Vegan Guide to NYC

Big cities are always the easiest to find vegan and vegetarian options. Basically every place has SOMETHING, especially since the rising popularity of the Impossible Burger. However we are always on the look out for new, exciting, and authentic vegan food… especially somewhere with options that are good for Marc’s plant-based diet and Katelyn’s anything goes as long as it’s not “weird” eating habits.

Obviously you can’t hit everywhere in a short three days, but thanks to some online research and a couple great friends who live in the area, we found some delicious eats during our recent long weekend in New York:

by Chloe

With a couple locations throughout NY, by Chloe is a vegan restaurant chain featuring locally-sourced ingredients and makes a great option for both breakfast and lunch. The menu has a wide-variety of options including salads, burgers, pastas, and bowls. If you’re looking for a sweet snack, the cinnamon rolls are amazing! One night we met friends at the Williamsburg location for dinner and then the following morning we enjoyed a quick brunch in Chelsea before setting out on our final day of our NYC museum tour.

Buddha Bodai

Situated in the heart of Chinatown, Buddha Bodai has been serving magnificent vegan and vegetarian meals since its inception in 2004. Buddha Bodai is committed to achieving and maintaining the delicate flavors of China's deep culinary history. The restaurant is small and very cramped, and service wasn’t ideal. We were a little skeptical, but any doubts we had quickly disappeared once the food started showing up. Everything on the menu is vegetarian and nearly all are also vegan, which gave Marc a lot of choices. The food was absolutely phenomenal. From Katelyn’s perspective, the “meat” was almost too good to not be real meat. Currently Buddha Bodai is closed for renovation but we will definitely be making another stop there during our next visit.

Van Leeuwen Artisan Ice Cream

Located in Brooklyn, Van Leeuwen features both vegan and dairy ice cream options—all made with fresh ingredients. There are so many options and everything looks so delicious so it is hard to pick just one thing. You can get everything from a traditional cone to a hot chocolate float (pictured), which a scoop of ice cream of your choosing inside a decadent cup of hot cocoa. If we lived nearby, Van Leeuwen would be a problem.

Takumi Taco

Located in one of our favorite locations, Chelsea Market, Takumi Taco considers itself Japanese Mexican fusion. Although it is not a traditional vegetarian or vegan establishment, it had plenty of vegan options and made for a really enjoyable lunch as we explored Chelsea Market.

Bombay Sandwich Co.

A Brooklyn-based Indian eatery, Bombay Sandwich Co. provides some delicious and quick eats while you’re on the go. We visited the Flatiron District location and picked up takeout one evening after being too tired to do much of anything else. They have a great selection of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, and bowls that are all healthy vegan options.