best vegan-friendly restaurants near burlington, vt

Leah Fishman

For a small city, Burlington's vegan options are a'plenty. I've been plant-based for 15 years and have lived in Vermont for 10. From grab & go bites to 3-course meals, here are my fave vegan restaurants in and near Burlington, VT.

Tags: Foodie Travel, Plant-based, Vegan

  • Willow's Bagels in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Bagels are the best comfort food + I won't listen to anyone who even tries to disagree. While new to the downtown bagel scene, Willow's quickly has become one of the best, with a fully delicious menu including 4 flavors of vegan cream cheese, carrot lox, Field Roast sausage, and Just Egg. Add Willow's to your Burlington vegan restaurant bucket list!

  • Tomgirl Kitchen in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Insanely colorful recipes that shift through the rainbow from season to season. Tomgirl was built to promote health and wellness in the community, share memorable recipes, and nourish hungry bellies. Female-owned and managed. Cute as heck. My vegan recs: Bali Rice Bowl, Carrot Ginger Sunshine Soup, Açai in Paradise Bowl, and the Cold Brew Cream (in partnership with my fave, Brio Coffeeworks).

  • Tiny Thai Restaurant, United States

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    • leah

      "Thai food is the only kind of food you need." - me. Honestly though: Tiny Thai's menu is warm, filling, and provides real-deal plant-based eats. A quick 10 min from Burlington (located in the heart of the Winooski circle), order for pick-up or put your name in and grab a drink down the block at Mule Bar while you wait (average weekend wait time is 45mins). They have a separate vegan menu, and the staff is incredibly knowledgable when it comes to dietary restrictions and substitutions, so don't be afraid to ask. My vegan recs: Spring Rolls (appetizer), Vegan Pad Thai, and the Vegan Krapow.

  • C'est ça in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Birthed post-pandemic + replacing the much-loved ¡Duino! (Duende), C'est Ça is a brighter, fresher take on veggie-friendly street food. With new white walls and a much lighter menu, C'est Ça is hoping to fill the gap for healthy veggie eats in BTV. My vegan recs: Grilled Tofu sandwich, Vegetable Tempura, and the Gem Wedge salad.

  • City Market/Onion River Co-op in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Not a vegan restaurant, but Burlington's central hub (like, don't even think about grocery shopping between 7-8am or 5-6pm because that shit's crowded), and filled with tons of local veg, groceries, baked goods, hot bar, cold bar, and deli with a sandwich station. My vegan recs: Falafel (deli), TLT with tofu or tempeh (deli), vegan chili (hot bar), and anything vegan in the hot bar or prepared refrigerator section.

  • Knead Bakery in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Knead is a fully plant-based bakery and café (open for breakfast and lunch!) in Burlington's North End. Their fresh-daily bread is worth the trip alone, but they also offer 8oz packages of cashew cheese that beats all the over-processed grocery store brands. My vegan recs: Breakfast Sandwich, Seitan Sandwich, and Banh Mi.

  • Deep City in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      The perfect summertime spot on the Burlington Waterfront. Deep City shares a wall and menu with Foam (one of the best breweries in Burlington). Start there for 8oz pours, bomb charcuterie boards, visiting food trucks, and local live music. Then, hop over to Deep City for a locally-sourced and veggie-friendly menu. My vegan recs: Vegan Poutine, Vegan Burger, & Vegan Rueben. Cashew cheese and vegan/GF bun subs available!

  • Pizzeria Verità in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Cozy, wood-fired Neapolitan pizzeria in the heart of Burlington. Hot take: skip the touristy American Flatbread (another wood-fired pizza joint across the street) and come here instead. Prices are comparable, and at Verita, you get creative ingredients and a much cozier atmosphere. My vegan recs: just about any pie can be made vegan (no cheese or Daiya sub).

  • Butch + Babe's in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Trendy. The perfect amount of quirk. Woman-owned and managed. Butch + Babe's is the North End's shimmering gem. As soon as you walk through the doors, you can feel how much the owner, Kourtney, cares about creating a cozy, community space centered around food & drink. The cocktails are insane and perfectly named (yes, please, I'd love to sip on a 'Ryan Gosling'). They have burger specials. They have milkshakes. What more could you need? My vegan recs: Major Tso's Cauliflower and Big Babe's Vegan Burger.

  • Red Panda in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      My daily struggle to find bomb vegan-friendly Indian in Burlington ended when Red Panda popped up in 2019. Right downtown and family-run, this is my go-to spot for take-out and delivery. My vegan recs: Veg Samosa, Chana Masala, and the Tofu Curry.

  • Pingala Cafe & Eatery in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Pingala kicks ass, there's no other way to put it. Just outside of Burlington (~7 min drive/15 min bike ride) and sharing space with one of the best yoga studios in town (Laughing River), this 100% vegan cafe & eatery is my fave spot for quick, food-truck inspired bites at a totally reasonable price. My recs: Breakfast Sammie (breakfast), Chili Cheese Carrot Dawg, and the Crunchwrap Supreme (the literal best vegan Taco Bell knock off I've ever tasted).

  • Revolution Kitchen in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      The first and only sit-down vegan restaurant in Burlington, Vermont. If your looking for a fully vegan 3-course experience, this is the spot. Most dishes are "inspired by Asian flavors and Vermont ingredients," with some fun things like nachos and ravioli thrown in between. Reservation necessary, and snag a table outside if the weather permits. My vegan recs: Brussels (appetizer), Seitan Picatta (main), and literally and cake or pie on their menu (dessert).

  • Honey Road in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      Eastern Mediterranean small plates in a trendy, dimly-lit space on the corner of Church and Main. Grab a killer cocktail at the bar while you wait for your table (a reservation is 1000% recommended). This vegan-friendly restaurant is pricy, but the perfect spot to splurge on vacay, or for a third date. My vegan recs: hummus & pita, the fatoush (seasonal), falafel, and the blueberry pomegranate Sumac Sorbet for dessert.

  • Zabby & Elf's Stone Soup in Burlington, United States

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    • leah

      A cafeteria-style cafe offering a rotating menu of creative, veggie-heavy Jewish cuisine. Located on College St, Stone Soup is steps from the heart of downtown and is the perfect place to stop for a sandwich, soup or cookie while you're cruising around. My vegan recs: Vegan club sandwich (menu), Vegan reuben (menu), any soup (menu), vegan lasagna (hot bar), vegan au gratin (hot bar), Indonesian tempeh stew (hot bar).