Our favorite animal-friendly food and fun, hand-selected by the Cocoally team for your enjoyment!
Online Resources:
VEGAN NEW ORLEANS FACEBOOK PAGE — Nearly 4,000 vegan BFFs are ready to offer insider tips & suggestions!
HUMANE SOCIETY OF LOUISIANA — Compassionate, vegan-focused events, cruelty investigation, education, and rescue in NOLA.
HAPPY COW — Reviews of vegan restaurants, a guide to healthy vegetarian food, natural food stores, vegan-friendly options nearby, recipes, and travel.
100% Vegan Eats:
KINDRED — This 100% vegan full-service restaurant is nestled in a quaint neighborhood on Maple St and is a MUST TRY! At Kindred, they specialize in homestyle comfort food, with a huge menu that includes fried chicken made from house-made seitan, sandwiches, po'boys, salads, sides, and an amazing assortment of frozen daiquiris and boozy delights. Located at 7537 Maple St., open 11am-9pm Tues-Wed & Sun, 11am-10pm Thur-Sat (closed Monday).
I-TAL GARDEN — The name comes from the root word "vi-tal" and this 100% plant-based restaurant aims to 'nourish your garden within' to create satisfying dishes that incorporate carefully selected ingredients that heal. It's a vegan New Orleans take on southern soul food. Located at 810 N Claiborne Ave., now serving Brunch 10am-2pm! Open Fri-Sun 10am-7pm (closed Mon-Thur).
SWEET SOUL FOOD — Located in the Tremè neighborhood, this restaurant offers vegan soul food that is nutrient-rich and satisfying. Along with fresh juices, smoothies, and vegan ice cream, diners get to experience a guilt-free delicious southern meal. M-Sat 11am-5pm (closed Sun). 1025 N. Broad St.
BREADS ON OAK — For vegans who love cakes, tarts, cookies, croissants, sandwiches, and more, this French-style bakery is a must! Featuring myriad delectable items daily, in addition to wonderfully fresh savory sandwiches like chickpea salad with arugula and dressed tempe with veggies and Chao-brand cheese — all on house-made breads. Indoor & outdoor seating. Open 7:30am-3pm W-Sun. 8640 Oak St. Also try out their new location offering the same amazing treats in the busy CBD. Open 8:30am-2pm W-Sun (closed Mon-Tue).
Coffee Houses & Bakeries:
HIVOLT— A hip coffee shop with well-crafted vegan menu items, including a tempe, lettuce, & tomato baguette and a vegan crunch salad with tofu-ranch dressing. Also carries baked items such as vegan donuts & muffins from local bakers. M-F 7am - 7pm; Sat 8am - 7pm; Sun 8am - 5pm. 1829 Sophie Wright Pl.
MOJO COFFEE HOUSE — Mojo has three locations at 1500 Magazine St., 4700 Freret St., and 3983 Tchoupitoulas St. and a friendly atmosphere with lots of locals. Mojo Coffee House is known for being a community meeting spot and offering a cup of coffee to suit anyone’s needs. Locations are open M-F 6am - 11pm and Saturday - Sunday 7am - 11pm.
LAMARA COFFEE & KITCHEN — Lamara's motto is, "BE HEALTHY. EAT MORE PLANTS" and we like that! Lamara is plant-based, high vibrational, and all organic. Designed to be a place for high-quality nutrient-rich food for the local community and industry workers in the area. They have indoor and outdoor seating, both clean, spacious, and cozy for a breakfast, lunch, or coffee break. Located at 1300 N Broad St., open Mon-Fri 8am-3pm, weekends 9am-3pm, kitchen closes daily at 2:45pm.
Restaurants with Labeled Vegan Items/Menus:
CARMO — Nestled among the galleries of NOLA's upscale arts district, Carmo is one of the best tropical cafes around, with house-smoked vegan "meats" and ingredients ranging from plantains to quinoa. Wonderful salads, soups, & sandwiches. Also features unique fruit juices, cocktails, beers, & wines. M 11am - 3pm; Tu-Sat 11am - 10pm; Bar open Th-Sat until 11pm. 527 Julia St.
LILLY'S CAFE — Lilly's Café is a quaint, reasonably priced, and amazing restaurant that serves a variety of traditional Vietnamese dishes, including pho, spring rolls, and banh mi (customers claim the peanut dipping sauce is addictive). The menu is vegan and vegetarian-friendly and also offers gluten-free alternatives to meet all dietary requests. The vegan crispy egg rolls are made with a taro root mixture and are truly to die for! Lilly is often there herself, bustling around happily ensuring that every diner is having a wonderful experience. Located in the Lower Garden District at 1813 Magazine St., open 11am-8pm Mon-Sat, closed Sunday.
MEALS FROM THE HEART — This breakfast/lunch counter in the French Market has several vegan items, ranging from sweet to savory. A vegan power smoothie is a great grab-and-go on hot days, but indulge in the vegan blueberry pancakes (with butter, maple syrup, & pecans), and you won't regret it! Also serves vegan apple sausage patties and house-made black bean patty poboys.
SUKHO THAI — White table cloths and ambient lighting set the stage for a full page of flavorful vegan Thai dishes, including vegan Pad Thai, Napa Tofu (tofu in peanut sauce), Thai fried rice, and papaya salad. Features friendly and knowledgeable staff, a relaxed bar, and a billiards table in the back. Tu-F 11:30am - 2:30pm, 5pm - 10pm; Sat-Sun 11:30am - 10pm (closed Monday). 4519 Magazine St.
TAL'S HUMMUS — Tal Sharon, the owner of this spot on Magazine Street, is an Israeli restauranteur who works hard to ensure that his menu is "the exact menu that you have in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem". This includes not only traditional dishes, but modern Israeli dishes catering to today's forward-thinking foodies. The fresh-made pita, falafel, and hummus are all delicious and vegan, but the real treat is the vegan chicken schwarma, a spicy mock-meat dish served as a plate or pita sandwich. Desserts usually include a vegan option, such as Tal's vegan malabi (rose-infused "milk" pudding). BYOB — so bring your favorite
BENNACHIN — Bennachin offers a taste of Africa with cuisine roots from Gambia and Cameron and has been in business since 1992 in the Big Easy. Located in the heart of the French Quarter at 1212 Royal St., Bennachin has a friendly local vibe with tasty food and lots of amazingly flavorful vegan options. The Kone Ni Makondo is a must-try as are the fried plantains! Sun-Thurs 10am-9pm and Fri-Sat 11am-10pm.
DIAN XIN — A taste of traditional Chinese located in the heart of the French Quarter. Dian Xin on Decatur offers a vast array of vegan Chinese delights including vegan mango chicken, vegan kung pao chicken, vegan sesame chicken, and vegetable dumplings and cucumber salad that are sure to delight! Located at 1218 Decatur St. near other fun destinations like the historic French Market and the River Walk. Tue-Sun 11am-9pm, closed Monday.
G'S PIZZA — G's Pizza has 2 main locations, G's Pizza CBD located at 833 Howard Ave., and G's Pizza Mid-City located at 4840 Bienville St. They offer large dining areas at both locations plus easy delivery and take-out options. They boast an entirely separate vegan menu with everything from vegan jalapeno cheezy bread to vegan pasta and sandwiches. Definitely one of the best and most vegan-friendly places in all of NOLA! Open Fri-Sat 11am-Midnight, Sun-Thurs 11am-11pm.
TRILLY CHEESESTEAKS — Bringing authentic Philly cheesesteaks to NOLA. This local spot offers 5 uniquely amazing, vegan, and completely sinful cheesesteaks including Buffalo, BBQ, and Far East. They use homemade steak seitan seasoned to perfection and their homemade cheeses and cheese sauces are to die for! All their cheesesteaks come on Amoroso’s roll and are sure to delight! Do not skip the vegan poutine! Located at 3735 Ulloa St. open Tue-Thu 11am-8pm, Fri-Sun 11am-10pm (closed Mon).
BEARCAT CAFE — Full-service restaurant offering breakfast and lunch. Bearcat has an eclectic menu with lots of vegan options featuring black bean sausage and insanely good crispy potatoes. Bearcat carries various micro-sourced coffees and teas. The menu is divided into "Good Cat" (healthy fare) and "Bad Cat" (not-as-healthy fare) options. All menu items' ingredients and allergen information are clearly marked, making ordering a breeze! Due to their major popularity, Bearcat has two locations; one in the Freret St. neighborhood 2521 Jena St., open Tue-Sun 8am-3pm (closed Mon), and their newest location in the CBD 845 Carondelet St., open Tues-Wed 8am-2pm, Fri-Sun 8am-3pm (closed Mon & Thur).
NIRVANA — Nirvana has been serving up authentic Indian cuisine in the Greater New Orleans area since 1999. Owned and operated by the talented Keswani family, Nirvana boasts an expansive menu with tons of amazing vegan options and the staff are always more than helpful with creating and ordering the perfect vegan masterpiece of a meal. Great for parties and big groups, dates, or for solo dining, call ahead to make reservations for big groups. The Alu Gobi, Bhindi, and Cholle are must-tries and the Rice and Poori are vegan for a tasty bread accompaniment. Located at 4308 Magazine St. in the heart of the Garden District, open Tues-Sun 11:30am-2:30pm for lunch, 5:30pm-10:30pm for dinner, closed Monday.
SUIS GENERIS — This place is truly amazing! Their menu changes WEEKLY based on the fresh local and exotic imported ingredients, each week featuring at least one vegan option using ingredients from their own farm! Suis Generis is a hip spot located in the eclectic Bywater neighborhood 3219 Burgundy St. open for dinner Fri-Sat 6pm-11pm & Sun 6pm-10pm, featuring Taco Nights on Thursday 6pm-10pm, and Brunch Sat-Sun 10am-2pm (closed Mon-Wed).
THE DAILY BEET — The goal at the Daily Beet is to energize your body, fuel your mind, and enrich your daily life! They partner with local farms to provide sustainable nutrition to promote a vibrant community and our belief that healthier bodies mean a healthier planet. Two locations and tons of fresh vegan options will keep you coming back. Located at 3300 Magazine St. open 8am-8pm Daily, and at 1000 Girod St. open 8am-4pm Mon-Fri (closed Sat-Sun).
Nightlife & Late-Night:
13 MONAGHAN — A hole-in-the-wall bar with lots of local charm set in the middle of Frenchmen St, NOLA's favorite destination for live music, outdoor art markets, & late-night stumbles with a go-cup. Vegan items include a BBQ tofu po'boy with vegan mayo and tater tots smothers in jalapeños and vegan chili. M-Sun 11am - 4am. 517 Frenchmen St.
Z'OTZ — Whether you're up early or late at night, Z'otz is ready with a vegan latte and a rotating but reliable list of vegan edibles. Books, board games, and local art are all here, in addition to the early birds and night owls of NOLA. M-Sun 7am - 1am. 8210 Oak St.
BALCONY BAR — Balcony Bar is located at 3201 Magazine St. and is open Mon-Thurs 4pm-2pm, Fri-Sat 12pm-3am, and Sun 12pm-2am. As late-night bars go, Balcony Bar is one of the BEST! With its large upstairs Balcony and plenty of indoor seating as well, Balcony Bar offers a local, down-to-earth vibe, where lots of local and non-local friends gather for fun and food. Their kitchen is known for vegan bar food including a vegan "Possible Burger" and brussels sprouts and fries.
Grocery & Prepared/To-Go Dishes:
NEW ORLEANS FOOD COOP — Located inside the New Orleans Healing Center, this mecca of natural, organic food and sundries has a great selection and sometimes hot buffet dishes. The to-go fridge case features hearty vegan sandwiches, salads, and desserts. Vegans are likely to find their favorite packaged brands as well, including mock meats, ice creams, and snack foods. M-Sun 7am - 10pm. 2372 St Claude Ave.
THE GREEN FORK —Elaborate smoothies and juices, in addition to refrigerator cases full of picnic-ready vegan salads, wraps, and meals. They often have decadent vegan sweets as well, including blueberry crumble bars and chocolate chip muffins. M-Th 8am - 6pm; F-Sat 8am - 2pm (closed Sunday). 1400 Prytania St.
WHOLE FOODS UPTOWN — Both NOLA Whole Foods locations are steady sources of vegan groceries and carry most nationally available vegan brands. The in-house vegan desserts and hot lunch/dinner buffet options are not as extensive as some cities' Whole Foods, but it's a pretty safe bet there will be some tasty grab-and-go or dine-in options. M-Sun 8am - 9pm. 5600 Magazine St.
WHOLE FOODS MIDCITY — Salad bar, large produce & bulk foods section, lots of vegan groceries, and usually a reliable number of vegan hot buffet dishes and vegan pizza. M-Sun 8am - 8pm. 300 N Broad St.
