When you think of the South, your mind wanders to gumbo, crawfish, boudin, and beignets, but we’re here to tell you about so much more the city has to offer. While New Orleans is a culinary hub for Southern delicacies, there is no shortage of vegan restaurants to make stops at while visiting. Scattered along the Mississippi River, you’ll find plant-based options perfect for those fine-dining nights out, midnight soul food cravings, and remedies for your sweet tooth.
If you prefer to cook, those options are a bit farther down our list. Let’s start with some delicious stops to make when grabbing a plant-based bite to eat in the Crescent City.
Vegan and Vegan-Friendly Restaurants in New Orleans
It is impossible to visit a new place and not try a few restaurants during your stay. One of the best things about traveling is experiencing new food, and each of these vegan restaurants packs a different mood depending on how you’re feeling.
Breads on Oak
The New Orleans original eatery opened its doors in 2012 and transitioned to being fully plant-based in 2018. This artisan bakery and cafe is a great option for a light bite for breakfast or lunch while traveling. Enjoy a classic homemade veggie burger or their “Live Food Sandwich” with organic multigrain bread, miso paste, vegenaise, fresh cucumbers, shredded carrots, avocado, and arugula.
And if you want to take a bit of New Orleans home with you, Breads on Oak offers a select few items for shipping. Nothing says New Orleans quite like king cake, and luckily, their Bavarian Cream King Cake is made with organic flours, natural plant-based colors, and other non-GMO, vegan ingredients. They even use an almond instead of a plastic baby inside to keep this delicious dessert as eco-friendly as possible.
Sweet Soulfood
If you’re looking to get a taste of the South that stays true to your plant-based lifestyle, Sweet Soulfood’s rotating menu lets you pick from a variety of options with Southern inspiration no matter the day of the week. Nestled on North Broad Street with its windows outlined in red, this NOLA vegan stop serves up a steamy bowl of Okra Gumbo, mouth-watering Jambalaya, creamy Cashew Mac, and so much more.
Sneaky Pickle and Bar Brine
A duo to fit every travelers needs. These two eateries share one location but pack different menus depending on what you’re craving. While not completely plant-based, they both offer vegan options and source their ingredients from locally owned farms to curate a seasonally rotating menu.
Vegan-Friendly Grocery Stores in New Orleans
We get it. Takeout and dining out is fun, but every once in a while, even on a trip away, a home-cooked meal is what you need. If you’re someone who likes to cook at your Airbnb while traveling, we are right there with you. While New Orleans offers an abundance of takeout options, they don’t fall short on places to shop for plant-based goods.
New Orleans Food Co-Op
The grocery store we all wish we had access to while traveling. The New Orleans Food Co-Op houses healthy food options that are locally and regionally sourced. As you walk through their colorfully lined shelves filled with your favorite plant-based products, you won’t just find something to make for dinner, you’ll also be supporting local farmers and producers in the area. The Co-Op sits inside the brightly colored orange New Orleans Healing Center building off St. Claude Ave.
Whole Foods Market
This might feel like a given, but you’d be surprised how many places don’t have a Whole Foods Market. A place we all know and love, Whole Foods can fit into your takeout options with their hot bar or provide locally sourced products to make a meal while traveling. If you’re wondering where to go to buy those groceries you’ll need for your trip and don’t want to pinch your way through Apple Maps, you can’t go wrong with a Whole Foods. Easily accessible locations can be found off Magazine Street or North Broad Street.
No matter where you choose to eat in New Orleans, be sure to try all the city has to offer. Still need help? Check out our tips for choosing the best vegan restaurants while traveling.
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