5 Best Vegan Restaurants in New York (2026)

Independently ranked by our review of ratings, reviews and reputation · How we chose

By Thorne Savarin, Culinary Explorer · ✓ Data verified August 2026 · 8 min read

New York's best vegan restaurants have stopped apologizing for being vegan. The restaurants on this page have logged just over 10,000 Google reviews between them, and PLANTA New York alone accounts for nearly a third of that at 3,200, the deepest track record on this page by a wide margin. What separates them isn't whether the food is convincing, reviewers agree it is, it's whether you want a sit-down tasting menu, a cocktail bar, or a counter-service sandwich on your way through Midtown.

Short answer: The most-reviewed vegan restaurant in New York is PLANTA New York (4.5 stars, 3,200 Google reviews), an Asian-fusion spot in NoMad. Willow Vegan Bistro and Vegan On The Fly both hold the highest ratings on the list at 4.7 stars.

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1. PLANTA New York
2. Willow Vegan Bistro
3. Franchia Vegan Café
4. Vegan On The Fly
5. Urban Vegan Kitchen
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New York's Top Vegan Restaurants Compared

#	Business	Rating	Reviews	Best for
1	PLANTA New York	4.5 ★	3,200	Asian-fusion tasting menu, NoMad	View ›
2	Willow Vegan Bistro	4.7 ★	1,741	Upscale plant-based dinner with cocktails	View ›
3	Franchia Vegan Café	4.6 ★	1,968	Vegan Korean and Asian dishes, Murray Hill	View ›
4	Vegan On The Fly	4.7 ★	1,647	Quick vegan street food, Midtown	View ›
5	Urban Vegan Kitchen	4.6 ★	1,931	Vegan comfort food and brunch, Chelsea	View ›

5 Best Vegan Restaurants in New York (2026)

Our top picks, reviewed

#1 Overall🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

PLANTA New York

4.53,200 Google reviews

PLANTA New York, part of the Planta Queen restaurant group with locations across North America, serves globally-inspired plant-based dishes out of its NoMad location. The menu leans Asian fusion, with sushi rolls, noodles, and dim sum-style small plates, alongside a dedicated happy hour and a weekday plant-powered lunch prix fixe. It's the most-reviewed vegan restaurant in New York by a wide margin.

What people praise

Reviewers repeatedly single out the crispy rice, bang bang broccoli, and udon noodles
Weekday lunch prix fixe and happy hour menus mentioned as good value
Multiple reviewers note the food converts skeptical non-vegan guests
Takeout quality holds up, according to several delivery-order reviews

Worth knowing

Bright table lamps at every table can feel intrusive if you're not there to photograph the food

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.5 / 5

Review volume3,200 · 97th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown75% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The deepest review history of any vegan restaurant in the city, and the menu's Asian-fusion range makes it an easy sell for a mixed group of vegans and non-vegans. A dependable first stop.

Website Book now +1917-675-7700 Directions

15 W 27th St, New York, NY 10001

#2🕑 Open 7 days↩ Responds to reviews

Willow Vegan Bistro

4.71,741 Google reviews

Willow Vegan Bistro, part of City Roots Hospitality, is a Chelsea restaurant serving an entirely plant-based American menu alongside a full cocktail and mocktail program. Dishes include plant-based brisket, chicken skewers, and a rotating dessert menu, and the restaurant is run by a chef with several other New York restaurants to his name. It holds the highest rating of any vegan restaurant on this page.

What people praise

Highest rating on the list, tied at 4.7 stars
Cocktail and mocktail program called out repeatedly as a highlight, not an afterthought
Reviewers specifically bring non-vegan guests and report them won over
Consistent, attentive table service named in multiple reviews

Worth knowing

Reservations recommended, especially for dinner service

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,741 · 82nd

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown85% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The strongest rating on this page and the pick for a proper night out rather than a quick meal. If cocktails matter as much as the food, start here.

Website Book now +1212-929-2889 Directions

199 8th Ave, New York, NY 10011

#3🕑 Open 7 days

Franchia Vegan Café

4.61,968 Google reviews

Franchia Vegan Café is a Murray Hill restaurant serving vegan Korean and Asian-inspired dishes alongside an extensive tea menu, including specialty green teas and matcha lattes. The menu includes plant-based versions of shrimp, duck, and other traditionally meat-based Korean dishes, served in a calm, clean dining room near Grand Central.

What people praise

Plant-based shrimp and duck dishes come up repeatedly as standouts that convince skeptics
Specialty tea and matcha menu praised on its own merits, separate from the food
Reviewers describe fast, knowledgeable service even during busy periods
Long-standing local favorite, with several reviewers naming it their default vegan pick over years of visits

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,968 · 92nd

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown73% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: A strong pick if you want vegan Korean food specifically rather than a general plant-based menu, and the tea program is reason enough to visit on its own.

Website Book now +1212-213-1001 Directions

12 Park Ave, New York, NY 10016

#4🕑 Open 7 days

Vegan On The Fly

4.71,647 Google reviews

Vegan On The Fly is a counter-service restaurant near Bryant Park serving vegan Middle Eastern and street-food style dishes, including gyros, chopped cheese sandwiches, and loaded fries. It's built for grab-and-go with limited seating, and its menu spans halal-style, Mediterranean, and Ethiopian influences alongside American comfort food riffs.

What people praise

Ties for the highest rating on this page at 4.7 stars
Reviewers highlight the seitan and the chopped cheese as standout vegan versions of classic New York food
Multiple non-vegan reviewers report being won over after trying it with vegan friends
Fast, friendly counter service even during a lunch rush

Worth knowing

Seating is limited and closes before the kitchen's full posted hours
Best treated as pickup or delivery rather than a sit-down meal

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.7 / 5

Review volume1,647 · 76th

Confidencevery high

Recency3 months ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown83% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The best pick on this page if you want vegan street food fast rather than a sit-down experience. The rating matches the leaders even with a smaller footprint.

Website +1917-265-8242 Directions

24 W 45th St, New York, NY 10036

#5🕑 Open 7 days

Urban Vegan Kitchen

4.61,931 Google reviews

Urban Vegan Kitchen is a Chelsea restaurant serving a fully plant-based menu built around American comfort food, from mac and cheese to a BLT to weekend brunch. The menu is kosher certified and covers burgers, pizza, and a dedicated brunch service, alongside a bar program.

What people praise

Mac and cheese and BLT specifically praised as convincing plant-based versions of the originals
Weekend brunch called out as a strong draw, including French toast
Reviewers describe the atmosphere and music as part of the appeal, not just the food
Owner has been known to personally chat with guests, per one detailed review

Worth knowing

A handful of reviewers note inconsistency on specific items, like onion rings, even when the rest of the meal lands well

Reputation scorecardrank in New York

Rating4.6 / 5

Review volume1,931 · 87th

Confidencevery high

Recency6 weeks ago

Info completenesssite · phone · hours

Rating breakdown76% 5-star

✓ VerifiedSource: Google

Our take: The pick for vegan comfort food and brunch specifically. It ranks fifth here mainly on review volume, and the sentiment behind it is nearly as strong as the top of the list.

Website Book now +1646-438-9939 Directions

265 W 23rd St, New York, NY 10011

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Watch: 5 Best Vegan Restaurants in New York (2026)

How we score

Every number on this page comes from public Google data on the date shown, not from opinion or payment. Rating is the restaurant’s live Google star average. Review volume measures how many diners have left a review, ranked against other New York vegan restaurants. Confidence weighs the rating by that volume, so a 4.5 average built on thousands of reviews carries more weight than one built on a few dozen. Recency reflects how recently diners are still leaving reviews. No business can pay to change these numbers.

How much does a meal cost at a vegan restaurant in New York? (2026)

Reviewer-reported per-person spending on this page ranges from quick counter-service meals to full sit-down dinners with cocktails.

Serving all of New York

The vegan restaurants above are concentrated in Manhattan, including NoMad, Chelsea, Murray Hill, and Midtown near Bryant Park and Grand Central. Searching for a vegan restaurant near me? Every listing below shows a live phone number and directions so you can find the closest option fast.

What to ask before booking a vegan restaurant

Is the entire menu vegan, or are there separate vegan and vegetarian sections?
Do you take reservations, and how far ahead should I book for dinner?
Are common allergens like nuts or gluten clearly marked on the menu?
Is there a happy hour or prix fixe option to reduce the cost?
Do you offer takeout or delivery if I can’t get a table?

Frequently asked questions

How did you choose these vegan restaurants?

We started from vegan restaurants in New York with a public Google presence, then ranked by rating, review volume, consistency, and recency. See How we score above.

Are these rankings paid?

No. Rankings come from the public Google data in the scorecard. A business can pay to be a Featured Partner, which adds a badge and top placement, but that never changes another business’s score or position on the underlying data.

How often is this updated?

The data carries a verified date (August 2026 on this page). We refresh listings periodically so ratings and review counts stay current.

What’s the difference between this list and your vegetarian restaurants list?

This page covers restaurants with a fully vegan (no animal products at all) menu. Our vegetarian restaurants guide covers a separate set of restaurants, several of which are Indian-vegetarian spots that may still use dairy.

How much does a meal cost at a vegan restaurant in New York?

The restaurants here do not publish full pricing in the data we collected. Reviewers at PLANTA mention individual dishes between roughly $9 and $35. Counter-service spots like Vegan On The Fly will run lower than a sit-down dinner. Check each restaurant’s own menu for current prices.

The bottom line

PLANTA is the safe default with the deepest review history and a menu built to win over non-vegan guests, while Willow Vegan Bistro is the top-rated pick for a proper night out. Book ahead for dinner at either one.

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