It’s a curious thing that Philadelphia, a city so renowned for its cheesesteaks and roast pork sandwiches, could also foster one of the nation’s most robust vegetarian and vegan food scenes, with new additions popping up every year.
Upscale diners can find delight in the shared plates at Vedge and the home-style elegance of Miss Rachel’s Pantry, while those seeking a quick bite can swing by Goldie for falafel or Blackbird Pizza for fare that is more traditionally Philadelphian.
Factor in some bakeries (Sweet Freedom), bars (Charlie was a sinner) and even a diner (The Tasty), and veg-loving visitors to Philly can see — and taste — that the city’s offerings have something for every palate, day or night.
Read on for some of Philadelphia’s best vegan and vegetarian dining spots — including some vegetarian- and vegan-friendly options — arranged in alphabetical order.
Nicole Marquis, owner of HipCityVeg and Charlie was a sinner, created this snug bar and vegan Latin food specialist near Rittenhouse. Bar Bombón’s plant-based menu includes cubanos, plátanos, tacos, empanadas, margaritas and more.
Where: Bar Bombón, 133 S. 18th Street
Pizza, sandwiches, steaks — the good stuff — come from Blackbird Pizzeria, chef Mark Mebus’ spot in Northern Liberties. His creativity shines in the Balboa pie (seitan sausage, pumpkin seed pesto, tofu ricotta, cherry tomatoes and arugula), Cubano sandwiches (citrus-marinated seitan, Violife cheese, pickles, mustard, seitan bacon and smoked tofu) and root-beer BBQ wings. Note: The second Blackbird Pizzeria location on South Street is temporarily closed for mandatory building renovation.
Where: Blackbird Pizzeria, 614 N. 2nd Street
Charlie was a sinner, HipCityVeg and Bar Bombón owner Nicole Marquis’ all-vegan bar/eatery, specializes in small plates and classic cocktails — sans egg whites. Menu items include zucchini crab cake sliders, roasted cauliflower steak and chocolate pot de crème.
Where: Charlie was a sinner, 131 S. 13th Street
At Essene Market & Café, a hot-and-cold meatless buffet and dining area share the generous space with local and organic produce and healthy grocery items. Plus, they squeeze fresh juices to order and boast baked goods created with multiple dietary restrictions in mind.
Where: Essene Market & Café, 719 S. 4th Street
The three locations of this 100% vegan fast-food spot come from chef Michael Solomonov and business partner Steve Cook. Goldie’s small menu keeps its focus on Israeli flavors: made-to-order falafel, fries and tahini milkshakes.
Where: Goldie, Various locations including 1526 Sansom Street
Serving up tasty vegetarian, vegan, Kosher, halal and Vedic food since 1985, Govinda’s Gourmet Vegetarian is known for its salads and sandwiches — especially the vegan chicken cheesesteaks.
Where: Govinda’s Gourmet Vegetarian, 1408 South Street
Coffee flows copiously at Grindcore House in Pennsport, as does a strong selection of teas. All manner of milk alternatives, hearty vegan sandwiches, salads and a selection of treats from local vegan bakeries are available.
Where: Grindcore House, 1515 S. 4th Street
HipCityVeg, a popular vegan fast-food cafe with three locations around Philly, offers 100% plant-based salads and sandwiches — like the Ziggy burger with smoked tempeh and the Crispy HipCity Ranch, a take on fried chicken — plus green juices, banana whips, baked goods and, at its Broad Street location, breakfast.
Where: HipCityVeg, Various locations including 127 S. 18th Street
These all-vegetarian University City food trucks have been a healthy haven for weekday lunches since 1984. Almost all of Magic Carpet’s budget-priced platters — tofu meatballs, seitan peppersteak — can be made vegan.
Where: Magic Carpet, Various locations including 36th and Spruce streets
Few eats soothe the veggie appetite like falafel, and Mama’s Vegetarian serves up some of the best in the city. The Israeli fast-foodery bakes its own pita, which is the perfect foil for crisp chickpea patties, latkes and sabich (eggplant and hardboiled egg) fillings.
Where: Mama's Vegetarian, 18 S. 20th Street
Chef Rachel Klein presides over Miss Rachel’s Pantry, this catering company and restaurant offering a limited-seating weekend dinner around a farmhouse table and at a handful of two-seaters. The five-course menu changes seasonally but may include seitan marsala, caramelized onion and pear cappellacci, and house-made cashew mozzarella caprese.
Where: Miss Rachel's Pantry, 1938 S. Chadwick Street
A go-to for vegans and vegetarians craving Chinese food, New Harmony Vegetarian’s menu features mock meats in classics like Kung Po Shrimp and Lychee Duck. There are vegan desserts, too.
Where: New Harmony Vegetarian, 135 N. 9th Street
Named for its “pure sweets” (that are also available to-go), rustic-chic Rittenhouse cafe P.S. & Co. offers a full menu of cafe items — all of which are vegan, gluten-free and organic. Coconut yogurt, Caesar salad with house-made dressing and pad Thai entice even meat eaters.
Where: P.S. & Co., 1706 Locust Street
Dessert lovers break from animal products and refined sugars at Sweet Freedom’s two regional locations, which also steer clear of wheat, nuts, corn and other allergens. On offer: salted caramel cupcakes, fruit crumbles and pumpkin donuts — all produced with wholesome ingredients.
Where: Sweet Freedom, Various locations including 1424 South Street
Across from an East Passyunk park, The Tasty dishes out diner-inspired vegan fare. Patrons occupy seats at the counter for morning coffee and pastries or settle into booths for quick-serve dishes such as waffles or biscuits and gravy.
Where: The Tasty, 1401 S. 12th Street
The granddaddy of all local vegan establishments, Vedge elevates meatless cuisine to unparalleled elegance. Chef Rich Landau fashions carpaccio from portobello mushrooms and fondue from rutabagas while his wife, pastry chef Kate Jacoby, coaxes decadent desserts from only plant-based ingredients.
Where: Vedge, 1221 Locust Street
Homey takeaway foods — salads, sandwiches and noodle dishes, pastas, baked goods and more — line the cases at Vegan Commissary, a prepared plant-based food market in South Philadelphia.
Where: Vegan Commissary, 1429 Wolf Street
Part juice bar, part burrito bar, Animo puts fruits and veggies in the forefront. Whether it’s the Animo Glo (orange, carrot, cantaloupe), an açai bowl or a raw, vegan salad, the nutritious fare here is fresh and delicious.
Where: Animo, 1701 Arch Street
East Passyunk’s Cantina Los Caballitos and its sibling establishment, Cantina Dos Segundos in Northern Liberties, aim to please herbivores with Mexican-inspired menus. Both locations offer seitan and smoked tofu fajitas and nachos with vegan cheese — and great margaritas.
Where: Locations include Cantina Los Caballitos, 1651 E. Passyunk Avenue
Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen in Fishtown offers a myriad of retro-American vegetarian and vegan options. Regulars come for the craft beer and specialties like the spinach and edamame burger, tempeh Reuben and veggie wings.
Where: Cedar Point Bar & Kitchen, 2370 E. Norris Street
Israeli food takes the plate at Michael Solomonov and Steve Cook’s hummusiya Dizengoff. The two locations (Center City and inside the Whole Foods in Fairmount) focus on rotating hummus variations — many vegetarian-friendly — served in platters of fresh-baked pita, salads and Israeli-style pickles.
Where: Dizengoff, 1625 Sansom Street
Really, why should vegans forgo peanut butter banana bacon doughnuts? They don’t, thanks to the Cedar Park and Queen Village locations of this vegan bakery. Dottie’s Donuts’ menu of yummy and original doughnut flavors rotates frequently and has previously included flavors like chocolate pretzel cookie dough and matcha pistachio.
Where: Dottie's Donuts, Various locations including 509 S. 6th Street
Not exclusively vegan (but about 70%), Front Street Cafe — Fishtown’s morning-to-night, indoor-outdoor, cafe-restaubar — serves breakfast (pastry, coffee, vegan scrapple sandwiches, quinoa oat porridge) through late-night (buffalo cauliflower and black bean burgers on vegan brioche buns).
Where: Front Street Cafe, 1253 N. Front Street
Owner Rocco Cima challenges the notion that fast food can’t be healthy with his vegan- and vegetarian-friendly menu of wraps, panini, salads, burgers and rice power bowls. Fuel also offers a juice and coffee bar, as well as desserts.
Where: Fuel, Various locations including 1225 Walnut Street
Khyber Pass Pub’s menu of Southern-fried bar fare leaves plenty of room for its vegan and vegetarian customers. Even the buttered popcorn, pulled pork and fried chicken sandwiches qualify.
Where: Khyber Pass Pub, 56 S. 2nd Street
A gastropub with vegan leanings, Memphis Taproom takes bar food to new heights with smoked coconut club sandwiches, spaghetti and lentil meatball sandwiches and roasted cauliflower mac and cheese.
Where: Memphis Taproom, 2331 E. Cumberland Street
The always-bustling Reading Terminal Market is supremely vegan- and vegetarian-friendly. Loyal locals stop there for falafel at Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialties, vegan Reubens and “tuna” salad from LUHV Vegan Deli & Bistro and vegetarian Indian and Pakistani dishes at Nanee’s Kitchen’s.
Where: Reading Terminal Market, 51 N. 12th Street
At Sprig & Vine, chef Ross Olchvary’s New Hope bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) bistro, the focus is on local and seasonal ingredients. His strength: demonstrating the versatility of veggies, with purple sweet potato ravioli, miso-maple-mustard-glazed tempeh and za’atar-grilled oyster mushrooms.
Where: Sprig & Vine, 450 Union Square Drive, New Hope
In the heart of Center City, Chinese restaurant Su Xing House offers up an expansive menu of meatless delicacies. Classics like fried rice and General Tso’s tofu share menu space with signature dishes such as Szechuan-style soybean nuggets and lotus root with peanut soup.
Where: Su Xing House, 1508 Sansom Street
The Visit Philly Overnight Package — booked more than 190,000 times since 2001 — comes with free hotel parking (worth up to $100 in Center City Philadelphia), overnight hotel accommodations and choose-your-own-adventure perks.
One of the oldest and largest public markets in America...