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Cacio e pepe (bucatini with creamy cashew sauce and cracked pepper) at DC Vegan. 
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

15 Top-Tier Vegan Spots Around D.C.

No meat? No problem

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Cacio e pepe (bucatini with creamy cashew sauce and cracked pepper) at DC Vegan. 
| Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Gone are the days when going to a vegan restaurant meant choking back tasteless food served with a whiff of patchouli. These days, the D.C. area is a rich wonderland of plant-based restaurants, and each is as varied in personality as the people who eat at them. There are chic, upscale tasting menus; homey vegan comfort food spots with hefty, filling plates; and massive, consistent chains.

D.C. recently lost vegan standbys Fancy Radish and SpacyCloud, and reliable fast-casuals HipCityVeg, Chaia Tacos, and Shouk all shaved down their local store counts this year.

Though this list is limited to restaurants with no meat on the menu, it’s worth noting that quality vegan meals can be found all over town. At Michelin-rated Oyster Oyster in Shaw, chef Rob Rubba’s ever-changing tasting menu celebrates in-season produce from small farms. Downtown’s long-running Elizabeth’s Gone Raw opens its townhouse doors a few nights a week with elegant, $105-per-person vegan spreads. Chef Todd Gray puts high-end veggie dishes front and center at decades-old Equinox, which is relocating to swanky new downtown digs. Meanwhile, Shaw will soon welcome a vegan wonderland with the arrival of Latin-leaning Mita and Atlanta’s popular burger bar Slutty Vegan is prepping for its D.C. debut along H Street NE.

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PLNT Burger (Multiple locations)

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Celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn’s expansion-minded stall is planted inside Whole Foods all over the DMV (plus outposts in Pennsylvania, Boston, and New York). PLNT Burger forms plant patties to order and griddles them on a flattop. The burgers get paired with crispy sides like herb fries and oat milk soft serve. For 2023, new items include green bean fries made with sunflower oil and quinoa and an Actual Veggies burger made with kale, broccoli, and spinach on warm pita. Order online for pickup or delivery.

PLANTA | Bethesda

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This ultra-chic, plant-based restaurant in Bethesda serves up a colorful menu that manages to feel both healthful and indulgent. The Bethesda outpost hums with warm Miami vibes while serving a menu of hits like vegan sushi, fresh juice cocktails, pasta blanketed with a rich and spicy rosé vodka sauce, plus a vegan version of Maryland’s iconic crab dip made with fresh hearts of palm flown in from Hawaii three times a week. Asian-influenced sibling Planta Queen debuted in the West End this spring.

Cielo Rojo Restaurant

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David Perez and Carolina McCandless, the owners of this cute cocina in Takoma Park, met a decade ago while working at San Francisco’s revered vegetarian Mexican restaurant Gracias Madre. A substantial chunk of their Maryland menu is vegan, including gorditas, quesadillas stuffed with tequila-sauteed mushrooms or grill cactus, and believable (cashew) cheese and cream. Cielo Rojo will soon move to a larger space down the street to make way for their latest Mexican venture San Pancho Burritos, which is slated to open in winter 2024. 

Donut Run

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This vegan donut shop from self-trained bakers Shawn Petersen and Nicole Dao has brought serious buzz to Takoma since opening in 2021. Customers wait in line rain or shine, and sometimes before sun-up, for the plump, lighter-than-air rings in fun flavors like tiramisu, French toast, and pineapple upside-down cake.

MushDC at miXt Food Hall

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Brentwood’s miXt Food Hall welcomed vegan vendor MushDC last year. The mushroom-obsessed sandwich and salad shop comes from D.C. natives Tarik Frazier and Alex Hamilton. Opt for a believable banh mi or steak and cheese, plus Peruvian and Caribbean bowls and braised collard greens. Order online for pickup.

NuVegan Cafe (Multiple locations)

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Soy substitutes for fried chicken, crab, and chicken fried steak fill platters and sandwiches at this vegan soul food spot near Howard University. Meanwhile, a vegan brunch menu hits the classics with burritos, “cheezy” grits, and scrambled tofu. Order online at any of the three area locations. NuVegan also maintains locations in Baltimore, Richmond, and Woodbridge.

Adams Morgan’s cute carryout specializes in Indian street foods from chef Swarn Singh. Go vegan with samosas, dosas, spinach chat, cauliflower florets tossed in chili-garlic sauce, stir-fried okra, mixed vegetable curry, and more. A “taco” trio features mini dosas stuffed with salad, curried spinach, and aloo masala. Order online.

Vegz’s menu mostly swing vegan.
Vegz

DC Vegan

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Dupont’s dairy-free deli, cheese shop, and catering company comes from vegan-obsessed couple Leah Curran Moon — an animal activist with a PhD — and Michael Jantz Moon, a musician who’s toured with the likes of Paul Simon. Tasty vegan takes on bar fare include include trumpet mushroom “calamari” rings, barbecue cauliflower “wings,” a beet burger, fried artichoke sandwich, and “Philly cheesesteak” sub (or bowl) constructed with braised jackfruit and a cashew cheese drizzle. Sit and stay in the sleek space or order online for pickup or delivery. The owners opened a botanical cocktail den below and added dinner and brunch menus full of decadent Italian dishes.

Bucatini and meatballs sit prominently under a shower of cashew Parm and dollop of almond ricotta. 
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Bubbie's Plant Burgers at Plant Food Lab

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The magicians behind the plant-based, classic American food that comes out of Bubbie’s kitchen have hit a home run with the D.C. community. T The Dupont Circle location churns out pulled jackfruit barbecue, plant-based burgers, and more with all proteins, sauces, cheese, and ice cream made in the restaurant’s kitchen. Bubbie’s recently debuted a stall in National Landing’s all-outdoor food hall Water Park.

Chaia Tacos (Multiple locations)

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Almost everything at Georgetown’s vegetarian taco shop can be made vegan, from the braised mushroom tacos to black bean enchiladas to the smoky collard green tacos and cinnamon-coconut cookies. Another location sits in Chinatown. Order online for pickup or delivery.

Shouk’s aim is no big deal: It’s just a world-saving mission. This super-casual homegrown shop for modern, all plant-based Israeli street food has five area locations in D.C. and Maryland serving standout dishes like oyster mushroom shawarma, filling bowls of hummus, and veggie burgers that aren’t grown in a lab. Shouk closed its Union Market and Bethesda locations this year.

Sticky Fingers Diner

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Fare Well rebranded and reopened as Sticky Fingers Diner, putting all the pieces of Doron Petersan’s vegan mini-empire under one umbrella. With more seating, a cleaner look, and a full menu of Fare Well comfort food favorites like a Reuben, plus all the treats from the bakery, the diner is D.C.’s most approachable plant-based restaurant. Meanwhile, an e-commerce site ships Sticky Fingers products nationally and the Columbia Heights-based Sticky Fingers Bakery is still the baking hub.

Fruitive

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The organic fast-casual restaurant born in Virginia Beach serves everything from cashew cheese-topped pizzas to kale salads to liquid meals (the dragon berry smoothie is electric pink). The best-selling dish is avocado herb toast with pesto on whole grain bread.

Pow Pow

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This kosher, vegan-friendly shop channels Asian flavors and techniques in a variety of starters and bowls, like Taiwanese fried cashew mozzarella and the yoga dragon bowl with grilled chicken substitute tossed in peanut sauce. A downtown location in Franklin Square debuted last fall. Order online for pickup or delivery.

Hipcityveg

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The Philadelphia-based, fast-casual restaurant in Chinatown delivers burgers and sandwiches like a smokehouse burger with Beyond Meat and a crispy chick’n ranch. Pair them with green smoothies, soy milkshakes, and banana whips. Its Navy Yard location called it quits this fall.

PLNT Burger (Multiple locations)

Celebrity chef Spike Mendelsohn’s expansion-minded stall is planted inside Whole Foods all over the DMV (plus outposts in Pennsylvania, Boston, and New York). PLNT Burger forms plant patties to order and griddles them on a flattop. The burgers get paired with crispy sides like herb fries and oat milk soft serve. For 2023, new items include green bean fries made with sunflower oil and quinoa and an Actual Veggies burger made with kale, broccoli, and spinach on warm pita. Order online for pickup or delivery.

PLANTA | Bethesda

This ultra-chic, plant-based restaurant in Bethesda serves up a colorful menu that manages to feel both healthful and indulgent. The Bethesda outpost hums with warm Miami vibes while serving a menu of hits like vegan sushi, fresh juice cocktails, pasta blanketed with a rich and spicy rosé vodka sauce, plus a vegan version of Maryland’s iconic crab dip made with fresh hearts of palm flown in from Hawaii three times a week. Asian-influenced sibling Planta Queen debuted in the West End this spring.

Cielo Rojo Restaurant

David Perez and Carolina McCandless, the owners of this cute cocina in Takoma Park, met a decade ago while working at San Francisco’s revered vegetarian Mexican restaurant Gracias Madre. A substantial chunk of their Maryland menu is vegan, including gorditas, quesadillas stuffed with tequila-sauteed mushrooms or grill cactus, and believable (cashew) cheese and cream. Cielo Rojo will soon move to a larger space down the street to make way for their latest Mexican venture San Pancho Burritos, which is slated to open in winter 2024. 

Donut Run

This vegan donut shop from self-trained bakers Shawn Petersen and Nicole Dao has brought serious buzz to Takoma since opening in 2021. Customers wait in line rain or shine, and sometimes before sun-up, for the plump, lighter-than-air rings in fun flavors like tiramisu, French toast, and pineapple upside-down cake.

MushDC at miXt Food Hall

Brentwood’s miXt Food Hall welcomed vegan vendor MushDC last year. The mushroom-obsessed sandwich and salad shop comes from D.C. natives Tarik Frazier and Alex Hamilton. Opt for a believable banh mi or steak and cheese, plus Peruvian and Caribbean bowls and braised collard greens. Order online for pickup.

NuVegan Cafe (Multiple locations)

Soy substitutes for fried chicken, crab, and chicken fried steak fill platters and sandwiches at this vegan soul food spot near Howard University. Meanwhile, a vegan brunch menu hits the classics with burritos, “cheezy” grits, and scrambled tofu. Order online at any of the three area locations. NuVegan also maintains locations in Baltimore, Richmond, and Woodbridge.

VEGZ

Adams Morgan’s cute carryout specializes in Indian street foods from chef Swarn Singh. Go vegan with samosas, dosas, spinach chat, cauliflower florets tossed in chili-garlic sauce, stir-fried okra, mixed vegetable curry, and more. A “taco” trio features mini dosas stuffed with salad, curried spinach, and aloo masala. Order online.

Vegz’s menu mostly swing vegan.
Vegz

DC Vegan

Dupont’s dairy-free deli, cheese shop, and catering company comes from vegan-obsessed couple Leah Curran Moon — an animal activist with a PhD — and Michael Jantz Moon, a musician who’s toured with the likes of Paul Simon. Tasty vegan takes on bar fare include include trumpet mushroom “calamari” rings, barbecue cauliflower “wings,” a beet burger, fried artichoke sandwich, and “Philly cheesesteak” sub (or bowl) constructed with braised jackfruit and a cashew cheese drizzle. Sit and stay in the sleek space or order online for pickup or delivery. The owners opened a botanical cocktail den below and added dinner and brunch menus full of decadent Italian dishes.

Bucatini and meatballs sit prominently under a shower of cashew Parm and dollop of almond ricotta. 
Rey Lopez/Eater DC

Bubbie's Plant Burgers at Plant Food Lab

The magicians behind the plant-based, classic American food that comes out of Bubbie’s kitchen have hit a home run with the D.C. community. T The Dupont Circle location churns out pulled jackfruit barbecue, plant-based burgers, and more with all proteins, sauces, cheese, and ice cream made in the restaurant’s kitchen. Bubbie’s recently debuted a stall in National Landing’s all-outdoor food hall Water Park.

Chaia Tacos (Multiple locations)

Almost everything at Georgetown’s vegetarian taco shop can be made vegan, from the braised mushroom tacos to black bean enchiladas to the smoky collard green tacos and cinnamon-coconut cookies. Another location sits in Chinatown. Order online for pickup or delivery.

Shouk

Shouk’s aim is no big deal: It’s just a world-saving mission. This super-casual homegrown shop for modern, all plant-based Israeli street food has five area locations in D.C. and Maryland serving standout dishes like oyster mushroom shawarma, filling bowls of hummus, and veggie burgers that aren’t grown in a lab. Shouk closed its Union Market and Bethesda locations this year.

Sticky Fingers Diner

Fare Well rebranded and reopened as Sticky Fingers Diner, putting all the pieces of Doron Petersan’s vegan mini-empire under one umbrella. With more seating, a cleaner look, and a full menu of Fare Well comfort food favorites like a Reuben, plus all the treats from the bakery, the diner is D.C.’s most approachable plant-based restaurant. Meanwhile, an e-commerce site ships Sticky Fingers products nationally and the Columbia Heights-based Sticky Fingers Bakery is still the baking hub.

Fruitive

The organic fast-casual restaurant born in Virginia Beach serves everything from cashew cheese-topped pizzas to kale salads to liquid meals (the dragon berry smoothie is electric pink). The best-selling dish is avocado herb toast with pesto on whole grain bread.

Pow Pow

This kosher, vegan-friendly shop channels Asian flavors and techniques in a variety of starters and bowls, like Taiwanese fried cashew mozzarella and the yoga dragon bowl with grilled chicken substitute tossed in peanut sauce. A downtown location in Franklin Square debuted last fall. Order online for pickup or delivery.

Hipcityveg

The Philadelphia-based, fast-casual restaurant in Chinatown delivers burgers and sandwiches like a smokehouse burger with Beyond Meat and a crispy chick’n ranch. Pair them with green smoothies, soy milkshakes, and banana whips. Its Navy Yard location called it quits this fall.

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