Try the sweet heat cauliflower and bread pudding — frequently praised as standout dishes
15 essentials · 3 signature dishes
Best Vegan Restaurants in New Orleans
15 essentials
Where to eat first in New Orleans
Ranked by overall rating, signature dish strength and how much reviewers praise the food. If you only have a weekend, start here.
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American Restaurant, Vegan Menu, Mac & Cheese
$$
Worth ordering: #1 Mac and cheese
Thai Restaurant, Vegan Menu, Authentic
$$
The vibe: good for dates
Ice Cream Shop, Vegan Sorbets
$$
The vibe: good for solo
Caribbean Vegan Plate, Doubles, Takeout
$$
Worth ordering: #3 Bowl
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Falafel, Vegan Menu, Mediterranean
$$
The vibe: good for groups
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Thai Restaurant, Vegan Options
$$
The vibe: good for groups
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Greek Vegan Menu, Vegan Wrap
$$
The vibe: good for dates
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Bakery, Fully Vegan, King Cakes
$$
The vibe: good for dates
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Po'Boy Sandwich, Vegan Menu, Bagels
$
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Arepas, Vegan Menu, Venezuelan
$$$
Worth ordering: #3 Empanada
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Cafe, Vegan Pastry
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Coffee
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Healthy Bowls, Vegan Menu
$$
Worth ordering: #5 Bowl
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Po' Boys, Fully Vegan, Soul Food
$
Worth ordering: #3 Mac and cheese
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Salvadoran Pupusas, Vegan Menu, BYO
$$
The vibe: good for dates
3 signature dishes
What New Orleans cooks best
The dishes New Orleans's reviews name most and praise hardest, each ranked by how reviewers rate the vegan version.
signature #1
Best mac and cheese in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 2. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
- Number 3. 2 Phat Vegans Listed above as essential 14
Southern, Vegan Po'Boys & Gumbo
$$
Worth ordering: #1 GumboWorth ordering: #4 Mac and cheese
signature #2
Best gumbo in New Orleans
- Number 1. Soule' Cafe Listed above as mac and cheese 04
Creole Gumbo, Vegan Menu
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Gumbo
Po'boy, Vegan Menu, Beignets
$$
Worth ordering: #3 Gumbo
Vegan American, Sandwiches
$
Worth ordering: #4 Gumbo
Pizza, Vegan Menu, Chao Cheese
$$
Worth ordering: #5 Gumbo
signature #3
Best empanada in New Orleans
South American, Vegan Empanadas
$$
Worth ordering: #1 Empanada
South American Empanadas, Vegan Menu
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Empanada
- Number 3. Origen Bistro Listed above as essential 11
Coffee Shop, Plant Milk, Vegan Snacks
$
Worth ordering: #4 CoffeeWorth ordering: #4 Empanada
Vegan & omni
2 lists Fully vegan · Omni standouts
5 places
Fully vegan in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
- Number 2. Breads On Oak Listed above as essential 09
- Number 3. 2 Phat Vegans Listed above as essential 14
- Number 4. Original Thought NOLA Listed above as gumbo 04
10 places
Omni standouts in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sukho Thai Listed above as essential 03
- Number 2. Good Catch Listed above as essential 07
- Number 3. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 4. Athenian Listed above as essential 08
By occasion
11 lists Breakfast spots · Lunch & brunch · Dinner destinations · Worth the occasion · Coffee masters · Sweet treats · Cozy hideaways · Work-friendly cafes · Group night out · Budget eats · Family friendly
8 places
Breakfast spots in New Orleans
- Number 1. Breads On Oak Listed above as essential 09
- Number 2. Small Mart Cafe Listed above as essential 10
- Number 3. HONEY'S Listed above as essential 12
- Number 4. The Daily Beet Listed above as essential 13
8 places
Lunch & brunch in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
- Number 2. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 3. Sukho Thai Listed above as essential 03
- Number 4. Athenian Listed above as essential 08
8 places
Dinner destinations in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 2. Origen Bistro Listed above as essential 11
- Number 3. PUPUSERIA LA MACARENA Listed above as essential 15
- Number 4. 1000 Figs Listed above as essential 06
6 places
Worth the occasion in New Orleans
American Restaurant, Vegan Menu
$$$
The vibe: good for dates
Indian Restaurant, Vegan Menu
$$$
The vibe: good for dates
Modern Israeli, Vegan Menu
$$
The vibe: good for dates
- Number 4. Meals From the Heart Cafe Listed above as gumbo 03
7 places
Coffee masters in New Orleans
- Number 1. The Café at the Collection Listed above as empanada 04
- Number 2. HONEY'S Listed above as essential 12
Bakery, Vegan Sandwiches, Pastries
$$
The vibe: good for relaxing
Coffeehouse, Vegan Pastry, Outdoor
$$
The vibe: good for work & study
7 places
Sweet treats in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sweet Saint Listed above as essential 04
Vegan Cinnamon Rolls, Bakery
$$
Worth ordering: #1 Bowl
- Number 3. Breads On Oak Listed above as essential 09
Bakery, Avocado Bagel
$$
8 places
Cozy hideaways in New Orleans
Cafe, Vegan Breakfast, Tofu Scramble
$
The vibe: good for work & study
- Number 2. The Café at the Collection Listed above as empanada 04
- Number 3. Sylvain Listed above as worth the occasion 01
Coffee Shop, Plant Milk, Banana Bread
$
The vibe: good for work & study
8 places
Work-friendly cafes in New Orleans
- Number 1. Satsuma Cafe Listed above as cozy hideaways 01
- Number 2. The Café at the Collection Listed above as empanada 04
- Number 3. HONEY'S Listed above as essential 12
- Number 4. Hivolt Listed above as coffee masters 04
10 places
Group night out in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 2. Origen Bistro Listed above as essential 11
- Number 3. PUPUSERIA LA MACARENA Listed above as essential 15
- Number 4. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
10 places
Budget eats in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
- Number 2. Sukho Thai Listed above as essential 03
- Number 3. 1000 Figs Listed above as essential 06
Mexican Burrito, Vegan Options
$
8 places
Family friendly in New Orleans
- Number 1. Breads On Oak Listed above as essential 09
- Number 2. Queen Trini Lisa Listed above as essential 05
- Number 3. Nirvana Indian Cuisine Listed above as worth the occasion 02
Indian Restaurant, Vegan Options
$$
The vibe: good for groups
By dish
4 lists Best pizza · Best sandwich · Best bowl · Best coffee
8 places
Best pizza in New Orleans
Pizza, Vegan Cheese, Gluten-free
$$
Worth ordering: #1 Pizza
Pizza, Vegan Menu, Tomato Pie
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Pizza
Pizza, Vegan Jalapeño Bread
$$
Worth ordering: #3 Pizza
New York-style Pizza, Vegan Menu, Rotating Specials
$$
Worth ordering: #4 Pizza
8 places
Best sandwich in New Orleans
Po' Boys, Vegan Menu, BBQ Tofu
$$
Worth ordering: #1 Sandwich
Vegan Sandwiches, Vegan Menu, Signature Sauces
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Sandwich
Store, Vegan Muffuletta
$
Worth ordering: #3 Sandwich
Po' Boys, Vegan Menu, American
$$
Worth ordering: #4 Sandwich
7 places
Best bowl in New Orleans
- Number 1. Cinnaholic Listed above as sweet treats 02
Cafe, Vegan Bowls & Smoothies
$$
Worth ordering: #2 Bowl
- Number 3. Queen Trini Lisa Listed above as essential 05
Breakfast Restaurant, Tofu Bowl
$$
Worth ordering: #4 Bowl
5 places
Best coffee in New Orleans
Cafe, Breakfast Bowls
$
Worth ordering: #1 Coffee
- Number 2. HONEY'S Listed above as essential 12
Cafe, Plant Milk, Local Pastry
$$
Worth ordering: #3 Coffee
- Number 4. The Café at the Collection Listed above as empanada 04
By cuisine
3 lists American · Italian · Mediterranean
10 places
American in New Orleans
- Number 1. Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine Listed above as essential 02
- Number 2. Sweet Soulfood Listed above as essential 01
- Number 3. Small Mart Cafe Listed above as essential 10
- Number 4. Breads On Oak Listed above as essential 09
10 places
Italian in New Orleans
- Number 1. 2 Phat Vegans Listed above as essential 14
Italian Ice Cream, Vegan Flavors
$$
Pizza, Vegan Cheese & Sausage
$
The vibe: good for families
- Number 4. Leo's Bread Listed above as sweet treats 04
10 places
Mediterranean in New Orleans
- Number 1. 1000 Figs Listed above as essential 06
- Number 2. Athenian Listed above as essential 08
Mediterranean, Vegan Options
$$
The vibe: good for groups
Israeli Falafel, Vegan Menu
$$
The vibe: good for relaxing
vegan food guide
new orleans · 160 places on the map
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other cities
More cities that run on vegan mac and cheese
Cities where mac and cheese is a signature dish too.
Questions about eating vegan in New Orleans
Are there vegan restaurants in New Orleans?
Yes — New Orleans has 160 vegan-ready venues. The top-ranked are Sweet Soulfood, Sneaky Pickle & Bar Brine, Sukho Thai. Spinach ranks them on overall rating, signature dish strength, and reviewer praise for the food.
Is New Orleans good for vegans?
New Orleans scores 52.8/100 on the Spinach vegan city index. The city has 22 vegan-friendly venues and 48 high-quality restaurants out of 160 analyzed.
How many vegan restaurants are in New Orleans?
New Orleans has 10 fully vegan restaurants and 1 vegetarian restaurants. 22 venues score B or higher on the Vegan Friendliness grade.
What dishes is New Orleans known for?
New Orleans's top signature dishes for vegans are mac and cheese, gumbo, empanada, and the city also does falafel and pancakes well. Signature dishes are ranked by how the city's venues score against the other 157 cities we track.
What are the best cuisines for vegans in New Orleans?
The vegan scene in New Orleans leans American, Italian, Mediterranean. American is particularly strong, with 10 venues serving quality plant-based options.
What's the best vegan restaurant in New Orleans?
Sweet Soulfood is ranked #1 in New Orleans by the Spinach Essentials algorithm, which weights rating, signature dish performance, and reviewer praise. See all 15 Essentials for the full ranking.
How does Spinach rank these venues?
Spinach ranks vegan venues by formula: a composite of Google Maps rating, the Spinach Rating (Wilson-confidence scored), dish-quality Wilson scores from extracted review signals, and city-specific signature dish strength. Essentials add a tier weighting; category lists add their own mood/occasion weights. No pay-to-play.
How fresh is this data?
The last refresh is stamped at the foot of this page. Rankings come from public reviews on Google Maps and HappyCow, read by Spinach's own analysis. We never republish the reviews themselves.