New York City – Vegetarian Guide

New York City is full of all different kinds of restaurants. You name it, the Big Apple’s got it. Burgers? Check. Tacos? Check. General Tso’s chicken? Check. Vegetarian versions of all those foods and more? Check, check, and check.

If you’re a vegetarian, or just someone who likes vegetarian food, NYC is the place to be. The selection of vegetarian restaurants is seemingly endless, so you never have to worry about going someplace where the only “vegetarian options” are drab dishes like salads and mac and cheese.

So, want to know where to get your vegetarian food fix while in New York City? Of course you do. For your clean-eating pleasure, here’s a list of some of the best vegetarian restaurants New York City has to offer.

 

Superiority Burger

Look on pretty much any list of the best vegetarian restaurants in New York City, such as this one, and Superiority Burger is bound to be on it. The food there is just that good. “Superiority” is right in the name, after all.

The main attraction at Superiority Burger is, of course, their namesake burger. It consists of a tender, quinoa-based patty topped with Muenster cheese, iceberg lettuce, tomato, and dill pickles.

If you’re hungry, order two burgers since they’re only about the size of a typical slider. Or go with the Megamouth burger, which, according to their menu, is “not a bigger burger” but rather “a huger sandwich.” Make of that what you will.

Don’t let their name fool you, by the way. Burgers aren’t all they do at Superiority Burger. In fact, some patrons like their other offerings even more than the burgers. Sandwiches like the New Creation and the Sloppy Dave get lots of rave reviews, for example, as does their ever-changing lineups of gelato and sorbet. Yes, they make gelato and sorbet too. Bet you didn’t see that coming, huh?

 

Taïm

With a name meaning “tasty” in Hebrew, it’s no surprise that Taïm serves some of, if not the best, falafel in all of New York City. They’ve pretty much perfected the art of falafel-making, turning the crispy, savory vegetarian staple into something truly special. And it’s all thanks to chef and co-owner Einat Admony, a self-proclaimed “five-foot-tall Israeli warrior princess.”

You can get the falafel a few different ways at Taïm. Options include in a salad with romaine lettuce and a zesty lemon-mint dressing and on a platter with exotic accoutrements that include tabouli, pickles, shifka peppers, and a za’atar pita.

The most popular falafel vessel, however, is the pita sandwich. The pitas are baked fresh daily and come filled with a generous portion of falafel and your choice of toppings. We recommend getting it with Kalamata olives, pickles, and s’rug, a Yemenite cilantro hot sauce. Is your mouth watering yet?

There are plenty of other Middle Eastern-inspired goodies on Taïm’s menu too. Their authentic tabouli salad and “famous” fries served with saffron aioli make for the perfect sides. And if you aren’t a falafel fan, their shawarma-spiced cauliflower is almost just as good of a replacement. Almost.

 

Jajaja Plantas Mexicana

Mexican food should be fresh, colorful, and full of flavor. At Jajaja Plantas Mexicana, they understand these principles. They also understand that Mexican food doesn’t need meat in order to taste good.

That’s right; the menu at this Lower East Side Mexican joint is entirely vegan. So if you’ve ever wondered what vegan versions of classic Mexican dishes like nachos, tacos, and burritos would taste like, allow Jajaja to demonstrate.

Speaking of nachos, you should really start of your meal at Jajaja with their rendition of the south-of-the-border staple. It features a towering pile of crunchy tortilla chips topped with vegan chorizo, fermented black beans, turmeric-nut queso fundito, spicy vegetable relish, and sour cream. The pupusas are also a solid choice.

As for your entree, opt for either the chorizo burrito or the crispy chayote fish tacos. In addition to pseudo-chorizo, the burrito is filled with cauliflower rice, fermented black beans, and guacamole. For some added flair, it’s topped with stripes of green and red salsas and sour cream to make it look like an edible version of the Mexican flag.

While not as eye-catching as the Mexican flag-colored chorizo burrito, the chayote fish tacos are just as, if not even more, delicious. The “fish” in these tacos is actually wedges of chayote squash that have been coated in a batter of hemp and flax seed and fried to crispy perfection. The tacos are then finished off with a generous drizzle of chipotle almond butter and one slice of pickled red onion each.

 

Nix

Opened in 2016, Nix has quickly become one of New York City’s most popular vegetarian restaurants. And for good reason. Make that reasons with an “s,” actually.

First off, Nix was started by Michelin-starred, vegetarian chef John Fraser and James Truman, the former editorial director at Condé Nast. They founded the restaurant on the belief that “eating vegetarian or vegan should feel more celebration than sacrifice.”

The second reason is the atmosphere. Inspired by the hip, bohemian aesthetic of the Greenwich Village neighborhood where it’s located, Nix’s dining room features white walls, soft lighting, and an assortment of potted plants.

The third and most important reason is, of course, the food. The menu at Nix is seasonally minded and spans a range of cultures. On it you’ll find everything from a tandoor bread appetizer to burrata with broccoli rabe and walnut pesto and preserved lemon.

Pretty much every dish at Nix is a winner, but the one that you simply must try is the whimsical cauliflower tempura. These deep-fried cauliflower florets are the vegan equivalent of General Tso’s chicken. And while they’re good just on their own, they get taken to a whole new level with the addition of briny pickles and fluffy steamed buns to put it all in. Some assembly required.

 

Toad Style

Even vegetarians and vegans like to eat junk food from time to time. And Toad Style in Bed-Stuy is the place to do just that. In a campy dining room plastered with vintage martial arts movie posters, no less.

Sandwiched between barber shops and bodegas, this little hole in the wall serves vegan versions of sandwiches like cheeseburgers, Philly cheesesteaks, bahn mi, and grilled cheese. They’ve also got sides good enough to be main attractions, including Buffalo cauliflower, fried pickles, and hand-cut fries tossed in rosemary salt and served with house-made ketchup.

If you haven’t noticed by now, most of the items on Toad Style’s menu are fried. They specialize in junk food, remember? There are some outliers, however, including a Greek kale salad and a smaller side salad.

Their brunch menu, served every day until 4 p.m., has some lighter options too. They include a tofu scrambled topped with veggies and hollandaise sauce and, of course, the trendy brunch staple that is avocado toast.