Looking for the top vegan restaurants in Denver? I am a proud Denver native and have created a list of the best vegan restaurants in the metro area. All restaurants on the list are vegan, so there is no worry about cross-contamination.
Also included are several other great restaurants with vegan options and a list of new vegan restaurants on the list to try.
Denver vegan restaurants have come a long way in the last 20+ years. We went from having one vegan restaurant on the side of a Krishna temple to having several great vegan-only restaurants.
As a proud Denver native, I can honestly say the food scene here has improved yearly. We now have unique and creative restaurants all over the city, including several vegan-only restaurants.
Speaking of vegan only, that is the only criterion for this post. The restaurant has to be vegan or plant-based foods only. No animal products and, therefore, no modifications are necessary. No wondering what was in the fryer, cooked on the grill before your food was cooked. The best part is that you are 100% confident the restaurant is vegan when you walk in!
Oh yeah, and the restaurant has to serve delicious food!
Jump to:
Best Vegan Restaurants in Denver(IMHO)
1. Somebody People
"A Vegetable-Forward Dining Experience"
This is how I feel about Somebody People..... It's your birthday in three months? It's so close. Let's go and celebrate at Somebody People! Oh, bummer, I chipped a nail; I should go drown my sorrow at Somebody People. I will use any reason to go eat their food; it is that good!
The food is fresh, creative, and daring! If you eat here, I recommend not looking at the menu and going straight to the "Feed Me" option. The server brings out small plates of 6 - 7 sharable items. Do worry about the term"small." You will leave here full and happy!
Somebody People is an excellent place for any occasion, especially a special occasion. The restaurant is a friendly environment with excellent customer service. So great my waitress even went and got my license plate number so I could enjoy my drink.
Somebody People is a bit loud, and I am not talking about the images of David Bowie and Kate Bush. This trendy eatery is always packed. Because of this, I recommend making reservations. You can reserve directly on their website. They are located directly on south broadway, just off I-25. Parking is also limited, so leave a few extra minutes early to find a spot.
Address: 1165 S Broadway #104, Denver, CO 80210
2. Bang Up To The Elephant
"Beach Shack Food. Neighborly Service. Tropical Bar"
Bang Up to the Elephant is self-described as a "Curry, jerk & other Caribbean-inspired dishes meet tropical drinks in a light- & plant-filled space."
I admit that when I first heard of this place, I did not think it was for me. I quickly found out I was wrong! Bang up the Elephant is also creative and daring with the menu. Their food perfectly balances tropical flavors, heat, and sweetness. I tried a few things at this restaurant, and while I especially liked the coconut curry, my favorite was the cassareep rice bowl.
Their happy hour and drink menu specializes in tropical cocktails like Pina Colada, Rhum Punch, and my favorite, the dirty banana.
Leave a little extra time for parking. Bang Up to the Elephant is tucked into Capitol Hill, with limited parking. But don't let that scare you. Just leave a few minutes earlier. Their food is worth the extra effort!
Address: 1310 Pearl St, Denver, CO 80203
Bang Up To The Elephant Website
3. Mora Pizza
In the mood for pizza that is brag-worthy? Check out Mora Pizza. The little pizzeria is located in the Capitol Hill area on Colfax. The menu has pizza, subs, stromboli, and pasta. Best of all, the cheese! Jason Mora told me he spent 10 years developing this cheese. It is nut-free and dairy free. I love that the texture is right, not overly smooth.
I often see Jason on the Denver Vegan group. People ask for a special flavor, and he is very accommodating if he can be. I would venture to say the hardest-working person on this list. He is churning out pizzas, both traditional and unique. If he can, he will make a special flavor for you. Give him a try; you will be glad you did!
One thing to note, Mora Pizza is currently sharing a location with a gyros store. However, Mora Pizza has a dedicated kitchen. The signage is for gyros, but pizza is inside!
Address: 911 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80218
Website: Mora Pizza
4. Next Level Burger
I love a good burger with a giant juicy tomato that I can sink my teeth into; Next Level Burger is just that place! Located in the DU neighborhood off of Evans, their menu offers burgers, chicken burgers, french fries, tater tots, onion rings, and shakes.
I ordered a burger with cheese and tater tots. The burger was good and what I was craving, but I remember the tater tots! They are fried to the right amount of crispiness. A solid crunch without being greasy and perfectly seasoned. Yes, I love the tater tots, and I think you should try them!
Address: 1605 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210
Website: Next Level Burger
Looking to Cook at Home? Try These Vegan Recipes
5. So Radish
Located in Old Town Arvada, So Radish brings back American classics in vegan style! The interior is bright and fun, 80's style.
The menu options range from banana foster french toast to chicken fried steak and all the great 80's sides (Did someone say mashed potatoes and gravy?). My favorite is the green chile cheese fries. Their green chile is spicy and perfect!
Breakfast lovers rejoice; brunch is available until three daily! While you are there, check out the breakfast burrito. Prices range from $9 - $18.50. So Radish also has a full-service bar.
After your meal, check out Rheinlander Bakery two doors down. They offer many vegan and gluten-free options.
Address: 5711 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002
So Radish Website
6. Native Foods
Native Foods is the perfect fast-casual vegan restaurant. They offer a lot of vegan versions of traditional meat items, making it a great restaurant to satisfy any meat craving.
Currently, there are 2 locations in Denver (Lone Tree and Glendale) and one in Boulder. They are growing fast, and I expect to see more in the metro area in the coming years.
Addresses:
- 9996 Commons Street Lone Tree Colorado 80124
- 680 South Colorado Boulevard Glendale Colorado 80246
- 2825 Wilderness Place Boulder Colorado 80301
7. Wellness Sushi
I found out about Wellness Sushi from a Denver Vegan Facebook group. Every other day, a post of their sushi rolls was followed with raving comments. With so many positive reviews, I decided to try it. Oh my, I am happy I did!
Wellness sushi is fresh food you can feel good about eating. They were founded in 2019 by traditional sushi chef Steven Lee and his wife, Phoebe Lee. Together they saw an opportunity to create food where taste was never sacrificed for health.
Wellness Sushi's menu is full of flavorful sushi rolls and bowls of ramen. They only use fresh ingredients (vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, and organic tofu). The menu also reasonably priced items ranging from $10.99 - $15.75.
Update: 5/1/23- I have grown obsessed with Wellness Sushi. I now pick up a few rolls on my way home from work at least 1x a week. However, they really need a commercial hood in the building. The restaurant is a small room with a very distinctive smell. The smoke can be really bad in there as well. My wish for them is they invest in a hood system soon. They will need to do that before I would consider dining in.
Address: 2504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
8. Meta Burger
"Plant-Based American Classics"
As vegans everywhere know, sometimes, you want to sink your teeth into a burger. It's not the meat but the sensation of sinking your teeth into a bun, thick tomato, onion, lettuce, mayo, and ketchup.
But when it comes to a veggie burger at a traditional restaurant, vegans and vegetarians are left wondering what was also cooked on that grill. What is floating around that fryer on my vegan sweet potato fries?
Wait no more; Meta Burger is our answer! Meta Burger is a plant-based food-only menu. The menu items include plant-based burgers ($11), plant-based chicken patties ($11), sides ($4 - $5), and shareable ($8 - $10).
Addresses:
- 7950 E Mississippi Ave Denver, CO 80247
- 5505 W 20th Ave Edgewater, CO 80214
- 1905 29th Street #1174 Boulder, CO 80301
Honorable Mentions
The Corner Beet
Located in Capitol Hill off of 14th and Ogden, The Corner Beet is a small cafe known as a 'chill vegetarian cafe and juice bar.' Popular menu items include acai bowls, cold-pressed juices, superfood lattes, salads, and sandwiches.
Address: 1401 N Ogden St, Denver, CO 80218
Way Wong Veg
'Scratch-Made Vegan Comfort Food'
Way Wong Veg is Denver's vegan food truck option. While the name might imply they serve a wide range of Asian dishes, the truth is they serve a wide range of dishes from all over the world.
Govindas
Long before Watercourse Foods was the Krishna Temple in the Mayfair neighborhood. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first vegan restaurant in Denver serving plant-based only meals, now known as Govinda's.
However, before the Covid pandemic, there was a fire. Since then, Govendias has not reopened. Hopefully, the doors will open again. When they do, I will be there to support this long-standing and probably the first Denver vegan eatery.
Vegan Restaurants On The List to Try
I learn of new vegan restaurants in the Denver area almost weekly. I am so excited about all the choices that are popping up around town. It is happening at such a rapid pace that I cannot keep up. Instead of omitting those restaurants, I will keep a running list here. If I missed a restaurant, kindly let me know.
| Name | Address | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday Pizza | 2162 LARIMER ST DENVER, CO 80205 | Everyday Pizza Website |
| Fellow Traveler | 3487 S Broadway, Englewood, CO 80113 | Fellow Traveler Website |
| Gladys | 5505 W 20th Ave Suite 116, Edgewater, CO 80214 (Edgewater Public Market) | Gladys Website |
| Grateful Planet Foods | Food Truck | Grateful Planet Foods Website |
| Make it Vegan | 790 Kipling Street, Lakewood, CO 80215 | Make it Vegan Website |
| Total Vegan Indian Restaurant | 9563 S University Blvd, Ste A, Highlands Ranch, CO 80126 | Total Vegan Indian Restaurant Website |
| V Revolution | 3570 S Logan St, Englewood. | V Revolution Website |
Popular Vegan Optional Restaurants and Bakeries
Denver also has a lot of restaurants that have vegan options. While I kept the list above to vegan only, these vegan-optional restaurants offer vegan-optional food and are worth noting.
| Restaurant | Address | Website | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rheinlander Bakery | 5721 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002 | Rheinlander Bakery Website | Loads of GF and vegan options |
| Root Down | * 1600 W 33rd Ave, Denver, CO 80211 * Denver International Airport, C Concourse | Root Down Website | A long-time Denver staple. |
| Spice Room | * 3157 W 38th Ave, Denver, CO 80211 * 3100 E Colfax Ave,Denver, CO 80206 | Spice Room Website | Holy Aloo Gobo, this place is delicious! |
| Tarascos | 470 S Federal Blvd, Denver, CO 80219 | Tarascos Website | Good Mexican vegan options |
| The Crypt | 1618 E 17TH AVE DENVER, CO 80218 | The Crypt Website | Loads of vegan options. Not the legendary Crypt off-Broadway. |
| Vital Root | 3915 Tennyson St, Denver, CO 80212 | Vital Root Website | 100% gluten-free, majority vegan |
Dishonorable Mention
City O' City, Make, Believe Bakery, and Watercourse Foods
It took a lot for me to create a dishonorable mention section, however, I feel that the Watercourse Foods group has earned it. In the '90s, they were one of two vegan/vegetarian places in town. There was a long line to get in, and the food was worth the wait.
Over the years, the menu has been neglected with few changes. But because they were a long-time institution, I didn't want to give up on this classic Denver eatery, so I listed them above. However, after purchasing a $36 cake and getting charged $50, I can no longer stand by this eatery. (The additional charge was a 20% service fee.)
Further, after reading a recent post on Facebook on the Denver Vegan group, it appears I am not alone. Out of 68 comments, the majority were negative about the extra 20% fee, servers telling customers they should have read the menu closer because it was disclosed there, and the poor service. I now know I am not alone in my change of heart.
I only hope this classic Denver restaurant can pick up its A-game again, increase its prices while removing the fee (because isn't that really what's happening?), and stop coasting on an old reputation.
About: Ruth Grindeland is a Denver native. In addition to owning this blog, Ruth loves to try new vegan restaurants in Denver.
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