8 Philly restaurants to try out during World Vegan Month

These Philadelphia vegan restaurants serve up delicious meals that happen to be meatless.

The vegan community has grown in recent decades, and not merely because vegan cheese has gotten leaps and bounds better. Case in point: What started as World Vegan Day in 1994 soon expanded to become World Vegan Week and is now World Vegan Month. Each November, people worldwide celebrate the vegan diet and lifestyle and how it supports animals and the environment.

According to The Vegan Society, veganism is “a compassionate lifestyle choice where you do not consume or use any animal products, as far as possible and practicable in this non-vegan world.” But vegan food is not just for staunch vegans. Anyone can celebrate World Vegan Month by trying out some new vegan food at veg-friendly restaurants in Philadelphia, home to more than two dozen vegan restaurants. Whether it’s vegetable-forward fine dining or vegan junk food, you’ll be amazed at the incredible meatless food Philly chefs can cook up.

Here are eight of our favorite vegan-friendly restaurants in the city.

1. Grindcore House – South Philly and West Philly

This vegan coffeehouse is a community gathering space as well as a purveyor of quality vegan breakfast and lunch. The two Grindcore House locations in South Philly and West Philly offer decadent vegan baked goods, breakfast sandwiches piled high with tofu and vegan cheese, and specials like a vegan version of a Monte Cristo with vegan ham, cheese, and caramelized onion strawberry jam. Next time you have a hankering for an oat milk latte, head to Grindcore House.

2. HipCityVeg – Philadelphia and Ardmore

If HipCityVeg had multiple locations across the country, we’re sure it would rival the golden arches. That’s because HipCityVeg creates tantalizing vegan “fast food” with the likes of its vegan chicken sandwiches and burgers. At the same time, the Ziggy Burger—made with juicy vegan bacon—and the Crispy HipCityRanch “chick’n” sandwich are hard to compare to the offerings at other fast food spots, because HipCityVeg’s handcrafted food is so much better. You can even order milkshakes made with soy-based ice cream. HipCityVeg has three locations in Philly and one in Ardmore.

3. Vedge – Center City

Vedge might be a vegan restaurant, but chefs and James Beard Award nominees Rich Landau and Kate Jacoby would rather call it a vegetable restaurant, as the focus at the fine dining establishment is transforming vegetables into mind-blowing meals. And as soon as you try the fondue made out of rutabaga (really!), you’ll understand exactly what they mean. Reserve a table online.

Photo courtesy of Kalena Thomhave.

4. The Tasty – South Philly

If breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, you should add The Tasty to your list of restaurants to try. The atmosphere is that of an old-school diner—with counter service and lots of Formica—except the all-vegan diner serves up plant-based versions of breakfast foods, from omelets and french toast to biscuits and gravy. You can also order fluffy and sweet vegan baked goods; vegan donuts are available each day.

5. Bar Bombón – Rittenhouse Square

Launched by a vegan chef with a Puerto Rican heritage, Bar Bombón near Rittenhouse Square offers plant-based foods with Latin American flavors. The spot is open late, slinging vegan tacos, empanadas, and more while mixing artisan margaritas and other adult beverages. Covered with creamy vegan cheese and a cumin crema, the nachos dotted with chorizo-spiced “beef” are our favorite.

Photo courtesy of Kalena Thomhave.

6. LUHV Vegan Deli – Reading Terminal Market

You can find LUHV Vegan Deli in Philadelphia’s Reading Terminal Market—the deli is the first fully vegan stand at the historic market. As a vegan deli, the location offers massive sandwiches, hearty soups, and superb salads like the stand’s famous vegan tuna salad. For those wanting the full deli experience, LUHV offers it with a vegan twist: You can order all sorts of vegan meats like vegan capicola, vegan smoked salmon, and vegan corned beef as well as vegan cheeses like provolone and American. Plus, LUHV even offers grocery staples like spices, sauces, and beans. The LUHV deli at Reading Terminal Market is just one part of the LUHV brand—you can also find LUHV locations in South Philly and Hatboro.

7. Monster Vegan – Center City

Monster Vegan serves up delectable vegan comfort food, with a focus on Italian and international flavors, alongside neon lights and a fun monster theme. While some vegans may focus foremost on their health, other vegans just want to stuff their faces with delicious, meatless meals. And Monster Vegan proves that foods like cheesesteak eggrolls, truffle fries, and Korean BBQ are not just for omnivores and carnivores. But you don’t have to just take it from us—U.S. Senator and vegan Cory Booker also approves of Monster Vegan! You can make Monster Vegan reservations online.

8. 20th Street Pizza – Rittenhouse Square

It was a sad day when Philly lost Blackbird Pizzeria, the local pizza and hoagie shop that closed down in 2022 after more than a decade of redefining vegan pizza for Philadelphians. But we need not fret, for Philly has 20th Street Pizza in Rittenhouse Square, launched by the Blackbird owner in 2019! The little pizza shop focuses on quality vegan pizza made with local ingredients. You can order a wide variety of pizzas, by the pie or by the slice, with vegan mozzarella, cashew cheese, and toppings like local mushrooms and vegan pepperoni. The shop also sells salad, calzones, and cookies.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.