25 Vegan Asian and Asian-Owned Restaurants Redefining Asian Cuisine

For years, veganism has been steadily gaining popularity around the world. As more people embrace a plant-based lifestyle, restaurants are taking note and offering an array of vegan options. In particular, vegan Asian restaurants are leading the charge, with innovative chefs redefining traditional dishes and creating new ones that are both delicious and cruelty-free.

From vegan ramen and sushi to dumplings and curry, these restaurants offer a variety of mouthwatering options that are sure to please vegans and non-vegans alike. Here are some of the top vegan Asian and Asian-owned brick-and-mortars (listed in no particular order) across the United States that you have to try.

ManEatingPlant’s Garlic Chile Noods and Fried Shroom Bao | ManEatingPlant

1 ManEatingPlant

Canoga Park, CA

Owners Candice Tzeng and Phil Kwan helm this vegan pop-up-turned-brick-and-mortar that draws throngs of crowds with the flavors of their Chinese and Taiwanese roots. Street food favorites like crispy mushroom bao buns, garlic chili noodles, and steamed dumplings have helped ManEatingPlant amass a loyal following (that includes VegNews editors), while elegant supper clubs and intimate eight-course dinners showcase their tremendous skill.
FIND IT HERE

Pow Pow’s Korean BBQ’d Jackfruit on Trolley Fries | Pow Pow

2 Pow Pow

Washington, DC

An all-vegan, fast-casual eatery featuring Chinese, Japanese, and Korean flavors? It’s a delicious reality at Pow Pow in the Near Northeast neighborhood of Washington, DC. Spearheaded by Stephen Cheung, John Yamashita, and Shaun Sharkey, Pow Pow’s fun and creative brand of “New Asian” cuisine includes dishes like Taiwanese fried chicken parmesan, gigantic pineapple kimchi-chicken egg rolls, and a sweet-and-sour Natalie Porkman bowl.
FIND IT HERE

Bodhi Kosher’s Vegan Steamed Green Jade Dumplings | @thelilpufferfish

3 Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant

New York, NY

One of the most beloved spots in New York, Bodhi Kosher Vegetarian Restaurant’s entirely vegan take on traditional dim sum attracts diners from all around the country. Expect authentic plant-based bites like soup dumplings, fried shrimp dumplings, and even vegan shark fin soup—an animal-free version of the infamously popular Chinese dish that owner Kent Zhang makes to illustrate how traditional meals can be enjoyed without animals or destruction of the environment.
FIND IT HERE

Spicy Moon’s Dry Pot | @tastynybites

4 Spicy Moon

New York, NY

With locations in both the East and West Village, as well as the Bowery, New York’s buzzy vegan Szechuan spot is making its mark with bright, bold, Instagrammable dishes. Traditionalists flock to classic fare like dan dan noodles, vegetable wontons in chili oil, and spicy mapo tofu, while fun bites like cumin-dusted French fries and chopped cheese spring rolls lure more modern gourmands.
FIND IT HERE

Kenshō’s Vegan Sushi Rolls | Kenshō Vegan Sushi

5 Kenshō Vegan Sushi

Westminster, CA

Kenshō brings vegan sushi galore to Orange County, much to the delight of its Southern California fans. You can’t go wrong with its appetizers (tempura squash blossoms, anyone?), ramen, and dim sum, but the eatery’s innovative rolls like the I Lava You (a California roll with baked oyster scallop, dynamite sauce, spicy mayo, and unagi sauce); Ninja (shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, shiitake, and cucumber); and Da’Kine (crab, cream cheese, and avocado with torched spam and crunchy tempura flakes) are stellar must-trys. 
FIND IT HERE

Hangawi’s Sesame Leaf Tofu | Hangawi

6 Hangawi

New York, NY

This NYC institution owned by Seoul native Terri Choi aims to share with the Western world the innate beauty and vibrance of Korean cuisine, artfully veganized with the help of ancient mountain greens and roots, sea vegetables, and wild mushrooms. Choi and her team approach food adhering to the tenet of um and yang (Korean for yin and yang), or balance. Find that inner balance for yourself with not one, but two spicy kimchi stone bowls.
FIND IT HERE

Jade Rabbit’s Chili Oil Wontons | @reneezmudadesign

7 Jade Rabbit

Portland, OR

A standout among Portland’s excellent vegan eats, the cozy restaurant Jade Rabbit, formerly Ichiza Kitchen, boasts an impressive menu of carefully curated teas and an assortment of small plates and bowls that are available for delivery and pick-up. Owner Cyrus Ichiza, a former drag queen and traveling body piercer, draws upon his backgrounds in Filipinx and Taiwanese cuisine for pan-Asian dishes like Kimchi Mungbean Cakes and chicken adobo marinated in coconut vinegar and black soy sauce on rice with calamansi dressing.
FIND IT HERE

Chef Kenny’s assorted vegan sushi | @thee_brutal_unicorn

8 Chef Kenny’s Vegan Dim Sum

Las Vegas, NV

Local Vegas legend Chef Kenny Chye brings his brand of approachable, hearty Chinese-style food at this strip mall favorite just west of the Las Vegas Strip. Expect to find takeout classics like General Tzo Chicken, Spicy Kung Pao Beef, and Orange Chicken. But a refined menu of vegan sushi—including plant recreations of salmon, eel, and tuna—is what makes the place special.
FIND IT HERE

Âu Lạc’s Lemongrass Fish | Âu Lạc

9 Âu Lạc

Los Angeles & Fountain Valley, CA

After a plant-based diet helped her overcome a serious illness in 1997, Mai Nguyen set out to share her story with the world by way of her tasty, meat-free twists on Vietnamese food. Since then, Nguyen and her longtime partner Chef Ito have helped this stunning restaurant become a long-lasting institution, garnering praise for its delightfully healthful, full-flavored cuisine.
FIND IT HERE

Fat Choi’s Chili Wontons | Fat Choi

10 Fat Choi

Toronto, ON

When Lauren and Johnny Soo started adopting a more plant-based diet, they knew their traditional Malaysian restaurant would soon have to follow suit. So in 2018, their über-popular, family-run eatery Soos began operating as a completely vegan kitchen two nights out of the week as Fat Choi, where customers can’t get enough of dishes like Spring Tofu, Rempah Fried Mushrooms, and Nyona Chili Wontons. Today, patrons can stop by Soos after 5 pm from Wednesday to Sunday for a taste of Fat Choi.
FIND IT HERE

Wild Chive’s Tempura Banh Mi Bowl | Wild Chive

11Wild Chive

Long Beach, CA

With years of working in vegan kitchens and super-successful pop-ups under her belt, Long Beach resident Soozee Nguyen opened her comfort food eatery’s first brick-and-mortar location in the spring of 2020. Known for its epic vegan Sunday brunches, towering sandwiches, and riffs on international cuisine, Wild Chive has developed a cult following thanks to menu items such as Monte Cristos, Southern Fried Chick’n Sammies, pickle fries, and more. 
FIND IT HERE

The Herbivorous Butcher’s Korean BBQ Ribs | The Herbivorous Butcher

12 The Herbivorous Butcher

Minneapolis, MN

Growing up with a meat-heavy diet in Guam, Aubry Walch decided to follow a vegan diet, spending years perfecting meatless alternatives with the same flavors that she grew up with. After a few years watching Aubry thrive on a vegan diet, her brother Kale followed in her footsteps and the two later opened up Minneapolis’s first-and-only vegan butcher shop. From vegan jerky and pepperoni to Korean BBQ ribs, The Herbivorous Butcher’s vegan meats have reached high acclaim with features in Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives and stints at Coachella feeding hungry festival-goers.
FIND IT HERE 

Shojin’s Shojin Gyoza | @theorangeofmyeye

13Shojin

Los Angeles, CA

Tucked away inside a shopping mall lies a hidden vegan oasis owned by Tsuguhiro Morishima. A favorite among Hollywood celebs, Shojin draws from shojin ryō—a vegan/vegetarian Buddhist devotion diet that aims to purify the body and mind. The extensive menu features carefully crafted dishes such as Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, Shojin Shiso Gyoza, and a generous selection of sushi. Pro tip: save room for the tempura banana and chocolate mousse cake.
FIND IT HERE

Kati Vegan Thai’s Kati’s Green Curry with Thai Eggplant | Kati Vegan Thai

14Kati Vegan Thai

Seattle, WA

Focusing on fresh, healthy fare, Seattle’s Kati—“coconut milk” in Thai—uses fresh ingredients and spices for its vast selection of curry, noodle, and rice dishes. Kati crafts mouthwatering Thai staples such as popular street food favorite Kuay Tiew Kua Gai (stir-fried wide noodles, housemade tofu eggs, napa cabbage leaves, and pickled radish, served with chili sauce) and Northern Thai classics like the Khao Soi featuring rice noodles in a rich curry broth topped with pickled cabbage, fried tofu, and red onions.
FIND IT HERE

Shizen’s Surprise Ending Sushi | @chrisschard

15 Shizen

San Francisco, CA

This Bay Area mainstay attracts long lines and wait times with diners coming from far and near to try a taste of Chef Kin Lui’s innovative, fish-free creations. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Hawaii, Lui brings plant-based sushi to the masses as a way to do his part for his first love, the ocean. And it shows through the cult-favorite sushi bar’s main mission: to conserve the ocean through responsible yet delectable dining. Savor vegan tempura rolls, ramen, and fish-less nigiri and never look back.
FIND IT HERE

Amitabul’s Cold Buckwheat Noodle Salad | Amitabul

16Amitabul

Chicago, IL

Founded by Chef Bill Choi, this Chicago mainstay has cranked out vegan dishes that marry traditional Korean techniques with Western flavors since 1995, and it’s all thanks to Buddhist monks. After monks at Choi’s Buddhist temple brought fresh produce for vegan Bi Bim Bop to the chef’s omnivorous restaurant, the dish was such a hit that he was moved to open an all-vegan restaurant. Don’t miss Choi’s vegan dumplings, grilled tofu stir fry, or spicy noodle soup. 
FIND IT HERE

Chef Reina’s Ube Pancakes With Bacon | Chef Reina

17Chef Reina

Brisbane, CA

Ten years after building a career in corporate America, Reina Montenegro walked away from the life she knew to follow her passion for food and cooking. After launching Nick’s Kitchen, the San Francisco Bay Area’s first Filipinx restaurant, Montenegro built the Nick empire, successfully running three locations. Today, the Philippine-born chef has pivoted to her own brand, Chef Reina, where she whips up fluffy ube pancakes, fried Omnipork luncheon, and California breakfast burritos. 
FIND IT HERE

Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen & Sushi

18Gokoku Vegetarian Ramen & Sushi

Studio City, CA

Tucked away in Studio City, this all-vegan sushi and ramen shop offers over 20 different specialty rolls and fragrant bowls of creamy ramen made with more than 20 bold, natural ingredients for an explosion of flavor. Founded in 2016 by Shanshan Liu Estacio, Gokoku is a must-stop for its spicy Mayu Garlic Jalapeño Ramen, crunchy vegan shrimp rolls, and bento boxes.
FIND IT HERE

Golden Era Vegan’s Mama’s Claypot | Golden Era Vegan

19Golden Era Vegan

San Francisco, CA

For a taste of Vietnamese, Chinese, Indian, and Thai cuisines, look no further than downtown San Francisco’s Golden Era Vegan. This plant-based institution has been feeding the masses since 1999 with its Asian fusion menu. Golden-fried egg-less rolls, fresh green papaya salads, and pan-fried chow fun keep customers coming back for more. Don’t forget the organic Vietnamese iced coffee perfect for busy work days. 
FIND IT HERE

Minty Z’s Cuban Corn Wontons | Minty Z

20Minty Z

Miami, FL

Husband-and-wife team Alex Falco and Huimin Zhu are bringing a fusion of Asian flavors with a plant-based twist to Miami. On the dim sum menu, classic bao buns, avocado spring rolls, and Cuban Corn Wontons can’t be missed. But if you’re looking for something to satisfy your sweet tooth, the five-spice dusted bao beignets, lemon-blueberry pancakes, and matcha crème brûlée are out of this world.
FIND IT HERE

Mirisata’s Deviled Pork | Mirisata

21Mirisata

Portland, OR

Although mirisata loosely translates to spicy curry, there’s more to be explored on the menu at this employee-owned Sri Lankan eatery. The co-operative taps into its owner-workers’ family traditions and recipes to whip up jackfruit-stuffed croquettes, fishless patties with a side of hot green chili sauce, and crispy fried rolls filled with Impossible beef and potato curry. For dessert, don’t skip the flan-like watalappan made from a blend of cashews, creamy coconut milk, and thick kithul jaggery syrup.
FIND IT HERE

The Sudra’s Jackfruit Vindaloo Bowl | The Sudra

22The Sudra

Portland, OR

This chain of plant-based Indian restaurants founded by prolific chef and restaurateur Sanjay Chandrasekaran has called the PNW home for nearly a decade. And with a menu that blends the chef’s Indian heritage with the Southwestern flavors of his childhood in New Mexico, it’s no surprise patrons can’t get enough of this vegan grub. Opt for the soy chicken drumsticks lathered in creamy South Indian poppy seed curry, and wash it all down with an ice-cold fruity Sunshine Day cocktail. 
FIND IT HERE

Tane Vegan Izakaya’s Asparagus and Avocado Nigiri | Tane Vegan Izakaya

23Tane Vegan Izakaya

Honolulu, HI

From the founders of San Francisco’s Shizen comes Tane Vegan Izakaya, Honolulu’s first plant-based Japanese restaurant. On an island where fish reigns supreme, Tane’s vegan sushi, specialty rolls, ramen, and shared plates are guaranteed to satisfy. Cozy up with a bowl of spicy garlic miso ramen or choose between tofu-stuffed shiitake mushrooms, and eggplant nigiri.
FIND IT HERE

Vegan Glory noodles | Vegan Glory

24 Vegan Glory

Los Angeles, CA

Located in LA’s Beverly Grove neighborhood, Vegan Glory is a must-try when in the City of Angels—just ask Usher himself. The restaurant’s menu offers a taste of multiple Asian cuisines, including Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, and more. Start your meal with steamed Impossible dumplings or go for the fried Impossible Vietnamese Spring Rolls. For your main, you can’t go wrong with the restaurant’s signature Glory Noodle, stir-fried flat rice noodles made with fresh chili, mushrooms, onions, garlic, sweet basil, bell pepper, and your choice of protein. The restaurant’s soul-soothing curries (choose between red, green, and yellow) are also sure to please. Enjoy your feast with a Thai iced tea.
Find it here

Island Fried Chicken Plate | Lucky Catsu

25Lucky Catsu

Los Angeles, CA

Founded by Diana Colmenar, the powerhouse behind Los Angeles’ Vegan Playground, Lucky Catsu is the city’s first vegan Hawaiian street food pop-up. And earlier this year, Colmenar launched a ghost kitchen, making her mouthwatering eats available to even more hungry patrons. Her menu boasts veganized Hawaiian favorites such as Loco Moco—a half-pound Impossible patty on a bed of white rice, smothered in vegan gravy, and topped with a runny yolk Yo Egg. But it’s the Island Fried Chicken Plate—juicy and crispy morsels paired with white rice and a classic mac salad—that keeps us coming back for more. Find it here