As you can probably imagine, there are several great vegan restaurants in Asheville, NC. Not only are there dedicated vegan restaurants but there are several Asheville ‘foodie’ restaurants with vegan options. You’ll find everything from vegan comfort food to vegan international cuisine in Asheville.
We’ve rounded up the best places to enjoy delicious, plant-based meals in this vibrant North Carolina city. This article will help you discover the top vegan restaurants in Asheville. While some of these restaurants are 100% plant-based, others serve non-vegan items.
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Vegetarian & Vegan Restaurants
We are kicking this list off with restaurants in Asheville with either vegan-only or vegetarian menus. Pretty much everything you’ll find at these restaurants will be plant-based and full of flavor.
The best vegan dinner in Asheville
Plant is an outstanding vegan restaurant that consistently delivers an exceptional dining experience.
Their menu is entirely plant-based, with an impressive 90% of ingredients being organic. They also emphasize locally sourced products, and many dishes are gluten-free.
While the menu at Plant changes frequently, you can always expect innovative and delicious options.
Vegan soul food in downtown Asheville
Rosetta’s in downtown Asheville is a popular spot for vegan soul food. They serve up delicious comfort classics like mac and cheese, burgers, and fried chicken. Don’t miss their cornbread, collard greens, and vegan queso basket.
Beyond the fantastic food, Rosetta’s also features a full bar and a downstairs Buchi Bar for kombucha.
What truly sets Rosetta’s apart is their “Everybody Eats” mission. They offer a “Beans and Rice Plate” on a sliding scale, allowing guests to pay what they can. Anything over $6 helps support others in need of a meal.
Kombucha bar with vegan soul food from Rosetta’s Kitchen
Buchi Bar is a kombucha bar in downtown Asheville. It’s actually located just below Rosetta’s Kitchen and they offer the full Rosetta’s menu.
You’ll find a ton of kombucha cocktails on the menu, with everything from a Damp Salty Dog (vodka, orange cream syrup, grapefruit, buchi water) to your choice of shot in a pint of Buchi. You can even get growlers of kombucha at the Buchi Bar.
Not only will you find Buchi Kombucha on tap, but they also have local beers, cider, nonalcoholic cocktails and a rotation selection of vegan wine.
Vegan breakfast and lunch in West Asheville
If vegan burgers, chicken sandwiches + biscuits and gyros are your thing, you definitely need to add The Smokin’ Onion to your list. They have an eatery in West Asheville and also operate a vegan food truck.
The Smokin’ Onion’s plant-based breakfast menu includes a sweet potato waffle with buttermilk fried chick’n patty (with smoked brown butter + maple syrup!), a breakfast plate with an herbed scallion biscuit, a chicken biscuit and even a biscuit with oyster mushroom breakfast gravy.
For lunch, you’ll find burgers, a chicken sandwich, a gyro and a fried chick’n wrap. They also have amazing fried green tomatoes.
Juice bar and vegan cafe with great outdoor seating
Pulp and Sprout is a dedicated vegan cafe in North Asheville offering organic plant-based breakfast, lunch, juices, and desserts.
If you are looking to start your day off with a vegan breakfast, try their avo toasty with cashew ricotta cheese.
As far as lunch goes, try their chickpea salad. They also have an A.L.T. with avocado, a beet sandwich and several smoothie options.
Pulp and Sprout typically has vegan chocolate chip cookies, slices of pie and millionaire bars. You can even pre-order a vegan cheesecake at Pulp + Sprout.
Restaurants With Vegan Options
Below are a few other restaurants in Asheville that aren’t vegan but have excellent vegan options.
Gypsy Queen: Asheville’s Mediterranean gem with vegan options
Gypsy Queen offers exceptional Mediterranean and Lebanese cuisine with a strong vegan presence.
Don’t miss their legendary vegan fried Brussels sprouts with toom and lemon tahini. Their hummus, baba ghanouj, and vegan wraps (falafel, beet shawarma, seitan) are also top-notch.
The Suzy’s Sampler plate is a great option to try several flavorful dips and falafel.
Chai Pani: Asheville’s vegan-friendly Indian street food
Chai Pani offers delicious Indian street food with several vegan options, including their famous matchstick okra fries, Bhel Puri, and mixed veggie uttapam.
Many vegetarian dishes, like kale pakoras and Vada Pav, can be made vegan upon request. Check their interactive online menu for details.
Coffee shop & cafe with a plant-centric menu
Bridge & Tunnel, located on the AB Tech campus, offers a plant-centric menu, including their popular “best” breakfast sandwich with tofu.
Make sure to try their nitro cold brew with flake ice. It’s the best in town!
Bridge & Tunnel also operates a food truck around town. It’s often at local farmers markets in Asheville. Note: Vegan food is exclusively available at their cafe location.
Vegan pizza and lasagna in Asheville
Strada is a great spot for vegan Italian food in Asheville. While most of the menu is not plant-based, they do have a few great options worth mentioning.
First and foremost: their vegan lasagna! It has Beyond bolognese, housemade almond ricotta and is topped with vegan mozzarella. They also have a vegan pizza on the menu (The Ranford) with Beyond meatballs, or you can build your own.
You can make a reservation at Strada in advance if you plan to dine at Strada.
Local barbecue joint with BBQ tempeh
Ok, I know a BBQ joint doesn’t scream vegan, but Luella’s smiling hara BBQ tempeh sandwich is definitely worth a mention here!
Their housemade sweet potato chips are also excellent, as are all of their sides. Unfortunately, Luella’s only marks vegetarian sides so you’ll have to double-check which are vegan.
