When you want to find tasty vegan and vegetarian food at a reasonable price, Asheville is the place to go. All across this city, there are tons of awesome restaurants serving delightful dishes that skip out on the meat and other animal products. That way, you can nosh on food that makes you feel good, inside and out, while minimizing your carbon footprint.
To help you find your way, here’s a look at the top 10 Asheville vegan and vegetarian eateries to try:
Plant
Photo Credit: @vegan.growth
Plant goes above and beyond in creating a 100% vegan menu and making all their dishes using locally sourced, organic ingredients. In addition to not using animal products, almost all of their meals are gluten-free as well.
At each visit, you can make a meal out of their grilled beets, smoked portobello mushrooms, tofu curry, and so much more. They also have vegan desserts galore, like carrot cake, crème brulee, and blackout pie. If you want to take your dining experience to the next level, pair your food with a bright cocktail or craft beer.
Rosetta’s Kitchen
If you’re in the mood for soul food, but want to keep it vegan or vegetarian, then stop by Rosetta’s Kitchen for a meal to remember. Their menu is marked to allow everyone to customize their meal to their preferences and avoid key allergens.
You’ll undoubtedly love to start your meal with small bite plates featuring veggie burger nuggets, vegan queso dip, and sweet potato fries. After whetting your appetite, move on to the decadent main entrée of your choice, such as coconut curry or portobello plate. If you want a little bit more with your meal, look to grilled smoky tofu, Korean BBQ tempeh, and other organic protein sides.
Laughing Seed Café
All-day and evening long, the Laughing Seed Café serves up international vegetarian starters, entrees, and desserts with a smile. Although their food is good enough reason to visit, the service makes for an excellent dining experience.
Their most popular appetizers include jalapeno onion fries, seitan beer chili, and sage butternut squash soup. Once you’re ready for your entrée, you can order a sandwich, salad, or pizza for something simple. If you want to go all out, then you’ll want to try their spinach pesto manicotti or vegetable lo mein instead. Save room for dessert because their pumpkin maple cheesecake is out of this world delicious.
Green Sage Cafe Downtown
When you want to eat food that is made using organic, sustainable ingredients and time-honored recipes, get to Green Sage Café Broadway. While thoughtfully building their menu, they’ve included many vegan and vegetarian dishes you’ll want to share with the world.
You can start the day off right with their breakfast bowls or pancakes, and then come back later for sandwiches and salads of all kinds. It’s even well worth stopping in just to try their plant-based milkshakes and smoothies. Don’t forget to add hemp hearts, spirulina, or other mix-ins for a boost of vitamins and minerals.
Sunflower Diner
At the Sunflower Diner, they are dedicated to serving vegan fare made using organic, non-GMO plants. With their hand-selected ingredients in mind, they are always dreaming up things to add to their menu.
The current iteration has practically all the breakfast, lunch, and dinner foods you could ever want, like:
- Avocado toast
- Grits and greens
- Grilled pimento cheese
- Biscuits and mushroom gravy
- Potato salad
Although those dishes are plenty good, the real magic is in building your own bowl using their amazing ingredients, like tempeh bacon, stoneground grits, and tofu scramble.
Karma Café
When you go to the Karma Café, you can fill up your belly while skipping the animal products, leaving you feeling good about your selections. You can nosh on your meal while sitting in their cozy dining room or outside next to the lily pond.
As you browse their menu, you’ll find imaginative dishes, like garden quiche served with toast and fresh greens. Their gluten-free, vegan breakfast bowl is also a top choice, especially when served with matcha tea. If you just need a quick pick me up and don’t have time for a full meal, give their power balls a try.
Early Girl Eatery
As a farm to table restaurant, Early Girl Eatery has it all, but that doesn’t mean they skip out on the vegan and vegetarian dishes. They actually have many plates available that load on the veggies and plant-based proteins.
You’ll want to scan their menu for these plant-rich favorites. As you browse their options, you might like to try their veggie breakfast bowl, which comes with brown rice, veggies by the ton, and either cage-free eggs or tempeh. With its rich curry flavors and fresh ingredients, their organic tofu scramble is also a clear winner.
BimBeriBon
BimBeriBon also prides itself on doing it all, including serving up all the vegetarian and vegan meals everyone wants. They always skip the gluten and refined sugar in favor of real food you can feel good about eating.
Their most popular plant-based meals include creamy mushroom soup, avocado toast, and BBB burger made with an impossible patty and vegan cashew cheese. If you want something truly different, then order up the vegan fish and chips. They make this dish using battered banana blossoms that they fry to a beautiful golden brown and pair with potato wedges.
Elements
Elements is a juice bar and café that’s dedicated to serving up wholesome, healthy dishes and beverages. Although they specialize in cold-pressed juice, smoothies, and nut milk, their plant-based food is really good as well.
No matter when you come through the doors, you can order up delicious dishes, like avocado toast, chia pudding, and avocado, lettuce, and tomato sandwich. They have even more creative dishes on the menu as well, including their ever-popular mushroom banh mi. Before you head out, don’t forget to grab a couple of vegan, gluten-free chocolate chip cookies for dessert.
Dobra Tea
When you want authentic tea plus a light, plant-based snack, get down to Dobra Tea. They have every tea imaginable on their menu, including oolong, herbal, and green tea varieties.
If you’re hungry for a bite to eat, you’ll find that everything on their sweets and treats menu easily does the trick. If you want a vegan treat, go with their mochi daifuku or paleo tahini cookie. The rest of their menu is filled with vegetarian snacks like pistachio rose cardamom cookies and raspberry brown butter tea cake.
As you go through this list, you’re sure to come out with some definite favorites. With those ones in mind, you can hit them up on the regular to try all the delightful dishes on their menu.
