As a lifestyle, being vegan is hard – especially when eating out with friends. Sometimes having the perfect balance between vegan and non-vegan options proves difficult to find, but we’re here to help. Serving everything from pizza to cupcakes, these Philly restaurants are so good, we promise you’ll turn your friends vegan in no time.
Breakfast/Brunch
Down Dog Healing Cafe
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Down Dog Healing Cafe is great for those craving a down-to-earth, casual atmosphere. Down Dog Healing is all about cleansing and seasonally balanced tea, with tangy combinations like mint lime or honey turmeric lemonade.
Be sure to check out the beautiful murals outside done by Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, after you order menu selections like the creamy daikon salad or mango cashew raw pie.
Little Pete’s Restaurant
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Little Pete’s is the great compromise between yourself and your non-vegan friends, with delicious options like a vegan Philly steak sandwich or warm hash browns. Open 24/7, Little Pete’s has a retro diner atmosphere perfect for friends and family.
Grindcore House
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If you’re tired of the generic layout of Starbucks and want something new, Grindcore House is the perfect place for you. Full of unique quirks, Grindcore features an open anarchist lending library in the back room, and the heavy metal music playing on repeat. Best of all, the vegan sandwiches (we recommend the Kropotkin) and dog-friendly atmosphere make this a must-visit.
Lunch/Dinner
Blackbird Pizzeria
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Vegan pizza seems ridiculously hard to find, but even more so, delicious vegan pizza. Here, all your vegan wishes have come true with Blackbird Pizzeria. There are thin crust options paired with Daiya cheese and veggie toppings for an irresistibly mouthwatering slice of pizza.
HipCityVeg
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Want fresh salads or wraps? Try HipCityVeg, which puts a spin on classic salads with selections like the Jamaican Chicken Caesar salad and the famous Asian udon noodle salad. Everything on the menu is $10 and under, which is a huge plus.
Cantina Dos Segundos
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Move over Chipotle, your sofritas aren’t cutting it anymore. Save the $2 on extra guac and take a trip to Cantina Dos Segundos, with authentic Mexican offerings like beef picadillo empanadas and chorizo tacos. End your order with some nachos and blood orange margaritas for an unforgettable night out.
Juice Bars/Dessert
Sweet Freedom Bakery
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Satisfy your sweet tooth with Sweet Freedom Bakery, which features gluten, peanut, soy and corn-free kosher treats. Choosing between a red velvet cupcake or lemon coconut-glazed donut is a hard decision, but we promise the first bite will make it more than worth it.
Animo Juice
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Animo, which means energy in Spanish, is an apt name for this juice bar, with its wide variety of healthy smoothies and açaí bowl options. Animo Juice offers a much-needed pick-me-up for your mornings and is handily located in Philly’s Art Museum District. We recommend the Cin City, a smoothie with cinnamon, milk, banana, spinach, honey and protein powder.