NYC’s Best Veg Restaurants to Try in 2016

Living in New York City this past year and a half has given me the opportunity to try so many amazing vegan, vegetarian and veg friendly restaurants. This city is a bona-fide goldmine when it comes to vegan food. I’ve had a running list on my phone of my absolute favorite restaurants that I recommend to people when they ask me, and today I’m laying it all out here to share with you. So, to ring in the new year here is my most comprehensive list yet of NYC’s BEST veg restaurants for you to try in 2016!

Best Weekday Vegan Breakfast: The Butcher’s Daughter

This vegetarian hotspot offers the perfect vegan breakfast options like their delicious smashed avocado toast, their coconut yogurt parfait, the butcher’s pancakes and the tartine with chocolate hazelnut spread, jam and fresh fruit. Plus you can’t go wrong with their fresh juices and smoothies. thebutchersdaughter.com

Best Vegan Comfort Food: By Chloe

By Chloe burst onto the food scene in summer 2015 and has seen such great success it is already expanding to two new locations. My favorites from the menu include the quinoa taco salad, the guac burger and the loaded avocado toast that comes topped with seasonal veggies and almond parmesan. The restaurant also has their own bakery that makes tons of vegan sweet treats. On the weekend you can stop in for brunch and pick up the early bird special, made with scrambled organic tofu, spinach, maple sausage, market greens, avocado and seven grain toast. And who could resist their housemade cinnamon roll?  bychefchloe.com

Best Veg Friendly Bagels: Black Seed Bagels

Black Seed offers tofu cream cheeses, lots of veggies and my favorite almond butter ever. The subtle saltiness of the almond butter goes amazing with their jam. As the year is coming to an end my new favorite combo is simple but delicious…that slightly salty almond butter on an everything bagel. blackseedbagels.com

Best Veg Friendly Fast Casual Restaurant: Inday

Inday is the newest restaurant featured on this list. This Indian-inspired healthy food spot has a great selection of unique vegan dishes. From the shredded cauliflower and brussels sprouts “rice” to the charcoal smoked tofu in tomato chutney and all their side dishes the combination options are endless, delicious and healthy.  indaynyc.com

Best Vegan Weekend Brunch: Sun in Bloom

If you’re looking for a traditional weekend brunch where you can sit down, enjoy your meal with a warm drink and keep everything totally plant-based, Sun in Bloom is your spot. The shiitake mushroom “bacon” pancakes are incredibly delicious, the breakfast burrito is always a hit, and their version of a classic BLT is perfection. suninbloom.wordpress.com

Best Vegan Food Truck: Cinnamon Snail

In 2014 this vegan food truck was voted the #1 place to eat in NYC and it’s still amazing…if you can find them! They aren’t on the streets on a normal basis anymore so if you’re lucky you might find this illusive vegan gem at farmers markets, vegfests and other special events. Cinnamon Snail’s creative menu features items like their gouchujang burger with sautéed kimchi, arugula, pickled red onions, black sesame gomasio and sriracha mayo on grilled herb focaccia. Another favorite from their menu is the Thanksgiving sandoo made with porcini mushroom simmered seitan, rosemary parsnip bread pudding, marinated kale, orange cranberry relish and roasted garlic aioli on a grilled baguette, and a plethora of vegan baked goods. cinnamonsnail.com [UPDATE: This once food-truck-only now has a permanent storefront location at the new high end food hall, The Pennsy]

Best Healthy Plant-Based Cafes to Pick Up Lunch: Gingersnap’s Organic & Sun in Bloom Tribeca

Both Gingersnap’s Organic and Sun in Bloom’s to go spots offer clean, healthy, delicious, organic food. Gingersnap’s makes amazing housemade soups, juices, salads and the best chocolate almond milk ever. Their tomato stew and cauliflower soup are both simple, healthy, delicious and not to be missed. Sun in Bloom Tribeca also offers soups, salads and baked goods that are packaged and ready for you to pick up on the go. Sun in Bloom’s miso soup and chef Aimee salad are my favorites. So are their cookie sandwiches. gingersnapsorganic.com // suninbloom.wordpress.com

Best Veggie Burger: Superiority Burger

This new vegetarian burger spot is always packed…and with good reason! Their little veg burgers take on the classic fast food burger in a gourmet way. Your first bite will remind you of the flavorful burgers you indulged in as a kid, while at the same time being way healthier. And when you’re eating that veg burger enjoy it with some of their gourmet sides like burnt broccoli salad with eggplant, red chile and coriander in a wine sauce. superiorityburger.com

Best Sweet Treat: Dun-Well Doughnuts

This Brooklyn bakery makes New York’s finest organic artisanal doughnuts. They are 100% vegan and 100% delicious. Enough said. dunwelldoughnuts.com

Best Vegan Pizza: Pala Pizza

This pizza spot offers a traditional menu, a vegan menu and a gluten-free menu. My absolute favorite pizza is the broccolini that comes with sautéed broccoli, braised fennel, shaved potatoes, cracked pepper and vegan cheese. Also not to be missed is their gnocchi in a cherry tomato red sauce and their patatini house made potato chips that come with truffle oil and herbs. palapizza.com

Best Brooklyn Gem: Little Choc Apothecary

This vegan creperie is one of my favorite places in Brooklyn. The burrito crepe with avocado, coconut bacon, black beans, homemade chipotle hot sauce and homemade cashew cheese will definitely keep you coming back for more. As will any of their sweet crepes like the “newtella” crepe with their homemade vegan hazelnut spread. chocny.com

Best Juice Bar: Juice Press

If you want clean, healthy, organic juices and smoothies, Juice Press is your place. They have an extensive juice menu that is unparalleled. My current favorite smoothie is the heaven on earth made with raw almond butter, banana, cacao, almond milk, dates, brown rice protein and cinnamon. And the clean green protein smoothie made with almond milk, banana, raw almond butter, kale, spinach, hemp protein, coconut nectar and chia seeds is always a great option as well. juicepress.com

Best Wrap I’m Always Craving: Manousheh’s Za’atar & Avocado

This is the kind of wrap that veggie dreams are made of. With traditional manousheh bread, flavorful za’atar, avocado, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers and mint I had to include this wrap in this roundup because it’s that good. manousheh.com

NYC’s Overall Best Vegan Restaurant: Avant Garden

The city’s hot new upscale vegan restaurant is my choice for 2015’s overall best vegan restaurant. No matter what diet you adhere to, this menu will blow you away! The toast with smoked eggplant purée, calabrian chili, celery, olives and pickled shallots is out of this world. As is the avocado tartare and the butternut squash farro risotto. The atmosphere makes for the perfect little date spot with its open kitchen, gorgeous reclaimed wood tables and small, cozy space. This high-end vegan restaurant will give you the sort of exceptional culinary experience that magical New York is known for. 🙂 (photo via avantgardennyc.com) avantgardennyc.com

Do you have others to add to this list? Leave them in the comments section below!

Happy New Year!!

xo,

Tedi