Eating plant-based hasn’t always been easy, but in Louisville, it can be a piece of (vegan) cake.
With Derby City being named as the best foodie city in the US, it’s no surprise that there are a slew of local chefs serving up fresh, plant-based bites across town. From vegetarian burgers to scrumptious vegan desserts, here are 17 restaurants serving up plant-based fare in the 502.
🍳 Vegetarian eats
Heart & Soy/Roots, 1216 Bardstown Rd. | Home to Kentucky’s only tofu factory, this two-sided restaurant features a casual space for takeout + a more upscale, full-service option.
Try this: Fried oyster mushrooms served with wasabi aioli.
Honeydew, 135 Breckinridge Ln. | The menu here focuses on smoothies, fresh-pressed juices, and desserts. But the croffles — a croissant + waffle hybrid — make for a light breakfast.
Shreeji Indian Vegetarian Street Food, 1987 S. Hurstbourne Pkwy. | From South Indian dishes to Indo-Chinese fare, this spot offers an array of affordable veggie dishes that are bursting with flavor.
Guests will find vegan cupcakes, cookies, brownies, and more at The Flour Shoppe.
Photo by @theflourshoppelou
🥬 Vegan grub
Annie Mae’s Sweet Cafe, 3110 Frankfort Ave. | Everything at this Crescent Hill bakery is gluten-free, plant-based, and free of allergens.
Try this: Order a treat box so you never run out of goodies.
The Flour Shoppe, 619 Baxter Ave. | This bakery boasts a daily menu of sugary treats, but it’s known for its elaborate, colorful cakes. Don’t miss out on the donuts — they’re only served on the weekends.
Half-Peach Bakery & Cafe, 170 Sears Ave. | Order delivery or get takeout from this kitchen + bakery. It has everything from chicken tenders and nacho bowls to pumpkin bread and cake slices.
Soul Hi Vegan, 1860 Mellwood Ave. Ste. 115 | As its name implies, this Clifton Heights spot serves soul food like rib tips, oxtail, and chicken with gravy made by its chef and owner.
V-Grits, 1001 Logan St. | You’d never guess that the fast-casual comfort food here — like burgers, patty melts, and tacos — are completely vegan.
🥙 Vegetarian-friendly fare
Absynnia Ethiopian Restaurant, 554 S. 5th St. | Though a lot of Ethiopian cuisine includes spicy meat dishes, the menu here serves up an entire vegetarian section + several veggie appetizers.
Addis Bar & Grill, 109 S. 4th St. | This Mediterranean grill can accommodate all diets, with vegetarian plates and vegan samplers included on the menu.
The Grape Leaf, 2217 Frankfort Ave. | The vegetarian section of this Mediterranean restaurant menu includes curry masala, biryani, samosas, and more.
Mayan Cafe, 813 E. Market St. | Rooted in traditional Mayan cuisine, the dishes here feature local ingredients — including fresh produce from local farmers markets.
Try this: Tok-sel lima beans, topped with a blend of roasted, ground pumpkin seeds, lime, salt, and sesame oil.
Naiive, 1001 E. Washington St. | This vegetable-centric spot in Butchertown has 10+ vegan and vegetarian dishes.
Queen of Sheba, 2804 Taylorsville Rd. | This Ethiopian restaurant serves its veggie dishes traditionally, which are meant to be eaten with your hands.
The Silly Axe Cafe, 1001 Logan St. | With 100% gluten-free fare, this takeout spot accommodates vegetarian, vegan, and nut-free diets, too.
Ramsi’s Cafe on the World, 1293 Bardstown Rd. | Featuring dishes from around the globe, Ramsi’s offers something for everyone.
Toasty’s Tavern, 1258 S. Shelby St. | Pimento cheese dip, fried mushroom planks, vegan hot dogs and an egg salad sando are just a few of the vegetarian options at this Shelby Park tavern.
🍽️ 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.
Bonus: Need a vegan snack fix on the go? You already know Louisville Vegan Jerky has your back.
