Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Philadelphia

When your parents chided you for hiding your vegetables under your plate as a kid, we bet you underestimated how delicious they’d be when you grew up! Philly may be the poster child for cheesesteaks and hoagies, but the temptation of its vegetarian options is impossible to ignore. There are dozens of spots across the city that boast delicious vegetarian and vegan-friendly eats, but we’ve hand picked a couple of our favorites for you to check out. Happy noshing!

HummusGrillFor takeout lunch: Hummus Grill or Vegetate

Hummus is a staple for most veggie lovers, and Hummus Grill sure has plenty of it. But they also have quick and satisfying Mediterranean sandwiches like the portabella, or the sabich with fried eggplant and hard-boiled egg. If you tend to lean towards salads, they’ve got Israeli and Greek options, plus yummy sides like falafel, beet salad, and potato-filled Moroccan cigars. Grab your lunch to-go from their University City, Jefferson Hospital, or Ardmore locations!

 

VStreetPhiladelphiaFor upscale casual: V Street or Vedge

Locals can’t stop talking about Vedge, and for good reason. Nestled in Midtown village, this restaurant has been praised as one of the best vegetarian eateries in all of America, and even earned a resounding three bells from critic Craig LaBan. It is trendy, stylish, and sexy, and presents vegetarian fare in a way that is both exciting and sophisticated. Those interested in dining out somewhere a little less dressy will be pleased to taste-test fare executed with the same level of expertise from their sister location in Rittenhouse, V Street. Whichever you visit, do yourself a favor and indulge in anything with “fries” or “seitan” in the name.

 

For pizza: Blackbird PizzeriaBlackbirdPizzeria

Turns out, you don’t have to travel far for two of the top 10 best vegan pizzas in the country! You won’t believe the awesome pies Blackbird Pizzeria is serving up. Take a trip to South Street to sample the nacho pizza (avocado, caramelized onions, alapeño peppers, tomato sauce, cheddar style daiya cheese), cauliflower pizza (roasted cauliflower, daiya cheese, parsley, garlic, lemon zest) or brunchbird pizza (tofu scramble, crispy coconut bacon, sauteed spinach, garlic butter, and – you guessed it – daiya cheese). They’ve also got salads, wraps, and praise-worthy wings that come in your choice of smoked habanero buffalo, root beer BBQ, or spicy-sweet sauce. Vegan never tasted so good!

 

NewHarmonyFor Chinese: New Harmony Vegetarian Restaurant

No longer is bean curd the only vegetarian option on the menu! New Harmony is a BYO restaurant in Chinatown that offers dishes full of veggies and substitutes. It’s everything you could want from a Chinese house, but made to be meat-free. You want sweet and sour “chicken”? You got it. General Tso’s? Done and done. They’ve got all the usual suspects like walnut jumbo “shrimp,” lo mein, and string beans szechuan style… but don’t be afraid to spring for the turnip cakes or steamed dragon dumplings, too. And be sure to save room for the fried sesame balls or vegan pistachio ice cream for dessert!

 

CharlieWasaSinnerFor a night out: Charlie Was a Sinner

This unassuming little spot nestled among the mainstays on 13th Street is ideal for dinner and an evening cocktail. The owner of HipCityVeg, Nicole Marquis, opened this classy restaurant as a follow-up to her highly popular quick-service spot and the reception has been warm, to say the least. If your like your vegetables salty, chargrilled, pan roasted, and served on toast, you’ll be pleased to know that Charlie Was a Sinner does it all – and with mood lighting. Just as creative as their entrees and apps are their cocktails, crafted with everything from wheatgrass and rhubarb to chili infused simple syrup. Come by for happy hour from 4 – 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 4 – 6 p.m. on Fridays. If you’re a fan, keep an ear out for Marquis’ newest venture, a vegan taqueria called Bar Bombón, rumored to be opening soon in Rittenhouse.

This is only a small slice of the dozens of eateries in the Philadelphia area. Share your favorite vegan and vegetarian restaurants in the comments!

 

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