These 19 Women-Led Restaurants Are Taking on the Male-Dominated Worlds of BBQ, Sushi, Soul Food, and More

The restaurant scene in the US is still overwhelmingly led by men. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than a quarter of chefs and head cooks are women in the US, while they make up nearly 70 percent of servers. There is a long way to go before professional kitchens are equal, but this gender imbalance is slowly changing. And if you’re looking for evidence of that, the vegan restaurant industry is a good place to focus your attention. Across the US, women are leading game-changing vegan restaurants and food businesses.

Jump to the restaurants

Whether you love juicy burgers, fine dining, hearty comfort food, soul food, or a plate of delicious vegan wings at the bar, you’ll find something on the list for you below—all founded, owned, or led by women.

19 must-try women-led vegan restaurants across the US

Slutty Vegan

1 Slutty Vegan

Multiple locations

Pinky Cole Hayes changed the vegan burger game when she launched the first Slutty Vegan food truck in Atlanta, GA in 2018. Due to unprecedented demand (and some big celebrity fans), a brick-and-mortar restaurant followed in 2019, and now the vegan burger joint is a bonafide chain. Across its 11 locations (in Georgia, Alabama, New York, and Texas), you’ll find mouthwatering vegan burger options like the Fussy Hussy, the One Night Stand, and Sloppy Toppy, all stacked with vegan meat, loaded with cheese, and dripping with the chain’s signature Slut Sauce.
Find it here

Apteka

2 Apteka

Pittsburgh, PA

Together with her co-owner Tomasz Skowronski, Apteka’s Kate Lasky is a James Beard Award finalist, so we don’t need to tell you just how special the menu is at this Pittsburgh fine dining spot. It’s a concoction of delicious, plant-based takes on Eastern European classics. There’s Zupa Grochowa, for example, a nourishing yellow split pea soup; Kotlet Selerowy, a meaty celeriac schnitzel; Scarlotka, a decadent apple crumb cake; and so much more.
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Seasoned Vegan Real Quick

3Seasoned Vegan Real Quick

New York City, NY

Brenda Beener, together with her son, Aaron Beener, is the driving force behind one of New York’s favorite vegan comfort food destinations, Seasoned Vegan Real Quick (which was formerly located in Harlem, and known as Seasoned Vegan). Beener works her magic on ingredients like burdock root and soy protein to create dishes so meaty and delicious you’ll want to keep coming back for more.
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Souley Vegan

4 Souley Vegan

Oakland, CA

Tamearra Dyson is currently getting ready to open the next iteration of Souley Vegan, which will be coming back to Oakland, CA very soon. Fans of the restaurant—which was previously named one of the best soul food spots in the country by USA Today—will be flocking back to try Dyson’s delicious Louisiana-inspired dishes, like vegan fried chicken and waffles, po’ boys, cornbread, and so much more.
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Detroit Vegan Soul

5Detroit Vegan Soul

Detroit, MI

Run by entrepreneur Kirsten Ussery and executive chef Erika Boyd, this is the go-to destination in Detroit, MI for deliciously meaty vegan soul food that tastes good and benefits your body, too. A great example of the kind of mouthwatering goodness on offer is the Catfish Sandwich, which features deep-fried organic tofu, battered in cornmeal, and served with housemade tartar sauce, or the Bacon Ranch Pita with crispy fried seitan.
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Cha-Ya

6 Cha-Ya

San Francisco, CA

Family business Cha-Ya is helmed by Mie Katsumata, who took over the business from her chef father, Atsushi Katsumata, in 2021. Under Mie, the restaurant has upheld its reputation for offering some of the finest, most flavorful, vegan Japanese food in San Francisco. Dishes like Kinoko Miso Soup, Takusui Boiled Pot Sticker Stew, and the Sushi Party Platter will keep you coming back for more.
Find it here

Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli

7Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli

Los Angeles, CA

Co-owned by Maciel Bañales Luna, a vegan Latinx chef and nutritionist, Maciel’s Plant-Based Butcher & Deli is a haven of tasty, flavorful, and most importantly, nourishing dishes. All of the meats you see on the menu—including salami, chicharrones, chorizo, pastrami, and more—are cleverly concocted with delicious and nutrient-rich whole food ingredients, like chickpeas and beans.
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Bar Vegan

8Bar Vegan

Atlanta, GA and Baltimore, MD

Vegan bar snacks can often leave a lot to be desired. Sometimes, you want a beer and a good vegan cheesesteak, or a kebab, or maybe boneless vegan wings, or a vegan chicken sub. Sound like you’re dreaming? You’re not, and it’s all thanks to Cole Hayes once again. The Slutty Vegan founder is also behind Bar Vegan, so you can tuck into your vegan feast and wash it all down with a signature cocktail.
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@roxyrockstv

9 Pura Vita

West Hollywood, CA

Led by Italian American chef Tara Punzone, Pura Vita is one of the only vegan Italian restaurants and wine bars in the country. Expect to sit back and sip on organic bianco wine (or rosso, depending on your preference) while you feast on delicious Southern Italy-inspired delights, like marinara pizza, linguine di mare with king oyster mushroom scallops, mushroom lentil meatball parmigiana, and so much more.
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Modern Love

10 Modern Love

Brooklyn, NY

If you’re a fan of Isa Chandra Moskowitz’s best-selling cookbooks, you need to head to Modern Love in Brooklyn to try her outstanding plant-based recipes in the flesh. The menu is packed with mouthwatering comfort classics like Fried Mozzarella, Mushroom Fried Chick’n, and Classic Mac & Shews.
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11Hey, Sunshine Kitchen

Culver City, CA

Founded by popular vegan chefs (and sisters) Heather Golden Ray and Jenny Engel, this fast-casual restaurant is a must-visit if you’re in Culver City, CA. The colorful, vibrant menu features warm bowls, salads, tacos, and, if you’re in the mood for a big juicy bite, hot sandwiches. Eye-catching options include the Mediterranean Chickpea with a housemade chickpea patty and the Classic Cheeseburger, complete with grilled plant-based beef.
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Chicana Vegana

12 Chicana Vegana

Fullerton, CA

Just 15 minutes from Disneyland, you’ll find Chicana Vegana. The women-led, plant-based Cali-Mexican joint specializes in everything from deliciously sloppy wet burritos to meaty burgers and nachos piled high with cheese and beans. Stop by and fuel up before spending the day at The Happiest Place on Earth.
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Julie Goes Green

13 Julie Goes Green

Los Angeles, CA

Another women-led spot specializing in Italian food is Julie Goes Green, which was founded by sister duo Julie and Shelly. The family-style restaurant will greet you with a warm, welcoming vibe, before filling you up with classic Italian comfort food. Think pizzas laden with dairy-free mozzarella and cashew cream, rich fettuccine alfredo, hearty minestrone, and so much more.
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The Fiction Kitchen

14 The Fiction Kitchen

Raleigh, NC

Back in 2012, Caroline Morrison launched a Kickstarter to fund her dream of The Fiction Kitchen, and she’s never looked back. Still at the helm of the Raleigh vegan spot, Morrison specializes in hearty, comforting, top-quality plant-based cuisine. The menu features options like cornmeal-fried oyster mushrooms, a vegan charcuterie board, and a lion’s mane rangoon.
Find it here

Seitan’s Helper

15 Seitan’s Helper

Brooklyn, NY

Amanda Fox and Cheyanne Willis are the forces behind Brooklyn vegan deli Seitan’s Helper. Together, the duo provide their community with small-batch, hand-crafted vegan meats and sandwiches. Must-try options include the Presto Pesto sandwich with ham, chickpea “nomlette,” cheese, tomato, pickled red onions, greens, and pesto, and the Evil Twin, which comes complete with vegan roast beef and tangy slaw.
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WongWayVeg

16 WongWayVeg

Denver, CO

Founded by Lisa Wong, WongWayVeg is a popular vegan and women-led food truck in Denver, CO, which also provides catering for private events and runs pop-ups around the city. Keep an eye on its social media to find out where you can sample the truck’s ever-changing delicious menu, which includes everything from breakfast sandwiches to sushi.
Find it here

Guevara’s

17 Guevara’s

Brooklyn, NY

If you like the idea of starting your day with a croissant laden with vegan egg and cheese, or maybe a Just Egg frittata with vegan provolone cheese, or breakfast torta with king trumpet mushrooms, then Guevara’s in Brooklyn is a must-visit. The women-led, Cuban spot was founded by Alicia Guevara during the pandemic and aims to give locals a taste of the Caribbean without the need for a plane (or animal products).
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Kelley Farm Kitchen

18Kelley Farm Kitchen

Harpers Ferry, WV

Back in 2018, Sondra Kelley and her husband, Ben Kelley, opened West Virginia’s first-ever vegan restaurant. And it was a hit. Seven years on, it’s still serving up everything from raw spring rolls to juicy vegan burgers to loaded seitan sandwiches to its local town of Harpers Ferry. On top of this, it also offers an extensive catering menu for private events, too.
Find it here

Sunshine Vegan Eats

19Sunshine Vegan Eats

Nikki Keysha Searles is the driving force behind popular Buffalo vegan spot Sunshine Vegan Eats. Here, you can expect to find a unique menu of mouthwatering American and international dishes like The Big Fred with vegan fried fish and shrimp, Cajun Cheesy Shrimp & Grits, Buffalo Chicken, egg rolls, po’boys, and so much more.
Find it here