Discover the best vegan eats in New York City during a 4-day stay, from quick bites to must-try restaurants and hidden gems.
I recently spent four days in New York City, and as always, one of my favorite parts of traveling is exploring the local vegan food scene. With so many restaurants, cafés, and hidden gems packed into the city, I made it my mission to try as much as possible while still taking in the sights. From quick bites to indulgent dinners, every meal was an adventure—and I can’t wait to share the highlights of my vegan eats in NYC.
A Live Kitchen
When we landed in New York, our first stop was a cozy vegan spot where we treated ourselves to a warm sausage, egg, and cheese roll, while my husband went for a classic bacon, egg, and cheese. Both were completely plant-based, made with fluffy JUST Egg and either Beyond or Impossible sausage, and the bacon—whatever it was—was smoky and delicious. It was the perfect hearty, satisfying welcome to the city!
Planta Queen
On our first night in New York, we went to one of my absolute favorite vegan restaurants, and it did not disappoint. We ordered their signature Japanese steak, a vegan steak made by Chunk Foods, and it was absolutely delicious—so meaty and flavorful that even our non-vegan family couldn’t believe they were eating plant-based. They were genuinely impressed! We also shared the truffle fried rice, which I had tried once before in Chicago, and it was just as rich, aromatic, and perfectly cooked as I remembered.
For dessert, we couldn’t resist the giant chocolate chip cookie served warm with ice cream and the matcha cheesecake topped with raspberry jam. Both were out of this world—decadent, creamy, and the perfect sweet ending to an incredible meal.
This restaurant chain remains one of my top vegan dining spots, and I wholeheartedly recommend everyone try it at least once, vegan or not.
Just Salad
We stopped by Just Salad a couple of mornings for a healthy, energizing breakfast before our long days of walking and exploring, and it was the perfect start. I ordered the Vegan Chipotle Wrap, packed with fresh greens and crispy Impossible breaded chicken—it was delicious, though we thought it could use a bit more chicken. On the second day, we asked for extra tofu for an extra boost of protein, and it added just the right amount of savory goodness to make the wrap even better. I also treated myself to their Pineapple Paradise smoothie, served with a bamboo straw—a refreshing drink with a nice eco-friendly touch!
Coletta
On our second day, we went to a beautiful vegan restaurant called Coletta, and the whole experience was incredible. We started with a few appetizers—the olive and rosemary bread served with two dips, one made with sweet figs and the other a rich mix of olive oil and balsamic glaze, both so flavorful. We also tried the crispy calamari made from trumpet mushrooms, which had the perfect texture and crunch.
For our mains, we ordered the carbonara, Campanelle al Tartuffo, and the steak with mashed potato, and every dish was absolutely delicious. To finish, we shared the tiramisu, which was out of this world and generously portioned—easily enough for three people!
Tompkins Square Bagels
On our third day, we went to Tompkins Square Bagels, a vegan-friendly bagel spot, and ordered the Beyond Delight bagels. I chose an everything bagel for mine, which came stuffed with JUST Egg, Beyond sausage, Violife cheese, and a drizzle of sriracha. Honestly, I would skip the sriracha next time since the flavor felt a bit out of place—the sandwich was hearty and satisfying on its own. Overall, we all really enjoyed it!
Willow
On our third day for dinner, we went to Willow, a sister restaurant to Coletta, so I was excited to see some familiar dishes on the menu. We started with the crispy calamari again along with the crispy crab rangoons, both perfectly done and so flavorful.
For our mains, we decided to share everything and ordered the honey chipotle chicken skewers, the buttermilk fried chicken sandwich, the Dijon Pepper flank steak, and the parmesan meatball sliders. Every single dish was delicious, and it was such a fun way to try a little bit of everything together.
For dessert, we shared the hazelnut chocolate dome, which was rich, decadent, and absolutely yummy—a perfect sweet ending to a fantastic meal.
P.S. Kitchen
On our last night in New York, we had dinner at PS Kitchen, and it was absolutely fabulous. For appetizers, we ordered the maitake wings with buffalo sauce and the crabby cakes, both full of flavor and beautifully prepared.
For our mains, we tried the seasonal soup, the lasagna, and the linguine alfredo with added crispy tofu chicken—and that alfredo linguine ended up being one of my absolute favorite meals of the entire trip.
To finish, we split the key lime cheesecake and the tiramisu, both of which were so delicious and definitely worth trying.
Statue of Liberty Crown Cafe
During our tour of the Statue of Liberty, when it was time for a snack, I was pleasantly surprised to find an Organic Veggie Burger at the Crown Café. It turned out to be pretty good—simple, hearty, and just what I needed to refuel after hours of exploring and climbing all those stairs.
Four days in New York City was just a taste of what the vegan scene has to offer. There were so many places I didn’t get the chance to try, but everything I did experience was absolutely delicious and left me wanting more. I can’t wait to come back and keep exploring the endless vegan options this city has to offer.