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Vegan-Friendly Salt Lake City

Where to satisfy any vegan cravings.

Written By Erin Moore

Red Iguana | Erin Moore

In 2019, Salt Lake City ranked tenth best city for vegans in the country, trumping more culinary-famous cities like New York City. But that was 2019. Since then, the Wasatch Front has become even more well-stocked with veggie cuisine, from completely vegan restaurants to omni restaurants who have gotten on board with their own delicious offerings. That means whether you’re craving tacos or ramen, looking for wings and a game or you wake up craving brunch, there’s something for every vegan to enjoy in Salt Lake City. Read below for a quick tour of the most reliably delicious spots to get vegan-anything.

Sandwiches & Bar Eats

Grid City Beer Works
333 W 2100 S

Vegans tired of scanning the menu for “v” will be delighted at this vegan-by-default brewpub where a specialized beer menu is complemented by hearty sandwiches, burgers and wings for omnis and veg heads alike. Here, staples like seitan, tofu, jackfruit and sometimes even artichokes can be smoked, chicken-fried, brined or richly sauced, depending on the dish. Look to their oft-changing specials menu for proof.

Proper Burger Company
865 S Main Street

Veggie burger enthusiasts will be delighted by Proper Burger, where all burgers can feasibly be made vegan with a crispy-fried quinoa patty. While dedicated vegan options like the Bollywood Burger and Chili Cheese Burger are delicious, other veganize-able options like the zucchini pickle-laden Proper Style will have you coming back again and again. While you wait, sample a fresh-tapped brew at Proper Brewing next door.

HandleBar
751 N 300 W

Located in Salt Lake City's Marmalade neighborhood, northwest of the Utah State Capitol, HandleBar boasts both an omni menu (for folks who eat meat and dairy) and a fully vegan menu. For plant-based eats, expect wings, nachos and quesadillas, shareables likes roasted cauliflower and Beyond meat tacos, plus burgers, wraps and sandwiches.

Buds
509 E 300 S

Buds in downtown Salt Lake City has been specializing in scratch-made vegan sandwiches since 2012. Menu highlights include the Grilled Pesto Sub with plant-based chicken, an Italian Cold Cut stacked with veggie meats and a flavorful Peppered Veggie Cheesesteak. Buds is a small shop, with only outdoor seating. So it's a great spot if you're looking to grab a sandwich on-the-go.

Ice Häus
7 E 4800 S (Murray, UT)

There is perhaps nothing more charming than a suburban dive-meets-German beer hall, but Ice Häus in Murray (just south of Salt Lake City) takes it a step further by offering a full menu of classic German pub eats, omni and vegan-friendly alike. Rare (vegan) treats include a spaetzle skillet, Kein Fleisch Burger, Kuken Sandwich, Schnitzel Dinner and of course brats (of the Beyond variety).

Vegan smoked corned beef and cabbage at Ice Häus.

Photo: Ice Haus

Black bean and sweet potato veggie burger at Proper Burger Company. They also offer a housemade vegan patty made from a special blend of high-protein grains and seeds.

Photo: Proper Burger Company

For Asian and Indian Fare

Cafe Shambala
382 E 4th Avenue

Hidden away in the Avenues, Cafe Shambala offers up mostly vegetarian Himalayan cuisine. Whether you’re eating at their affordable lunch buffet or tucked in for a date night, the star of the show is their signature Vegetarian Plate — it's heaped with spicy potatoes, fried rice and hot, crispy momos to drench in a ginger sauce so delicious you’ll dream of it long after.

All Chay
1264 W 500 N

Another neighborhood gem, All Chay is the only all-vegan Vietnamese joint besides their sister restaurant Vegan Bowl in West Jordan. Savory vegan pho swims with soy beef, soy ham and tofu chunks, while bahn mi, noodle salads and rice dishes are piled with proteins like lemongrass tofu, BBQ soy curls or the Ocean Love’s fried golden vegan shrimp.

Central by Saffron Valley
454 E 300 S

While all Indian restaurants in SLC offer traditionally vegetarian and vegan options, Saffron Valley gets points for offering vegan Malai Kofta as one of their regular specials. Malai Kofta usually consists of potato balls with or without paneer in a cream-based sauce — but this one is vegan, the fried tater balls complete with veggies and bathed in an aromatic coconut and tomato sauce. (Read: Meet the Women Leading Utah's Food and Beverage Renaissance)

Koyote
473 E 300 S

Located in the Fairpark neighborhood northwest of downtown, Koyote serves a wide selection of traditional Japanese dishes in a mid-century modern inspired space. Their vegan ramen is Chinese-style, featuring a creamy sesame stock and wavy vegan Sapporo style noodles. Other vegan dishes include plant-based gyoza and whipped tofu.

Phnom penh noodle soup at All Chay.

Photo: All Chay

For Getting Your Brunch On

Piper Down Pub
1492 S State Street

If catching a game while you brunch is more your style, head to Piper Down’s warm, old world-style pub, where the bloodies can be vegan, and so can every breakfast dish you desire. An extensive vegan menu contains classic morning grub like breakfast burritos, french toast, huevos rancheros, a hash of tofu scramble, breakfast potatoes and all the fixings, plus a vegan Irish Breakfast.

Blue Gene's
239 S 500 E

This little mid-century modern-inspired spot has the charm of a diner mixed with the vintage glam of a highball bar — which is what it is at night. At brunch time though, they serve all the breakfast classics, with vegan options including a veggie rice bowl, vegan hash and vegan apple fritters.

Old Cuss Cafe
325 W Pierpont Ave

With its diner-like atmosphere, Old Cuss offers an expanded breakfast and lunch menu featuring options that are all served vegetarian or vegan. Guests rave about the breakfast biscuit, breakfast burrito and innovative selection of specialty lattes.

Vertical Diner
234 W 900 S

At Vertical Diner, breakfast is served all day. Guests can enjoy Tofu Benedict and Tofu Rancheros alongside classic pancakes and Carrot Butter French Toast. Regularly voted one of the top vegan spots in town, Vertical has been a local favorite since 1998.

Vegan brunch plate at Piper Down.

Photo: Piper Down

For Latin American Flavors

Red Iguana
736 W North Temple Street, 866 W South Temple Street

While most wouldn’t consider Mexican food as we know it to be incredibly vegan friendly, it can be, and it is at Red Iguana. All of the delectable moles at SLC’s favorite Mexican restaurant are vegan, can be served with vegetables instead of meat and sans dairy garnish upon request. Other vegan-izable favorites include the chimichangas and mole negro-drenched enmoladas. (Read: The Best Restaurants In Salt Lake City)

Mi Ranchito Grill
3600 S State Street

This south State Street spot is unique in that they offer a full vegan menu of traditional favorites like pozole made with soy curls, and various burritos, enchiladas and tacos that can be filled with mushrooms, beans, soyrizo (vegan chorizo), seitan or vegan beef and chicken. Mark your calendars, too, for their very special Friday night vegan buffet.

Fácil Taqueria
4429 S 2950 E (Holladay, UT)

While the menu is small at Fácil in Holladay, the flavors are not. Go for the cauliflower and avocado tacos (which come in burrito form, too), or crispy local mushroom and leek tacos with tangy fermented cabbage, complete with house hot sauce — the best you’ll ever try. Their new brunch menu is in the works, and so far includes vegan-izable tortas on local focaccia.

Arempas
350 S State Street

SLC late night food options are pretty limited, especially for veg heads who can’t always indulge in cheap pizza. That’s why Arempas — which is open until 3 a.m. on weekends — is so invaluable. Some of the veggie-friendly offerings at this Venezualen spot include arepas bursting with avocado, black beans and plantains, empanadas and appetizing plates like the Donald Watson. (Read: You Are What You Eat: Salt Lake’s Perfected Latino Flavors)

Mi Ranchito Grill offers a full vegan menu of traditional favorites like pozole made with soy curls, and various burritos, enchiladas and tacos.

For Finer Dining

Takashi
18 W Market Street

Not only is Takashi often voted Utah’s best sushi restaurant, but it also offers some of the most inventive sushi and Japanese specialities you can get — no cheap avocado rolls here. Go for the Shinjo roll, which features tangy pickled burdock and earthy shiso, or their succulent stir fry of vegetables, fried tofu and mushrooms, with an optional side of barbecued ice.

Zest Kitchen & Bar
275 S 200 W

This 21+ restaurant offers refuge from menus that require constant modification, offering exclusively vegan, raw and gluten-free dishes, many of which can also be made nut-free or oil-free and feature local ingredients. Dishes pull from global traditions, like the brussel sprouts in masala almond sauce, or the Irish stew. Try a pizza to get a taste of their fantastic in-house cashew cheese.

Vegan eggplant parmesan at Zest Kitchen & Bar.

Photo: Zest Kitchen & Bar

Buddha roll and inari sushi at Takashi.

Photo: Takashi

Vegan Friendly Salt Lake City

About the Author – Erin Moore

The rare rural Utahn who’s found a home in the big city, Erin Moore is a Salt Lake City-based writer and editor best known for local music, arts and culture coverage, first as a contributor and senior staff writer at SLUG Magazine and later as the music editor at Salt Lake City Weekly. In these and other publications outside Utah, she has also written about film for festivals such as Sundance, local art reviews and profiles on many of Utah’s most interesting cultural players. Besides her love of live music, Moore enjoys sipping freshly brewed beers or craft cocktails on a sunny patio, frequenting the local farmer’s markets, eating exciting vegetarian food and exploring Utah’s diverse wilderness. Despite growing up here, she’s found that there’s always something new to discover in Utah, and that’s what she likes to write about. Examples of her freelance work can be found at errrands.tumblr.com.