Vegan and vegetarian eats in Louisville

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.

🥬 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.