Philly’s Best Vegan Eats

When I initially changed my diet, my first thought was centered around how much I was giving up. Truly, I was that person who always thought, “I don’t understand how people go vegan or vegetarian, they’re missing out on so much!!” (dramatic I know). Flash forward years later: I’ve found that I was completely wrong & that I truly didn’t have to give up anything I loved to sustain this lifestyle. With all of the dairy-free / vegan products that are available now-a-days, it’s impossible to feel like you’re missing out. Many of my friends can testify to the fact that I eat pizza, ice-cream, and cheese fries JUST as much as everyone else due to the amazing accommodations available today.

Yah see, vegan food has a rough stigma. Often times, when people hear “vegan”, they think of some foreign a$$ vegetables that they wouldn’t be caught dead eating. I’m telling you, these restaurants aren’t anything of the sort. I’m talking fries, pizza, milkshakes, wings… all of your faves, just made with less animal products + more in sustainable ways. You can get down with that, right?

Being obsessed with food, one of my favorite things to do is to try out nearly every restaurant in the area (i’m the true definition of “I spend all of my money on food”).  Below, i’ve listed some of my favorite spots to go if you’re looking for some vegan/vegetarian/dairy-free food, or even just something a little bit healthier than your regular go-to takeout. TRUST ME, these restaurants are sure to please every single one of your friends, so grab a group & get to ’em! 🙂

1. HipCityVeg – $

Milkshakes, fries, “cheesesteaks”, buffalo chikin sandwiches.. need I say more? HipVeg is a fast food heaven. While a lot of people think that vegans only eat salad, the truth is we also want to enjoy fries, milkshakes, and big a** sandwiches, just in a cruelty free way. This place is a haven. 100x healthier than your average take out resturatant & 10 times more delicious, there is nothing you won’t love about HipVeg.

*Pro tip: If you’re heading to the Rittenhouse location, take your food to go and eat in park half a block away. Some of the locations are pretty tiny & always packed so your eating experience will be much better hanging out under some trees and watching dogs walk by.

       2. Bar Bombon – $$

Mexican food, cheeeze fries, margaritas, and some amazing grilled brussel sprouts: count me in!! Bar Bombon is perfect for a mid day meal as they offer many small plates, but also great for dinner because you can try a tonnnn of different things. My favorites include their sangria of the day, cheese fries, cauliflower tacos, and roasted brussels. They are SO good.

       3. Charlie was a sinner – $$$

I love this place. From it’s dark and swanky atmosphere to it’s insanely tiny tables (you know when something is unpractical but you love it anyway? yeah), to its strong drinks, this place rules. While they don’t offer large meals, they do have plenty of smaller tapas that when put together will totally fill you up. Though this spot is definitely a little pricer than the rest, it’s 100% worth the hype. I’m genuinely convinced that all of my non vegan friends would adore this place as well, i’d recommend it to anyone.

*Get the ricotta dip and potato croquettes, SO goOOOD.

        4. V Street – $$$

Basically, V Street serves vegan street food in an upscale environment. This means ramen, tacos, kabobs, fries, and anything else you can grab from a food truck. This place is perfect for people that are skeptical of vegan food. Though it’s a little expensive, it truly is delicious and is a meal that you’ll want to get over and over again.

       5. Dottie’s Donuts – $

While Dottie’s is definitely on the outside of the city, it’s totally worth the drive. Each day, they offer fresh baked 100% vegan donuts in flavors like strawberry, cannoli, and pretty much anything else you can name. I’m a big donut lover so this place totally reeled me in. Last time I went I may or may not have gotten 16 donuts… for myself.

        6. Goldie Falafel – $

Goldie is super new to Philly but it won’t be for long. Though their menu is quiet small, it sure is delicious. Goldie offers fresh baked falafel layered into a pita, or laid over a salad: you pick. The falafel is mixed with cabbage, cucumbers and other salad ingredients. They then top that mixture off with your choice of Tahini (the mango one is amazing) for a well balanced, insanely satisfying meal. Lastly, they offer Tehina milkshakes that are SO good. So far, i’ve tried the Coconut and Turkish Coffee. So thick and sooo iceyyy and soooo yummy.

       7. Blackbird Pizzeria – $

Blackbird is truly a diamond in the rough. After accidentally walking by it countless times in the city, one day I finally found it. The atmosphere of blackbird isn’t much to look at, but the food on the other hand is BOMB. With offerings like cheese fries (my weakness), pizza, “wings”, and super crispy fries, you really can’t go wrong. I truly wish I lived closer so I could order from there daily.

       8. Little Baby’s Ice-cream – $

Any one else a sucker for icecream? After going dairy free & eventually vegan, I hated thinking that i’d have to give up ice-cream. NEWS FLASH: I didn’t have to!! While there are so many vegan/non-dairy ice-cream brands sold in stores (even Ben & Jerry), there’s just something special about freshly churned ice-cream. Every day, they offer regular & vegan flavors ranging from Pink Lemonade, to Chocolate Chip Fudge.

I really hoped you guys enjoyed this list and try out some of these restaurants for yourself. Do you have any favorites in Philadelphia the area? If so, i’d LOVE to hear about them! On the flip, if you have any restaurants in your area that offer insane vegan food, i’d love to hear about them as well for when I take a trip. Share the knowledge fam <3 Love you guys, thanks for reading.