These 30 Black-Owned Restaurants Are Serving Up Next-Level Vegan Eats

In the US, Black Americans are increasingly adopting vegan diets at a faster rate than any other demographic. According to a 2016 Pew Research Center study, eight percent of Black Americans identify as vegan or vegetarian, compared to just three percent of the US population overall. Not only are more Black Americans embracing plant-based lifestyles, entrepreneurs are also taking note and launching restaurants to better serve their communities.

From burger joints to soul food and Caribbean and African eateries, the Black vegan scene is the ideal canvas for different flavors and plant-based ingredients to shine—and, luckily, these restaurants are found all across the country. This means that showing your support for Black business owners is now easier than ever. And with that, you’ll be able to experience cuisines that are as diverse and multi-faceted as Black culture itself.

Black-owned vegan restaurants

From New York to Los Angeles, there’s no shortage of Black-owned vegan restaurants to choose from. Join us as we eat our way across the country on a soul-food and health-food tour, starting with these 30 Black-owned vegan restaurants.

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1 Compton Vegan

Compton and Carson, CA

Specializing in vegan comfort food, Compton Vegan founder Lemel Durrah serves up an array of delicious fare, from shrimp Alfredo to pulled pork sandwiches and mac and cheese bowls topped off with chopped ribs. Durrah is passionate about serving the city of Compton—a longtime food desert—and bringing healthier vegan fare to locals. For a taste of Durrah’s signature fare, find the Compton Vegan food truck throughout the city to or head to the Loker Student Union at California State University, Dominguez Hills—and don’t fret, the restaurant is indeed open to the public.
FIND IT HERE

Vurger Guyz

2 Vurger Guyz

Los Angeles, CA

Founded by four former NCAA athletes as a project to promote healthy eating, Vurger Guyz serves next-level burgers from a food truck that tours Los Angeles every day of the week. Favorites include the ultra-indulgent Vurger piled high with lettuce, fried onions, pickles, fried jalapeños, vegan American cheese, and your choice of sauce.
FIND IT HERE

Vegan Mob

3 Vegan Mob

Santa Rosa and San Bruno, CA

Toriano Gordon combined his talents as a rapper, social media entertainer, and chef to create Vegan Mob, a vegan barbecue and soul food restaurant—which was an instant hit, selling out within six hours on opening day. Vegan Mob’s Oakland restaurant recently shuttered, but Gordon is committed to keeping the Bay Area fed with a food truck and pop-up locations located in Santa Rosa and San Bruno, where he continues serving up classics such as shrimp and sausage gumbo, and plant-based brisket served with cajun potato salad and barbecue baked beans.
FIND IT HERE

Veg on the Edge

4 Veg on the Edge

Santa Cruz, CA

A fast-casual restaurant created by Nigerian owner Akindele Bankole, Veg on the Edge serves up vegan, gluten-free, and kosher West African cuisine. Bankole takes traditionally meat-heavy West African eats and subs in mushrooms, beans, and tofu instead to create truly hearty vegan meals. Pro tip: he peppered plantain bowl is not to be missed.
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Simply Pure

5 Simply Pure

Las Vegas, NV

Simply Pure is run by vegan chef and nutritionist Stacey Dougan, who serves Mama Mia Lasagna, nachos, and jicama chili cheese fries in her mission to inspire others to embrace plant-based foods.
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Green Seed Vegan

6 Green Seed Vegan

Houston, TX

Owned by Matti Merrell and Rodney Perry, Houston’s popular Green Seed Vegan outgrew its roots as a food truck, adding a brick-and-mortar outpost in 2012 with an expanded menu of fresh-pressed gourmet paninis, burgers, cold-pressed juices, and immune-building smoothies.
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DaJen Eats Cafe & Creamery

7 DaJen Eats Cafe & Creamery

Eatonville, FL

Crowned Best Caribbean Restaurant in Orlando in 2018, DaJen Eats offers crowd-pleasing sandwiches filled with bright and tasty proteins such as jerk chicken and oxtail. Plus, for the days when you want something lighter, the café’s build-your-own bowl and salad options are sure to hit.
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The Rabbit Hole

8 The Rabbit Hole

Pompano Beach, FL

Billed as serving elevated vegan comfort food, The Rabbit Hole offers a variety of plant-based dishes from around the world that are modern adaptations of classics, such as the “Smoke in the Woods” Southern BBQ Platter featuring citrus marinated barbecue spare ribs, mac and cheese, and buttered corn on the cob; buffalo shrimp battered and tossed in buffalo sauce; and boneless wings that are triple battered, seasoned, and fried to golden perfection.
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Lovin It Live

9 Lov’n It Live

East Point, GA

Located 10 minutes from Atlanta, Lov’n It Live believes in food as medicine and offers a menu that caters to the commitment of high quality, nourishing, organic vegan dishes with collard rolls, seaweed soup, lentil burgers, and stuffed avocados.
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The Southern V

10 The Southern V

Nashville, TN

Run by husband-and-wife team Clifton and Tiffany Hancock, The Southern V serves up Southern favorites vegan-style, such as biscuits and gravy, chicken and waffles, and silky mac and cheese—with the aim of making vegan food accessible to all.
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Slutty Vegan

11 Slutty Vegan

Multiple locations

Arguably one of the fastest growing vegan chains, Slutty Vegan is a Black-owned empire established by entrepreneur Pinky Cole Hayes. The Slutty Vegan concept features a menu of “sluttified” fast-food dishes with names such as the fully loaded Super Slut and Philly cheesesteak-style Hollywood Hooker.
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Majani

12 Majani

Chicago, IL

At Majani, husband-and-wife team Tsadakeeyah and Nasya Emmanuel are vegan and catering veterans who serve soul food dishes such as barbecue cauliflower tacos, jerk tofu, candied sweet potatoes, fried grits, and more at this charming eatery.
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Murielle Banackissa

13 The Land of Kush

Baltimore, MD

Named after an ancient African civilization, The Land of Kush is a longtime all-vegan spot that feeds your spirit with soul-food classics such as black-eyed pea fritters, crab cakes, and carrot tuna.
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Plum Bistro

14 Plum Bistro

Seattle, WA

Life-long vegan Makini Howell is a superwoman in Washington’s culinary scene for her creative vegan dining concepts, including upscale restaurant Plum Bistro, where she serves sophisticated, globally inspired dishes such as General Tso cauliflower bowls, wild mushroom ragu, and pineapple-marinated steak bites alongside burgers and more.
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Belmont Vegetarian

15 Belmont Vegetarian

Worcester, MA

A popular takeout spot among locals, Belmont Vegetarian specializes in a “soulful Belmont twist on Jamaican and American inspired dishes” with robust plant-based entrées such as vegan barbecue chicken and lamb. Plus, hit-the-spot pasta dishes such as mac and cheese and spaghetti with meatballs shouldn’t be overlooked.
FIND IT HERE

Detroit Vegan Soul

16 Detroit Vegan Soul

Detroit, MI

What started out as a catering company for partners Erika Boyd and Kirsten Ussery has grown into a thriving business. Detroit Vegan Soul provides comfort food such as full-bodied seitan pepper steaks, bacon ranch tofu wraps, and a soul food platter featuring mac and cheese, smoked collards, maple-glazed yams, black-eyed peas, and cornbread.
FIND IT HERE

Trio Plant-Based

17 Trio Plant-Based

Minneapolis, MN

Founded in 2018 on a mission of racial justice, Louis Hunter is now the sole owner of Trio, making it Minnesota’s first Black-owned, 100 percent plant-based restaurant. With classic soul food, burgers, wraps, cauliflower wings, and more on the menu, this restaurant is a must-stop in Minneapolis.
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Chi Chi Vegan

18 Chi Chi Vegan

Atlanta, GA

Founder Chris Hodge made history after opening Atlanta’s first brick-and-mortar vegan taqueria. Opened in 2020, the taco shop became an instant favorite thanks to its selection of vegan tacos (think carne asada, fried green tomato, and chicken and pineapple) and other can’t-miss Mexican-style favorites including street corn, quesadillas, nachos, and more.
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Dirty Lettuce

19Dirty Lettuce

Portland, OR

Expect to find a delicious range of “sinful Southern eats” at this Portland plant-based eatery, including barbecue ribs, fried catfish, and popcorn chicken, all of which are made with tender, meaty seitan. On the side, choose from Southern black-eyed peas, fried squash, and so much more. Good luck deciding.
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20 Ras Plant Based

Brooklyn, NY

This popular Brooklyn restaurant is a celebration of Ethiopian heritage and cuisine, “reinterpreted through a vibrant New York lens.” Treat yourself to entrées like the mushroom tibs or the Ras Special tibs, both of which offer a delicious vegan twist on the traditional spicy dish, which is usually made with lamb or beef.
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Lesbiveggies

21 Lesbiveggies

Camden County, NJ

You can’t beat good brunch dishes, and Lesbiveggies has them in spades. Some of the most mouthwatering options include breakfast tostadas, the Vegan Hungry Man (with tofu scramble, roasted garlic potatoes, pancakes, and maple syrup), and blackened Cajun cauliflower salad. Everything on the menu is not just vegan, but gluten-free, too.
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Baba’s Vegan Cafe