I’ve you’ve been around the Sarah L. Travels community for a while, then you know that I am a native Nashvillian (gasp!) and Music City is my one true love. You also know that I fervently believe some of the best vegan restaurants in the world are in Nashville. Although the city has undergone massive changes and I’ve changed along with it, it is still home, and always will be.
Being vegan in Nashville has always been easy with staple restaurants around, most of which are so good that non-veggies eat there regularly. So, today I want to share a few of my favorites, the 5 best vegan restaurants in Nashville (in my humble opinion). Let’s get down to business!
1 // the wild cow
The Wild Cow will always have first dibs on my vegan heart, and my best in Nashville list. I have been a faithful visitor of this restaurant for over 5 and a half years. Some of their menu items have changed over time, but you’re always guaranteed to find something delicious and innovative.
Right now, my faves are the buffalo caesar wrap and the french quarter dip. Also, you absolutely have to get their spinach and artichoke dip. The nachos are a great appetizer, as well!
2 // graze
I have two words for you: vegan brunch. And, out of all the vegan brunch I’ve had around the world, Graze’s is the best. I also love their dinner menu, if you’re in the mood for a more chic and sophisticated evening out.
This place is The Wild Cow’s sister restaurant, just around the corner and a staple on Eastland. If you’re visiting Nashville, you must go down this street and try a few things to eat, Graze included.
For brunch, my go-to is a breakfast bowl, complete with half of a biscuit, tofu scramble, vegan sausage, and tempeh facon, over a spinach salad with hollandaise and garnished with green onion. Yum!
If you’re headed there for dinner, try the tomato and basil soup if they have it, and get the brussels and mushroom sandwich or mac and chorizo. Double yum!
3 // sunflower café
This place is a stone’s throw from my beloved East Nashville, but I love it all the same. Technically, Sunflower is listed as a vegetarian restaurant (as is The Wild Cow), but its menu offerings are almost all vegan. The only exception is gluten-free bread, which has egg whites in it.
This place has a cafeteria-style counter service, where you walk in and tell staff what you would like from the food assembly line. I usually go for a pad thai bowl or barbecue bowl, both over sunflower brown rice. They also have sandwiches, burgers, cold salads, and vegetables. Try it out!
4 // the southern v
I recently tried this place for the first time, and wow. I am in love with their aesthetic, food, and concept. This place touts a veganized soul food menu. If you don’t already have this in your life, you needed it yesterday.
To all the early birds, get a biscuit, or two, or five from the breakfast menu. If you’re like me, then head on over for lunch and try the hot chicken plate. I was wholly impressed with the texture and flavors! Be sure to add ranch, because it adds to the overall sensation of the hot chicken. Also, their macaroni and cheese is bomb. Highly recommend!
5 // avo
I tried this place for the first time a few months ago, and absolutely loved it! Since then, I’ve been back and had an equally enjoyable experience. Avo offers raw menu items, which I’ve just begun to try incorporating into my own vegan diet, and also offer non-raw meals. These items are color-coded on their menu for clarity.
I tried their uber-famous kimchi spring rolls, which are a must-have. Technically, they’re a smaller plate or appetizer. However, I found myself very full after eating about half of the portion. The second time I went, I got their creamy carbonara pasta. That was a knockout! I highly recommend both dishes.
And, as a bonus, this place is right near Kokos vegan ice cream. Kokos isn’t on this list because, as of yet, I have not tried it. I plan to do so soon, and will insert my review when that happens!
honorable mentions: five daughters donuts
And now, for all the mouth-watering veg-friendly spots. Number 1: Five Daughters Donuts. The one I usually visit is in the same area on Eastland as Graze and The Wild Cow, so I pop in and grab a vegan donut while I pick up my dinner to-go.
Some of my favorite flavors are the strawberry, dark chocolate with coconut and almonds on top, cinnamon, anything pumpkin flavored, and the original purist. Be sure to check out their Instagram for monthly updates about their special flavors!
jeni’s
If you’re controlled by your sweet tooth like I am, then you probably already know about Jeni’s. This is an adorable ice cream shop with a line that’s usually 10+ people long. And it deserves every single bit of business it gets.
I’m not a big sorbet person, so I didn’t really start going here often until they got their dairy-free creamy flavors. I love Texas Sheet Cake, and peanut butter and strawberry jam. They also have dark chocolate truffle and coffee/cold brew flavors. Brave the line, and get some dairy-free deliciousness!
burger up
Last, but certainly not least, is Burger Up. I usually head over to the location on Woodland, where I get their veggie burger, the Troyathlon. It’s technically vegetarian as-is, because of the cheese. If you get that taken off, it’s vegan.
I’ve had some really, really good veggie burgers in my life. The Wild Cow’s black bean burger is also one of the best. Out of all the veg-friendly restaurants (not full-on vegetarian/vegan), I must say that Burger Up’s veggie burger is the best texture and flavor-wise. Its price is a little steep in my opinion, so I don’t go there too often. But, it is one of my favorite places for a great veggie burger as a treat!
Here are all the best places to eat vegan in Nashville! I love and regularly visit all of these places, and think anyone interested in trying vegan food while on a trip to Nash should try some of them. Enjoy, and let me know in the comments if you try other spots!
Are you planning your trip to Nashville? Then do yourself a favor and check out my posts about what to see in Nashville (that isn’t Broadway), my favorite coffee shops, and the low-down about our Cherry Blossom Festival!
*Cover photo by Austin Wills on Unsplash. Thanks, Austin!
Be sure to save this post for your future visits to Nashville!
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