Washington DC may not be well known for its vegan options, but it has many. With more than ten all plant-based restaurants, cafes, and bakeries as well as many restaurants offering vegan options, DC is fast becoming an extremely vegan-friendly destination. We’ve included a wide variety of options on our list, from fast-casual to street food to raw food, juice bars and even a bakery, there is no shortage of options for the visiting vegan. The list below offers options for a quick bite to eat, a casual get together with friends or an intimate evening with a partner and we’re certain there is something for everyone’s needs. In no particular order, these are the best vegan restaurants in DC.

Our List of the Best Vegan Restaurants DC

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This all-vegan restaurant serves up organic plant-based fare with a variety of only the healthiest options. The interior is warm and earthy but does not offer a ton of dine-in space. This makes it a great option for takeout or for picking up for a picnic. We couldn’t resist adding this spot to our list despite it being more of a cafe. That's because it offers such amazingly healthy and delicious food, which can be a hard-to-find combo. This is the ultimate health-conscious eatery, offering wellness shots, freshly pressed juices, smoothie bowls, salads, toasts and wraps. 

vegan food

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We could rave about most of their menu, but we will save you a long essay. Their Pro Superberry Bowl is an incredibly delicious blend of cashew milk, ultra trendy dragon fruit, berries, avocado, kale and spinach. This bowl comes topped with granola, more fruit, and hemp seeds. All these make it super filling and energizing without impairing your digestion or making you feel tired after eating. If you want something a little more savory, we can’t help but suggest the oh so trendy avocado toast. Served on a delicious flax and spelt bread with avocado, and an amazing basil pesto, it's hearty and filling yet still light enough that it energizes.

Fancy Radish

From the masterminds behind Philadelphia’s wildly popular Vedge, Fancy Radish is an exquisite all-vegan restaurant that will change the way you view vegan dining. The space has a modern, yet extremely warm and natural aesthetic and lends itself perfectly to an intimate dining experience.

salmon and vegetables

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The ever-changing seasonal menu features dishes that perfectly highlight plant-based fare ranging from toast and fritters to pudding and coffee. We adore all things avocado, and the stuffed avocado is a must-try. It’s beautifully plated, fatty, salty and has a gorgeous range of colors and textures that entice the senses. The affogato is the perfect dessert for any coffee lover. It’s rich, deep, chocolatey, sweet and has the perfect variety of components such as ice cream and biscotti to complement this coffee dessert.

Elizabeth’s Gone Raw

NuVegan Cafe is an all-vegan dine-in or takeout experience that offers a cafeteria-style buffet. With a mission to help inspire awareness by offering delicious vegan cuisine, this community-centered family-owned chain is a great option for all kinds of diners. Whether you’re vegan-curious, a hardcore raw foodie, or just love some good vegan comfort food, you’ll be able to find something here to delight your tastebuds. The interior is extremely casual yet inviting. It is a great place to meet up with friends or grab a bite to eat on a break.

The food options are extensive. These range from crab cakes, fried tofu, French fries, veggie subs, cheesecakes, cornbread and even raw options and fresh-pressed juice. If you don’t have the ability to make it to the cafe or just want a cozy night in with delicious vegan food, they offer the option to order ahead and delivery, so gigantic cinnamon rolls can be yours without much effort.

NuVegan Cafe

This one hundred percent raw vegan restaurant is open only on Friday and Saturday evenings. Thus, it requires a little forethought and preferably reservations. Opened by a breast cancer survivor who discovered raw food, it’s a beautiful tribute to just how delicious and gorgeous raw plant-based dining can be. The interior is sophisticated and refined, with romantic light pink walls and simple decorations and artwork that offer a beautiful and intimate experience. 

The menu changes with the seasons and offers a variety of dishes. This includes appetizers, entrees, desserts and wine pairings if desired. The current menu offers exquisite dishes such as a beautifully colorful and flavorful Cylindrical Beet Tartare, featuring a smoked almond ricotta, pistachios and an aged balsamic that all come together so perfectly you wonder why you’ve never tried the combination before. The Pacari Chocolate Mousse is an incredible array of flavors and texture. It combines raspberry curds, a buttermilk cream, shaved coconut, amaretto crumble and passionfruit caviar. It is rich, creamy, and fruity and offers such an amazing array of flavors that work so well together.

HipCityVeg

vegan burger

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This all-vegan, sustainability-focused, fast-casual restaurant is the result of an extremely successful first location in Philadelphia PA. This modern yet extremely casual restaurant is an easy choice for a quick bite to eat while on break or for ordering takeout when you just don’t have the time or desire to make dinner. With menu items such as burgers, salads, fries and milkshakes, it’s a vegan and organically focused twist on classic fast takeout. You can feel good ordering from this restaurant knowing they focus on sourcing organic and local when possible, recycle and compost, use salvaged materials in their space, and even deliver food on bike. 

We are particularly fond of their Crispy HipCity Ranch Chick’n Sandwich complete with vegan chicken, pickles and ranch dressing. It's the perfect savory, tangy and hearty sandwich that will leave you full and extremely satisfied. If you really want to complete your meal and satisfy your fast food sweet tooth craving, you must try a vanilla milkshake. This brings back all the good feels of a classical one minus the cruelty and stomach ache!

Evolve Vegan Restaurant 

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This all-vegan restaurant offers vegan soul food in a casual setting with a full bar so you can enjoy lunch or later evening dining with your favorite libations. The interior is extremely casual and feels as if you’re exactly where you are, a restaurant with a bar. This makes it a great option as a place to grab some delicious food with friends or family. 

The menu, which is offered off a hot bar, offers a wide variety of amazing vegan soul food. This includes Macaroni and Cheese, Jerk Chicken, Southern Fried Steak, Collard Greens, and Cornbread. No matter what day you go and how much you choose to eat, the prices are extremely reasonable and affordable. This makes i an accessible restaurant for all budgets. We highly recommend trying the Cashew Macaroni and Cheese and the BBQ Drumettes. Both are sure to hit that nourishing comfort spot.

Fare Well

This all-vegan restaurant may sound familiar, as they’ve won twice on the Food Network’s  Cupcake Wars. This diner-style restaurant and bakery is clean and sleek with a slightly retro feeling interior that is great for casual or more intimate outings. 

vegan cupcakes

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The menu features vegan takes on diner comfort food such as all day breakfast, soups, sandwiches, fries and even shakes. The menu features items such as Southern Fried Wings, Reuben, Breakfast Tacos and a S’Mores Milkshake. The restaurant is also an in-house bakery with a display case filled with a variety of plant-based delicacies such as cake, cookies and sticky buns. We highly recommend trying out their delicious Blueberry Pancakes, complete with coconut whipped cream and perhaps a side of their Roasted Potatoes for a savory touch. If you are in the mood for dessert, the Sticky Buns are an absolute must. nd if Chocolate Croissants are available, do yourself a favor and try one, or three.

Khepras Raw Food Juice Bar

This one hundred percent raw, all vegan restaurant has garnered a lot of attention and rightly so. Opened by Khepra, an avid lover of the raw food diet and cleansing, it offers a wide array of raw vegan creations to please the palate and leave you feeling light. The interior is earthy and has a very homemade feel. It has limited seating so it’s best for limited dining out and using as a healthy takeout option. 

vegan food

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The menu offers items such as juices, smoothies, salads, wraps and desserts. Menu items range from Green High Juice, to Avocado Plantain Pie, Almond Hempburgers, Jerk Eggplant and Coconut Cream Pudding. You can’t go wrong with any of the juice options as well as the dessert options. The savory options are all equally delicious and sure to awaken your tastebuds by how fresh and flavorful they are.

Shouk

This Israeli street food restaurant is one hundred percent plant-based. This restaurant offers two locations, both with a somewhat industrial vibe mixed with warm exposed brick and wood to make it an inviting, casual space. 

The restaurant is all traditional Israeli food with items such as Falafel, Eggplant, Chopped Salads and Hummus. The menu is full of flavor and plant-based foods. This makes it a great spot for a casual lunch or dinner date. We love the Cauliflower, roasted and served with tomatoes, scallions, tahini and parsley for a flavor-packed meat served over mixed greens. The Sweet Potato Fries are incredible especially served along with cashew labneh, which we highly recommend getting extra because it’s that good.

Sticky Fingers Bakery

sticky fingers bakery

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While technically not a restaurant, this all-vegan bakery is a legend and deserves a mention. The bakery has a case full of freshly baked vegan goods as well as seating for enjoying your sweet treat. Or if you prefer something savory, it has a cafe menu to choose from. The interior is extremely casual so it’s best for a lunch date or quick bite, nothing intended to be too intimate. 

The bakery is well known for its huge and delicious cinnamon buns. But it also offers a variety of pastries, cupcakes, cookies, coffee, shakes, sandwiches, wraps and soups. If you only get to choose one item, we can’t recommend enough the cinnamon buns. They’re soft and gooey and will haunt you in the best way possible. If you’re in the mood for a meal prior to your impending dessert binge, the Black Bean and Green Chili Quesadilla is incredibly filled with beans, corn, chilis, avocado and house-made cashew cheddar that is oh so delicious and creamy.

A Few of Our Other Favorite Vegan-friendly Eateries…

vegan dish

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Pow Wow

This all plant-based, organic Asian fast-casual eatery is a great option. With items such as egg rolls, miso soup and even a dish named Natalie Porkmen, it’s worth stopping by for vegan Asian cuisine.

vegan sandwich

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SouperGirl

If you’re in DC for an extended stay or with your family and want something healthy, easy and delicious, these vegan and gluten-free soups are a great option. They are all plant-based and are available via order through their website with a 12-soup minimum. They also have two locations that you can stop in for a select menu of soups and a few other all vegan and gluten-free options.

vegan soup

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Cedar Restaurant

Cedar restaurant has separate vegan menus for brunch, lunch and dinner. This makes it an extremely easy place to stop in with nonvegans for a delicious meal. All menus have multiple creative meal options so you aren’t stuck with any boring food that is unsatisfying.

cedar restaraunt

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Coppis Organic Restaurant

This slow food restaurant features organic and many locally sourced ingredients and has a separate vegan menu making it a great option for an intimate evening out with a nonvegan. The vegan menu features appetizers, pasta, plates, and pizza making it easy to find a delicious option.

vegan food

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Busboys and Poets

This restaurant has very clearly marked menus that offer a wide array of vegan options for any meal whether it’s breakfast or dinner. With options such as nachos, tempeh panini, pizza, salads and sandwiches, it’s a great place to dine with items to suit any dietary preferences.

busboy and poets

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If you happen to be in these places, you also may want to check out these top vegan restaurants in DenverSan DiegoLos Angeles, and NYC.

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