When most people think of Cleveland’s food scene, they may picture pierogi from the Little Polish Diner, stacked grilled cheese sandwiches from Melt, or even kielbasa from Mabel’s BBQ. However, there are a ton of fantastic vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Cleveland that you need to know about, too.
From the best vegan pizza in Cleveland to my favorite vegetarian-friendly restaurants, let’s dive into the veggie scene in this great city!
The Best Vegetarian and Vegan Breakfasts in Cleveland
No need to skip the most important meal of the day! Here are some great places to find vegetarian and vegan breakfast food in Cleveland.
1. Cleveland Bagel
Multiple locations
Cleveland Bagel is easily the best bagel shop in Cleveland. They are the inventors of the “Cleveland-style” bagel, which is a bagel that isn’t too sweet or doughy; it’s super chewy and basically perfect.
While they’ve called their 4201 Detroit Ave. shop in Ohio City home for years, they also have a second shop in Midtown.
They serve classic bagel flavors such as plain, everything, salt, and poppy seed, and while their bagels are vegan to begin with they also offer vegan and vegetarian sandwiches.
From their Egg And Cheese Bagel to the Veggie Sandwich with hummus and veggies, you’ll definitely get your breakfast sandwich fix here. Plus, they also have vegan spreads available!
2. Lucky’s Café
777 Starkweather Ave., Cleveland (Tremont)
If you are searching for a sit-down breakfast, this is the spot. Located in the trendy neighborhood of Tremont just outside of downtown, Lucky’s has a fantastic breakfast and brunch menu that caters to meat lovers and vegetarians/vegans alike.
For the vegetarian fare, they offer House Made Granola served with yogurt, fresh fruit, and local honey. Plus definitely add the bee pollen and thank me later.
If you are a cheese-lover then you’ll enjoy the Baked Mac-N-Cheese with cheddar, Brie, Parmesan, and mozzarella baked with pasta and cream, and then they add brioche breadcrumbs on top. Heaven.
I also recommend checking out their Canoewreck with curried tofu, hash browns, veggies, and nutritional yeast that’s served with toast and fruit. To make it vegan, just ask for dry toast.
And for a delicious and sweet vegan treat, definitely get the Gingerbread Waffles.
3. Brewnuts
6501 Detroit Ave., Cleveland (Gordon Square)
This brilliant donut shop is far from boring with Instagramable décor, creative lattes and donuts, plus beer on tap. It’s always a party at Brewnuts. They also always have at least two vegan donuts on offer. No, this does not make it any healthier, but at least you have a delicious donut to scarf down while sticking to your dietary preferences!
While these change seasonally, some of my favorites include the Maple Cream Stick donut with maple frosting and delicious vegan icing inside, and the Peanut Butter Crème Chocolate Oreo, which is topped with Oreo crumbles and filled with tasty peanut butter crème.
4. The Vegan Doughnut Company
14811 Detroit Ave., Lakewood
Located just a bit further down Detroit Ave., The Vegan Doughnut Company is serving up this tasty breakfast treat… and everything is 100% vegan! Started by two sisters who have been vegan since 2014, this Black woman-owned establishment has been making delicious donut creations at their storefront in Lakewood since December of 2018.
While you definitely want to grab a classic glazed twist or maple cream, opt for some exciting seasonal flavors like mint cookies and cream for March, or a very summery lemon lavender donut.
But go early – this place sells out fast!
The Best Vegetarian Restaurants in Cleveland
Just because you want to eat vegetarian or vegan in Cleveland, that doesn’t mean you only want a salad! These are the best vegetarian-friendly restaurants in Cleveland for a great meal.
1. Happy Dog
5801 Detroit Ave., Cleveland (Gordon Square)
This tucked away dive bar may not look like much from the outside, but they serve up some of the best hot dogs and tots around!
With a make-your-own menu with 30+ toppings and an astounding 15 different sauces, the possibilities are endless. And that’s just for the hot dogs!
The best part is they have killer vegan dogs, too, and plenty of vegan and vegetarian options to top them with! My favorite combo is the vegan dog topped with chunky peanut butter, sliced cucumber, and diced tomatoes served with a side of top-secret fry sauce. If I want to go vegetarian I’ll add feta and roasted garlic aioli.
And the tots are a must no matter what you get. The best sauces are the Korean BBQ, Bertman Original Ballpark mustard, and Thai chili and garlic sauce.
2. Barrio
Multiple locations
This is a popular Cleveland staple – and for good reason! Barrio is similar to Happy Dog in that you fill out a form with everything you want and then chow down – except at Barrio it’s all about the made-to-order tacos!
You can either select one of their special tacos or make your own creation, but there are vegan options either way.
My favorite is the flour tortilla topped with Thai chili tofu, lettuce, pico de gallo, salsa verde, and Barrio secret sauce!
3. Johnny Mango
3120 Bridge Ave., Cleveland (Ohio City)
I love Johnny Mango. This place is a really reasonably priced vegan-friendly restaurant in Cleveland.
Aside from their tasty fresh juices made to order, you can get a variety of great food including vegan or vegetarian Pad Thai and Vegan Nachos with a scrumptious vegan cheese sauce.
Plus, each month they have a special that always has a vegan option. In October, you’ve got the best Vegan Chili or September is Vegan Month with offerings like Not So Crabby Cakes and Tempeh Lettuce Wraps.
But the best month is December all thanks to Laska Soup Month. This popular Southeast Asian soup is available the whole month, and they make a vegan version with curried veggie broth, coconut milk, and green curry topped with Asian cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts, and rice noodles. Delicious.
4. Cleveland Vegan
17112 Detroit Ave., Cleveland (Lakewood)
The best vegetarian restaurant in Lakewood, this place has been serving vegan food since before it was cool. It started in 2012 as a catering company and is now a huge restaurant that is gaining popularity amongst foodies in Cleveland.
And yes, everything is vegan!
From the Bahn Mi Sandwich with crispy tofu to the Gyro made with seitan and a vegan tzatziki sauce, you’ll definitely find something filling and delicious without the cholesterol.
And make sure to save room for dessert! If you are looking for a vegan bakery in Cleveland, Cleveland Vegan also has a full-service bakery with cupcakes, cookies, pies, and various treats made from scratch. They even do wedding cakes!
Also, if you’re in the mood for pizza, be sure to check out their Pizza Nights with vegan ooey-gooey cheesy pizzas.
5. Masthead
1261 Superior Ave., Cleveland (Downtown)
While we’re on the topic of pizza, Masthead is the place to go. Whether you want a tasty beer or the best vegan pizza in Cleveland, you’ll find it in this downtown spot.
They have the ever-popular Margherita pizza with fresh mozzarella and basil for vegetarians, or the Veggie Pizza topped with mushrooms, veggies, onions, and cheese.
But for the vegans in search of the perfect pie, they also have a couple of vegan pizzas. The classic Vegan Pizza is topped with Italian tofu crumble, mushrooms, peppers, and basil. They also have the Pomodoro Pesto Pizza topped with sundried tomato pesto, butternut squash, roasted onion, sautéed kale, and Italian tofu crumble!
No need to compromise your love of pizza and beer in Cleveland!
6. Superior Pho
3030 Superior Ave., #105, Cleveland (Asiatown)
If you didn’t know this place existed you’d never find it. Located in Asiatown on the Eastside of Cleveland, it is on the backside of a mini shopping area and is not to be confused with the other pho place next door. Just park in the back, enter from the parking lot, and you should find it.
You can certainly get the original Vietnamese classics like Beef Pho or Bahn Mi, but they serve the best Tamarind Noodle Soup filled with tofu, tomatoes, and rice noodles that dreams are made of.
Be sure to also snag some Tofu Summer Rolls while you’re there!
7. Balance Pan-Asian Grille
515 Euclid Ave., Cleveland (Downtown)
If you’re craving noodles, this is a fantastic spot! You can build your own bowl and pick up some delicious snacks that are both vegan and vegetarian in Cleveland.
I’m a big fan of the Thai Guy Bowl with Thai peanut sauce, carrots, peapods, hot peppers, sprouts, cilantro, and peanuts over noodles. They also have tasty Citrus Brussels as an appetizer.
8. Juke Box
1404 W 29th St., Cleveland (Ohio City)
We’re back in Ohio City and in one of my favorite haunts thanks to its delightful food, great brews, and charming jukebox just waiting for your song request.
If there is one local vegetarian-friendly restaurant in Cleveland to visit, this is definitely the place to go to enjoy one of Cleveland’s most famous dishes without the meat.
This is because Juke Box offers vegan and vegetarian pierogies! Aside from being my favorite pierogi place in Cleveland with those crispy, pan seared pillows from Heaven, they make fantastic vegan versions and vegan dipping sauces to enjoy them with!
I love the Buffalo Chickpea and Sweet Potato Black Bean pierogies served with vegan Sriracha sour cream or vegan ranch.
For the vegetarians, they also have a wonderful potato and cheese pierogi with onion.
And if you don’t want pierogi, they have a great Tofu Gyro with pickled red onion, sliced cucumbers, greens, and tzatziki served in a spiced pita.
9. Beet Jar
1432 W 29th St., Cleveland (Ohio City)
If you need a mid-day pick-me-up in Ohio City, this place serves organic juices, kombucha, tasty salads, and the best vegan sandwich: The Bravacado.
This sandwich is so stacked you’ll never notice that there isn’t even meat on it. With avocado, red onion, greens, smoked coconut flakes, and cashew mayo stuffed inside of two slices of crispy and chewy bread, it is a popular sandwich for locals and it’s easy to see why.
10. Corner 11 Bowl and Wrap
2391 W 11th St., Cleveland (Tremont)
Poke is becoming popular across the country, and Cleveland is no exception. This little shop in Tremont is serving fresh make-your-own poke, and it caters to vegans and vegetarians.
I usually get a bowl with either greens or midnight rice and top it with fried tofu, avocado, and my favorite veggies with a side of sweet shoyu sauce. If you’re in the mood for soup instead, they’ve got a great Vegan Noodle Soup with soba noodles, fried tofu, and veggie broth.
11. Maha’s Falafel
2700 Carroll Ave., Cleveland (Ohio City)
This Cleveland staple was started in the famous West Side Market in 1986. Family-owned and operated, Cleveland Magazine named this place “Best Falafel Sandwich in Cleveland.”
Sadly, they no longer operate at West Side Market – but they are still in Ohio City inside of Dave’s Market at the back of the store!
And you’ll definitely want to get their Falafel Sandwich. They fill up these pita wraps with plenty of falafel, lettuce, tomato, and tahini. For an added kick, I love adding hummus to it, too.
Whenever I want a quick and tasty meal, I’ll pop over to Dave’s and grab this delicious treat.
12. Cloak & Dagger
2399 W 11th St, Cleveland (Tremont)
Cloak & Dagger opened in 2020 to make amazing craft cocktails. But did you know that they also serve vegan food?
Yes, their whole food menu is vegan! From their vegan ramen to their own vegan homemade “cheese” board, this place makes some killer bar food- you honestly wouldn’t know it was vegan!
Plus, they have seasonal drinks and food, meaning you can try new dishes and cocktails all year long!
13. Tartine Bistro
19110 Old Detroit Rd, Rocky River
Tartine Bistro is a lovely little French restaurant in Rocky River serving classic French fare. While they offer traditional French dishes like Roasted Chicken and Croque Monsieur, they have an entirely vegan menu too!
The vegan French Onion Soup is divine, as is the Vegan Cassoulet and Wild Mushroom Pizza!
If you’re searching for a restaurant with options for both meat-eaters and vegans alike, this is a great spot.
14. Boaz Fresh Lebanese
Multiple Locations
This Lebanese quick-service restaurant is located in both Ohio City and University Heights. With countless options to build-your-own bowl or to order a vegan rolled pita or entree, you certainly won’t run out of vegan-friendly options!
Also, definitely get the lentil soup topped with crunchy pita!
15. The Vegan Club
13228 Shaker Square, Cleveland
The Vegan Club serves super delicious comfort food that’ll make you forget you’re eating vegan.
The Vegan Hot Chicken Sandwich made from oyster mushrooms is amazing, as is the Vegan “Crab” Burger. You also need to get the vegan Chorizo Hush Puppies!
Everything here is very delicious and comforting.
16. Aladdin’s Baking Company
1301 Carnegie Ave, Cleveland (Downtown)
This Mediterranean spot in downtown Cleveland makes the best pita. Plus, they offer plenty of veggie options from their stuffed spinach pies to their various pita sandwiches.
The options here are endless, and they also have a little grocery store to pick up other Mediterranean snacks!
And there you have it! From pizza to noodles, these are some fantastic options for Cleveland vegan and vegetarian restaurants.
READ NEXT: Cleveland Breweries: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Beers and Brews in Cleveland
Which vegan or vegetarian restaurant in Cleveland do you love?
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Kat is a Cleveland transplant and has lived here for over 5 years. She loves to eat, drink, and explore all across the city, and has made it her personal mission to find the best breweries and pizza in Northeast Ohio. She also runs a couples travel blog and podcast called World Wide Honeymoon.
Hi, for your vegan restaurants please add Tommy’s on Coventry…
Here is their website: https://tommyscoventry.com/
You forgot the BEST in town. Tommy’s on Coventry
YES!!!! Easily the best food. Plus, the food isn’t drowning in oil and fat like much of the food listed in this blog. Tommy’s is the best.