Eating meat-free hasn’t always been easy, but in Seattle, it’s a piece of (vegan) cake.

Our local food scene is as vibrant as ever, so it’s no surprise there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, vegetarian bites across town. From fish-free sushi to decadent vegan donuts, here are 25 restaurants serving up meat-free fare in the Emerald City.

🍕 Casual eating

ChuMinh Tofu & Vegan Deli, 1043 S. Jackson St. | Even meat lovers can’t resist this Little Saigon gem. Gorge on the all-you-can-eat buffet or try out the hearty noodle soups with a crunchy eggless egg roll.

Georgetown Liquor, 5501 Airport Way S. | The punk-themed bar pours stiff drinks and also boasts a surprisingly robust vegan menu. Share an order of the cauliflower wings or munch on meatless nachos.

Carmelo's Tacos, Various locations | The Seattle-favorite takeaway restaurant has grilled mushroom + grilled cactus options for folks who are craving something greasy.

45th Vegetarian Thai, 1718 N. 45th St. | Many Thai restaurants in the city have solid vegetarian offerings, but this cozy Wallingford spot really leans into the meat-free theme. Try this: tofu skin wrapped with fried taro and served with plum sauce.

Pi Vegan Pizzeria, 5301 Roosevelt Way NE | Billed as the oldest vegan pizzeria in the US, the U District fave slings pies topped with items like artichokes, peppers, and faux pepperoni. Get a cookie pizza for dessert — you know you deserve it.

Life on Mars has a strong variety of vegan plates to pair with its cocktails. | Photo via Life on Mars

🍸 Date night

Life on Mars, 722 E. Pike St. | If cocktails are more your dating style, head up to Capitol Hill’s rockin’ bar that loves vintage records and veggie pub grub. Try this: sweet corn tamale cakes topped with avocado and salsa verde.

Chiho Bistro, 2330 Second Ave. | One of the tastiest dumpling spots in town recently added a vegan menu that includes plant-based pork soup dumplings, black truffle fried rice, and vegetable pot stickers.

Delish Ethiopian Cuisine, 5701 Rainier Ave. S. | This warm Hillman City restaurant has a detailed vegetarian menu section with five different wots (Ethiopian stews) to select. If you can’t choose, just get the veggie combo with a little of everything.

The Pink Door, 1919 Post Alley | While not exclusively vegetarian, Pike Place’s venerated Italian restaurant has many options for those who don’t want meatballs. In fact, the spinach lasagna is one the restaurant’s most popular dishes.

Nirmal’s, 106 Occidental Ave. S. | You’ll find lots of meat-free options at Pioneer Square’s celebrated restaurant that explores many Indian regions. Try this: the bharwan simla mirch — vegetable-stuffed bell peppers topped with a spicy tomato sauce.

TOMO, 9811 16th Ave. SW | White Center’s upscale restaurant offers meticulously crafted plates that draw from local farms. Its veg-only tasting menu is just as mind-blowing as the meat version, but you can also order a-la-carte items like summer squash.

Sushi Samurai had been around for several years before converting its menu to vegan. | Photo by SEAtoday staff

🌱 100% vegan eats

The Sushi Samurai, 1817 Queen Ave. N. | Seattle’s first and only all-vegan sushi place is a Queen Anne standout. Try this: the katana roll made with salmon and tuna substitutes topped with poke sauce.

Harvest Beat, 1711 N. 45th St. | One of Seattle’s most tried-and-true vegan restaurants is a whole farm-to-table experience. Its colorful, five-course tasting menu rotates with seasonal ingredients like the apple wood smoked mushroom tamale with grilled broccolini.

Plum Bistro, 1429 12th Ave. | The longtime Capitol Hill favorite from star chef Makini Howell continues to delight all types of diners, vegan or not. Don’t miss the rich Mac & Yease and the flavorful crispy Korean tofu.

Araya’s Place, various locations | Whether you hit up the Araya’s outpost in the U District or the one in Bellevue, you’ll find good vibes and a completely vegan menu. Don’t forget the fried banana with coconut ice cream for dessert.

El Borracho, 1521 First Ave. | Pike Place Market’s lively Mexican restaurant converted to all-vegan fare in 2021, substituting beefy tacos for items like jackfruit + Impossible meat. Even the horchata is made with sweetened rice milk.

Cafe Flora is one of the city's most sought-after brunch spots, period. | Photo by Belatheé Photography via Cafe Flora

🍊 The brunch bunch

Cafe Flora, 2901 E. Madison St. | There’s a reason crowds pack this vegetarian restaurant specializing in creative items like its Kimchi black bean almond burger. Try this: the cinnamon rolls, which are an experience unto themselves.

Oak, 3019 Beacon Ave. S. | There's nothing quite like vegan tenders + waffles, take it from us. We can also confirm that the brekkie poutine with mushroom gravy + tofu bacon is an excellent hangover cure.

Ba Bar Green, 500 Terry Ave. N. | Ba Bar's offshoot in South Lake Union has tempting curries, rice bowls, and a soyrizo banh mi that makes for a perfect midday snack. Pair them with some dairy-free Vietnamese coffee for an elite combo.

Bounty Kitchen, Various locations | Juice it up or grab a smashed avocado sandwich on Sea Wolf bread. For something sweet, don’t miss out on the gluten-free griddle cakes.

Ben & Esther's Vegan Delicatessan, 907 E. Pike St. | The Portland-based chain serves up bagel sandwiches, knishes, and towering Reubens. You won’t miss the pastrami — trust us.

The Wayward Vegan, 801 NE 65th St. | Roosevelt’s cozy cafe has every brunch food you can think of and some you could only wish you had conceived — like the tots-in-a-blanket burrito with cashew hollandaise sauce.

Dough Joy's West Seattle outpost has an attached plant shop called Botanic at the Disco. | Photo via Dough Joy

🧁 Delicious desserts

Dough Joy, Various locations | The food truck-turned-bakery has airy, playful offerings like Everything But the Bagel with a cream cheese center and Vanilla Biscoff. Its West Seattle outpost also has an adjacent plant shop.

Nuflours Bakery, 518 15th Ave. E. | Long known as one of the go-to spots for gluten-free baked goods, there are also plenty of vegan options, including the coconut oatmeal yo-yos.

Lazy Cow Bakery, 3418 Fremont Ave. N. | In addition to taking cake orders, this little Fremont shop has plenty of plant-based baked goods to choose from for folks wandering the neighborhood's quaint shops. Pick from options like brownies, tiramisu, lemon bars, and more.

Frankie & Jo’s, Various locations | No cream, no problem. You’ll love the sweet scoops at this ice cream shop — from the Chocolate Tahini Supercookie to the California Cabin with hints of smoked vanilla, cardamom, and pine.

Mighty-O Donuts, Various locations | Before Dough Joy came around, Mighty-O had a lockdown on the vegan donut scene. Try this: the Grasshopper chocolate cake donut with mint + chocolate icing.

Cinnaholic, 816 E. Pike St. | We’re on a roll now. Cinnamon rolls are all dairy-free at this shop with options topped with chocolate-dipped pretzels or blueberries.

🍽️ Chef it up at home

Check out our favorite tips and tricks for serving veggie-focused fare from your own kitchen:

To make zucchini, carrot, or beet noodles, try a veggie spiralizer that magically turns vegetables into noodles.
Tired of wasting money on spices you use once? Broth Bomb combines all the spices you need for a flavorful meal.
Harness the power of fresh and high-quality spices from James Beard Award-winning chef Meherwan Irani.
A tofu press draws out water and can help tofu firm and crisp up once you cook it — the one linked here is dishwasher safe + works in twenty minutes.
If your least favorite part about veggie prep is chopping, this all-in-one vegetable chopper can minimize prep time.
Use a sprouting jar kit to grow microgreens and sprouted beans at home.
If you’re making fresh bread, this Sourhouse starter jar was designed to be the easiest-to-clean sourdough starter jar in the world.
For the ultimate veggie food prep, this glass storage container set keeps lunches and leftovers organized.
Need some good recipes? Browse cookbooks “Inspiralized: Turn Vegetables into Healthy, Creative, Satisfying Meals” for veggie spiral recipes, “The Blue Zones Kitchen: 100 Recipes to Live to 100” for plant-based ideas, or “The Complete Plant-Based Cookbook” from America’s Test Kitchen.