter and crostini. And after 12 years of plant-based consolation, a second location in Portland popped up, solidifying Vertical Diner’s stronghold and making method for its first-ever VegNews Restaurant Award.
1st Place: Vertical Diner (Salt Lake Metropolis, UT & Portland, OR)
2nd Place: The Tasty (Philadelphia, PA)
third Place: Spiral Diner (Fort Value, TX)
Judges’ Vote: Doomie’s House Cookin’ (Los Angeles, CA)
Mis Tacones
Greatest Vegan Mexican Restaurant:
Mis Tacones (Portland, OR)
For the second yr in a row, Portland’s queer-Chicano-owned scorching spot Mis Tacones takes the highest spot, and one take a look at the menu, it’s simple to see why. Hand-pressed nixtamalized tortillas, crispy bean curd chicharron, sunflower cotija cheese, and a slew of considerate, tasty choices that transcend the standard taco (suppose pambazos, mulitas, and empanadas)—for one of the best vegan south-of-the-border meals, head to the Pacific Northwest … and go hungry.
1st Place: Mis Tacones (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Tacotarian (Las Vegas, NV & San Diego, CA)
third Place: Gracias Madre (West Hollywood, CA)
Judges’ Vote: El Cocinero (Van Nuys, CA)
Spicy Moon
Greatest Vegan Asian Restaurant:
Spicy Moon (New York, NY)
Final yr, Spicy Moon snagged the award for Greatest Vegan Asian Restaurant, thanks partially to the opening of its third NYC location (the town’s largest vegan restaurant). This yr, a brand-new, fourth location in Chelsea has helped make it a threepeat. The place else are you able to take pleasure in a drag brunch plus plant-based Szechuan staples like char siu buns, cumin tofu, and dan dan noodles?
1st Place: Spicy Moon (New York, NY)
2nd Place: Chef Kenney’s Dim Sum (Las Vegas, NV)
third Place: Kusaki (Los Angeles, CA)
Judges’ Vote: Spicy Moon (New York, NY) & Kusaki (Los Angeles, CA)
Past Sushi
Greatest Vegan Sushi Spot:
Past Sushi (New York, NY)
New Yorkers have been spoiled with Chef Man Vaknin’s darkish soy-roasted rooster ramen, garlic-ginger pork shumai, and black truffle udon since 2012. However what makes the remainder of us actually envious are the fish-free treasures on the remainder of the menu at Past Sushi. So chopsticks on the prepared, as a result of with rolls full of the whole lot from torched salmon to spicy crab to charred avocado, it’s clear that Past Sushi isn’t only a identify—it’s a promise.
1st Place: Past Sushi (New York, NY)
2nd Place: Planta (A number of Places)
third Place: Shizen (San Francisco, CA)
Judges’ Vote: Shizen (San Francisco, CA)
Linda Pianigiani Images
Greatest Vegan Italian Restaurant:
Pura Vita (West Hollywood & Redondo Seaside, CA)
West Hollywood, CA is thought for high-end purchasing, top-tier nightlife—and, why sure, oyster mushroom “scallop” linguine. That’s as a result of Pura Vita has put plant-based Italian on the map proper on Santa Monica Boulevard. Chef Tara Punzone’s creations entice hungry diners from all around the nation, and one style of her Black Magic Lasagna will make it easier to perceive why.
1st Place: Pura Vita (West Hollywood & Redondo Seaside, CA)
2nd Place: Coletta (New York, NY)
third Place: Tarantino’s Vegan (Las Vegas, NV)
Judges’ Vote: Pura Vita (West Hollywood & Redondo Seaside, CA)
Soiled Lettuce
Greatest Vegan Soul Meals Restaurant:
Soiled Lettuce (Portland, OR)
What occurs when a Mississippi chef brings his homestyle veganized Southern cooking to the plant-based mecca that’s Portland? A soul meals revolution, that’s what. Actually, Portlanders love Alkebulan Moroski’s Soiled Lettuce a lot (and between barbecue ribs and fried catfish, what’s to not love?) that they’ve awarded it one other Greatest Vegan Soul Meals title.
1st Place: Soiled Lettuce (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Souley Vegan (Martinez, CA)
third Place: Cadence (New York, NY)
Judges’ Vote: Cadence (New York, NY)
The Butcher’s Son
Greatest Vegan Butcher Store & Deli:
The Butcher’s Son (Berkeley, CA)
Berkeley has had a giant yr. In 2024, it turned the primary US metropolis to ban manufacturing facility farms, was named America’s healthiest metropolis, and gained Miyoko Schinner as an teacher at UC Berkeley. Now, it could possibly add house to the Greatest Vegan Butcher Store & Deli in America to its accolades. Easy methods to have a good time? A fried rooster BLT with avocado will do the trick.
1st Place: The Butcher’s Son (Berkeley, CA)
2nd Place: Ben & Esther’s (Portland, OR & San Diego, CA)
third Place: The Herbivorous Butcher (Minneapolis, MN)
Judges’ Vote: The Butcher’s Son (Berkeley, CA)
Orange & Blossom
Greatest Vegan Bakery:
Orange & Blossom (Portland, OR)
Simply barely a yr outdated, Marisa Kroes’ new Portland patisserie is already shaking the desk—or at the very least, dropping off an oat milk matcha and a miso butterscotch sticky bun on the desk. Kroes brings her expertise from James Beard Award-winning eating places, and in Portland, she’s channeling her creativity into beautiful pastries. Hazelnut apple financier, anybody?
1st Place: Orange & Blossom (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Vegan Treats (Bethlehem, PA)
third Place: Chaumont Vegan (Los Angeles, CA)
Judges’ Vote: Vegan Treats (Bethlehem, PA)
Kate’s Ice Cream
Greatest Vegan Ice Cream Spot:
Kate’s Ice Cream (Portland, OR)
PDX continues its VegNews Restaurant Award sweep, choosing up one other win because of the scoops at Kate’s Ice Cream. Utilizing ultra-creamy coconut milk and sourcing native substances from Pacific Northwest farms, this North Portland scorching spot wows patrons with indulgent flavors like triple chocolate brownie, rosewater cardamom almond, and, in fact, marionberry cobbler. Professional tip: don’t miss out on the Choco Tacos.
1st Place: Kate’s Ice Cream (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Ice Queen (Portland, OR)
third Place: Pricey Bella Creamery (Los Angeles, CA)
Judges’ Vote: Kate’s Ice Cream (Portland, OR)
Donut Pal
Greatest Vegan Doughnut Store:
Donut Pal (Los Angeles, CA)
Based by music producer Mark Trombino, Donut Pal has been reigning supreme over Los Angeles’ vegan doughnut scene since 2013, whipping up egg- and dairy-free riffs on basic pastries with pop-punky pun-filled names like “Inexperienced Teagan and Sara” (a basic raised with matcha glaze with black sesame seeds) and “Jimmy Eat Swirl” (a basic cinnamon roll). Add in a sister ice cream idea, Creamo, and also you’ve bought a duo that proves that scrumptious and moral make a wonderfully candy pairing.
1st Place: Donut Pal (Los Angeles, CA)
2nd Place: Doe Donuts (Portland, OR)
third Place: Dottie’s Donuts (Philadelphia, PA)
Judges’ Vote: Donut Pal (Los Angeles, CA)
Timeless Espresso & Bakery
Greatest Vegan Espresso Store:
Timeless Espresso & Bakery (Oakland, CA)
Need higher high quality espresso? Roast your individual beans. That’s the strategy of this 12-year-old legacy enterprise (helmed by RJ Leimpeter, former head roaster at San Francisco’s famed Sightglass Espresso), and you may style the distinction. Cease by considered one of their two cafés, select from something from a candy pistachio latte to Papua New Guinea Korgua Property medium roast, pair with considered one of their stellar bakery objects, and sail off into caffeinated bliss.
1st Place: Timeless Espresso & Bakery (Oakland, CA)
2nd Place: Grindcore Home (Philadelphia, PA)
third Place: Jet Black Espresso (Portland, OR)
Judges’ Vote: Timeless Espresso & Bakery (Oakland, CA)
Kindred
Greatest Vegan Bar:
Kindred (San Diego, CA)
Sticky counters, discarded peanut shells, flat beer—you received’t discover them at Kindred. As an alternative, waltz as much as the gorgeous marble bar and go for a strawberry-jalapeño tequila-mezcal cocktail with inexperienced peppercorn. Or perhaps a Blackened Manhattan with “sonically-enhanced” whiskey, vermouth, and plum tincture. Zero-proof? How a couple of pineapple-coconut mocktail with ardour fruit, Thai basil, and lemongrass? You may’t go flawed at this next-level watering gap.
1st Place: Kindred (San Diego, CA)
2nd Place: The Bye & Bye (Portland, OR)
third Place: Monster Vegan (Philadelphia, PA)
Judges’ Vote: The Bye & Bye (Portland, OR)
Civico 2064
Greatest Vegan-Pleasant Restaurant:
Civico 1845 & 2064 (San Diego & Los Angeles, CA)
Created by Italian-born brothers Dario and Pietro Gallo, Civico was one of many first omni eating places so as to add a wholly vegan Italian menu again in 2015. Mix the brothers’ contemporary Calabrian delicacies with Govt Chef Pietro’s private conviction to make sure nice vegan choices (having been plant-based for years himself), and diners are reaping the rewards with dishes like fried zucchini blossoms, eggplant parmigiana, fettuccine with sluggish cooked mushroom ragu, and naturally, cashew mascarpone tiramisu.
1st Place: Civico 1845 & 2064 (San Diego & Los Angeles, CA)
2nd Place: True Meals Kitchen (A number of Places)
third Place: Triangle Tavern (Philadelphia, PA)
Judges’ Vote: True Meals Kitchen (A number of Places)
Tal Ronnen
Greatest Vegan Chef:
Tal Ronnen, Crossroads Kitchen
This yr, he’s cooked with Metallica’s Rob Trujillo, launched his first-ever Thanksgiving buffet, collaborated with native omni eating places to extend the scope of stellar vegan meals in Los Angeles, and partnered with celebrity cooks Jet Tila, Dominique Crenn, Dave Beran, amongst way more (preserve studying). However hey, it’s all in a day’s work for the Greatest Vegan Chef in America, Tal Ronnen.
1st Place: Tal Ronnen (Crossroads Kitchen—Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place: Pearl Steffie (Kusaki—Los Angeles, CA)
third Place: Chloe Coscarelli (Chloe—New York, NY)
Judges’ Vote: Pearl Steffie (Kusaki—Los Angeles, CA) & Man Vaknin (Anixi, Past Sushi, Coletta, Le Basque, Sentir, Willow—New York, NY)
Feral/Illustration by VegNews
Greatest New Vegan Restaurant:
Feral (Portland, OR)
Wild and foraged meals take middle stage at Portland’s latest vegan establishment Feral, the place homeowners Ryan Koger, August Winningham, and Kianna Bell’s résumés embody native heavy hitters like Fermenter, Ichiza Kitchen, Farm Spirit, Folklore, and Blossoming Lotus. However at Feral, they’re cooking up a magic all their very own. The menu modifications often relying on what’s seasonally accessible, however for those who occur upon the baked leek fondue with Vtopian cheese and fried Triscuits, the sourdough cavatelli with kohlrabi soubise, or the cheesecake miso-apple cider butterscotch, don’t second guess it—order all of them.
1st Place: Feral (Portland, OR)
2nd Place: Chloe (New York, NY)
third Place: Astera (Portland, OR)
Judges’ Vote: Kusaki, Los Angeles, CA
Crossroads Kitchen
Greatest Vegan Restaurant in America:
Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
In case you haven’t been in a position to make it to LA or Las Vegas to strive the two-time Greatest Vegan Restaurant in America, no worries. For the primary time ever, Crossroads Kitchen is on the market nationwide by Goldbelly supply, so meals lovers all over the place can bask in dishes like rooster scallopini parmesan and mushroom scallops and linguine with kombu-lemon butter. Perhaps you’re the sort of particular person motivated solely by your candy tooth? Properly, Crossroads launched its solely vegan bakery pop-up Candy Cease, whipping up perfected treats like crisp-shelled macarons and flaky croissants. However all in all, Crossroads is named a gold commonplace for vegan eating places, and its world-class menu, high-end ambiance, and keenness for elevating plant-based delicacies is unmatched.
1st Place: Crossroads Kitchen (Los Angeles, CA & Las Vegas, NV)
2nd Place: PLANTA (A number of Places)
third Place: Monster Vegan (Philadelphia, PA)
Judges’ Vote: Kusaki, Los Angeles, CA
Our panel of professional judges
An additional-special thanks to this yr’s celebrity panel of judges for his or her assist in our 2024 VegNews Restaurant Awards. Observe them for extra plant-based suggestions!
Eunice Reyes @ratedvfood
Jessica Cruz @veganstreetfair
Makayla @veganmak
Nemanja Golubovic @nekacgolubovic
Nzinga Younger @veganzinga
Priyanka Naik @chefpriyanka
And the grand prize winner is …
Simply by voting within the 2024 VegNews Restaurant Awards, all had been entered into our Grand Prize Giveaway for an all-expense-paid, six-day trip for 2 to the posh wellness vacation spot Palmaïa on Mexico’s breathtaking Riviera Maya. Congratulations to VegNews reader Michaela Penzes on successful this once-in-a-lifetime trip!
For extra plant-based winners, learn:
Richard Bowie (@wichiebowie) is VegNews’ editorial director primarily based in Los Angeles, CA.