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Is the vegan restaurant scene in America struggling? That’s the concern expressed in the latest data from vegetarian restaurant guide HappyCow, which notes that the United States “no longer leads the world in vegan-friendly cities — that honor goes to London and Berlin.”
However, while New York has been hit the hardest, going from 173 vegan restaurants in 2022 to 132 in 2026, and high veg-demand cities like Portland, OR and Los Angeles have also seen a drop in eateries still open, the Philly vegan and vegetarian restaurant scene has been holding its own in everything from award-winning fine-dining (see: Vedge and Pietramala) and weekday classics (e.g. Monster Vegan and the Nile Cafe) to global flavors (e.g. Casa Borinqueña, Unit Su Vedge and Say She Ate) and plant-friendly menus at places where meat is also available.
What is causing the drop in sustainability for vegan businesses? According to VegNews, “Overall, diners are eating less, thanks to GLP-1 drugs, drinking less, dining out less and ordering in more. And there’s the matter of what they’re choosing to eat.”
Vedge chef Rich Landau told the magazine that “the protein craze” – and not plant-based proteins like tempeh, tofu, lentils or other options – has been a factor.
“But it’s a business,” Landau told VegNews. “You’ve got to know what you’re doing. Never take your eye off the ball.” Or in his case, never take your eye off the plates. He watches what comes back to the kitchen after each meal to assess which of his dishes are selling and which aren’t. The charred delicata squash with hominy fritters may make the angels sing, but if not enough people order it, Landau takes it off the menu. “It’s about changing, adapting yourself, your business,” he says. “You grow and you learn.”
It helps that Philly has a history of being welcoming to plant-based diners. It was the home of the American Vegan Center from 2021 until August of this year. It hosted several vegan festivals, history tours, open mic and game nights and other events since (note: World Vegan Month is coming in November, so keep an eye on their calendar!). It was the brick-and-mortar welcoming center for the American Vegan Society (AVS) — the longest-running national vegan organization in the United States, founded in 1960 in Malaga, New Jersey.
Whether you’re veg-curious or fully onboard the vegan or vegetarian lifestyle or somewhere in between, Philly is fortunately a great place to be. We’ve compiled a list of some of the vegan-focused options around the city below.
The Nile Cafe (6008 Germantown Ave.) is the oldest and longest-running vegan restaurant in the city. The diverse menu offers a vegan take on classic soul food dishes with a Caribbean-American twist that includes jerk chick’n, Jamaican patties, chick’n & gravy, vegan cakes and more. The restaurant also places an emphasis on supporting local farmers markets.
LUHV Vegan Deli (& LUHV Vegan Bistro) – With a booth at Reading Terminal Market and a bistro at 1131 S. 19th St., LUHV was founded by Argentinian immigrants Silvia and Daniel Lucci and offers cold cuts and vegan sliced cheeses to go along with top-rated sandwiches, like their Reuben on rye and vegan tuna salad, which blends chickpeas and seaweed.
Known for their mushroom-based “chick’un” sandwiches and vegan cheesesteaks, Nourish (177 W. Girard Ave.) is a staple that brings diners from around the region to Northern Liberties for weekly fridge restocks and a cozy atmosphere.
Also in Northern Liberties in Joy Cafe (630 N. 2nd St.), run by Alice Leung, whose menu of comforting noodle soups, unique sandwiches and more in a small, but thoughtfully decorated space is intended to serve as a third space that spreads “free joy” with notes in takeout orders.
20th Street Pizza (108 S. 20th St.) serves meat, but they are perhaps most known for their delicious vegan pizzas with vegan sausage, mozzarella and cashew cheese.
The fast casual chain HipCityVeg closed two locations in the past year, including their Center City space on Broad Street, but still has their Rittenhouse spot at 127 S. 18th St., serving filling burgers, fries, shakes and more.
Tattooed Mom (530 South St.) is a Philly street art staple and relaxed hipster bar that takes its vegan options more seriously than many vegan-friendly menus do at mainstream spots. Think: vegan pickle fried chicken sandwich, vegan cheesesteaks, vegan potato and onion pierogi, vegan Nashville hot chicken and more.
Similarly, Monster Vegan (1229 Spruce St.) brings personality to its plant-based dishes, cocktails and mocktails — combining owners Ron Tadeo and Lauren Margaretta’s love of horror films and great vegan cuisine.
All-vegan diner The Tasty (1401 S. 12th St.) combines an old-school counter-space-only diner vibe with tofu scrambles, tofu egg and cheese, pancakes waffles, in-house baked donuts and more.
Other popular local staples include:
Whether you’re planning a date night, girls’ night out or fancy dinner for family, Landau’s James Beard-nominated Vedge (1221 Locust St.) was one of a wave of fine-dining establishments in and before 2011 to normalize and elevate vegan cuisine in the mainstream.
Then there is relative newcomer and Michelin-recognized Pietramala (614 N. 2nd St.) with its mouth-watering inventive seasonal menus that bring regulars back for more.
Frequent mentions on Philly message boards also always include Fitz on 4th (743 S. 4th St.) combining a go-to kosher menu with crowd-pleasing tapas, Bar Bombón’s (133 S. 18th St.) signature vegan fare with a Latin flare, Charlie Was A Sinner (131 S. 13th St.) making vegan small plates and cocktails sexy in a moody, dark atmosphere, and Miss Rachel’s Pantry (1908 S. Chadwick St.) offering elevated comfort food and a prix fixe menu.
While veganism and vegetarianism are still considered out of the mainstream in the United States, people in the Asia-Pacific region, South Asian and Latin American countries have large populations who follow vegetarian diets.
Data from YouGov and Veganuary calculated that approximately 25.8 million people globally tried veganism in January 2025.
That comfort level with plant-based eating is also reflected in Philadelphia.
The post Philly’s vegan scene still has plenty on its plate appeared first on Billy Penn at WHYY.
