The Best Miami Restaurants for Vegans and Vegetarians

From casual (veggie) burger joints to omakase.

The plant-based eating train roared its way into Miami and it’s showing no sign of stopping. With the nearly 365-day ability to be seen in a bathing suit Miami knows the importance of clean eating. But we also love to indulge ourselves, so the fact that vegan dishes have infiltrated their way into even the most Miami-comfort foods (hello, Cuban food) and everything from Chinese take-out to fine dining, we’re okay with hopping on that train. Whether you’re looking for laid-back pizza or guilt-free desserts, one of these top South Florida restaurants for vegetarian and vegan food has you good and covered.

Located in a stripmall, just a few doors down from the classic Cuban joint Latin American Restaurant you’ll find another Cuban spot called Vegan Cuban Cuisine. Miami loves their ventanitas and this one is fully vegan, serving up creative takes on the classics including “beef” empanadas “buttered” Cuban toast, and croquetas using cashew cream and soy-based ham. There’s even a vegan version of flan that’s just as creamy as when abuela makes it.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

The Last Carrot

Coconut Grove

The Last Carrot has been on the vegan-friendly team since it opened in the 1970s. It’s a cozy little spot with mainly counter seating and a couple small tables. The menu is simple and to the point offering smoothies, salads, and stuffed-to-the-brim pita sandwiches. It’s perfect for that quick, need a bite post-workout or in the middle of a day full of errands. Keep it chill with a hummus and veggie pita or get a little weird with the veggie and peanut butter sandwich.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

The Vegan Marie

Little Haiti

This colorful Little Haiti spot boasts an “Eat 2 Live” mural and has a menu that changes regularly, but is filled with comfort food dishes that are so hearty and filling you’ll almost forget they are completely vegan. At The Vegan Marie you’ll find plates piled high with things like a vegan mac 'n cheese served with a seamoss and arugula salad or a platter filled with quinoa, sweet potato, banana, plantains, pikliz, garden salad, chickpeas, veggie balls, and sliced avocado. You’ll also find natural fruit juices and a housemade moonshine-based cocktail called Chiré Pantalèt made with passionfruit and ginger.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

After years of working in some of the biggest named restaurants in Miami, Alex Falco and his wife, Huimin Zhu, decided a vegan Asian-fusion spot in Coconut Grove was their calling. Serving completely meat-free dim sum, menu favs here include the cauliflower kimchi, mushroom bao buns, Cuban corn wontons, and the BBQ jackfruit lo mai gai. Can’t decide what to order? Opt for the omakase tasting with the option to select from a six or ten-course menu.

Available for Reservations

Caribbean-inspired vegan food is what you’ll find at the market-style restaurant in North Miami—think ackee and saltfish made vegan served with bean stew, rice, steamed veggies, and salad. There’s also a lengthy menu with vegan banh mi, Philly cheesesteaks, pizzas, smoothies, and cakes. For early risers looking for a filling breakfast, there are several breakfast options including a kale and tofu scramble and vegan pancakes in a variety of flavors. In the market section you’ll find a selection of raw desserts and holistic products for various ailments.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Planta Queen Coconut Grove
Planta Queen | Photo by Steven Lee

Planta Queen

Coconut Grove
$$$$

Indulging in the salty, spicy, and freshly fried joys of Chinese food should not be reserved for carnivores. And so the folks behind vegan smash hit Planta opened this Asian offshoot, where Potato Truffle Dumplings, General Tso’s Cauliflower, vegan sushi and ramen, and Hot Korean Noodles make a meal from here as gut-busting as any traditional joint. And because the chefs don’t have meat to lean on, Planta Queen's flavors may even be better than in their pork-laden counterparts.
How to book: Reserve via Resy or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Pura Vida Cafe
Photo courtesy of Pura Vida

Pura Vida

Multiple locations
$$$$

What started as a cute little South Beach spot for acai bowls has exploded into South Florida’s go-to for healthy lunches, spreading as far north as West Palm Beach. Each space is done up in Hamptons Beach House vibes with lots of wood, alluring floral smells, and soothing music. The food is spectacular, whether you’re opting for the spicy Jen’s Herb Salad with arugula, cilantro, and mint. Or the Vegan Lentil Bowl with adashah protein. The newest location just opened in Coral Gables with two more locations planned for South Miami and Coconut Grove.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Available for Delivery/Takeout
Carrot Express
Photo courtesy of Carrot Express

Carrot Express

Multiple locations
$$$$

Carrot Express might be the only business in South Florida opening more new stores than Walgreens, with 17 locations spread across South Florida (and one in NYC). But it’s understandable, given the range and quality of food, starting with an international collection of salads from Mexican to Mediterranean. Bowls and wraps are packed with fresh veggies and superfoods, and the Red Quinoa Burger—stacked with sun dried tomatoes, basil, and shiitake mushrooms—is a solid contender for the best plant-based offering in the city.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating.

Available for Delivery/Takeout

Love Life Cafe

Wynwood
$$$$

If you want to get your hands on the best plant-based burger in America, you’ll have to hit this Wynwood spot that’s been slinging them since long before Impossible Whoppers came on the scene. The 2016 Seed Wine and Food Festival-winner for best veggie burger is topped with guac, cheddar, marinated kale, and cilantro aioli. It heads up a spectacular burger lineup that also offers Curry Burgers and a Jackfruit BBQ Sandwich. Additionally, you’ll find pizza, burritos, and tacos gracing the menu at Love Life, so if you’ve got a hankering for not-so-light eats but wanna keep it vegan, you’ve arrived.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery via Toast.

Manna Life Food

Downtown
$$$$

The word “Manna” refers to food from heaven. At Downtown’s Manna Life Food, heaven is nature, and its food is the result of nutrient-dense, organic produce and ingredients, which together create a type of body-fuel that puts your all-time favorite junk run to shame. Expect Life Bowls, where you can literally “eat the rainbow” with everything from coconut brown rice to acai pickles, plus superfood Arepas stuffed with avocado, hemp hearts, and three-bean salad, and a bevy of raw treats like Protein Bliss Balls and ice cream strewn with banana and maca fudge. Let’s just say if you’re not vegan, you probably will be after this meal.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Full Bloom

Miami Beach
$$$$

Vegans might have mastered the art of trendy juice bars and fast-casual spots, but Full Bloom wants to show vegan- and vegetarian-conscious diners that plates without meat and cheese can be gourmet, too. The full-vegan menu offers dishes like Cashew Ricotta and Spinach Ravioli and Eggplant Steak Milanese. There’s a raw bar, too, but it’s not the kind you’re thinking—it takes uncooked ingredients like zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower and transforms them into creations like Carrot Nut Soup and Cauliflower Rice.
How to book: Reserve via Yelp or order take-out and delivery via GrubHub.

Bunnie Cakes

Doral
$$$$

Everyone has a sweet tooth, including vegans and vegetarians. And while a dairy-free diet can often make it difficult to satisfy those sugary cravings, at Bunnie Cakes, it’s easy. As Miami’s original vegan bakery, the shop offers a bevy of cupcakes and cakes in varieties like banana chocolate chip, cinnamon sugar, cookie dough, and red velvet. They make cinnamon rolls, cheeseballs, and cheesecake in a jar, too. If you thought going vegan would give you an excuse to say no to dessert, think again. But hey, we’re not complaining.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Plant Theory

Miami Beach
$$$$

Inside the buzzing Lincoln Eatery you’ll find Plant Theory. The name speaks for itself, as the restaurant uses 100% local and organic ingredients, with a focus on all things veggie for every dish. Besides traditional salads, sandwiches, wraps, and juices found in most vegan/vegetarian spots, Plant Theory offers a full-blown brunch menu too. Try a spinach or egg melt, topped with melted cheese and a side of coconut bacon; or opt for a fruity berry parfait, layered with fruit and granola.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Miami Juice

Sunny Isles
$$$$

The dual grocery store and café in North Miami is the perfect compromise for vegans and their meat- and dairy-loving compadres. The menu features dozens of sandwiches and salads alongside heartier plates like pizza, burgers, and mixed Middle Eastern-inspired mezze, many of which have a vegan supplement. Think gooey cheese pizza with soy cheese or a veggie patty burger. The restaurant is flexible, too: Dine outside on its patio, inside the market, or grab a quick bite to-go.
How to book: Stop by for counter service.

MyRoots Juicebar

Kendall
$$$$

What started as a small cupcake shop has blossomed into a complete organic café with health, sustainability, and cruelty-free practices at the forefront of its mission. Owner Angela Prada-Moed wanted to bring nutrition to her neighborhood, and by swapping sweets for vegan treats, she’s done just that. The menu features juices and boosters easily paired with Fajita and Quinoa Bowls, super oatmeal, acai bowls, and salads, which are nearly all vegan-friendly.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

The husband-and-wife team behind Lilikoi have brought the fresh, laid-back feel of their former home in Maui island to South Beach’s often-frenetic and crowded expanse. Though the entire restaurant isn't vegetarian, no place offers better vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free fare. The collections of pressed juices and smoothies are the sort of fresh, healthy treat one might expect from such a location, but the real surprises come when you order stunners like the vegan burger made with garbanzo beans and topped with caramelized onions, or the Falafel Wrap, fresh, spicy, and strong enough to go shoulder-to-shoulder with any sandwich in town.
How to book: Stop by for first come, first served seating or order take-out and delivery online.

Amber Love Bond is a contributor for Thrillist.