More than 30 places with vegan options in Birmingham, including Big Spoon Creamery

Are you a vegan, vegetarian, or someone who is following a plant-based diet? If so, it can be hard to find restaurants that are accommodating to your diet. Luckily, we’ve done some research and are here to provide you with a helpful list of restaurants in town that offer vegan and vegetarian options. 

What Is A Vegan Diet?

For those who don’t know, a vegan diet consists of absolutely no animal products. This means no meat, dairy, fish, eggs or, in some cases, honey. This extends to all oils and fats that food is cooked in, so it can be hard to find a restaurant that has taken the time to be aware of all of these factors. 

Why vegan?

People choose to follow a vegan diet for many reasons. Whether for ethical, health, or environmental reasons, increasingly more and more people are making the switch to a vegan or plant-based diet. 

Eating at Restaurants

Sure, it may be easier to make food at home. But then you’d miss out on all the fun that comes with eating at a restaurant: spending time with friends, trying new things and (most importantly) not having to clean up your kitchen! 

Although there are few restaurants in town that cater strictly to a vegan diet, there are many with vegan and fully plant-based options. 

Lighter Fare

For a tried-and-true option, you can’t go wrong at a place like Farm Bowl + Juice Co., City Bowls or Kale Me Crazy. Farm Bowl offers acai or oat bowls filled with wholesome toppings like fruits and peanut butter. Kale Me Crazy has a broader menu, serving not only smoothies and juices, but a variety of wraps and salads as well. Sprout and Pour’s new location in Founder’s Station has an expanded menu including superfood snacks and smoothies. Many of the items on these restaurants’ menus are already vegan friendly, and others are easy to make vegan. 

Dinnertime, with Vegan Options

For dinner, you may want something more substantial. Asian or Indian restaurants are often more accommodating to vegan diets, as tofu is more popular in the food cultures. However, a lot of great Mexican restaurants in town will also have veggie tacos or burrito options! The following list includes restaurants that have at least one or two vegan options. 

• Cantina Tortilla Grill
• Rojo
• New China
• Pho pho
• Ikko
• Shu shop
• Blaze Pizza
• Avondale Common House
• Rougaroux
• Red Sea
• Urban Standard
• Whistling Table
• Pizitz
• Delta Blues Hot Tamales
• Brat Brot
• El Barrio
• Mr. Chen’s
• Red Pearl
• Melt
• Mellow Mushroom (ask for vegan cheese and no butter on your crust)
• The Woolworth
• EastWest
• Tropicaleo
• Taj India
• Slice Pizza 
• Lucky Cat Rolled Ice Cream
• Big Spoon Creamery

Golden Temple

Last but not least, we couldn’t forget about Golden Temple. As Golden Temple is the only all-vegetarian grocery store and cafe in Birmingham, they are a great option for those on a vegan diet. The grocery store has many options, but the cafe is the real star. Every item on the menu is vegetarian, and can be made vegan or gluten-free! Learn more about Golden Temple here. 

Resources:

If you are vegan in Birmingham, it’s easy to feel lonely in our BBQ-loving, hot-chicken obsessed town. However, the vegan population here is bigger than you’d think! Take a quick scan through the “Birmingham Vegans” reddit page or join “Birmingham Vegans” on MeetUp. You’ll meet like-minded people and learn about new restaurants in town. Downloading an app like Happy Cow can also be helpful! This app helps you find vegetarian or vegan restaurants nearby. 

What is your favorite place to get a satisfying vegan meal in Birmingham? Let me know! Email me at lauren@bhamnow.com.