Vegan food doesn’t have to be bland, and it certainly doesn’t have to be healthy. Here are our 10 favorite vegan spots in D.C. for everything from cheap fast food to fine dining to donuts.
VEGZ (Adams Morgan $)
This casual vegetarian Indian joint feels like dining in someone's kitchen. They serve the best dosas in D.C. with fillings like mysore masala, curried spinach, and paneer. The majority of the dishes are entirely vegan but leave you so full you can barely finish them.
Galaxy Hut (Arlington $)
This hippie hangout is totally out of place in Clarendon, but they serve some of the best vegan fast food. Dig into vegan fried chick’n, burgers, or grilled cheese with sides like eggplant fries and loaded tater tots. If you’re not vegan, you can request dairy cheese.
Donut Run (Takoma $):
You should in fact run to this one and only vegan donut shop in D.C., where the donuts are fluffy and fresh. For your first time, stick with the bestsellers like Boston cream, blueberry cake, and French toast. They are perfection.
Oyster Oyster (Shaw $$$)
Chef Rob Rubba curates a new set menu every season, composed completely of vegetables and oysters (which vegans often allow because they lack a central nervous system). He also runs a sustainable, eco-friendly kitchen — reusing food scraps and oyster shells and even using electric stoves, as Rubba proudly told us.
Chay (Falls Church $$)
This mom-and-pop Vietnamese spot is worth the drive from D.C. During the pandemic, co-owner Lan Tran gained experience cooking in a Buddhist temple (famously plant-based) and has brought her learnings to the kitchen at Chay. The menu is almost all vegan (with a couple vegetarian exceptions) and has everything from bun bo hue and hot pot to favorites like curry noodles and pad thai.
Arepas at Mita for Winter Restaurant Week. (Photo by Rey Lopez)
NuVegan Cafe (Multiple Locations $):
Specializing in vegan soul food, this spot is a far cry from your classic leafy vegan spot. Try their country fried steak or crab cakes and you’ll know what I mean. The Alexandria location is the best in my opinion.
Cielo Rojo (Takoma Park, MD $$)
This contemporary Mexican restaurant in Takoma isn’t technically plant-based, but you can ask for their vegan menu that has creative takes on their classics using ingredients like mushrooms, cactus, cashew crema, and pumpkin seeds.
DC Vegan (Dupont $$):
Eating here is like dining in a chic rainforest. They have a large herbaceous drink menu, and we love the King Trumpet Calamari, which is actually fried mushroom. For mains, the Chianti-Braised Jackfruit was rich, hearty, and beautifully plated. A lot of the menu is also gluten free and clearly marked.
Mita (Shaw $$$)
This South American plant-based spot has a Michelin star. You choose between two different tasting menus, or a (slightly) cheaper 4-course prix fixe bar menu. Items include creative arepas, mole, and miso pineapple mousse.
Sticky Fingers Bakery (Takoma $):
Despite now only having one location in Takoma, this vegan bakery is still a D.C. institution. They have every dessert you can imagine, but vegan. They also have a wide variety of gluten free and nut free deserts, a breakfast menu (hello challah french toast 😏), and plenty of themed goodies around the holidays.
