Where to Find the Best Vegan Food: Top Spots Revealed

The world is getting more interested in vegan food, leading to a search for the best vegan places to visit. WalletHub found that Los Angeles is now the top city for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. for 2024. It took the crown from Portland, Oregon, which had it for five years¹.

Los Angeles is a paradise for those who love vegan travel, plant-based dining, and ethical tourism. It has many vegan restaurants and hosts events for vegans. It also scores high in sustainable journeys, eco-friendly getaways, and compassionate explorations.

WalletHub looked at 17 key areas of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness in the 100 largest U.S. cities. Los Angeles came out on top, scoring 61.26 out of 100 points¹. This city is now a top spot for those who want to try plant-based dining and explore ethical tourism options.

Key Takeaways

• Los Angeles has been crowned the best U.S. city for vegans and vegetarians in 2024.
• The city offers an abundance of vegan restaurants, events, and resources for cruelty-free vacations and sustainable journeys.
• Los Angeles scored 61.26 out of 100 points in a comprehensive analysis of vegan- and vegetarian-friendliness.
• Portland, Oregon, previously held the top spot for five consecutive years but has been dethroned by the City of Angels.
• Vegan and vegetarian travel is on the rise, with eco-conscious explorers seeking animal-friendly destinations and green wanderlust.

Plant-Based Dining: A Global Movement

The world is seeing a big change in how we eat, with more people choosing plant-based dining². Restaurants everywhere are now offering meatless options. This is because of the growing interest in ethical tourism, cruelty-free vacations, and sustainable journeys³.

In places like San Francisco, vegan sushi is leading the way. Meanwhile, in Montréal, chefs are making amazing vegan comfort foods. This shows how eco-friendly getaways and compassionate explorations are changing the food scene.

The Rise of Vegan and Vegetarian Cuisine

What was once seen as a “restriction” is now a popular choice for many. This is because of reasons like ethics, health, the environment, and religion². In Boston, you can find all sorts of meat-free adventures and animal-friendly destinations. From vegan tacos to Italian dishes, there’s something for everyone.

Chefs Embracing Meatless Menus

More and more chefs are now focusing on plant-based dining⁴. Places like Clover Food Lab and Life Alive are leading the way in Boston. Other favorites include PlantPub, Littleburg, and Oasis Vegan Veggie Parlor³.

Across the globe, chefs are pushing the limits of vegan food. Shizen in San Francisco, Rasoterra in Barcelona, and Maynard in Montréal are just a few examples. They show us the endless possibilities for vegan travel and sustainable journeys.

“The rise of vegan and vegetarian cuisine has transformed the culinary landscape, inspiring chefs to rethink their offerings and embrace the endless possibilities of plant-based dining.”

Eleven Madison Park: A Michelin-Starred Plant-Based Oasis

In 2021, Eleven Madison Park (EMP) in New York City made a big change. It became a completely plant-based restaurant⁵. This move was a bold step for the three-Michelin-starred restaurant, which was once named the World’s Best Restaurant in 2017⁵.

Under Chef Daniel Humm’s leadership, EMP now focuses on seasonal plant-based ingredients. The menu features dishes like sunflower and grilled squash with seitan and poblano pepper⁵. These dishes show the team’s skill and dedication to vegan cuisine⁵.

By going plant-based, Eleven Madison Park has become a leader in vegan travel and plant-based dining⁵. Its innovative menus attract those looking for cruelty-free vacations and sustainable journeys⁵.

“Eleven Madison Park’s transformation into a plant-based restaurant is a testament to the power of compassionate explorations and meat-free adventures in the world of animal-friendly destinations and green wanderlust.”

In 2022, Eleven Madison Park became the first vegan restaurant with three Michelin stars⁶. This achievement sets a new standard for plant-based dining and ethical tourism⁶. It inspires chefs and diners to explore the possibilities of sustainable journeys and eco-friendly getaways⁶.

Toyo Eatery: Celebrating Filipino Culture and Ingredients

In the heart of Manila, Toyo Eatery stands out for vegan travel, plant-based dining, and sustainable journeys. Since 2016, it has been a champion of Filipino culture and local ingredients. It works with animal-friendly destinations and green wanderlust producers⁷.

Sustainable Practices and Vegan Tasting Menu

Toyo Eatery is dedicated to ethical tourism and compassionate explorations. In 2020, it introduced a vegan tasting menu. This menu celebrates Filipino rural cooking’s focus on vegetables⁸.

The menu includes a plant-based option for its eight-course tasting. Dishes range from vegetable broth to bean curd with grilled mushrooms. It also features a palayok of short grain rice, garlic, water spinach, and sea grapes⁷.

In 2023, Toyo Eatery renovated to support cruelty-free vacations and meat-free adventures. The renovation included more space for research and development, recycling, and composting. The restaurant’s furniture is proudly made in the Philippines⁷.

Toyo Eatery is open for dinner only, from 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM, Tuesdays to Saturdays. It is usually fully booked, with two seatings each night. Since opening, it has attracted many diners seeking an authentic and eco-friendly getaways experience⁷.

D.O.M.: Showcasing Brazil’s Diverse Plant-Based Offerings

In the heart of São Paulo’s upscale Jardins neighborhood, D.O.M. has been a hit since 1999⁹. Chef Alex Atala leads this Michelin-starred gem, putting Brazil’s food on the world map¹⁰.

The 12-course tasting menu at D.O.M. features ingredients from all over Brazil. You’ll find tucupí, a sour yellow juice, and king oyster mushrooms with black rice pasta⁹. Since the start, the vegetarian menu has been a highlight, showing Brazil’s love for plant-based food¹⁰.

São Paulo’s vegan and vegetarian scene is booming. Places like Kinoshita offer sushi with a Brazilian twist, and Vegetariano Social Clube and Refogado serve creative meatless dishes¹⁰. These spots add to the city’s culinary diversity, thanks to a focus on sustainable, local ingredients⁹.

São Paulo’s vegan and vegetarian scene isn’t just about fine dining. You can also find cozy spots like Bar do Arnaudo and Casa da Feijoada in Rio de Janeiro. They serve traditional dishes like feijoada in a welcoming setting¹⁰. This mix of old and new makes Brazil’s plant-based dining scene exciting and varied⁹.

Brazil’s plant-based dining scene has something for everyone. Whether you’re after a Michelin-starred meal or a cozy spot, there’s a place for you¹⁰. From São Paulo’s lively streets to Rio’s beaches, exploring Brazil’s food scene is a treat⁹.

Kle: A Forward-Thinking Plant-Based Concept

In Zürich, Switzerland, a new plant-based restaurant is changing the food scene. Kle opened in 2020 and shows the rise in vegan travel, plant-based dining, and eco-friendly getaways¹¹.

Spanish-Moroccan chef Zineb “Zizi” Hattab leads Kle. It focuses on sustainable journeys and locally-sourced ingredients. The menu changes daily, with three to five courses made from fresh, local produce¹¹.

Hattab’s diverse background and love for compassionate explorations are seen in the menu. Dishes like pan-fried kohlrabi with ancho aguachile or “gun-powder” custard with Swiss chocolate and raspberry fudge are on offer¹¹.

Kle goes beyond food, promoting ethical tourism and animal-friendly destinations. It was named one of the 50 Next Class of 2022. Hattab is seen as a key figure in making veganism more accepted¹¹.

Kle is a leading example in the vegan travel and plant-based dining world. It celebrates sustainable journeys and green wanderlust¹¹.

“Kle is a testament to the growing demand for vegan travel and plant-based dining experiences that embrace sustainability and local ingredients.”

Gaa: Contemporary Indian Cuisine with Vegan Options

In Bangkok’s heart, Chef Garima Arora, born in Mumbai, is changing vegan travel and plant-based dining. Her Michelin-starred Gaa is a symbol of ethical tourism and cruelty-free vacations. It mixes modern Indian food with green practices¹².

At Gaa, guests enjoy the ‘Rasa Menu’ for THB 4,400++ per person. It’s a meat-free adventure that brings India’s street food to life. Dishes include pomegranate, strawberry, and mango. There’s also a chayote kebab with smoked tofu sauce, celebrating animal-friendly destinations and green wanderlust¹².

Gaa goes beyond food to support sustainable journeys and eco-friendly getaways. It moved to a 60-year-old Thai house in 2020. This shows its commitment to local culture and the environment. With a vegetarian menu and vegan options, Gaa is perfect for compassionate explorations and ethical culinary experiences¹².

“We celebrate Indian cuisine’s flavors and diversity. We also meet the demand for plant-based dining and sustainable journeys,” says Chef Garima Arora.

Gaa is known for its vegan travel and meat-free adventures. It’s a top spot for an animal-friendly and eco-friendly meal in Bangkok¹².

Amisfield: New Zealand’s Hyper-Seasonal Plant-Based Tasting Menu

In the beautiful South Island of New Zealand, Amisfield Restaurant and Cellar Door is a gem. It’s just a 30-minute drive from Queenstown. This place offers a unique plant-based tasting menu that honors New Zealand’s history and its rich lands.

Executive chef Vaughan Mabee leads the 25-course tasting at Amisfield. It highlights the region’s fresh, seasonal ingredients¹³. Guests can enjoy dishes like “bones and marrow” from vegetables and nuts. Or wood-cooked fermented celeriac with wild onion weed jam, apples, and fig leaf oil.

Celebrating the Country’s History and Produce

Amisfield shows off New Zealand’s unique history and local ingredients in every dish. Its location by Lake Hayes, with mountains in the background, makes the meal even more special. It’s a journey of vegan travel and sustainable journeys.

“The menu at Amisfield is a true celebration of New Zealand’s rich culinary heritage and the incredible seasonal produce that surrounds us,” says Chef Mabee. “We’re thrilled to share this meat-free adventure with our guests, inviting them to experience the flavors and stories of our land.”

Amisfield is perfect for anyone looking for a vegan or eco-friendly getaway. It offers a compassionate exploration of New Zealand’s plant-based dining and ethical tourism scene¹⁴.

Fyn: South African Produce Meets Japanese Sensibilities

At Fyn, a captivating vegan travel and plant-based dining spot, chef Peter Tempelhoff mixes South African flavors with Japanese finesse¹⁵. It’s on a rooftop in Cape Town, offering stunning views of Table Mountain and the city¹⁵. This makes for a unique ethical tourism and cruelty-free vacations experience.

Fyn’s lunch menu shows Tempelhoff’s dedication to sustainable journeys and eco-friendly getaways. Try the tamagoyaki nigiri with kosho salsa and shoyu, served with rice and seaweed¹⁵. There’s also a wild mushroom dish with pearl couscous and artichokes, and a sweet robata-grilled pineapple with shichimi and rice ice cream.

Fyn’s commitment to compassionate explorations and meat-free adventures is clear. It won the Flor de Caña Sustainable Restaurant Award for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023¹⁵. By combining South African terroir with Japanese art, Fyn celebrates plant-based cuisine’s beauty and diversity.

Canlis: A Family-Owned Fine Dining Institution with Vegan Options

In Seattle, by Lake Union, is Canlis. It’s a family-owned place that has been leading in vegan plant-based dining for over 70 years¹⁶. Known for top service and food, it recently welcomed Aisha Ibrahim as its new chef¹⁷.

Aisha Ibrahim’s Innovative Plant-Based Cuisine

Aisha Ibrahim is the first woman to be Canlis’s chef¹⁷. She comes from a diverse background, having worked at famous places like Manresa in California and Azurmendi in Spain. Ibrahim brings her Asian heritage to Canlis’s menu¹⁷.

Canlis now offers vegan and vegetarian dishes, including the “Eggplant Zurita”. This dish is a tribute to Ibrahim’s Filipino roots. It’s a crispy fried eggplant with special Japanese rice called Tsuyahime¹⁶.

Ibrahim focuses on sustainable and locally-sourced ingredients. She combines her cooking skills with a love for the Pacific Northwest’s produce and vegan travel scene¹⁸.

Canlis has won many James Beard Awards, including Best Wine Program in 2017 and Best Chef: Northwest in 2019. It offers vegan and plant-based dishes that show the creativity of ethical tourism and cruelty-free vacations¹⁷.

“Aisha Ibrahim’s appointment as the first woman executive chef at Canlis is a groundbreaking moment, not just for the restaurant, but for the wider sustainable journeys and eco-friendly getaways movement in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.”

Seattle’s food scene is growing, embracing compassionate explorations and meat-free adventures. Canlis is a family-owned place that has added animal-friendly destinations and green wanderlust to its fine dining experience¹⁸¹⁶¹⁷.

Geranium: Copenhagen’s Michelin-Starred Vegan Experience

In Copenhagen, Denmark, Geranium stands out as a top vegan dining spot. It’s a Michelin-starred restaurant known for its plant-based dishes. These dishes use local, seasonal, and sustainable ingredients¹⁹.

Chef Rasmus Kofoed and Restaurant Manager Søren Ledet are the minds behind Geranium. They focus on vegan travel, plant-based dining, and ethical tourism. Kofoed, who stopped eating meat five years ago, has made Geranium’s menu vegan. This shows their commitment to cruelty-free vacations, sustainable journeys, and eco-friendly getaways¹⁹.

The tasting menu at Geranium costs 2,800 DKK ($426 US) and has 22 dishes. It’s a showcase of Kofoed’s skill and dedication to compassionate explorations and meat-free adventures. Even though they don’t serve land animals anymore, they still use local fish and vegetables¹⁹.

Geranium is famous worldwide, ranking second on the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list²⁰. Chef Rasmus Kofoed’s work has drawn diners looking for a unique and sustainable dining experience¹⁹.

Geranium is leading the way in vegan menus in fine dining. Restaurants like Eleven Madison Park in New York are also changing their menus. Geranium’s focus on sustainability and Kofoed’s creativity make it a top choice for those who care about the planet and animals¹⁹.

“Geranium’s tasting menu showcases Kofoed’s innovative approach to vegan cooking, delivering a truly memorable gastronomic journey for discerning diners seeking a compassionate and eco-friendly dining experience.”

Geranium’s success has inspired other top restaurants to go vegan. This shows the growing interest in ethical tourism and cruelty-free vacations in the food world. Geranium’s work is a great example of what’s possible in green wanderlust.

Geranium is a top spot for vegan dining and ethical tourism. It’s known for its Michelin-starred status, innovative menu, and commitment to sustainability. Geranium is changing the culinary world with its focus on compassionate explorations and meat-free adventures.

Where to Find the Best Vegan Food: Los Angeles Takes the Lead

Los Angeles has been named the best city for vegans and vegetarians in the U.S. for 2024. It beats out Portland, Oregon, which held the title for five years²¹. The city is now a top spot for plant-based food, with many vegan restaurants for travelers and food lovers.

Los Angeles has everything from fancy Crossroads Kitchen to 24-hour vegan spots in Hollywood²¹. Goop Kitchen offers vegan dishes in five locations, and Burgerlords in Highland Park and Chinatown makes unique meatless burgers²¹.

The city’s vegan scene isn’t just about restaurants. You can try Armenian flatbread or vegan ramen and street food²¹. Planta, with 15 spots in Los Angeles County, has vegan sushi, burgers, and salads²².

Los Angeles focuses on sustainable and ethical tourism through its vegan movement²¹. It has farmers’ markets, organic farms, cooking classes, and festivals. Whether you want vegan comfort food or ethnic dishes, Los Angeles is a top choice for ethical vacations²¹²³²².

Los Angeles is all about sustainable and ethical tourism with its vegan options²¹²³²². From casual spots to fancy restaurants, it’s a top place for plant-based food and green travel.

Conclusion

The world is moving towards plant-based dining at a fast pace. Top chefs are now creating meatless menus that are amazing. This article has shown us the best places to eat vegetarian and vegan cuisine around the globe²⁴.

These restaurants are changing how we think about food. They offer vegan fare that is both tasty and ethical. They support sustainable and compassionate food systems²⁵.

Whether you’re a vegetarian or just want to try plant-based gastronomy, these places are great. They let you enjoy delicious food while supporting good causes. This is a green wanderlust adventure you won’t forget.

The vegan travel and cruelty-free vacations scene is growing. It’s all about eco-friendly getaways and animal-friendly destinations. The future of ethical tourism and compassionate explorations looks bright and delicious.

Source Links

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3. The Best Vegan Restaurants in the World, According to a Travel Expert
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6. 37 Creative Chefs Crafting the Future of Vegan Food
7. The Toyo Difference! (A Review) – Awesome! – Our Awesome Planet
8. These Are Our Favorite Filipino Food Obsessions Right Now
9. The 35 Best São Paulo Restaurants
10. Discover Brazil’s Best Restaurants: A Culinary Journey
11. Why All Eyes Are on Toronto’s Plant-Based Food Scene
12. Vegetarian and Vegan Tasting Menus to Try in Bangkok
13. 11 of the best vegan and vegetarian dining experiences around the world
14. The Top Foods to Eat in Queenstown and Where to Find Them
15. Cape Town, South Africa — Cook Colorful
16. Where To Eat In Seattle
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20. Geranium review, three Michelin star New Nordic restaurant in Copenhagen, Denmark — Accounting For Taste
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23. LA’s 13 Best Vegan Meat Dishes (No Animals Died In The Making Of This List)
24. Best Vegan Restaurants in NYC: Unveiling the Vegan Scene in the City | The Lanby
25. The Best American Cities for Vegan and Vegetarian Dining