Denver’s Best Vegan Restaurants: A Comprehensive Guide for 2023
As a proud Denver native and local who loves to eat at Denver’s best vegan restaurants, I’ve compiled a comprehensive list of the city’s best vegan dining options. Whether you’re looking for a vegan-only restaurant or a vegan-friendly option, you will find something to your taste on this list.
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. I have narrowed a list of 20 vegan-only eateries to 9 of the best Denver vegan restaurants!
I could go on and on about being a native and the evolution of the vegan scene in Denver, but that is not why you are here. Instead, let’s get to the list. You won’t be disappointed!
Best Denver Vegan Restaurants
#1. Fellow traveler
Best All-Around
- Pros: Perfect for every occasion!
- Cons: Parking can be tricky.
- Address: 3487 S Broadway Englewood, CO 80113
- Website
Fellow Traveler has it all! It has a great menu, great service, and a great atmosphere. This place is perfect for a date night, family dinner, or a relaxed lunch with friends.
The menu options included tacos, aloo gobi, and pineapple fried rice(which I could not stop eating!! Fellow Traveler also serves brunch with such classics as a breakfast burrito, cinnamon cornbread sticks, and a vanilla raspberry waffle!
#2. Bang Up To The Elephant
Best Spicy Flavors
- Pros: Fun environment and Unique flavors
- Cons: Parking and hours. Not great for families.
- Address: 1310 Pearl St, Denver, CO 80203
- Website
Bang up the Elephant perfectly balances tropical flavors, heat, and sweetness. My favorite two dishes were the waffle fries start and the cassareep rice bowl.
Leave a little extra time for parking. Bang Up to the Elephant is tucked into Capitol Hill, with limited parking.
#3. So Radish
Sadly, So Radish closed on 11/23.
Best American Classics
- Pros: Fun environment, great food!
- Cons: Food can be a little heavy.
- Address: 5711 Olde Wadsworth Blvd, Arvada, CO 80002
- Website
Located in Old Town Arvada, So Radish brings back American classics in vegan style! The interior is inspired by the 80’s and is bright and fun.
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! Prices range from $9 – $18.50. So Radish also has a full-service bar.
#4. Next Level Burger
Best Vegan Burger
- Pros: The burgers and tots are so good!
- Cons: A bit pricy
- Address: 1605 E Evans Ave, Denver, CO 80210
- Website
Looking for a burger to sink your 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 so good. But the tots are fried to the right amount of crispiness. They have a solid crunch without being greasy. Yes, I love the tater tots, and I think you should try them!
#5. Native Foods
Best Casual Eatery
- Pros: Casual favorite, rotating menu
- Cons: The cheeses can be heavy
- Address: 680 South Colorado Boulevard
Glendale Colorado 80246 - Website
Native Foods is the perfect fast-casual vegan restaurant. The menu is diverse and fast casual. You can have burgers, wraps, bowls, salads, or my favorite nachos! Native Foods also offers seasonal menu items.
Note as of 10/23, the Lone Tree and Boulder locations have closed. However, the Colorado Boulevard location remains open. The Colorado Boulevard location is now a local business. Please support them!
#7. Wellness Sushi
Best Vegan Sushi
- Pros: Amazing Rolls. Very Creative.
- Cons: It can be very smoky and needs better ventilation.
- Address: 2504 E Colfax Ave, Denver, CO 80206
- Website
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 rolls are so creative and have amazing flavors! I am actually obsessed with picking up rolls on my way home from the office. The menu also includes reasonably priced items ranging from $10.99 – $15.75.
Note: The restaurant is a small room, and the smoke can also be really bad there. My wish for them is they invest in a hood system soon.
#8. Somebody People
Best Creative Menu
- Pros: Food is daring, creative, and seasonal.
- Cons: It is very loud. 19% service fee
- Address: 1165 S Broadway #104, Denver, CO 80210
- Website
Somebody People’s menu is daring and creative. 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. Don’t worry about the term”small.” You will leave here full!
While Somebody People has excellent food, it is not the right restaurant for a quiet dinner. In fact, Somebody People can be a very noisy dining experience.
#9. Meta Burger
Best Grab and Go
- Pros: Local. Burgers are always good.
- Cons: Simple menu (that could also be a pro!)
- Address:
- 7950 E Mississippi Ave Denver, CO 80247
- 5505 W 20th Ave Edgewater, CO 80214
- Website
Wait no more; Meta Burger is the plant-based burger answer. Meta Burger has quickly become a local favorite. Their patties are homemade, and each month there is the opportunity to vote on the monthly special. (psst, still waiting on my French dip.)
The prices range from $11 – 14, and sharables are $9.
20 Vegan-Only Options in Denver
Denver’s thriving vegan scene offers a variety of delicious and diverse dining options. Below is a comprehensive list of vegan-only restaurants, food trucks, bakeries, and catering options in the metro Denver area.
| Bang Up To The Elephant | Total Indian Vegan Restaurant | |
| Bare Blends | Native Foods | Vegan Van (restaurant) |
| Creole Vegan (food truck) | Next Level Burger | VeganDreamz (home bakery) |
| Fellow Traveler | So Radish | Watercourse Foods |
| Gladys | Somebody People | Wellness Sushi |
| Grateful Plant Foods | The Cake Bar (bakery) | Wong Way (food truck) |
| Meta Burger | The Easy Vegan (catering) |
27 Recommended Vegan Optional Restaurants
Although the list above includes only vegan restaurants, Denver also has many restaurants with vegan options. These restaurants have put thought into their vegan options, and some items on their menus are particularly noteworthy. This makes them perfect for enjoying a meal with people who have other meal preferences.
About: Ruth Grindeland is a proud Denver native and a vegan. In addition to owning this blog, Ruth loves to try new vegan restaurants in Denver.
